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VIEWS FROM THE ROOST

By Dyce Bennett

Only one team gets to win their final game in the CVBL. It�s a cliche, to be sure, but it�s also the truth. Some 50 players entered this afternoon having already lost their final game. Two hours later, some dozen Mudhens joined them. It�s disappointing, it�s frustrating, but ultimately, it�s nothing for Roger�s Raiders to hang their heads over, as much as they might feel like doing it now.

I don�t really feel like recapitulating the last two weeks of games, but I feel I have an obligation to do so. Here goes: the �Hens did not play poorly by any means. In point of fact, they played a couple of damn fine baseball games. Unfortunately, the breaks simply did not go their way. In game one, a Cardinal player left early on a sac fly. This is not a matter up for debate; Roger saw it, Card third base coach Tom Neale saw it, pretty much everyone onhand who was not responsible for policing such things saw it. C�est la vie, but methinks vie was a little overly unfair on that one.

As for game two, well, I suppose I can only say this: something is wrong when a baseball game isn�t decided by the players, or even the umpires, but rather the field. I�ve personally watched an awful lot of games at Lefty Wilson field, stretching back to Senior Babe Ruth days. Over that span, my impression of the ballpark has degraded from that of a novelty, to a joke, to a liability. Something must be done. Push the fences back to the sidewalk, put a wall up in center field, something. I say this because game two was lost on two solo homeruns by Matt Duquette that probably traveled a combined distance of 650 feet. And the second of these homeruns was to dead center. The Mudhens didn�t help themselves out a ton - squandering a bases-loaded situation with no outs was particularly unacceptable - but that doesn�t lessen the frustration at watching brilliant pitching by Dan Hoffman and Mike Bergman be marred by the microscopic dimensions at Bailey Avenue.

I do not, however, wish to come across too bitter. The Plattsburgh Cardinals have a hell of a team; when you have 30 players and 9 of them are very good, you�re bound to win games. So hats off to them, from Nate Bilow and Dan Munson, who carried the team emotionally, to the Barcomb brothers and Matt Duquette, who actually did something.

And hats off to your �Hens. Nobody gave this team a shot going into the playoffs, but they ended up within a couple bad breaks of the CVBL title. Mike, Matt, Mike again, Dave, Jim, yet another Mike, Juddsy, Kap, Donnie, Washy, Roger, Harold, Hood, and even the Travises: congratuations, you did good. Back in business next May, gang. Be there.

END-OF-SEASON ROUNDUP!

IT MAY NEVER BE DUPLICATED - With an improbable third inning arrival at a field three blocks removed from her house this Sunday, Grace Bergman finished off a perfect season of arriving at each and every game fashionably late. In other final fan statistical trivia, Aaron Bennett passed Dana MacDougal for what he�s pretty sure is second in overall games attended in the season�s final day, aided by the fact that Dana was in a play. The Rivers� parents were declared co-champs since they were at all the games I was at. Ryan Demra obliterated the competition in Games Promised to Attend but Not Actually Attended, and Jim Calnon surprised nobody by picking up his third consecutive Creepy Old Man award.

A BREWING CONTROVERSY - Tempers flared following the postgame awards ceremony Sunday when league MVP-in-residence Steve Peryea was declared the regular season�s most valuable player. The dispute stemmed from the fact that Lyon Mountain believed Scott Baker would be declared co-MVP. Bill Durnin Sr. was unavailable for comment, though it�s safe to assume he would have just complained about Mike Bergman� pitching motion.

WHO DIDN�T SEE THIS COMING? - The Plattsburgh Cardinals� CVBL title was tainted somewhat when they learned they would have to share it with none other than the North Country�s finest son, Tyrell Tyrone Tyrese Tyrina Tyrus T. Tyson. The normally outspoken Cliff Conners was angry but could not disagree with the decision, admitting, �He�s just that good. I guess he wins again.�

AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE... - It�s been an honor and a pleasure to bring you Views from the Roost over the course of this season. Mad propers go out to Grace, Jim, Dana, Dan, and of course Local Legend and site codesigner Mike Bergman for their various contributions and sitting-with-mes over the course of the season. See you next year, gang.