Heading into this past week's game there was a dark cloud hanging over the Shattered Dreams franchise. Just three games ago, this squad was riding higher than ever - with emotional playoff wins and a full head of steam driving towards the championship. What followed was a debacle of epic proportions and a title game mercy rule defeat. It was our second consecutive (and third overall) trip to the Dance, but yet again we walked solemnly away ....title-less.
This one was different. It didn't hurt like the Frozen Ropes defeat, as this game was over soon after it began. What followed was an offseason of soul searching and, on opening night of the 2013 campaign, SD let a 12-0 lead slip away. Who couldn't help but to think that our Dreams of glory were lost forever? Perhaps a team of thirty-somethings had their shot and now it was time to hang up the sleeveless navy blues for good. Had we lost our chance?
Publicly and privately - team members pondered our fate as a franchise. But we've been down this road before. We've lost our way and our momentum, but time and again, we've found the passion, drive & camaraderie to run deep into the playoffs and challenge for a title. Who among us doesn't feel that renewed spirit again after last week's emotionally charged, playoff-like victory over the rival Blue Star Jets?
Lost - as a regular mainstay and agitator of the opposition from behind the plate, Jerry Miller. His contributions are sorely missed, however when a sub shows up at the field and says "I can play anywhere but catcher", Hansen's response is a confident "That's ok, I've got that covered". Covered, indeed. Robbie and BP toyed with the Jets lineup all night in a tremendous pitcher's duel. Robbie proved to be the consummate battery mate, guiding BP to a handful of strikeouts and working through a bases loaded, nobody out jam, at a critical juncture of the game. Only one run was scored and that "classic SD inning" was avoided. Robbie also kick-started our offense with the first hit of the game against the Jets' hurler. Masterful performance by Brian, giving up 3 runs in 7 strong innings of work.
Lost - Starting 1B and line drive menace, Ian Rohin. We certainly could use his bat in this depleted lineup, but Hans "Joel" Ruddy has stepped in to anchor the 5 hole and first base, providing more scoops than a Baskin Robbins on a hot summer day. Hans has developed a chemistry with his infield mates and their confidence has grown as the 4 around the diamond provided nearly flawless defense in Tuesday's victory. Hats off to Selz and Ed who sparkled. They may be our #3 and #4 hitters, but if they continue their stellar field play, we don't even need them to hit at all!
Lost - was El Capitan on a park trail last week. Perhaps taking in nature gave him a sense of calm and serenity as he cooly keyed two rallies in this game. A second inning RBI got us on the board and tied the game, and a sixth inning walk was crucial to our 3 run go-ahead rally.
Lost - for the season with a wrist injury is OF leader, speedster and consummate trash talker, Craig Collins. I don't know what i miss more - watching him sail through the OF tracking down would-be gap hits or listening to him chirp at the opposing pitcher and clap mockingly with every late inning walk issued ("He's looosing it...this guy's rattled"). That said, the OF is a patchwork project but on Tuesday you wouldn't have known it. The ageless Old Man Duff, Craig and I contributed with 2 hits each and sparked the offense. Overall the OF went 7-13, with 2 runs, 4RBIs and a walk. In the field, the last line of defense was flawless - tracking every fly and not allowing the Jets to take any additional bases. Strong, accurate throws all night kept our opposition from acting aggressively on the base paths.
Lost - my freedom to write these recaps on the day following the game. It's been a tradition that I have freelanced during the season, but fortunately for us, I was able to parlay my current gig into finding a late replacement and an infusion of youth....Matty Ice stepped in and played a smooth right field, while also chipping in with some gritty ABs and the go ahead RBI in the sixth frame. Following the game, with Touch of Dee and the memories of celebrations past fading away in the distance - Hans told him "this is how it starts...just a few years ago I filled in as a sub, and now look at me". Hans knows what it means to be a Dream. Years have passed and our hearts have been broken, but just as Touch of Dee remains as a reminder of our past glory, we carry forward with a mission to capture what has eluded us.
Lost may be our prime playing days but Jon, Hans and Jeff made their last game as 36 year olds a good one. This division is full of rivals. Rivals who circle the date with Shattered Dreams on their calendar and psyche themselves up to play us. This will be a grind but would we have it any other way? Perhaps we would've had more crazy stories if we won it all at the age of 25. But maybe a glass of aged victory scotch can be savored more than the fleeting thrill of a PBR funnel.
Ed declared last week as close to a must win as an early season game could be. He was right and it showed in our performance. Every time we take the field is another chance to create legendary moments. Every game is a playoff game from now on. Every out is a battle. I'm in for the next 42.
see ya'll Tuesday
from day 1... SD4L
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