Leader…13
H. Schwartz…8
By Marc Brafman
After starting off the season 0-4, Team Leader dominated the rest of the year winning 14 of their 15 culminating in a 13-8 win over Team Howie Wednesday night. “I couldn’t be prouder of our Team.” Co-Capt. and Co-final game MVP Anton Loon said post game. I haven’t won a title in a long time and this one was special. I’d like to congratulate my co-MVP of the game Jamie “Maddux” Kurtzer for the way he pitched tonight and all season. He proved to everyone that soft tossers have their place in our league as well.
The game was close all night with Team Leader getting on the board first with an RBI single by Loon in the first and a JCC RBI by Harry “Hood” Meisner. Howard’s team came roaring back in the top of the 2nd when Nick “Don’t shoot me I’m the DePiano player” had an RBI single. With some shaky Leader defense and an RBI Single by Brian “No I am not Ken Griffey Jr.’s Agent” Goldberg, Team Howie grabbed a 3-2 lead.
Leader came right back in the bottom of the inning with a single by Mike Rothstein to tie it up at 3.
Not to be outdone in this back-and-forth game in the top of the 3rd after a long triple by Zach Swadner, Tyler “A-Rod” Stansbury clubbed a long two-run homer to put Howie back on top. “I’ve told this guy all year to hit a long single over the fence,” Mike “Flash” Creemer said in between innings, “and I’m glad that he continues to listen to me.”
It was at this point in the game that Rabbi Yitz decided he had seen enough and like the Blues Brothers before him told his team that they were on a mission from God. With a mighty blow of his shofar, similar to Elwood Blues on the harp, Team Leader knew that they were going to win.
After a scoreless bottom of the 3rd and a 4th inning highlighted by great pitching by Howie and a snow cone catch by Goldberg, who looked like Jr, the score remained 5-3 Red.
In the top of the 5th Goldberg had an RBI single, Swadner had a sac fly and DePiano continued his hot bat to drive in another run to make the score 8-4. But it didn’t last long.
In the bottom of the 5th, Leader’s team woke up. Anton hit a long 3-run homer to left-center field, and in a play straight out of the JCC playbook, Kurtzer plated two runs on an infield JCC “single” to give Leader a 9-8 lead. The lead was extended when, in front of his family (who claimed it was the first time they ever saw him get a hit), Eric “Mattingly” Goldstein ripped an RBI double to LF to make the score 10-8.
The score stayed 10-8 as Kurtzer continued to work his magic on the mound.
In the bottom of the 6th, Anton had another RBI single and Yitz with the power of the rams horn behind him singled in two more runs to make the score 13-8 and that was how it ended.
“I wish I could have given my team a better effort out there,” Howie said post game while eating a Triple Creek hot dog. Tonight just wasn’t my night, but I want to thank all of the guys on my team this year. We played great…just came up short tonight. (Editors note: you know it’s not your night when you are eating a Triple Creek hot dog after a game)
Team Capt. Greg Leader who wasn’t at the game tonight because he was at announcer school for Sycamore High School football said, “Anton and I would also like to thank all of the guys that played for us this year except Marc Brafman and Brad Wagner who subbed for us in the only game in two months that we lost. Thanks for ruining our perfect second half, fellas.”
League Notes:
Gig Franklin explained how at age 69 he still dominates and hits over .400 in his over-60 hard ball league. It’s very easy he said. If you can hit the ball in the air and run somewhat quickly you have a shot at a double. For example, no one can lift their head on a pop up. The ball falls on the ground no one can pick it up, if they can pick it up they will rush the throw and it ends up out of play. That is how I hit .400 each year.
One day I hope that Taylor “May the” Schwartz be with you has a son who whines as much as he does. Raise your hand league if you think that Taylor is solid #1 ranked player. You see Taylor, you aren’t going to win this one.
On another Taylor note it was nice of him to come out and cheer on his roommate and best buddy, Leon “The Bull” Seserman, tonight. All night Taylor would film every move that Leon made just waiting for the proper time for him to do something memorable. That time came during the game when after a single Leon rounded first and promptly fell right on his face. No 15-year old girl seeing the Jonas Brothers could have sent out a text faster than Taylor did to his group of friends sharing the video. (As Marty B would say, “Ain’t Love Grand?” between those two)
In the coming years I would suggest all of you who are in Survivor pools for the NFL get with Mike “The Greek” Margolis who a couple of years won one outright. I’ll let him tell you how much he won but let’s just say he could buy a small share of the Reds with his winnings.
A belated shout out to all of the guys that made the ASG this year. If you want to come out for a fun night the game is next Sunday at 6 at Roselawn Park.
Speaking of All Stars our league has some All-Star Hair. Pat “Sunshine” Feldman, Rafi “Baby Beluga” Goldfarb, and Tyler “A Rod” Stansbury lead the way, but two guys that are underrated when it comes to hair are Mike “Flash” Creemer and Griff “Benedict Arnold” Harris. I vote that we have a special award for best hair at the banquet.
Happy first anniversary to Zach Mayer, 13th anniversary to Pat Feldman, 10th anniversary to Eric Gruen and 27th to Roger Rosenthal (How does Carol do it???). Behind every successful softball player is a wife at home wondering why we spend so much time talking about JCC Softball.
It’s been a great 75th season guys and I hope that everyone comes back again next year healthy and ready!