from the exhausted mind of B Hall
A wise person once said "All good things must come to an end." A truer statement was never uttered as it came to be true in the summer of 2008.
Softball Guy's season ended rather quietly with a 12-2 defeat at the hands of the Northwood Nutcrackers (N-Squared) in a game that featured more homoerotic subtext than a men's artistic gymnastics competition.
This was a game with two teams playing out the string of their respective seasons. The mood of the ball game harkened back to the malaise days of the Jimmy Carter presidency. Much like that era in the late 70's, Softball Guy tried to divert their attention from the languorous feeling of apathetic circumstances by wearing outlandish, garish Hawaiian shirts which could be akin to the loud leisure suits and other flashy clothes of the Carter era.
The ploy worked as everyone had a great time in the season finale. Feeling a vacation-like ease, Softball Guy let their cares slip away during an hour filled with laughter, some great plays, and memorable moments. And when it comes down to it, that's what "Level D" Recreational Co-ed Softball is all about. There were some great moments, from Lauren's catch at 2nd, G's snags at 1st, K.Hall running down a bomb in left, and Tracey's remarkable pickle play that seemed to last at least 2 minutes.
One thing that will stick out about this game was the bizarre nature of N-Squared. The pitcher shocked the umpire by requesting the plate to be cleaned. Their team complained about calls in the 7th inning when they were up 10 runs. But nothing was quite as bizarre as the incident that occurred in the 6th inning. A mustached gentleman from N-Squared meagerly popped out to Rosie. Instead of heading back to N-Squared bench, this gentleman took the long route and passed by the players on our bench. Then, the most disturbing incident of the season happened as he reached back and patted Tessmer in the backside. The off-pudding incident left our brave captain shaken, but he recovered to make some plays in the 7th.
There's not really a lot to say about this game but there is a ton to say about the season. What a great time it was. Speaking on behalf of EVERYONE I would like to thank EVERYONE for a very fun season. What other teams would have the foresight and creativity to wear the Hawaiian's, play music during at bats, or build their own website (which has grown a cult following at my work)? This season was remarkable. That's what the D-League is all about. Let's look into the fall league, and if that fails, let's do it again next year. Thanks for making Monday night's memorable and fun. Let's not let this good thing come to an end.
Game #12 MVP: Alecia Corte. She had our best hit of the game with a line shot down the third base line that darted into the outfield. The hit sparked a Softball Guy rally and got us on the board. She was later robbed of a hit in an ensuing inning. It was a phenomenal game and a phenomenal season for Alecia as she really turned it on in the later games. Well played Alecia.
Game #12 Buffalo Wild Wing's Defensive Play of the Game: Lauren Wetzler at 2nd base. You got two choices when the ball is hit hard to you. You can either have the mental tenacity and courage to make the play, or you can let it slide by. L-Dubs chose the former as she reached to her left and came up with a great catch. Her good nature was always entertaining as well as she told the lifeless, robot-like, sterile N-Squared outfielders to move back when she was batting. That comment was an emphatic stroke of Byzantine whimsy that truly captured the essence of the 2008 Softball Guy season.
Game #12 Unsung Heroes: BJ and Diana. Due to scheduling conflicts, this was a game where we were short players. We were in desperate need of subs and both stepped up and filled in admirably to help avoid a forfeit situation. BJ had a hit in her first Softball Guy at bat and played a great game. Diana is the definition of unsung hero as she came from the stands and played catcher for us so that we could field a full team in the field. The last time I saw someone come from the stands was a wrestler named "Earthquake" in 1990 WWF wrestling, and that nearly ended Hulkamania as we know it. But Diana coming from the stands was a pleasant experience and changed my whole outlook about people coming from the stands. Nonetheless, these selfless acts will inspire all of us as we embark on our grueling off-season conditioning program.
Thanks again to everyone and this season was truly a blast.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
8/4 Game Fourteen (Replay of Rained out Game Eight)
from the desk of Brian Hall
There's a football coach named Dennis Green. He's an accomplished, decorated coach who knows a lot about sport and life. The man took Northwestern to respectability from the doldrums of the college football world, revived the Stanford football program, took the Minnesota Vikings within a botched field goal away from the Super Bowl, and ultimately became associated with the cancer that is known as the Arizona Cardinals. The Cards are a lot like the Lions, except they have a history of ineptitude that far exceeds our Detroit gridiron heroes. In '06, the Cards had the vaunted, hated Chicago Bears (Hank's team) beat on Monday Night Football. They blew it, and in a post game tirade, Green (exhausted and feeling the poison of failure) emphatically exclaimed, "They (the Bears) are who we thought they are!!!" (this rant has hence been thrust into immortality in recent Coors Light commercials during football season)
I mention this (as Maurer elegantly stated) because the Ligers were who we thought they were. They came in undefeated, and we stuck with them but ultimately fell 14-3 in one of those early August evenings where the humid air sticks to you like Spencer on Heidi.
Softball Guy fought valiantly and hung around for a few innings. Tessmer, with an inexplicable motor cycle near the playing field, revved up the action in the 2nd inning and delivered a hit. Karen legged out a double and Rosie drove T-Bone home to give Softball Guy a 1-0 lead in the early stages.
The game became a chess match of defensive play and unadulterated strategic softbal. in the ensuing innings as a defensive battle commenced and the Ligers nervously grabbed a 2-1 lead.
Then disaster happened in the 4th. Call it what you will... a dime short... a step slow... a feather away from a dream. Whatever occurred during this inning, nothing was working for Softball Guy as the Ligers became what we thought they were and went on an 11-run rampage to take the wind out of Softball Guys sails.
From that point forward Softball Guy began picking up the shattered pieces. This was sparked by key hits from Alecia, Laura, K.Hall, and Michelle... and defensive wizardry from T-Bone. But it was too little too late as the Ligers capped off an undefeated season with the victory.
Game #11 MVP: Mike Gregory. The man labored through 130 pitches (112 of them coming in the 4th inning disaster) in humidity that could cut a hole through granite (yes, that seems like an appropriate term). He surgically worked the count, impressed his pops, young nephew and dog, and had the mental fortitude to work through it. This was one of our best pitched games of the year. His courage was eerily reminiscent of the "Saved By the Bell" episode when AC Slater took town Valley High in the city wrestling meet. What an outing for Gregory. Well played.
Game #11 Buffalo Wild Wing's Defensive Play of the Game: Jeff Tessmer's leaping grab in the 5th. What can you say about this guy's performance throughout the season. To attempt to word what this man has done is akin to stretching the boundaries of superlatives. There are no words for it. He's the rock of the team. The consummate MVP. Now (this really happened) after the game an old Scotsman who had no affiliation to either team and was randomly there (perhaps to run a set on my grandmother?) approached T-Bone. In a thick Scottish tongue the man said, "Were you the young man who made all of those great plays?" That man has been watching softball since 1924. It was the ultimate compliment to the ultimate player.
Game #11 Taco Bell Unsung Hero: Michelle Abro. After the 4th inning, she didn't keep her head down. She stuck with it and got a critical hit in the 5th. She had a great game and (much like T-Bone... and not to be sappy but I just came from 24 Seconds and after 2 beers am in the "emotional drunk" stage) she is a wonderful person as well. Great to have her on the squad and at 24 Seconds during the always ambrosial post-game banter.
Game #11 Goat of the Game: B.Hall. My bad guys. We preached fundamentals before the game... not doing too much and not letting the ball get by you. B.Hall had a rough time in right-center in the decisive 4th inning. Everything seemed out of reach. It was a comedy of errors and poorly judged balls. His play was that Gary Anderson botched field goal for the Vikings and Dennis Green back in '98. Broken promises. Broken dreams. He promises to make it up to you next game.
There's a football coach named Dennis Green. He's an accomplished, decorated coach who knows a lot about sport and life. The man took Northwestern to respectability from the doldrums of the college football world, revived the Stanford football program, took the Minnesota Vikings within a botched field goal away from the Super Bowl, and ultimately became associated with the cancer that is known as the Arizona Cardinals. The Cards are a lot like the Lions, except they have a history of ineptitude that far exceeds our Detroit gridiron heroes. In '06, the Cards had the vaunted, hated Chicago Bears (Hank's team) beat on Monday Night Football. They blew it, and in a post game tirade, Green (exhausted and feeling the poison of failure) emphatically exclaimed, "They (the Bears) are who we thought they are!!!" (this rant has hence been thrust into immortality in recent Coors Light commercials during football season)
I mention this (as Maurer elegantly stated) because the Ligers were who we thought they were. They came in undefeated, and we stuck with them but ultimately fell 14-3 in one of those early August evenings where the humid air sticks to you like Spencer on Heidi.
Softball Guy fought valiantly and hung around for a few innings. Tessmer, with an inexplicable motor cycle near the playing field, revved up the action in the 2nd inning and delivered a hit. Karen legged out a double and Rosie drove T-Bone home to give Softball Guy a 1-0 lead in the early stages.
The game became a chess match of defensive play and unadulterated strategic softbal. in the ensuing innings as a defensive battle commenced and the Ligers nervously grabbed a 2-1 lead.
Then disaster happened in the 4th. Call it what you will... a dime short... a step slow... a feather away from a dream. Whatever occurred during this inning, nothing was working for Softball Guy as the Ligers became what we thought they were and went on an 11-run rampage to take the wind out of Softball Guys sails.
From that point forward Softball Guy began picking up the shattered pieces. This was sparked by key hits from Alecia, Laura, K.Hall, and Michelle... and defensive wizardry from T-Bone. But it was too little too late as the Ligers capped off an undefeated season with the victory.
Game #11 MVP: Mike Gregory. The man labored through 130 pitches (112 of them coming in the 4th inning disaster) in humidity that could cut a hole through granite (yes, that seems like an appropriate term). He surgically worked the count, impressed his pops, young nephew and dog, and had the mental fortitude to work through it. This was one of our best pitched games of the year. His courage was eerily reminiscent of the "Saved By the Bell" episode when AC Slater took town Valley High in the city wrestling meet. What an outing for Gregory. Well played.
Game #11 Buffalo Wild Wing's Defensive Play of the Game: Jeff Tessmer's leaping grab in the 5th. What can you say about this guy's performance throughout the season. To attempt to word what this man has done is akin to stretching the boundaries of superlatives. There are no words for it. He's the rock of the team. The consummate MVP. Now (this really happened) after the game an old Scotsman who had no affiliation to either team and was randomly there (perhaps to run a set on my grandmother?) approached T-Bone. In a thick Scottish tongue the man said, "Were you the young man who made all of those great plays?" That man has been watching softball since 1924. It was the ultimate compliment to the ultimate player.
Game #11 Taco Bell Unsung Hero: Michelle Abro. After the 4th inning, she didn't keep her head down. She stuck with it and got a critical hit in the 5th. She had a great game and (much like T-Bone... and not to be sappy but I just came from 24 Seconds and after 2 beers am in the "emotional drunk" stage) she is a wonderful person as well. Great to have her on the squad and at 24 Seconds during the always ambrosial post-game banter.
Game #11 Goat of the Game: B.Hall. My bad guys. We preached fundamentals before the game... not doing too much and not letting the ball get by you. B.Hall had a rough time in right-center in the decisive 4th inning. Everything seemed out of reach. It was a comedy of errors and poorly judged balls. His play was that Gary Anderson botched field goal for the Vikings and Dennis Green back in '98. Broken promises. Broken dreams. He promises to make it up to you next game.
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