Ghost Man on Third: Mid Season Review and Party

Ghost Man on Third

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE COMMONWEALTH DIVISION

"If it keeps on raining, Kickballs can be used as a flotation device"

MIDSEASON: Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play. Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day. The sun is up, the sky is blue. It's beautiful and so are you.

Table of Contents

I - In the Royal Crown Cola Wars, who were the Roundheads?

II - Liverpudlians Got Nothing on Kickabrigians

III- Midseason Review

IV - Standings and Schedule

V - Announcements

VI - If you read this Section Backwards You Get a Recipe for a Rocking Lentil Soup

Part I: The band begins at ten to six when Mr. K performs his tricks without a sound And Mr. H will demonstrate ten somersets he'll undertake on solid ground Having been some days in preparation a splendid time is guaranteed for all And tonight Mr. Kite is topping the bill

Coca-Cola once advertised itself as, "the pause that refreshes." Thanks to Dame Nature, our

kickball season was paused, not by a carmel based carbonated concoction, but by good old H2O in what has seemingly been an unyielding gray and murky fortnight. But if modern meteorolgy is to be trusted, Thursday, Game Day is our sunfilled day of salvation from the starkness. Hopefully our little division's unofficial "All Star Break" has left you refreshed and ready for the long grind to crown our eventual division champion and win a berth in the WAKA Champions Tournament in the most boring place on earth, Las Vegas.

Now, Coke is okay, but to borrow from Willy Wonka, "Candy is Dandy, but liquor is quicker." A cold soda in a tall cool glass, during a hot summer day is always refreshing. But it doesn't satisfy and refresh like a good old-fashioned, balls to the wall, PARTY (with appropriate adult beverages)!

And as it just so happens, the MA COMMONWEALTH MIDSEASON PARTY IS THIS SATURDAY! Of course you already knew that. But just to refresh your memory:

PLACE: JOSE McINTYRE'S - 160 MILK ST, BOSTON

DATE: THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 27th

TIME: 7:00 - 10:00

COST: Free for League Members. $10 Donation for Guests

DRINKS: Open Kegs and Cash Bar.

ATTENDING: YOU

Part II "You get a shot of rhythm and blues. With just a little rock and roll on the side."

I owe a deep debt of gratitude to whomever invented the party. What a simple concept. Get people together, friends and soon-to-be friends. Mix in food and drink, especially drink. Turn up some music, and bam you have an instant recipe for good times. Simple. Genius.

But that's the thing about genius, simplicity. True genius, is the ability to develop simple, yet previously unbefore developed ideas, concepts, inventions, or so thoroughly understand complex ideas, concepts, inventions so as to simplify them for the rest of us. Gravity, for example is such an important part of human existence. Modern humans had been around for thousands of years, yet it wasn't until 1693 and the genius of Newton. I'm sure thousands of people had seen apples and other things fall to the ground since the dawn of human existence. Yet none put it together before Sir Isaac. Simple, yet genius.

That's why when I think of this week's band of the week, I can't help but wonder if their use of the Apple was a nod to Sir Isaac. Even if it wasn't, it's fitting, because The Beatles are so simple, yet their ideas were so genius that it

revolutioned how people think, breathe, feel, understand, dream and philosophize about Rock N Roll. I'm not even a fan of The Beatles, really. Musically they are almost too simple, too pop, and my tastes favor later permutations of what they (along with Elvis, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and countless other Bluesmen and R&B artists) started. Yet, the simplicity of their music, their style, their promotion, things which are now commonplace, were revolutionary at the time, as revolution as Principia Mathematica was in Newton's day.

C'mon, who else could re-write the most common song in the world (no, not Rump Shaker); Happy Birthday? Who else would think to do so?

So for this week, I'm giving the nod to George, John, Paul and Ringo. They were the ones who got the party started.

Part III :He roller-coaster he got early warning. He got Muddy Water he one mojo filter. He say "One and one and one is three" Got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see.Come together right now over me

For those of you with any time of obsessive compulsion, especially in terms of symmetry, last week's rain out did bisect our eight game regular season. With four games left (and the MIDSEASON PARTY) now is the best time to look at all eight teams and see how they can best gear up before the playoffs.

EAST COAST ANIMALS (3-0-1 +10) - League newcomers and name interlopers, the East Coast Animals have

jumped to the top of the league, with three wins, one heartbreaking tie, and a respectable run differential. Yet could their teams's fractuous leadership be their downfall? Beleaguered team captain Ryan C, has retreated into his strongholds with his allies to consolidate his power especially among the peasant farmers, media and the lone port city, while his rival faction lead by "Captain Awesome" has taken over the team's major industrial centers and transportation networks. The relationship between the two factions is seemingly as strained as Jon and Kate, especially after the baserunning blunder that lead to their tie against Ball Busters. Can this team come together, in some sort of display or Animal unity, or will the revolution be their downfall? And after boldly proclaiming themselves the league's best drinking team, they've been outlasted by the Ball Busters three weeks in a row. Can they belly up to the bar, or was their bold boasting merely Ryan's controlled media blowing smoke? Time will tell. Time will tell.

ALLEN CLUB (3-0-1, +7) - Anyway you slice it, Allen Club's first have of the season has been spectacular. Probably not as spectacular as the latest deal from Papa Ginos, but still quiet hot and flavorful. They key is consistency of brand.

An Allen Club game is marked by strong defense, strong pitching and timely hitting, the key ingredients for any team willing to taste championship glory. Joshua A and his team know how to deliver in the cluth, and have seemingly mastered the recipe for victory. Moving forward they need to continue their strong play, ward off complacency and a static menu, and be wary of other franchises finding their own recipe for magic, and mustering the sauce needed to win.

LAST TEAM STANDING (2-1-1, =12) - The part of this observer that is a fan of aptonyms secretly roots for LTS

to be the Last Team Standing. Aptonyms, are people (or teams in this case) whose name is apt for their occupation. For example, a Chef with the last name Cook, or a minister with the last name Church. The most famous fictional Aptonym is Bookman, the Library Cop from Seinfeld. So far LTS has flashed moments that could lead them to being aptly named. They own the leads biggest win so far, and were a miracle kick away from hanging the first loss of the season on Allen Club. And despite going down to Allen Club in the top of the 5th, they came back to salvage the tie. Still, they can be pitched too, as witnessed by their loss, but otherwise have seemingly put themselves in a good spot to be apt, if other teams falter.

WALTHAM UNITED (2-2-0, +6)- Another team that in their wins has looked very good, but in their losses have struggled. Unfortunately this team is

the one I've seen the least of, so I do not have a good feel for what kind of team they are. They've won handily beating Ball Busters and Alcoballics by comfortable margins, but then beaten soundly by Allen Club and shut out by Eat Drums!!! What does this tell me? Absolutely nothing. This is a team that could definitely pull it together and surprise the teams ahead of them. Remember in kickball, no one is counted out until they are on their back staring at the ceiling of the Boca Bar and hallucinating of a dancing Plaintain named Maria Consuela O'Flanagan Pondicherry Smith.

EAT DRUMS!!! (2-2-0, even) - One of the Division's founding franchises, Eat DRUMS!!! is always dangerous. If they were an animal, the would not only be an incoherent drum pounding pink headed muppet, named Animal, but a stalking horse, one content to ride middle of the pack, assess the situation and then strike when the moment is right. The team is full of WAKA veterans, many of whom last year came just inches away from a perfect season and league title. Could their early season misstep been a hangover from last year, or the night previous at the Boca Bar? This is definitely a team that should not be taking lightly, either on the field, or at the bar.

BALL BUSTERS (1-2-1,-11) The number one question facing the Ball Buster is "Will the put it together?" Actually that's the number two question, after "Will Jennie catch a ball?" The Busters, known for their spunk, solid kickball skills, and entrance music is certainly a team full of glamour and glitz. They authored a strong tie against the ECA's and a solid win over the Alcoballics, yet lost large to Waltham United in the Green War, and were outmached by Last Team Standing. This is a team that definitely has the horses and dance moves to win, (and they are certainly winning at the Boca Bar, having put the brash ECA's in their place three weeks in a row.) Can Shoeless Tom's charges bring their Boca Bar success to the field? I know I'll have a cold beer and some jalepeno poppers handy to see the results.

ALCOBALLICS (1-3-0, -4) - After stumbling in anonymity for three weeks, the Alcoballics have started their path, a twelve-stepped path, to respectability. They've acknowledge the higher kickball powers, and have made a decision to turn their season around. By taking a kickball inventory of themselves and winning their first game of the season, they are seemingly read to make amends, and reach some sort of Kickballian awakening, one that hopefully results in being victorious come championship week. And I wouldn't be surprised if they don't pull it off. Like the old sports maxim states, always bet on black. (Unless they on the wagon, or is it off the wagon?)

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID (0-4-0, -19) - It can be said if it wasn't for bad luck, there'd be no luck at all. After losing with the tying run on third in the season's first game, and then in the last at-bat at the hands of Eat Drums, TWSS ran into a red hot team in Last Team Standing, and then were short handed verses an Alcoballic team that was firmly in the middle of their road to recovery. However, there is an identity of this team, one of brashness, spunk and teamwork. Adversity is character building, and definitely TWSS is full of a bunch of characters. Beware the cornered mountain line, the team with nothing to lose. Looking to build off a solid outing verse the Alcoballics, TWSS is seemingly primed for a run and will be dangerous in the playoffs. Why? Because THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID.

PART IV I look at the world and I notice it's turning. While my guitar gently weeps. With every mistake we must surely be learning, Still my guitar gently weeps

Standings (W/L/T, run diff, total points)

East Coast Animals 3-0-1, +10, 7 points

Allen Club 3-0-1 +7, 7 points

Last Team Standing 2-1-1, +12, 5 points

Waltham United 2-2-0, +6, 4 points

Eat Drums!!! 2-2-0, even, 4 points

Ball Busters 1-2-1, -11, 3 points

Alcoballics 1-3-0, -4, 2 points

That's What She said 0-4-0, -19, 0 points

Schedule (Week 5)

Diamond:

6:30pm - Last Team Standing v. Eat Drums!!!

ref: Allen Club

7:15pm - Waltham United v. East Coast Animals

ref: Eat Drums!!!

Grass:

6:30pm - Ball Busters v. That's What She Said

ref: Waltham United

7:15 - Allen Club v. Alcoballics

ref: Ball Busters

PART V Your inside is out and your outside is in. Your outside is in and your inside is out. So come on come on Come on is such a joy Come on take it easy. Take it easy take it easy. Everybody's got something to hide except for me and my monkey.

Announcements:

SCHEDULE: Last week's postponement pushed our schedule back one week. Thursday June 25th's slate of games is the schedule for week 5. Please refer to the above section to see who you are playing, when, where, and if you are refereeing.

MIDSEASON PARTY: There is a need for volunteers to help check in league members and collect the charitable guest donations at the door at Saturday Night's Mid Season Party. Please email League Rep Brian Sweetser to sign up. The more volunteers means shorter shifts and more time on the dance floor and at the bar for everyone. Thank you

BOCA BAR: Much thanks to the Boca Bar for being our league sponsor this year. I absolutely adore their plantains. Please thank them yourself with your post-game patronage. Drink specials, team shots, and of course those fantastic free wings.

LEAGUE CHARITY: Remember our charity is Saturday's Bread/Sunday's Bread. Please bring a

guest to our league party, for only a $10 donation to our charity. This is a time of great need in our country and every little bit helps. Good Karma goes a long way.

PHOTOS: Photos of game action and the bar are greatly appreciated. Also, any MID SEASON PARTY GOERS (which should be all of you) please feel free to submit any party pictures you have. You can email them to me at this address.

Part VI: Oh yeah alright, are you gonna be in my dreams tonight? And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.

The playoff season is right around the corner and now is the time focus on the two most important things in our league. Playoff position and the MID SEASON PARTY. What else needs to be said?

(Paul was The Walrus. Goo Goo G'Joob)

- David, Thats What She Said

6/18 Weather Update: Games Cancelled - But the BOCA BAR is still OPEN!

3:30 pm

Okay, let me try this for the third time. The games are cancelled tonight :( Please try to make it out to the Boca Bar if you can. I'll be there between 7-7:30 with some free stuff for you all! Hopefully next week Mother Nature will be nicer to us. Also, Bit would still like to talk Stanley Cup.

See you soon.

12:45 pm:

As you've probably noticed, the weather is not looking so good for our games tonight :( As of right now there is a 60% chance of rain during our time slots. I'll make a decision around 3 PM, but in the mean time, you should plan on going to Boca Bar regardless of the weather so we can all give Mother Nature a good burn together! If the games are cancelled, I'll be there around 7:30 or so with the free WAKA giveaways I promised you all last week that I did not have yet! Also, Bit from Alcoballics would like to discuss the Stanley Cup if that interests anyone.

I'll email you all again soon
-Sweetser

Ghost Man on Third: Week Four

Ghost Man On Third

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE COMMONWEALTH DIVISION

"Dyslexic Agnostics may not believe in DOG, but they believe in LLABKCIK"

Week Four: "And now I'm ready to close my mind, And now I'm ready to feel your hand, And lose my heart on the burning sands, And now I wanna be your dog" - Iggy and the Stooges

Table of Contents

I - How much is that Cerberus in the window? The one with three heads

II - Fire Hydrants Beware

III - 6:30 Game Recaps

IV - 7:15 Game Recaps

V - Standings and Scedule

VI - Announcements

VII - What do you get when you breed Lassie with a Cantalope?

Part I: I see that you've come to resist me, I'm a pitbull in time." - Interpol

For those of you who enjoy motion picture romcoms, you may be aware of the Diane Lane - John

Cusack romp, "Must Love Dogs." Now a crusty cynic like myself generally rolls his eyes at insipid and banal romcoms that populate the entertainment chum bucket that is generally "Hollywood" but this particular offering is different. Instead of pandering and beating tired old cliches and archtypes of romantic comedy, this one miraculously mines some sort of deep Orwellian insight into human relations.

Or so I imagine. I've actually not seen the movie, and the only reason I bring it up is so that I can insert this awesome picture of our kickball action. Though, if I allow myself a moment of digression (which I will) the title of the movie is apt, but not in the Match.com way that the producers intended.

With apologies to you "cat" people out there, dogs rule.

Domestication of the Canus lupus familiarus dates back well over 15,000 years. Dogs have been breed into hundreds of different varieties, emphasizing various traits, and providing invaluable services to humanity. Whether it's the Norwegian Elkhound keeping a moose at bay until a hunter arrives,

a Saint Bernad providing warmth and rescue (but not brandy) to Alpine hikers, or a bull terrier named Spuds McKenzie telling us that everything else is just a light, except Bud Light, (oh, and dogs that guide the blind, but that's an obvious and not very funny example) dogs have been and continue to be our species best mammalian friend. In fact, if dolphins ever do evolve opposable thumbs, dogs will surely be our strongest ally in the apocalypic war to follow (kinda like the

British and the US during WWII. Cats would be France.)

Now I was going to include a long-winded anecdote about the time I was in Italy and while at the ruins of Pompeii, I saw a beautiful tiled mosaic with the words "Cave Canem" which is Latin for "Beware of Dog". This anecdote was to serve three purposes. 1.) To boast I've been to Pompeii, because chicks dig ruined ancient cities, and I'm one of the select millions who've visited those aforementioned ruins. 2.) To infuse a little bit of Latin in this blog, because well, LATIN SILICUS! and 3.) To provide more text for another awesome kickball photo. But then I thought that paragraph made me sound like a douche of John Mayer-like proportions, so I thought better.

The point? Kickball as a sport is not for the dogs. But, that does not mean dogs don't enjoy watching some thrilling kickball action. Canine attendance is up at least 400% over last season, and this is a trend that (Karelian) bears (hound) watching. I'm all for fostering strong ties with our canine allies, because they are awesome animals; kind, warm, loyal, protective and loving, and also good to have on our side, just in case those dolphins get those thumbs they've long coveted.

So instead of a band of the week, despite some solid suggestions (Snoop Dogg, Three Dog Night) and some highly questionable ones (Dogstar. Keanu Reeves. Seriously?) this week's blog is presented by some of my favorite dog inspired lyrics.

PART II - "Nothing I tried would satisfy Cold Coke and Pepsi or Canada Dry What's so wrong? hair of the dog There's nothing wrong, hair of the dog" - The Ramones

Having dispensed with the music of the week, I want to focus Part II on our inner party animal. Yes, as I said last week, details would be coming about the MIDSEASON PARTY!

Well, to prove that I'm not a total liar, here they are.

LOCATION: JOSE McINTYRES - 160 Milk Street, Boston.

DATE: SATURDAY JUNE 27th

TIME: 7pm - 10pm

The 411: This party will be exclusively for Commonwealth League members. All league members are free. And there will also be FREE BEER! (I will say that again, because that always gets me excited) FREE BEER!

Oh, and if you have a friend, or significant other and would like to bring them, guests are only $10. And that small fee goes directly to our league's designated charity Saturday's Bread/Sunday's Bread. So everyone wins.

Last year when the league was half the size, the party was fifty million watts of awesome. So since this year the league is double the size, then the awesome factor has to be, well I'm no math person, but at least doubly or triple-ly wicked awesome. (And in dog years, wicked awesome times seven!). BE THERE!

PART III -"You aint nothin but a hound dog, Cryin all the time.You aint nothin but a hound dog Cryin all the time. Well, you aint never caught a rabbit And you aint no friend of mine." - The King

Diamond

Ball Busters 1 v. East Coast Animals 1

As a long time season ticket holder for the Boston Bruins, I remember when the NHL used to end games in a tie. To quote a common expression "A tie is like kissing your sister." Now since I'm an only child who grew up in Massachusetts and not Alabama or the Jolie household, I have no direct experience, but can assume that kissing one's sister is not a good thing.

Week 4 featured two sister-kissing games, both of which featured the two undefeated teams. The first such match was between the undefeated ECA's and the spunky Ball Busters.

In what was described by Ball Busters Captain Tom C as an "Instant Classic" Los Pelotas Bustadores were able to score a lone run on the effort of Adam S. Then strong pitching of Tom C, and stellar defense kept ECA off the base paths. A spectacular catch by Tara D, and Jennie L almost catching the ball were the defensive highlights for Team Buster.

And when ECA did get on the basepaths, they were foiled by poor decisions.

Beleagured ECA captain Ryan C. was called out at a crucial moment in the fourth, for leaving third base to early on a sacrifice fly that would have made the score 2-1 going into the final frame. This boner which might rival Merkle's (the ball player and not the neighbor of Lucy and Desi) was further compounded by another 'foul' out by Peter. The lone highlight for the Animals was the play of Pisani and Leslie.

To add further insult to injury, Ball Busters dominated ECA at the Boca Bar. The pressue is seemingly getting to ECA, as team captain Ryan has temporarily succumbed to the calls for his ouster, and has decided to implement some sort of new power-sharing system. Short of calling President Obama for a bailout, team ECA hopes to regain the fundamentals of situational kickball, and perhaps even more importantly post game alcohol consuming.

In a brief statement delivered as a helicopter was waiting to whisk him away, ECA captain Ryan C stated "I accept full responsibility for the loss and have turned over team leadership for the next two weeks. I ran a full lap and did some push-ups out [of team solidarity]. I've apologized and I hope we can move on."

Ball Busters Captain Tom C, wasn't as maudlin. He sensed that this victory could spring the Ball Busters deeper into the league standings. "In practice Melanie L was even making some catches...just wait til we put it all together in the field during actual games...we will be a team to reckon with!"

Tom C and Ryan C contributed to this report.

Grass

Eat Drums!!! 2 v. Waltham United 0

In a game that had a winner and a loser, (what a novel concept!) Eat Drums defeated Waltham United.

On a chilly day in June, EAT DRUMS!!! took the field with a single purpose: to win their game with 2-1 Waltham United and thus reach the half-way point of the season with a 2-2 record, while the valiant Waltham United looked to move into the league's upper echelon.

Both teams were missing their captains Isaac G for EAT DRUMS!!! and Nick F for Waltham United (Congratulations Nick and Lauren) for this match up. In their steads, Josh B and Jason D took the mound and the reigns in what turned out to be a classic pitchers duel.

After winning RPS, Waltham United chose to kick first, confident that they would jump out to an early lead. However, the Animals of EAT DRUMS!!! squelched that idea with superb pitching and confident fielding.

Against the solid pitching of Jason D and Jon O, Eat Drums kept with their season long theme of getting runners on base, but for the first two innings at least were unable to push a run across. This EAT DRUMS attack featured hits by Jeff, Kyla, Jen, Paige, and Paul, and Josh got on base via a walk. Despite the plethora of runners, The Waltham U defense was solid, including a spectacular catch by Christy R on a towering fly ball.

In the third EAT DRUMS!!! go a solo run on a home run by Mike. In the fourth, EAT DRUM!!! Game MVP Lauren, and Ben bunted safely, Colleen moved the runners over on a single, and Kyla kicked a perfect sacrifice, bringing Ben home.

Unfortunately for Waltham United they were unable to buy themselves a hit. With an EAT DRUMS!!! pitching machine looked like it had been tuned by a professional, Paul and Josh each pitched a pair of scoreless innings, and Nikki chipped in a shutout frame herself. The game was clinched by the EAT DRUMS!!! defense, which included a pair of circus catches by Mike and a high pop-up hauled in by Lauren to end the game.

"We may not be the undefeated juggernaut this year, "said Josh B, "But EAT DRUMS are happy with their 2-2 record at this point, and hopefully we can push that record to 3-2 with a victory on Thursday."

Josh B and Jason D contributed to this report.

Part IV "Just like I thought They were in the same spot In need of some desperate help The Nate Dogg and the G-child Were in need of something else." - Warren G (feat. Nate Dogg)

Diamond:

Allen Club 2 v. Last Team Standing 2

Remember that thing I said about ties and kissing one's sister? Lather, rinse, repeat for this game.

In another thrilling matchup (as thrilling as a tie can get) the undefeated Allen Club, squared off against third place Last Team Standing.

Jay K's RBI single in the bottom of the 2nd scored Mike C and

staked LTS to a 1-0 lead. For a while thanks to Ben K's pitching and the strong defense of the Mike trio - Mike C in the OF, Mike M at the hot corner, and Mike F behind the dish - it looked like the one run might hold up.

However, the Allen Club proved resilient and not ready to part with their unbeaten record. Solid defense lead by co-Papa Gino's player of the game Flava Flav, who seemingly made 90% of AC"s put out, gave AC a chance. With two outs and down 1-0 coming into the top of the 5th, Tim and KO got on base.

This brought up the other Papa Gino's player of the game, Ms. Maynard who laced a perfectly placed kick into the space only a teacher could find, for a 2-run single,

and giving Allen Club a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the 5th.

However, LTS flashed some resiliency of their own. With one out in the bottom oft he 5th, Ben K got a single and aggressively moved to third on a groundout. With 2 down, Mike C delivered the clutch tying hit as LTS salvaged a tie from what could have been a devastating loss.

"A great game." said Allen Club captain Josh. "It was a quick game too. In fact it was so quick, it was like waiting for your Papa Gino's delivery."

Grass:

Alcoballics 8 vs. That's What She Said 2

In a battle of two winless teams, the Alcoballics, perhaps feeling the pinch of a winless season, were able to defeat a valiant, though undermanned, That's What She Said, in yet another game that broke with trend of the evening and decided a winner and a loser.

This game was entertaining for both sides. For the Alcoballics maybe it was just that Gahan finally showed up for a game. There were a couple of fantastic catches, fielding decisions, as well as fielding errors. Twombly, Michelle, Beth, Mike, Jon, Caitlin M., Sweetser, and Yohanna all rounded the bases for the Ballics.

Despite being undermanned, TWSS showed definite fire and played their best game all season. Great defense by Joy, Brian and Bob kept TWSS, as well as smart baserunning by Anita, Nicole and Jocelyn and solid pitching by Rusty kept TWSS in the game, and definitely gave

them something to build on. Caveat TWSS, to the team that plays them in the playoffs. I smell upset waiting to happen.

"We didn't win, but we will sometime, cause That's What She Said" Jocelyn's charges cheered as they headed towards the Boca Bar.

The Alcoballics were also buoyed by their first win of the season. "It is definitely allowing us to slowly come out from our anonymous past, and become the feel good story of the season." said Ballics captain Brian S. In fact, the Alcoballics were so embiggened by their win, they planned to hire the Papa Johns guy to heckle the Allen Club during Week 5's matchup up.

That should spark an oven hot fire in this league.

PART V " Blues falling down like hail, And the day keeps on remindin' me, there's a hellhound on my trail." - Robert Johnson

Standings (W/L/T, run diff, total points)

East Coast Animals 3-0-1, +10, 7 points

Allen Club 3-0-1 +7, 7 points

Last Team Standing 2-1-1, +12, 5 points

Waltham United 2-2-0, +6, 4 points

Eat Drums!!! 2-2-0, even, 4 points

Ball Busters 1-2-1, -11, 3 points

Alcoballics 1-3-0, -4, 2 points

That's What She said 0-4-0, -19, 0 points

Schedule (Week 5)

Diamond:

6:30pm - Last Team Standing v. Eat Drums!!!

ref: Allen Club

7:15pm - Waltham United v. East Coast Animals

ref: Eat Drums!!!

Grass:

6:30pm - Ball Busters v. That's What She Said

ref: Waltham United

7:15 - Allen Club v. Alcoballics

ref: Ball Busters

PART VI "I got a backyard with nothing in it. Except a stick, a dog And a box with something in it." - The White Stripes

Announcements

WEATHER: Unfortunately we appear to be in one of those patterns where Thursdays mean rain

drop dodging. The weather forecast again is calling for intermittant showers. Please stay tuned to your email and this blog today for any news concerning weather. And hey, even if our games do get rained out, that means more time at the Boca Bar, where the only liquid is in glass or plastic drinking vessels.

MIDSEASON PARTY: Just a reminder this party is going to be off the hook. Re-read Part II. Now. I'll wait. Thank you.

PARTY HELPERS: In order to make our party a smashing success, we will need volunteers to help work the door and check in kickball members. This way we keep the non-kickballing fools and other assorted riff-raff from what portends to be greater than greatness. The more volunteers the short the shifts which means, more time with the freak flag flying. Please email Brian Sweetser if you are willing to help.

BOCA BAR: This league would not be as fun, or possible without the support of our league home, the Boca Bar. Make sure you join the post-game festivities at what is perhaps the best establishment in Waltham.

CHARITY: League Charity Chairman Richard Wheeler is working on a plan on how our little

league can give back to our great charity Saturday's Bread/Sunday's Bread. Help Richard out, by bringing a guest to our MIDSEASON PARTY. Guests are only $10 which goes directly to our charity fund.

PHOTOS: As always photos of league action are greatly appreciated. Please send them to this address.

PART VII "I want to know, don't know about you, but I'm un chien andalusia." - Pixies

We are entering the dog days of our season, and ours is definitely a dog eat dog world.

What teams will be in the hunt, following Swifty into the land of gnawing bones, endless walks and cat chasing, and what teams will have their hopes and dreams snuffed out like a fire hydrant during an evening constitutional with man't best friend. I know the going for the next few weeks will be "ruff", and our champion will come out with skin as thick as "bark" but you know it will be "woof" it all in the end.

Kennel handle it? (That's it with the puns. I swear to Dog.)

- David, That's What She Said.