PICKING UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF...

After finally winning its illusive first SLAM championship six months ago, the HMA/RAMSA softball team aims to do something that many of its predecessors have done: repeat as champions. In the 30 year history of the SLAM League, there have been a somewhat astounding seven (7) repeat champions—most recently by Gensler in 2007-2008--which might dispel the notion that the hardest thing to do in sports is repeat.

With no time to rest on its laurels, the Orange Crush took the field on Thursday, April 21st against Perkins Eastman with the same attitude of a year ago, same stellar defense from a year ago but with a new logo and team hat. With the help of some sloppy defense and well-placed hits, HMA/RAMSA put four runs on the board early with singles by SS Doug Houstoun and 1B Josh Barkan. After a scoreless second inning, 2009 rookie of the year, LF Mike “The Situation” Sargent led off the third inning by hitting his first homerun of the early season—marking the third consecutive year that he hit a homerun on opening day. It was an impressive rope for sure, but not the longest ball of the afternoon. Following a two-year sabbatical from the team to compete in an Iron Man competition, RF Josh Aisenberg made a triumphant return with a two-run bomb to RF in the bottom of the fourth to open up the flood gates. The game would 6 batters later as SCF Eric Hofmann drove in the final run of the afternoon, ending the game 11-0.

Leave no doubt, the champs aren’t giving up this trophy so quickly.