Our opponent was the 2007 PR softball league champions. Beset by injuries and last-minute client deadlines, only nine members of the FH softball team could take the field. Week one had been rained out by Mother Nature, and some would say we were rusty. League rules prevented Tara Walker from playing with us this year. A low murmur of doubt could be heard during warm-up exercises.

But it didn’t matter.

FH began the 2008 season with a resounding 22-8 victory over defending champions Porter-Novelli behind deft pitching, incredible defense, and an offensive explosion seven months in the making. FH’s victory wasn’t even as close as the score indicates, as Porter could only manage one run until darkness fell on the field in the top of the seventh, obscuring fly balls and making even routine plays dangerous.

Coleman Hutchins, making a last-minute spot pitching start for injured ace Dan Horowitz, completely shut down the opposition’s offense with his nasty left-handed delivery. Buoyed by the power of his vast digital knowledge, he mopped up at the plate, with three runs scored, a triple, and six runs batted in.

At times, it seemed like every FH at bat resulted in a hit and run scored. Will Sullivan scored five runs and had a hit every at bat, including two doubles and a three-run home run in the fifth inning. Craig Paridy had the last laugh when an errant throw from Porter’s short stop hit him while running out a hit, by going 5-5 with two doubles, four runs, and three rbis. Molly Williams picked up right where she left off last year with a double, four rbis, and a sick catch for the last out of the game.

Every FHer contributed, from Jenny Alonso getting an rbi single in her first-ever softball at bat, to Dave Whiting and Jen Kelly’s incredible fielding and range at short stop and catcher, respectively. Andrew McClellan and Silvio Marcacci shook off a cataclysmic full-speed collision in left center field to make left and center fields a virtual graveyard for Porter hits, and both chipped in hits and runs at the top and bottom of the lineup.

All in all, a great start. But twelve more games and an entire player-hating league await our team. Will you be there next Thursday to cheer on FH as we take the field against our arch-rivals Burson-Marsteller?