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.