John Thompson
Reached Base
On Fielder's Choice
Jeff Donald
Started The Rally
Kelvin Foreman
Kept The Rally Alive
Roger Morse
Drew The Walk
Scoring John Thompson
Ed Frank
Clutch Two Run Single
Scored Donald & Foreman
Pat Drury
Loaded The Bases
J.D. Daunt
Grand Slam Winner
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John Gulisano wrote:
"That had to be one of the best games in which I had an opportunity to play.
I just wanted to thank you all for playing with that never say die
attitude. Again, kudos to JD for an awesome offensive display."
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Jeff Donald wrote:
"It was an
awesome feeling! JD's sliding catch in the first game and his grand
slam at the end were just perfect. Everyone performed amazingly well
and did all those little things right that add up to a great team
performance. John Thompson snagging a sure base hit deep in the hole at
short and getting the force out at second instead; Kelvin, JD, Erik and
Joe all chasing down deep flies with some outstanding catches at the
wall; Tom Lindamood making that great diving catch at second. All were
inspiring. And of course the fabulous hitting after the third inning in
each game didn't hurt our cause either."
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Tom Meldrum wrote:
"Jeff left out his own great stop at third base on the ball smoked down the
line, and the subsequent forceout at second. Brooks would have been proud...
I have been playing a lot longer than most of you guys, and last night was
the best I have ever seen. JD was awesome, and clutch, but everyone
contributed in a large way, both offensively and defensively. That was a
true team effort, albeit with some momentous individual performances."
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John Gulisano wrote:
"You know....we forget to mention the greatest part
of the game. Who can forget when Jim Foti rattled the pitcher, the ump,
the other team, and well quite frankly all the US Exporters, when he took a
swing at the pitcher's warm-up pitch. I think he confused the hell out of
the pitcher and flustered him enough for the rest of the team to take
advantage. Good job, Jim!"
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J.D. Daunt wrote:
"Agreed! Jim Foti was the key! He even got the women in the stands rattled!"
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Jim Foti wrote:
"I always try to at least rattle the women.
Wanna laugh? Here's what was really going through my mind at the time. You
can't really call it thinking. Following Jay's direction, I went out early
to make sure we got the inning started. The pitcher looked at me kind of
funny, but I thought he was ready to go. I saw this huge hole at second base
like they were playing with eight men on the field and out of the corner of
my eye I saw the second baseman running for his position. I tried to hit the
ball through the gap before he could get there. Of course, I hit it nowhere near there."
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Jim "The Rattler" Foti
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J.D. Daunt wrote:
"As I mentioned at the Foxhole, you are the only one who listens to Jay's
instructions..."
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Dave Cammarota wrote:
"I am out of the office, but will return on Friday November 5. If you need immediate assistance please contact Graylin Presbury on 202-***-5158. Thank you."
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This team does not give up.
October 26 promised to be a tough evening
for the veteran U.S. Exporters team. The
very fine Golfzilla ball club, last fall's
division co-champions, looked primed for
a big game. Both teams entered the double
header tied for second place with identical
9-3 records, only one game behind the
division leading Stuart Grey (Black
Rooster) team.
If the teams split the contests, Stuart
Grey would gain a game in the standings
and, with only two dates left in the
schedule, would be in position to clinch
the division championship.
So both Golfzilla and the U.S. Exporters
faced pennant race elimination.
The U.S. Exporters barely managed to win
the first game of the double header based
on the strength of a single big inning.
Golfzilla had led the game through the
first three innings when, suddenly, the
dormant U.S. Exporter bats came alive.
Then the real drama began.
In the second game of the double header,
Golfzilla's bats quickly rattled the U.S.
Exporters.
Right fielder Dave Cammarota suffered a
debilitating knee injury while on the base
path in the top of the third inning and
had to be removed from the game. Golfzilla
took immediate advantage of this injury by
mercilessly pounding the right side of the
outfield, scoring ten runs in the bottom of
the third.
When the smoke of the third inning had
cleared, Golfzilla had what appeared to be
an insurmountable 11-2 lead over the U.S.
Exporters. The pennant race seemed over.
But this team does not give up without a
fight.
Although game time was inexorably running
down, the U.S. Exporters chipped slowly and
methodically away at Golfzilla's big lead.
With only seconds to spare before the umpire
would have ended the game in the fifth inning,
the visiting U.S. Exporters were able to get
Golfzilla's final out in the bottom the fifth
inning to force a sixth, and decisive, inning.
The U.S. Exporters trailed 14-11.
THE SIXTH INNING
Our first batter, Jim Foti, grounded out.
John Gulisano reached on a single, but was
forced out at second base by John Thompson's
fielder's choice ground ball. Almost
instantly there were now two outs, and
only one lonely runner on first base.
The mood on the bench was glum.
But Jeff Donald stepped to the plate and
connected for a sharp single. Then Kelvin
Foreman stood up and slapped another.
Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, the bases
were loaded and the tying run was now
standing at first base. Perhaps there was
some hope, after all.
On the bench, the veterans started to notice
that the pitcher was losing something off of
his pitch. It looked like he was struggling.
The word went out to the batters: "Make him
throw a strike..."
Roger Morse stepped to the plate and waited
for a strike. He did not get one. Roger drew
a walk, scoring John Thompson from third and
making the score 14-12 with two outs. The
bases remained loaded.
It was now Ed Frank's turn at bat. Ed had been
in a small slump this season, but in this game
he had been three for three at the plate--all
singles. The team desperately needed another
line drive from him, and Big Ed knew it. So
he cracked a hard shot that hit the gap in the
outfield, scoring Jeff Donald and Kelvin Foreman!
With the pennant race on the line, Big Ed Frank
had produced a clutch two run single that had tied
the game!
The score was now 14-14. Runners crouched on
first and third. Two outs. A tie game would
only help Stuart Grey, and there was no
guarantee that the U.S. Exporters could hold
off the powerful Golfzilla team in the bottom
of the sixth. The drama grew.
Pat Drury came to the plate looking for a
strike. He did not get one. The bases were
loaded once again.
There have been some great moments in the
history of this team; moments that we will talk
about years later over cold beer and good times.
When we are among friends and teammates, these
moments bond us together and remind us how
much sport, even recreational sport, means to
a guy. My wife has given up trying to understand
my love of this game, but had she been at the
ballpark when John "J.D." Daunt stepped to the
plate--with bases loaded, two outs, and the
season in jeopardy--she might give me a knowing
grin and a wink. That's my bet.
J.D. Daunt took his position in the batters box,
fixed his stare at the pitcher, and looked for
a strike. He got one.
J.D.'s bat struck the ball with a ferocious noise,
and the towering shot he delivered flew like an
artillery shell over the heads of the helpless
outfielders, and it disappeared forever into the
darkness of the cool Virginia Highlands sky.
The bench was delirious! It was a moment we
will always remember. J.D. Daunt had
walloped what would be a game winning grand
slam home run! What magic! How awesome!
Oh, we would score three more runs in the
inning, and Golfzilla would get their last at
bats, but that all seemed anti-climactic, for
the game truly had been decided by J.D.'s
smashing shot. The U.S. Exporters won the
game 21-14, and the pennant race would continue...
FYI:
J.D. Daunt's performance (two home runs, a
double, 9 RBI) tied the team record for
most RBI in a game first set by Kevin
"Dr. G." Gary in 1995. "Its an honor to
tie Dr. G's record," said Daunt in a post
game interview.
Dave Cammarota suffered a season ending
knee injury in game two. I will have more
on this situation later.
Pat Drury set the season record for complete
games without a walk (9). He has also tied
the team record for most wins in a season
(11). Congratulations, Pat! Well done!
-Jay ("I'm NOT J.H. Hatfield") Hatfield
Message To The Team From Jim Foti
"Hey fellas, just wanted to let you know that
Saturday might well be my last games with the
USX. It seems that my girlfriend Carrie, my
family, and maybe even Dollar Bill want me up
NY/NJ way. Will likely relocate before next
season.
Good to go out on a high note. Have been
playing this game for more than a couple of
decades now and haven't seen a much better
comeback than last night. Wish I could still
play like I was in my 20s, but at least I
tried to help the team over the years, and
very much enjoyed playing for a winner.
Hats off to Hatfield. Between the coed team
and the men's team, we had a handful of
championships and were almost always in the
money."
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Coach's Note: Jim Foti and I have been
teammates for a decade. Jim's announcement
brings me great sadness because I am losing
such a close friend. Washington may be a
transient city, but the pain when friends
depart does not change.
Perhaps Jim will be back in town sooner than
we think, serving President "Dollar Bill"
Bradley's Administration!
Hmmm...Perhaps I could write a book...nah!
--J. "HitMan" Hatfield
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