Earworms and Championships

There’s some Sand Crabs I know, who when the weather was cold,

Started climbing the stairway to Seven.

Though it was icy outside, they put last year aside,

Started climbing the stairway to Seben.

It was a hot, humid, some might say sweltering day when the first seed Sand Crabs were pitted against the second seed Crawfords for all the marbles in the championship game for the 45+ division of the MABL of Southern WI.  The two teams were familiar with each other, having dated 4 previous times during the regular season, with the Crabs taking the series 3-1. The Sand Crabs were shooting for their 7th league championship in 8 tries.  Shoot they would, but would they hit the goal?  I could tell you now, but you’d miss out on some dorky writing and dad-like puns.  

The Crabs had a chip on their collective shoulders after an early exit from the dance last year, running into an Orioles squad of talented players who sent them packing in the first round. After this, at a closed door team meeting, they came to the conclusion that Seven isn’t too far away, they could get closer to it every day, no matter what your friends might say.

The home Sandies sent Big Sexy, aka Mike “Wally” Wallace to the hill, and the Crawfords sent their not so secret, sometimes retired, but always worthy Jeff Adas to the bump.  Wallace comes in with a 4-1 record on the season, and a 2.9 ERA, while Adas had a spotless 3-0 record on the year and a 3.9 ERA. That’s pretty darn good for a couple of old guys.  Battery mates were Chris ‘lil slugger McGill and Jeff “don’t call me Batman the Dark” Knight respectively.  

In the top of the first, Crawfords leadoff hitter Mike Starshak singled, promptly stole second but was then thrown out at third on a fielders choice by Shad Fanta.  The inning ended on a fine, leaping grab of a Jason Foskett line drive by Crabs third baseman Tim McInerney. Sources say that you could actually see air under the shoes of McInerney.  Other sources were heard to say, “he jumps like he’s wearing skates!”

The bottom of one for the Crabs was highlighted by a McGill single and stolen base, a walk and hit by pitch to load the bases for the Janesville Jacker, Tom Scalissi who laced a 2 run single to the right center gap, and Florida Man Bernie Albright followed with another RBI single. 3-0 Crabs after one.

The top of 2, Crawfords left fielder and utility man Rob Grether singled and stole second base.  There he would stay as his next three friends were retired in order.    The Crabs half saw one run come across after Duey, Dewey, Dewie, Walz walked and later scored on a single by number 7, Mike Kauffman.

In the third, the Crawfords were heard, getting three runs on 4 hits.  Keith Murray had an infield single and legged it out, but his hamstring fell out and onto the grass. Tournament golfer and pinch runner Andy Winn entered the fray to run for him.   Bill Baldon singled to shallow left, and Adas lined one off of Wally’s glove that careened just out of his reach for the second infield single of the inning.  Then Starshak laced a bases clearing double to the base of the left center wall.  Foskett was caught stealing after singling to end their half.      The bottom of 3 in Crabville, featured a McGill double and a single by Randy Gaber to plate the mercurial kid.  5-3 Crabs.

Now in the fourth, Grether would scorth, knocked in on an Andy Winn single.  That’s all they would get, despite (I would bet), SMD cheering “how bout a bingle?”

The Crabs didn’t score, but a head they made sore on a ricocheted ball to right field.   5-4 Crabs.

Into the 5th, and the Craws got one when Starshak reached on an error on an infield dribbler and later scored when Grether grounded out to first.  The bottom of the 5th would see Grether take the rubber.  The Crabs greeted him rudely, scoring 8 runs on 9 hits, 5 of them consecutive, with a hit by pitch thrown in for good measure. They sent 13 of their 15 batters to the plate. 13-5 Sand Crabs.

The Crawfords got one back in their half of the 6th when Glenn Griffin reached on an error, moved over on a ground out by Sean Michael Dargan, went to third on a ground out by Winn, and then scored on another single by Bill Baldon.     The Crabs stayed active in the bottom of 6, scoring 3 more, on singles by Jim Pliner, Jason Himebauch, and a double by Walz.  Mike Kauffman, number 7, then stroked a shot to center just out of the overhead reach of Griffin, who is mighty tall, so that is saying something.  16-6 Crabs.  They were done scoring on the day.

Would you know their names?  If you saw them win Seven?  Would you watch the game? Just to see them win Seven?

Knock, knock, knocking on Seven’s door.  Oh oh ow eye eye yeah.

The 7th and 8th were quiet for both squads, but the pesky Crawfords didn’t quit, despite the oppressive conditions, and staged a comeback of sorts. They got one across in the top of the ninth, on three consecutive singles off reliever Randy Gaber, with Adas knocking in Winn, for one of only 4 earned runs on the YEAR.  That’s not a typo.  Holy Schlitz, Gabes.  What a year!

It isn’t too hard to see, they won Seven.

The Crawfords were led by Baldon and Starshak with 3 hits each, with the latter knocking in 3 and accounting for 4 of their runs.  Grether, Dave Weidenhamer, Foskett, Winn, and Adas had 2 hits each.  They totaled 18 hits on the day.  

The Champs had 22 hits, with Kauffman and Scalissi having 3 each, and knocking in 4 runs each as well.  Wallace got the W, going 6 innings, allowing 6 runs, 4 earned.  He walked just one and whiffed one as well while scattering a dozen hits.  Gaber in relief went 3, allowing one earned run, giving up 6 hits, walking none, and whiffing one.

The Crabs and the Crawfords quenched their collective thirsts in a love fest at Slice’s, and they are most definitely out of Schlitz.  

Thanks to all who toiled, perspired, organized, umpired, kept the grounds, oversaw, scheduled, and did all the stuff that makes it all possible.  We’re just a bunch of old kids having fun playing with our friends.  This game and the camaraderie it brings is really good for us and our mental well being.   Ooooh baby do you know what that’s worth?  Oooh Seven is a place on earth….