nice notes, harold and tim.

and you're right, harold, it was a good game, and the players and umps
(two this time, jim dalton and don dunham) were terrific.

from a fan's point of view, i was really impressed with the intensity
of both pitchers: the ageless jim latorre of the cards and the equally ageless
darryl duncan of the whizzers. neither gave in to the batters. if the
batters were to get a hit, they had to do it the old-fashioned way.

i didn't see the entire game, but one play sticks in my craw as evidence
of really smart, hustling play, a play that would be impressive in any
of our age divisions, and for that matter, in any game anywhere.

with one out late in the game and the whizzers down 1-0, darryl duncan
was on second when a ground ball was hit to the shortstop. it wasn't especially
hard hit but there was a chance, a slim one, that the cards could pull off
a double play on the grounder. to do it, the cards' shorstop would need to
make a quick scoop, then a fast throw from short to second and the
second baseman would need to make a hard, leaping throw over the
incoming runner to first.

it was not an easy play to pull off and duncan, running from second, must
have realized that the moment the ball was hit. he started like a sprinter out
of the blocks, turned on a dime at third, squinted over his shoulder and increased
his speed toward home. it was a daring run.

i was watching darryl go and i can't recall now if the ball was flung
home from first or second or if the cards held on to the ball. i do recall
a burst of dust rising around a red shirt and gray hair at home,
and with it, a safe darryl duncan at the plate.

tim suggests in his note that guys in the division made great plays all
season, and he's right about that. (in fact, one of my better memories of
the summer, came by way of tim himself. his play came in a 45 division game,
but since tim's also a 55er, credit must be given. on this play, tim came running
in from his position at second, going straight at a high bounder. he grabbed it bare-handed,
and flung it, cano-like, for a crisp out at first. tim would be the first to say
similar plays were made in the 55s by others and he'd be right about that too. there
were geezer marvels everywhere.)

but last night, the 55 gallery of john reel, don burresci and i, agreed,
after some appreciative hooing and hawing, that darryl's run was a
beauty, a memory for the winter.

it was also something for every pitcher in the league, including me, to remember
next time we see darryl on second.

-mike

good season for the 55's. I appreciate and thank all who stepped up to help make this run smoothly. first to Don Wixon who helped configure the match-ups and then to Tim Brown who worked up the schedule and continued to update are book keeping on field availability. To Scott Bonnano who acted as our New Scotland field contact person. to Jim Konstantakis who did the umpire recruiting and assigning. And to umps Wixon, Konstantakis, Joe Careccia, John Kalinski, Steve Lounello, and Don Dunham and the ENYUA group who filled in when needed. Also to Harold Jenkins who deftly keeps up the 55 web site stats and standings. To Brad Buchan who crafted the the stats sheet and to Ed Diegel who acted as our Satellite and HS field contact. And thanks to league sect. John Corrigan, who collected and entered your rosters in our new player data base. to Jim Porter who in early winter attended an all important HS field meeting to represent the area residents. to all the players , I am proud of your decorum and effort on the field and your respect for the game, facilities , teammates opponents and officials. Its joy to play in this division with that character on display every game.
However the back bone of the division is the managers who do the work to get the teams organized , paid up, registered, and ready to play in May and then keep things going under pressure all summer. thanks Jim P., Ed, Jim L., Brad , Ray , Kevin and Frank.
its this true team effort that counts. its how we need to move forward not only in this division but league wide.

and congrats to the 2012 champs Cards. your team shirts and trophy will be ready in a few weeks. jreel league pres.