Ghost Man on Third: Week 7

GHOST MAN ON THIRD

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE COMMONWEALTH DIVISION
"The Inuit have 50 words for snow. They have one word for kickball: KICKBALL"

WEEK SIX: " I woke up alarmed. I didn't know where I was at first, just that I woke up in your arms, and almost immediately I felt sorry."

Table of Contents:

I - Grande Mocha Zebra with a Shot
II – PLAYOFFS
III – Game 1 Recap
IV – Game 2 Recap
V – Standings & Schedule
VI – Announcements
VII - Cuddle and Run



PART I -"I want all that stupid old sh*t like letters and sodas. Letters and sodas."
The history of determining winners is long and storied. Now I would normally pontificate upon this, to great lengths, however the internet connection at my hotel outside of Seattle, is being fixed and so I'm at a Starbucks (how cliched) hammering away at my lap top, frankly while hammered. The woman to the left of me smells heavily of garlic, rum, and stale urine and I'm not long for this establishment. 

So I'm going to brief, and not Castro-speaking-four-hours-at-the-United-Nations brief. Even though I'm surrounded by the epicenter of grunge music here in Seattle, since this GMOT will be so brief, this week's artist will not be from the local scene, but Indie Queen Liz Phair. In fact, because this stench is awful and the coffee is too damned expensive, and my desire to get in, get out, and get over, here is overcoming my natural verbosity, I'm only quoting one song, her paean to one-night stands from 1993's Exile in Guyville, "F*ck and Run." 

PART II – " I can feel it in my bones. I'm gonna spend another year alone."

PLAYOFFS: Playoffs, weather permitting, will be in two rounds. The semi-final round will be on July 31st. It will feature the #1 seed vs. the #4 seed, and the #2 seed vs. the #3 seed. 

The finals will be on August 7th. 

Seeding and schedule will be announced in next weeks GMOT, so stay tuned.

PART III – " Cause I didn't think this would happen again, no matter what i could do or say."

Game One Recap: ADPI – 1 vs. Animal is My Homeboy 9
The pundits may ponder, but the proof is in the pudding. 

The question: Can the juggernaut that is Animal is My Homeboy can be stopped? The latest addition to the answer: Not yet. 

In their third attempt to beat the cardinal-shirted crushers, ADPI sent their usual starter to the hill. ADPI's Dave began the game by allowing three straight hits to Scott Berenson, Ed Tang, and Tommy C, but managed to get the next three kickers out to salvage the inning, allowing just one run. New hurler Steve Sweetser took the mound, in only his second appearance as a pitcher, and proceeded to mow down the opposition with his blazing fastball and nasty hook. The second inning opened with team co-captain Josh Bob singling to the left side, bringing Sweetser to the plate. He wasted no time in blasting a rocket to center field, and the race was on - would Sweetser overtake Bob? Would one (or both of them) get thrown out at the plate? Fortunately, the answer to both was "no," and both players crossed the plate for a two-run home run. ADPI allowed a single to Kathleen Descy, and two outs later gave up two more hits to Brian Sweetser and Jeff Federico, allowing Descy to score, before recording the third out. Jen Klane pitched the bottom of the second, allowing no runs.In the third, doubles by Scott Berenson and Ed Tang, followed by singles by Tommy C, Mark "Bit" Bittelari, and Lauren Beigel, led to two more runs, and Bob pitched a solid inning, allowing just one hit. Steve Sweetser led off the fourth with another big kick that looked like it might be caught - before it hit the ground and rolled, as the Big Man chugged home with his second round-tripper of the evening. Despite three more hits, the Animals failed to score again, heading into the bottom of the fourth with a 7-0 advantage. ADPI looked like they might chip away at that lead, as Duane tripled and scored on a Dave single, but Sweetser shut the door, and the fifth inning opened with the Animals up 7-1. For the third time in the game, Scott Berenson led off the inning with a hit. He moved to second on a single by Ed Tang, and two outs later both scored on a single by Lauren Beigel. The short staffed ADPI team attempted to rally but the efforts of Maria, Deb, Kate, Brian, Coral, Jim and Besty fell short. With a 9-1 lead, Jen Klane once again took the mound, shutting down the top of ADPI's order - including big slugger Jim Jenkins - to seal the victory.


Josh Bob and Betsy Birns contributed to this report.


PART IV: "You got up out of bed. You said you had a lot of work to do. But I heard the rest in my head, and almost immediately I felt sorry."

Game 2 Recap: BRB – 2 vs. Ballbusters - 1 
In perhaps the tightest contest of the season, BRB eeked out a squeaker that left Ball Busters speechless.

So we turn to Holly for this week's recap of their week seven tilt. With our very serious pitcher Dave at the mound, it was certain to be a great game! BRB was able to hold on 2nd place with scoring by Adam and Brian. Katie made an awesome play in the 3rd inning only to be called out... we aren't sure we buy that call! :) Holly, the catcher, was able to gracefully fall over the ball to be called out in the first inning at home plate. Amir, AGAIN, made a great save in the 3rd while captain Marty made the catch that ended the game. BRB was able to win out in the end ... Amen!



Holly Monaco contributed to this report

PART V: "And I can feel it in my bones. I'm gonna spend my whole life alone."

Standings after Week 7

1.) Animal is My Homeboy (7-0-0) 14pts, run diff +20
2.) BRB (4-3-0) 6pts, run diff + 1
3.) ADPI (2-4-0) 4pts, run diff -9
4.) Ball Busters (1-4-0) 2pts, run diff - 16

Schedule for Week 8, July 24


6:30 - Animal is My Homeboy vs. BRB
(ref -ADPI, equip Jim)

7:15 - Ball Busters vs. ADPI.
(ref - BRB, equip - Jim) 

PART VI: " Just that I didn't think this would happen again. With or without my best intentions."

Announcements, Announcements, Announcements

FALL LEAGUE: An email went out to the entire league from WAKA. There will be a fall MA Commonwealth League. Jim will be announcing information soon. Stay tuned.

CHARITY: The official charity for the MA Commonwealth League is the Cure Alzheimer's Fund. Please check out their website: http://www.curealzfund.org/ League-wide fund-raising information will becoming soon to help fight this terrible disease.

WEBSITE: Check out the League site at

https://www.kickball.com/macommonwealth/index.php

Check out the photo albums from league members!

To add your photos email Steve Sweetser at ssweetser@gmail.com

GHOST: As always a copy of this newsletter can be found at the GMOT Blog, along with a ton of other useful information. Also the comments are active, so if you want to trash talk, feel free.

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

BOCA BAR: Those hot steamy nights of summer are upon us. The BOCA BAR, the official bar of the MA Commonwealth league is the perfect way to fight the muggies, celebrate a kickball victory or mute the sting of defeat. Join us every week, at 11 Pine Street, Waltham. Team shot specials, great appetizers, 15% off fantastic food influenced by Costa Rica, and free wings with a Bud Light pitcher.



PART VII: "It's f*ck and run, f*ck and run. Even when I was seventeen. F*ck and run. F*ck and run. Even when I was twelve."

So yeah. There you go. Playoffs. Woo! Week Eight. Woo! Me being brief. Woo!

Thank you Seattle. Good night, David has left the building!

- David, Team ADPI