Playoffs: the second season

Maybe it was the intrepid cheering section. Perhaps it was Rheinlander’s flair or Coach’s playoff beard. Some thought it was the last-second arrival of two seasoned veterans. At times, it seemed to be all due to “the Natural.”

Whatever it was, it worked. Fleishman-Hillard softball started the 2008 playoffs off the right way with a statement game against Ketchum. Our bats came alive early with seven runs in the first inning, and when the dust had settled, FH won 20-7. Our incredible offensive performance saw the team bat .625 and pound out 32 hits, including 17 doubles.

Superstar performances abounded at the plate, leading our opponents to audibly wonder if we had “hired” some ringers. Dave Whiting made it look easy, going 5 for 5 with two massive home runs, four runs, and five rbis. Will Sullivan served notice he was still the front runner for team MVP with his 5 for 5 performance, three doubles, and five rbis.

But they weren’t alone. Every player contributed offensively, especially Silvio Marcacci with four hits and three runs, Molly Williams and Dan Horowitz with three doubles apiece, and Matt Kretman with three rbis.

But offense barely tells the story. FH played defense like a team possessed. Angela Schonberg made the catch of the game — an incredible over-the-shoulder catch in right field, while Jason Werden and Coleman Hutchins showed off with several diving and running catches in left and center fields. Dan pitched shut-down softball and effortlessly fielded his position.

Jessica Rheinlander and “Bulldog” Baumgarten combined at catcher to throw out several attempted bunts, including a rally-killing throw by Lowen in the fifth inning. Matt Kretman made an incredible diving play to rob a Ketchum batter in the third, and Will, Dave, and Silvio combined on a nifty inning-ending double play in the fourth.

Through it all, FH’s cheering section was led by our unofficial fan club president, Juliet Johnson. Amanda Schildt went from the cheering section to the field, contributing a pinch-hit single run scored to keep a big fifth inning rally alive. Eliza Kanovsky and Emily Canis showed off their custom-made jerseys and team banners, and out cheered all past fan outings — even the LoJacono’s team’s legendary week five performance.

So now we march into the semi-finals. Edelman awaits our inspired team in next Monday’s showdown, fresh off their defeat of Omnicom sister company GMMB. Victory is not guaranteed, and the stakes are high, but FH has momentum and won’t go down without a seven-inning fight. After Monday’s game, the championship game is within reach, and next week’s semifinal will be a fight for the ages.