The Cobra Kai Softball team has had a tumultuous up and down season thus far as it has been a back and forth struggle with mother nature to allow us our glory of setting foot on the one place we love to be more than gators, and that is the softball diamond. Word is that Capt. Tucci and most of the team was so pumped for this past double header that after JW’s team forecast gave the go-ahead for a high probability both games would be played Friday most of the team could not even sleep the night before as we were so excited just to get back on the field.

With a change in venue the team was ready to take the field in our first of two that night and we came out focused on Defense. Mad Dog pitched an All-Star performance shutting down Top Shelf’s line-up stifling them for only 4 runs on 5 hits. But his biggest contribution was frustrating their #2 and #3 hitter by stealing not one, not two, but three line drives straight up the middle and consequently picking off the same poor bastard at first 3 times in a row. Our defense was solid all game highlighted by a hockey goalie like save by AC at first base and solid Outfield performance.

The Big Easy “E” went down in the 4th inning with a hand injury but he battled through to finish the game offensively even gutting out a hit with a bandaged hand reminiscent of the way Brett Favre battles through injuries to give the team all he has. The rain came down and our offense slowed to a stand still as we were so eager to play after being sidelined for the past few weeks we came out swinging at the first pitch we saw and made it an easy night for their Ace on the mound. “Softball isn’t about statistics; it’s about rounding second base and getting into score, plain and simple. We didn’t do that tonight and that is why we fell short” said JohnnyBlaze in the dugout after the game. “"If you dwell on statistics, you get shortsighted. If you aim for consistency, the numbers will be there at the end” DonJuan remarked as he headed to field 2 getting ready for the next game.

In between games the team discussed strategy and had some physical wrestling matches to burn off some steam after getting the adrenaline flowing for the first time in awhile. Dr. Gutierrez missed the first game but showed up in time to examine the Big Easy’s injured hand and promptly placed him on the IR and Capt. Tucci handed him the clipboard. “In this great game of softball we all have to wear different caps to help the team, and since I couldn’t be out on the field for my teammates I decided to help the best way I could and manage the team” said E before adjourning to the locker room to discuss a way to spark the team’s line-up.

The team rolled out Koko back on the mound as he has become the team’s ultimate utility player studying the dynamics of the batters box playing catcher in the first game and then pitching the second for the team. “ “Most pitchers are too smart to manage and having some time off helped me figure out my mechanics a bit more” said Koko warming up ready to take the mound again.

The Beat downs were hot just finishing up a game they scored 17 runs in and continued their hot streak to start out against us as we relinquished 11 runs to start the game off. However, we made a change in the top of the line-up to put a spark in the team and it worked. AC lead off the game with by crushing a double down the right field line and it set the pace for us as everybody hit like champions as we felt the momentum rolling in our favor posting 11 runs ourselves to start the game. AC had a hell of a game even falling a single shy of the cycle including a crushing 3 run home run over the right field wall. “We got punched in the mouth to start things off, but we didn’t back down and came back swinging as our bats woke up this game” Capt’ Tucci said.

The lady Kai’s came out to support the team and were in high spirits cheering on the team which helped heat up our hitting. However, the wet field conditions and fatigue set in and our fielding started to falter a bit and we couldn’t get back on track relinquishing 23 runs proving to be too large of a deficit to overcome even with our offense running on all cylinders. “Baseball is ninety percent mental, the other half is physical and we came up just short on both accounts” DonJuan said after game. “The team had an offensive explosion in game 2 but we could not couple that with a great defensive effort like we had in game 1 to make a complete game. “We have a great team here, we just got to figure out a way to have the great defensive team show up at the same time as the great offensive team, that is the key. Once we figure that out we will be back on track” Roundhouse Reger said at the post game conference.

“Problems are the price you pay for progress, and Man may penetrate the outer reaches of the universe, he may solve the very secret of eternity itself, but for me, the ultimate human experience is to witness the Cobra Kai realize their full potential and show RedBug Lake our true greatness” Capt. Tucci said after the game as he was already game planning for our showdown this week with 1st place rival Bet on Black.

The great thing about our league is that it doesn’t matter what happened the game before, we got another one this Friday” the X-Man Xavy said as he left the field. The team looks for redemption and this is the perfect opportunity this Friday as we take on Bet on Black at 6:30 under the Friday night lights.