7/21 Game Twelve Re Cap

From the Stylings of Mr Hall

My favorite movie of all time is "Hoosiers." There's an inspirational scene where head coach Norman Dale (ably played with Golden Globe worthy zeal by Gene Hackman) gives a speech prior to the state semifinals. He says to his upstart Hickory Huskers, "There's a tradition in tournament play not to look past the game in front of you. I'm sure getting to the state finals is beyond your wildest dreams, so let's just leave it there. Forget about the crowd, their fancy uniforms... and focus on the fundamentals. If we leave it all on the court, I don't care what the scoreboard says, IN MY BOOK WE'RE WINNERS!!!"Kevin Hall made a pre-game speech last night... to fight for every inch. Softball Guy fought for every inch, and in my book we were winners. The other team was just better, as TSC BC came out on top, 10-3 in a well played game on a bizarre, humid night in Royal Oak.There was electricity in the air as thunderstorms lingered throughout the evening. TSC BC had laid a mercy on Softball Guy about a month and a half ago with a 16-2 thumping and it appeared history would repeat itself as they jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first.But, then, something happened. It wasn't quite magic, but it WAS a team having heart to stay in a ballgame and fight for every inch. Every inch was Lauren hustling for singles. Every inch was Hank, Tessmer, Rosie, Gregory, K.Hall, Maurer, Laura, Michelle, Karen, and Tracey hitting the ball well and hustling. Every inch was Laura systematically shutting down the best lineup in the lead with ambrosial, Billy Gullickson like pitcthing. Every inch was a rapidly aging, chain smoking B.Hall destroying his back while diving for a nice catch.Softball Guy fought back into the game and cut hung in there throughout. Not to go pre-school teacher on ya, and say that "everyone wins for trying", but we are indeed winners. That was a superior team, and we hung right with them until the bitter end. I've had some compliments in my life. My grandma's friend once told me that I'm "OK looking in an Androgenous, non-threatening kind of way" and that I "look like her grandson." Someone from upper management told me I'm "not so stupid" at work. But, these compliments are surpassed by what the kindly umpire said after the game... "That was the best played game I've umped this year." We played well. We just lost to a better team. And in my book, there's no shame in that.Game #9 MVP: Lauren Wetzler, 2-for-3, and a great catch. We improved quite a bit from our previous performance (OK, stinker) against TSC BC. There is not another player on our squad who exemplifies improvement more than Lauren. She's fell into a role of a person who makes plays and hits the ball sharply each time. She had a great catch out in right field, and had two single in which she demonstrated the "every inch" diatribe stated by K.Hall before the game. Great game Lauren. You were remarkable.Game #9 Buffalo Wild Wing's Defensive Play of the Game: Laura DeVore at pitcher. She made a great play on a sharply hit ground ball right back at her. The reflexes were cat-like in nature, and the presence of mind was Einstein-like to make the throw to first and record the out. We've wrote about this before, but it's worth stating again. Those reflexes and poise are not coached. You're either innately born with them or you're not. L.DeVore is.Game #9 Taco Bell Unsung Heroes of the Game: Hank and B.Hall. Hank hits the ball sharply and to the outfield every time he's up. He's also a player who has improved greatly as the season has progressed. When Hank steps to the plate, you know you're going to get a sharply hit line drive to left center. He's Mr. Consistency on Softball Guy. As for B.Hall, opposing hitters lick their chops when they see this chump standing in left field. They look for the most unathletic kid standing out there and try to hit it to him. But, that old codger can deceptively can catch the ball. He made a great catch in left field at one point, but failed to have the Laura DeVore-like poise and throw out the runner at second. The arm is still goofy and borderline terrible, but hit it to him and he'll catch it.NEW AWARD: Opposing Team D-Bag of the Game: Matthew McCongehey. Look, I liked the other team. TSB BS is a fun team who has a good time. They don't try to humiliate you. They're fun and they joke. But McCongehy deserves and demands to be goofed on. Yes, he does make the ladies swoon with with curly, Steve Sanders-like curly pseudo-mullet coming out of his hit. But, c'mon man. Who are you trying to impress? Why are you wearing pants when it's 95 degrees out? And who do you think you're impressing with your scooter that you drive to the game? Our Put-In-Bay scooter gang would have run circles around that pretentious prick. You're playing D-League softball, act like it. Rant over.