The Just a Bit Outside Softball Club's mens team had to fight off a slow offensive start, battle through tough light conditions and overcome a quick mid-week turnaround, but the team put together a late offensive surge and was able to hold on to defeat 4 Corners Pharmacy on Thursday night by a score of 12 - 11, running their record to a historic best start of 4 - 0.

So far this season, the team has gotten out to fast starts against their opponents and relied on two quality pitchers to confuse their opponents. But after 4 innings of play, and while the quality pitching remained, the offense was asleep as the team found themselves with only 4 runs, and down 7 - 4.

Everything changed with the first four batters in the 5th inning. Chris Furman led off the inning on a sharp single to left-center, and scored on the very next batter, rookie Dan McKittrick's double to center. He then scored on an AJ Haynes triple, who then scored on Matt Relyea's double. 4 batters, 3 extra base hits, 3 runs to tie the game at 7.

In the 6th, Steve Kawzack singled, and Furman's double gave McKittrick two more runs to bat in with another solid single to center.

And just like that, JABO had a 9-7 lead.

And the offense didn't stop in the 7th, either. Singles by Art Wise (who was pinch-run for by Ryan Phelps-Franco), Danny Benitez and Jimmy Morocco gave the team one last hope for extra runs. And consecutive singles by Steve Kawczak (plating 2) and Jon Noonan (plating a 3rd), gave the team a 12 - 7 cushion.

The team needed all the cushion they could get, as 4 Corners started to drop singles in during the 7th inning. With 3 runners having already crossed the plate, Noonan was ejected from the game for obstruction by attempting a fake-tag on the runner advancing to third. The defense adjusted and made the final 2 outs before 4 Corners could get their final run across, and escaped with a 12 - 11 victory.

"This was a much-needed win for us," said Coach Furman after the game. "We needed a game where we struggled a little and had to fight back, and we did just that. These guys don't have any quit in them, and it was great to see the team pull together and get the win tonight."

Danny Benitez (3-0, 10.50 ERA) pitched well to earn a complete game win for the team.

The club's next game is Wednesday, May 26, pitting the top two teams in the B3 National divison, as they face WB Roofing & Sheet Metal. Game time is 7:30pm at Field of Dreams.