So who is better after 16 games and two weeks of inter-league play, The North or The South? Neither! Just like that Solomon’s baby, it’s been split it right down the middle at 8 games a piece. The Southerns displayed better defense in Week #1, while the North flashed its leather this past Sunday.  Week #2 of Inter-league gave us tight scoring affairs, nail-bitters and a walk-off. It also brought us a worthy rematch of last year’s championship game, the continuing awesomeness of AT and the Yetis growling and stomping their way to the top of the South Division. Let’s take a closer look.

11AM

This contest had defense and low scoring written all over it, and it did not disappoint. With the OG Vinny providing shade via his tent (aka The AT Compound), and the Drunk Tank overflowing with beer, white wine, rum, vodka and one water, the Allstars were ready to defend their unbeaten record. The Pinks threatened in the 1st inning with a bomb coming of the bat off their new lefty shortstop, Drew, over Mickey Smiles’ head in right field. But the threat was squashed as it landed safely in John ‘Nailz’ Condon‘s glove as he tracked it down by the intersection of Driggs and Lorimer. Good Co. did not rest though, in the second frame, Cesar or “Captain Calf” as he is better known had a 2 rbi single that dropped into left field. That was when Jimmy ‘Two Strikes’ Kanter and the the AT defense dug in and did not allow anymore scoring til the top of the ninth. Courtesy of smart but aggressive base running and a three run homer to deep left center by Gerald, the AT’ers were up 8-2 in the final inning. Good Co. showed the same heart they displayed vs Spike Hill in Week #8, behind some great hitting from their ladies they were able to get 2 runs across but left runners stranded to end the game Good Co. drops 4-3 while AT adds another W in the win column.

Field #2: 3 Kings Clemerica

Okay, I did promise a recap in Ye Old English, but that was before I received this gold mine of a submission from Stryker. Off you go, good sir.

Clems vs Large Skull with Braces on their Jerseys.

As I crawled into McCarren after a full Saturday of drinking at the Belmont races capped off with a somewhat early (11pm) run to white castle to satiate my craving for 7 cheeseburgers, chicken rings, and fries, a certain feeling came over me, but couldn’t put my finger on what it was. Pride?  Anger?  Perhaps some pre-game butterflies?  Then I figured out what it was…. I just needed a toilet.  After a necessary stop at Urban Rustic (nicest bathroom by the park), I settled in with an early “Styro Marg” and a salt bagel with butter (very poor choice).

On to the Game… Clems, for the second week in a row, was down a few key players  going into game time. But their hopes were high as they looked for redemption after a heartbreaking shutout last week vs. Pizza the Hut.  To fill the void, three of our “Fe-mericans” wo-manned up to field for most of the game, with the exception of two innings where we fielded four “Fe-mericans”.

Wiggins supplied the Battleship with a brand new weapon for their arsenal, a disgusting neon green bat with tribal tattoos all over it.  But alas its ugliness was only overshadowed by its effectiveness as Clems actually started the game with some hits instead of waiting for the 8^th inning.  “Tom Petty’s niece”, “Hot Son”,  “Smashley” and “Roses Rockaway” went for a combined 12 for 16 at the plate.The bats remained hot throughout the game for Clems (except for Markow, who went 0 for 9 for the second straight week) and the runs kept coming.  “Three Queens” tried to keep it close with a few rallies loading up the bases mid-game when Stryker fielded the ball on the mound and couldn’t figure out where to throw it (any base would have done). Devon yelled at him to throw the ball home where she made an amazing tag for the out.  Stryker did however redeem himself by striking out their catcher in his normal annoying style to get his (league leading?) 10^th K of the season.  Todd Splinter hit a shot that got past the outfield of Three Kings and ended up being an inside the park Grand Salami.  The Battleship’s defenses were impenetrable and saved Stryker as he loaded up the bases and walked in a run late in the game but Clemerica persevered and got Breeze his first win as “non-player coach.”  Breeze raised the anchor and set sail back to Clems for victory beers and also managed to chase out all of the paying customers with many, many, victory chants.  Next week see Clems vs. their arch rival, ball stealing TN Teachers in the “Battle of the Ball(s) part 1.25” (cause that’s all I got left).

(Clemerica 20 3 / Kings 9)

1PM

This fantastic match-up totally lived up to its billing!  With the Betty short handed with 9 players, well really at 8 3/4 because of Betty Veteran CI’s broken foot, a gracious and confident Spike Hill allowed Grandfather(ed) Gerald from AT to play for them, giving them just ten. O’Malley’s plan to let GBlack play RF was a smart one as he abused the drunk and tired former Betty for 2 towering moon shots. (there Mike are you happy). With home runs from Aidan, New Dad Camarra (Annabelle was born 20 hrs. earlier), and broken foot CI, the Black had what seemed to be a comfortable lead until the 7th inning. That is when Spike Hill, showing that championship pedigree,  put up 6 runs, with 4 of them coming off Leo Otero’s grand salami, making it a 2-run game. BB scratched a extra run in the top of the final inning that proved to be crucial because Spike Hill would rally and get it to a one run game in the bottom of the 9th. With the tying run on first base, a uncharacteristic base running snafu ended in a double play. Shallow fly ball later and the Black Betty has only their second win vs Spike Hill all time.  Great battle by two great teams.

(duckduck 16 / Pete’s 7)

3PM

Field #1: Brooklyn Bowl vs. RBar

These two squads have been exceedingly quiet, considering their high-scoring game on Sunday. And since we’d hate to not have a recap, Morgan’s been kind enough to supply me with the words needed to assemble this little ditty about the sport of softball… Written in the key of Mad Libs.

BEER ball is a very exciting sport. Whether you are SWALLOWING the ball with a WEREWOLF, or you are the GODSY’S PERSONAL ASSISTANT and striking out 99 batters in a row, you`ll be having fun. You can also be the catcher, standing at the BATHROOM OF THE GIBSON, ready to POOP on the next person as he tries to make it to the BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY. But the best part of it is when someone hits a EXPLOSIVE slam when all the HISPTERS are loaded during the last CHEESE to win the game.

(RBAR 22 / Brooklyn Bowl 16)

Field #2: Gibson vs. Soft Spot

Boy did these two clubs take the “Battle of Bedford” Seriously this Sunday. So serious, that content was sent to me in droves, (seriously, I got four recaps- thank you all).

Yetis held a 5 run lead until the 6^th inning when the Gibbys scored two runs thanks to RBIs from Todd and Dave. In the 8^th, Adrian ‘A Dos’ Franco of House Gibson, hit the ball about 500 feet, into the trees and onto the sidewalk, cutting the Yetis lead to just one run. Zak’s hustle in the field held Gibson’s Todd to a triple, Jason Dietz tracked down a Dave’s should-have-been-unreachable and made a dazzling double play by throwing Todd out trying to tag from 3^rd, thwarting Gibson’s efforts of tying up the game. Soft Spot has Stephanie Peralta to thank for saving their furry butts in the 9^th inning by turning a clutch double play with two runners on to seal the victory. Although the Gibson couldn’t emerge victorious, it wasn’t anything that a round of Margaritas couldn’t cure.

(Yetis 6 / Gibson 4)

5PM

Field #1: Turkey’s Teachers vs. Turkey’s Nest

With a dropping GPA average and a 5 game losing streak, the Teacher’s were so desperate for a win, TNT manager Haz admitted visiting a witch doctor to remove the bad juju that has surrounded his squad. The original Turkeys have not faired much better and were determined to give their manager Jordan Disco a great wedding present- a win and bragging rights. A multi-tasking Schafer hit a 3-run dinger and as he was rounding the bases had enough time to teach an outfielding lesson to the TNT right fielder.  TN’s Geof robbed Teacher’s Shane Neufeld of a three homer day with one of the greatest catches EVER seen on these fields, approximately 600 feet from home plate. Joining the boys in the homerun fun was TNT starting third baseman Christina aka UCLA, who homered in her first WSL at bat. The true story of this game was the hustle of Mike Kornhauser, who not only had 6 hits on the day, but beat out a grounder to the pitcher in the 9th to set up the drama. Jake Backerman’s RBI liner tied it in the 9th with two outs. and George “Let’s Go Mets” Taramona delivered a walk off single for the win, The Nest belongs to the original Turkey’s this season! Congrats Jordan on your nuptials and also to expectant father Shafer, hopefully graced with the dashing looks of his papa.

 (Turkey’s Nest 14 / Turkey’s Teachers 13) 

Field #2: Loggers vs. 2nd Chance

Brooklyn Loggers are starting to climb up the standing ladder with their second consecutive win over Second Chance. Logger Tony Basile’s knuckleball kept baffling the 86ers’ bats, and at the plate provided 3 huge RBIs for his organization. Brian Pisanelli showed off his sweet stroke with a monstrous homerun to lead off the 7^th inning. The game was still tight until the 8^th inning when the Loggers pulled away with 4 runs, made possible in part by Jenn “Mrs. X” Davies breaking up a potential double-play with a hard-nosed slide into 2^nd base. Second Chance tried to make a 9^th inning rally, but their hopes and dreams were quickly quelled by an incredible 6-3-5 double play. Sgt. Andre hoped to make it to 3^rd base on the grounder to short, but after Mike “Brains” Brenes made the easy throw to first base, a bullet from towering 1^st basemen Jeff Schupak to 3^rd basemen Mike Saris completed the double play and assured that the game was all but over. A good effort by Second Chance, but the Loggers seem to be on a mission to erase their putrid start and climb back to the middle of the pack.

(Loggers 13 / Second Chance 5)

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