The visitors wasted no time putting pressure on the defense. Vandenberg led off with a base hit, followed by hits from Dennis, Gerry D, Luis, Kim, and Danny. Six consecutive batters reached safely, but despite the barrage of hits, the home team limited the damage to just two runs and avoided an even bigger inning.
The home team answered immediately. Stu led off with a double and was driven home by Jack's double. Ralph followed with a run-scoring hit to tie the game at 2-2 after one inning.
The bats stayed hot in the second. Brooks led off with a double, Jeff moved him around with a deep sacrifice fly, and singles from Wise and Adkins helped set the table. Mark reached safely and four runs crossed the plate to give the visitors a 6-2 advantage.
The home team responded in kind. Bales reached base on a single, Bingle drew a walk, Doug T doubled, and Gary D followed with a walk. Consecutive base hits from newcomer Nelson and Jerry drove in runs as the home team answered with four of its own, knotting the score at 6-6.
The visitors added two runs in the top of the third behind hits from Dennis and Kim, carrying an 8-6 lead into the bottom half of the inning.
Then came the most talked-about play of the afternoon.
Jack singled to start the inning but was forced out at second on Bob D's fielder's choice. JD followed with a single, Ralph singled, and Steve singled to load the bases after Bob D crossed the plate.
With JD on third, Ralph on second, and Steve on first, Bales hit a sharp ground ball to third. The third baseman fielded the ball on a hop and stepped on third base to force out Ralph, who was advancing from second.
What happened next created plenty of confusion.
JD remained standing on third base and was tagged by the third baseman. Many players thought it was a double play. However, once the force out on Ralph was recorded, the force was removed. JD was legally occupying third base and could not be retired simply by being tagged while standing on the bag. No throw was made home, and only one out was recorded on the play.
After sorting through the confusion, the umpire correctly ruled that play should continue.
The home team took advantage. Bingle collected his second walk of the game, forcing in a run. Bales advanced to third and Bingle moved to second. Doug T followed with a timely hit, and by the time the inning ended, the home team had scored five runs and moved in front 11-8.
The visitors answered right back in the fourth. Skidmore started the rally, and the offense kept rolling. Brooks, Jeff, Adkins, Mark, Kenny, and Vandenberg all contributed hits as five runs crossed the plate, putting the visitors back on top 13-11.
The home team answered once again in the bottom half, stringing together timely hits to plate three runs and reclaim the lead at 14-13.
The fifth inning brought more drama. The visitors scored twice to move back in front 15-14, but the home team had an answer. JD tripled and Ralph delivered the hit that brought him home, tying the game once again at 15-15 after five innings.
The visitors grabbed the lead again in the sixth. Jeff doubled, Wise doubled, and singles from Greg and Mark produced two more runs for a 17-15 advantage.
The home team trimmed the deficit to one run in the bottom of the sixth. Doug singled and Anderson followed with a double, helping bring home a run and making it a 17-16 contest heading into the final inning.
Knowing they needed a defensive stand, the home team delivered. Gerry D and Danny reached base for the visitors, but both were left stranded as the inning ended scoreless.
That set the stage for one final comeback.
The first batter was retired, but Stu then blasted a shot into right-center field and raced all the way to third for a triple. Jack came through again, lining a base hit that scored Stu and tied the game at 17-17 with one out.
The visitors regrouped and recorded the next two outs, ending the threat and bringing the game to a close.
No extra innings. No winner. Just a hard-fought battle featuring 34 total runs, clutch hits throughout both lineups, and one unusual rules play that had players discussing it long after the final out.
Final Score: Home 17, Visitors 17.