Winter Haven Senior Softball

Tuesday, April 30th

BATTLE OF THE BANDS

In honor of the huge contingency from Detroit and our own transplanted Florida boys, I am dedicating the AL write up, on 4/30, as the showdown between Motown and Southern Rock bands.

Southern Rockers, Visitors: Rad, Guzzo, Keller, Shirer, Dana, Jacobson, Pep, Zelazny, Constantine and Alwin.

Motown Madness: Witmer, Hamilton, Netzel, Matta, JD, Stevens, D’Herin, Guttenberger, Reagen and J. Guzman.

The Rockers rocked to the tune of 3 runs in the first inning. Rad, Guzzo, Keller, Dana and Jacobson all had hits. They had three steps on us, like Lynyrd Skynyrd’s song “Three Steps Mister”. The song is based on a real-life experience by lead singer, 18-year-old, Ronnie Van Zan, who was at a biker bar in Jacksonville, The Little Brown Jug, he had a gun pulled on him for dancing with another man's woman, and thus inspiring him to write the lyrics on his way home. The song debuted in 1973, it was their first major-label release, and it didn't chart. The band’s name was a mocking tribute to Leonard Skinner, a physical-education teacher at Robert E. Lee High School, who was notorious for strictly enforcing the school's policy against boys having long hair. (Maybe Nick Matta should have been on this Southern Rocker team, with his long hair and proclivity to rock & roll). "Won't you give me three steps, Gimme three steps mister, Gimme three steps towards the door? Gimme three steps, Gimme three steps mister, And you'll never see me no more. " The Southern Rockers took their 3-step lead in the first and held it through one inning.  The Motown Madness did our version of the Temptations Song, “I Can’t Get Next To You”, 1969.

“I Can turn the gray sky blue
I can make it rain, whenever I want it to, oh I
I can build a castle from a single grain of sand
I can make a ship sail, on dry land tell 'em yeah
But my life is incomplete and I'm so blue
'Cause I can't get next to you”

We were shutout in the bottom of the first and could not pull even with the Rockers. After 1 inning the score was Rockers: 3-Madness: 0.

In the 2^nd inning there was a reversal of fortunes, the Rockers were shut out and the Madness plated 4 runs, to take the lead. JD, D’Herin, Guttenberger, Reagen and Guzman shouted out lyrics, like the Temptations, “Look out baby because here I come”.  Score: Southern Rockers: 3-Motown Madness: 4.  Here’s two little trivia questions for all of you music aficionados. Which Temptation song contained those lyrics? Which year was it released?  

If you answered, “Get Ready”, 1966, give yourself a HR in the scorebook.

The Motown Madness continued with, “The Same Old Song”, The Four Tops, 1965, in the 3^rd inning. The Rockers only scored a run in their half of the inning, while Motown was in full swing, dancing to the tune of 5 runs.

“You're sweet as a honey bee
But like a honey bee stings
You've gone and left my heart in pain
All you left is our favorite song
The one we danced to all night long
It used to bring sweet memories
Of a tender love that used to be

Now it's the same old song
But with a different meaning
Since you been gone.”

Hamilton, Netzel, Matta, JD, D’Herin and Reagen all stung the ball like a honey bee. The Motown team left the Rockers heart in pain. Scoring multiple runs in the 2^nd and 3^rd innings while limiting the Southern Rockers output. Making things eerily similar for two straight innings, or, The Same Old Song. Score: Southern Rockers: 4- Motown Madness: 9.

The Southern Rockers climbed back into the game in the 5^th inning. They loosened up for 4 runs.

“Just hold on loosely
But don't let go
If you cling to tightly
You're gonna lose control”

38 Special, Hold On Loosely, 1981. The band originated out of Jacksonville Florida. This is how the band choose their name. As young men they were practicing in a warehouse out in the middle of nowhere. When police arrived, after being notified by locals of the noise, the band had the door locked and could not hear the police knocking. The police then shot the door lock to let themselves in. When the surprised band asked how the police gained entrance the cops responded; “We let this 38 special do the talking".

It’s a good idea to loosen up the grip on the bat and snap at the ball. Rad, Guzzo, Keller, Shirer, Dana, Jacobson and Pepin, did just that, they loosened up their grips on the bat and tightened up the score, 8-9, in favor of Motown.  Instead of a 38 special, they let their bats do the talking.

In the bottom of the 5^th and the bottom of the 6^th the Motown boys answered back.

“Listen baby, ain't no mountain high
Ain't no valley low, ain't no river wide enough baby
If you need me call me no matter where you are
No matter how far don't worry baby
Just call my name I'll be there in a hurry
You don't have to worry

'Cause baby there ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you babe”

 Originally written by the Motown husband and wife songwriting team, Ashford & Simpson. When “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was released by Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye, in 1967, the single peaked at No. 19 on Billboard’s pop chart. It was later rereleased by Diana Ross, 1969, as a #1 hit. The Gaye/Terrell version was used in these films: Stepmom (1998), Remember the Titans (2000) and Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). It is also sung on a regular basis by Joe D’Herin, to his wife.

The Motown guys wanted mo runs, they climbed the mountain and made it through the valley to get them. The mountain climbers in the 5^th were Stevens, D’Herin, Guttenberger and Guzman. The Valley warriors were Hamilton, Netzel, Stevens and D’Herin. By scoring 3 runs in each frame the Motown Madness took a 15-9 lead. (The Rockers scored a solo run in the 6^th).

JD came in to pitch for Matta in the top of the 7^th. The Southern Rockers had three innings left, to make up the deficit. They did everything they could to win the game, short of making a deal with the devil.

The devil went down to Georgia
He was lookin' for a soul to steal
He was in a bind
'Cause he was way behind
And he was willin' to make a deal

When he came upon this young man
Sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot
And the devil jumped
Up on a hickory stump
And said, "boy, let me tell you what

I guess you didn't know it
But I'm a fiddle player too
And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you

Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy
But give the devil his due
I'll bet a fiddle of gold
Against your soul
'Cause I think I'm better than you"

The Devil Went Down To Georgia, Charlie Daniels, 1979. As a side note, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working with Charlie Daniels on two occasions. Once in his studio, outside of Nashville, and once in San Jose, CA. Both were video shoots that I produced. He was a great guy, very nice to work with, extremely talented and very accommodating.

The Southern Rockers busted their fiddle trying to catch up to their competition, but the Motown defense and pitcher, JD, would not give them their due. The Rockers could only manage 2 runs in the bottom of the 9^th. The final score was Southern Rockers: 11- Motown Madness: 17.  At least for this game the Motown boys could sing the victorious lyrics from Devil Went Down To Georgia.

“ I done told you once you son of a gun
I'm the best that's ever been".

Southern Rockers Who Made The Music Hall Of Fame For Their Hits:

Rad: 3/5 with 3 doubles.

Keller: 5/5 with 3 doubles.

Dana: 3/4 with two doubles and a SF.

Jacobson: 3/5 with a double.

Pepin: 3/5.

Motown Madness Music HOF, For their Hits:

Hamilton: 3/5.

Netzel: 4/5 with a double.

JD: 3/5 with a double.

D’Herin: 4/4 and a SF.

Defensive Play Of The Game: A sinking line drive catch by Netzel in shallow left center field.

Thanks to Lou Guzman for umpiring.

Written By: Nick Matta