6/9 Game Six Re-Cap

Contributing Editor, Mr. Hall


There's a goofy saying amongst self help gurus and motivational speaking con artists... "When life offers you a lemon, it's up to you to turn it into lemonade."

Last night we offered up a lemon in a sour, "citric acidy" ball game that resulted in a 16-2 beatdown at the hands of the hated TSC Butt Connectors (heretofore known as "TSC BC") on a muggy Monday evening in Royal Oak. It was truly a humbling and bender inducing experience.

There's no way to sugar coat it, we have a very Schizophrenic ballclub. We are eerily reminiscent of the mid-1990's, teal clad Detroit Pistons. There are times when we look like world beaters and everything clicks. There are other times, like last night, when everything goes wrong. It's been a thrilling roller coaster ride of a season. The highs have brought tears of joy and ecstasy. The lows have given deep emotional scars that last 2 minutes until we go to 24 Seconds and joke about the game. I happen to like the roller coaster. As the old grandma gracefully says in the movie "Parenthood," the ups and downs of the roller coaster make life fun.

What can you really say about this stinker? One thing you can certainly do is make fun of the other team. They were very, very good. But their shortstop did resemble Matthew McConaughty and was wearing fashionable pants to the game (in the rough and tumble neighborhood a few of us grew up in, that d-bag would be known as a "cake eater"). Their guys were great players but were probably in the same frat house as Steve Sanders was at 90210 University (the outrageously deplorable Anglo sexton fraternity known as the "KEG house"). Bottom line though, they were a great team.

As for our performance, it wasn't all bad. There were some nice hits and great defensive plays. Hank, in an emphatic stroke of Byzantine whimsy, made a great backhanded stab and off balanced throw from SS to record an out. He trusted his arm and he trusted himself. It was a thing of beauty.

B.Hall made a decent sliding catch in left field to record the first out in the disastrous 12-run TSC BC 3rd inning. And T-Bone and Karen recorded an enthralling double play in the 4th.

Yesterday was just one of those days, and as the song says, mama said there'd be days like this. Softball Guy undoubtedly has the intestinal fortitude to recover and turns last Monday's lemon into next Monday's lemonade. Let's go get 'em!

Game 4 MVP: Lisa Shoskey. Those who have known Lisa for a while know about her athletic prowess. She's an accomplished star on the basketball court, soccer pitch, and softball field. Her performance and effort was unmatched yesterday. She got us going with our first hit of the ball game. She also played a great defensive game. When you play out in the outfield and see Lisa standing next to you in left-center field, it's a very comforting feeling... almost akin to waking up on X-Mas morning and seeing that there are once again presents under the tree. You know you're in good hands with her out there standing next to you. Good game Lisa.

Game #4 Buffalo Wild Wing's Defensive Play of the Game brought to you by Masterlock and Presented by Levitra: Jeff Tessmer to Karen Gugala for a double play. Tessmer made an "Ozzie Smith-like" backhanded reach for a sharply hit, low line drive to his right. He came up with the catch, and had the presence of mind to fire the ball to Karen at second base. Karen made a great catch of the throw and recorded the double play. It was the first brother-to-sister double play recorded in league history and a provided glimmer of hope in a forest of despair during yesterday's ball game. There wasn't a dry eye on our bench. It made me want to call my sister just to say "I love you."

Game #4 Taco Bell Unsung Hero of the Game: Laura's mom. She came to the ball game and sat through the entire debacle. She'll never get that hour of her life back, but it's great to know that we have true fans who support us through thick and thin. She didn't boo. She didn't throw things at us.
She didn't walk out. She didn't cuss. She DID have every right to do so.
We appreciate her support.