JACKPOT
We cut the cards in the AL, as is our custom this year, to determine teams. We had a world class softball game today using 26 cards, (13 per team), that’s how each team was assigned their 13 players, by a card draw. It’s interesting to note that there are somewhere between 1,000 and 10,000 card games in existence in the world. One of the most popular card games is poker. Which got its origin in China, from a domino card game played by the Chinese emperor in the 10th century. (The 10th century is the period from 901 to 1000 in accordance with the Julian calendar). The American game of poker was probably developed from the French game, Poque. That game was brought to New Orleans and there it was played with 3 cards, (later expanding to 5 cards). It spread through the country by the riverboat men who worked the Mississippi river.
Visiting team, The Card Sharks: Rivera, Guzzo, Doerbaum, Guzman, Stier, Quinones, B. Scheirer, Seguin, Miller, Guttenburger, Rios, Gazarek and Matta.
Home Team: The Mississippi Gamblers: Hicks, Hamilton, Keller, Vaccaro, D. Shirer, Netzel, Brock, Ferrande, Witmer, JD, Epperson, Essenmacher and Decker.
To quote Kenny Rogers, “Every hand’s a winner and every hand’s a loser.”The first hand dealt, in the first inning, belonged to the Card Sharks. We scored 5 runs with two outs. Rivera, Guzman, Stier, Quinones, Scheirer and Seguin refused to fold under the pressure of a two out hand and all hit well in the inning. The Mississippi Gamblers, could not call, (or match the bet), in the first. After one inning the score was 5-0.
“Poker is a skill game, pretending to be a chance game.” ~ James Altucher. The Mississippi Gamblers brought their skill to the plate in the 3rd inning, scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the inning. They were helped a little when we slid them some cards, by missing a few balls on defense. You can’t give a good poker player extra cards and expect to win. You can’t give a good softball team extra outs and expect them not to score. Essenmacher, Hicks, Hamilton, Keller, Vaccaro and D. Shirer cashed in their chips and cashed in at the plate, for a 5 spot. After 3 innings the score was tied, 5-5.
Both teams tried to break the bank with a winning hand in the 4th inning. The Card Sharks took a bite out of the softball and scored a pair of runs. The Mississippi Gamblers then took the Mississippi boat paddle wheel and paddled our behinds, in the bottom of the 4th. They scored 5 more runs. You might say that gave them a pair of 5’s. Netzel, Brock, Ferrande, Witmer, JD, Epperson, Essenmacher and Hicks drew the right cards giving their team the lead, 7-10.
“If you’re playing a poker game and you look around the table and can’t tell who the sucker is, it’s you.” ~ Paul Newman. The Card sharks were not going to be fooled. We know that you don’t win many poker games with a pair of 5’s and that is all the Mississippi Gamblers were able to muster. They were shut out the rest of the game. Meanwhile, the Card Sharks rode a hot hand; with good pitching, solid defense and with sharp hitting. We upped the ante, went all in and took the pot. We scored 4 of a kind, in the 5th inning. A pair of runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings and produced an ace, (single run), in the 9th.
We could have busted in the bottom of the 8th inning, when the Gamblers loaded the bases with one out. However, Dave Doerbaum came in to relief pitch and was our Ace in the Hole. He retired the next two batters and no runs scored. Dave then dealt the cards from the bottom of the deck and shut out the Gamblers in the 9th. Final Score: Card Sharks: 18-Mississippi Gamblers: 10.
“Baseball is like a poker game. Nobody wants to quit when he’s losing; nobody wants you to quit when you’re ahead.” ~ Jackie Robinson
Just like in a poker game the cards may fall differently next week. There will be a new team of winners next week at WHSS, when the cards are reshuffled. Today, though, it was the Card Sharks who won the Jackpot after we held the big diamond.
A couple of footnotes. Thanks to Joe D’Herin for umpiring today’s game. Al Guzzo is keeping track of all players and the games players have won. He assigns points for everyone who plays in a game, and for every player who was on a winning team. At the end of the season he will let us know which players have the most points. Newby, Brad Scheirer uncorked a lazar after catching a fly in right and threw out the runner tagging from 2nd to 3rd, one of the best throws you will ever see. Thanks to Bob Hite and his wife Mel for working hard in the kitchen to make cookies for our lunch, after the games this past Tuesday. You two are like having a Royal Flush dealt to the league. Special thanks to George Tinsley and KFC for the KFC lunch we had that same day. Thanks to all our sponsors for their support of the league.
High Stakes Players For The Sharks:
Guzman: 3/ 4 with two doubles.
Stier: 3/3 and a SF.
Quinones: 3/4.
Scott Seguin: 3/ 4 with a double.
Gazarek: 4/4.
Matta: 3/4.
Mississippi Gambler’s playing with a Hot Hand and Bat:
Hicks: 4/4
Vaccaro: 3/4.
D. Shirer: 3/4 with a double.
Netzel: 3/4.
A doctor answers his phone and hears the familiar voice of a colleague on the other end of the line. "We need a fourth for poker," said the friend. "I'll be right over," whispered the doctor. As he was putting on his coat, his wife asked, "Is it serious?" "Oh yes, quite serious," said the doctor gravely. "In fact, there are three doctors there already!"
Written by Nick Matta.
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