Playoff Atmosphere

Rainouts.  Twice.  At two different times in the regular season the heavily anticipated match up between last year's championship teams was postponed due to rain.  So when TPG vs. RAMSA was rescheduled for the final game of their respective regular seasons, the league worried that one of the best games of the year would end up being meaningless.  But 2013 would not be such as season.  Even though the league already knew who the 6 playoff teams would be, not a single seed had been confirmed, and every one of the three games played on Great Lawn last night would have crucial postseason implications.

Great Lawn 4 saw SS take on GSA, needing a win and a RAMSA loss to clinch the #1 seed.  SS showed up to play and won easily 12-2.  In post game interviews, SS would admit to paying more attention to the sounds they heard coming from Great Lawn 3, the other field where RAMSA was embroiled in one of the toughest regular season double headers ever.

Before yesterday's games, RAMSA pitcher David "Bucket List" Solomon was quoted during an exclusive interview: "make no mistake about it, we will be out there for blood against KPF going for the win and run record".  David was referring to the history books that are embodied in the official league website.  Having allowed only 12 runs in 8 games this season, RAMSA needed to give up a total of 12 or fewer runs in their final two games to secure the single season record for runs allowed per game. Resting his arm for game 2, David Solomon sat back and watched his 3rd string pitcher shut down a potent KPF lineup, giving up only 3 runs, and winning the game 6-3.

All eyes would now be on RAMSA's game 2, the match up of the year vs TPG.  In what would be described by many people as a "playoff atmosphere", this game would not disappoint.  A sell-out crowd filled the seats as TPG fans came out to witness this event.  It turned out that this game would be audience participation night as TPG Fan Of The Year Marc "The Fan" Hoeflich lent his sneakers and jersey to DH Norman "Cricket" Ha who arrived at the game looking stylish in his jeans and boots, apparently expecting a photo shoot instead of a softball game.

Heading into the game, two records were at stake.  The RAMSA runs allowed per game record has already been mentioned.  But TPG had their sights set on a record as well.  If TPG scores at least two runs against RAMSA, they would be the new runs scored per game record holder.  If you have been paying attention, you would now be realizing that we had a bit of an epic confrontation.  The all time best defense was facing off against the all time best offense.  Who would prevail? Does defense and pitching really beat offense in SLAM softball?  We were about to find out.

A scoreless first inning set the pace, and made it clear from the start that this would not be an easy victory for either team.  RAMSA scored one unearned run in the second, and it was 1-0 at the end of two innings. Before we get carried away with the whole offense vs. defense thing, let's not underestimate RAMSA's ability to score runs as well.  In fact, when the day would end, RAMSA would find themselves as the #2 scoring team in the league.  With two more runs in the top of the 3rd, and their defense holding strong, RAMSA took a 3-0 lead heading into the 4th inning.  TPG held their own in the top of the fourth, and came to bat in the bottom of the inning needing 3 runs to tie the game.  Back to back singles by 3B Tony "Married to the Firm" Franzese and SS Tommy "Guns" Anderson, followed by a walk to EH Elliot "ET" Grochal, and TPG had a rally going with bases loaded and nobody out.

In the biggest at bat of the game so far, TPG RCF Ray "Big Ray" Dominguez blasted a shot to center field that had SAC fly written all over it.  Over the years RAMSA's outfield has been among the league's elite, so when a miscommunication caused Ray's ball to drop, two runs scored, and both benches were in shock.  1B Lynee "The Natural" Hastings ripped a SAC fly ball to LF, and the game was tied 3-3.  DH Norman Ha followed up with a single, reaching second on an unsuccessful RAMSA throw to 3rd trying to stop Ray from advancing with one out.  LCF Dave "Speedy" Beauchamp hit a clutch RBI ground out, and at the end of 4 innings played, TPG took their first lead of the game 4-3.

This lead would be short-lived, as RAMSA jumped right back with 3 runs in the 5th, and TPG came to bat in the bottom of the inning down by two runs.  Before the 2013 season started, David Solomon shared his bucket list with the SLAM Talk writing staff.  One of the items on the list is to make it through an entire SLAM season without walking TPG C Princess "Peanut" Salvacion.  Sorry Dave, but your bucket list item will have to wait another year.  Princess led off the 5th inning with a walk, and was followed immediately by a walk from 2B Omar "No Practice" Cevallos.  A SAC fly by Tony Franzese, followed by an RBI infield single from Tommy Anderson, and the crowd went wild with a tie game after 5 innings.

2 innings left to play.  TPG defense held RAMSA scoreless in the top of the 6th, and came to bat looking for blood.  Ray Dominguez started us off with a leadoff single, and then advanced to 2nd on a SAC fly.  For the second time this game Dave Beauchamp ripped a go ahead RBI, and TPG took a one run lead to the 7th inning.

The pressure was mounting.  Darkness was setting in.  Every ump from all of the other games at Great Lawn showed up to watch the last inning of this epic battle.  Scratching their way through the 7th, RAMSA came through big and tied the game, 7-7.  So it comes down to this.  Bottom of the 7th.  One run to win.  Princess Salvacion led off with her second walk of the game, followed by a single from Omar Cevallos, and TPG had two on and no one out.  An infield fly, and one out later TPG still had runners on first and second.  A long out to RCF by Tony Franzese and both runners advanced.  Two outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd, and last year's league MVP Tommy Anderson at the plate.  Shocking the crowd, David Solomon threw Tommy one strike, before four pitches that were nowhere near the strike zone.  Bases loaded, 2 outs, tied game.  And last year's pitcher of the year won the battle, getting a game ending ground out to 3rd.  Final score 7-7.  A tie game.  In the process 2 records were set.  RAMSA is now the modern era single season runs allowed per game record holder at 2.20.  TPG is now the modern era single season runs scored per game record holder at 12.30.

RAMSA will enter the playoffs as the #1 seed, playing the winner of the 4/5 series.  And TPG will be the #3 seed, with a first round series against either KPF or GA.

Game balls go to both no one and everyone at the same time.  This was truly a team effort on both sides of the field, and hat's off to RAMSA and TPG for one of the most exciting games you will ever see.

See you in the playoffs.

A Loss, a Touchdown, and a Dramatic Win

Sometimes us writers need a break.  A vacation even.  Sometimes things get missed, forgotten, and ignored.  The last time you heard from me team TPG was rolling along towards an undefeated season with a 6-0 record and a virtual lock on the SLAM runs scored per game modern era record.  But nobody's perfect, right?

Back on July 8, team TPG took the field against SOM/SHCA (SS), and their pitcher of the year candidate Scott Habian.  Scott is not only known for his blazing fastball, but also his intense stare, long windup, and deliberate pitching technique.  With one eye squinted in the sun, Scott gave up only 3 runs, as the powerhouse lineup of team TPG fell victim.  This was a tight game, SS scored 3 unearned runs in the 3rd inning and took a lead they would never relinquish.  The defensive play of the game went to SS CF Nick Medrano when he threw a laser to the plate to nail a TPG runner by a step maintaining a 2 run lead.  Final score was 5-3, and TPG took their first loss of the year.

A week later, with TPG manager Josh "Roll Call" Ginsburg out of the office, the team took on PCF with the hopes of stopping the losing streak at one.  As team TPG arrived at the field, and players stopped chatting long enough to consider warming-up before the game, a sudden realization occurred.  TPG 3B Tony "Married to the Firm" Franzese had forgotten our gear bag, and we had no bats, balls, or bases.  Oops.  With only Tony's heavy 28 ounce bat, and bases borrowed from PCF, the comedy of errors was just beginning.  Did I mention that team MVP front-runner LF Justin "Big Bat" Aharoni showed up 20 minutes late wearing a nicely ironed pair of pink shorts, with an apparently lack of interest in playing?  Granted, it was a pretty hot day.  With Justin sidelined, and last year's league MVP SS Tommy "Guns" Anderson out again due to a heavy workload, TPG would need all the help they could get.  But if there is one thing team TPG has proven this season, it is that they have an incredibly deep lineup (can someone say "making a manager's job tough in the playoffs when everyone finally shows up"?).  TPG rookie Ron "Touchdown" Burrus was involved in what will most likely go down as the blooper highlight of the year.  After hitting a single, the entire world learned about Ron's athletic history.  Apparently (and unbeknownst to the rest of the team), Ron is a former semi-pro football player with a 4.34 40 yard dash time (for those scoring at home Robert Griffen III posted a time of 4.41).  Unfortunately, Ron's running experience is limited to scoring Touchdowns, where you can just run right through the end zone line.  So on the next play as Ron goes racing around the bases he heads into third and forgets to stop ("TOUCHDOWN!"), ending up on the far side of the TPG dugout. With "encouragement" from his teammates, Ron ran back toward 3B, side stepped one PCF player, then juked towards home plate side stepping yet another player ultimately crossing the plate untouched while the TPG bench hummed the lyrics to MC Hammer's "You Can't Touch This".  Sadly (yet accurately), Ron was ruled out of the baseline, and his run did not count. TPG laughed their way through the end of the game, winning decisively by a final score of 12-5.  Game ball went to TPG SS Tony Franzese as he went 4-4 with a HR and 2 RBIs.

Two nights ago on July 30, team TPG took the field against FXF in what has become a very heated rivalry in recent years.  After last season's one run victory ultimately became the reason FXF missed the playoffs for the first time in years, they were faced once again with a win or out scenario against TPG. A win by FXF and they would most likely be TPG's first round playoff opponent.  A loss by FXF and their season would be over. This would be the most dramatic and intense game TPG has played all season.  With 6 ties or lead changes, this game never saw more than a one run lead at the end of an inning.  The game started off shockingly calm, as both teams remained focused on trying to win a closely contested match.  Clinging to a 3-3 tie, things started getting testy when some close calls did not go the right way.  And after a trash-talking filled bottom of the 5th inning when FXF players apparently needed to release some tension, team TPG came to bat in the top of the 6th with a bit of revenge on their minds.  The inning started off with a single by TPG LF Ray "Big Ray" Dominguez, and then SS Tony "Married to the Firm" Franzese came to bat with smoke steaming from his ears.  First pitch, and boom, a long blast to deep center field for a go ahead triple, capping a 3-3 day that included 2 triples, and 2 RBIs.  With TPG LF Justin "Big Bat" Aharoni sidelined yet again, Tony's 7-7 with 2 triples and a home run over the past two games vaults hims back into MVP discussion.  TPG defense held up allowing only one more run, and the final score was a TPG victory of 5-4.  FXF's season is over, and TPG has one final game against three time defending champion RAMSA to determine who gets a first round bye in the playoffs.  Game Ball went to Tony Franzese as he went 3-3 with 2 3Bs and 2 RBIs.

It's Raining Wins for TPG Architecture

After playing our first four games without a single rain-out, Mother Nature struck back, and three consecutive rain-outs later, team TPG found ourselves playing for the first time in five weeks last Thursday against RRA. Out of practice and missing several key players, all we could do was hope that the lengthy time off would not derail what had been one of the most promising starts in team history. In a tight battle that was much closer than the final score, TPG brushed off the rust and came away with an 11-5 victory. Game ball went to TPG LF Justin "Big Bat" Aharoni, whose 2-run HR (team - and potentially league - leading 5th HR on the season) blast in the first inning set the tone and gave us a lead that would never be relinquished.

Halfway through the season, and TPG was a perfect 5-0, scoring an other-worldly 80 runs, an average of 16 per game. The next highest scoring team in the league was KPF, and they are averaging just over 10 runs scored per game. Would the second half of our season see a continuing of this success?  On Tuesday, TPG took the field against PEA looking to be the first team in the league to clinch a winning record in 2013.

The rumor mill had reached us early, and there was talk of a new PEA pitcher who had "no hit stuff". Yes, this is a softball league and not MLB. TPG lost the coin flip and as the visiting team led off the game. For the first time all season, the powerhouse lineup that is running away with the runs scored title in 2013 failed to score in the first inning, as the new PEA pitcher gave up only a walk. But TPG would not fold that easily. Missing reigning league MVP Tommy "Guns" Anderson for the second game in a row, last year's female league MVP Lynee "The Cannon" Hastings had to step up her game as our new 3B.  And step up her game she did, in stunning fashion.  Playing a perfect 3B with diving stops and cannon throws to first, even the umpire had to shout out "Tommy Who?" as our team's depth did not miss a beat without our star.  PEA was held hitless in a 1-2-3 first inning, and the score was 0-0 after one.

Did anyone really think the team that has been averaging 16 runs a game would be held scoreless for long?  In the top of the second inning, with a runner on first, 3B Lynee "The Cannon" Hastings hit a monster 2B far over the LF's head, driving in TPG's first run of the game.  A rally ensued, and before you knew it, TPG put up 7 runs, and had a lead they would never give up.  Leading 8-2 in the fourth,. SS Tony "The Muscle" Franzese roped an RBI 3B en route to a 3 run inning.  But Tony wasn't done, and two innings later he blasted a solo HR during a four run rally.  Final score was 16-7, and TPG matched our season average of 16 runs per game.  With 96 total runs on the season, we have now scored more in six games than all but one team did for the entire 11 game season last year.  And at 6-0, TPG will end the 2013 season with a winning record.

Game balls go to Lynee Hastings and Tony Franzese.

Show no Mercy! TPG beats MGA 20-0

The hour was getting late.  Between deadlines, jury duty, and a frigid forecast team TPG was desperate for a 2nd female player (our league requires at least two female players at all times).  When an emergency email went out to the NY office, a hero was born, and the TPG C for last night was Gal "The Hero" Vaknin.  Whew, with about an hour to spare TPG avoided playing a female short - something our team prides itself on never having had to do.

standings after last night's games

With unseasonably cold weather, team TPG gathered as many coats and sweaters as we could find, and huddled around the backstop of Great Lawn 3 waiting for a close game to finish between GA and FXF (GA would break the tie in a late inning and go on to a 12-8 victory).  Since this was the first "late" (6:45pm start) game of the season, TPG had a huge turnout (among the male players at least) as over 15 people showed ready to play.  As we were itching to take the field, we looked to our right and realized our opponent for the evening - MGA - only had 7 players, the bare minimum to start a game.  As two more MGA players arrived late, the vast majority of the game allowed MGA to field 9, which is only one short of the max allowed in our league.

TPG P Derrick "The Mouth" Blocker took the mound in the top of the first, and never broke a sweat.  Stellar pitching, strong defense, and a diving catch by TPG RCF Simon "Kung Fu Panda" Yeung resulted in the first TPG shutout of the season.

The powerhouse offense of TPG (who came into the game averaging just under 17 runs scored per game) was on display from the very beginning as the first nine batters of the game scored en route to a 12 run inning (16 batters came to the plate), capped off by a monster 2 run HR blast by SS Tommy "Guns" Anderson (3-3, 3 R, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI).  With 12-0 lead after the first inning, and an 11 run mercy rule (game is over after four innings if a team has an 11 run lead or more), TPG could have chosen to run on auto pilot.  But that is not our style.  After getting three quick MGA outs in the top of the second, TPG put up another rally, this time sending 12 people to the plate and scoring 7.  The highlights of this second inning rally were TPG Rookie DH Norman "Cricket" Ha's (3-4, 3 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI)  first ever career HR, and Tommy "Guns" Anderson's 2nd monster HR of the game.

One more TPG run would score in the 3rd, and after a fourth consecutive shutout inning, the game was over, and TPG won by a final score of 20-0.

Game balls go to Derrick Blocker, Tommy Anderson, Norman Ha, and Gal Vaknin

TPG mercy's Gensler 15-4

It was not long ago (pre-season 2009 in fact) when it felt like TPG had never beaten Gensler on the softball field.  TPG beat Gensler 11-10 on opening day back in 2009 (our first victory against them in the modern era), and we celebrated as if we had won the championship.  Since that fateful (and precedent setting) day, and leading up into last night's game, TPG has played Gensler 8 times between the regular season and the playoffs... and we won 4 of them and lost 4 of them.  So the TPG vs Gensler match is always circled on the schedule as would be expected with a bitter - yet shockingly friendly(?) - rivalry.

As the teams took the field last night a fierce battle was expected.  Rumors of the core Gensler team retiring at age 40 to focus on their small children were unfounded.  TPG won their 3rd consecutive coin flip (heads anyone?), and took the field as the home team.  In 2012, Gensler scored 123 runs in the regular season - 39 more than any of the other teams in the league.  They were an offensive powerhouse.  So when they rallied in the top of the first and put up 3 runs, TPG thought we would be in for another high-scoring battle.

But let's not forget that TPG is showing signs of an historic offensive season in 2013 averaging 17 runs per game over the first two games of the year.  TPG came to bat in the bottom of the 1st, and like every game so far this year, runs would score.  The first six TPG batters reached base safely including Doubles by SS Tommy "Guns" Anderson (2-3, 2 R, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI) and Rookie 1B Elliot "Stretch" Grochal (2-3, 2 R, 2 2B, 3 RBI).  A total of 10 batters came to the plate, and at the end of the first inning, TPG was up 5-3 with a lead they would never relinquish.

Tommy "Guns" Anderson

Elliot "Stretch" Grochal

TPG Defense took over for the rest of the game allowing only one more run over five innings.  Stellar play by the TPG outfield of Justin "Big Bat" Aharoni, David "Speedy" Beauchamp, Ray "Big Ray" Dominguez, and Simon "Kung Fu Panda" Yeung caught every blast the power bats of Gensler launched their way.

Heading into the bottom of the 5th inning, it was 6-4 and TPG was clinging to a 2 run lead.  TPG C Alex "Nickname" Belfiore led off the inning with a line drive single to left, and with the top of the order immediately following, this inning was shaping up to be a big one.  With two men on base and nobody out, early season MVP candidate TPG LF Justin "Big Bat" Aharoni (2-3, BB, 3 R, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI) smoked an RBI double, and immediately scored when TPG 3B Tony "Muscle" Franzese (2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI) ripped a 2 RBI single.  In the next two at bats, TPG SS Tommy "Guns" Anderson blasted an RBI triple to deep center field, and TPG Rookie 1B Elliot "Stretch" Grochal roped an RBI double.  Not to be outdone, fellow TPG Rookie DH Norman "Cricket" Ha (1-2, R, 3B, RBI) crushed his second triple of the season, scoring on the following at bat.  A total of 7 runs came across the plate in the 5th, and TPG now led 13-4.

Alex "Nickname" Belfiore

Justin "Big Bat" Aharoni

Tony "Muscle" Franzese

Norman "Cricket" Ha

Needing only two more runs to win the game via the 11-run mercy rule, TPG LF Justin "Big Bat" Aharoni came to bat in the bottom of the 6th with one out and a man on base.  Justin blasted an RBI triple, only to score on the ensuing errant throw to 3rd base.  2 runs scored, TPG wins 15-4.

Game balls go to Justin Aharoni, Tommy Anderson, and Elliot Grochal

A Statement Game - TPG vs KPF

On April 30th, 2013, league commissioner David Solomon sent TPG Manager Josh "Roll Call" Ginsburg an email saying that TPG's next game against KPF on May 2nd was a "statement game".  Last night was May 2nd.  KPF was coming off a very successful 2012 season where they were two runs away from playing in the championships, and followed it up with two dominating victories to start the 2013 season.  TPG did play in the 2012 championships, and had one dominating victory themselves to start the 2013 season.  Could last nights game be a preview of the 2013 finals?  When the 2013 schedule was first released, everyone on team TPG circled May 2nd.  Why you ask?  KPF star pitcher Michael Linx is a "high arc pitcher", and for you newbies out there, that means he pitches the ball ridiculously high in the air, and manages to land them for strikes.  And last nights game was a bright sunny day on Heckscher 1, where the batter faces South West.  And since this league is made of Architects who - for the most part - have an inherent understanding of sunlight angles, we all knew that it would be literally impossible to see the high arc pitches as they soared through the sky.

But would this game be the defensive battle and pitching duel we were all anticipating?  We thought so.  Oops.  With closed eyes, sun glasses, hats, and what at times felt like small miracles, the TPG powerhouse would not be held down.  For the second time in two games, TPG LF Justin "I don't like to stop running" Aharoni (2-2 2HRs, 2BB, 5 RBI) blasted a HR in the first inning, and it was 2-0 TPG heading into the second.  A controversial fair ball call down the left field line by the umpire rewarded KPF P Michael Linx with a solo HR in the top of the 2nd, and it was the tight 2-1 game that everyone expected.

Batting in the bottom of the 2nd inning, TPG Rookie of the Year candidate EH Norman "Cricket" Ha (2-3, 3B, 2B, 2 RBI) smoked an RBI triple (this Australian cricket player had literally never held a softball before this season started), and scored on the following AB when TPG Rookie DH Bill "Wild Bill" Jenak (2-2, 3 RBI) knocked him home on an RBI single.

Stellar pitching by TPG P Derrick "The Mouth" Blocker held KPF to only one run over three innings, and TPG came to bat in the bottom of the 3rd leading 4-1.  With the sun at the worst possible angle, and batters guessing at every pitch, we are still scratching our heads at what TPG pulled off in their next at bat.  With 9 of the next 10 batters reaching base safely including a 2 RBI triple (should have been a HR but Derrick the 3rd base coach wanted to rest Simon's legs) by TPG RF Simon "Kung Fu Panda" Yeung (3-4, 3B, 4 RBI), Justin Aharoni came to bat with two outs and 2 runners on base.  And boom, with his second HR of the game (4th of the year in two games played), a 3-run blast, TPG put up a 10-spot and was now leading 14-1 after three innings of play.

The 11 run mercy rule was staring us right in the eye.  When KPF came to bat in the top of the fourth all TPG needed was three outs before KPF scored 3 runs, and the game would be over.  The first batter made an out, and now it was only two outs before the game was history.  TPG was merry, relaxed, and already thinking about the post game beers.  Somehow KPF rallied, and with clutch hitting scored 4 runs in the 4th to avoid the mercy.  Both teams played some defense, TPG was held scoreless for two innings, and KPF came back to the plate down 14-5 in the top of the 6th inning.  A few innings ago TPG was wondering if they had completely overestimated the ability of KPF.  But the top of the 6th changed that view.  KPF rallied  and scored 6 runs (a total of 10 unanswered), and we had a ball game at 14-11 heading into the bottom of the 6th.

TPG leads the league with an absurd 17 runs scored per game.  And our bats were not to be silenced any longer.  A 6th inning rally, including a 2 RBI single by Simon Yeung, and TPG ended the 6th up 17-11.  KPF put one final run on the board in the 7th, and the "pitcher's duel" ended as a 17-12 victory for TPG.

Statement Game.

Game balls go to Justin Aharoni, Simon Yeung, Norman Ha, and Bill Jenak.

Opening Day - TPG Architecture vs GSA

Team TPG took the field last night against Gruzen Samton Architects (GSA) for their first regular season game of 2013. After a successful - and almost historic - run in 2012, we were ready to start the new year with a bang.  All of our seasoned veterans returned having completed the optional off-season conditioning program.  But 2013 would not just be defined as a return of the same great players who had us one inning away from a first ever team championship last year.  With the best rookie crop in recent memory, Team Manager Josh Ginsburg had his work cut out for him (how do we get all these awesome players into the game?).

The game started off a bit shaky (first game nerves perhaps?). We even had to change fields last minute due to a conflict with a girls high school game, and make the dreaded full equipment march across the great lawn.  With no time for warm-ups, the TPG defense gave up two quick runs on a series of errors, and the score was 2-0 before we came to bat.  But we would not go scoreless in the first as TPG LF - and 2008 League Big Bat Award winner - Justin "He's baaaack!" Aharoni roped his first of two HRs on the day cutting the lead in half.  In the bottom of the third, Justin (4-4, 2 HRs, 1 3B) tied the game at two when he hit his second HR of the game in only his second plate appearance of the season (according to the Elias Sports Bureau this feat was unprecedented in the history of team TPG).  But the third inning scoring had only begun as the monster bats of Team TPG woke up, and with Tony "I worked out all off-season so I could swing a heavier bat" Franzese (4-4, 2 2B) starting a rally that would plate 5 more runs, the score was 7-2 after three innings of play.  The highlight of this 5-run rally was when TPG rookie DH Norman "I have only ever played cricket in Australia mate" Ha smoked an RBI double in his second ever plate appearance (and proceed to perform some sort of Australian dance ritual on 2B in celebration.

TPG outfield defense held up their part of the bargain as RF Simon "Kung Fu Panda" Yeung made a ridiculous diving catch to save at least a run (and we all heard  the earth shake), and TPG rookie CF Ed "Yes, I am actually 6'-11" tall, so you should be scared" Baust anchored stellar OF play instructing all four fielders on exact positioning.

The highlight of the game was the bottom of the fourth inning as the power and might of team TPG was on display. TPG rookie 2B Elliot "No, really, I am a good player - but can someone lend me a glove?" Grochal hit an absolute moon shot HR that landed almost at the infield of Great Lawn 3 (across the great lawn). We think the ball may still be in there air.  Feeling left out of the party, last seasons Big Bat and League MVP award winner Tommy "Guns" Anderson hit a 3-run moonshot HR of his own. Yes, this was now four home runs for TPG, and none of them were cheap shots.

When TPG came to bat in the bottom of the 6th, we needed 3 runs for a mercy rule victory.  Last year's league wide Female MVP award winner TPG 1B Lynee "Are you doubting my power?" Hastings crushed a RBI double over the LF's head.  Finally, with only one run needed to clinch the victory, TPG rookie EH Bill "I only designed the posters last year, but thought I would actually play this time" Jenak roped a run-scoring, game ending single, and TPG was victorious 17-6.

Game balls go to Justin Aharoni, Tony Franzese, Elliot Grochal, and Norman Ha.