Ones: 1st Rube(all-time), 2nd Lili, 3rd Handsomest Man in Singapore, SS NewJohn, LF Ironman, CF Sandman, RF Jason
3th-6th Rover DT(all-time)
Twos: 1st Rube(all-time), 2nd Horfun, 3rd Clement, SS Diana, LF Rugburn, CF DT, RF Nigepooh
3th-6th Rover DT(all-time), CF H
Horfun leaves in the 7th, 2nd Diana, 3rd Rugburn, SS DT, LF Nige, RF H
Game 1: ONES 20: TWOS 29
This game was how we should've welcomed in the new year. The weather was perfect, cool, the skies blue with lovely clouds blocking the sun, the ground dry from a week without rain, but soft as the sun did not come out to bake it overly hard. The frisbee players were out in force, but we managed to secure the far end before the soccer idiots and cricket monkeys came on the field. The best part of the day was old regulars showing up. We had expected another day of short numbers, and maybe forced batting practice instead of a proper game (we have even called Joe to not open, since we didn't expect many numbers to show up), but our faith was rewarded.
We saw the re-emgence of Nigeypooh, and the 2007 debut of Jason and Diana. And with Clement, Ironman and the Handsomest man in Singapore providing the last 3 bodies, we had enough to have a proper game without cones and double-base-running rules.
Rube had injured his arm during his wedding ceremony (My theory is that his left elbow couldn't take the weight of the ring and ball and chain, and it broke), so he volunteered to play 1st base for both teams. Since we had odd numbers, that worked out for the best, and The Handsomest Man in Singapore bravely took the field at 3rd base (his first proper defensive position after months of rehab from the surgery). H showed up by the 3rd inning, so DT gave up his batting spot, and played Rover all time to even out the numbers.
Strangely enough, it could've been the loss of DT in the batting lineup that might have had the most impact on the score. The TWOs took a massive 8 run lead at the top of the first which they extended to 8-1 when H arrived. With DT playing defense for the TWOs and ONEs, the ONEs bat started working in their favour, and they soon caught up to 9-6 by the bottom of the 4th. It was the 5th inning that blew the game wide open. The ONEs put together hit after hit into the gaps in the outfield to score 10 runs to take a 16-9 lead. That turned the game around on its head and shocked the TWOs bats back into action. By the 7th, they had tied the game 16-all, and taking back the lead with 3 runs by the 8th. The bottom of the 8th saw the score swinging again to tie both teams at 19. It was a stupendous effort by the TWOs at the top of the 9th that finally grabbed the victory. Taking a leaf out of the ONEs' books, they scored 10 runs to hold the lead at 29-19. The wind was blown out of the ONEs' sails as they had no answer, scoring a solitary run to end the game 29-20.
Some notable highlights of the game.
Rube is all hustle, even with a HUGE ball and chain attached to his arm.
The Handsomest Man in Singapore has lost a step after the operation, but as he proved, he's but a whisker away from full recovery.
NewJohn showed some Glen skills (no, not at shortstop), bringing two lovely ladies to spectate our game. I would go so far as to award him the Glen+ award since both of his ladies participated in the game. Lili, showing that she's got an amazing glove with no fear of fast throws aimed at her. And her sister, stepping up to DH, for the first at-bat in her life, hitting a liner deep into right center field.
Sandman was spectacular in centerfield, running, and running, and running, and running everything down. Next time we're short numbers, we'll play 'Sandman Rules' where he can hold the outfield by himself. (note. When he didn't have to run for a ball, ie when he was the pitcher and the batter popped up straight to him, he dropped it)
H owes us a jug.
Jason and Diana are back (hopefully for good) and they've not lost a step, hitting and fielding well. Diana started the game at short and she didn't miss a beat.
Nigeypooh was back, probably to get away from Jenny, who's 5 weeks away (no wonder the man is running) from full term.
Rugburn has a new defensive strategy called the fengshui shift. Moving Clement to CF, Nigeypooh to LF, H to RF, DT to Short and himself to 3rd. It didn't make sense at first, but it worked out in the end.
Last play of the game was Sandman getting greedy. He hit a liner into the gap between CF and LF, and took off running. He was easily safe at 3rd, but decided to grab an extra bag, heading for home. The relay was textbook perfect. Clement hitting DT, hitting Newjohn at the plate. Sensing his doom, Sandman turned back, too late, towards 3rd, and Newjohn made the throw to Rugburn for the game-ending tag.
MBP: Rugburn, for hitting well, not dropping balls and most importantly, the Fengshui shift
Biggest Bat: Clement
DY award: Rube
Glen award: NewJohn
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