Beating Hot Chasers is child's play for OHM Boyz

CONCORD -- There was much kidding around when the Hot Chasers went up against the OHM Boyz at Willow Pass Park. On the field, there was Clayton Hurd, partaking in pregame warmups along with daddy Rick. And in the Hot Chaser dugout there was the Neil Hayes brood, sampling the best cuisuine the chefs of Willow Pass had to offer. And along rolled in Zack, with pappa Mike DeCicco in tow, girding themselves for their first-ever Hot Chaser affair. And unexpectedly, Riley Kolb partook of the postgame domination of the WPP asphalt.

And, for sure, there was also the decidedly adult Pam Lewis-Turnine, managing to stay as far away from the field as humanly possible yet still take in some dubious HC action. A wise course of action, Pamela.

But when it came time for OHM to command, "Who's your daddy?" the best the Hot Chasers could do is wimper "you are" during a 16-8 defeat to extend HC's losing streak to 0-for-2005.

Not that the younglings and their attendant adults didn't have cause to think that 1980 U.S. hockey team-like miracle could be in the offing.

After all, the Hot Chasers got off the blocks to the tune of a six-run first inning, by far the greatest initital stanza in HC history.

The first four HC's reached base safely -- hits by Mike Gale, Chris Wagnon and Luke Abbott and Mike Wolcott via an infield error -- before Dave Taxier unfortunately hit into a short fly ball-double play. The HC'ers disregareded that untimely bit of offensive ineptitude as Hurd the Elder singled, Chace Bryson (in his Hot Chaser debut, more on that later) singled, Hayes the Superior singled, as did Dennis Pimentel, Bill Kolb (see Chace) and Jonathan Okanes.

It was an impressive start, as even the flintiest of softball curmudgeons would be forced to admit. However, the OHM Boyz showed their moxie by chipping away in subsequent innings, while the Hot Chasers weren't able to put up a multi-run rally the rest of the way.

Still, the contest could be an inkling of an invigorating things to come. The end of the prep season has enabled young pups such as Kolb and Bryson to bring their softball wares to the Hot Chasers table at a critical juncture of the season.

"They bring a lot of energy to the ballclub," noted Giants manager Felipe Alou, pausing on his way to making yet another pitching change at SBC Park.

Yet the ying to this yang is the saga of Pimentel, as the cagey second baseman has shut it down this season due to injury. Whether the additions of Bryson and Kolb can compensate for the loss of Pimentel remains to be seen.

"I'll believe it when I see it," rejoined HC manager Chris Wagnon in a rare cynical moment. "It's going to be rough not having him out there for the rest of the season though. When I'm on defense I'm never going to know how many outs there are. I think he'll be back though. If not at second
base, I think he can play another position."

Seeing Pimentel back in action again would be a dream come true for the fans such as DeCicco -- both Mike and Zack, and even mom Meagan too.

"Seeing the Hot Chasers play for the first time was like being touched by the hand of god," said the understated soccer-luvin' Mike DeCicco. "It was a moment of great clarity, personal reflection and calm. Plus, I had b!tchin' nachos."

Zack, as well, seemed transfixed by a game where grown men kicked a ball by accident, not on purpose.

"Zack seemed to be enjoying himself but appeared confused and a little agitated when Dennis failed to cover second base. How does a father explain something like that to his son. He mentioned later that day, that when he grows up he wants to be a Hot Chaser (the manly softball kind, not the other
kind)," recounted Pops DeCicco.

Perhaps the prodigy Zack will one day take the field with Pimentel -- providing retirement rumors remain just that -- rumors.

Pimentel himself remained steadfast in the face of rumors that he had, indeed, called it a day.

"Take a look at my quote: 'I'm not saying im quitting, but I'm not saying I'll be back either.' " the recooperating Pimentel said. "F the media...tell them to stay out of my personal life. They're all liars anyway."

It is the Hot Chasers who remain true to the cause.