Beadle Makes ESPN Catch in Matchup with the Division of Administration

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Too bad the cameras weren’t rolling.  Gary Beadle made a play of a lifetime in Tuesday night’s matchup with the Division if Administration. It’s what kids dream of when playing the game in their minds – a hit over my head; I have to backup; no, I have to run back hard; no, the only way I can reach it is to turn my back to the ball and stretch my glove out and catch it with my back to the crowd.  That is exactly what Beadle did in right center, stunning the Division who had visions of a homerun when the ball left the bat.  It was an amazing play.

The Zeppelins and the $ Killjoys $ took the field after a 30 minute delay due to rain and lightening.  LED had a game strategy going in – hit the first pitch so you don’t have to hold the aluminum bat too long.  Playing four full innings in the rain takes a toll on any team, but the Zeppelins gave it their all.  The rain finally stopped but the light faded quickly through the final three innings, making it difficult to see the ball.  And just as the game ended, the field lights came on!

LED got on the scoreboard first in the top of the first after a lead-off hit to right field by Frank Favaloro.  Eddie James followed with a double to put two runs in scoring position for Alicia Ardoin.  Ardoin’s single drove in the two runs.  The Division came back and scored one in the bottom of the third.  LED answered with another run in the top of the fourth when Beadle crossed the plate after consecutive hits from himself, Michael Pernici, Brenda Guess and Dennis Barbier.  The Division scored four in the bottom of the fourth when four of their men batted back-to-back in the middle of their lineup.  (This practice is actually against league rules – so I’m just gonna have to say it – THEY CHEATED!!!.)  LED came back with another run in the top of the seventh after a Matt Wattigny double, with Eddie James picking up the RBI.  The final score was Division 5, LED 4.

Linda Regira snagged a tough line drive between shortstop and third base, which prompted someone from the Division to exclaim, “Look what I found,” as though Regira had never caught a ball in her life.  Regira quieted them by “finding” three more during the course of the game.  Rotating at shortstop, Beadle and Pernici both came up with clutch catches of hard line drives, and Beadle snagged several on the run in right center.

Since the weather was not fit for man nor beast, it’s not surprising that there were only two fans standing under the awning at the scoring bench, and one in the dugout.  Madison Gilmore assisted with the scorebook from the dugout and Larry Ardoin and Yosef Javid actually stood through the entire game.  How loyal is that?  Katherine St. Onge brought more “special” mint flavored brownies to give the team a boost.

Tonight’s game against the Workforce Commission at Independence Park is the last of the season.  It also happens to be Katherine St. Onge’s birthday, so there will be cupcakes and other goodies in celebration.  St. Onge and Sarah Vanden Broek have invited the team and fans to a post game party at Superior Grill on Government Street.

Singles: Gary Beadle (2), Frank Favaloro, Linda Regira (2), Eddie James, Dennis Barbier (2), Brenda Guess, Katherine St. Onge, Alicia Ardoin. Doubles:  Eddie James and Matt Wattigny.

Many thanks to all who STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE for LED.

PLAYERS:  Alicia Ardoin (BDS), Allison Gilmore (Secretary); Becky Lambert (BDS), Brenda Guess (BIS), Dennis Barbier (Equipment Manger), Eddie James (BDS), Elliott Adams (Lead Development), Frank Favaloro (BIS), Gary Beadle (IT), Julie Van Scotter (COS), Katherine St. Onge (SEC), Linda Regira (Policy & Planning), Matt Wattigny (FastStart), Michael Pernici (Lead Development), and Sarah Vanden Broek (SEC).

FANS:  Madison Gilmore, Larry Ardoin and Yosef Javid (Entertainment).