Gunn staff members went head to head in their heated annual softball game on May 28. Teachers from various departments split up into two teams and took the field ready to bat and field grounders.

“The teams were originally supposed to be split up into math [and] science teachers versus everyone else,” math teacher Dave Deggeller said. “But only [a few] teachers from other departments showed up, so we just split up.” The “Guest” team beat the “Titans” team 20-10.

Math teacher Chris Redfield started the contest off with a bang when he knocked in a two-run homer over the center field fence in the top of the first inning to put the Guest team up 2-0. Stephanie Ciralli, also a math teacher, scored on the play.

Theater teacher Jim Shelby singled in math teacher Chis Karas in the bottom of the first inning to get the Titans on the board 1-2, with Deggeller immediately following up by hitting a pitch out of the park in the top of the second for the Guest team. With two outs, Physical Education teacher and JV softball coach Steve Ames knocked yet another ball out of the field. Physics teacher Laurie Pennington singled in Ciralli to make the score 4-1, Guests.

The Titans had a strong third inning, with science teacher Bakari Holmes, Karas and Shelby scoring. Ames hit his second home run in the bottom of the third inning, making the score 4-5 Guests.Science teacher Katie Morgan drove in Holmes in the top of the fourth inning, and Morgan reached home one play later on a double by Karas. Science teacher Maria Powell, the varsity softball coach, singled in Karas.

Deggeller sent his second ball of the day over the fence, followed by a grand slam by Ames, who drove in math teacher Peter Herreschoff, social studies teacher John Herbert and science teacher Lisa Wu to put the Guests up for good, 11-7, a lead they held until the end.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Guests scored seven runs, with Ames scoring two and Herbert, Wu, Deggeller and science teacher Angela Merchant scoring one apiece. Math teacher Josh Paley drove in Merchant in the top of the seventh, and Holmes drove in math teacher Rachel Congress, Paley and scored due to fielding errors. Ames knocked his fourth ball over the fence in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two.

As indicated by the high score, the game was marked by strong offense on both teams. Ames led all batters, hitting the ball out of the park at every at-bat. He scored four times and had eight runs batted in (RBI). Redfield went five for five, and Deggeller went six for six with three RBI.

Highlights of the game included Wu’s eyes-closed catch in the outfield, Shelby’s diving catches at first base and Ames’ grand slam. Sophomore Holt Bowmer enjoyed watching his teacher battle it out on the field. “Teachers are so much cooler when they’re not teaching,” he said.