7/6/14- GGP- Annual MBC Fourth of July Doubleheader

Another glorious game-BBQ-game is in the record books.

I can say with all honesty that this year's doubleheader was fun from start to finish, just the right mixture of  good people, competitive play, great food, camaraderie, beer, weather and fans.  The families came out, the tourists stayed and watched, we never got hassled by the park officials for multiple violations of the City park code, all in all, a great day.  We averaged about 14 per side, so the rule was every player sit three innings of nine for each team.  We were also graced with the presence of Johnny Bartlett, who played last week as a warm up and then really played for the homers in the first game.  He looks great, approved of the official playlist and really made the day (no wagon this year though...).  He requested all knuckleballs which I was happy to oblige.

Game 1

Satch squared off against that young upstart Rockwell, who has been the talk of the club since deserting us to play for a league and then returning.  Sometimes you have to let them fall so they know how to get back up again.  From what I understand, Carter learned the realities of the league game, specifically always having to drive to places like Novato, dealing with overly aggressive and competitive players, and in general, sucking all the fun out of the old game.

Luckily, the shine is off of Carter somewhat, and our team was able to at least hold up their heads as he didn't dominate us per the usual.  But he still pitched well, even if he pitched into the 8th inning, in clear violation of the unwritten rules we had all agreed to....Satch felt good, always nice to get out to a game, and the fastball felt good, the change up looked slow, and the knuckleball looked devastating.  About the third frame, I think I threw 90% knucklers, which is always fun.

The score stayed low and tied for the majority of the game.  Both teams squashed rallies with thanks to some good defensive work.  John Carey hit a towering shot to right that was sure to be an in-the-parker, but a great four man relay caught him at the plate.  An inning later, the visitors suffered the same fate as Rojas attempted to score from second on a line drive up the middle and was gunned down, ripping his fancy MBC flannel uniform in the process.  The visitors hit it to Tim and the homers seemed to hit it to JT no matter where they were playing.

Going into the 9th, the score was 3-3, Satch had given way to Daniel after the 5th, who threw strikes for the most part, then to Dustin for a change and then gave way to John McGrath, who started out wild-wild-wild but eventually settled down enough to strike out the first batter, but anyhoo, the homers had men on, and with a monsterous shot to the gap in right center, Don won the game.

Final- 4-3

Everyone trotted in and were greeted by the delicious smoke of four BBQ's

FOOD- BEER-FOOD-BEER

The AOY 2014 recipient was presented to Ed Sidawi, Esq., via the past AOY's including Will Rockwell via Skype technology.  I will reprint the oath of the AOY once I can get it from Bob.  There was also the addition of a beautiful scepter for the knighting ceremony and a silk kimono worn by AOY Carey (what?).

The 2014 Deserter trophy stayed in the Rockwell clan, and was presented to Will, with brother Carter standing by.  If Will has any sense he will seek out the Brooklyn game ASAP.

Game 2

We swapped home for visitor, but kept the teams pretty much the same, other than Phelps who was traded for some reason.  For the first time in a long while, that I have seen, Lattig started on the bump.  He was his usual crafty self, somewhat evident of the Leone process, by way of a frustrating pitch that looks so good, but that one can never hit well.  Greg started for the homers and did well, but the defense was not as good as it was the first game.  We see sawed for a few innings, the game was another low scoring affair.  Don flashed the leather several times in the outfield including robbing Satch of what would have been a stand up triple, or at least a really lazy double. 

Greg did the right thing and bowed out for Sonny, who was making his pitching debut ( I think) and while he got a 1-2-3 inning it was not a particularly efficient one.  However, after that, he settled down, found his rhythm and was great.  Lattig gave way to Phelps (with a pitching aid of glass stuck in his hand) and then John Carey.  Tony came in for the late innings for the homers and did a great job.

The homers were down 3-4 going into 8th, but we had Mitch on our side, who had scored two of our three runs already, and with a towering shot to the deep yard, he had a triple and things were looking up.  Tony followed up with a clean hit and a RBI to tie the game, then took second and third.  Satch strode to the plate with his bat-shaped 2x4 and after a low strike and a waving flail at a curve ball, spread out, choked up and lined one over the first basemen's head for the go ahead run.  So after tying the game, and scoring the go ahead run, Tony took the mound for the 9th, and closed it out.  We honored him with the Style trophy for his custom uniform and high level of play on the day.

Final-5-4

Highlights

* Thank you to every one who came out to play and watch.  Special thanks to all the significant others who put up with us as well as Stella and Rosie, Oliver Smith, Liam, Aiden and sister*, Thomas and Charlie, Wesley, Leo, Helen and Bo, and any other kids and pets whose names I didn't get.

* Jay brought out his fancy camera and tripod, and let us all play photog, hopefully some good shots

* What a difference a Mitch makes.

* James from Coney Island gets the long ball award for a couple of foul balls and a fair ball that all hit the other diamond

* Greg drove from Tahoe that morning, caught, pitched, caught.  Glad I am not his legs.

* The pulled pork, burgers and Brandon Natural Beef ™ steaks were top notch, natch.

* From what I hear, the homemade veggie burgers were also exquisite this year

* Bob hit a towering shot to left field that made it to the other field.  Only one problem, it may have been foul.  Ed maybe didn't see it clearly, but called it fair.  Dustin at third argued there was no way that it was fair.  Bob got the hit and maybe got away with something....

* Don might get the MVP for his winning RBI in the first game and defensive magic in the second

* Tony Rojas also is a strong candidate for the same reasons, however, his slide loses him some points....

* I missed a lot of the game play cuz Lil' Satch had to go pee roughly every 1.1 innings.  Ahh, fatherhood.

*  We had quite a few in and out catches in the outfield

* Mcgrath's kids lost their minds when he took the hill

* Jay won the air guitar award for the day. Glad the music was inspiring.

* I stole second on John when he neglected to remember to go to the stretch.  His frustration was payment enough

* Elvin hit a filthy knuckleball

* Johnny got his first hit, first RBI since his return to the game of the Elysian fields.

* I had two consecutive line drive singles with men in scoring position that yielded 0 runs.  The first runner was held at third after James threw a laser to home and the second runner was thrown out at the plate.  Lucky I got that last RBI.

* I thought we were going to get some good razzing from the drunk in the stands, but he mostly just provided accurate calls of the game.  A gentler, more educated bum....

* Richie was really hoping for the Deserter trophy, I can't tell if that is a good thing or not.

* Elvin saved the camera from a foul ball, and maybe snapped off a action shot. He was less responsive in letting his napping girlfriend know she was in danger of a foul ball landing on her.  ELVIN!

* Tim had some great plays at SS, as did Rojas.

* Happy Fourth everyone!  Thanks for a great time.

PS- Let me know if I missed any vital aspects.