On a dreary April evening, NEON turned up the heat and started the 2011 CSC Kickball League schedule on the right foot.
Staci Gyekis notched the tying- and go-ahead runs in the top of the 7th with a 2-run infield single that put NEON (1-0) in the lead for good.
"Playing short isn't something that we let get to us, psychologically" said Manager/1B Chad Buege. "We've been slapping together our line-up on a weekly basis for 6 years or so now."
Indeed, playing without Kristi Allen (who joined late-last season as a free agent, and signed a contract extension for 2011) left the squad jostling the lineup on a by-inning basis. The team retroactively placed her on the 7-Day DL with a faulty GPS. She is expected to return to the lineup this week.
A surprise return by veteran by SS Kevin Luther seemed to give the team an extra jump in their collective. Luther was expected to miss the game for family reasons, but literally sprinted into the lineup at the 11th hour.
"I think we got what we'd expected from ourselves tonight" Buege went on to say. "Offensively there was some rust, and a minor miscommunication or two defensively, but overall we're pleased. We know we have the horses for this race, and after this training run, we're ready to hit the track running. We hope to be the thoroughbreds when the playoffs come, and tonight was a good start."
The season continues this Thursday, but the schedule is TBA, pending its official release from CSC.
