"GRRRRRRR - I'm gonna get those GANNETS!!!!!"
Billies lose two but gain respect of opposition and fans!
This GSA season began with a prime time match-up between David (The Hawaiian Hillbillies) and Goliath (The Rock All Gannets). League officials had thought that this game would herald the changing of the guard, ushering in a new era for GSA softball. So on a cold and muddy afternoon the Hawaiian Hillbillies took to the field to face a team they had ousted from the post season the year before. Expectations were high and off-season speculation had the Billies edging out perennial league favorites in a gritty, tough game in the rain. As all who watched remember, the Gannets prevailed by a score of 31 to 11, simply put the game was ugly. The Hillbillies were crushed and down trodden. But amidst the anguish there was resolve and a belief that this team was better than that score. Over the next few weeks these feisty Hawaiians have taken on all challengers, learning from their mistakes and capitalizing on those of the opposition. It is a team which has had its breakdowns, both offensively and defensively, but as of late has been able to bounce back with either its gloves or its bats. A quick look at the stats from this year and last will tell you that this team is hitting better, with the team average up by 30 points, and the fly out percentage down by 3%, and although the stat was not kept last year this team has undoubtedly had more offensive production that it did a year ago. Defensively this team is also more capable than its counterpart from a year ago. Although the Billies do not track defensive stats the total runs allowed and innings with fewer than 2 runs are surely the highest ever for this franchise. Most important though is the fact that heading into this double header the Billies are two games ABOVE 0.500. This year this team has found ways to win games and not loose them. So riding a three game winning streak and brimming with confidence the Hawaiian Hillbillies took the diamond for a double header with one objective in mind, in the words of Captain Ron “[Sweep] the Gannets…Grrrrrrrr!”Game 9
As has been tradition of late the Billies began the game in a funk being held off the board until the third when The BIG Unit was driven in by Captain Ron. But the end of the third the Billies were only down by a score of 4 to 1, their gloves once again answering the challenge put up by sluggish bats. The fourth and fifth innings saw the Hawaiians cash in Charlie Brown (twice), The Porn Lover, Tractor Trailer Taylor, The Cheetah and Captain Ron and going into the bottom of the fifth the Billies were leading the undefeated Gannets 7 to 4. Then catastrophe struck. The impenetrable Moonshine defense collapsed and our Billies surrendered the maximum of 8 (and not 9) runs leaving the score at 12 to 7. More than that this was a major momentum shift and Hawaiian heads could be seen to hang low – the memory of a 20 run loss was still fresh in their minds. Taking to the plate the Billies began a rally scoring three of their first four batters, but stranding two in the process before hitting the diamond gloves in hand. Still reeling from the mercy inning the Billies surrendered six runs, leaving the score at 18 to 10. A hush fell over the team as the approached the bench and fans could see the Billies huddle together with Captain Ron’s golden locks flying round in the Hamiltonian sunshine. Here was the inspiration this team needed; this was going to be the turning point. At this moment the Billies decided that if they were going to lose this game they were going down fighting.
Stinky was the first Billy to reach base in the seventh and it wasn’t long before the Cheetah drove him home, but the inning was over before the Billies could inflict more damage. It was time to turn the game over once more to the faltering Hawaiian gloves. A refocused Billie defense effectively shut down the Gannets in the seventh. In the top of the inning the Hillbillies few prey to Flyoutitis before the defense allowed one run in the bottom of the eighth leaving the score at 19 to 11 Gannets. It was time to do or die for the Hillbillies.
The Hawaiians began the inning with seven hits and a sacrifice fly; the deficit had been reduced to three. A single from Tractor Trailer Taylor drove in The Messiah and Charlie Brown before the inning came to a close. A heroic Hillbilly rally left them one run shy of extending the inning and the game. They had succumbed to the league leading Gannets by a score of 19 to 18, but there was a sense of accomplishment in the Billies, and a palpable fear in the Gannet dugout.
Game 10
After crossing the massive McMaster baseball complex the Billies and Gannets were once again ready to cross bats. The now home team Billies got off to an uncharacteristically fast start scoring six runs in the first two innings. In the same two frames the Moonshine gave up six in the first and none in the second leaving the game knotted at six after two. Combined between the second and third innings the three Mikes drove three consecutive fly outs into Gannet gloves officially ending the trio on Billy score sheets. The third inning had both teams scoreless.
In the top of the fourth the Hillbilly gloves were once again stellar shutting down the Gannets for the third consecutive inning. In the bottom of the inning the Ringer doubled to score Charlie Brown, the Cheetah and Triple T, giving the Billies a 9 – 6 lead over the Gannets. The Gannets cashed in one run in each of the 5th and 6th while holding the Billies off the board. In the top of the seventh the power of the Gannet bats was again too much for the Moonshine defense as the league leaders once again drove 8 past Hillbilly gloves, and the Hillbillies were again held off the scoreboard. After an eighth in which the Gannets scored twice and the Billies cashed in one the score was 18 – 10 for the Gannets.
The Moonshine defense was up to the task in the ninth, holding the Gannets off the board. Again it was time to live and die by the bat…queue the rally. As has been the case of late the Billies seem to deliver when they need it the most and after shutting the leagues most potent offense it was time for the bats to answer the call.
Bubba Gump lead off the inning with a single, a single by The BIG Unit moved him into scoring position, and the Porn Lover drove him in. A clutch hit by the Hillbilly Captain drove home the Unit, and back to back homers by The Messiah and Charlie brown had the Billies within striking distance. Unfortunately for the growing Hillbilly Nation the Gannet defense recovered just in time to save the game, with the final being 18 to 16 for the Gannets.
Despite dropping both games in the double header the Hawaiian Hillbillies earned the respect of a team that has rolled over all opposition this season. This is the match up that league officials knew would come when they scheduled this match up for the season opener. At the half way point of the season the Hillbillies are 0.500 and only two wins shy of their total last year. Looking at the schedule shows that the second half should be easier than the first and with the Hillbillies currently in sole possession of third place now there is no telling what will be the outcome at the end of the season!
