The Dragons lost two games in a row at Mira Mesa’s Hourglass Community Park in Open Division C play on April 30.

The American Finest City Softball League’s Lumberjacks exploded offensively, posting a 21-4 win over the Dragons, while Flicks was able to post their first win of the season with a 10-8 victory over the Dragons.

The Dragons’ Rick Craven hit a short base hit to the second baseman, but was safe at the bag. Jim Brady followed with a line drive to the shortstop for a double play. Greg Berger managed a base hit off an error and was followed by Anthony Terrea, who hit a powerful drive between right and center fields for a homerun, resulting in the first two runs of the game.

The Lumberjacks took the bat with Brad Sentek hitting a base hit to left field. Matthew Hernandez followed with a base hit down the center of the infield. Todd Casagrande drove in the Lumberjacks’ first run with a base hit down right field. A couple of short base hits peppered with a couple of pop flies resulted in the Lumberjacks scoring four runs in the first inning for a 4-2 lead. They never looked back, as the Dragons could not produce much more offense.

During the Lumberjacks’ next at bat, they capitalized on holes and the Dragons made a couple of errors in both the infield and outfield that resulted in six more runs for the Lumberjacks in the second inning. The Dragons managed only two more runs over the next three innings, while the Lumberjacks managed 11 more.

The Lumberjacks were consistently hitting base hits, while the Dragons were having a hard time keeping the ball down, as most of their hits were pop-up flies that were easily caught. The Lumberjacks stand at 3-3 for the season, tied with Shameless and Martinis Above Fourth for fourth place in the C Division standings.

The Dragons played more solidly against Flicks. In the first inning Flicks’ Bill Mora fouled out, followed by a short hit by Greg Harpenau, but good fielding by the Dragons made them pay at first base for the second out. Wyatt Strehlaw hit it short, and was safe at the bag. Mike Stieber tried to repeat, but another good play resulted in the third out.

At the Dragons’ next at bat, Michael Portantino hit the ball past the second baseman for a single. Kip Marquis then hit a double off an error at first base, but it also resulted in the first out. Jerred Riggs popped out to second base, while Rick Morris popped out to left field for the final out. There were no scores for either team in the first inning.

The second inning saw a number of base hits by Flicks, primarily in the infield. A couple of good base hits and a double drove in four runs for Flicks before the Dragons could make the final out.

In the bottom of the second inning, Terrea hit past the shortstop for a solid base hit. Berger then hit a pop fly to the pitcher, but thanks to the sun’s angle directly overhead, the pitcher dropped it and he was safe at first. A tag was made at second base, giving up the second out. The pitcher gave up a walk on the next batter, which was followed by a solid base hit by Craven. The bases were loaded with two outs, but a pop fly by Portantino was caught in left field and the Dragons ended the inning with only one run scored.

During the next inning, three Flicks players hit base hits to load the bases with one out, but Shawn Renken hit the ball short and the Dragons made the double play to end the inning with no runs scored.

The Dragons came in pumped off the good play in the next inning. Riggs hit a line drive down third base. A couple of base hits and a couple of sacrifices drove in four runs for the Dragons. The fourth inning saw Flicks drive in two more runs from base hits and two doubles down left field.

Flicks hit a couple of base hits and managed to drive in two more runs in the top of the fifth inning as the Dragons were struggling to stay in the game, trailing four runs at the bottom of the fifth inning.

The first three batters for the Dragons only managed a base hit and two outs, but two base hits later, the bases were loaded. Portantino hit two foul balls, but managed to connect with the third pitch and hit a triple off a dropped pop fly to right field. The Dragons scored four more runs in this inning, tying the game 8-8. Flicks then took the bat and managed to drive in two decisive runs on a double hit by Harpenau. During their last at bat, the Dragons couldn’t manage to get the ball past Flicks, and only managed a single.

Flicks improved to 1-5, while the Dragons slipped to 1-5.

“After starting the season 2-0 with two pretty decisive wins, the wind got knocked out of sails a bit when those wins were erased because of a scheduling error,” Flicks player/captain Roman Jimenez said. “We spent the next few weeks swallowing our pride a bit, and it was nice to get back on the winning side, and hopefully this will turn our season around. It was a good win against a quality team.”

On Sunday, May 7, AFCSL games begin at 9:00 a.m. at both Poway and Hourglass fields. For more information, visit www.afcsl.org.