2nd Inning

P: We're back at beautiful Ottawa Stadium to start the second inning of
the Overlords-Senshi game with the Overlords coming to bat.  The Senshi
scored two runs last inning to take a two-nothing lead over the
Overlords.  But the Overlords aren't down yet, with Nephrite, Malachite,
and Ann coming up this inning.

C: Right you are.  And during the last commercial break, I went to the
first-aid station.  I shouldn't be hearing anymore noises.

P: That's good to hear.

SA: Batting fourth, the right fielder, Nephrite!

C: The clean-up hitter, Nephrite is hitting .337 with 23 home runs and
54 RBIs.  He has been a tough out for the Senshi this year.  There is
also a rumor that he has been seeing the first base umpire, Molly.

P: That was true, but Molly is now seeing the third bar umpire, Melvin.
Tuxedo Mask gets into his wind-up.  The pitch, a slider that drops for
strike one.

C: You know, the home plate umpire, Greg, seems to call the pitch before
it crosses the plate.

P: How many batting practices did you take in your career without your
helmet?

C: A few each season.  Why?

P: No reason.  Tuxedo Mask pitches from the wind-up.  A fastball.
Nephrite swings and punches the ball into left field.  Sailor Neptune
chases it into the corner.  Nephrite rounds first.  Sailor Neptune comes
up with the ball and throws it back, but Nephrite is standing on second
with a double.

C: And let's see that again on instant replay!

[start replay]

P: No reason.  Tuxedo Mask pitches from the wind-up.  A fastball.
Nephrite swings and punches the ball into left field.  Sailor Neptune
chases it into the corner.  Nephrite rounds first.  Sailor Neptune comes
up with the ball and throws it back, but Nephrite is standing on second
with a double.

[end replay]

P: Er, this isn't television.

C: Oops!

P: And while you were doing replay, Nephrite ran back to first base.

C: Why would he do that?

P: Beats me, but it seems he's over on first now.

C: Maybe he's investigating those noises.

P: Why do you even bother thinking?

C: Hey, it's no bother at all.

P: I wonder how to score that...

C: Miss Haruna's doing the scorekeeping of today's game, right?

P: Nephrite returns to second, checking his shoes.

SA: Batting fifth, the catcher, Malachite!

C: Malachite is batting .321 with 24 home runs and 40 RBIs.  He also has
been tough to get out this season, but the Senshi have done it before.

P: Tuxedo Mask will be pitching from the stretch.  He shakes off the
first signal from Sailor Venus.  He shakes off another.  And another.
Sailor Venus runs out to the mound.  They are discussing the pitch.
Tuxedo Mask is shaking his head.  My, what a big sweat drop on his head.
Looks like they've agreed on the pitch.  Sailor Venus returns behind the
plate.  Tuxedo Mask pitches from the stretch.  The pitch is a
knuckleball?!?  Malachite didn't see that coming.  He swings and misses
for strike one.

C: And the look on Malachite's face is priceless as he watches the ball
cross the plate after he's finished swinging.

P: Nephrite stayed on second.  He's called time.  I guess it's to
recover from laughing.  Greg starts the game again.  Malachite steps
into batter's box.  Nephrite takes his lead.  From the stretch, the
pitch, a fastball.  Malachite smashes it between first and second past a
diving Sailor Moon.  Sailor Jupiter charges the ball.  Nephrite stops at
third.  Malachite holds on first as Sailor Jupiter fires the ball to
Sailor Saturn covering second.

C: There it is again!  Listen!

P: [...]

SA: Batting sixth, the shortstop, Ann!

C: Ann is batting .253 with 5 home runs and 27 RBIs.  Her brother is
Alan, the Overlords' first baseman.

P: Tuxedo Mask is in a tough spot now.  Men at first and third, none
out.  He has never faced Ann before and so doesn't know what she can do.
Tuxedo Mask waves off the sign from Sailor Venus.  He gets one he likes.
He checks Malachite at first.  Tuxedo Mask throws to first.  Malachite
dives back into first.

C: I know I heard something this time!

P: Then why didn't Malachite? [...]  Ann gets back in the batter's box.
Tuxedo Mask is still pitching from the stretch.  The pitch, a sweeping
curve for ball one.

C: Tuxedo Mask is having a hard time this inning after he got the
Overlords in order in the first.

P: That he is.  He's ready in the stretch.  The pitch, a fastball.  Ann
hits a chopper over Sailor Saturn's head.  Sailor Mercury grabs the ball
but there's no play that she can make.  Nephrite scores!

C: Tough break for Tuxedo Mask.  But it could have been worse if Sailor
Mercury hadn't been backing up Sailor Saturn.  And I know - Don't give
me that look.  I know what I heard.

Background Noise (BN): >CLUNK< >thunk< >thunk< >thunk<

C: Feel better?

P: [...]

SA: Batting seventh, the left fielder, The Tennis Youma!

C: A two sport player ...

P: What *ever* gave you that idea?

C: Her name.  Anyways, she's batting .240 with 3 home runs and 19 RBIs.

P: She comes to the plate with runners at first and second and none out.

C: This could be the beginning of a big inning for the Overlords if
Tuxedo Mask isn't careful.

P: Tuxedo Mask checks Malachite at second.  He goes into his stretch.
The pitch, a slider looked at for strike one.

C: Tuxedo Mask shouldn't worry about Malachite stealing second.  He only
has ten stolen bases this season.

P: Tuxedo Mask pitches from the stretch, another slider.  The Youma
swings and misses for strike two.

C: Tuxedo Mask seems to be recovering from his problems earlier this
inning.

P: The Tennis Youma steps back into the batter's box.  Tuxedo Mask
receives his sign from Sailor Venus.  Again from the stretch, outside!
for ball one.  The count is one-and-two, still none out.

BN: Hot dogs!  Get yer hot dogs!

P: The Tennis Youma steps back into the batter's box.  Tuxedo Mask
pitches from the stretch.  A fastball, cutting the inside corner for
strike three! and the first out of the inning.

SA: Batting eight, playing second base, Zoisite!

C: >Gulp< Zoisite is hitting .231 with one home run and 19 RBIs.  Queen
Beryl is not pleased with Zoisite's performance of late.

P: Zoisite steps into the batter's box.  Tuxedo Mask checks the runners.
The defense is at double-play depth.

C: Zoisite is hitless in her last ten at bats.

P: The pitch, a breaking ball.  Zoisite connects, sending it between
second and third.  Sailor Saturn dives for the ball and comes up with
it!  She shovels the ball to Sailor Mercury for one! and on to Sailor
Moon for two! What an amazing play!  An inning ending double-play
strands one runner, but the Overlords do get on the board with one run
on three hits and one runner left on.  After one and a half innings of
play, the score is Senshi 2, Overlords 1.

Coming up after the break:
Sailor Saturn
Tuxedo Mask
Sailor Mars (1/1, 1 run scored, SB)

[Commercial for Zippo lighters featuring Sailor Mars]

P: Welcome back to Ottawa Stadium, where the Senshi lead the Overlords
by a score of two to one.

C: And what an amazing play to end the top of the second.  Let's watch
it again!

[start replay]

P: The pitch, a breaking ball.  Zoisite connects, sending it between
second and third.  Sailor Saturn dives for the ball and comes up with
it!  She shovels the ball to Sailor Mercury for one! and on to Sailor
Moon for two! What an amazing play!

[end replay]

P: This *isn't* television.

C: Oops!

P: Yeah, oops.  Coming to bat this inning are Sailor Saturn, Tuxedo
Mask, and Sailor Mars.  This inning brought to you by Contucky Fried
Chicken.

C: This is the weakest part of the Senshi's batting order.

SA: Batting eight, the shortstop, Sailor Saturn!

C: Sailor Saturn is batting .183 with no home runs and 12 RBIs.  She has
scored 20 runs this season.

P: But she is outstanding in the infield.

C: No she isn't, she's at bat.

BN: >SMACK!<

P: Jadeite gets his signals from Malachite.  He winds up, and pitches.
A fastball!  Sailor Saturn swings! and misses for strike one.

C: She swung on a pitch nowhere near her strike zone.  Obviously,
Artemis needs to work with her more for her batting.

P: Sailor Saturn gets back into the box.  Jadeite gets his sign, winds
up.  The pitch!  A slider that drops low for ball one.  One and one.
Sailor Saturn composes herself before returning to the batter's box.
Jadeite winds up, pitches, a fastball!  Sailor Saturn swings! and hits a
chopper up the middle.  Ann comes up with it and throws! Sailor Saturn
out at first for one out.

C: And here come Luna and Sailor Moon to check on her.  Sailor Saturn
seems a little winded.  I'd be surprised to see her last the game.

SA: Batting ninth, the pitcher, Tuxedo Mask!

C: Tuxedo Mask is hitting .300 this season, with one home run and 19
RBIs.  His numbers remind me of the former Expo pitcher Dan Schatzeder.

P: That they do.  Tuxedo Mask settles in the batter's box.  Jadeite gets
his sign and pitches.  Whoa!  Inside for ball one.  Tuxedo Mask had to
dive to avoid that one.

C: Sailor Jupiter was barely restrained by her teammates to keep her
from charging the mound.

P: Tuxedo Mask gets off the ground and gets back into the batter's box.

C: And not a speck of dirt stayed on him.

P: Jadeite winds up and pitches.  Tuxedo Mask swings! and misses a
slider for strike one.  The count is one-and-one with one out.

C: Jadeite certainly overcame the problems he had in the top of the
first, when he had trouble getting ahead of the batter.

P: Jadeite pitches from the wind-up.  A fastball, crushed! by Tuxedo
Mask.  It's going back! back!  Racy's at the warning track and! she
grabs! it for the second out of the inning.

C: Tough luck for Tuxedo Mask.

SA: Now batting, Sailor Mars!

C: Sailor Mars is one for one, with a stolen base and a run scored.

P: Sailor Mars steps up to bat.  Jadeite looks in.  The pitch, a hanging
slider.  Sailor Mars gets a piece of it.  The infielders move in and Ann
snags the ball for the third out.  And the Senshi go down in order
one-two-three.  And after two innings of play, the Senshi lead the
Overlords by a score of two-to-one.  This inning was brought to you by
Contucky Fried Chicken.

Due up:
Jadeite
Racy (0/1, Strikeout)
Rubeus (0/1)

[Commercial for Sailor Moon hair coloring, in blonde, brunette, black,
and new pink and purple!]