Bounder Healer Resigns Over Injury Fears

By Merimas Tussock

BYWATER - Bywater managed to retain second place in the Hobbit Division thanks to a moderate 3-3 week, although Wilderland's 5-1 means the Bounders will have to work even if they want to reclaim first place. A double of one-run victories over Old Forest started the week with promise, and obviously infuriated Tom Bombadil. The third game was marred by the injury to Erakar Bugbearkiller after Old Forest's star pitcher Vortai Tinalith hit him with a wild pitch; team morale dropped, and the Bounders were unable to prevent the Fellows taking the game 3-0.

The team's injury worries continued as they travelled to Lake Town; with Vorzava Tinond bruising his hand while making a catch, and Gorolbo Gollialf bruising his hip in a collision with a reckless Archer at home plate. This time the Bounders kept up a strong performance, though, and managed to keep the loss to a respectable 7-5 despite the Archer's advantages. Unfortunately the Archers built on that victory the next day, as they romped to a 9-5 victory. The Bounders actually held a reasonable 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the 4th when the venerable Vishnak Spearpunisher decided to do something special before he retired. With 5 RBIs and 3 HRs the Archers were 8-4 up by the top of the 6th and the game was as good as over.

Bywater's swingers managed to end the week on a high note as the road trip lead them on to Cirith Ungol--although the pitchers from both sides would probably rather forget the game, with the Bounders managing an average ERA of 7.30 and the Spiders 7.37, as the batters of both teams racked up a few personal bests. The Spiders took a pretty convincing early lead, but the Bounders bounced back in the end to take the game 20-12.

Away from the field Dr. Tamuríl Elensar, who was only hired at the start of the season, resigned by mutual consent. In a statement the team said, "Following the recent run of events the good doctor decided to take a less demanding position in her home town of Archet. Obviously having started her career in Bree-land with the Cheese, it's hoped that fans in the area will have forgiven and forgotten the incidents of last year."

Posted at October 7, 2003 01:14 PM | more from Bywater