There Was No Joy in Greenland

 Sometimes you don't have to think of the story - it just writes itself.

Team Green was having another of those days. In the first and the third we scored five runs each, and in the eighth down seven, we came within the tying run on second to make it a one run game going into the open ninth. That's right, sixteen runs in three innings and one in the other five.

We held the top of the Royal lineup to just two runs and it was all set up for someone to be a walkoff hero. And lo and behold, after four of the first five hitters got on, it was 19-18, bases loaded, one out, Darren Bobrosky was on third with the tying run, and Angie Rizzato was on second with the game winner. And up strode to the plate, Casey...er Greg Wilson. This is just what you wanted - a fly ball ties it, a deep fly, which is Greg's specialty, probably wins it, as does a routine single.

I don't know what Bill Eppinga threw him, but next thing we know, Greg pops up, then there's a ground out, and game over.

Now I broke the rule about singling out Greg for the missed opportunity, and let me set the record straight - I have been fortunate to play with Greg the last two years and he is one of the best, if not the best power and overall hitters in Creakerdom. Everyone fears him. And way more often than not, he comes through. Coming into this game he was hitting .767 with nine doubles, four home runs, and 31 RBIs (Lamont Thompson was second on the team with 22). He leads the team in ABs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, and slugging percentage. And he is a gentle giant of a man to boot. So I don't know what kind of magic Billy was throwing up there, but it worked and Royal walked away with the 19-18 win,

On offense it was a tale of two teams - the top seven were 24-33. Rizzato was 5-5, and Tim Orr, Bobrosky, and (LT) Thompson had four hits. David Partridge and LT had the big 2 RBI hits ending the five run first and third innings respectively, and LT drove in the fifth and sixth runs with a double in the six run eighth.

In an unbelievable turn of events, Green turned double plays twice on Gerry Dasey - I don't think he has hit into two double plays in his whole life. and we turned a third DP in the late innings to keep it close.

We may not be the top teams in the league, but these are two teams very close in talent, and our games have shown this. The last two games have been decided by one run, total. I am hoping we meet in the playoffs.