June 30^th Game - Red Hook curses us

Vs. Park Slope Sports Club.

It has been a few weeks, but I remember it as being a rather sloppy game. I think the date was June 30^th. A Thursday, a wet, slippery Thursday. We showed up ready to play, ready to erase the memory of the yelling, threatning, and basic poor sportsmanship Sports Club that beat us last year. Matt gave us the “Don’t buy into their bullshit” speech, and we were off:

·         “Red” Amy as catcher

·         Alex Reinert as pitcher

·         Raible at first base

·         Betsy at second

·         Matt at shortstop

·         Jamie at third

·         Steve in left field

·         “One Trick” Capone in center field

·         Henry in right center and backup pitcher

·         Tamara in right field

·         Adam as DH

·         Alyce as backup something I can’t remember what I played.  

·         Johanna “Beer Can” as backup catcher

·         Kate as backup right field

·         Whippit as backup 1^st base

·         Anyone I’m forgetting, I’m sorry it was weeks ago. I think that line-up is correct? Maybe?

We started off at bat slowly, a few fly balls here, a couple of grounders there, Jamie was even walked 4-0 at the top of the first inning, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jamie walk to 1^st base before. We went out to take the field and adjusted to the dampest conditions of the season, our 3^rd-1^st relay not as tight, our outfield unable to gauge the effects of the slick grass. SC scored a run to make it 1-0 at the bottom of the first.

Top of the second, trying again, a few grounders to get on base, a pop fly, Amy hits a nice grounder to score a runner, and we tie it up at 1-1. This was when we began to distinctly hear some sort of curses coming from the depths, the very bowels of the Red Hook. We realized that it was the arguments of some old Brits and Americans, and we just got caught in the crossfire: Red Hook Lane was an old indian trail running from Fulton Ferry to Red Hook and Fort Defiance. According to Burkard's research, American rifleman would position themselves along the lane used by the British. One such American soldier is said to have shot and killed British Major Grant and another soldier before he was shot down from his perch in a tree. All three are believed to be buried in a vacant lot at the corner of present day Nelson and Columbia Streets. The building located at this corner was built leaving the suspected burial site untouched.

 Anyhow. They cursed us real good, because we dropped 3 fly balls that inning and 6 runners scored.

We were ready to try to shake off the curse, to break it off with our bats, Adam and Capone both got on base, but old dead Major Grant and the Rifleman kept moaning and after Matt hit a sacrifice fly, and Capone tagged up and got safely home, that was it for the top of the 3^rd.

It was the bottom of the 3^rd inning. We went back out into the field to hold down our defense. But suddenly new stirrings were heard. There was moaning, and begging and cries for help and food. Soon we realized who it was cursing us this time: In the Red Hook shipyard, some years back, a damaged freighter was stashed for six months by its owner, while he tried to raise the money to pay for repairs. Its Central American crew, most of whom spoke no English, was afraid to venture out past the gamy Red Hook projects into the city; and since the owner had stopped paying them, though he still brought them food, they had essentially become slaves pinioned to the ship.

The Major Grant and Rifleman had hexed our catching, now the Central American crew was hexing our pitching and defensive plays. 3 more runners scored.

With a much needed 2-run homer by Henry, we entered the 5^th inning down by 5 runs, 10-5. The apparently “lucky multiples of 5” rule helped us stop the bleeding, and Johanna began to work her magic. She scored in the top of the 5^th with the famous words “That’s what lady bus stops do!”. We were slowly closing the gap. Stretching out the 5^th inning, sliding on the wet grass, Capone’s trademark knee-slide catch magic doesn’t get it done, but inspires Johanna, who with cat-like reflexes grabs her first foul tip as catcher and puts the inning to bed.

While we only gave up one more run, the curses of the previous innings had done their job. We were finished. The final score was something around 11-7, and that’s pretty much all I can remember about the game.

MVP goes- hands down- to Johanna for her inspiring words and inspiring actions.

One final note of Red Hook history I found, The neighborhood had a tough reputation—with such notorious figures as Al Capone getting their start there as small-time criminals—

So, ummm, Capone, think you can put in a good word for us, let ‘em know how much we love this hood?