Bosse's Bombs Deliver First Strike For Hoffy

Felix the Cat,
The wonderful, wonderful cat!
Whenever he gets in a fix,
He reaches into his bag of tricks!

Team Hoffy came from behind once again to win its 26th consecutive contest with a 19-5 win over arch-rival Malachy's to take the first game of the QML best of seven finals.

Playing without Nelly, Steve Yocco, Mike Yocco and Keith McCray, the three-time defending champs came out flat, mustering only 3 hits in the first three innings and trailing 5-2. But in true Hoffy style, they reached into their bag of tricks and came alive in the 4th inning, sending 14 batters to the plate, charged by a grand slam from Jon Bosse (wearing someone's #25 as opposed to his usual 17), the first of two home runs on the night for Bosse. After Bosse's slam, Dave Brolin, Greg Harper and Ramon hit consecutive singles before The Game knocked in 2 with a double. Glen Bosse kept the inning going with a walk, which set up a 2-run triple by Jim Dennis.

Ramon and The Game fought through injuries to provide the offensive and defensive stability that Hoffy relied as part of its arsenal.

Fireballing pitcher Steve Lannan shut Malachy's down the rest of the way. Hoffy put up 7 insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th on nine more hits, including a 2-run bomb from Jon Bosse. In all, five Hoffy starters had at least three hits, including a 4-4, 4 rbi night from Jim Dennis and a 3-4, 6 rbi performance from Jon Bosse.

"That's what this team is all about," McCray said. "The minute you think you have us...you don't."

NOTE: For those wondering, the Felix insignia above is the U.S. Navy insignia for the VF-31 Tomcatters squadron from 1948. The squadron motto is "We get ours at night".

GAME 2 FRIDAY NIGHT, 6:30 P.M. KINCAIDE FIELD