Ghost Man on Third: The Silent Edition

The  Award Winning Official Newsletter of the MA Commonwealth Division

"Be subtle with the kickball man" - Russell "Stringer" Bell 

WEEK 5: "I will be watching over you. I am gonna help you see it through. I will protect you in the night. I am smiling next to you, in silent lucidity." - Queensryche (again with the missing umlauts)

 
Table of Contents: 

I: You can always tell a Milford Man
II: Quiet or You'll Ruin it For Everyone
III: Recaps

IV: Schedule and Standings

V: Announcements

VI: Golden!

 

PART I: "Don't speak I know what you're thinking. I don't need your reasons. Don't tell me cause it hurts." - No Doubt

PART II: "There's a part of me in the chaos that's quiet. And there's a part of you that wants me to riot." -U2 


For those of you who thoroughly enjoyed the Midseason Party, well stop the presses. 


The END OF SEASON PARTY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!

When: Saturday, August 27th
Where: Hong Kong - Harvard Square
Time: 7-10pm 
Free for Registered WAKA Members. $5 for Guests!


For more information, check here. 


PART III: "A little less conversation, a little more action please. All this aggravation aint satisfactioning me. A little more bite and a little less bark. A little less fight and a little more spark. Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me." - Elvis

6:30 PM Games

Ninja Awesomenauts 5 over Boston Kreamers 4 

 

No mission should be undertaken when your squad is shorthanded. The Boston Kreamers escaped this fate at the last second, but they still did not escape NASA, losing by a score of 5-4. NASA, sporting their annual patriotic attire to celebrate America's birthday, came out firing like a rockets red glare, scoring three big runs in the first inning. The Kreamers would not go quietly into the night, rallying back repeatedly during this back and forth game. In the end, an insurance run NASA added on late proved to be the difference.

Runs were scored by Nick, Andrew, Jon, Dave and Paul. The MVP space suit went to Dave for a big time triple and the sword of honor went to Rick for perhaps the most amazing kickball play of all time. During this play, Rick booted one into the stratosphere, a sure fire home run. As he was rounding third, an expert relay throw shot into the trajectory of his diving slide and nailed him before he could touch home plate. Despite being on the wrong end, NASA stands up to salute the Kreamers on this fine defensive play. Special mention to Mike for his full superman costume and face paint, despite the heat. He was not seen at the bar though, perhaps due to passing out from wearing the padded super suit.

Paul of NASA contributed to this report 

Pitch Please! 4 over WAKA Flocka Flame 2

Pitch Please! earned their first win of the season defeating WAKA Flocka Flame. I'm sure stuff happened, but no one told me.

7:15 Games
Ball Busters 2 over One Kick Wonder 1

With Captain Tom Caddigan missing the game due to an unfortunate head waxing incident, he turned this week's recap over to the rest of the Ball Busters. Here's what they came up with.

I wasn't there this week, so I asked the team to provide the recap. There seemed to be a bit of a sandal scandal (say that three times fast) initially, but then the Busters got down to business. - Tom

Jennie did a great job hassling the ump (Paul of course) on his hypocrisy allowing a girl from the other team play in sandals when he gave Patrick crap about wearing shoes last week. - Adam

She did actually go out and yell in his face - Erik

No, sadly I did not yell in his face. I gave him (stuff) in the first inning, when I was catching and he was reffing home. Then I ended up having to apologize to him about the sandal thing, seeing as he didn't kick Patrick out of the game, but merely said no sandals next time... I ate a slice of humble pie. Regardless, Ball Busters won AGAIN!! wooot wooot - Jennie

The score was close. They had a good inning - Max

Marty scored but not sure off of who's RBI it was, and I then I scored off Jordan's kick, both runs I think came in the third inning? Jordan also ended the game with a nice catch behind home plate. Max was an animal on D in the infield. - Adam

There you have it. In the words of Jennie "Woot. Woot"

Tom, Jennie, Max, Adam, Erik of Ball Busters contributed to this report.




99 Pitches 2 over Looking to Score 1

After leaving the bases loaded in the 1st Inning, 99 Problems looked to put some runs on the board in the 2nd. Brett H started things off with a single to left. Mark M kicked a tough to field pop up over first base, landed him at third, and scored Brett H. Andrew B (who had broken his wrist the previous week… Yup) knocked in Mark M on a sacrifice to right field. This would prove to be the only runs that 99 problems would need thanks to strong defensive play turned in by Brett M, Deanna F, Mark M, Vickie B, Mike L, Stacey L, and Erin M.

The day’s best performances were turned in by Brett H (who made two great catches in Center) and Dave P (who looked dominant on the mound, and recorded the game’s final out by fielding a bunt down the first base line).

As for Looking to Score, they failed in their mission last week, falling to the defending champs 2-1 in a hotly contested Week 4 battle.

99 Problems manufactured a couple of runs in the early innings and went in to the bottom of the 5th up 2-0. Kramer led off the last frame with a double and scored on a Jay K sac fly. Mike C singled with 2 down but was stranded at first to end the game.

BDO pitched well in defeat and was backed up by strong OF play from Mike C, Jay K, Dom, Christian, and Cortney.

Vickie and Josh of 99 Pitches and Jason K of LTS contributed to this report.

PART IV: "Unpredictable, keepin you extremely enjoyedIt's irresistable, meanin that you can't avoid, and while I'm on stage, look forward to sweat, but after I rip it up I want...Shhhhhh.....Quiet on tha set." - N.W.A.

Standings:

Schedule Week 5: Thursday, July 14

6:30 PM

Mud Dirt: Pitch Please! v. Ball Busters

Referees: WAKA Flocka Flame

Grass:  One Kick Wonders v. Looking to Score

Referees: 99 Problems

7:15 PM

Mud  Dirt: WAKA Flocka Flame v. The Boston Kreamers
Referees: Pitch Please!

Grass:  99 Problems v.  Ninja Awesomenauts

Referees:One Kick Wonders

Equipment:WAKA Flocka Flame

PART V: "She broke my heart but I love her just the same now. Hush, hush
Thought I heard her calling my name now. Hush, hush" - Deep Purple

Announcements, Announcements Announcements

TWITTER: Follow the league twitter account for all you twatters out there. Get the latest news and information about the MA Commonwealth Division (including stuff about rivalry week) from our twitter feed. Follow us @macommonwealth

BOCA BAR: Remember to stop by after each and every game to enjoy some of the finest beverages and Costa Rican food in Massachusetts. 

WEATHER: Sunny and clear, so far. Let's keep it up.  

PART VI: "And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they'd made. And the sign flashed its warning in the words that it was forming. And the sign said the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls,a nd tenement halls, and whispered in the sounds of silence." - Simon and Garfunkel

Sometimes things cannot be described by words. A knowing glance, a nod, a wink, a furtive hand gesture, or the absence of any sound at all can tell more than the greatest sentence ever authored. 


Victory is often summed up in no words. We are weeks away from the playoffs, standing on the precipice of Immortal Kickball Glory. The time for talk is ending. The time for doing is beginning. Silence is golden. Victory is golden-er. 

Good luck and Happy Kicking.
- David, GMOT Editor

Ghost Man on Third: The 4th July Edition

The  Award Winning Official Newsletter of the MA Commonwealth Division

"Why'd you let him play kickball?" - Det. Jimmy McNulty "Go to. It's America, man" 

WEEK 4: "I wanna run like the lions. Released from the cages. Released from the rages burning in my soul tonight, I am a patriot, I love my country" - Steven Van Zandt 

Table of Contents:

I: The Kickball's Red Glare
II: No need to dress up as Native Americans or misread the Constitution at this Party 

III: Recaps

IV: Schedule and Standings

V: Announcements

VI: Team America

PART I: "It's coming to America first, the cradle of the best and of the worst. It's here they got the range, and the machinery for change and it's here they got the spiritual thirst." - Leonard Cohen 


This past Monday, this grand experiment of democracy that we call the United States of America, celebrated its 235th birthday. We take the 4th of July seriously here in the MA Commonwealth Division. We understand and appreciate the opportunities that our home, our nation, affords us, that we can spend time not living in fear of war, or invasion, but can live in peace playing kickball. Despite all the flaws, troubles, and dour predictions manipulated for short term political game, The United States is still awesome, will be awesome, and is second to none in the world. (Well except maybe behind Finland, which according to noted historian and broadway producer Monty Python, "has it all.")

So to honor America, as our fingers heal, eyebrows grow back, and cholesterol and blood alcohol levels decrease,  here is our Kickball National Anthem. 

Oh say can you see, kickballs bouncing at night

That are so forcefully kicked, while teammates are screaming

Whose red balls and allstars, and dusty summer nights

O'er grassy base paths, of kickball glory we're dreaming

And the bouncy red ball, Kramer homers in the air

Gave proof through the night, our youth still somewhat there;

Oh say does that red kickball, fly o'er fields where we play

In the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

PART II: "Ain't there one damn song that can make me break down and cry? All nightI want the young American." - David Bowie

Holy crap! It's gonna be nice today and we'll actually play games. 

Holy holy crap crap! It's time for the Mid Season Party. 

This annual bacchanalia of Kickabrigian awesomeness will take place 

THIS SATURDAY 

Saturday June 9th 7:30 PM-10:30pm
Union Street Restaurant 
170R Union Street
Newton, MA


Come one. Come all! 

PART III: "America, fast cars. America, the girls, the bars.America, don't make no fuss. America, get on the bus." - Motorhead (I can never find and umlaut when I need one)

6:30 PM Games

Ball Busters 3 over Ninja Awesomenauts 1

An kickball fueled rocket carrying nineteen Awesomenauts was destroyed shortly after liftoff from Waltham's dirt field last Thursday against the Ball Busters. No injuries or property damage were immediately reported, but the match up was a struggle and ended in a 3-1 defeat. The exact launch time was 6:31 p.m. EDT. The anomaly that caused the failure occurred approximately 27 seconds into the first inning and was named "Shoeless" Tom Caddigan.

Many Ninja-nauts blame the loss on non-captain Paul provoking the Busters with an interview in the Waltham press, calling out their opponents for all to see.Most debris from the article is thought to have fallen in the Ball Buster g-mail chain. However, there are conflicting reports of debris being on the team bench in the form of yelling and shouting.

Depsite the loss, fine performances were put in by Kyla and Ryan, earning joint MVP awards. NASA is very disappointed in this failure but has directed its focus on success and conducting a comprehensive investigation to identify the root cause of the defeat. One thing is for sure, the Ninja-Buster rivalry is heating up with several back and forth games over the last few seasons. Huzzah.

As for the Ball Busters, the game plan was simple. Wanting to eliminate the bunt, Tom pitched like a jerk. But the Ball Busters were able shut down NASA with interstellar defense (namely Beth and Lindsey) and timely kicking. We put up two runs in the first (Dan A and Jordan) and got another insurance run in the third (Marty - in his first game too!). It got a little hairy (except for Tom) in the fifth, but John C was able to pull in the VERY HIGH pop up to seal the victory.

Paul and Tom contributed to this report.

One Kick Wonders 15 over WAKA Flocka Flame 0

In a rout, One Kick Wonders got their first win of the season. 

7:15 PM Games

Looking to Score 5 over The Boston Kreamers 2 

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, LTS answered in the bottom frame with a Mike C single scoring Chris and a Jay K single scoring Ben K.

It stayed 2-1 until the bottom of the 3rd when Ben K helped his own cause with a 3 run homer that scored Dom and Alina.

Solid D at third by Chris and shortstop by Leland helped preserve the 5-2 win.

For the Kreamers, the MVP this week goes out to Kevin “Tuna” H. Tuna nailed a line drive to the outfield to kick a triple and was kicked in to home by Patrick N. Tuna also had an amazing sitting catch from left field to end the 4thinning. Our pitcher, Ryan L, had a few tricks up his sleeves (or gloves), but it wasn’t enough to hold off Looking to Score. Final 

Meghan and Jason contributed to this report. 

99 Problems 9 over Pitch Please! 7

After Pitch Please jumped out to a 3-0 lead, 99 problems bounced back with 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd, despite the shock following a very vicous collision between star 3rdbaseman Andrew and the team’s best catcher Gabe (get well guys). Trailing 4-2 after the top of the 3rd, 99 problems bounced back with 5 runs thanks to Jeremy’s RBI single that scored Josh, Mark’s 2 run double which scored Vickie and Gabe, and Erin’s 2 run homerun that scored Mark. After Pitch Please cut the lead to 7-5 after the top of the 4th inning, Brett came through with a huge 2-run double, that proved to be the difference maker.

99 Problems got strong defensive efforts out of Vickie (who’s face plant in short left showed that she’s brings it every game and is willing to lay out on any given play) Gabe, Andrew, Alex, and most importantly Brett, who’s over the shoulder catch in deep center with 2 men on kept the score close in the early going.
 

Vickie contributed to this report.

PART IV: "La la la la la he wants to go to magic america. La la la la la he'd like to live in magic america. With all the magic people." - Blur

Standings:

Schedule Week 4: Thursday, July 7

6:30 PM

Mud Dirt: Ninja Awesomenauts v. The Boston Kreamers

Referees: Looking to Score

Grass:  Pitch Please! v. WAKA Flocka Flame

Referees: 99 Problems

7:15 PM

Mud  Dirt: One Kick Wonders v. Ball Busters
Referees: Ninja Awesomenauts

Grass:  99 Problems v.  Looking to Score

Referees:WAKA Flocka Flame

Equipment:Looking to Score

PART IV: "There are nights when I think that Sal Paradise was right. Boys and girls in America, they have such a sad time together. Sucking off each other at the demonstrations, making sure their makeup's straight. Crushing one another with colossal expectations, dependent, undisciplined, sleeping late." - The Hold Steady 

Announcements, Announcements Announcements

TWITTER: Follow the league twitter account for all you twatters out there. Get the latest news and information about the MA Commonwealth Division (including stuff about rivalry week) from our twitter feed. Follow us @macommonwealth

BOCA BAR: Wet your whistle at our league sponsor. And try the plaintains! And remember always drink responsibly and to reiterate Paul, please respect our hosts and avoid outside beer, as tempting, delicious and innocent it may seem. 

WEATHER: All systems GO, again. Thank you to whomever sacrificed a loved one or small ugly animal to the weather girls, gods. 


PART IV: "What is this land America so many travel there. I'm going now while I'm still young my darling meet me there. Wish me luck my lovely I'll send for you when I can. And we'll make our home in the American land." -Bruce Springsteen

The heart of winning is teamwork. As a certain hockey team that I've probably talked about way too much for a kickball blog demonstrated, in order to achieve ultimate kickball glory, everyone has to chip it, and it's the diversity of talent, skills and people working together that brings success.

The same is true for the United States. Despite what a small, but highly vocal and misguided minority think, the United States is a nation of immigrants. Our culture is not tied to one specific racial group, but has evolved, grown and deepened with each and every wave of immigration from the rest of the world. That is our strength and competitive advantage in the world. 

Our immigrant past, and present, fuel and shaped the idea of "patriotism" that banal dreck like Lee Greenwood exploit. Each successive immigrant waves, whether out of gratitude for the opportunities that the US offers, our sheer celebration for not being wherever they were, or as attempts to assimilate and minimize the hatred from the population already here, have all been vigorous in adopting and acknowledging our national myths, symbols, and history. Just watch The Godfather (especially the opening monologue) to get a pop culture feel for immigration into the idea of "America." 

It is the strength of everyone working together that makes winning possible, whether within the small scale of a kickball team, or on the large scale of an entire country. We're all on the best team in the world. Team America. Fuck yeah!

Good luck and Happy Kicking.
- David, GMOT Editor