A Beautiful Mess

SD Squeak By Blue Star in Gritty Thriller

 

First off - sorry for the delayed write-up. I stopped work early yesterday to make the game and was paying for it a bit today. I was at the field forty minutes before first pitch because I couldn't wait to get started. There wasn't an abundance of chatter this week, but there was excitement in the air....

 

The game was not pretty and i think everyone could have done without getting our last licks, but the Blue Star Jets showed some heart and forced a full seven frames. Instead of folding like Mitch Gouss in a friendly poker game, we put our game faces on and conjured up some classic Shattered Dreams heroics. This 1-3 team was not exceptional and lacked some skill in the field, but this year, the league's worst are certainly not the pushovers we've faced in the past.

 

Secondly, before we get to the recap - I'd like to wish a speedy recovery to #20. We'll miss the fire, passion and aggressive base running of the outfield general, Craig Collins.Jeff said it well and i can only reiterate that this should serve as inspiration to us all. As Craig sacrificed his body diving headlong for a ball against the Ropes, we need to leave it all out on the field so that he can proudly display an SD championship trophy on the Collins' mantle. We'll be missing a key piece, so we must rally to fill the void. Craig - get well and please join us on the bench and for a vistory PBR and sandwhich - chicken, chedder and grilled onions. The team appreciates the 110% effort all season long and especially on that fateful gritty play.

 

As mentioned, this was a bit of a mess. Missing our LCF, we took the sun-soaked field and were forced to make some position changes. Rohin moved to the right field, Jeff D played first, Marc/Joel moved into 2B and Hansen didn't miss a beat covering the vast CF area (w/Duff in short RC). Rohin caught his first SD outfield ball and Hansen was well positioned throughout the game, making several putouts in yet another position (has anyone played more positions for SD???). Great versatility by all these guys and a special shout out to Ian for a 4RBI performance (including the game tying RBI in the final stanza).

 

But that wasn't all the position shifting that would be done....The injury bug bit again as Seltz legged out an infield hit. POP. That's the sound of Jon's hamstring. He was down but not out. Jeff D - leave your 1Bman's glove and move on back to second. Seltz limped over to first, De La scurried to short and we didn't miss a beat. How Jon played the rest of the game on one leg - I don't know. But i do know it was a gritty performance.

 

With Collins on the DL and Seltz barely walking, we all cringed when we saw Ed wave for a courtesy runner. What now???? another injury? "nope - just tired and don't feel like running". Well done by the heady Flatline. He'd save his energy for his next AB (this was a technique, the Jets clean up hitter and first baseman, Mr Perfect Curt Henning, employed later in the game). Will Yorkville respond by changing the rule? Just how loose is the definition of "courtesy"??? 

 

On to the stats- We put up 15 runs and needed every last one of them. As I stood in LF, I chatted with several of the Frozen Ropes. "We know you guys are better than that", they said - referring to the ass-whooping they laid on us two weeks ago. We would not be on the short end tonight. This was a see-saw battle and we came back from behind 3 times - twice in the last 2 innings! That's the stuff that dreams are made of! GRIT

 

- Every player had a hit => 20 hits in all

- Four players walked => showing patience agains the herky-jerky lefty, dressed like Jerry Glanville

- Six players had multi-hit games => 7-8-9 (Duff, Marc and Jeff accounting for 7 hits)

- Five players had multi-RBI games => 9 RBIs from 1-2-3 part of the lineup; usually the catalysts, but last night picked up all the base runners from the bottom of the lineup (or the "second top", as i like to think of it)

- Nine players scored runs

- Ten players never gave up and showed grit.

 

Jerry was fired up last night. You could sense it in warmups when he almost smacked Duff for questioning his accounting. He channeled his aggression to the field and sparked the offense in the second with a thrilling Home Run. Jerry finished the night with a great boxscore: 3-3 (HR, 2B, 1B) with a walk, 3RBI and a run. He also dusted off home plate to avoid another pre-game controversy and dusted off some of his best trash-talking to rattle the opposition. Jerry's best day at the office in a while :) very gritty

 

I would've preffered to hit the ball harder last night, but do feel great about this team win. After fumbling the leadoff batter's shallow fly, I (like the rest of the team) kept my head in the game and picked it up where i could. If all else fails, aggressive base running can be a spark and I could truly feel the team's energy giving me an extra push around the bases last night - pinch running for Jon and going headfirst into home (onto glass i think) and going first to third on a ground out to short in the final rally. Grit.

 

BP - what can we say? This guy personifies grit. Another winning pitching performance as well as a key hit in the big sixth inning rally. Perles always keeps his cool and is our rock on the mound. Pure GRIT.

 

Jeff D - outstanding last night. The most passionate player-manager since Pete Rose, Jeff lead by example last night in all aspects. Seemlessly shifting positions and an integral part of both the sixth and seventh inning rallies - Jeff went 3-4 (HR, 2 2B), 3 runs and 2 RBIs. The only gambling our "Charley Hustle" did was after this well -earned victory. He even got dirty and slid through 2 Jets for our second run of the game. Jeff crossed the plate to tie the score in the 3rd inning and again in the 7th. Gritty!

Blue Star would never get the lead back. They wouldn't get the chance....

 

Finally - how about Jeff Isaac? Jeff has been tied to some of the most dramatic moments in SD history. How can i forget being hoisted on to Jeff's shoulders aftert the Miracle on 210th street? With pride, we recall Craig Collins' dramatics captured on video. Jeff conjured up those fond memories of crossing home plate with the winning run and stepped up to provide me with the same elation. What a night for the fixture at third base! 4-5 (2HR, 2B, single) with 2 runs and 4 RBI. He also had one of the most fantastic escapes from a rundown that i have ever seen.  Jeff actually laid down between third and home at one point, only to scramble across the plate what seemed to be minutes after hitting the ball.

That wasn't what we'll remember though...

 

Down by 3, after squandering a 3 run lead, Duff lead off the bottom of the seventh. HUGE Base hit by Old Man River. Anyone feeling a rally? Marc - base hit. Jeff D - double and an RBI. I am sensing some magic.

Down by 2 - one out. Will single and another run comes home.

Down by 1 - Jeff on third. Will on first. Rohin - game tying RBI and the winning run moves to third.

Tie game - 2 out - and Ed Lover deliberately chops one down the third base line. I couldn't contain my enthusiasm and relief as i trotted down the line and literally jumped on home plate with two feet. I haven't felt that good in a long time.

Put it in the books. The Dreams are over .500 for the first time this year and is riding high...

 

I felt like i was back in Little League. What a win. Someboday buy me a Jim Dandy...

or maybe i feel like i am part of a Shattered Dreams miracle?

Either way - I love it.

And if i can't have a Fribble after next week's game, pour me a cold PBR

 

see ya'll Friday

SD4L