The Flames played their best overall game of the season on Friday night as they defeated the host St. Martin Martins 5-2 on a hot and sticky night. 

In the third inning, Chad Mergen led off with an infield single.  Ian Hoffarth grounded out, followed by Zach Posteric's single to right.  Zach took second on the throw to third.  Derrick Roush flew out to shallow right, with both runners holding.  Greg Holthaus reached on an error, with both Chad and the speedy Zach scoring all the way from second.

The Flames got two more runs in the seventh.  Zach singled, and Derrick was hit by a pitch.  Greg hit a broken back groundout, with both runners advancing.  After a strikeout, John Theis drilled a clutch single down the right field line, scoring both Zach and Derrick.

The boys plated an insurance run in the ninth inning.  After two were out, John drilled a double to center.  Aaron Nett, on an 0-2 count, lined a single up the middle, scoring John.

Farming made several nice plays in the field.  With the score 2-1 Flames in the sixth inning, Aaron fielded a swinging bunt between the mound and third, and tagged out a St. Martin running trying to score.  In the second with the Martins threatening, Greg turned a nice 6-4-3 double play to end the rally.  And all three outfielders, Ryan Schleper in left, Ian in center, and John in right, made outstanding catches during the game.

On the mound, the crafty and wily veteran Aaron Nett outdueled his brother Ryan to get the win.  Aaron went 8 innings giving up just the two run.  He got several key outs in tough situations to thwart Martin rallies.  At the plate, he drilled a fourth inning double off his brother (although Ryan smoked a couple as well).  Zach came on in the ninth and pitched a solid inning to get the save.

I'll put the game stats up as soon as they are on the SCL website.

With the win, the Flames now have a one game lead over Roscoe for the fourth and final playoff spot in the South Division (Roscoe lost to New Munich on Sunday).  Next week, the Flames travel to Avon for a non league game on Wednesday, July 9, at 6:30pm.  They then host the Meire Grove Grovers on Sunday, July 11th, in the last regular season game of the season.  Game time is 1:30pm.