Ghost Man on Third: Week 4

GHOST MAN ON THIRD

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE COMMONWEALTH DIVISION
"Kickball: Because red balls are better than blue ones."

WEEK FOUR: "My god it's been so long, never dreamed you'd return, but now here you are, and here I am. Hearts and thoughts they fade, away."

Table of Contents:
I – MAJOR MIDSEASON ANNOUNCEMENT
II - Introductory Blather
III – Game 1 Recap
IV – Game 2 Recap
V – Standings & Schedule
VI – Announcements, Announcements, Announcements
VII – Lyndon LaRouche was Right

PART I -"I felt the earth on Monday. It moved beneath my feet. In the form of the morning paper. Laid out for me to see." 

This folks is big. Bigger than Elvis. Bigger than Oprah. Bigger than The Beatles (who were Bigger than Jesus.) Bigger than the National Debt, Our Trade Deficit with China, Social Security Trust Fund, my ego and Ball Buster's Run Differential, combined ....IT'S THE MID SEASON PARTY!!!!!

From league Social Chair Jennie Levangie of Ball Busters:

Save the Date! Our mid-season party is scheduled for July 12th @ Hurricane O'Reilly's in Boston. We are combining parties with the Boston league. Time to get rowdy! Free beer!! Guests are welcome to come for $10. (That money will go directly to our charity) As soon as I get more details on the time, etc, I will let you guys know. Thanks and See You There! 



PART II – "I am ahead. I am advanced. I am the first mammal to wear pants"

This week America mourned the passing of comic George Carlin. His acerbic wit, Orwellian word play, and fearless social commentary was influential to many comics and satirists who have followed. Unfortunately, I first knew of him as Rufus, the visionary from the future sent to guide Bill and Ted on their Excellent Adventure. For me his enduring image is not "Seven Words" or "Brain Droppings" or "Party On, Dude" but the homage to him offered by the Simpsons. Krusty the Klown, evolves from lovable child's clown, to a Carlin-esque "observational comic", assaulting the hypocrisies of commercialization and modern life. He even exhorts his fans to burn their money as a giant middle finger to "The Man." Homer, caught up in the zeitgeist of the new Krusty, expresses his dismay with pants, and shouts out loud, "Don't you hate pants?" Hoping that the new cynical messiah will have people burn their pants.

With pantsless-ness already on my mind, (a common affliction) I was listening to band of the week, Pearl Jam's catalog this past week in order to prepare for the three-shows-in-four-nights weekend that awaits me starting Friday. Vedder, in the line quoted above in a song that questions the morality of social Darwinism, called "Do the Evolution" uses pants as one of the symbols of economic oppression and industry. Unaided by any psychotropic substances, my mind began to riff on this potent symbol. Think about it all the various industries involved in making a pair of pants; the vast trouser-industrial complex. Add to it the Madison avenue types, who manipulate us through television, print, radio, the internets, and kickballnewsletters, telling us that we NEED to wear pants. The moralizing from the pulpits of our religious institutions, equating pantsless-ness as a sign of sexual depravity. All of these institutions working in concert to oppress the eternal truth of the human spirit and beauty that is the human body's ambulatory system; a khaki-stocricy that would make Stalin blush; a one pants worldorder. I worked my dander into a froth (mmm, frothy dander) at the notion of how the pants men (and women) were impounding on my liberty. That very moment, I stripped off my Levi's, crumpled by Dockers, unpleated my chinos, and did what any true revolutionary does who wants to be taken seriously: start a website! www.pantspantsrevolution.org Yet, as I began choosing fonts, and trying to find killer jpegs, my legs started to get very cold, and the path to a pantsless Nirvana quickly faded… Wait, Nirvana? I thought this week's band was Pearl Jam. Awwww, $&#T,P*@!, C$&@, F%$#, C*&%$#@*, MOTHER&%#$@#, T@#$!


PART III – "She holds the hand, that holds her down. She will rise above." 

Game One Recap: Ball Busters – 8 vs. BRB – 2 

The cognoscenti in the kickball media previously wondered whether when and if the Ball Busters would break their winless streak of three games to start the season. Week Four proved to be their tolling bell, as they finally "busted" something and earned their first win of the season. This game had every thing a kickball aficionado could enjoy; stellar defense, including an unassisted triple play, slight umpiring controversy, home runs, business casual attire, dance routines, theme songs, beer, beer and more beer.

The game started close, with Ball Busters jumping out to an early lead and held off an early BRB charge withgreat defense. Team MVP of the week, Tara Haverty lead the charge with a crucial double play in the second inning to keep BRB from scoring. BRB's pitcher, Brian was no match for the theme songs and dance routines displayed by the Ball Busters, and in the fourth inning Tara took advantage. Running the bases like no one we have seen before, broke the game open. She beat out the throw to first, moved to second when Caitlin Fahey hit a single. Advancing to third, she dodged the ball twice, ran past third, slid back, dodged another throw that resulted in a BRB collision and then ran home at the instruction of the Ball Buster third base coach.

The lead grew amid some controversy in the fourth due to a play at third. The umpires from team Animal is my Homeboy consulted, making BRB team captain Marty all aflutter, and having to resort to more beers to deal with the situation. Dismayed by the umps call, on a bang bang play at third and home,BRB attempted to mount a comeback, started by Steve, but great defense with sliding catches by outfielders Tim and Big Mike dressed in work attire kept BRB at bay. The final nail in the coffin was an unassisted triple play by Mike Haverty to end the game, cementing the first Ball Buster win of the season.

The game left both teams pondering the future. Ball Busters is ready to "kick more ass" according to Team Captain Jennie Levangie, while BRB scribe Holly Monaco waxed more poetic. "Next week…more drinks…earlier!"

Jennie Levangie of Ball Busters and Holly Monaco of BRB contributed to this report.

PART IV - "Will myself to find a home, a home within myself. We will find a way. We will find our place. Drop the leash. Drop the leash, get out of my @$%&ing face!"

Game 2 Recap: ADPI – 2 vs. Animal is My Homeboy – 3

In one of the tightest games of the season, Animal is My Homeboy remained perfect by winning on a dramatic last inning walk-off single by league webmaster Steve Sweetser.

ADPI scored two runs in the first inning on a two-run blast by Jim Jenkins. Behind solid pitching by Dave and stellar team defense lead by a spectacular catch by Maria Melone in the third, and solid contributions from Michelle, Duane, Matt, Brian, Matt, Paul, Kate, Deb, Lauren, Coral and Betsy the lead held until the bottom of the fourth inning. ADPI's offense though was equally stymied by the quality pitching of Jen Klane, Nikki Torday and Josh Bob.

Animal dipped again into their bag of magic, in what may be a magical season for them, and started a rally. With one out, Mark Bittelari singled, and Brian Sweetser walked. Kathleen Dacey perfectly executed a sacrifice advancing the runners. Team Captain Isaac Gerofsky then came up huge, placing a single perfectly between first and second to tie the game at two. ADPI attempted to rally in the top of the 5th, but a double by Duane went for naught. Jim Jenkins, strutted out to the mound to preserve the tie game, and things looked good for ADPI to hold on, as the first two batters were retired. "Partially Shoeless" Tom Caddigan singled to keep things alive. Steve Sweetser strode to the plate and after running the count to three balls, lined the next pitch, some would say "wind aided" to left, as Caddigan chugged from first with the winning run. 

As the two teams left the field, Jenkins was heard to have said, "I should have walked you." To which Sweetser replied "You could have pitched it in the dugout and I was still going to kick it." Are these the seeds to a growing rivalry, or good natured ribbing of grizzled kickball warriors? Time will tell.

Betsy Birns of ADPI and Isaac Gerofsky of Animal is My Homeboy contributed to this report. 


PART V: "Try to forget this. Try to erase this. Try to forget this. Try to erase this from the blackboard."

Standings after Week 4

1.) Animal is My Homeboy (4-0-0) 8pts, run diff +8
2.) BRB (2-2-0) 4pts, run diff + 4
3.) ADPI (1-3-0) 2pts, run diff -2
4.)Ball Busters (1-3-0) 2pts, run diff - 10

Schedule for Week 5

6:30 - Ball Busters vs. ADPI
(ref -Animal, equip Jim)

7:15 - Animal is My Homeboy vs.BRB
(ref - ADPI, equip - Jim) 

PART VI: "The waiting drove me mad…you're finally here and I'm a mess. I take your entrance back…can't let you roam inside my head." 

Announcements.

WEATHER ADVISORY: There is a high probability we'll see heavy rain on Thursday June 26 with a chance of thunderstorms. Be sure to check you emails for the latest information regarding possible postponements.

CHARITY: Brian Sweetser of Animal is My Homeboy will soon be announcing the league's charity for this season, as well as some fundraising plans. Stay tuned sports fans.


SHIRTS: If you have not yet received your official WAKA league t-shirt, please contact Jim Jenkins atjjenkins@kickball.com. In your email please include your team and shirt size.

WEBSITE: Check out the League site at
https://www.kickball.com/macommonwealth/index.php.

Animal is My Homeboy Dave Mofford has uploaded a web album. To add yours email Steve Sweetser at ssweetser@gmail.com

GHOST: A snazzy version of this newsletter can also be found on the league site or by following this link. Check out the game action photos!

https://www.kickball.com/macommonwealth/gmotweek1.htm

SHOTS: The bartenders at the Boca Bar have extended a "shot special." Team specific shots, in your teams color are available for a reduced price of $3.00 and very tasty. Simply ask the bartender for your team's shot and he'll know what you mean.

BOCA BAR: Remember, after every kickball game head on over to the Boca Bar on 11 Pine Street Waltham. Quench your thirst and whatever other base desires you may have with their 15% off food special, $9 bud light pitchers with free wings, and collegial atmosphere.

PART VII: "She knows their future's burning, but she can smile just the same, same…and though her mood is fine today, there's a fear they'll soon be parting ways." 

What does the future hold? Is it raining, is it snowing, there's a Hurricane a blowing. There is a lot on our collective plates as we head in to the home stretch. Parties and parity seem to be the name of the game, with one team starting to pull away, and another ready to take the league by storm after finally getting off the snide. Colorful language, colorful shirts, and colorful shots are the forecast, as the finish to our season draws ever closer. Last week was full of excitement, controversy, drama and of course beer. It's been said before, you don't cuddle with a kickball season; "you strap yourself and feel the G's." It's gonna be one helluva toboggan ride to the finish, so lace up your kicking shoes, pour yourself a frosty beverage of the adult variety, and hold on tightly. And as always, pants are optional. 
- David, Team ADPI