... And John Sterling has said it a million times. Maybe a million, five hundred and fifty-two thousand and thirty-one times. You can't predict slow-pitch softball.
Susan Waldman Has Agreed a Million Times
The hero of tonight's game was a fellow who had visions of doing no more than pitching a little batting practice before settling back into the bench to ingratiate himself with his compadres by — as official keeper of the Reachers' scorebook — making even the most atrocious error of the enemy look like a scorching line drive. (Actually, guys, now that I look at the book, he just said he was doing it. <g> )
But one Reachers' stallwart [sic] was held up in Deegan traffic for two hours and got to Rumbrook just in time to take the field in his penny loafers. Then, when two other stalwarts failed to show (Robert "The Enforcer" Gold is attaching bank accounts even as I type), we were forced to press our voluntary 12th man, Geoff Shlaes, into action behind the plate despite his rehabilitating knees and recalcitrant quads. This allowed us to play our full complement of outfielders.
Jason Roif, returning to the the mound to hold his spot in the rotation, put himself in Geoff's hands and gave up a mere handful of hits over the evening. Geoff also stroked a line drive to center in he fifth (but alas was tossed out at first by a ne'er do well as he gamely trotted up the line). But wait, there's more: He added a key RBI on a fielder's choice in the sixth.
Ed Lopez, once he got his spikes on, led the hitting with a 3 for 4 night. Thom Forbes, Jim Pezzuto, Pete Linkowski and Steve Tilly both went 2 for 4. Robert "The Discerner" Gold gave the "Studebaker Clutch Hit of the Night" award to Bob Bearnot for keeping the sixth inning alive with a timely RBI double.
In the field, Rick Bohm turned a great pivot on a long-distance DP that started with 478-Pete and terminated with Robert "The Diver" Gold.
Oh yeah, we won, 9-3.
GREY MATTER. Robert spoke to Lary Griener today. He underwent surgery yesterday, and it was "pretty serious," Robert reports, with two incisions resulting in a cast from shoulder to wrist. Lary's on painkillers now, and will have to undergo some intensive re-hab once the healing takes hold. We missed his spirit — and bat — tonight, but look forawrd to seeing him on the sidelines soon.
Please, let me know ASAP if you can make it Monday at 9 for the game against Moretrench (we lost the first game 2-1 in the last inning). I know Bob B and Rick are in; Pete's going to rest his badly bruised quad.
Finally, emergencies and senior moments happen, but if there's any doubt you can make a game, please say so I can rustle up reserves to play instead. We had at least one waiting in the wings (in Putnam County) tonight.