OCTOBER 2 UPDATE
COMMITMENTS
Kelsey Starr - AZ Hotshots Gold - Commits to University of Nevada – Reno
Samantha Ingersoll, SS, Shamrocks, to North Carolina
Natalie Travasos, Louisiana Voodoo Gold, 3B, commits to Nicholls State University
AZ FALL FIESTA
Sunday Scores
Roadrunners 4 - Express 4
Hotshots Gold 9 - Sliders Gold 1
Vipers Gold 1 - Absolute Blast Gold 11
Express 9 - Nemesis 1
Absolute AZ 2 - Desperados 3
Sliders Gold 1 - Pacific Thunder 1
Hotshots Gold 6 - Ladyhawks 0
Absolute AZ 8 - Vipers Gold 0
Suncats 1 - Sliders 3
Roadrunners 3 - Nemesis 6
Lil Saints 7 - Rebels 0
Xplosion 8 - LV Blast7
Pegasus 5 - Team Vegas 0
Nor Cal Assault 1 - Ranier Jets 1
Sliders 6 - Misstix 7
Flames 2 - Pegasus 8
Desperados 1 - Rebels 3
Storm 3 - LV Blast 0
PV Premier 2 - Absolute AZ 8
Cats 7 - Team Vegas 0
I did have 3 games unreported - unfortunately
Also - we were thrilled to have Lavonne "Pepper" Paire Davis at the tournament. She is one of the original members of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League and was technical advisor to Penny Marshall, director of the movie "A League of Their Own." She signed hundreds of autographs and was a fantastic addition to the tournament. Thanks so much for publishing our scores. Monica
NSA FALL CLASSIC
No scores were posted on the tournament web site. We did receive a report from the Shamrocks on their Sunday victories.
Shamrocks 4, Tuff-n-Tuffer 0. Kelly Engman and Kerry Hickey combined for the shutout. The Shamrocks jumped out to an early lead on a first inning 2-run double by Bridget Desbois.
Shamrocks 7, NJ Breakers 1. The Shamrock infield strengthened with Samantha Ingersoll coming on board at shortstop. A big 4-run inning was highlighted by a 2-run triple by Malorie Weller. Ingersoll and Desbois followed with rbi doubles. Kerry Hickey added an rbi single. Brit Gardner started; Engman and Hickey also pitched.
SIMON WIESENTHAL
His relentless pursuit of ex-Nazis helped ensure the capture of Adolph Eichmann and, equally intensive, for the Gestapo officer who arrested Anne Frank. Wiesenthal kept the issue of guilt for the Holocaust alive when many wished to consign it to the trashbin of history – including high-ranking Austrians (he made his home and headqurters in Vienna). Although he lost his family, a reading of the many books and articles about him suggest that Wiesenthal was not seeking revenge but a reckoning. Wiesenthal, who died last week at age 96, created a resource center used by researchers around the world.
A RARE COMPUTER CRASH
At times, Interland, SPY’s ISP, has crashed. With some frequency, AOL crashes like last Thursday and SPY couldn’t publish. We’ve all had keyboard freeze, and lost data. On Saturday, when two-thirds of the NSA scores had been typed, a four-legged demon leaped from the arm of the couch onto the keyboard – hitting enough keys to scramble all the unsaved work. My daughters enjoy the puppy for the same reason some folks enjoy their grandchildren – they go home at night without them. My ex is moving into a bigger, more expensive house next week – wants room for the grandchildren in case the oldest can meld child birth into her 2006 or 2007 schedule. When that happens, Sooner Sammy and I are relocating to a remote mountaintop in the far west. Given a choice between baby sitting and going back to the Middle East – well, pass the chickpeas.
POTPOURRI
Did you know that cats were so revered in ancient Egypt that, when a cat died, the owners shaved off their eyebrows as a symbol of mourning.
Did you know that the little girl who played Bonnie Butler in GWTW only made one other movie and retired about the age of five?
Did you know that Joe Bauman held the record for most homers in a season – 72 in 1954 – until Barry Bonds hit 73 in 2001? Joe was the star of the minor league Roswell Rockets. A local merchant donated a ham for every homer hit by the team.
Hairy Backs. Interesting article in today’s Post magazine about life in Class A, focused on the Washington Nationals affiliate in nearby Woodbridge, whose strong fan base has been diluted by MLB moving back to the Capitol. Photo of team lunch: sandwiches of cold cuts and potato salad, condiments still in the jars, etc. To draw fans one night, the team offered a prize to the man with the hairiest back – and five guys doffed shirts to compete. As the article says, two kinds of people on Class A rosters – those who have some prospect of making AA or AAA, maybe the bigs, and those whose only future is in A at a salary of about $1500 a month. The sandwiches are free as are the bus rides.
CHOICES
(I THINK I HAVE RUN THIS BEFORE, AND AM NOT SURE OF ITS AUTHENTICITY BUT IT’S A FEEL GOOD MESSAGE)
> > Subject:
What would you do?
> > > >
> > > > You make the choice. Don't look for a punch line.
> > > > There isn't one. Read it anyway.
> > > >
> > > > My question to all of you is: Would you have made the same choice?
> > > >
> > > > At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves
> > > > learning disabled children, the father of one of the
> > > > students delivered a speech that would never be
> > > > forgotten by all who attended.
> > > >
> > > > After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he
> > > > offered a question.
> > > >
> > > > "When not interfered with by outside influences,
> > > > everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my
> > > > son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do.
> > > > He cannot understand things as other children do.
> > > > Where is the natural order of things in my son?"
> > > >
> > > > The audience was stilled by the query.
> > > >
> > > > The father continued. "I believe, that when a child
> > > > like Shay comes into the world, an opportunity to
> > > > realize true human nature presents itself, and it
> > > > comes, in the way other people treat that child."
> > > >
> > > > Then he told the following story: Shay and his father
> > > > had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were
> > > > playing baseball.
> > > >
> > > > Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?"
> > > >
> > > > Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not
> > > > want someone like Shay on their team, but the father
> > > > also understood that if his son were allowed to play,
> > > > it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging.
> > > > Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field
> > > > and asked if Shay could play.
> > > >
> > > > The boy looked around for guidance and, getting none,
> > > > he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're
> > > > losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth
> > > > inning.. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try
> > > > to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."
> > > >
> > > > In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored
> > > > a few runs but was still behind by three.
> > > >
> > > > In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove
> > > > and played in the outfield.
> > > >
> > > > Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously
> > > > ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field,
> > > > grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him
> > > > from the stands.
> > > >
> > > > In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored
> > > > again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the
> > > > potential winning run was on base and Shay was
> > > > scheduled to be next at bat.
> > > >
> > > > At this juncture, let Shay bat and give away their
> > > > chance to win the game?
> > > >
> > > > Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew
> > > > that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't
> > > > even know how to hold the bat properly, much less
> > > > connect with the ball.
> > > >
> > > > However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher
> > > > moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay
> > > > could at least be able to make contact.
> > > >
> > > > The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and
> > > > missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to
> > > > toss the ball softly towards Shay.
> > > >
> > > > As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a
> > > > slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
> > > >
> > > > The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have
> > > > easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay
> > > > would have been out and that would have been the end
> > > > of the game.
> > > >
> > > > Instead, the pitcher took the ball and turned and
> > > > threw the ball on a high arc to right field, far
> > > > beyond the reach of the first baseman.
> > > >
> > > > Everyone started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to
> > > > first!"
> > > >
> > > > Never in his life had Shay ever made it to first base.
> > > > He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and
> > > > startled.
> > > >
> > > > Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!"
> > > >
> > > > By the time Shay rounded first base, the right fielder
> > > > had the ball.
> > > >
> > > > He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman
> > > > for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's
> > > > intentions and intentionally threw the ball high and
> > > > far over the third-baseman's head.
> > > >
> > > > Shay ran toward second base as the runners ahead of
> > > > him deliriously circled the bases toward home.
> > > >
> > > > Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran
> > > > to him, turned him in the direction of third base, and
> > > > shouted, "Run to third!"
> > > >
> > > > As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams were
> > > > screaming, "Shay, run home!"
> > > >
> > > > Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was
> > > > cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won
> > > > the game for his team.
> > > >
> > > > "That day," said the father softly with tears now
> > > > rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams
> > > > helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into
> > > > this world."
> > > >
> > > > AND, NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send
> > > > thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second
> > > > thought, but when it comes to sending messages about
> > > > life choices, people think twice about sharing.
> > > >
> > > > The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely
> > > > through cyberspace, but public discussion about
> > > > decency is too often suppressed in our schools and
> > > > workplaces.
> > > >
> > > > If you're thinking about forwarding this message,
> > > > chances are that you're probably sorting out the
> > > > people on your address list that aren't the
> > > > "appropriate" ones to receive this type of message.
> > > >
> > > > Well, the person who sent you this believes that we
> > > > all can make a difference. We all have thousands of
> > > > opportunities every single day to help realize the
> > > > "natural order of things."
> > > >
> > > > So many seemingly trivial interactions between two
> > > > people present us with a choice:
> > > >
> > > > Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity
> > > > or do we pass up that opportunity, and leave the world
> > > > a little bit colder in the process?
> > > >