At the recent LED all-staff meeting when Secretary Stephen Moret explained the most important Business Plan item of all, item #11, he challenged the team to complete a set of deliverables designed to produce wins. And it worked! LED defeated the DOTD “Kickin’ Asphaults” by a 6-2 margin last night at Perkins Road Park.
Coach Linda Regira watched Moneyball several more times and met with Eddie James in a Moneyball-inspired pre-game planning session. Armed with a list of available players for the night, and utilizing Regira’s background in advanced statistics, they put together a series of defensive run prevention rotations and an offensive run production lineup. Larry Collins walked in during the meeting and was sure to overhear Eddie say, “Johan gets on base, a lot.”
After all the rain lately field conditions were rough, with standing water at home and first base. But the Zeppelins were NOT to be deterred. Jacob McConnell offered his brand new rake (with the sticker still on it) and players from both teams took turns working the sand. Eddie spied some raw material (sand) and transportation vehicles (kiddie Easter buckets) in the playground area and the two teams started a fire brigade to get sand to first. Some unsuspecting toddlers playing in the sandpit at the time were amazed at the events. By the time Eddie returned the buckets, with bat in hand, the sandpit was abandoned. To make matters even worse there were no bases at the field, but someone on the Kickin’ Asphaults had thought ahead and brought a complete set of “toy” bases in a pack from the Everything’s $1.00 store. They were tiny and eventually sunk into the mud, but at least they provided a general direction for making plays. Once the field was in satisfactory condition, the game could begin.
The Zeppelins fielded 14 players, with 12 players notching up at least one hit. LED scored 1 in the second, 2 in the fourth, 1 in the sixth and 2 in the seventh to seal the deal. Chandra Williams arrived in the dugout smartly attired once again, sporting a shirt with sparkly lettering on the back declaring “I ♥ Coach Jimmy.” Everyone understood when her husband Jimmy admitted he picked out her clothing for the game. Jimmy also called Chandra “Shakespeare” because she was all about the plays.
Inspired on defense was Melissa Moore who made the play of the game from second base. On a hard hit grounder she moved toward first and snagged the ball, but wound up with it in her glove as she lay prone on the ground. Refusing to give up the play she made the throw to first from the ground and got the out. After high-fives from the team Melissa heard her two year old daughter Megan shout “Good job” from the stands.
Michael Pernici was inspired to go for broke when, with only one out and a runner on third, on a hit to Gary Beadle in left center, he took the infield throw and hummed it to first when he noticed the batter was attempting to go to second. The runner at third held and with two away the Zeppelins were able to avoid giving up a run by getting the next batter out. Also quite inspired was Eddie who ran and dove so hard to catch a pop-up that he ended up rolling over four complete times before coming to a stop. But he got that out! Coach wondered out loud if he tried so hard because his family was in the stands, but decided that no, he was simply inspired (and he would have done it anyway).
Equally inspired on offense, the team put together 5 multi-hit performances and scored in 4 different innings. Victor Moore (Melissa’s husband) went 3 for 3 with a double and two singles. It is surprising that the offense managed to stay strong until the end without benefit of treats, water, or Corona punch. Noticing there was no punch the Kickin’ Asphaults, who had read the LED Softball Spotlight blog, were sorely disappointed that they wouldn’t be able to sample the brew. They also expected to sample some “special” brownies but were unaware that Katherine St. Onge had left the department on Friday. (By the way, Sarah Vanden Broek has recovered nicely from the separation surgery and put up a respectable performance in left field.)
Fans were present but the cheering fell short. Raven Moore was busy helping watch younger sister Megan so mom and dad could play. Caroline Collins wasn’t there to lead a cheering trio and she’d really like to know why we would schedule a game on a Monday when she has gymnastics practice.
The Kickin’ Asphaults were great sports and traded jokes and laughs with the Zeppelins throughout the game. In the end, Jacob and Jessica headed toward the sunset, holding hands and carrying their beloved new, but very dirty, rake.
Well, everyone thank Shakespeare and thank Secretary Moret for the inspiration, knowing that with the win, LED keeps the possibility of a playoff berth alive!
Next Monday (sorry Caroline) the Zeppelins face off with another DOTD team, DOTD Design. Time and location TBD.
Singles: Eddie (2), Gary, Victor (2), Larry, Johan (2), Michael, Melissa (2), Chandra, and Linda (2).
Doubles: Victor, Jacob
Triple: Jimmy
RBIs: Gary, Jimmy, Larry, Johan, Michael and Linda.
Many thanks to all who STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE for LED.
PLAYERS: Chandra Williams (SEC) and husband Jimmy, Eddie James (BDS), Gary Beadle (IT), Jacob McConnell (BDS), James Caldwell (BDS), Johan Salen (BDS), Larry Collins (BDS), Linda Regira (Policy & Planning), Matthew Wattigny (FastStart), Melissa Moore (BI) and husband Victor, Michael Pernici, and Sarah Vanden Broek (SEC).
FANS: Jessica McConnell (Jacob’s wife), Raven and Megan Moore, and Eddie James’ wife Lori, daughter Alyssa, son Ian, and ferocious poodles Tux and Ty.
