I Need A Vacation From My Vacation.
Beautiful weather for softball today, 4/12. Many guys are heading back up north this month. It gives me pause to reflect on summer and summer vaca’s that are right around the corner. I know it’s an odd topic. It is ironic that many of the guys playing ball today are on permanent vacation. Still, who doesn’t like to take a trip, go to a baseball game, stick their toes in the ocean, visit the mountains, go camping and enjoy family time. It’s all part of the summer vacation ritual. I’ll be your tour guide for today’s AL game, at WHSS.
Visitors, Vacation Warriors: Hicks, Rad, Netzel, Guzman, Jacobson, Ferrande, Knox, Essenmacher, Pepin and Guzzo.
Home, Team Journey: Rivera, Hamilton, Vaccaro, Hurn, Matta, Grove, D’Herin, Witmer, Guttenberger and Vanderhyde.
The Vacation Warriors did not send their bats on vacation in the first inning. They called up their travel agent and ordered a trip around the bases. Hicks, Rad, Netzel and long ball Guzman (HR), had their bats unpacked and ready for action. Ferrande and Knox also added hits in the inning. Though it was the ball that Lou sent to Acapulco, that was the difference maker.
Team Journey had to hike up the mountain in the bottom of the first, down 4 runs. Hits by Hamilton, Vaccarro, Matta, Grove and a scenic blast from D’Herin tied the game, 4-4.
In the third inning the Warriors bought train tickets and rode down the tracks for 5 more runs, this after scoring a solo run in the 2nd. It gave the Vacation Warriors a healthy 10-4 lead. Key hits in the inning were conducted by Ferrande, Knox, Essenmacher, Guzzo (Walk), Hicks, Rad and Netzel. After 3 innings the score was Vacation Warriors: 10 - Team Journey: 4.
Here are the top 10 vacation destinations for the summer of 2019, (USA Today).
10. Punta Cana, in the DR.
9. Honolulu.
8. Anchorage.
7. Seattle.
6. Paris.
5. Dublin.
4. Vancouver.
3. Rome.
2. London.
Number 1 is Orlando, not a long road trip for most of us.
In the 4th inning the Warriors continued to add to their lead, scoring two more runs, to give them a 12-4 advantage. It looked like they were on a Carnival cruise to Victory Island. However, in the bottom of the 4th Team Journey figured we did enough sight-seeing and decided to get down to the business at hand, playing softball. We scored 8 runs to tie the game, 12-12. D’Herin, Witmer, Pete G, Rivera, Hamilton, Vaccaro, Hurn, Matta, Grove (Walk), D’Herin (Again) and Pete G (Again); exchanged their sunscreen for pine tar and hit the ball.
The game stayed close until the 8th inning, playing ball is no day at the beach. Each team played hard trying to gain an advantage. There were many good defensive plays for both teams. It was in the bottom of the 8th that Team Journey opened up a 5 run advantage, by scoring 3 runs in the inning. A fun thing to do is to take in a summer rock concert. We must have taken inspiration from the Rock group, Journey; “ Don’t Stop Belivein”. Rivera, Hamilton (Walk), Vacarro, Hurn, Matta, D’Herin, and Witmer believed in their abilities to get on base. After 8 innings the score was Vacation Warriors: 15 – Team Journey: 20.
The Visitors came up in the 9th needing transportation to carry them around the bases five times. They were only able to score a single run. Their flight was delayed and then their passport was declined when Tommy Hamilton turned in a defensive DP to end the game, 20-16.
A little motivation from the lyrics to the Journey song, “Don’t Stop Believin”;
“Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on.”
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on.”
Both teams worked hard to play the game and try to win it. With God’s blessing, as senior ballplayers, we are fortunate that we get to roll the dice, or in our case, swing the bat one more time. We only have to sing the blues for a moment because the softball season for us never ends, it goes on and on and on.
Top 10 Beaches in the USA, Trip Advisor.
10. Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, Georgia.
9. Fort Lauderdale Beach, FL.
8. St. Augustine Beach, FL.
7. Hapuna Beach, Puako, Hawaii.
6. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, FL.
5. Pensacola Beach, FL.
4. St. Pete Beach, FL.
3. Panama City Beach, Panama, FL.
2. Ka’anapali Beach, Lahaina, Hawaii.
1. Clearwater Beach, FL.
I hope everyone has a great summer playing softball and enjoying other fun activities.
Postcard memories for the Vacation Warriors:
Hicks: 5/6 with a triple.
Netzel: 4/6 with two doubles.
Guzman: 5/6 with a HR and double.
Essenmacher: 4/5.
Pep: 4/4 with a triple and a SF.
Guzzo: 3 /4 with a triple and a walk.
Victory Souvenirs For Team Journey:
Hamilton: 3/5 and a walk.
Vacarro: 5/6 with a double.
Hurn: 4/6 with a double.
Matta: 5/6.
D’Herin: 6/6 with a double.
Vandenberg: 3/5.
Written by Nick Matta
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