All's Well That Ends, Well, Just Like It Began

In an entirely appropriate end to Winter Ball 2025-26, Team BS lost yet another close one in the bottom of the ninth, 18-17 to Team Blue.

That's four walk off losses in ten games, must be some kind of record. "Highest Percentage of Walk Off Losses". And the Award goes to...

And that's not including two games where it was tied or close after eight and as the home team we allowed a big open ninth only to come up short in our own furious rally in the bottom half. That's six of our nine losses we could have won. Oh well, just wait til next year?

We jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first (curse?), but had too many zeroes - we scored 15 of our 17 runs in just three innings and were shut out in five.

There were highlights. Brian continued his torrid pace, lulling Team Blue to sleep with three line drive singles before hitting a gapper three run homer to plate our last three runs in our five run eighth. It brought us back in the game as we took a 17-14 lead into the bottom half. Sadly, we couldn't add on or hold on and lost the game. Brian has been tough for anyone to keep up with this season - he hit at an .813 clip.

David P. was also 4-4 with a double and drove in three runs. Devin was a nuisance to Team Blue, and went 2-3 with a double and a triple and scored in all three ABs, and also drove in three. Heffe hit a gapper double into the soccer goals that closed out the scoring in the other five run inning, the fourth. Art had three hits and finished winter league leading the team in ABs, Runs (tied with Darren), Hits, 2B. 3B, HR, RBIs, and slugging pct. I want to be Art when I grow up.

On defense, someone kept writing in the book that Darren got grown men to swing and miss at softball pitches. Sandy and Steve made several good plays on the infield. Art made a sliding catch in the outfield, but I think he was showing off. Helen scooped an errant throw from third to get a force out in the seventh for the second out, and Dave R caught a pop up behind the plate that looked like he had no idea where it was until hit hit his glove, but it kept us in the game as it closed out the inning scoreless.

It was a season of coulda woulda shoulda but it should be noted that we were still 'celebrating' long after Team Blue was in their cars and gone. That's good enough for me to keep out winter league thing going for years to come if we can. See you in October!