MARYSVILLE — In a softball doubleheader, anyone can get tired.

Incredibly though, Mike’s Machines batted about once an inning on average to defeat Coastal Community Bank 25-21 in the second game of their July 23 meeting.

“We don’t usually score that many runs in the second game,” said Machines player Jamie Elvrom. “Usually when we’re down … you can put a fork in us.”

Batting second, Mike’s always seemed to have an answer for the Coastal offense, which led by as many as nine runs after a blockbuster fifth inning in which they scored eight runs from 12 of their 14 batters. Captain Mike Hern, who lends his name to the team, and shortstop Ryan McKernan were perfect at bat going 6-for-6 and 5-for-5 respectively with McKernan earning a homer in his final at bat. Hern led the team in RBIs with nine, including three a piece in his back-to-back triples in the third and fifth innings.

However, Mike’s chased an equally impressive Coastal team to their high-scoring victory and Coastal wasn’t without some fine hitting of their own. To tally 21 runs, Coastal needed solids hits from their entire roster of some 14 names. Three of their batters were perfect at bat as well, led by Eric Wilson whose second-inning grand slam gave Coastal an early 6-1 lead.

In the bottom of the second, Mike’s tied the game up at 6-6, but the bankers were stingy on defense in the third inning and started to pull away, gaining a 3-2 advantage in the inning thanks to a double play turned by shortstop Leon St. Ong and a long throw from left field to keep Hern from earning a home run.

McKernan responded with a double play for Mike’s, holding Coastal to three up and three out.

The bankers then went on a tear for a two-out rally in the fifth, scoring five of their eight runs in the inning after flying out.

Once again, Mike’s proved up to the challenge, winning a few close calls and closing the gap. Stephanie McBryde started them off with a double and Mike’s scored five runs before their first out, eventually accumulating a one-run lead. Coastal rallied again in the sixth inning, retaking the lead at 21-18, but with the Machines’ seven runs in the bottom of the sixth, Mike’s team proved indestructible.

“It was a good game,” said Hern. “The other team played really hard.”

At M-P H.S.

Coastal Community Bank 0 6 3 0 8 4 0 21

Mike’s Machines 1 5 2 0 10 4 x 25