Well, that was an interesting start to the season.
The first oppenent turned out to be Ski Unit, a team Spawn of Belvedere slaughtered en route to the 2007 Fall League championship. The mood of the Shells appeared as jovial as any team coming off of a championship should be, but things would soon change in the bottom of the first.
The Shells started the season as visitors, which meant they took to the field second. The first batter (we’ll call him “turtleneck“) hit a lazy fly in front of CF Don Shea for a single but stretched it into a home run allowed by a comedy of overthrows at 2nd and 3rd base. After Turtleneck scored, he, who turned a single into a run leaped up, stomped his feet, shook his fists and screamed, “YEAAAH!!! THAT”S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!” in an apparent attempt to turn up the adrenaline for his team. Taunts of “loser” were heard quietly emanating from the Shells fans in the bleachers.
The Shells appeared stunned by the early aggresiveness of Team Ski Unit but quickly regained focus, playing solid defense for the remainder of the game. There was one other defensive play of note though, when Turtleneck once again displayed his apparent burning desire for victory. In the 3rd inning, on a fly ball to right field, Turtleneck sprinted around second base, yelling at the SS Miles Baltrusaitis to “GET OUT OF THE FUCKING WAY!!!” and, upon sliding in safely on a close play at third with a firm tag by 3B Paul Baltrusaitis, threatened, “I’ll punch you in the FUCKING FACE, BRO!” A class act, indeed.
In other game notes, the pitching done by Shells veteran Gary Zimmer was consistently good; working around the plate for dangerous hitters while attacking the strike zone for the others.
CF Shea’s double in the top of the 6th was the offensive play of the night and proved the catalyst as the 3 Shells crawled back to even before the game was called one inning early due to time constraints.
Some Pics.
Next week, The Shells take on the Closers at 7:55. Still no word on sponsors.
wow. nice write up. who knew I missed all that exciting foul mouth talk by sitting in the warm car. good job miles.
Comment by
eileen — May 20, 2008 @ 10:18 pm