It's DeLoach, it's De-Lovely, it's De-Victory

WALNUT CREEK -- Joe DeLoach wanted a good omen before his beloved Red Sox took on the Yankees in a vital regular-season-ending series. What he got was history.

DeLoach, who came out to play if needed, settled for witnessing softball history in the making as the Muckrakers solidly delivered the first victory of 2005 for the Muckraker/Hot Chasers in a 19-4 pasting of the Panthers.

Recent roster addition DeLoach came away impressed with the Muckrakers effort and convinced it spelled doom for the Evil Empire Yankees in their set at fabled Fenway Park. The Red Sox should only do as well as the Muckrakers on Thursday. The win-starved team put it all together: offense, defense and baserunning straight out of the Three Stooges school of mayhem.

Actually, the Muckrakers arrived in waves for this one. The turnout was as solid as could be, with Muckies rolling in up to gametime as the team made the extra effort to avoid another black-mark forfeit to their resume.

The pumped-up 'Rakers scored four runs out of the shoot, with the momentarily competitive Panthers responding with three in the second. After that it was all Muckraker, all the time. There was no champagne on ice after this one, but the beer in the parking lot was never sweeter.

Rick Hurd dazzled on the mound in his Muckraker debut, not walking a batter while fielding his position in Gold Glove style. He also enjoyed a three-hit evening, as did Matt Petersen, Bob Leal, Dave Belli and Mike Gale. Randy Striegel and Darby nailed down the left side of the infield, and new addition Mike showed he will be a Muckraker to deal with in the future. Leal fought off foot miseries to give all to the Muckraker cause.

But all the hustle and bustle came with a cost. Petersen thwacked a hamstring coming around third and heading for the plate, and Dave Taxier tweeked a similar area while turning a first-inning double play. The improved Muckraker numbers -- and thanks one and all for showing -- could come in handy in the near future.

But those are concerns for another day. This was an evening to celebrate, and in an historic way.