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.
