It's Not Raining When It's Sunny

June 12^th vs. Anchors

It's funny. We had a very different game last week. Anchors is a good team - strong players, friendly but with an edge. That's ok because we showed up to play.

It shouldn't matter who we play. One of my favorite compliments is when an opposing team says, "Teams hate playing you because it looks like you're having so much fun and don't care." Even in this game, the catcher told me that she wanted to play for our team. We'll still have hours of debates of what we should do better, but I like it when we play with ourselves and not worry about the other team. Well, I know I like playing with myself, and I like playing with you guys too.

I know it's always easier to be happier with each other when we're winning and doing well, but the best would be to be happy no matter what.

The B61 Lineup

pitcher: "Everybody needs a knee" Jamie

catcher: "Lettuce entertain you" Sarah and "I Rock" Alyce

1st: "I always look like this" Rob

2nd: "Don't stop believing" Tamara

ss: "Boots" Matt

3rd: "Put me in coach. I can do it" Brendan

left: "I am the cleanup, coo coo kachoo" Steve

center: "I am" Capone

floater: "Float like a butterfly" Amy

right: "Choo Choo!" Amtrak Jonathan

pinch hitter: Adam

Coach: Elvis

Spiritual Advisor: McWhippit "Have yu tried the chili powder and lemon?"

The Game

Something was different. We were pumped and ready to play. Was it the writeup, the beer, the day? We were just fired up, B61 old school. "No pep talks. Let's play ball." "Let's be in it from the Geico. 15% more runs." We had chatter, high fives, some ass grabs, laughter and a quickly emptying cooler.

We start out slow though. Jonathan leads us off with a crappy fly ball to 2^nd base. Ain't no way that's happening again. Matt picks us up with a base hit past the pitcher. Jamie follows and hits a pop fly to left field which gets called back as an "illegal pitch"?? Apparently, there was no arc on the pitch. "7 years in this league, I've never heard of that before." "Well, you've never met Blue before." Definitely odd, but we're willing to take the free chance. Unfortunately, Jamie hits another pop fly, so now he's 0 for 2, and it's only the first inning. Steve reliably hits a base hit to advance Matt, but it's not enough. A quick out at first, and we're done. Not the strong start we wanted, but we haven't turned on ourselves yet.

Our defense kicks strong. Tam starts by stopping a grounder and making the play to 1^st look easy. Capone runs for a dramatic sliding catch but can't hold it. I like his moxie. Brendan, testing his mettle at 3^rd, makes his first out with a pick up and throw to Rob. Matt catches a quick popup, and we're good. That's the way it should be.

Capone leads the 2^nd with a blooper out to center field. "Stay on the bag!" Steve gives Ant a little extra coaching from 3^rd base. "Hey, Anthony. Listen to me. I'm on 3^rd. I have a red shirt on." It was really Capone's wheels that helped as Tam hits a grounder to shortstop who can't convert the out at 2^nd. Rob advances the runner with a grounder to 1^st - "I can't believe the big guy got down for that." Sarah advances the runners as well, and Capone puts the first mark on the board.

Some quick outs, and we're at bat again.

Czar leads B61 off with a ball out to right field. The fielder misjudges it, and it goes over his head. Jonathan uses the opportunity to round the bases. HR! Choo choo! Then again, Matt said, "That's an error, right? You're not counting that as a HR." It's a home run in my book.

Matt then gets a typical weak ass hit and luckily makes it to first (That's the way I remember it!) Jamie lines one past 3^rd base. Jamie disses Amy and decides not to bring her in as his pinch runner. Rhino hits a sac fly to advance Matt to 3^rd, and Brendan does the same to bring Matt home. 3-0. In a questionable call, Capone is called out at 1^st though I'm sure he beat the play.

Our defense holds them again in the 3^rd inning, including a good play by the rookie on 3^rd and a textbook Matt -> Tamara toss for the 3^rd out.

Tam starts the 4^th by booking for a base hit to 1^st. "Were you on track in high school?!" McLovin spices it up with a perfect opposite field hit to bring Tam to 2^nd. The shortstop uses Sarah's grounder to make the play at 2^nd, but leaves runners at 1^st and 3^rd for an Adam pinch hit. His sac fly doesn’t have the distance, so it's time for a 2 out rally. Jonathan hits a nice base knock between 1^st and 2^nd sending Tam home and Sarah to 3^rd. 4-0. Matt hits a line drive to left to bring Sarah in and Czar to 2^nd. Jamie and Steve keep the rally alive with base hits to bring Czar and Boots home. 7-0. What a rally.

Anchors comes alive with a base hit to center and a bobbled blooper to right field. Brendan converts a grounder to 3^rd by tagging the runner. Yet, Anchors keeps coming strong. A few more base hits and Anchors scores two runs until Steve makes the final out with a pretty basket catch running full speed towards the infield.

In the top of the 5^th, Colin takes the mound as pitcher. It's good to see him there with his distinctive wind up pitch. Capone gets a single, and Tam walks. A missed catch by Colin (not high enough for an infield fly rule??) still gives him enough time to get Capone out at 3^rd. The Colin switch does them good as Anchors quickly gets the next 2 outs to shut us down.

Jonathan starts the 6^th with another base hit. Matt hits a line drive directly at Colin, leaving Jon stranded between 1^st and 2^nd. Fortunately, the throw to 1^st is missed, and Amtrak runs to 3^rd! "Look at the dust!" Jamie aims and hits a grounder right into Jon's foot on the 3^rd base bag. He sets up again and this time hits an RBI single to make it 8-2. Matt pinch runs for Jamie and advances to 2^nd on Steve’s base knock. A good catch by the 2^nd basewoman gives us 2 outs, and in a surprising event, Anthony strikes out to end the side. "That last pitch was horrible. If I had swung at it, you guys would have yelled at me."

Anchors comes alive as it hits a base hit and then a long home run out to deep left. They cry, "Korean Power!" as their bomber goes back to the dugout. It must have rubbed off, because Anchors quickly hits another base hit between 2^nd and 3^rd. Jim catches a foul ball off the fence, but unfortunately, he's not playing, so it doesn’t count. A deep ball to left bounces to Steve, and Anchors puts runners on 1^st and 3^rd with 1 out. Capone makes a great catch running in, sees the 3^rd base runner tagging up and rockets a perfect throw to home. Alyce throws off the mask, makes a perfect catch and covers the plate as she waits for the runner to finally reach her for the tag. Denied! I love watching that play in my mind over and over!

Leading 8-4 in the 7^th, Tam gets called out with a questionable call at 1^st, but Rob makes up for it with a base hit past 2^nd. Lettuce hits a SWEET line drive past the left fielder to drive Rob home and get a double for the day. Alyce follows with another SWEET drive over the left fielder’s head! With Sarah on 3^rd and Alyce on 1^st, Jonathan hits another long ball to right field that the fielder underestimates. Don't they see the guns on that guy? It's a triple, and B61 goes ahead 11-4. This time, Matt takes a pot shot at Jon on 3^rd but misses. He follows with a RBI single to deep left. Jamie smacks a long ball. As he limps around the bases, 3^rd base coach Capone tells him, "Well, you have to make a decision," as he approaches 3^rd. A triple is good enough for now. Especially as Brendan hits a single past the shortstop to bring in the run. 14-4.

Our defense remains cool – an easy Reinert catch, a Tam -> Rob conversion and a Matt-> Tam gives us an easy 3 outs to end a good game.

Memorable Moments

·         Jamie: "Can I get a pinch runner? Who made last out?"

Adam: "Amy."

Jamie: " Never mind."

·         Blue stopping the game every time Rachel walked outside the dugout with Cooper and the stroller

·         That great Capone-Alyce double play at the plate

·         Colin's comment after the game, "I still love you guys. I don't like Blue, but I love you guys." We love Anchors too.

·         Adam told me I hit a cycle (single, double, triple and HR), but I don't remember a double

·         Every time I scored, the catcher would say something like, "Welcome back," "Good to see you," or "Right this way." I love a good attitude and sense of humor.

·         Anchors’ catcher, "I want to play for you guys. You bring beer, and we’re too serious."

·         Jamie going 0 for 2 in one at bat

·         "Well, Jamie, you have to a make a decision..."

Player of the Game

One MVP goes to the rookie Brendan. He stepped up to playing 3^rd and made some key defensive outs and had 2 RBIs for the day. I have to give Alyce the co-MVP nod. For only playing a few innings, she got the team on fire. Batting 1000 with a powerful knock to left field and that beautiful play at home - that's the Lady Bus Stops personified.