Gamers Eliminated From Turkey Shootout in 2nd Round

Hicksville, NY -

After winning the first championship in team history prior to the start of the annual Turkey Shootout the Gamers had a chance to make history and become the first team to win two championships in one day. However, it was not to be as they were eliminated in the second round of the tournament in controversial fashion.

In the first round the Gamers took on the Warriors (not the Warriors from their division) in a best of three series. But with the Gamers still fired up from having won the title the games weren't even close.

In the first game the Gamers, boosted by the additions of Rich and Andrew from Darkside, got of a quick 6-0 start highlighted by a bases clearing double from Andrew. As impressive as that was it paled in comparison to the thirteen run explosion they had in the second inning to blow the game wide open. They would go on to win 23-8 with Rob Roll hitting a 3 run homerun to win the game by run rule. Unfortunately, for the Gamers it was not all good news as they lost outfielder Dave Roll to a hamstring injury.

In a scene straight out of Saving Private Ryan, one of the Gamers other outfielders Greg Roll, was benched at the start of the second game. Having already lost one Roll to injury on the day the Gamers were under strict orders to make sure that they didn't lose another one. Without Greg and Dave in the lineup the second game was a lot more competitive as the Gamers only led 2-1 after three innings. But their bats finally woke up with a five run 4th inning which segwayed into a ten run explosion in the fifth to pad the cushion. Jon Zafonte homered, one of three homeruns for him during the tournament, and Scott Zimmerman continued his hot hitting with a two run double part of a 4 for 4 day. From there the Gamers would go on to win 18-10.

After those two easy wins the Gamers had a long lay off and that seemed to affect them at the start of the second round as their bats cooled down. Although losing Zimmerman, Brian Malfettone and Dave Roll could be to blame as well. Whatever the reason they were unable to get anything going offensively losing a pitcher's duel 9-7 to a team that they believe was losing an illegal bat. After that bat was taken out of play they didn't score another run but it didn't matter as the Gamers couldn't sustain any long rallies to overtake them.

Despite the controversial loss it was a good day overall for the Gamers who won their first championship and added an impressive sweep of the Warriors on top of it.