Dreams Sweep Season Series and Upset Client #9 to Advance to Yorkville Championship
Next Game: CHAMPIONSHIP - Dreams vs. Frozen Ropes, Tuesday 9/1, 7:30 PM @ Dewitt Clinton Field
"We have to finish the job..." - Craig Collins, the pride of Linden NJ and OF captain of Shattered Dreams
"...We still have work to do" - Brian Perles, SP and Cy Young candidate, Shattered Dreams
"I feel like a million bucks...Bring on the Ropes" - Jeff Dubs, Rock Band enthusiast and Manager of Shattered Dreams
The sun rose today as it normally does but the air smelled a little sweeter and despite some bumps, bruises, raspberries and sore throats, the members of Shattered Dreams awoke this morning, rose out of bed, and went to their respective day jobs. But as they shuffled off to work, who among them didn't feel an extra spring in their step? Who among them didn't muster a smile in their car or subway, thinking about the thrilling victory of last night? Was there one who didn't revel in the thought of Tuesday's night's DREAM match-up against the Ropes?
As the quotes above demonstrate, the Shattered Dreams softball club has unfinished business and is focused on the task at hand. While last night's emotional playoff victory was a huge step for a franchise mired in mediocrity over the last few years, there is one more page in the scorebook to fill (literally). The Dreams have their arch nemeses waiting in the wings. The only things standing in the way of the storybook ending to an 8 year journey for Yorkville's beloved boys in blue is their fiercest rival - the Gary's Old Town Tavern to our Cheers, the Globetrotters to our Generals, the Martin Van Bueren to our Dewitt Clinton (yes, they were adversaries), the Lucy to our Charlie Brown - the first place Frozen Ropes.
And while we still need to secure our 9th win of the season to etch our names in Yorkville's history books, the night of 8/26/09 was one of the best performances (from pregame to postgame) in Shattered Dreams history. It was a physically and emotionally draining game and we should take a moment to revel in its glory. We've earned that. We deserve that. On to the highlights...
A Touch of Cockiness....came from the #2 seed, Client #9. "I guess we'll be playing the Ropes next week" said one of the dirty dozen as they walked to the third base dugout. Duly noted. Thanks for the {virtual} bulletin board material. Game on. Perhaps the 9 in Client # 9 stands for the number of wins you'll have at the end of the year? Coming into the game, the favorites were 9-3 and finished 2 games ahead in the standings of the Dreams. Leaving the field, "Client 0-3",err - i mean Client 9, had to deal with a season sweep at the hands of SD and would only hope to see the Frozen Ropes in the Championship if they came on Tuesday to root us on. As far as Client #9 goes in regards to the title game: with all of their confidence, I've got two words for ya - "Not Reeeeeaching"!
A Touch of Inspiration, Veteran Wisdom and Drive was prevalent before the game as we gathered to storm the field for the 8:30 PM start. Coach Dubs rallied us with images and the legend of Colonel Charles Young before the game and stepped in to be the fiery leader, fighting for his players against the most dubious of umpiring throughout the contest. Prior to first pitch, Jeff I reminded us to have fun and not press and most importantly "let the game come to you". Well put. Perles also chimed in and hammered home that they might be good but we are a TEAM. He couldn't have been more right. We need to remember that going into next week's game. While other teams in this league may have more raw talent, when we harness our emotion and camaraderie, we have that intangible passion and desire to win that can put us over the top and lead us to victory. In defeat it's our biggest weakness, but in victory our intensity is our 11th man in the field and can make us champions. We wanted it more this week and never let up. If we maintain that passion on Tuesday night, we have a good chance of calling in sick on Wednesday.
Special shout out to Robbie who immediately set the tone for the evening by hooting, hollering and distracting the hothead opposing hurler from opening pitch. I could hear Hansen from as soon as i stepped in the box and i can honestly say that it got me as psyched up as it got Scotty rattled. Kudos to Bobby Pants, as two of the first 4 batters drew bases on balls from a pitcher who never seemed to get comfortable.
A touch of Deefense was what we needed to never give up the lead in this game. While Client 9 deserves all the credit in the world for hanging in and battling back throughout the game, we never let them draw even. From the top of the first, we grabbed the lead and although they drew within one on two occasions, we held them back. As one of the patrons at our new local bar, exclaimed "O....M.....G!". She was talking about my nickname as Focker but she very well could have been talking about the web gems that saved the game in the late innings.
#1 - "Damn, you look like Matt Damon. Let's do a shot of tequila". Fantastic. Although it looked like a stunt that Jason Bourne might pull, that was actually Hans Ruddy, sliding in RCF to take away a hit prior to a Client 9 round-tripper. HUGE play by the Rookie of the Year. The Talented Mister Ripley complemented that catch with a big RBI single to cap a 3 run first inning. Will Hunting also contributed with a round of beers for the team, at Harlem's answer to Ryan's Daughter. Mick and Jimmy never gave me that kind of welcome and I can't recall them ever offering me free hotdogs.
#2 - How does a put out of 7-6-2 sound to you? If you listen closely, it sounds like a game saving play. Let's give an assist to the tall OF grass which slowed down an almost sure HR to the LCF gap and allowed me to catch up to the rolling ball. Throw to Seltz and then a rifle shot from the SS to Robbie Hansen behind the plate. Catch, tag, out. Beautiful and clutch. Special nod to Jon who trotted out to SS on one leg for half the game but fired strike after strike to Rohin at 1B. Good thing Seltz doesn't throw with his hamstring or groin!
#3 - Collins positioning in the OF all night long. No flashy plays because he was exactly where he needed to be. An understated but not under-appreciated effort in LCF. A pleasure to play alongside of...And not only is CC a solid defender but what an exceptionally gracious guest he is. Upon entering the watering hole on 145th and Malcolm X to a rousing ovation and popping champagne corks, he raised his arms and as the raucous crowd hung on his next words, Craig exclaimed "It's an honor to be here. Thanks for your hospitality". Craig Collins - a scholar and a gentleman (who also helped ID a flaw in my swing last week; "Will, anytime.....The advice is free". Thank you sir!)
A Touch of....the Shittiest Umpiring I've ever seen in a playoff game. Calling Jon out at 2B as he got summoned off the field for a pinch runner, killing a rally.....Phantom tag on Flatline going from 2nd to 3rd.... and talking on his cell phone while i was batting. I'll leave at that. Just want a record of this so we remember when i Google this email in 5 years! Terrible.
A Touch of HGH and an Edge in Pitching - BP again tossed a great game and made some very solid plays in the field. Looking runners back, maintaining composure and bearing down to get the outs he needed. The Woodbury Wonder didn't overthrow against the weak bottom of the lineup and held the opponent to 1 run in the last 2 innings, not allowing the lineup to turn over again in the last frame. He bested the brick shithouse captain of the Under Armour team. That dude was amped up and ready to kick some ass. If it was a wrestling match, BP would have been flattened like a pita at Nargila, but it was a pitching duel and on this night Brian was the monster on the mound.
A Heaping Touch of Offense - the great thing about this team is that we pick each other up. It is a rare occasion when everyone has great games offensively, but in every win, different Dreams elevate their game. When some are down, others pick it up and that is the true measure of team. How many writeups this year exalted the heroics of the BOL? (does everyone recall the last Client 9 game was sealed by the Old Man River grand slam?). We boast a balanced lineup through and through and a pitcher can never relax. Last night's boxscore showed an astounding 11/12 from the top 4 in the lineup. "Ed Lover" and "Chizzle" were not only big hits with the ladies at the afterparty, but they were hot all night long. In addition to 11 hits, Rohin, Flat, Seltz and myself added 4 walks, 9 runs and 9 RBI. Awesome production. A three run first inning set the tone and was a great way to start the playoffs. Unlike prior games, we kept the pressure on throughout. With a total of 16 hits, we played station to station ball, only notching 2 extra base hits. Smart and patient ball. Everyone reached base and we added 6 walks to the hit parade, keeping the pitcher and defense off their rhythm.
and finally...A Touch of Dee!
What a game and what a way to finish off the evening. Good rally by everyone to make an appearance at the post game party.In the shadow of Colonel Charles Young Playgrounds, stands a little establishment that now can call itself part of Shattered Dreams Nation. NY Magazine states "The dusty atmosphere and local crowd are everything here", and I couldn't agree more. With two men at the door pulled straight from the Coming to America barbershop, it's times like these that I wish we named our team "sexual chocolate". After the door was unlocked to allow us in, the victorious Dreams were welcomed with open arms into a private celebration. As "I'm Satisfied" so appropriately blared on the jukebox and Hans got propositioned, Jeff read aloud the winning roll call to a chorus of cheers that bellowed throughout the Harlem Nights.
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What a night! What a game!
That was so much fun. Let's do it again on Tuesday. It's the Championship. It's the Frozen Ropes. We've seen both before. This time though, the story ends different. In this playoff game, a team does not get beaten for the third time in the season series. This time Charlie Brown kicks the field goal. This time there is no bucket of confetti dumped on the unsuspecting General. This time, Woody knows hows to make a Screaming Viking.
No one thought the Giants could beat the unbeatable Pats. We played the Ropes tougher than anyone all year. We've had our "Week 17" vs them and they know it. Tuesday is our Super Bowl.
Client 9 wants us to win it. Frozen Ropes want to play us. We've been waiting for this. Savor this victory, have a great weekend and get pumped for Tuesday. It's September baseball and the title is on the line. Let's go out there, have some fun and leave it all on the field because win or lose - this is it.
8 years
11 men
7 innings
1 goal
Tuesday night. 7:30PM. Dewitt Clinton (52 and 11th). see ya'll there
SD4L
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