Chilly Hot Chasers drubbed by Desperados

CONCORD - Not even the return of Mike Lefkow could inspire the Hot Chasers to new heights, or even a few runs, in a 27-1 loss at the hands of the Desperados.

Lefty, fresh off two brain surgeries, didn't swing a bat but did wield a mean No. 2 pencil in scorekeeping the game, ala his mentor, Chuck Dybdal. But the Hot Chasers, probably in an effort to not overwork Lefty's scorekeeping efforts too soon, went rather fallow in the scoring column.

The Desperados, for all intents and purposes, put this one away with an 8-run second inning, then ripping off a 4-run fourth and a 5-run fifth. The best the Chasers (0-8) could do was put across a single run in the fourth, with Mike Wolcott's sacrifice fly being the team's lone RBI of the night.

That gives the HC'ers one (1) run scored in their past two games.

Still, there were a few noteworthy moments, forthwith:

-- Wolcott made the game during the top of the first, and immediately headed out to defense, first at catcher, then deftly switching to first base.

-- Joe Roderick popped out, or so he thought, in the fifth inning. Problem was, the second baseman dropped the pop. Joe, who'd stopped running, then continued the flight to first, bat still in hand. He was thrown out. Oh, yes, it was his birthday.

-- Matt Peterson made his Hot Chasers debut, making a strong defensive showing in his initial game.

But there is no rest for the weary. The HC'ers play twice next week, on Tuesday and Thursday. Two more chances for that elusive first victory of the year.