Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Re-Cap of Game against the Solicitors (Season 2)

The Big Mc Nair Machine continues to win! Our record is now 4-2. Good job everyone!
Re-Cap of Mc Nair’s Game vs. The Solicitors from June 22, 2004

Introduction:
The Solicitors defeated Young Clement 31 to 14. They beat Haynsworth 20 to 12, and beat the Public Defenders 24 to 9. Their only loss was to Rosen (1st place in the Division) 17 to 5. Obviously, with this kind of record, they were going to have their hands full playing Mc Nair. The game was poetic with a level of comity heretofore never seen on a softball field. It was written in the stars that this game was ours, as we won our first coin toss and took home field advantage. The game reminded me of one of Donald Williams’ “Irish Blessings”. “May your bats always have a smack, whilst playing defense, may the wind always be at your back. Let the rain fall softly on your fields (at least for 30 seconds, twice, we had a rain delay to soften the clay of the Navy Base.) And until we meet again may God put their pop flies in the palm of your glove.” Despite their efforts and abilities, Mc Nair was victorious 9 to 6. To quote the loquacious Commissioner, Mike Seekings, responding to my e-mail about our victory, “Very Impressive!!!” I’d like to thank everyone that came out and played, our fans-who were led to safety from the rain by MAS and Tom for teaching some of us a new word “comity.”
The Game:
Everyone played and played excellent, except for MAS who decided to sit this one out to keep the ladies both dry and entertained . As everyone knows, this was Luke’s last game as he is moving to Colorado for school. Luke told me beforehand, he was leaving with another victory for the E.Bay Street Bombers. Corbett and Luke’s friend James kept the books was our designated hitter and pinch runner. Unfortunately, he designated all of his hits to their short-stop. Don’t worry James, you should have seen Jet hit last year, the result was quite similar. Amanda "Birthday Girl" Callander went 1 for 3 at the plate, but held down a mean second base. One of their “ringers” Nathan smacked a skyscraper, but Amanda (with much excitement from her fellow players and the crowd) caught his pop-up and ended the innings. What a clutch player. Great job Amanda! Although, she had a little trouble swinging the lumber, Corbett kept numerous hits into short right field from becoming triples and played excellent defense. On her behalf, Corbett blames her lack in the hitting department on foregoing her ceremonious “Two-Can” warm-up with bottled water. Before the game, MC “Hammer” Scarafile told me that we should start charging people for errors. Hmm, unless we accept his Expedition as collateral for payment, perhaps, we should institute this new system during our next game. Then again, Hammer says, “It doesn’t count as an error if you fall while going for the ball.” I’ll let you all be the judge. Our young barrister, Chris Williams had a stellar game, going 2 for 3 at the plate, and holding down the hot corner. Good job Chris! Christina “Les Bonnes Temps de Roullez” Davis was a real trooper playing on 2 hours of sleep, went 2 for 3 at the plate, and took the “Strike-out Monkey” off of Jet’s back. As usual, Joel Warren was taking care of business in left center, went 2 for 3 at the plate, and notched a few more RBIs on his belt. Jet missed a line drive in center, as the “ Tarheel Curse” a.k.a. too much junk in the trunk kept him from making the play of the game. Jet had two doubles, backed up “Two-Can” and did not miss another ball that came to him. Our very own epistemologist, Tom Mc Tighe took over for Jet in Right-Center, but suffered James’ malady of hitting to their short-stop. Obviously, Tom deserves the patience award for suffering directions of which brown patch to line-up with from the dug-out. He did not say it, but something tells me he was about to extend me “Cheney’s Congressional bed-side manners”. Brett “Mr. Dependable” Bluestein went 4 for 4 at the plate, racked up a couple of RBIs and signed autographs for the fans afterwards. Silent but deadly, Jay-Bird went 2 for 3 at the plate and made some ever so crucial snags at first base. Luke Jeter-mini went 1 for 3 in his last game due to a 1st Inning injury at first base, hence James playing the pinch-runner role. Although playing hurt, Luke did an excellent job at short-stop. I wonder, who will fill your shoes. I would like to extend a special thanks and Good luck to Luke as he travels out West to tap the Rockies. And I am sure that softball fields throughout Colorado will wonder from where that echoing “MINE!!!” is coming.
Conclusion:
The odds were against us, but we showed Ralph’s boys never to underestimate the underdogs. I have never been as proud of a victory as I was after this game! Good Job Everyone! You all are great team players which makes it easy to be your Captain. You have met the challenge of playing one of the best teams in the league, were tenacious and did your best. It seems Mc Nair wins games the "Old Fashioned Way"-We earn them. We have this week off. Our next game is July 7th at the Park Shore field against Haynsworth, Sinkler Boyd. Our record is now 4-2. I’ll send you an update of our league standings as soon as I get the information. Thanks again to everyone, including “Covergirl” Mary Shahid and Momma Jo for taking care of Miss Rylie, so her Mom could play!
"Whether your name is (Lou) Gehrig or (Cal) Ripken, (Joe) DiMaggio or (Jackie) Robinson, or that of some youngster who picks up his bat or puts on his glove, you are challenged by the game of softball* to do your very best day in and day out. That's all I've ever tried to do." -Cal Ripken
*The word softball was substituted for baseball in this quote-sorry Cal

Go Mighty McNair!

Monday, June 14, 2004

Re-Cap of game against Young Clement (Season 2)

Re-Cap of Monday, June 14th’s Game vs. Young, Clement, Rivers & Tisdale

Introduction:
Normally, I try to relate the re-cap with something in the news, but there has not been much other than the “coverage” this past week in the papers and on the tube. So, to begin my diatribe, let me paraphrase a question Reagan asked America in his 1980 Campaign. I ask, “Is your softball team better off than it was a year ago?” Abs-o-lut-e-ly! Yes, it is official folks; we have beaten our record of two games from our freshman season. We are playing smarter, getting better hits, getting on base and putting more runs on the board than we did last year. After losing a close game last week[1], we won our third game for the season in a final inning finish. Corbett called “heads” in the air, the coin landed “tails” and we became the visiting team. If you ever was interested in why teams like to be the “home” team and have the last at bat. (See below)

Mc Nair
1-run/3 runs=4
1 run/4 runs=9
0/1run=10 runs
3 runs, final 13
Young/Clement
3-runs/0 runs=3
4 runs/2 runs=9
0/1 run=10 runs
1 run, final 11

The Game:
Young, Clement are the defending champs from last year; they took down Motley Rice in the finals. When you see three bases, especially first, being played by females (wearing softball pants) you have to consider that their females must be good. Their ladies were good, not as good as ours, but they knew how to play their positions. Also, their “1960’s So-Con-All-American” on third, has the same arm he had in college-three out of five batters hitting to third-base were thrown out at first. JoAn Mc Daniel holds the two safe at first stats. Then again, she made him work for it. Luke Jeter-mini (playing his 2nd to last game) held down short-stop and went 3 for 4 at the plate. Also, he was our first run scored-Brett earned the RBI. Luke is leaving us after our next game, but will leave us with “Mini-Jeter-mini” as both a runner and a new female in the line-up. (She has very big shoes to fill both on the field and in the office.) Jay-Bird prevented errors at both first base and home. He went 3 for 4 at the plate, hitting three doubles. As a pitcher, J-Bird earned our team’s second strike-out of the season. Top of the 7th, 2-outs, Jet performs the “Mighty Casey” routine and struck out-one whiff on an inside pitch, two fouled away-Jet, you only get three pitches. Then again, all of Jet’s hits last night were pop-flies and easy outs. Sorry guys, someone should have sat down and let Tom be the designated hitter. (That is what I get for being greedy.) Sorry Tom. Christina scored twice, held down home and went 3 for 4 at the plate. MC “Hammer” Scar-Sacrifice led the team with 3 RBIs-closely followed by Mamma-Jo and Brett both with two. Brett “Mr. Dependable” Bluestein came through once again. He played left field very tight, went 3 for 4 at the plate hitting two singles and one double with two-RBIs. Also, Brett continued to show our opponents why he is a “Distinguished C of C Communication Alumni” by giving the “batter some chatter” throughout the game. Capers “The Caped-Crusader” went 4 for 5, with three singles and a double. Also, he caught more flies than Mr. Miyagi with a pair of chop-sticks on the top floor of the Amityville Horror House. (I bet you did not see me throwing a Jay Anson book/Horror film-Karate Kid analogy in on this recap.) Young, Clement knew who that masked man was holding down left-center and called him everything from Benedict Arnold to #%@@**. (This is a PG-13 recap, if you wanted to hear the name calling you should have attended the game.) Regardless, Capers played a great game, and made a gutsy slide into home which put another run on the board. MEDIC!!! Jordan had the wheels to cover right-center and whatever Mamma-Jo let by her. Jordan went 3 for 5 at the plate, with two doubles and a single. Also, he did a wonderful job pitching and will have to inform the person at Garibaldi’s he has a family emergency for about an hour and half every Tuesday when we have a game. “Two Can” Corbett went 2 for 4 at the plate and played some mean “D” at second base. Just to clarify, “Two Can” is a reference to how she warms up-with two cans of Miller Lite®, not anything derogatory. Chris our new young attorney from Teck Law played an excellent game! He had a hot hand at third base, catching a missile in the fourth inning from one of their ringers “Big Mike”. Chris went 4 for 5 at the plate and ran the bases like, well, just like Jet. He was exposed to an interesting display of rule bending because he “faked” a tag on someone who did not have the wheels to make it home. Sorry Buster; only Mc Nair hits in the park homers. Finally, Mamma-Jo, who leads the team with the best on base percentage, went 3 for 3 at the plate, showing everyone she still has the wheels to beat the throw from third and make it around the bases. Someone get that girl a Diet Coke or a Game Ball which ever is closer! Well folks, it was not pretty, but it was a WIN! Adding to our usual fan base and filling our stands, O’Dessa and Teresa came out for the game. O’Dessa told me that the games are much more exciting than reading them the next day. Thanks for reassuring my writing skills O’D. Let us celebrate with pizza and smiles as Mc Nair is now 3-2.

Next Game:
Our next game is against our old friends the Solicitors. Despite the clearly placed sticker on our door, which reads, “No Soliciting”; we will be playing Ralph’s boys out at the Navy Base next Tuesday, June 22 (6:30 P.M.) Please try to be there as close to six as possible to warm-up. I am going to put our roster together on Monday. Please let me know as soon as you can if you can make it. GOOD JOB EVERYONE!

[1] Mc Nair lost to Pierce Hearns by one run (13 to 14) on June 8, 2004.
Go Mighty McNair!

Thursday, June 10, 2004

Re-Cap of Game v Pierce Hearns (Season 2)

Introduction:
For horse-racing fans, this weekend brought to our country a heart-breaking defeat. Not only had we lost the "Gipper", but the horse that had not been beaten, the "Cinderella" from Philly also narrowly lost at the end. You might ask yourself; how does this tie into our softball game? Just like Smarty Jones, the Mc Nair Team was coming off a two win streak. Just like Smarty Jones, the Mc Nair Team was being chased by a field of hungry, young opponents that had only been in the business for three years. Finally, even though both Mc Nair and Smarty led the entire time, ran a great race, we both would loose at the very end. Hold your heads high Mc Nair, you should be proud of your accomplishments. There is no shame in losing by one point to a team that earned 7 runs off of homeruns. (Mc Nair 13-Pierce Hearns-14)
The Game:
Game time, many questions still hover above us, will it rain? will the restrooms be un-locked? Mc Nair is short a female player; Who would come to our rescue? The answer to the first two is no. The answer to the second is Mamma Jo' strapped on her tennis shoes, threw on a glove and jumped in the game until reinforcements arrived. JoAn played some excellent defense in Right Field, and had a great hit--Call 9-1-1!--which was robbed from her by Pierce, Hearns. She returned the favor with some "psychological warfare" towards Bob's roommate. Bob's gal "Mapquest" Megan would come to our aide and give Joanie a break once she found the field. Megan played exceptionally well for someone who had not picked up a bat in six years-just like riding a bike. Scar-maggio would hold down R.C.-Field and prove to Pierce, Hearns that he still had heat in those arms. Unfortunately, MAS could not lay the lumber right where he wanted it, and had trouble getting on base. Once again, "Cover-girl" Mary Shahid did a great job behind the plate, and made it to first base 1 for 4. I think they knew her reputation for hitting short and running fast because they crouched in on her left. Of course with Adam and MC "Hammer" Scarafile in front of her this strategy would backfire on P & H as she earned two R.B.I.s. "Hammer" had a good night at the plate, smacking two doubles, and a triple. Unfortunately, he would be left behind on the bases a couple of times-with haunting words of his own biting his heels at second. (See Jet) Lil' Cub Adam stayed busy working his magic on the mound, albeit almost striking out yours truly and a few other teammates. Adam played the "Hot Corner" for Jet after the fourth inning. Seems though the boys/girls at P & H had his number because he got a lot of action both from the ball and the ground. Good job Adam! Folks, I spent some time this weekend with Corbett and let me tell you, her skills on the softball field are only matched by her ability talk us out of a ticket in Quantico, VA. (She sang the Marine Corp Anthem and did a round-off, back hand-spring--in the rain.) Corbett had one of the most spectacular plays of the game. One of their "ringers" smacked one right up the middle, Corbett dove and caught it for what she calls and easy out! Unfortunately, all of the driving and gymnastics from this weekend tired her down for her swings. She could not quite put them where she wanted, then again, P & H played some serious defense on her. Bob "Flash" Ailstock played a great game, showed P & H not to mess with his cannon in the outfield, but was robbed at the plate. Sorry you were robbed Bob, P & H would have been in awe at the speed of your base-running! Joel went 2 for 4 at the plate, added a couple of R.B.I.s to his belt, saved us on the mound and controlled the outfield-playing some great defense! Joel, I loved it when their bench, boys on base and hitter thought it was over the fence before you snagged it from them! Brett "Mr. Dependable" Bluestein, with beautifully placed hits in the outfield, went 3 for 4 at the plate. Brett scalped a few of their hits that should have been extra points for P & H. As always, Great Job Brett! Yours truly, went 4 for 4 at the plate, but was thrown out at 2nd due to an early take-off on a fly ball. I tried to do the back to back in-the-park-homers, but one and a triple was all I could get. Well, Jet did get an ear-full from "Hammer" for testing the arm of their outfield and running to third and for my dumb-headed out at second base. Hence, Scarafile's words biting him when he did the same at second. Jay-Bird played wonderfully at first, preventing numerous errors and went 3 for 4 at the plate-serving more singles than Wendy's on a Tuesday afternoon. Also, he worked the mound before Joel came in to relieve him. Luke Jeter-mini played excellent. He did a great job as our lead-off man and held down short-stop. A special note, he is the only person on our team that has turned a double-play single handedly! Great Job Luke! I hate to see you go. Just like Smarty Jones we had the lead until the 5th inning, tied in the 6th, but lost by one in the 7th. Like I said, be proud, we played well, they just got lucky!
Closing:
Thanks to everyone who came out, the players, the fans, even George for making a guest appearance. There were so many great plays, I don't know who we should vote for as player of the game. Give me a response on who should get the "game ball", also, I need to have everyone vote for the last game's POG.
Our next game is Monday, June 14th @ Parkshore vs. Young Clement.
Please respond if you can or can not make it! We are 2-2, tied for third with Pierce, Hearns in our division. Keep up the good work!-Jet
"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club wont be worth a dime." -Babe Ruth
Go Mighty McNair!