As the summer starts to hit its peak, most people in the Architecture and Design profession are either busy drawing up construction documents in their nice air conditioned offices, or they are on a job site in the hot humid weather but most are planning that summer getaway vacation to get the heck out of dodge. That's the daily route for the Spector Group Architects every summer but this year was different..........
The Spector Group Softball Team with a few new and a few old face (but NOT old people) were looking forward to the playoffs in the mid summer classic we call SLAM Softball PLAYOFFS! (Que in Jim Mora screaming "Playoffs??"). In Spector Group's 2nd year in the SLAM League, the team looked to finish the season in 2nd place with that elusive bye of the first round with either a win or tie against KPF. In the rule book it is noted that in the event of a tie, the tie goes to head to head matchup as SG holds the tie breaker over TPG (6-2-2) and SOM (7-3).
Heading into Spector Group's Final regular season game, we did have some regular starters out due to those issues that I'm sure every team has to face......those dreaded "VACATION DAYS" / "Paid time off" which in softball we believe to be "like" your wife/gf ....or husband/bf. Now, of course you need those "Vacation days" in your life but they always seem to get in the way of you getting work/things done (by work/things done I mean softball of course). You see when you plan a vacation in this league you have to check the SLAM softball schedule to see if there is a game that day/week and it's not like you aren't going to NOT take those vacation days because of architecture softball but I do think that we are all very competitive and "TRY" to plan around them if we can help it. Regardless Spector Group had to look into its deep and talented bench for some help.
In the opening inning, KPF Scored 3 runs to start the game. Spector Group answered with 2 runs of their own lead by Joe "That 70s show" Carretta (2-4, 1RBI, 1 Run) who must have just came out of the 70s runway show with his hot bellbottom baseball pants. It was all the rage as the fans swarmed him asking for his autograph .....as some fans had mistaken him for that 70s guy, Ashton Kutchner.
The innings went quick as both teams were kept scoreless until the bottom of the 4th inning when Erik "Jon Snow" Enstrom came back from the DL to hit a game tying single RBI. That followed with Lauren "The Graduate" Carretta who blasted what was the go-ahead run to take a commanding 4-3 lead.
Again the innings followed with zeros for both teams till the top of the 7th inning, with KPF up at bat and two on and 1 out, our SS Joe "Groovy" Carretta caught a pop out in the bleachers in foul territory so the runner on 3rd ran home but Joe rocketed a perfect throw to Ed "Lord of the Plate" Baust in what was a very close play at home but the opposing team's runner didn't slide and the ump ruled the collision.... SAFE. The home crowd of 4 total people and a dog were crazed and up in arms about the absurd and ridiculous call but with any sport...the GAME MUST GO ON! The unfavorable call tied the game up at 4-4 with the go ahead run on 3rd. The following play must have been the Lord's way of giving the call back to us as the batter hits a sharp ball to the Left Field in which Chris "The throw of the year" Thibodeau also rocketed a throw to Ed "Lord of the Plate" Baust and gunz down the runner to save the tie for Spector Group. The groovy fans went BUZZZERRRKKKKK!!!!!!! Game still tied 4-4!!!
The game was eventually called in the 8th inning due to darkness. Game tied 4-4. Good game!!! Hats off to KPF for a well played game. Hopefully we can play this game again in the playoffs.
Spector Group clinches 2nd place based on the what is believed to hold the tie breaker over TPG (6-2-2) and SOM (7-3). Waiting on official confirmation from the Commissioner David "Selig" Solomon.
Great combined pitching efforts by Jared "Mr.Consistency" Morganstein and Ed "Randy Johnson" Baust who allowed 4 unearned runs. Game ball goes to............who else Chris "Throw of the year" Thibodeau who saved the tie with his heroic throw to the plate and finished the game going 3-4(1 Rbi, 1 run).
See you all in the playoffs!
