View from the Gallery

May 7^th Game vs. The Gallery

When we joined this league, we could tell it was going to be easy, but we didn't know it was going to be this easy.  We came from a concrete league in Windsor Terrace.  Playing on dirt and grass is luxury for us.  I was going to do cartwheels when I heard about it, but I’ve got this old football injury.  We started the season against the league's "big guns".  Ha.  That BNS team that won last year was nothing.  Blew by them.  Damn.  We were hoping for some competition.  We sort of got some with Element, but they were mostly just lucky.  Can’t win them all. 

The B61 Lineup

pitcher: O’Henry and yellow Matt

catcher: Coppertop Amy and “May I interest you in a high-heeled cleat?” Johanna

1st: always Willy

2nd: Tamara

ss: Matt and Henry

3rd: Canadian Club Jamie

left: Just Steve

center: “Slip and slide” Capone

floater: “Float like a butterfly” Alyce

right: Whippit and Jonathan

pinch hitter: JJ

fans: Tracey, Rachel, Cooper, "I feel like a loser" Travis, Apeman Adam. "Do you want to dance?" Raible, “Can I play in a suit?” Alex Reinert, Renee

The Game

Our next opponent won the fall league last year - B61.  We started laughing when we saw them.  Scrawny hippie dudes and chicks who would be no threat.  There was even a redhead who was the size of my leg.  This was going to be a walk in the park.  They didn’t even have matching uniforms.

We went to bat first, and we quickly went up 3-0.  That was just warm-up.  I have to admit I was a little surprised though.  These guys could hit.  These guys went through their entire lineup and went up 5-3.  Guess we shouldn't go easy on them.  Then, they shut us down and scored 2 more runs!  What the f#*ck?   Now, we were mad.  We loaded the bases and get 2 runs back.  That's more like it. 

Their pitcher hit a big run to right field, and this B61 team was up 9-5.  These guys were scrappy!  They were about to strand our guys on 2nd and 3rd, but B61 missed an easy out at first, and you know us- we'll be on ya like stink if you make a mistake.  9-7.  We're not going down easy, especially when they start walking our guys to load the bases.  Their pitcher was on fire before, but we put out the flames.  He came over to our dugout to wash his hands.  Like that was going to help.  Shoulda had someone piss on them.  I always like that, but that’s the way I roll.

The hand washing didn't help, so B61 switched pitchers.  Some skinny guy wearing a bright yellow t-shirt.  Where's your team spirit, buddy?  Might have been their secret weapon because that shirt was ba-right.  Got to give it to the 3rd baseman for shutting down our loaded bases with a double play.  Then, we got a bad call at the plate- what's this "give yourself up to the catcher stuff?"  That's crap.  Our boy was safe!  If not for that call, we would have scored a lot more than one run.  9-8, and we're on their ass.

We shut those hippies down in the 6th, and we really started to shine in the 7th.  Bam.  Bam.  I was so excited- I was yelling, "Look at me!  Look at me!  We da best!" as we pound out 4 runs to take the lead.  Don't mess with Gallery.  Look at me.  I got robbed of a base hit as the 3rd baseman jumped and snagged my line drive.  Pretty play, but I didn't want to end the inning like that.

I have to give it to these guys.  They hung tough.  Their starting pitcher clocked another HR ball deep into left field.   Haven't seen one go that far in a while.  Guess he must have been pissed and was taking it out on the ball.  That got their dugout in a frenzy.  Some guy's making ape noises and another's pounding his chest and yelling, "Look at me!  You want to dance?"  These guys were freaks.  Their 3rd baseman, "Canadian Club," got a double and they sub some bearded guy they call JJ who gets a base hit.  Then, their guy who's nickname is "Capone" (must be a gansta) gets a sac fly to left to make it 11-12 with two outs and the tie run on 2nd.  I get a little worried when they get another base hit and their guy goes to 3^rd.  Yeah, not that worried though.  We make the next play, and we're outta here.

Finally, we got a game with some action in it.  Who knew it was going to be with these guys?

Memorable Moments

·         "Even I feel like a loser, and I was on the bench." - Travis

·         The kids trying to tag Steve's van until Enzo scared them away

·         "I can't believe we haven't hit a HR all season" - Matt right before Henry hits his first dinger

Player of the Game

Not sure what the consensus was at the bar, but I’m giving player of the game to Jamie.  His double play in the 5th and jumping catch in the 7th stopped two Gallery scoring charges.  With some base knocks and a double, he kept us scoring as well.  This was not a game of superstars.  We all helped lose, and we all could have won the game.

You can read the writeups at www.redhooksoftball.com/b61/ or through the B61 softball blog at www.blogger.com.