Parrotheads toss Sal's Pizza, 8-7, on the road

Parrotheads veteran Bob Cook made sure he ate a delicious, gooey Boston Creme donut that he chased down with a blueberry ice coffee before Thursday's game versus Sal's Pizza. The end result was two for three at the plate with five RBIs, including the game-winning runs in the top of the seventh to propel the Parrotheads to a thrilling 8-7 win over Sal's Pizza.
Parrotheads hurler Justin Palmer tossed a complete game, including three strikeouts backed up by great defense from outfielders Jason Claffey and Adrian Alford and sure handed shortstop Rodney Messier. And then there was Cook doing what he does best hitting clutch hit after clutch hit.
There was none more important than the double he smashed into the left centerfield gap all the way to the fence with two outs in the top of the seventh with the score tied at 6-6 scoring Alford and second baseman Jessica Morton.
"Cook has already been up with the bases loaded in this game and didn't cash in. His team really needs him to come through here to give them a chance to win this game. Cook digs in. Here's the pitch and Cook crushes a line drive to the gap that goes all the way to the wall! Alford scores, Morton scores, the Parrotheads are up 8-6! Break out the Crispy Cremes!"
Sal's Pizza managed to scratch out a run in the bottom of the seventh when the Parrotheads got a little sloppy with the ball in the infield, but Palmer and the defense shut the door for good to preserve the 8-7 win.
"This was the most fun I have had playing softball in I don't know when," said Palmer, who threw 75 pitches in another complete game while nursing a sore knee that he injured on a close play at the plate. "Everybody came through. This was a great win for us."
The Parrotheads were also short a female player and were forced to take an out in the line-up which shortened a few of the innings at the plate and forced the team to go with three outfielders in cavernous Pizzeria Stadium. But none of it mattered because the defense kept making plays behind Palmer's strong pitching.
Cook was glad that he could contribute to the victory after he made a few bad plays in right field.
"My team needed me to come through at the plate and I was able to do that. When I saw Palmie battle out there on a bum knee, I just knew there was no way we were going to let him down. This win was for you, big guy!"
The Parrotheads now stand at 3-6 and will play again on Sunday at 1 p.m. versus Post 47 at home at Goldstar Park. Let's hope Cook eats another Boston Creme donut and an ice coffee before the first pitch.