The English Language Advances! Free Traders Earn A "Kessler Split"
"The Kessler Split"
Okay, I've never had a name for it...
What do you call a doubleheader when you win
one game and tie the other?
I mean, if you win both games, you "sweep" the
doubleheader. If you win one game and lose
the other, you "split" the doubleheader. In
hockey you have an "undefeated streak," but that
is a wholly inadequate expression for a softball
event.
There just hasn't been a word or phrase in the
English language that adequately represents "a win
and a tie."
At least, not until today!
Gentlemen, On June 16, 2003, the Free Traders
softball team earned a Kessler Split!
(Mark this date! In time the phrase will be
as common in softball parlance as "Mulligan"
is in golf.)
After winning the opening game of the doubleheader
in convincing fashion, the Free Traders found
themselves trailing the Dukes by four runs going
into the bottom of the last inning.
Dan Meehan started the rally with a lead off home
run. Ben Easlick swatted a single and Alan
Peterson reached base on an infield error. Barry
Hargreaves popped a single, scoring Easlick. Kenny
Sims swatted a deep fly ball that was caught, but
advanced the runners, then Tom Gamino hit a long
sacrifice fly scoring Peterson.
So, Andrew Kessler strode to the plate with the tying
run in scoring position and two outs on the board.
Andrew dug in, watched for his pitch, then pounded a
line drive shot up the middle, scoring Barry Hargreaves
with the tying run!
Unfortunately, the rally stalled shortly afterwards and,
by league rules, we were forced to accept a 14-14 tie.
Nonetheless, Andrew's clutch hitting turned the tide of
battle, and has earned him this moment of (quite possibly)
eternal glory!
A Kessler Split. That has a nice ring to it!
Other News
In the first game of the evening, Dan Meehan went four
for four at the plate. In the second game, both Andrew
Kessler and Barry Hargreaves went four for four. Each
ties a team record for most hits in a game. This is the
second time Barry has had four hits in a game for the
Free Traders.
Jay Hatfield will be out of town for the next two weeks,
so the batting and pitching stats for the next few games
will not be uploaded on the web site. We will catch up
with the stats when Jay returns from vacation.
Keep good stats!