Classic
We had a classic game between the A’s and KFC, on 2/23. When the players from both teams leave the field and say, “that was a good game”; it is a reliable sign that most of the players involved in the game enjoyed themselves. Movie quotes are also classic. You can probably give the name of a movie, after hearing a classic line delivered from the film. Let’s try it:
“I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.”
“Here’s looking at you kid”.
“You can't handle the truth!”
If you linked these lines to The Godfather, Casablanca and A Few Good Men, you did well. If you missed answering any of these, make some popcorn, rent a DVD of the film you missed and enjoy an entertaining evening watching a classic.
A’s, Visitors: Hicks, Duff, Doerbaum, Shirer, Wiltshire, Matta, Vanderhyde, Pep, Gazarek, Crowell and Deemie.
KFC, Home: Ogden, Rad, Quinones, Busch, JD, Denny, Butler, Reagen, Essenmacher, Coffman and Wells.
The A’s started out fast, “we felt the need, the need for speed.” We quickly scored 5 runs in the first. Singles from Hicks and Duff got the team rolling. Before the next pitch, this classic line could have been delivered by Doerbaum, “Go ahead, make my day.” “Dirty Dave” hit a 3 run blast over the centerfield fence. Hits by Wiltshire, Matta and a double, by Vanderhyde, finished off the scoring for the inning.
The game stayed close through 4 innings. The A’s would score a few runs and the KFC team would answer back with some runs of their own. “There’s no crying in baseball”, we did not have any crying on our field, guys were enjoying the close game. After 4 innings the score was 9-7 in favor of the Visitors.
In the 5th inning the A’s used the Joker’s line from the Dark Knight, ”And -here- we -go”. We pushed 4 more runs across the plate to open up our lead. With one out in the inning, Hicks, singled; Duff, tripled, Doerbaum, singled; Shirer doubled down the left field line and Wiltshire singled. The A’s helped their cause on defense that inning, as well. With one out and runners on the corners, Wells hit a ball through the hole between the middle fielder and SS. Matta dove for the grounder and came up with it. He flipped it to Hicks at 2nd, to force the runner. Hicks then relayed the throw to first, to turn a sharp double play. “May the Force be with you”. After six innings the score was Visitors: 13- Home: 7.
In the 8th inning the movie curtain opened for the KFC team. Even though the A’s held a lead and wanted to say,” Hasta La Vista, baby”; the KFC team would not go away. It seemed that the A’s needed a bigger boat, or at least a bigger lead. The KFC team rode a hitting tornado to Oz. These players hit the ball “somewhere over the rainbow”: Reagen, Essenmacher, Wells, Rad, Quinones, Busch and JD. The KFC team scored 6 runs that inning, to make it a 18-16 game. The A’s were hanging on to the slim lead.
The A’s needed to respond. We had to give it our best effort in the 9th. Just like Carl Spackler, (Bill Murray), did in Caddie Shack.
“Carl Spackler: So I jump ship in Hong Kong and I make my way over to Tibet, and I get on as a looper (Caddie) at a course over in the Himalayas.
So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald... striking.
So, we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So, I got that goin' for me, which is nice.”
The A’s efforts resulted in their scoring 4 more runs in the top of the ninth. We did not receive total consciousness, but we did receive a healthy 6 run lead. The KFC team tried to answer in the bottom of the 9th, but two outstanding fielding plays shut them down. Steve Hicks ranged far to his right to steal a base hit away from Ron Butler. Chuck Duff must have heard bells ring. As in the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life”; “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." Chuck sprouted wings and flew to a ball hit in the right-centerfield gap, catching it for the 2nd out. The KFC team was then soon retired and the final score stood; A’s: 22-KFC: 16. “This field, this game: it's a part of our past. It reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again.” Field Of Dreams.
The A’s Classic Hitters:
Hicks: 4/5, with a triple.
Duff: 3/5, with a triple.
Doerbaum: 4/5, with a HR.
Shirer: 4/5 with a double and triple.
Wiltshire: 4/5 with a double.
Matta: 3/5.
Classic Hitters for KFC:
Ogden: 4/5.
Rad: 5/5, with two doubles.
Quinones: 3/ 4, with a SF, HR and double.
Busch: 3/5, with two doubles.
JD: 3/5.
Denny: 3/5.
Reagen: 3/5.
Essenmacher: 3/5.
Written by Nick Matta
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