Recap written by team captain Brianne:
In what was once described by Brian being Manny as "kissing our sister" the Oracles left the field last night in a tie against the APCO Juice. With the sun going down and the yellow ball flying around the field the captains called the game at a score of 10-10 and wished each other luck in the tournament.
But...the Oracles had their fair share of excitement and our lackluster finish could not be blamed on a lack of lustrious moments. The Oracles let in 2 runs in the first inning and were shut out at bat. But in the 2nd inning Martin (newly wed and just back on the field) had a stunning double play to end a painful rally. Oracles were shut out at bat again, and feeling down (by 4). But then the third inning got those juicers out 1-2-3 and the Oracles bats started singing. With Tim, Brian and Brianne up they scored 1...2...3.. runs followed by Britt and Amy. No sliding was needed, but was encouraged from the peanut gallery...er...dugout. The Oracles ended the inning up by 1 run and with still more tricks up their sleeves. They held the Juice in the next inning and the Juice held them back again in a scoreless 4th inning.
Then, in inning 5 the Oracles hit the top of the order and the top of their stride getting Brian, Roy and Britt on base and Alex hitting a home run that brought the boys in. (I don't really remember that part, but it's what it looks like in the score book, so let's go with it). They held back the Juice one more time in inning 5 but then, all hell broke loose.
The Juice loaded the bases and Lucinda and Brianne focused all their energy on clean pitching and getting those guys out at the plate with an intensity that was draining, yet yielded no tangible results. The crowd got worked up when the large man charged across the plate and was safe...undeniably safe...and yet the Juice would not accept that the Oracles were giving them the call. A fight almost broke out at the plate when the Juice chanted -- he was safe! While the Oracles chanted back -- yes we agree! It was the first almost-brawl the Ludlow field had ever seen from the Congressional Softball League but I think it's safe to say that with Christy on the team now bolstering Tim it won't be the last.
At some point in the 7th inning Nelson made a triumphant dive after the ball for an out, and as Amy and Brianne sat and pondered the meaning of life and softball Amy shared a jewel of wisdom that deserves repeating, "All guys are superficial. The only reason all guys don't date pretty girls is that they all can't."
Britt was voted MVP for reasons this writer no longer recalls. And that's all she wrote.
For more softball-related nonsense:
Co-Worker Just A Little Too Excited About Company Summer Softball Leagu
Softball Team Unsure Of How To Console Jackass Captain Who Just Struck Out
Friday, July 31, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Oracles Pay Taxes, Get a BIG Refund
Cut to Sportscenter set. Stu Scott and Chris Berman are standing around a TV monitor
Scott: I’m telling ya, Chris, she’s the complete package. She pitches, she hits, she fields. Look at that catch, look at that catch! Booyah!
Berman: I hear you, Stu, I hear you. Look how she holds that bat, it’s like she’s trying to convince the pitcher she’s never played before. But then … here it comes … bam! She connects! She … could … go … all … the … way … to first base! The Swami has never seen such a fine RBI single.
Scott: Shhh, she’s pitching now. Here’s the windup, and the lob! Look at that ball float through the air. I haven’t seen a lob pitch that beautiful since Henry Rowengartner floated one by Butch Heddo in “Rookie of the Year”.
Berman: Stu, that was a movie.
Scott: Well, this, Chris, is real life! That Lucinda sure is the whole tamale!
Oracles, it has been a long time since this blog has so urgently felt the need to trumpet the skills and greatness (or lack thereof) of the Oracles, but today is such a day. From Lucinda’s starring turns at the plate, on the mound, and in the field, to Nelson’s play-by-play reenactment of the children’s classic “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”, last night’s battle against Colvin’s Tax Court Cannons, won in the bottom of the 7th inning on a 2-run RBI single by Brian “Being Manny Does Not Include Steroids” Wagner, deserves to be commemorated in a blog!
Yesterday, the Field of Dreams served as the courtroom where the Oracles defended their awesomeness against the plainly petty plaintiffs, Colvin’s Cannons, emerging from the 7th inning with a hard-fought 12-11 victory. The MVP of the game, without a doubt, was Lucinda, with a stat line that read: 5 IP, 2 RBIs, and one awesome catch while playing 2B. Plus, there are the intangibles of greatness, like having the other team anoint you as (and beg you to be) their pitcher of choice while tall, manly men struggle to find the plate when pitching in your stead. Lucinda, we salute you.
After jumping to an early 4-run lead in the first, the Oracles fell behind due to a witch’s curse which apparently centered on Nelson. How else does one explain the Cannon’s 2-out rally that led to 5 runs in the second inning? Or Nelson’s apparent inability to catch or hit a softball?
After three innings, the Oracles were down 9-5, with a rather bleak future ahead. The bats weren’t connecting and the gloves weren’t catching. If that wasn’t enough, Brian had to go and hit a tax judge in the back of the head with a throw to third. Oops. As several players commented later, it might be good to avoid tax court for a few years.
But just when all seemed bleak and Nelson’s curse appeared unquenchable in its thirst for disaster, the Oracles’ white knight, Tim “Botox isn’t just for women” O’Neill, wandered in with a recipe for success, and suddenly, with chants of “singles score a run” echoing in their heads like so many buzzing bees, the Oracles, like Stella, found their groove.
As the innings ticked by, a battle waged, with the Oracles slowly making up ground. 9-5 became 9-7. 9-7 became 11-7. 11-7 became 11-9. And it all came down to the bottom of the 7th, with the heart of the Oracles lineup trooping to the plate. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, the score now 11-10, and with one out, Brian stepped to the plate, knocked a pitch right into the 2nd baseman’s stomach on a nasty hop (sorry!), and watched as not one, but two runners scored on a wild throw. Oracles win, Oracles win!
And that folks is how Lucinda, Nelson, and the rest of the Oracles got their groove back.
Kudos to: Brianne, for stellar defensive plays; Alex, for hitting the requisite home run; and Nelson, for being such a good sport on his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
Special thanks and welcome to: Katie C, Katie T, Allen, and Michael, all who are invited to rejoin the Oracles any time.
Scott: I’m telling ya, Chris, she’s the complete package. She pitches, she hits, she fields. Look at that catch, look at that catch! Booyah!
Berman: I hear you, Stu, I hear you. Look how she holds that bat, it’s like she’s trying to convince the pitcher she’s never played before. But then … here it comes … bam! She connects! She … could … go … all … the … way … to first base! The Swami has never seen such a fine RBI single.
Scott: Shhh, she’s pitching now. Here’s the windup, and the lob! Look at that ball float through the air. I haven’t seen a lob pitch that beautiful since Henry Rowengartner floated one by Butch Heddo in “Rookie of the Year”.
Berman: Stu, that was a movie.
Scott: Well, this, Chris, is real life! That Lucinda sure is the whole tamale!
Oracles, it has been a long time since this blog has so urgently felt the need to trumpet the skills and greatness (or lack thereof) of the Oracles, but today is such a day. From Lucinda’s starring turns at the plate, on the mound, and in the field, to Nelson’s play-by-play reenactment of the children’s classic “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”, last night’s battle against Colvin’s Tax Court Cannons, won in the bottom of the 7th inning on a 2-run RBI single by Brian “Being Manny Does Not Include Steroids” Wagner, deserves to be commemorated in a blog!
Yesterday, the Field of Dreams served as the courtroom where the Oracles defended their awesomeness against the plainly petty plaintiffs, Colvin’s Cannons, emerging from the 7th inning with a hard-fought 12-11 victory. The MVP of the game, without a doubt, was Lucinda, with a stat line that read: 5 IP, 2 RBIs, and one awesome catch while playing 2B. Plus, there are the intangibles of greatness, like having the other team anoint you as (and beg you to be) their pitcher of choice while tall, manly men struggle to find the plate when pitching in your stead. Lucinda, we salute you.
After jumping to an early 4-run lead in the first, the Oracles fell behind due to a witch’s curse which apparently centered on Nelson. How else does one explain the Cannon’s 2-out rally that led to 5 runs in the second inning? Or Nelson’s apparent inability to catch or hit a softball?
After three innings, the Oracles were down 9-5, with a rather bleak future ahead. The bats weren’t connecting and the gloves weren’t catching. If that wasn’t enough, Brian had to go and hit a tax judge in the back of the head with a throw to third. Oops. As several players commented later, it might be good to avoid tax court for a few years.
But just when all seemed bleak and Nelson’s curse appeared unquenchable in its thirst for disaster, the Oracles’ white knight, Tim “Botox isn’t just for women” O’Neill, wandered in with a recipe for success, and suddenly, with chants of “singles score a run” echoing in their heads like so many buzzing bees, the Oracles, like Stella, found their groove.
As the innings ticked by, a battle waged, with the Oracles slowly making up ground. 9-5 became 9-7. 9-7 became 11-7. 11-7 became 11-9. And it all came down to the bottom of the 7th, with the heart of the Oracles lineup trooping to the plate. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, the score now 11-10, and with one out, Brian stepped to the plate, knocked a pitch right into the 2nd baseman’s stomach on a nasty hop (sorry!), and watched as not one, but two runners scored on a wild throw. Oracles win, Oracles win!
And that folks is how Lucinda, Nelson, and the rest of the Oracles got their groove back.
Kudos to: Brianne, for stellar defensive plays; Alex, for hitting the requisite home run; and Nelson, for being such a good sport on his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
Special thanks and welcome to: Katie C, Katie T, Allen, and Michael, all who are invited to rejoin the Oracles any time.
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