Although the previous two games (against the Outfield and Felix & The Cats)
were perhaps the two toughest games we had to play this season, this game
against the Stingers was the most important game. We had to win the game in
order to get first place. Unfortunately, traffic was very heavy coming from
north Austin. With 4 minutes to go before game time, there were only 7 Ice
Weasels present. 9 players are needed in order to avoid a forfeit. The
Stingers also were short, but this was little consolation, as double
forfeits are permitted, and that would still knock us out of first place.
Fortunately, Amy and Carrie showed up, bringing us to 9 people. Then Newton
ran up, bringing us to 10. The Stingers only had 8 people, and were going to
have to forfeit the game. With misgivings, we loaned Carrie to the Stingers,
so that they would not have to forfeit. Both teams began the game with 9
players (meaning that when the empty 10th batting position comes up, it is
an automatic out). The last time the Ice Weasels did this, we lost the game.
Nevertheless, we did not want to win the season with a forfeit, and we all
wanted to play a game of softball.

The Stingers took an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning.
However, the Weasels quickly hit back with four of our own. By this time,
Susanna had arrived, so we had a full team. She arrived during the bottom
half of the first inning, just in time to bat, so we had to take no
automatic outs due to her absence. The Stingers' missing player also arrived
before they had to bat a second time, so they avoided the automatic out
also. The game remained close for the next several innings. The Weasels made
steady progress, eventually bringing our score to 8 runs. However, with 4
minutes left on the clock, the Stingers pulled ahead.

The Weasels came up to bat, but failed to score any runs. Time was almost
up, and the score was 9-8 in favor of the Stingers. The Weasels hurried onto
the field, so that we would have a final inning of play. The Stingers scored
another run in the top half of the inning, giving them a 2 run lead. Then
the Ice Weasels came up to bat. The game time was up, so this would be our
final at bat, for better or worse, unless the game became tied.

Cory was the first batter. He ripped the ball down the right field line to
the fence. As the right fielder ran to get it, Cory was rounding the bases.
Cory held up at third base, rather than risking a possible play at the
plate. Next up was Susanna. She hit the ball to third base. The third
baseman didn't field the ball cleanly, allowing Cory to score and Susanna to
reach base safely. The Weasels now trailed by only a single run.

Matt came up and hit a ground ball up the middle. The shortstop was barely
able to stop it, and couldn't make the play. Susanna reached second base
safely. Aimee continued the hitting with a hard hit ball that got through
the infield, loading the bases. Mitch came to the plate and hit a pop-up to
shallow left. The fielder did not catch the ball, but everyone had been
expecting him to. There was a frantic rush as all the baserunners tried to
advance. Everyone made it safely, and Susanna scored the tying run. Nell
(playing despite an injury) fouled out in her at bat.

Newton stepped to the plate. Everyone tensed, knowing that this was perhaps
the most crucial at-bat of the game. If Newton got out, then Amy would come
to the plate with 2 outs, making her job much more difficult. The pitcher
delivered the ball and Newton hit a hard line drive up the middle. The
shortstop tried to make a play on it, but the ball punched through to the
outfield. Matt scored easily, and the season championship was ours.

The game was won through teamwork. There was a beautiful double play (Neil
fielded it, tossed it to Cory at second, and Cory rifled it over to Nell at
first), excellent pitching, and important clutch hitting. The Ice Weasels
played an excellent game and won the game in dramatic fashion, 11-10.
Carrie also played a great game, although it was unfortunately for the
Stingers. Nobody could accuse her of playing less hard because she was
playing against her teammates. She made a couple nice defensive plays, and
was hitting well. The Stingers even asked her to play regularly for them!

Even more satisfying than our Fall season championship, the Winter season
championship was a tough battle. We had to defeat the Outfield (a team we
had been 0-4 against prior to this season), the Stingers (a team we had been
2-4 against prior to this season), and Felix & the Cats (whom we had not
faced before, but who have a very potent offense). Protrader was the only
team we didn't have to worry about. After losing the first game of the
season badly (a 20-3 defeat against the Outfield), we won every other game.
This included the final three crucial, dramatic games of the season (a 19-18
victory against Felix, a 9-8 victory against the Outfield, and the 11-10
victory against the Stingers).

Everyone contributed to this championship. We've never had a more solid
defensive game, and our offense seldom let us down. Amy pitched every game
this season, and did an excellent job of it, not bothered at all by the
one-pitch format. Great job, Weasels.

There is no post-season tournament for the winter one-pitch season.

I've updated the web page with all of this info, including the results of
the other three games last night. Remember, we have practice at 3:30pm
on Sunday. Please try to make it.

Oh, we do not get t-shirts for winning this season, but evidently we get
a trophy. And evidently we also have a trophy for the Fall season that
is waiting at the athletics office. So I want to ask you all: what do
you want to do with these? I'm open to suggestion.

Great game last night, and great season everyone. We begin the Spring
season next week. See you on Sunday!

--
Mitch Harding 512-838-0445 (t/l 678-0445)
hardingm@... http://www.mitcharf.com/
AIX Kernel Support & Serviceability Building 905, Office 4E-003

"Though I am not naturally honest, I am so sometimes by chance."
- Autolycus (in Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale")