5/5 Game Two Re-Cap

on loan from the bhall archival institute


Softball, say the ancient Greeks, is morally serious because mankind's noblest aim is the loving contemplation of worthy things. I'd say that statement is decidedly apropos in light of yesterday's game.

Softball Guy showed vast improvement but ultimately fell to the hated "iwerkers and Frog" ballclub in a 17-15 heartbreaker on an ambrosial Cinco de Mayo evening in Royal Oak.
The weather warmed up and so did the bats as the exceedingly locker room cancerous B.Hall was out of the lineup. The run production was eerily evocative to the 1993 Cecil Fielder/Rob Deer Detroit Tigers as Eve, T-Bone, and Hank all raked towering homeruns in the early stages of the contest.

The hitting, sparked by the return of T-Bone, Laura, Rosie, Tracey, and
Maurer to the lineup, was phenomenal. The base running also improved,
lead by a reckless, aggressive, "take no prisoners" attitude on the base paths by K.Hall that harkened back to the days of Lenny Dykstra. And Laura's trusty right arm displayed a feathery, Frank Tanana-like touch on the mound.

Everything was going smoothly as Softball Guy built a commanding 13-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 4th inning. It appeared victory was assured because the other team had players that could loosely be described as "aging beatniks" and "nerds." However, we've all come to learn that nothing is assured in the outrageously unpredictable "Level D Recreational Softball League."
In this league there are more twists and turns than a preposterously inexplicable episode of Beverly Hills 90210 such as the one where a pseudo mulleted Steve Sanders fell out of a airplane from 30,000 feet and inexplicably walked away with only "minor bruises." Our "90210 moment" came in the bottom of the 4th inning. 29 Softball Guy errors in the inning opened the flood gates for 10 unearned runs and "iwerkers and Frog" rallied to tie the score at 13-13.
It was a back and forth affair from that point forward and both teams exchanged runs. In the bottom of the 5th, Lisa Shoskey, in an emphatic stroke of Byzantine whimsy, made a game saving catch of a sharply hit line drive to left. That allowed Softball Guy to hold a 15-14 lead until "some 47 year old comic book lover" hit a 3 run homer to give "iwerkers and Frog"
a 17-15 lead in the bottom of the sixth. That score would stand as Softball Guy gamely and heroically attempted a comeback but fell just short.

The post-game banter at 24 Seconds was ambrosial. One kid recklessly put down 5 Bud Heavy's. There were detailed discussions about a possible Cornhole Tournament this summer. Good times were had by all.

Game #2 MVP: Jeff Tessmer, 3-for-3, 1HR, 4 RBI's, 3 Runs Scored. Tessmer is the rare breed of player who can dominate a game yet make it look easy.
Several pundits have called his swing the "purist in the league." His mere presence in the lineup lead to a 13 run improvement from the first game.
Plus his heady, loving, tender leadership is reminiscent of how Andrea Zuckerman ran the newspaper at West Beverly high... efficient, precise, and driven. If you have kids, or young nephews/nieces who are starting to play softball, bring them to a game and have them study Tessmer. He plays the right way.

Game #2 Buffalo Wild Wing's Defensive Play of the Game brought to you by Masterlock and Presented by Levitra: Lisa Shoskey's catch of a line drive in left. That was about as hard of a hit line drive as you will find.
Lisa remained calm and made an outstanding catch. I, for one, would've gotten the h3ll out of the way. The catch held the lead for Softball Guy and was a remarkable display of courage and heart. It was as beautiful of David Silver's hit song, "It's You Babe." Well played, Lisa. Well played, indeed.