Playoff Game #1 - Take a Little off the Top – August 2nd Game

I need a haircut.  I went to get one on Sunday, but the barber shop was closed.  It’s too hot for so much hair, especially when you have to wear polyester.  What’s this got to do with softball?  I wish I could take a little off the top of our last game.  Cut out the first two innings and we kicked Ass.  Capital A and all.

The Official B61 Lineup

• Alyce as catcher
•  Oh Henry as pitcher
• Whippit at first base
• BG’s Betsy at second
• “Papa B” Matt at shortstop
• “Canadian Club” Jamie at third
• “Rhino” Steve in left field
• “Ca-Pone” Capone in center field
• JJ in right center
• Tam-Tam in right field
• “Ape-Man” Adam as DH
• “The Czar” Jonathan as starting pitcher and first base
• “Copper Top” Amy as catcher
• L’il Al as backup right center

Our Cheering Section

• “Manhandle” Mandel, “Jackie O.” Sammy Sosa, Birthday Girl Tracey, Renee, Roberto, Jackie, Alyce’s boyfriend and some other friends who I did not know

The Game

The game was set, and we were on.  Game one of our journey to the championships.  Our team was there early, sporting our kick-ass new uniforms.  No longer supported by Budweiser, we were officially the B61 Bus Stops.  Mad props to whomever designed these shirts, fabric selection aside.

I guess I shown have known that it was a bad sign when one of the umps tried to replace me as I was pitching BP before the game.  “It’s ok.  I warm up more team when I play.”  “Thanks, but I need to warm up.”  “Oh, you’re the pitcher?”  Something was wrong.

I’m in pain just thinking about the first two innings.  Let’s just say that I walked 5 batters and left Henry with bases loaded when Coach pulled me in the second inning.  Ouch.  I know the game is fun, but that wasn’t fun.  Schnack has capitalized on the mistakes and taken a 6 run lead, and our offense just can’t get started.  By the 3^rd inning, Schnack is up 7-0, and B61 has only two hits to show for it. 

Bring on the 4^th inning.  Jamie responds to our rendition of “O Canada” and represents with a base hit to left field.  Rhino follows with a base hit of his own to advance Jamie to second.  JJ steps up to the plate and lights a spark for the team – a base hit!  Jamie scores and Steve speeds on to third.  We’re finally on the board!  Ape-Man keeps the momentum going and spanks a line drive.  Steve scores, JJ makes it to 3^rd and Adam does a gorilla dance at first to celebrate.  We can’t capitalize on our other base runners, but we leave the inning 7-2 with our hope back alive.

We switch the lineup, bringing in Whippit at first base, Copper Top as catcher and L’il Alex in right center.  Henry’s pitching a great game, and Schnack can do nothing against our defense.  Then, the play that set the tectonic plates in motion.  With a 1-2 count, the batter hits a foul tip straight up, and here comes Copper Top making the catch!  The ever elusive foul tip. Our bench erupts!  Schnack must have thought we were crazy for cheering so loudly.  It didn’t matter – we were Bus Stops.  It was 7-2 as we entered the 6^th inning, but the game was on our side.

Amy hit a meteor of a shot out to center.  She even admitted that she had never hit a ball so far before.  She was on fire.  Whippit who batted a thousand in our last game did not disappoint, with a fielder’s choice.  Papa B smacks a single past the shortstop hole.  Capone correctly coaches Whippit to stop at second.  It wouldn’t have mattered because Oh Henry steps up and hits a homerun out to right center.  You know it’s a long ball when the fielder turns around just starts running, his hat flying off.  A 3 run homerun!  7-5.  As Raibel put it, “That’s the seismic shift we’re looking for!”  It certainly was.  Get on the bus. 

Schnack is quiet but not giving up.  They lead with two base hits to put runners on first and second.  But that’s all they can do.  Henry gets a masterful strikeout, Rhino zips in to catch a pop fly for the second out, and Tamara catching a hanging pop fly out to right field.  You could see her eyes getting bigger tracking the ball even from the bench.

Top of the 7^th.  “It takes seismic shifts for mountains to grow and move.”  Here was our chance.  Ca-Pone stirs up the team with his lead off single.  Unfortunately, the shortstop makes a great catch and gets the double play.  We’re not out yet.  Adam runs out a grounder.  We’re still alive, but only for a moment as Schnack gets their third out. 

Game over, but cut out those first two innings, and we would have won 5-1 with Schnack shaking their heads.  We’ll see ya on Friday. 

Memorable Moments

·         The Schnack player with the striped baseball pants sliding for first base and then complaining that you can’t slide in this league.  He was out either way

·         Ca-Pone’s third base coaching, “WHIPPIT STAY!!!”  Effective and the right call

Players of the Game

Copper Top and Oh Henry certainly earned MVPs of the game.  If it weren’t 1:30am, I’m sure I could come up with some seismic/ earthquake analogy.  We’ll have to leave those to Raibel Yell.  Seriously, Amy’s catching that foul tip and smacking that ball out to center really lifted the spirits of the team.  Henry’s pitching kept Schnack effectively scoreless and his home run brought us within reach of the win. 

Good Luck!

I wish I could be there on Friday.  In Ecuador, I won’t even be able to call to find out how we did.  I’ve already packed up my softball stuff, so if I need to head to the game straight from the airport on Monday, I’m ready.  Just leave me a message on my cell phone.  I love this team.  GOOD LUCK!

Web Site

You can see all of the writeups at http://www.czarsolutions.com/softball/