Ghost Man on Third: Week 6

Ghost Man on Third

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE COMMONWEALTH DIVISION

"Without Kickball, we'd all be fucked." - Bono

Week 6: "Radio, someone still loves you." - Queen

Table of Contents

I - Stuck between Stations

II - 6:30 pm Recaps

III - 7:15 Recaps

IV - Standings and Schedule

V - Announcements

VI - Signing Off

Part I - "This tune is going out to Marconi. To all corners of the globe. There ain't no hut in the Serengeti. Where my wavelengths do not probe." - Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros

I and many others more eloquent than I have stated before that the only permanence in life is

death, taxes and change. The fourth dimension that is time, continues it unemotional march to whatever conclusion awaits us when the clock finally stops. Most of our time on this planet is spent dealing with the fall out of change. Birth, growth, life, death and all the events of change, of ourselves and those around us, occupy the vast majority of our time, next to sleeping, procrastinating and kickball, of course.

I was reminded again of this change with the announcment of the end of WBCN 104.1. Now, I stopped listening to radio (terrestial or satellite) at least ten years ago, but I hold fond memories of WBCN. Many hours spent grappling with the awkwardness of pubescence were set to the soundtrack of BCN. It was on that station I first heard U2, Nirvana, the Pixies and even The Clash. DJ's like Carter Allen felt like long time friends, guiding my through my rock and roll awakening. So I do feel a bit saddened to hear that those call letters will cease to have relevance in Boston. I still remember vividly the commercial Bono did in the early 1990's.

On the shore of the Irish Sea, clad in black leather and his fly goggles, he wished BCN a happy birthday, stating, "Without BCN, we're all fucked." As U2 were then, and are still are ( though hanging on by a thread) my favorite band, seeing Bono endorse the station that I listend too, was awesome in my teen-aged mind.

But the part of me that pretends to be a mature adult, understands the machinations of change, the necessities of business, and that the old axiom, "you can never go back" holds true. So we can't waste too much time with nostalgia.

So for this week, radio songs will grace this humble newsletter's sections.

PART II: "I understand just a little, No comprende, it's a riddle. I'm on a mexican radio. I'm on a Mexican, whoa-Oh, radio." - Wall of Voodoo

Diamond:

Allen Club 6 - Ball Busters 1

Allen Club came up "strong" with another victory on Thursday. Andrea Maruzzi performed just

like a Papa Platter - a little bit of all types of wonderful - powerful kicks, great running and take-away defense. Supported by "strong" play by outfielder and #3 kicker Ike Lowry, Captain Smooth (baserunning) Allen, lead-off on-base machine Ms. Henrici, rocket-arm Christmas, and pitcher Kyle Olson rolled a gem. Since kickball is a team game, without Cioffi, Lorene, Hannah and Courtney, Allen Club would have struggled. Papa GIno's Player of the Game is none other than Andrea, queen of catching anything kicked at her.

As for the Ballbusters, their effort was summed up by Team Captain, "Shoeless" Tom Caddigan succintly. "We stunk."

"I think we were thrown by the appearance of the sun. We couldn't field, or piece together any hits." said Caddigan.

The Lowell diamond was no country for old men, or the teams clad in green, despite the best effort of the Coen Brothers, (Mike and John) who teamed up for the Ball Busters only run, in the bottom of the 5th, in a game that was definitely not going to win any Academy Awards.

Grass:

East Coast Animals 9 vs. That's What She Said 1

In what could easily be a playoff preview, the East Coast Animals again demonstrated that their undefeated record to this point is well earned, posting a convincing 9-1 victory over the fiesty yet snakebitten That's What She Said. Despite winning the toss for the second week in a row, TWSS was not able to hold of the ECA attack, missing key game changing outs by matters of inches. The effort and will for victory was there, especially with Bob, Will, Nicole, Sarah Jane, Arielle, Joy, Anita, Jocelyn, Kate, Brian and Rusty but the exection was just a bit flawed. And against a team as deep and skilled as ECA, they only need the smallest weakness.

Though this game was not perfect from the ECA view. Beleaguered Captain Ryan C, is well aware that the end of the season is nigh, and if ECA wants to maintain it's near perfect season, it will have to tighten up its own game and few flaws. "Bradshaw got pegged out trying to record his second HR of the night. Thankfully Halie came up with some huge catches in the outfield since TWSS almost made a game out of it." was all team Captain Ryan C could mutter post game.

The pressure is now on ECA with just two weeks to go until the playoffs.

PART III - "This is Radio Nowhere, is there anybody alive out there?" - Bruce Springsteen

Diamond

Eat Drums!!! 4 vs. Alcoballics 1

Coming off a 7-0 beating at the hands of Last Team Standing, Eat Drums looked to get back in

the win column against Alcoballics and former teammate Brian Sweetser.

The Alcoballics were ready to play their hearts out in week extreme competitive nature get the best of them.

In the top of the first, two singles, a sacrifice, and another single plated Sweetser, but that would be all the offense the Alcoballics could muster up for the night. Eat Drums would tie it in the bottom half when Andrew and Christie reached on back to back 1-out bunt singles. After a fly out for the second out of the inning, Jen E. reached scoring Andrew and tying the game at 1.

Still tied at 1 in the bottom of the third, Eat Drums got a one-out bunt from Isaac who advanced to second when Kyla reached safely due to catcher's interference. Two consecutive singles by

Ben and Dave scored Isaac with the go-ahead run. These close controversial plays caused the Alcoballics to relapse in their old ways, attempting stupid plays and a lack of communication, which allowed the Drums!!! to build momentum.

Eat Drums added some insurance in the fourth when Ed led off the inning with a single. He scored one kicker later when Josh single and Ed came in to score. Josh would move to third on a sacrifice by Paige and score on a hustle play when Paul grounded out to the pitcher and Josh sprinted home on the throw to first.

Josh then went in to seal the victory for Eat Drums and help them even their record at 3-3. Great pitching by Paul, Nikki, and Josh and all around excellent team defense helped Eat Drums get the win.

The Alcoballics, a bit disheartened proceeded to the bar to do what they do best; segregate themselves into a corner and drink away their kickball pains.

Grass

Last Team Standing 6 - Waltham United 3

In a hotly contested battle LTS prevailed with a 6-3 triumph over Waltham United. After two consecutive 2-0 defeats, Waltham United tried to change the karma by having a pre-game BBQ, lead by Emily + Jon O and Andrew J. With stomach's filled, beers drunk, the WU kicking feet were ready.

Chrissie R and Nick F started WU’s scoring with some hits in the bottom of the first and got home on Jason and Brando RBI fly

balls. However, rather than bend, WU’s normally stingy defense broke. LTS struck in the bottom of the first with 3 runs. Jay K's first inning single drove in Ben K while Ben D - courtesy of a Manny style flop - made it to third. Nick P came up next and drove them both in.

The score remained 3-2 until the bottom of the 4th when LTS staged a two out rally, highlighted by Nick P's 3rd RBI of the game and Nathan H's backbreaking 2 run single. LTS contained a Waltham United rally to one run and hung on for the victory.

PART VI - "Cheer up, honey, I hope you can. There is something wrong with me. My mind is filled with radio cures. Electronic surgical words." - Wilco

Standings after Week 6 (W/L/T/goal diff/Points)

East Coast Animals 5-0-1, +20, 11 points

Allen Club 4-0-2 +12, 10 points

Last Team Standing 4-1-1, +22, 9 points

Eat Drums!!! 3-3-0, -4, 6 points

Waltham United 2-4-0, +1, 4 points

Ball Busters 1-3-2, -16, 4 points

Alcoballics 1-4-1, -7, 3 points

That's What She said 0-5-1, -27, 1 point

Schedule for Week 7

Diamond:

6:30pm -Waltham United v. That's What She Said

ref: Eat Drums!!!

7:15pm - East Coast Animals v. Allen Club

ref: That's What She Said

Grass:

6:30pm - Alcoballics v. Last Team Standing

ref: East Coast Animals

7:15 - Eat Drums!!! v. Ball Busters

ref: Last Team Standing

PART V - "This is Radio Clash on a Pirate Satellite, orbiting your living room, cashing in the bill of rights."- The Clash

Announcements:

WEATHER: Tomorrow afternoon's forecast is calling for scattered to isolated thunderstorms. So keep a weather eye on your email, just in case Mother Nature decides to intefer once again with our kickballing.

BOCA: As always, remember to stop in the Boca Bar after every game for fantastic drink specials, highly affordable and refreshing pitchers, their killer free wings, and that spice of life and sanctuary that is Costa Rica.

END OF SEASON PARTY: Details are still not ready to be released but, rumor has it, the end of season party will be the greatest in league history. Stay tuned.

CHARITY: Our charity for this season is Saturday's Bread/Sunday's Bread. Check our their website for information on how you can help, and stay tuned for the MA Commonwealth

League's efforts to assist this noble and worthy cause.

PHOTOS: If anyone has any photos they would like to see in the newsletter, or any other questions, comments, concerns, insults etc. you can reach me at this address. Special thanks to Arielle from TWSS for photographing the Waltham United - LTS game and the Eat Drums Alcoballics Game.

PART VI " The last radio is playing.Seen a shooting star tonight. Slip Away. Tomorrow will be another day." - Bob Dylan

In our artifical kickball universe, we are not immune to change. After today's slate of games (weather permitting, of course) there is only one game left. Then the playoffs, where a victor will be crowned, and seven teams will recede into memory without tasting from that pitcher of victorious nectar. It's an inevitable outcome to our season, one that we must look forward to and embrace, knowing that it's not the destination, but the journey (don't stop believen') and in the immortal words of Manny Ramirez, "You make your own destination."

- David, That's What She Said