The Best (and Worst) of Times

Ah, FH softball weeks three and four – it was the best of times; it was the worst of times.

In week three action, FH came from behind an early deficit with a clutch rally to defeat our arch-nemesis Burson 16-13. However, in week four, FH suffered from an onslaught of monster home runs and lost to 2007 league champion Porter 15-2.

Week three saw contributions from up and down the lineup, and sharp fielding across the field. Staff ace Dan Horowitz took the mound and baffled Burson’s hitters all game with a mix of pitches. Craig Paridy and Will Sullivan continued their early season jostling for the team MVP award, as Craig went 5-5 with an impressive bases-loaded double and six RBIs while Will answered with a 5-5 performance of his own highlighted by four runs and a late triple to slam the door shut on our opposition.

Impressive hitting displays were also put on by several other FHers. Silvio Marcacci had three hits and a leadoff triple to start a six-run sixth inning, while Luke Merkel and his throwback jersey had three hits. Meanwhile, the FH Mollys showed Burson they came to play. Molly Gherty showed cool discipline in her first game of the year with two hits and two runs, while Molly Williams continued her torrid start with three hits and two RBIs.

The rest of the team put on a fielding clinic, lead by Andrew McClellan who bravely played through an early injury to make a clutch catch late in the game. The catching platoon of Kelly Moran and Brianne Hoppe switched between tormenting opposing hitters and diving for foul balls, and Lowen Baumgarten showed good instincts and heart in his first ever softball start. Last, but certainly not least, FH fans turned out in droves to help cheer the team on, including almost the entire LoJacono team, Juliet Johnson, and Jen Haslip.

FH left nothing on the field in a gritty win, which may explain the tough night we had on a quick turnaround in Monday’s loss to Porter.

Last year’s league champions evened our season series at one win apiece with a power display not seen since the 1998 artificially-enhanced home run chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.

Porter batters hit three prodigious blasts and just missed a fourth while their fielders seemed to catch every ball FH hit to jump out to an imposing 13-0 lead by the fourth inning. Un-intimidated, FH clamped down with tight defense and a brave seventh inning rally, but fell short.

As is usually the case in tough losses, the final score didn’t reflect the grit our team showed. Andrew McClellan made a spot start and several slick plays at pitcher before being relieved by closer Jeff Weintraub, who showed off his Soul Train dance moves in between innings.

FH kept our heads in the game till the bitter end, and our seventh inning rally was keyed by clutch hitting by Silvio Marcacci, Will Sullivan, Craig Paridy, Molly Williams, and Andrew McClellan.

Notable performances at the plate and in the field were also turned in by Ben Clark, Molly Gherty, Brianne Hoppe, Dave Whiting, Jenny Alonso, and Lowen Baumgarten.

Next week is a bye week because of the Memorial Day holiday, but we’ll take the field again on Thursday, June 5th against Ogilvy, and look to improve our record to 3-1.

Our opponent was the 2007 PR softball league champions. Beset by injuries and last-minute client deadlines, only nine members of the FH softball team could take the field. Week one had been rained out by Mother Nature, and some would say we were rusty. League rules prevented Tara Walker from playing with us this year. A low murmur of doubt could be heard during warm-up exercises.

But it didn’t matter.

FH began the 2008 season with a resounding 22-8 victory over defending champions Porter-Novelli behind deft pitching, incredible defense, and an offensive explosion seven months in the making. FH’s victory wasn’t even as close as the score indicates, as Porter could only manage one run until darkness fell on the field in the top of the seventh, obscuring fly balls and making even routine plays dangerous.

Coleman Hutchins, making a last-minute spot pitching start for injured ace Dan Horowitz, completely shut down the opposition’s offense with his nasty left-handed delivery. Buoyed by the power of his vast digital knowledge, he mopped up at the plate, with three runs scored, a triple, and six runs batted in.

At times, it seemed like every FH at bat resulted in a hit and run scored. Will Sullivan scored five runs and had a hit every at bat, including two doubles and a three-run home run in the fifth inning. Craig Paridy had the last laugh when an errant throw from Porter’s short stop hit him while running out a hit, by going 5-5 with two doubles, four runs, and three rbis. Molly Williams picked up right where she left off last year with a double, four rbis, and a sick catch for the last out of the game.

Every FHer contributed, from Jenny Alonso getting an rbi single in her first-ever softball at bat, to Dave Whiting and Jen Kelly’s incredible fielding and range at short stop and catcher, respectively. Andrew McClellan and Silvio Marcacci shook off a cataclysmic full-speed collision in left center field to make left and center fields a virtual graveyard for Porter hits, and both chipped in hits and runs at the top and bottom of the lineup.

All in all, a great start. But twelve more games and an entire player-hating league await our team. Will you be there next Thursday to cheer on FH as we take the field against our arch-rivals Burson-Marsteller?