ONEs: 1st Rube, 2nd Wild Thing, 3rd DT, SS NewJohn, LF Rugburn, CF Gunz, RF Horfun
TWOs: 1st Rube, 2nd Rebecca, 3rd Knees, SS Indiana, LF Superdad, CF H/Sandman, RF Burma Girl/H, Rover Burma Girl
Game 1: ONEs 14 : TWOs 13
Game 2: ONEs 3 : TWOS 4 (3 innings)
The sky was dark at 2.30pm, so dark that Rube and I thought that no one would show up. Little did we know that although most of the chaps in SAS are relatively new (less than 1 year), they were imbued with the toughest of the old school spirit. By 3pm, the rain started coming down hard, with streaks of lightning flashing across the sky. We were resigned to leave the field of glory. But more and more people started showing up. Even while it rained, people showed up. I felt a big tear welling up.
At about 3.30pm, we had 14, and the rain decided to give us a break, receding to a light shower. In true SAS spirit, the call was made to continue the game. Rube walked out in the rain to start laying the bases, and DT started counting off. It wasn't rainwater than streaked down my face at that moment. I remember a time when the hardy fellows of SAS would have played regardless of the weather, and I also remember a time when pansies called the shots and the game was called when drops of water was felt. It was good to feel the old school spirit again. Except for Indiana and Burma girl, no one else taking the field would've have seen the muddy games with Kitty, Martin the Contrary, The Cheetah, The Kiwi and Coach having sliding contests in the downpour. Yet, even if they had never met them, these new faces taking the field resonated the same never-say-die spirit of SAS, the same body-sacrificing, get-to-the-ball, team-before-self, all-out-fun soul that's made me return to SAS week after week for the last 10 years. The faces may have changed, but the spirit remains the same. Kitty, Martin, The Cheetah, The Kiwi, Coach...etc may have left the field of glory, but the new names, NewJohn, Gunz, Rube, Rugburn, Superdad, Clay, Rebecca, H, Horfun, Wild Thing... they have picked up the mantle and carry it proudly.
It was one of those games where everything went right. Defense was tight, but the bats were strong. Both teams were equally matched and neither team would give up even a single run. There was endless acrobatics as both sides slid, dived, ran and jumped to get their gloves on the ball. Everyone was fighting to get the gold glove this day. It was finally decided between Gunz and Indiana. Both made the most plays, Indiana running all over the infield and wandering deep into the outfield to catch flies, and Gunz showing the circus freak side of his nature, making impossible catches inches from the ground. Indiana even made all 3 outs in one inning unassisted. In the end, Gunz won the gold glove by a whisker, but there were no losers here.
Rugburn won the biggest bat easily when he crushed the ball (literally) into leftfield, way past Superdad's head. When the ball was returned to play, we found that it had turned egg-shaped. He's going to get the bill as well when I buy new balls for the game. (ed: on a serious note, we're left with ONE good ball for SAS games. I will be making a shopping trip to get supplies soon). Superdad was sending the ball deep too, but that one hit from Rugburn went from end to end. He may have taken the distance record from Kitty.
The game started off well, with both teams putting runs on the board early. The TWOs scored 2, and the ONEs replied with 2. But the ONEs decided to put on the turbocharger early, taking a 6-2 lead in the 2nd inning. They managed to hold on to this lead, piling on runs till the 5th with a 10-3 score. In the 6th, the TWOs finally answered back, scoring 3 runs, but the ONEs were not about to let the lead slip away, and they pulled ahead 12-6 by the end of the inning. The score remained the same till the 8th when the TWOs rallied hard to put 2 runs on the board. Continuing their efforts, the brought the game to a 13-13 tie going into the middle of the 9th. The ONEs had one last chance to seal the victory. With 2 outs, 2 strikes, and the winning run on 2nd. DT turns on a outside pitched from Horfun, yanking the ball down the right foul line. It was a fair, bouncing on the line and spinning away sharply to the right. H got to it milliseconds after it hit the ground, but it was too late as the runner comes home.
The second game started the same way, with the TWOs taking the early lead with 3 runs. This time however, the ONEs had no reply, and the TWOs, playing at home, piled on the lead to 4 runs by the end of the 8th inning. The ONEs were not about to give up though. They put on their rally hats and drove in 3 runs in the top of the 9th before they were finally shut down by the TWOs.
Another week, another TWO 1 run games. We've had 1 run games for the entire month. That is how much everyone is fighting for the games.
Notes:
Clay has earned his nickname. He will henceforth be known as 'Knees'. He played 3rd base this day, and still dropped onto his knees to make catches. He's all hustle, all the time. If anyone could put the Rube to shame, Knees will be able to. He even had a knee-sliding catch at home to win the DY award. He's gunning for The Cheetah's speed-sliding trophy as well, and if The Cheetah doesn't come back to defend his crown, we might have a new speed-sliding champion.
Rugburn had the biggest hit and the best slide of the game. He slid into 2nd base, throwing mud on not one, not two, but three opposing players. He got Rebecca, Indiana and The Sandman nice and muddy.
Everyone loves girl on girl action (especially in the mud), and we were not disappointed, when H ran smack into Burma Girl at home. It was a close facsimile of the last time those two ladies met at 3rd base not so many weeks ago.
H showed that she can compete with the best of them on her knees. She made a meter long slide to catch an opposite field liner from Gunz. It was a beautiful play, sadly overshadowed by Gunz's antics for the other team.
Gunz finally lived up to his name and showed the folks who joined in the last year, and never met him, why he got that nickname. He picked up a blooping grounder past second base from Rebecca and fired a bullet home from short outfield to get her out. The most common reaction was 'wow'...
One would think that batters would be picking on Horfun in RF. One would be wrong. Even H and Sandman were sending the ball to the opposite field rather than hit to Horfun. After the first couple of batters tried going opposite field, and getting caught out by Horfun, the message was received. Don't mess with her. Better to try your chances with Rugburn.
Indiana never ceases to amaze. He was playing shortstop but making catches in left and centerfield. He was everywhere. Kinda like Bugs Bunny playing Baseball.
DT was playing the fart game with Rube at 1st base. They combined for a textbook tag play when Rube fired the ball to DT to catch Superdad trying to steal 3rd. Strangely, Rube was having problems throwing home. He made two knoblauchesque throws to home on relays that would have gotten the runner out otherwise.
Looks like our newer ladies are turning into lean mean batting machines. Wild Thing, Horfun and Rebecca were hitting singles and getting on base consistantly. Wild Thing's driving the ball right up the middle everytime, and Horfun is learning the delicate art of spraying the ball into gaps. Rebecca has got the meanest swing of the bunch. She still needs practice making contact, but when she starts getting her timing down, she's going to burn a lot of folks in the leftfield.
Sandman showed up after 4pm. And he was on the phone talking to Lil'One during the game... (and btw, she was sitting in her Toyota in the carpark, barely yards away). Can we please change his nickname to 'Whipped'??
Biggest Bat: Rugburn
Gold Glove: Gunz
Best Slide, Rugburn at 2nd Base(putting mud on Sandman, Rebecca and Indiana)
DY: Knees
We went to John's to watch Eddie Murphy's Delirious. DT *coughdownloadedcough* it after having the goonigoogoo conversation with The Mick and Uboat about Dom's wife. Kudo's to Horfun for having the brilliant idea to get Botak Jones. She made the order, and we sat around and watched Eddie Murphy at his hilarious best till the food was ready. Then she kindly drove over to collect the food. It was a wonderful evening enjoyed by all. Yup, everyone except Superdad adjourned to Indiana's place for post-ball activities. We even had ice-cream for dessert.
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