End of the Line for B61 – July 26^th Game

Last stop for the B61.  Everybody off.  What a season we’ve had.  Jamie’s rocket home runs, 2-out rallies, JJ’s dives, Jonathan’s walking the girls, Johanna’s search for the ever elusive foul tip, Matt’s double play balls, Superfly Steve’s flying catch, Aoife’s farewell, jerky hecklers, and revelry with Old Grand Dad.   SO many more that could be mentioned.  Remember when the pitcher wanted to intentionally walk Betsy?   How about Capone’s showing of the fishing video?  “Why don’t you run, Fat Ass?”  Or the Lady Bus Stops’ fashion trends?  Truly a fun season.  Do we have to wait until next year?  Anyone up for co-ed dodgeball?

The B61 Lineup

• “Full Count” Amy as catcher
• Jonathan “1-2 no more” as pitcher
• “The Incredible Hulking” Raible at 1st base
• Alyce of the pom-pom pigtails at second
• Mattie Baby at shortshop
• “HR Rally” Jamie at 3^rd base
• “I wanna be Zoinks” Steve in lonely left field
• “Ooh, they hate me.” Capone in center field
• “I just wanna play ball” JJ in right center field
• Tamara in right field
• “Ape Man” Adam as DH
• “Clutch” Whipit as pinch hitter
• “Who me?” Sammy Sosa as our surprise sub catcher

Our Fans

“Bada-bing” Frank, “How do you like that, Pink Cap?” Jim as scribe, Jeff, and Piece

The Game

From the beginning, I knew this was going to be a different game.  I had been psyching myself up in the car ride over, but little did I know that everyone else was doing the same.  Coming off a loss does that to us.  The beers were already open, I was meditating in the corner, the bench was cheering, and Adam gave his Ape Man impression by hanging from the fence and screeching in his loudest voice.  Who wants to be normal?  Smith’s Tavern must have thought we had gone crazy.  Their chants of “Murder!” seemed muted in comparison.

Jamie gave us new coaching advice to start off the game.  “Take pitches until the first strike.  Let’s see how this guy throws.”  B61 went to bat first, and with a couple of quick hits, scored the first run.  Little did we know that Jim already his role in the game scripted out.  He immediately starting taunting Red Face, or as Alyce calls him, “Sir Freaks A-Lot.”  “How do you like that, Pink Cap?  Why don’t you shut up, Pink Cap?”  Who knew this side of Jim existed?  Next thing we know, we have Pink Cap and the big first baseman stomping over to our dugout.  “Don’t tell my teammate to shut up!”  I think the whole team started getting up.  This was when Frank cheerfully volunteered, “I’ll fight over softball.”  We quiet Jim and the other team down, but Jim has already raised the level of the game.  Jim’s note – “Just trying to be the lightning rod, and I’m an asshole.”  I have to admit that it seemed to do the trick – Smith’s and Red Face were quiet the entire game.  

Smith’s ended the side and went to see if they could make the scoreboard.  Their pitcher lets my first strike go by and then rockets a line drive right at me.  I have to confess, but I was impressed by how fast I moved and caught it.  First out.  The pitcher later admitted, “I was so disappointed.  That was the hardest ball I hit all season, and you caught it.”   The B61 defense held tight as Smith’s smartly hit for base hits and right field.  2-1, end of the first.

 I don’t remember the details, but the next innings were tight.  I’m throwing this new backspin pitch to pop the big hitters to our outfield, and their infield is well oiled.  Their women, even Legs, didn’t even have a thought of walking.  I think I even winked at her once when she was at bat.  3-1 after two innings, and we inch back 3-2 in the third inning, and 3-3 after four innings.  We would have been ahead if their second basewoman didn’t make an incredible play of catching Capone’s line drive that ricocheted off the pitcher’s glove.  This is the championship game, and it’s tied 3-3 for the fifth inning.

JJ’s glove is working as a vacuum, as Smith’s continues to pelt him with pull hitting.  Steve can only wait in expectation for some action.  Smith’s scores two answered runs to make it 5-3 after five.  Sir Freaks A-Lot asks for some insurance runs from his team, and they come through, making it 7-3 going into the seventh.

B61 would not go gently.  I think we were just more fired up.   Jamie strides to the plate and sends the ball into orbit.  Smith’s pitcher later commented, “I didn’t think that ball ever landed.”  HOME RUN!  Our bench goes CRAZY!  Ape Man is jumping up the fences, and Jamie takes his high fives with that driven look of focus.  7-4.  When I get to the plate, I see the pitcher is nervous.  I know that feeling well.  We pull the count to 3 and 2.  He pitches up at my shoulders, and I take the chance.  Ball 4.  His first walk of the game.  It was time to step it up a notch.  It was 2-out rally time.

Run It Out steps up and smacks a line drive out to left field.  I round to third.  He is so pumped that he runs over to Smith’s dugout, assumes a full flex pose and roars in front of Pink Cap!  Alyce’s memory of the incident was that, “He was one testosterone molecule away from beating his chest.”  Some said they thought he was going to turn green.  Capone is not to be outdone, hitting a solid base hit to advance Raible to second and to let me easily score.  7-5.  Was it possible?  Could the adrenalin flow any harder?   Could Smith’s be any more quiet?    

Coach Jamie steps in and asks for a pinch hitter, sending in Whipit for Alyce.  Pink Cap contests and asks who our sub will be, and Jamie points to Sam.  “Who me?” as Sammy stands up in her pajama pants and flip flops.  “She’s on our roster.  She’s our bartender.”  What a good call because Whipit steps up and smacks a base hit to drive Raible home and Capone to third.  Holy cow!  7-6 with a fast Capone as our tying run on third and an able winning Whipit on first.  2-out rally, baby.  When interviewed after the game, Whipit commented, “When Jamie called me in, I had no idea it was the seventh inning or two outs.  I had been drinking a lot and just went up to hit.”  

You can imagine the bedlam on our bench.  Their infield goes to talk to the pitcher as our redheaded rabbit Amy steps to the plate.  Our advice to her, “Wait for the strikes, and do your best.”  Ball 1.  The pitcher is visibly sweating as he takes off his sunglasses and tucks them in his collar.  Is he shaking a bit?  I hate being in that spot.  Strike 1.  I don’t think our energy can be any higher.  Ball 2.  Amy’s standing solid.  Ball 3.  I told her she had the hardest strike zone in the league.  The next pitch is up around her shoulders.  WHAT??  The ump calls it a strike??  Not a chance.  Even the pitcher looked surprised.  Full count, 2 outs, bottom of the seventh, runners on first and third, championship game.  Would you want that pressure on your shoulders? 

Suddenly, the whole field goes quiet as we wait for the pitch.  It was such a hush from before.  The pitcher holds true as it’s clearly going to be a strike, but Amy’s not going to let it by.  She hits it and sends it bouncing towards the mound.  The runners sprint as Amy races for first.  The pitcher picks up the ball, collects himself and throws to first. 

She’s out.

It seemed like a minute before anyone moved.  What was there to say?  It was over, but it was a perfect ending.

Memorable Moments

• JJ running back and catching that especially long fly ball
• JJ’s comment, “Did you see how well I threw?  I didn’t want to say anything and jinx it.”
• Alyce’s hardest hit of the season for a base hit
• Amy’s hardest hit of the season, a line drive caught by second base
• Jonathan’s no walk game
• Jamie’s home run once again
• Raible’s roar and Adam’s ape calls

Player of the Game

I don’t know.  Several people said I deserved it for pitching probably my best game, but I don’t know.  So many people made clutch plays and kept the energy high.  Rather than player of the game, I nominate this as game of the season.  

My Soapbox

It’s funny how ordinary people can make an event epic.  We’re not baseball players – we’re woodworkers, lawyers, artists, bartenders, public health workers.  This wasn’t The World Series – it was a playoff game in a YMCA softball league.  Yet, to us, it mattered.  When people work together, they can make great things happen.  They may not always win, but they achieve moments in their lives that they can cherish with pride.

July 26^th was one of those days.  Think about it.  We all went because we wanted to do our best, prove what we were capable of, and support our teammates.  All season when I’ve talked of B61 style, I wasn’t talking about how we play.  I meant how we play together.  On that day, we reached our penultimate example of B61 style.  I do not remember another game when we were so fired up and caught up in the moment.  That is something for which I will always be proud, and I hope you will too.  I’m not talking about glory days and batting averages – it’s friends coming together to bring out the best in each other.