Club softball team advances to second weekend of playoffs

The National Press Club softball team is on an unprecedented run through the Metropolitan Media Softball League Playoffs, moving on to the second day for the first time in team history after beating 6-seeded USA Today, 7-5, and then upending the 2-seed Washington Post, 5-3, on June 29.

The Club never trailed in either game, and now advances to play top-seed Comcast Sports Net at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 13.

We didn't hit like our usual, explosive selves yesterday, but we generate just enough offense. Outstanding defense around the field, and especially from Sophia Cope, as well as gritty pitching from Ryan Donmoyer and Jim Rubin carried the day.

In game one, it was a pair of runs in the bottom of the 6th that provided the winning margin. Ted Costigan singled and one out later Sarahanne Driggs drew a walk. With both of them in scoring position, and the home plate umpire telling him not to choke, John Domen was able to bloop one just difficult enough for a USA Today defender to drop,
bringing in both runs.

Every other time the Club scored, USA Today would match that total in their next at-bat. But in the 7th, Donmoyer shut it down to earn the win.

In game two, it was zeros across the scoreboard until the top of the third. A single from Sophia Cope was followed by walks from Jim Rubin and Laura Faul to load the bases.

Cope scored on a fielder's choice, while Faul would come around on a single from Ted Costigan. Two more runs came around in the fourth, when Derrick Gingery dropped a single
down the right field line to drive in Sarahanne Driggs and Domen for a 4-0 lead.

After the Post rallied for a run to make it 4-1, an insurance run came through in the fifth, when Raphael Mazzone led off with a walk and came around on singles from Clay Kaufman and Ted Costigan.

The league takes the July 4th weekend off. We'll wrap up the season on July 13, as we attempt to bring home our first ever MMSL Championship.