It was time for our last trip to the battlefield Wednesday night to take on "Those Guys" in a rematch of an early season loss. Early darkness required that this game start at 5:30 rather than the usual 6:00 so we gathered early for some inspiration, went through our usual warmups and then got the game underway. We were the Visiting team for this contest so we got to bat first. For those of you who couldn't be with us, here's how it went.
I've noticed that this team has had some slow starts in recent outings and this game was no exception. After checking our watches at the bench (one strange ump we had for this game) we had a little trouble igniting the offense. But, with two outs, Rob, John A. and Mike managed to provide enough offense to net us one run. Unfortunately, they started the game on fire, sending player after player to the plate and around the bases. When we began to see "Those Guys" at the plate for the second time in the inning we became very frustrated. It was only the Mercy Rule that got us out of the inning, trailing by 10 at 11 - 1, feeling pretty beaten up, and needing a spark to get the adrenaline flowing again.
John W. opened the second for us with a double. The next play was very unusual and a little "fuzzy" in my memory (from "ump rage" I think) so here's what Jo and I could figure out from the scorebook. Apparently Billy Masson hit a home run that included a play at the plate where John was called out because it was deemed that he didn't slide to avoid a collision that never happened. After some discussion with the ump it was clear that being right didn't get calls reversed so we resumed the game but were now much more determined and focused. Shannon also singled for us in the inning but, with all the offense, we were only awarded a single run. They, in much more conventional style, matched our single run output to keep their 10-run lead at 12 - 2.
Steve W. opened the third inning with a single and was followed by singles from Bob O., Jim and Sharon to give us yet another single run. On defense, for the first time in the game we held them scoreless, and their lead was now just a single-digit number at 12 - 3.
We appeared to be swinging the bats better with every passing inning and by the fourth our offense was beginning to flex its muscle. Mike, Bob F., John W. and Billy Masson hit for the cycle with Bob singling, John doubling, Billy tripling and Mike hitting the round tripper. All 4 scored to cut into their lead substantially. We followed the offensive show with an equally impressive defensive one, holding them scoreless again. Their lead was now down to just 5 at 12 - 7, and we sensed the possibilities.
As if our momentum had been broken between innings (or maybe we were just tired), we couldn't get too much going in the fifth with only Bob O. managing to hit safely. Not expecting to be back on the field so quickly, it took our defense a little time to get settled as "Those Guys" managed to score another run to increase their lead to 6 (something ya really don't want happening when there are only two innings left).
Shaking off the 5th inning doldrums, the team approached the 6th with renewed enthusiasm and it showed. Sammy (you all remember him right?) started the inning with a single. Jim and Sharon followed with singles and we were running the base paths again. Rob tripled to clear the bases and John A. singled Rob home. Mike then blasted his second homer of the game and Bob F. singled to restart the baserunning. John W. then doubled and Billy Masson tripled. When it was over we had scored 8 huge runs to take the lead for the first time in the game. To keep the lead the defense was gonna have to perform as well, and perform they did, shutting down the now-unsmiling "Those Guys" to preserve our 2-run lead (15 - 13) with just the 7th inning to get through in this amazing comeback.
There were a few folks who didn't get to participate in the 6th-inning onslaught, so they got involved in the 7th. Steve W. opened the inning with a single, followed by walks (yup, you read it right) by Kathy and Bob O. to load the bases. A series of Fielder's Choice plays kept the bases loaded but also kept us from scoring. Then, with two outs, Jim sent a bullet over the right Fielder's head and easily loped around the bases for a grand-slam home run to give us a cushion. But wait, we weren't done yet. Sharon followed Jim's excitement with a walk (that's 3 in one inning?!?), Rob singled, John A. tripled (with a slide into third that, hopefully, was video'd for use in training films everywhere), Mike doubled and Bob F. singled. When they finally got the third out we had scored 8 runs for the second consecutive inning to administer the "Final Insult". We toyed with them in the bottom of the seventh, allowing them to have another run, but it was very clear that they had been "slapped silly" after thinking that their early lead could hold up.
I can't think of a game that was more exciting than this one. After digging a big hole for ourselves, we didn't just climb out of it, we flew out, burying "Those Guys" in the process. Offensive honors for this game got to all 16 Insulter's who participated in this memorable victory. Pitching honors go to John A. (with 2-innings of relief from Bob F.). The catching duties were shared by Bob F., Sammy and Bob O. Thanks to Jo Larson for handling the scorebook (and the camera), and special thanks to Tom & Marlene Czarnecki and Christina for being there to support the team. After the game the team huddled around the cooler, had some refreshment, got somewhat nostalgic about the season, and showered the Coach with gifts for his work with the team. The gifts are very much appreciated but also very unnecessary. I say it every year and it's never been more true. No-one associated with this team gets more rewards from it than I do. In a small ceremony (that was captured in photographs I'm sure), the Coach turned over the team to the new Coach, Bob Fortescue, along with all of the team equipment.
As darkness descended upon the softball complex the largest team crowd ever formed a line and made the trip to Palumbo's where 19 players and fans took over the restaurant, were joined by Melanie, had lots of laughs, ate lots of pizza, drank lots of beer and wine, and had a couple of hours of fun. the season couldn't have ended in better fashion.
This is where, in years past, I've talked about the season that just ended. It's always a sentimental time for me but more so this year as I step down as the team's coach and as a full-time player. But first some comments about the season.
Final Insult teams sometimes end the season with outstanding win-loss records and some end up no so great in that area. In my experience the record often doesn't reflect the quality of the team. This year's team was as good as any but our league record (6 - 8) doesn't rank among our best. But lets keep our focus on the positive. We scored more runs than we allowed in a season that was really two different seasons. For the first half of the season our record was 1 - 6; for the second half we went 5 - 2, including wins in 4 of our last 5 starts. If you include our third consecutive demolition of "Tower of Power", our record for the season was 7 - 8, with 5 wins in our last 6 games. We're playing as well as any Final Insult team has played and should be proud of how well this bunch of diverse wannabe ballplayers functions together.
Every year we get a new crop of players added to the roster. This year's "rookies" (Mike, Shannon, Karen, John W. and Steve B.) meshed with the team easily, and quickly became a part of its success. Congratulations to all of them.
This year, in an unprecedented way, romance flourished on the team. Rob & Robin were wed, Bob & Melanie were engaged, Jim & Zarah were engaged, MJ & Dave were engaged. There clearly were meetings that I wasn't invited to!!
And surely no Final Insult team has ever had more fun on game days than this one. Always in good spirits and ready to party, anyone watching this team from the outside would quickly conclude that we were a bunch of friends gathering to play ball together, which is exactly why Final Insult was formed to begin with.
As Jo and I prepare to move to the fairways of Sunset Beach, NC, there will be few things that I'll miss more than Final Insult. For half of each year you can always count on having a good time each week playing with a bunch of folks who care about you. It'll be very difficult for me next Spring when I see the "call for players" for the 2001 edition of this softball legend. The team is in good hands; Coach Fortescue has been with us for several years, knows what it takes to coach the team, and will no doubt add some fresh ideas and new perspective to the Final Insult legacy. Treat him as you treat me and he'll be sure that he made the right choice in taking over as Coach.
To anyone who's ever played on this amazing softball team, I thank you and I'll miss you. For 13 years, Final Insult has been a big part of my life. Withdrawal won't be easy nor permanent. You can be sure that I'll be in New Jersey some time when a Final insult game is being played. Whenever that occurs, if the team and Coach will permit, you'll see me at the field with glove in hand.
In closing, no-one deserves thanks more than Jo. As Coach Fortescue will soon find out, having someone adeptly handle the scoring duties frees the coach to give needed attention to the players and action during the game (and provides the information needed to create these game writeups). In addition to scorekeeper, Jo functions as base coach, photographer, coaching partner. I couldn't have done it without her. She'll be missed more than anyone (except me) realizes.
Stay in touch. This email address will disappear in the next couple of weeks but you can always reach me at '[email protected]'. Thanks for the Memories (oh, that's a different Bob)!