MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- Third Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment Vets were at it again, pulling out all the stops against the Combat Service Support Group 3 Outlaws in an Intramural Baseball game aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Tuesday.

Even with the Outlaws’ new lineup filled with powerhouse hitters like Kenneth Davis, the Vets were able to get inside their opponents’ heads and outplay them for a 13-5 victory.

The Vets started early with two runs in the top of the first. Great defense from both teams kept the scoreboard stagnant for the second inning.

Solid single base hits from the Vets put 2 points on the board in the top of the third. The Outlaws did not lie down. They came alive in the bottom of the third with a solid connection from Davis.

The Vets’ solid defense did not allow anymore runs to get past them and put the Outlaws away quickly before they could do anymore damage.

In the fourth, the Vets were able to squeak in one run with a lot of hustle from Mark Ashby.

The score was 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs on the board, the Outlaws hung on. Solid hits and smart base running kept them alive long enough to get two more points on the board. 

Daryl Paullett, Vets’ pitcher, ended the Outlaws’ momentum, putting the next batter down with three solid strikes.

The Vets stepped up their game, but the Outlaws were not going to be rolled over so easily.

“We come out here and practice at least three times a week,” said William Flatt, Outlaws’ coach. “We can close the gap, if we keep solid and stick to the basics. It should only be 5 to 4, but one mistake can cause a lot of hurt.”

The game rolled into the top of the fifth with a score of 5-3 in favor of the Vets.

The Vets stuck to the basics and pounded out simple base hits, putting their runners in great position to score.
Paullett took advantage of his leading position on third and stole home on a catcher’s error, adding another point to the Vets lead.

Brian Thomas was next up to bat for the Vets. A straight pitch came right down the plate as Thomas made his cut. His swing caught the ball at just the right time, sending it sailing over the fence for his first home run.

The Vets’ players met Thomas as he crossed the plate to congratulate him, but the celebration was short-lived. There was still a game to win.

The Outlaws stepped up and put every Vets batter after Thomas down with relative ease. They then took to the plate for their shot at the fence.

Paullett gave up the mound to Justin Russell, another Vets pitcher in the bottom of the fifth. The Outlaws were able to get a few hits off Russell’s pitches, but the solid defense from the Vets infield kept them from being able to finish.

The Vets followed suit in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, the Outlaws launched nothing but fireworks that landed easily in the Vets’ gloves. Three up, three down; the sixth inning passed with the score still 7-3.

In the top of the seventh, the Vets held a comfortable lead, but it wasn’t enough for the run hungry team. They picked up one run before Thomas took to the mound again.

A solid double from Thomas brought in one RBI setting the score at 9-3. Thomas wasn’t the only big hitter. Gregory “Jokes” Dellavalle brought in two RBIs with a triple. A single from Mark Ashby brought Dellavalle across home plate.

The Outlaws made a last-minute switch and put Davis on the mound. The Vets were still able to put one more point on the board before the Outlaw’s defense put an end to their run.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Outlaws needed 10 runs to tie, and the Vets needed only three outs to seal their 13-3 victory. Davis worked his magic and nailed a solid hit, which brought in one run. With a little momentum on their side, the Outlaws clawed their way to a 13-5 ball game.

Still, the Vets weren’t going to let a come-from-behind victory take place. They put the Outlaws to bed, ending the game 13-5.

Even with an upsetting loss to Headquarters Battalion, the Vets season is a respectable 7-1. Though they may be number one in the league, Tim King, the Vets’ coach said he would not let that go to his team’s head.

“We played solid team ball tonight,” he added. “We had great pitching from Paullett and Russell, solid hitting from Thomas and great defense. We just have to stay focused and take it one game at a time.”

Thomas, who connected with the only home run of the night, agreed that victory is a total team effort.

“Good fielding kept their points low,” said Thomas, “and a lot of base hits kept our runs coming. The long balls just help to seal the deal.”