'Billies have heeded the lessons from the bible.
Offensive Explosion Falls just Short of Victory
To anyone who has seen the ‘Billies play this year it is evident that this is a different team than in years past. There is still the easy going humour which I think, more than anything else, makes this team a hit with the fans, but there is something else…something which may have been missing over the last few seasons. You can see it in their eyes, you can feel it on the bench. This team has a swagger; a belief in itself. It is this belief that they think, no that they know, will drive them to success this year.
So last night, in the beautiful Hamiltonian sunshine, our ‘Billies took the field to face a familiar foe, Chapps the Dog. On this night the ‘Billies roster was bolstered by call-up Mad-Dawg Matheson playing for recent acquisition Lisa. The top of the inning began with the ‘Billie’s Bats a’Blazin. Once again the new pitching rotation – which on this night consisted mainly of The Ringer, and The Messiah with excellent spot work by Tractor Trailor Taylor – was magnificent. For the second time in four games the Hillbillies almost batted through the order, cashing in five runs in the process. There was that swagger, there was that belief in team…but then came the bottom of the inning.
As the bats of these Hawaiian Hillbillies grew hot, their gloves grew cold. At times the new Moonshine Defence is impenetrable, but there are still some wily teams who can still hit the chinks in this armour; last night Chapps proved to be one of those teams. And so at the end of the first it was 5-4 for the visiting team. Past Hillbilly teams may have packed it in there, turning their thoughts to the Phoenix and the promise of a cold frothy beverage. But there is a belief on this team and that belief is coupled with a desire to win, so THIS group of Hillbillies laced ‘em up and strapped ‘em on. They knew that this would be a knock them down and drag them out kind of night and a game where offence would rule.
There are few true pitching duels in this era of GSA softball, but last night was an exception, and the spectators who made it out to the game last night were treated to a glimpse into an era long since past. Both teams played with the throttle wide open trying to score at all costs (ed: if only the Stanley Cup Final was played with such lust for offence). Charlie Brown came in to score an amazing five times, Captain Ron blasted two balls into the bush, while The Hustler continued his blue collar season quietly offering quality play in the field and at the plate. The offensive consistency of the Lady ‘Billies that has become a trademark of this club continued last night. Porn Lover was perfect at the dish for her second straight game (of course her and the UNIT were on the DL for the Billies last contest), The Ringer and Mad Dawg both reached base more often than not as these ladies continue to challenge the ‘Billie Boys to equal their success at the plate. Last night those boys were up to the task. “I can’t remember the last time I was up five times in a game” remarked The BIG UNIT as he nursed a lingering knee injury, “[we] were just hitting the [stuff] out of the ball tonight.” In an effort to stop sucking, Newfie sought the solution at the Phoenix before last nights game and, after shaking off a slight buzz in the first, he delivered a solid glove in the field and a solid night running the bases pads both for himself and The BIG UNIT.
In the end the ‘Billies found themselves down by a final score of 24 – 21, but this night proved that this team can rack up the runs. In another time after a game like this the eyes of the Billies would have been filled with despair, or loss. However if you looked closely last night, you could still see that belief, that desire. And don’t be surprised if next game you still see that swagger.
