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team america

It started on a beautiful spring morning in Central Park.  The birds were chirping, the breeze was cool and refreshing.  The first warriors emerged from 102^nd street, two clad in black, one in grey.  As the other participants began to arrive, it was official – the 2007 SUNY softball tournament and picnic was about to begin. 

The first game featured “America’s team” (class of 2009) with such returning stars as Pirozzolo, Pham, Wong, Lee, Melvin, a recently rehabilitated M. Ferri and several other all stars squaring off against “the third years” who were not even deemed good enough to acquire a nickname.  The obvious pre-game favorites, 2009 got out to a shotgun start, putting up 13 runs in the first 2 innings and blowing the competition off of the diamond.  It was perhaps most accurately stated by Rob Lee when he said, “Isn’t there some kind of mercy rule?  Shouldn’t we just stop at maybe 5 or 6 runs an inning?!?”  It seemed that the ‘09ers found holes no matter where they hit it.  Despite a short lived attack on several fielders, and a potentially bench clearing incident, the game continued.  The runs kept pouring in for America’s Team, as the defensive wall held strong, holding “the third years” to only a small handful of runs.  The game ended after 5 innings, the decisive victors – AMERICA’S TEAM.

The second game saw the “okay folks” (2010), a self nicknamed team, who seemed to sell themselves short several weeks before the day of reckoning when they placed their name on their jerseys.  On a side note, they’re costumes were honestly, quite nice, featuring several humorous nicknames – my favorite being, Paul Heeg’s “Hyperope”.  This ‘practiced’ team faced a formidable opponent in the three time champion 4^th years.  The game started quickly with the older, more experienced team taking a quick lead while holding the perhaps over-practiced to the point of fatigued, first years to only a few runs in the early innings.  Cheers erupted as the tides seemed to turn part way through the game when Rosenfield’s latest victims held their opponents defensively, and pulled to within one run.  However, no amount of practicing or studying for small 4 point quizzes could keep the defending champions from the stampede of footprints on home plate by the time the 5^th and final inning ended.  This game saw the “okay folks” as just that – ok, yet defeated.  The final battle between good and evil was about to unfold.

Crowds packed the rock behind home plate at field 10, and tensions rose high as the championship game was set.  Batting orders exchanged, a cheer for “the mom’s of America” sent the challengers ’09 to the plate to face the defensive strong hold of the defending champs.  A quick barrage of 5 – count ‘em, 5 runs was put forth by America’s team showing that they weren’t here to eat bagels and sample the veggie trays.  The offensive show was followed by a seemingly impenetrable defensive unit led by ‘09s Mike Bernstein, playing at deep second.  Bernstein, recently called up from his position on the US weight lifting team, was found to be an invaluable asset to Team America.  He was instrumental in holding off the bats of the fourth years (more to come…)  Another four runs were scored in the top of the second, pushing the early lead to 9 for the soon to be, no-longer in the worst year of their lives, second years.  Bernstein turned a beautiful double play in the bottom of the second after only 1 run had scored.  The third inning saw difficulty for America’s team, but following an inspirational speech by tight-panted, Ray Pirozzolo, whose cup made a noticeable presence on the field, they came back in the fourth led by the bats of Morar, Wong, Lau, J Lee and T.I.P.  Strong fielding by Mungiguerra, R. Lee and Ferri kept the scoring gap to the size of the grand canyon, in favor of George W Bush’s squad.  With one final at bat remaining and the game seemingly out of reach for the defending champs, the red and black (I admit, strange color choices for the patriotic team) clad ‘monsters of the diamond’ took the field for one last defensive stand.  A short dribbler was scooped up by Rob Lee who made a A.Rod-esque throw to Crawshaw at first for the first out of the inning.  Only two outs remained and 10 runs were needed.  A short pop-up to Bernstein added the second out of the inning.  A year in the making, the stage was finally set, for America’s Team to get revenge.  The pitch was thrown – a line drive to right field – over Crawshaw and Bernstein’s heads – but wait – the right fielder is running to the ball – her pants, not falling down this year – Maura Melvin puts her glove out – two handed, picture perfect – she catches the opposite field shot!!!  THE GAME IS OVER!  THE GAME IS OVER!  AMERICA’S TEAM, 2009, WINS!!!  The bench clears and Maura is lifted onto the shoulders of her teammates and is carried off the field. 

“TEAM AMERICA” celebrates their Title and $300.

The final score, an overwhelming victory 14-5, was the first taste of defeat 2007 has ever tasted.  Unfortunately for them, it is the flavor that will remain.  Also of note, the recently dethroned team reminded the new champions that they only have “3 more weeks” – jerks. 

All in all, it was a beautiful day.  I’m sorry to say that this reporter was unable to stay to see the consolation game between the “okay folks” and the “third years”, but I’m sure it was…interesting.  Thanks to Carson and the student counsel for a great picnic.  Thanks to my Mom and all those Mom’s who let us put off mother’s day for a few hours to play in the games.  Also a big thanks to Ryan Bulson, whose leadership qualities and smack talking make this tournament a blast each year.  Watch out next year, as America’s Team will undoubtedly return to field 10 in central park to defend and conquer anyone who dares step in their path. 

Please see the attached stat and score sheet for the official results of the championship game.  – Crawshaw, OUT!

Scott Crawshaw, the incoming president of the class of ’09 (no one ran against him) can be reached by email at scrawshaw@sunyopt.edu.  All opinions expressed are his alone, although probably shared by the rest of America’s Team.  Quotes are fictional as is the endorsement of ’09 by GW Bush.  Please send all correspondence to Scott’s email or to him directly.