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.