Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has its origins rooted in religious and secular practices. The Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving as a way to give thanks to God for His provision; a bountiful harvest and providing plenty of game to hunt, as well as safety. The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621, in Plymouth, MA; between Christian colonists and the Wampanoag tribe. Sadly, there was no football games that day. Ninety or so native Americans showed up at the settlements gate in a surprise visit. The pilgrims invited them to a feast and the two parties both contributed provisions for meals. The celebration lasted for days.  
The Tuesday before Thanksgiving the WHSS, AL teams got together for a peaceful softball game. There was a bountiful harvest of hits and runs.
Visitors: Pilgrims: Rivera, Guzzo, Rad, Matta, Burns, Scarbrough, DeRidder, Book, Essenmacher, Busch And Constantine.
Home Team, Indians: Reagen, Shirer, Jacobson, Toro, JD, Jacobs, Denny, Thirey, Crowell, Coffman and Roger.
Much like the first Thanksgiving, the two teams spent the early part of the game feeling each other out. After the first inning of play the score was 1-2 in favor of the Native Americans. In the 2nd inning the Pilgrims took out the drum sticks and started beating on the ball. Hits from DeRidder, Book, Essenmacher, Busch, Constantine and Rivera pushed 5 runs across the plate with no outs recorded in the inning. After 2 innings the score was Pilgrims: 6- Indians: 3.
Both teams nibbled on cranberries, squash and cornbread over the next few innings, scoring a run here and there. In the 5th inning a platter of turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes was served up. The Pilgrims scored 5 runs. Constantine got the Pilgrims harvest started with a single. Rivera then singled and set runners on 1st and 3rd. Guzzo singled a run in. Rad loaded the bases with a single and Matta rocked the Mayflower with a triple to right field that cleared the bases. Burns then smacked a towering shot to right field, scoring Matta easily, giving us our 5.
The Indians answered back in the bottom of the 5th with three runs. Jacobson walked, JD, Denny, Thirey and Crowell all got hits to help the tribe. After 5 innings, the score was Pilgrims: 13-Indians: 8.
The Pilgrims continued to gorge themselves on turkey, gravy and ham in the 6th inning, scoring 4 more runs. DeRidder, Book, Busch, Constantine and Rivera helped themselves and the team, at the plate. At the end of 6 innings, it was Pilgrims: 17- Indians: 8.
The Pilgrims were not being very good guests as the score was lopsided. The Indians pushed back a little in the 7th outscoring the Pilgrims, 3-2, in the 7th.  That made the score Pilgrims: 19- Indians: 11. In the 8th inning things changed for the Indians, they filled their cornucopia with runs. They had a plethora of hits; Routur, Reagen, Shirer, Jacobson, Toro, JD, Jacobs and Denny all reached base before an out was recorded. Crowell and Coffman added two more hits before the side was retired.  The Indians roasted 7 runs, their bats were on fire, they tightened up the score, Pilgrims 19- Indians 18, going into the 9th.
The Pilgrims wanted to be good guests, but they also wanted to win the game. We added 4 runs in the 9th.  Rad and Matta singled, then with two outs Scarbrough knocked them in, with a single. DeRidder added a double to knock in Scarbrough and Book knocked in DeRidder with a single. The Indians had eaten so much turkey in the 8th inning, they were now ready for a nap. They couldn’t even manage a pumpkin pie desert in the 9th. They were retired in order and the final score was Pilgrims: 23-Indians: 18. Thanks to Joe D'Herin for umpiring the game. Everyone enjoyed playing the game and wished each other a Happy Thanksgiving after the game.
I wish everyone a cornucopia of blessings. The cornucopia is also known as a horn of plenty, may God fill your horn with plenty of love, peace, joy, health and prosperity.  I am thankful to God for all He has given.
Those who knocked the stuffing out of the ball for the Visitors:
Rivera: 3/5 with a double.
Guzzo: 3/5 with a double and a HR.
Rad: 3/5.
Matta: 4/5, with a double and a triple.
DeRidder: 5/5, with a double and a triple.
Book: 4/5, with a double.
Constantine: 4/4, with a triple. 
Those who rocked, Plymouth Rock, for the Home Team:
Reagen: 3/6.
Toro: 4/5, with a HR and a triple.
JD: 5/5, with a double.
Jacobs: 3/4.
Denny: 4/5.
Written by Nick Matta

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