The true character of a team is not so evident as in the aftermath of a game in which they get blown out.   Two things the women of Derby displayed all year long was a short memory and a ‘never say die’ attitude.   The Invasion were focused on getting the job done and sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning and scoring four of them.  

Katie continued her hot hitting, and after getting three hits in the first game led off game 2 with a single.   After a base hit by Renae, Jewels drove in Katie with a single and Renae came across the plate on a hit by Elizabeth.   Jewels scored on a hit by Abby and Elizabeth scored on a wild pitch as Derby led after the top half of the first, 4-0.

Playing on a baseball field with a sloping outfield can make it difficult to stop a ball hit between outfielders and the Chaparral team scored their first run on a ball driven into right center that rolled and rolled for a home run to cut the lead to 4-1.  

Derby went quietly in the second, but Chaparral kept the pressure on scoring two in the second with the first run of the inning coming on a lead off home run – for those keeping track at home, that’s two.   The Invasion women took a slim 4-3 lead into the top of the 3^rd inning.   With one out Elizabeth joined the home run party with one of her own with the bases empty.   Morgan was hit by a pitch and scored on a triple by Abby Shinkle who scored on a wild pitch.   With game one fresh in their minds, Derby took a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the 3^rd inning knowing Chaparral’s explosive potential made no lead safe.

After a lead off single in the bottom of the third, Chaparral followed with two more hits and scored a run, but the Derby defense played well and Elizabeth finished the inning with a strikeout of the number 6 batter in the order.  

With Derby leading 7-4, Jewels led off the fourth for Derby with the second of her three hits for the game.   After a walk to Laurel, both she and Jewels scored on a single by Abby.   Abby then stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on another.   The three runs increased the Derby lead to 10-4.

Chaparral chipped away at the Derby lead with, you guessed it, another bases empty home run (the third for Chaparral and the fourth of the game) followed by another run scoring on a triple and wild pitch.   The two runs trimmed the Invasion lead to 10-6.