Marlay Martyrs finished their home season with a 7-6 win over the Blazzers in a very tight game on Tuesday Night

After a free for all batting duel in week 1 (25-23) of the season between the two teams this game promised so much but delivered so little. That is not to say the game wasn't exciting as these evenly matched teams fought out a close game.

It would be fair to say that Marlay felt they left the first game behind them, throwing away a 12 run lead and I would suspect the Blazzers feel the same after Tuesday's game as they had more hits and left 7 runners over the course of the game.

The game had started well from Marlay who after giving up a lead off single to Jens (he reached second on a fielding error) retired the next three batters. Bottom of 1 saw Oz lead off with a triple who scored on a bloop right field single from Melanie Cunningham. An error by the Blazzers second base man saw Marlay put runners on 1 and 2 and what could have been the moment of the game as the Blazzers shortstop overthrew one on attempted unassisted triple play as the runner from 1 was caught in no man's land but Richie overthrew 1. A two out RBI single gave Marlay a 2-1 lead at the bottom of 1.

Second inning saw the bats come alive for both teams as the Blazzers rallied score three runs on 1 hit after an infield error and a walk. With the score now 2 - 3, Marlay responded with the bottom of the order kicking it all off with a 2 base bomb from Kelly starting the wheels in motion. Marlay scored 5 with both Melanie and Michelle hitting RBI SAC Flys to get the runs over the plate and Marlay leading 7-3.

It appears that Marlay decided to put their bats back in their bags after the second inning as they only recorded two more hits over the next four innings and only some good defence and sucicidal base running by the Blazzers kept the score to 7-5 going into the top of 7. Blazzer went into top of 7 at 1, 2, 3 in their order and things were looking good for Marlay as Jens lined out to Colum in left field and Patsi grounded to short-stop. With 2 outs Marlay still led 7-5 and going to plan. The wheels then came off a little as an error on the Short stop allowed Dermot get to one and Ruth then lined to Right Centre . . . the to two was good, but on a very tight 50/50 call on the force out Dermot was safe on second. Two further bloop singles to left field scored Dermot, loaded the bases and put the tieing run on three. If Marlay were nervous they didn't show it with the Richie from the Blazzer grounding to Ronan to make the 6-4 play finish the game for Marlay.

Overall the Blazzers would be right to be disappointed as this is a game they probably could and should have won. That being said, it was probably about time Marlay won a close game.

This fixture brought and end to Marlay Martyrs home games for the season and they finish with a respectable 5&3 record in all competitions. Martyrs now have 2 games remaining, first up on August 25 is the completion of the away game to Sluggers followed by the last game of the season @ Renegades. The Martyrs will be looking to win both these and confirm themselves in the top four in the premier division.