Desperate Hot Chasers dumped by Desperados

CONCORD - It was during the Hot Chasers' traditional postgame parking lot domination that HC fan Joe DeLoach turned to shortstop Joe Stiglich and proffered the sage advice: "Don't get married."

Certainly, the Hot Chasers aren't married to the idea of a winless season, but it's hard for them to divorce themselves of such notions as the losses pile up. And another defeat got heaped on the pile on Thursday, this one a 15-9 setback to the Desperados, the first-place team in the Men's D East league.

Certainly, the Hot Chasers went about their work with the same grim determination that has marked their previous nine efforts. They scored in every inning but two, and they shut down the Desperados in a couple of innings but the foes were just too relentless on a blustery night on the Willow Pass Park field 4 pitch.

At least the Hot Chasers certainly couldn't claim to be short-handed, at least not in pure numbers. Twelve players turned out, the Hot Chasers' high for the season.

But the runs, at least early, came grudgingly. The visitors scored twice in the first three frames, went scoreless in the fifth, then had their best stanza in the sixth, when they actually strung six hits together and scored three times. Stiglich, who would go on to be the subject of marital advice, doubled in the inning. But it was just a little too little, too late.

Still, there were offensive highlights in this second game of the week. The Hot Chasers actually batted .500 on the evening (10-for-20). And seven of the 12 HC'ers had multiple-hit games. Stiglich and Jonathan Okanes each had fine 3-for-3 outings.

But could it all be consummated into a victory? Sorry, the invitations for win No. 1 have yet to be sent out. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.