Just Your Average above 96th Street Experience

Last Sunday was your typical above 96th Street Softball experience in Inwood as anything can happen and it usually does. Before we get to Sunday, it poured Saturday which caused the makeshift grounds crew of Rick, Blonde, and Gil, yes I said Gil, to work literally overnight in the dark on Saturday to make sure the fields where ready to go for Sunday. The softball gods seemed to approve as it set the stage for an interesting Sunday afternoon.

The happy and not so happy Inwood Re-Cap is as follows:

(1) All teams were made aware that game times were pushed back 2 hours to allow the fields to dry. Some teams loved this, some teams hated it, some just dealt with it, but it had consequences that we will get to later.

(2) The Panthers and Chaos played one another and both recorded their 1st victory of the season. Congrats gentleman well deserved.

(3) Danny Mac and the upstart Orioles spilt their double header. Unfortunately, because of the delayed start time Danny Mac manger George Alonsohad to forfeit their 3rd game of the day, a make up game with Bonao, b/c his players had prior commitments. This was not pleasant.
(3) Afterwards, Dominican Power Houses Bonao and Trojan spilt a Bachata & beer filled competitive doubleheader.

(4) Knockout "KO" had another new 5-6 players this week, but these faces were much more familiar as they have joined forces with the 2007-2008 Tianos. KO welcomed players such as Noel Sanchez, Carlos "Charlie" Mason, Alfi Hernandez, Juan Gonzalez, and Andy Santana (shown warming up below)

In addition, KO brought back a former player and big time Jet fan Lorenzo Gracia in hopes of solidifying their depleted roster. The new players plus the effort of loyal everyday players like Freddy Hernandez paid immediate dividends for KO as they surprisingly blew out Los Fanaticos in game one. In the game one laugher, Fanticos manager Eddy made his 2009 Inwood debut on the hill

in an attempt to stop the bleeding. In game two, KO came back from an early 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 when two Dominican traveling teams with a legit special one day 4pm permit showed up and asked us to leave. As a result, with nowhere else to go both teams had to do the walk of shame over to field 4 to wait for the WestLander "WL" and Box Car Lounge game to conclude before resuming play. Just when you think something else couldn't happen it did. It's never boring above 96th street.

(5) The "WL"convincingly swept Box Car Lounge to take commanding hold of first place in Citysoftball with a 5-1 record. WL have only given up 8 runs on the season. Impressive to say the least.

(6) After the WL-Box game, KO and Los Fanticos resumed game 2 of their double header as Mr. Boricua

Gilberto Gonzalez continued to mesmerize Los Fanticos to complete the sweep.

Just another day above 96th street

Next week should be filled with many more surprising twists and turns. Highlighting the action will be the WL and KO doubleheader. As friends from both teams

play softball.


Great Stuff.