The Reed’s Liquor Blue Chill extended the Glory Days Softball League’s season one final week last Thursday by defeating Lehner Masonry, 4-1, to hand the Surfin’ Birds their first loss of the double-elimination postseason tournament.

Both teams now have one loss in their quest to win the inaugural league championship, which will be decided at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2 at J.P. Nicely Memorial Park in West Falls.

The Surfin’ Birds jumped to a 1-0 lead in the second inning as Larry Allen and Ken Mamon singled with just one out. Following a fielder’s choice putout, Ed Engels smacked a line-drive single to left field that scored Allen.

Birds’ pitcher Craig Zielin retired the first 10 Chill hitters, but a rare walk in the fourth frame to Frank Walsh changed this great defensive game. With two outs, Ken Struck followed with a single and Mike Hallinan hit a double to center field, scoring Walsh and Struck to give the Chill a 2-1 lead.

Dave Corbelli drove in Pete Rich for a 3-1 lead in the fifth, while Hallinan poked another RBI double that scored Struck in the sixth to close out the scoring.

The Birds went down in order in the fifth through seventh innings, as Hallinan and the Reed’s Liquor defense refused to bend. In a pitcher’s battle, Hallinan gave up just three hits, and Zielin only allowed five for Lehner Masonry. Boris Kuvshinoff and Struck had 14 putouts in the infield, which accounted for 70 percent of the Surfin’ Birds’ outs.

John Roedel made several running catches in the outfield, Ken Mamon had five putouts at third base and John Grabon added four from second base for the Birds.