*24* hours of Diplomat Baseball

Previously on *24* Diplomat baseball

We learn that F and M will journey to Baltimore to play Johns Hopkins in the first round of the Centennial Conference Playoffs.
We learn that Hopkins has won five straight against the Diplomats including a convincing sweep of a doubleheader 3 weeks earlier.
We learn Coach Taylor has engaged the Diplomats “Hearts and Minds” as they prepare to invade Baltimore.
We learn Nick Markel, has been terrific the past month beating Haverford, McDaniel and Gettysburg over his last three starts, will start for the Fighting Diplomats


The following takes place
Between 3:00PM and 5:00 PM

After creating a run in the first, Johns Hopkins extends its lead to 2-0 with a home run just over the short porch in right field. The Diplomats get on the board in the 4th inning when Eric Bornstein drives in Shea Moriarty who led off the inning with a double. Jason Anderson blasts a bomb to left to tie it at 2-2 in the top the 6th. But two solo home runs by Hopkins and their bloop single over first gives the Blue Jays a 3 run lead entering the ninth.

The following takes place
Between 5:00PM and 6:00 PM

Senior catcher John Dutton leads off with a walk and freshman JT Triandos adds a single Matt Will; the Jack Bauer of the Diplomats because he does so many things to help the team win, singles in a run bringing the Diplomats within 2. (See that hit here: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-i2S9KAQds&feature=channel_page) Andrew Hanson singles in another and we are within a run with no outs. But Shea Moriarty hits it hard right at the Conference Player of the Year, third baseman Todd Emr who starts a 6-4-3 double play. Down to our last out, Jason Anderson comes to the plate. With a home run earlier Jason thinks to himself “I am gonna hit this ball hard”. Hit it he does, but off the end of his bat. The ball floats gently to a safe oasis beyond first base where it drops in scoring Matt Will on a bloop just like the earlier Hopkins bloop single and we are tied at 5. The baseball gods seemingly with a make up call.

Brendan McCleary comes in to work the bottom of the ninth and quickly strikes out 2 ( see him at work here( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoCtrVCfAiU ) and induces Todd to fly to left for the third out and we go to extra innings .

In the top of the 10th the Jays bring in a new pitcher and Bill Murray, who has hit well all year long , promptly blasts a missile over the left field fence to give the Diplomats their first lead over Hopkins since May of 2007 with the score now 6-5.

The following takes place
Between 6:00PM and 7:00 PM

Brendan takes the mound to close out the Jays. But the Jays did not get to the D 3 championship last year by not being battlers. They may take the form of arrogant bullies when they play but they can back it up and compete .Leading off, Ryan Biner singles up the middle followed by another single from All American Brian Youchak. The Jays show bunt and to combat that the Diplomats go into the wheel play where the first and third baseman charge while the shortstop covers third and the second baseman goes to first. After ball one , the Diplomats try to fake the wheel play and pick off the pinch runner at second but the throw goes into centerfield and the runners advance to second and third. Coach Taylor opts to load the bases and we bring the infield in. McCreary breaks off a curve to get ahead of the Blue Jays hitter, all of whom have spent the day looking for a first pitch fastball. A fast ball away is driven right to first base on a line and JT grabs it and we have one out. McCreary then starts off Zach Small with a curve for swinging strike, and then fires a fastball for strike 2. Brendan tries a curve away to temp Small but it is just wide for a ball. He tries again but it is ball 2. He tries a 3rd time and again just away so now it is 3-2. McCreary, who grew up in Maryland and has been itching to pitch against the Hopkins team for two years takes a deep breath. Brendan’s style is one of hustle and work. This kid sprints to the mound to start the inning and pitches aggressively and quickly. Inside sources report he is a very hard worker and you can’t help but root for him .Now ,Everyone in the park knows what is coming with the count at 3-2 .One thousand eyes are on him and watch him inhale while they hold their breathe. He is going to throw his best pitch a fastball regards that we all know it . This is man on man at its best. Man this is exciting .He fires in an overhand fastball and Small swings and misses for strike three. The Diplomat crowd roars its approval and delight. We have two down now. Everyone is on their feet with apprehension in the air. The game is down to the last hitter. We need one more out.

Everyone is taking in the moment which is alive with tension. There are so many things that can happen and the game will be decided right here. Brendan goes with his fastball, Hopkins catcher John Swarr sends a line drive to right field. A seemingly routine play for Shea and in the split second the ball is on its’ the way Diplomats fans think the game is over. But the ball is not caught as it brushes Shea’s glove and rolls behind him. A stunned Diplomat crowd watches in horror as the ball is on the ground rolling behind Shea. Two runs score and Hopkins players end up in a dog pile celebrating like they just the won the NBA title Diplomat parents and players stare out at the field with the game over and the players trudging in. Shea begins the longest walk of his short life back to the dugout. Diplomat parents and players are now in a daze as they go from exhilaration to despair in a split second and now the game is over. We are like plane crash survivors astonished at the reality around them wondering what to do. The game everyone worked so hard to win our “Hearts and Minds” were in this beating Hopkins ….and it was there for us. Shea makes that catch 999 times out of 1000 but today is the day the Black Swan flies into our world

No one is saying a word. Everyone is numb. When Andrew Hanson walks over to Shea, he taps him gently with his glove as he says “Hey we have 4 more to win and we need you”. John Dutton hugs Shea and tells him “we would not be here without you –and we need you tomorrow”. John Dutton’s Mom ,Sue , perilously close to triggering a violation of the famous rule “there’s no crying in baseball” hugs Shea and affirms her belief in him and the team “ You will win tomorrow ,I know it, I know it ” she offers between “near” tears “I have faith in you” she continues as she consoles Shea.

There are a lot of feelings witnesses to an event like this can have especially those who have an emotional stake in the outcome. But the dominant feeling in the moment was one of compassion not anger. All of the parents had only seen Shea catch everything in right field for as long as they had been there. No errors in four years, three of which were as a starter but now they were as shocked as I am sure Shea was but they were on his side and shared his disappointment.

Everyone there will remember this game and that moment. It is one of those moments that if you were there you were stunned with the unexpected split second reversal of fortune.

Eventually ritual takes over and the players began to gather their belongings and the parents and fans started to leave.

Coach Taylor seizes the moment and tells his players—“If you don’t think we can win four in a row …. Don’t get on the bus with us.”

Taylor realizes they have done just about everything they wanted to do down here. They proved they can play with Hopkins and more …they proved they could compete and rise up when the competition was stiffest and the prognosis the grimmest. They came from three down in the 9th against the Hopkins ace. It is a realization that makes him believe they can run off 4 straight.
We took the fight right to them he thinks and –he feels proud of his guys and realize they have taken their game up a notch at the toughest time. The players have come a long way from losing badly in Virginia on the way down to Florida and the journey still has more to go. He knows the team is better now than they were before this game. He has started to look ahead to tomorrow already.

He tells Shea “tomorrow we get it back” indicating that he had confidence in Shea and indeed is a believer in his player and his team .He and Shea have come a long way together. Shea started well with a home run on his first swing at the season opener way back in March at Kean College and then tore his ACL in practice the day before the team left for Florida. Somehow with a brace that would stop a T Rex from moving, Shea was able to come back and play. Taylor is a Shea guy and he is not going to abandon him now
Shea nods and boards the bus for what will seem like a very long ride.

Matt Will boards the bus and looks at his Dad and said confidently “We are all right... we’ll be fine” The parents know our Diplomat version of Jack Bauer will find a way.

The healing has started.

The following takes place
Between 7:00PM and 8:00 PM

Players rode back on the bus. They are headed to Collegeville. Pa, the home of Ursinus the host team in the playoffs, where a 9 AM start against Haverford awaited. Parents walked slowly to cars and feel no appetite for dinner as they absorbed the “near win” experience.

The following takes place
Between 8:00PM and 9:00 AM

No one ate anything. No one slept a wink. Everyone tossed and turned and grew angry with the baseball gods. Why Him? Why Us? We all asked. What beef can the baseball gods have with a kid playing on one leg? Resigned we figured, let’s see what tomorrow brings as fortunately there is a tomorrow-maybe we will get some answers then.

The following takes place
Between 9:00AM and 12:00 PM


After falling behind at the outset, F&M built a 5-1 lead through five innings. On the back of senior Brad Andres’ overpowering pitching but teams making conference playoffs are not just playing out the innings. Haverford came back to tie in the 6th. In the eighth, the Fords took the lead and added an insurance run in the top of the ninth taking a 7-5 lead to the bottom of the ninth. Matt Will, who is never going to quit battling, led off with a single. After an out, Shea came to the plate The Hopkins game was clearly in view if he were looking at his rear view mirror but Shea was looking ahead. Your faithful correspondent pondered this could be his last college at bat but Shea was thinking about hitting .One for two on the day with a walk, Haverford had started him off with a change up every at bat . As he was looking fast ball each time he had taken the first pitch for a strike. “I am gonna look change this time and rip it” he thought as he advanced to the plate.

The Haverford pitcher Stefan Pappius-Lefe assumed he would stay with what worked and threw in his change up again.

Shea read it and rip it he did. You can see it here: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdadPSma6fM)

As the ball sailed far beyond the fence everyone shouted in joy and exhilaration. Even the baseball gods stood and cheered. The stunned disbelief of yesterday was overcome with equally stunning turn of events of today. Sue Dutton just blatantly ignored “there is no crying in baseball” law and hugged everyone around her. Trotting around the bases, Shea felt a bit of exhilaration himself.

I must offer that your faithful correspondent enjoyed the moment as well.

Tied after 9 the game sailed to the bottom of the 11th. With Nick Rolnick at bat and Andrew Hanson on third and Shea on first, Haverford uncorked a wild pitch allowing Andrew to score. The Diplomat Nation shouted in exhilaration yet again and we move on to play the losers of the Ursinus–Hopkins game in an elimination game. The winners would play for the championship.

The following takes place
Between 1:00PM and 4:00PM

Hopkins and Ursinus are scoreless after 5 innings but Hopkins puts up 3 runs in the 6th and 6 runs in the seventh to win easily

The following takes place
Between 4:00PM and 5:00PM


Sophomore Mike Duranti has the ball and a brings with him the determination of the Tenzing Norgay & Sir Edmund Percival Hillary of New Zealand who were the first to climb the summit at Mount Everest. Duranti has his best stuff and facing the top seed we are tied at 2 after 3innings. In the bottom of the 4th, Andrew bunts his way on. Shea up next sees the third baseman playing way back and drops a drag bunt to third for a single moving Andrew to second. It is his first bunt in two years and will be his last. Andrew and Shea each steal and with Nick Rolnick singling to center Shea rounds third but is held up. Playing with a torn ACL offers little room for pivoting and none for stopping short even wearing the brace from the Jurassic era. Shea tries to stop but his knee goes and down he goes like he was shot. He makes an effort to crawl back but it is too much and he lies in pain. Ursinus gently tags him out while he is writhing there while classmate and likely lifetime friend John Dutton sprints out to help him Dutton picks Shea up and carries him to the bench as Sue Dutton caves in again to the urge to cry . Shea pauses at the dugout to acknowledge the crowd concerns and shrugs figuring this were a risk he took on when he started the effort to play with a torn ACL and now he had to pay up.

Duranti dominates the rest of the way offering Ursinus nothing but nasty stuff and the Diplomats cruise to a 7-2 win and head for a Sunday showdown with Hopkins


The Championship Game Cancelled

Rain cancelled the next day’s battle and more rain on Monday cancelled the championship. By rules of the conference Hopkins as the highest remaining seed was awarded the championship. Nothing anybody can do but accept the decree.




Reflections

Shea seems to be able to walk but will need surgery to replace his torn ACL. It seems the rainouts and the intensity of this weekend has created a time for reflection. The four years at F and M has been a remarkably delightful run for Shea and for your faithful correspondent. As a freshman he was on the team with terrific players named Gary Kruger, Ted Serro, Jeremy Knox, Eric Milovsky and Corey Carruthers each of then All conference players. Shea saw very little playing time that season but was determined to be a player of that caliber and dedicated himself to being one. He had speed and an arm but needed to be stronger to drive the ball and play well at this level so weights became part of his daily regimen .As soon the strength came the ball was jumping off his bat as well. As a sophomore he earned the right field job and I was thrilled to see him work this hard and enjoy competing But his junior year saw him exploding to a new level of performance. He was named All Conference after hitting over 400 with power and playing great defense . He worked hard over the off season to have his best season ever as a senior. His first swing as a senior was a home run and it seemed this season would be a magical mystery tour. But tearing the ACL the day before the Florida trip seemed to foreclose the season and shut him down. But he found a way to continue to play and gave his best this season. It was always a thrill for me to watch him. A parent’s job is to get his child ready to be an adult. And being an adult often means dealing with adversity. But an adult often acts to insulate his child from adversity and tries to protect the child. But fate or destiny interferes and things happen like a torn ACL to a senior athlete. But Shea dealt with at and found a way to overcome it -a lesson he had to learn himself as parents can’t teach a child to bounce off the mat and get up and give it your best .The child has to learn how to jump up after being knocked down and go in for more. Kipling offered one requirement to becoming a man was to “meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same”.

That freshman year seems like last week to me and only this years seniors are even aware of the guys I mentioned above. There is no institutional memory of that team after these seniors graduate. And in no time at all this years freshman will be graduating and no one will be there who remembers Shea except for Coach Taylor.

And when Coach Taylor gets another player who has a rough moment he can tell him a story about a player he had his first year as coach. The player who got up off the mat to play with a torn ACL and then when he got knocked down again he answered with a home run in the bottom of the ninth...

Yes Sue Dutton is right there is crying in baseball

2009 Centennial Conference Playoff Preview or "P-Day"

John Steinbeck traveled the country with his poodle, Charley, and wrote about his interactions with every day Americans along with his observations about the country and its people in his 1960 book “Travels with Charley”. Steinbeck in large measure was disappointed with what he observed but he was not heading to see a baseball game which makes all the difference. By contrast, I was driving from Connecticut to see your Fighting Diplomats with my dog Summy (“Summer” when addressed formally) play against the Fords of Haverford College in Pennsylvania. My travels with Summy, a beautiful young puggle, would take me through New York City and the stretch in New Jersey where the massive refineries display industrial might while serving as a poster for the industrial age In America I offered to Summy that we were traveling through the economic history of the country as we navigated through the Big Apple with its manifestation of the Information Economy as stocks ,bonds, options, futures and resources are moved with the stroke of a keyboard based on models comprised of invisible bits and bytes. Even baseball players are evaluated here using models to project their future contributions. We continued on through Jersey and the symbols of the industrial age and we were heading to Lancaster Pa after driving through miles of rolling farms of the Amish where the agrarian economy still flourishes. As we headed south to Haverford I concurred with Summy that although the economy and thus our daily lives as Americans had changed over the past hundred and fifty years or so-- there was one constant through all these stages of evolution -baseball. And we can count on one thing that we have learned from the esteemed philosopher Yogi Berra who taught us that good pitching always beats good hitting. and vice versa.
Arriving in Haverford for the second game this week between the Fords and Diplomats, I learned that the first game had become contentious. It seems a Haverford player had crashed into the Diplomat catcher with perhaps a bit too much enthusiasm e near the conclusion of the game that had been pretty much already decided. And a subsequent pitch to a Ford was deemed “too close” and a “bench clearing chat” ensued. As Haverford was founded by Quakers I am struggling to ponder what counts as trash talk for Quakers—what does Quaker trash talk sound like?… do they use the conjunctive tense erroneously? Well anyway it appeared Summy and I were in store for a game with a little extra intensity.
The Diplomats jumped out quickly on a 2 run home run by Bill Murray and Shea added a homer of his own ( see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpCpuJHTSBA and the Diplomats cruised to an easy 6-2 win and no further bench clearing discussions were held .
After the game as Summy and I drove through the farms of the Amish on the way to Lancaster it seemed as if the past 100 years of economic evolution had not made an impact on the life there. Horses were stilling pulling plows in the field and people were furiously doing chores as the sun gently set on the fertile land. It was a gorgeous ride through these farms which had just turned green. Baseball had its origins in fields just like these I mentioned to Summy, who agreed it was beautiful As Summy and I settled in for the night in Lancaster, we knew the next day was forecast to be a bright sunny spring day .and a great day as we were going to see a doubleheader against Swarthmore.
Your Fighting Diplomats had been forced to jam a lot of games in a tight schedule due to rainouts. Their game vs. the Messiah Falcons was cancelled to handle the conference schedule. This was much to my dismay as I had been eagerly waiting to anoint them with a new nickname. (Suggested by helpful reader Andy Bohjalian)

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you,……………Your 2009 Messiah Complex!

And there is more! We could have discussed the Messiah closer—who would not want the job of getting saves for Messiah! Alas, we were rained out (btw when was the last time you said the word “Alas” out loud?—I think it is time to bring it back and we ought to pronounce it with an English accent a lass!)
Anyway, please for give that little digression. Your Fighting Diplomats swept the Garnet of Swarthmore on the basis of a game winning base hit by Andrew Hanson seen here:(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwdLZVNAbRM&feature=channel_page
And the fine shutout pitching of sophomore Brendan McCreary shown here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX40CKnk9Xs&feature=channel
Shea had a fine day as well adding a triple shown here along with 3 other hits on the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG7uArf8IgI&feature=channel

Next up was a doubleheader with the Diplomats hosting the vaunted Blue Jays of Johns Hopkins. This day did not turn out as well as the Diplomats were swept. Adding to this disappointment is long time reader’s recall, is that last year the Blue Jays beat the Fighting Diplomats for the conference title. The 2008 Blue Jays went on to come within one strike of winning the Division 3 title so they were indeed a top quality team In short, this day was not the finest moment of the season but as we get to discussing the playoffs, the Fighting Diplomats will have a chance to go head to head with this rival and jump over this big hurdle.
Going into the final week of the season the Diplomats beat York College handily and then journeyed to Westminster Md. to face the Green Terror of McDaniel in their final conference games. The Diplomats took care of business including 7 RBI’s on the day by Shea with a 3 run HR and this bases loaded double seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGG42dydQ3s

Brendan McCreary continued his fine work and closed out game 1 with this strikeout: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUycN8Niupo&feature=channel_page

The last scheduled game took place yesterday at Stevenson College in Maryland. Tied at 4 in the ninth with 2 out and a runner on second ,Shea banged a double off the wall in left to drive in the gamer and was knocked in himself by Nick Rolnick to cement a 6-4 win . Thus going into the playoffs we are on a 4 game win streak and 7 of the last 9. Diplomat nation has good reason to be encouraged and hopeful.
The Fighting Diplomats are the #3 seed and play their first game at Johns Hopkins on Friday while Number 1 seed Ursinus hosts # 4 seed Haverford. The winners play Saturday and the losers play Saturday knocking out a team in the double elimination tourney. The team 2-0 coasts into Sunday while the teams with 1 loss battle it out for that makes it to Sunday where the winner of the loser’s bracket game will need to win twice against the 2-0 team.

But this is no ordinary game for the Fighting Diplomats as they now have a brief but awkward history with the Blue Jays losing handily the last 5 times they have played. The Blue Jays nickname fits the Johns Hopkins persona as they are cocky, loud and confident players bordering on arrogance. To their credit they back it up and are indeed a formidable foe. When the Diplomats arrive (Invade?)there are likely to be 50 Hopkins players dressed in their blue and white making a lot of noise.
The impressive Hopkins offense is led by Todd Emr who is a 5th year senior. Todd graduated last year but not finding employment he enrolled in graduate school at JHU and as he had taken a redshirt year his freshman year he is still eligible to play baseball this year. Todd is in fact a terrific hitter and has demonstrated this time for the past several years winning conference player of the year this season. This playoff game however will hear your faithful correspondent offering some comments about this situation while he patrols 3rd. Comments like “Hey Todd, why cant you graduate and not get a job like the rest of the seniors in college?” yeah it is goona be tough out there….
But as we approach “P-Day” I think there are parallels to be made with another big invasion back in 1944. Readers likely aware that Field Marshall Erwin Rommel was handed the responsibility to defend the French coast against the Allied invasion that everyone expected. Touring his troops, Rommel was discouraged to learn a majority of his soldiers were mostly POW’s or refugees from Russia. Rommel observed these refugees were hardly willing to die for Germany. These men were simply relieved to not be freezing and starving in a prison camp in Siberia. Rommel knew he did not have their hearts and minds committed to winning. To compensate, Rommel wanted to use technology and lace the shores with land mines and the waters with bombs to prevent the landings. Debates and arguments with other German commanders put him at odds with the ones who argued against him to let the Allied invasion land and then attack. Mobility and attack where they land they argued against Rommel. Rommel knew if the Allies got a beachhead they would never be removed and the war, which he already had serious doubts about, would be lost. Rommel needed the men to care deeply and he knew they were not up to the task. Additionally he did not know where the invasion would occur. Although we know now the Normandy beaches were the focus of the invasion, British intelligence has used spies and other means to help convince the German High command the invasion was to come at the closest point across the English Channel, Calais, a long way from the beaches-too far to move the troops in a timely enough fashion to thwart the invasion.

Across the English Channel General Eisenhower was spending long days organizing logistics and plans to direct the largest invasion in the history of man. Daily conflicts with his co invasion force the British made this job even more difficult as Churchill had long advocated an attack from the Balkans. Finally on May15, 1944 a meeting at St.Paul’s school at Hammersmith, London occurred where the complete invasion plans for Operation Overlord were revealed to all the senior commanders and Churchill ended the meeting with a nod to Eisenhower, and a sentence : “I am hardening toward this enterprise”. What it meant was that after all the rancor and disagreements there was only one goal now… one purpose… to devote themselves fully to the success of Operation Overlord. Eisenhower had their hearts and minds.
General Omar Bradley quipped “In war, there are no runner ups”.
Noted French manager Napoleon, who was known to love the spotlight playoff action, opined that “Glory may be fleeting, but obscurity is forever”

And that brings us to where we are now: Your Fighting Diplomats are invading the Blue Jays down in Baltimore.

Last year I wrote a story about my high school coach and how he focused on preparing players mentally. “My job is to get the players to play with unconscious confidence” he would say. His view was that practice helped the body “know what it had to do” and the mind just had to allow it to happen. “Trust your arm” he used to say. “It knows what to do.” He was also a white guy who could dance if that offers any further insight into him.



Just like Eisenhower had the hearts and mind committed to his goal so must our Fighting Diplomats. This journey actually began last year in this same tournament, on the very same field we are invading Friday. After the loss last year, despondent players committed themselves to get better. Hours of weight lifting were endured. They worked for hours hitting, throwing, running, and playing when tired or hurt. A huge effort to perform at one’s best was undertaken by these fine young men going in Homewood Park. New Coach Adam Taylor worked right alongside the players and helped them build a belief in themselves. Taylor has reinforced the player’s belief that they can perform as we witness the many fine moments during this journey, in the field, on the mound at the plate and on the base paths.

My high school coach would tell players “you have it in you …now just let it happen. Today is the day all that work is going to play off –you are entitled to play well- you have earned the right to expect it --today will be your best day against our toughest opponent. I expect everyone to play their best game this season- I know you have it in you”. This is also how Taylor has approached this battle. The Diplomats have a chance to face the bully in the bully’s backyard. Now is the time to show tenacity and determination. Not everyone has a chance to face up to a demon and conquer it –we at Diplomat nation welcome the opportunity. And players love playing in a game like this –each pitch seemingly has an impact on the outcome of the game and each play is a chance to direct the outcome in your favor -what a great game to experience!
Our coach is a man who is coaching the hearts and minds along with the arms and legs.
Coach Taylor has gotten his players to believe. He has their hearts and minds and the players will be ready to invade Hopkins and play their best. And now we approach the game. I think our guys have it them to win. They surely have had many great moments and plays over the course of the journey of this season. Every player has found a way to contribute. When they take the field they know in their hearts and minds they are going to win and they will do it.

Several summers ago, my family I and took some vacation time at Normandy and we went to Omaha beach. The beach was very tranquil with sea gulls flying overhead, a child with a kite ran along shore and the waves were gently lapping at the shore. We have all seen movies about the attack at Omaha Beach most notably the opening scene from "Saving Private Ryan”. But try as you might, when you are there it is so peaceful it is hard to imagine the carnage that took place there at dawn on June 6, 1994. But as your eyes gaze up the hill you still can see bunkers and reinforced concrete shelters where soldiers protected themselves while firing on the invaders. Then when you reach the summit over the hill are the graveyards where thousands of crosses adorn the graves of those brave soldiers who gave their life that day. It is a very solemn place. And you see the inscriptions of these soldiers most of whom were 18, or 19, or 20 and you realize you are indeed on sacred ground. Then you silently thank them for their sacrifice that has contributed to our nations safety and well being And you ponder today that our young men will have the privilege of playing a game tomorrow that they can put in all the hearts and minds and bodies can give—but without the risk of a violent death. Yes we are blessed to be part of this country with men who gave their lives for us.
Now ----Let's play ball!



-Your faithful correspondent

A Team of Destiny: 2009 Battle at Gettysburg

Some historians suggest that history repeats itself, but Mark Twain offered the argument that history rhymes. While watching the April 10^th game where the Gettysburg Bullets hosted Your Fighting Diplomats, I was astounded by the uncanny resemblance to the Confederate army and its fate with that of the Gettysburg team. Additionally, the Northern Army and the Fighting Diplomats have an eerie similarity as well

The Beginning

July 1, 1863: Elements of the two armies collide on Oak Hill Ridge during the early morning hours. The fighting escalates during the day as more Union and Confederate troops reach the field. By 4pm the defeating Union troops are defeated and retreat through Pennsylvania College (now Gettysburg College) and directly over what is now the baseball field and into town where many are captured. The remnants of the Union army rally however at Culp’s Hill and at higher ground at Cemetery Hill with General Hancock in command. General Lee would later regret not pursuing the Union Troops once he had them on the run. Some historians regard to failure to attack the Union at Cemetery Hill to be the Confederates greatest missed opportunity.

April 10, 2009. With the game being played in the shadows of Oak Hill Ridge where Diplomat fans standing along the first base line can see directly the monuments commemorating the battle, the Fighting Diplomats strike first with a run in the first but the Bullets strike back immediately. Taking the mound for the Fighting Diplomats was Mike Duranti, a switch from a different expected starter that observers would compare to President Lincoln changing command of the Union Army from Major General Hooker to Major General Meade. Duranti ran into problems almost immediately giving up 4 hits to the first five batters and the aptly named Bullets of Gettysburg took a 2-1 lead. In the second inning, 4 more hits and an error padded the Bullets lead to 5-1. The Fighting Diplomats showed some life when freshman catcher Blue Wells ripped a line drive over the left field fence toward Oak Ridge Hill to cut the Bullet lead to 5-2. In the bottom half of the third the Bullets continued their assault with two more hits and an error and expanded the lead to 6-2. However the Bullets left three men on in their half of the third -a failure that Gettysburg coach John Campo would later regret. Bullet observers would later regard the failure to break the game open in the third would be the Bullets greatest missed opportunity.

The Middle

July 2, 1863 The main strength of both armies has arrived by the morning hours. General Lee lodges an attack against Meade’s left and right in an attempt to displace Meade’s army from its strong position. Longstreet’s assault against the Union left makes good progress but is eventually checked by Federal reinforcements. On the Union right, Ewell’s confederate troops are able to seize part of Culp’s hill but elsewhere are repulsed. It was on this day that the 20th Maine volunteer infantry exhibited extraordinary courage in battle. Under heavy attack for hours by the Confederate 15th of Alabama regiment led by General Hood on a ridge called Little Round Top, the Maine regiment ran out of ammunition. Led by Joshua Chamberlain, they ran downhill charging the confederates with fixed bayonets … routing the Confederates.

April 10, 2009 Mike Duranti returns to form and starts to mow down the Bullets while the Diplomats threaten and manage to score two runs narrowing the Bullets lead to 6-4 entering the 7^thinning. Coach Taylor calls in reinforcements and Brendan McCreary comes in for Duranti and shuts down the Bullets in two innings with his fastball and curve. (See Brendan get a called strike 3 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFlZm8f0J7M )

The Ending

July 3, 1863 While Ewell renews his efforts to seize Culp’s hill. Lee turns his main attention to the union center. Preceded by a two hour artillery bombardment approximately 12,000 Confederate infantry attempt to break the Federal lines at Cemetery Ridge. Despite extraordinary courage, the attack later called Pickett’s charge is repulsed with heavy losses. East of Gettysburg, Lee’s cavalry is also checked in a large cavalry battle. Crippled by heavy casualties, Lee can no longer continue the battle and begins to withdraw to Virginia. Below is an artist version of Pickett’s charge.

April 10^th 2009 At the end of the 8^th inning, coming off the field Coach Taylor calls his team together to address his troops at Gettysburg:

“Four innings and 5 runs ago, our players brought forth upon this field a new determination, conceived in defense and dedicated to the proposition of scoring runs to make the game equal.

Now were engaged in a great tight game, testing whether our team or any conference team can thrive”.

The Fighting Diplomats understood this “address” to be motivational as well as a bit of a stretch on of the Civil War metaphor your faithful correspondent has been portraying. And we head to the 9th down 2 runs:

We quickly give up two outs and have Matt Will on second with Shea at the plate. Not wanting to give Shea a fastball they toss a slow curve at his back and the ball nestles snugly between his shoulder blade putting the tying run on first and Jason Anderson striding to the plate for his date with destiny. Jason responds like Joshua Chamberlain down to his last bayonet. Jason drives a shot to right center that scores Matt Will and brings Shea in scoring position. The Bullets make a pitching change just like General Lee shifting his resources on his final day. A new pitcher, Mike Sweeney comes in to face junior Nick Rolnick. Coach Taylor insets speedy Drew Atkins to run for Jason. Nick responds with a base hit on the first pitch scoring Shea and we are tied!!!. The tide has turned. Much like the North who needed three days to assert themselves the Fighting Diplomats have come alive at just the right time. Bill Murray now faces Sweeney with a chance to put the Diplomats ahead. Bill, too, takes a page from the 20^th Maine regiment and drives a base hit scoring Drew Atkins and we have the lead ! —all this with 2 outs. Sweeney gets the third out and Gettysburg comes in for their last at bat trailing now for the first time in the game. As you read above, the Confederates lined up 12,000 soldiers who demonstrated the most extraordinary courage in an effort to change the course of their fate and so it would be with the Gettysburg Bullets. They can only be respected as a team that will fight to the end. They get a misplayed fly ball and a short throw on an infield grounder to put runners on first and third for the Bullets with two outs. As Bullet outfielder Drew Roy strode to the plate onlookers began to ponder the courage of Confederate Brig. Gen. Lewis A Armistead. His brigade made the deepest penetration of the Northern defense during Pickett’s charge and achieved the " High Water mark of the Conferacy", arguably representing the closest the South ever came to its goal of achieving independence from the Union via military victory. And Drew Roy’s at bat would mark the closest the Bullets would be for victory over the Fighting Diplomats. Drew responded with a base hit and tied the score and added a nod to acknowledgement for General Armistead as he rounded first tying the game. McCreary would get the next out and we go to the 10^thinning.

The Diplomats got a runner to third on the basis of Blue Well’s sharp single to center but failed to score. Coach Taylor made another substation bring in closer Chris Miller to handle the Bullets. Miller took the mound with the game on the line and was told by Coach Taylor to “trust your stuff” as “you have what it takes to get these guys out”.

Chris throws with an unorthodox angle and is tough to hit against and took the Bullets 1-2-3 bringing us to the 11^{th inning ...} Shea leading off.

^{The baseball gods have been watching intently and observed the first pitch hit Shea. The baseball gods hate walking a leadoff hitter about as much as anything and rank hitting the guy right behind that in their hierarchy of sins. Observers of the baseball gods as much as expected them to usher Shea around to score. Drew Atkins was next and dropped a beautiful sacrifice down putting Shea in scoring position with one our. A ground out to third brought up Bill Murray with his second chance at knocking in the go ahead run. And succeed he does as Bill drives a single to center scoring Shea and we lead 8-7 after 10 and half innings.}

Chris Miller takes the ball the 11^th and shuts down the Bullets and the Fighting Diplomats go home a winner as the Bullets trudge off the field.

Epilogue

July 4, 1863 The two armies observed one another on July 4^th but the fighting has essentially stopped and Lee and his troops walked back to Virginia. The chances for the Confederacy were basically deemed all but over and Vicksburg fell the same day. Confederate bonds dropped precipitously in price when word of the loss reached Europe. Many soldiers must have wondered about their fates as they trudged home. Why would the randomness of battle select some soldiers but not others? Surviving soldiers must have speculated about their destiny to survive such battles perhaps inferring they survived to serve some greater purpose.

April 11^th, 2009 After winning two games coming from behind, the Fighting Diplomats were eager to play against Johns Hopkins. But rain forced a postponement as players began to wonder if this 2009 team were indeed a special team of destiny. Many players are finding ways to contribute and everyone is playing with confidence. The team is seeing the result of their year long efforts manifest itself on the field with clutch hits and great defensive plays. And when the team finds ways to win, even when the circumstances are grim they are indeed on the magical mystery tour and headed to a brighter destiny.

Forging a Team Identity

Your Fighting Diplomats returned home from Florida not quite sure of their identity. Games vs Denison where the team hit and pitched very well, were offset by losing to the Rhodes Scholars in a game that could have been won with better pitching and defense. The team was groping in part because of the loss of senior leadership in the field as sure handed shortstop Andrew Hanson was out with an injury to his quadriceps and Shea was out with a ripped ACL. But a baseball field is a tough place to find out who you are as the game demands players to play with confidence. Any doubt that seeps into players head spreads like an Ebola infection and the downward spiral we have all seen starts to create havoc and losses. But while Coach Taylor has not been seen singing the old Beatles hit "While my self doubt gently seeps" he has been focusing on helping the team evolve. Would it be a team that pitches well, make every play in the field and drives the ball? Or would it be team that gives the opponents numerous chances to score and fail to get the hit when needed. These questions would be answered as Your 2009 Fighting Diplomats entered conference play.

The first week of conference play began with two wins vs Washington ( Md) Shoreman. The Shoreman are traditionally weak in baseball but they do count Linda Hamilton (the actress in The Terminator) among their graduates. Arnold seemed to be on their side as the Shoreman battled hard and had the lead after 6 innings in game one but the Fighting Diplomats showed some grit coming back in the 7th to earn a win. Sophomore second baseman Matt Will gave a preview of good things to come with some big plays in the field and Andrew returned to play SS and contributed a key hit.

They say nature abhors a vacuum and it seems the leadership is evolving as Matt Will battles every at bat and drives the ball regularly. The game offers players a chance to reach out and grab the baton and so far Will is showing that he can lead as he sets the table and scores and does a great job in the field. The energetic pace set by Will gives the team confidence and he is giving the team the sense that when he is up to hit good things will happen. Sometimes one players helps the other players believe in themselves as they see Will surely believes he is going to get the job done one way or another.

Next up is Dickinson College . The college was named after John Dickinson, a signer of the Constitution (not Emily Dickinson who labored in Amherst, Mass and pretty much brooded her whole life) .Dickinson alumni include the actor Stuart Pankin who is known more for comedy and game show appearances but has sometimes taken dramatic roles such as Michael Douglas' friend Jimmy , who attempts to hit on Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. ( in case you have not seen Fatal Attraction after Glenn Close is spurned by Michael she decides to put a bunny in a pot of hot water as she tries to whack Michael). All in all, taking a run at Glenn Close does not warrant the good judgement award. The Dickinson Admissions staff though was smart enough to bring in a tough left hander and with his help the Devils and Diplomats split a doubleheader. Hopefully, the admissions staff does not admit any Glenn Close types or at least have the sense to keep the bunnies away from campus. In fact, I just learned the Aussies have a slang for a crazy woman

"A bunny boiler".When I am asked for advice in the mate selection process ( which is quite rare I may add) I tend to discourage picking the ones that toss bunnies in the pot. Cheerfulness, athleticism and sense of humor are characteristics with more staying power.

With a 3-1 conference record the Diplomats receives a visit from their neighbor in Reading, Pa the Albright Lions. Readers know I have taken up a mission to get the school to rename the team the "Albright Ideas" and must report the idea is getting some traction. While in Florida, the Ideas were staying at the same hotel and when I suggested the new name the concept was heartily embraced--sometimes an Idea is just right! The Diplomats opened up a 10-2 lead but soon found themselves down 16-10. In the bottom of the ninth they rallied for 6 runs and with runners on second and third, still only one out the rains came and washed out any further play leaving the game as a 16-16 tie. In general, if you score 16 you would hope you win but this score shows the vulnerability of a team that has not yet jelled.

With four conference games on tap the Ursinus Bears ( how about naming them the "Ursinus Infections" offered engaged reader Andy Bohjalian) . The parents of writer John Updike are graduates of Ursinus which is somewhat interesting since Updike included marital infidelity as a major theme in his works. The Bears sent out their top pitcher Zeb Engle to face the Diplomat and his performance warranted his reputation as one of the best conference pitchers. Zeb has been watched closely this season by pro scouts and he did not disappoint them . Zeb shut out the Diplomats leaving the Diplomat 3-2 in the conference play with the playoffs looking dimmer.

Your Fighting Diplomats now have their back against the wall. Travelling to Muhlenburg, to face the Mules, ( another nickname born from alliteration), a playoff team last season who are paced by Christian Conti, last seasons' conference MVP. The Diplomats are already in a Must Win situation.

In every aspect of life, circumstances breed the seeds of their own reversal. For example, high oil prices create conservatism and new exploration leading to lower oil prices. Low oil prices breed actions to consume oil and thus higher oil prices. And so it is with athletes. The coach's role is to help foster these reversals in a positive manner. The pitchers have been the prime focus and getting them to throw more strikes and pitch ahead in the count was seen as the key to improving the defense. With the defense playing better the hitters can relax and not be chasing 5 runs all the time. And my inside source reports that a lot of attention has been focused to get the pitching on track. With the earlier struggles, the players are very focused and working hard on improving and hence the seeds of the reversal are planted within.

And on a blustery, cold day at Muhlenburg the Diplomats came out quickly --a lead off home run by Matt Will to take a lead they would not relinquish all day. Mike Duranti pitched very well giving up a few hits but no walks. he was always ahead int he count and dominated the game. The defense was much better making all the plays (Andrew had two DP's himself) and the game evolved with the Diplomats playing at their best level. Conti was injured and never a factor as he limped through a few at bats. This game also marked the return of Shea to the lineup. Wearing a brace that would stop a T-Rex, Shea appeared to be able to move well enough and contributed three hits over the day and displayed comfort in right field. The whole team though conducted themselves with confidence. Hitters took aggressive cuts, fielders threw to the right base and the pitchers threw strikes and got hitters off balance. After winning game 1, 8-3 the Diplomats took an early 2-0 lead behind senior starter Brad Andres. In the bottom of the second, chasing two and getting a lead- off walk, the Mules chose to bunt the runner over, giving up an out. The Dips took the out but the baseball gods were heard to kick over the stool at this move. On a day where the ball is flying around, you have an average pitcher on the mound(at best) and you give up an out when you are likely to need about 10 runs to win is just bad baseball. From thereon, the gods piled it on as they were angry with Muhlenburg and late in the game it was 14-1 as the sweep was in play.

Returning home, the Diplomats began to show some laughter and good cheer as they were building confidence in themselves, believing they can win now. "This is how we can play" they seemed to be discovering for themselves to themselves. And they would get a test right away with the Ursinus Bears back in town to play a make up game. Once again , Your Fighting Diplomats would get a great pitching performance - 3 in a row now as senior Matt Metsch gave up only 1 run in a 6-1 victory. Jason Anderson knocked in 4 with two clutch singles while the bases were loaded. Shea manifested his delight at retruning to action with two doubles and two walks. When you are winning you can't get to the next game fast enough. As luck would have it, Your Fighting Diplomats play again tomorrow hosting the Gettysburg Bullets.

This is a very important week as they play the Bullets and then on Saturday a doubleheader against the vaunted Blue Jays of John Hopkins. But this time the game is in Lancaster and with the wind blowing in and the deep fences the Hopkins power is not as evident as in their bandbox in Baltimore where is 300 feet to the right field fence. The diplomats starters are eager for a test against Hopkins. But we can't look too far ahead as the Bullets are formidable in their own right and pose a legitimate threat to be in the playoffs. But the Fighting Diplomats seemed to have discovered themselves and are on the Magical Mystery tour now at just the right time.

I shall report this weeks game in earnest and with hopes for a great week

--Your faithful correspondent

Pennsylvania Gators, Pilleated Woodpeckers and Yogi

The second day of Florida action pitted your Fighting Diplomats against the Owls of Westfield ( Ma) State. The Owls were the Mass State School Conference champs ( Worcester State, Salem State, Fitchburg State etc) the past two years and featured a team of look- a- likes. It seemed they were all the same dimensions around 5’10” 175 pounds. And had dark hair. It was as if we played a team of brothers but there were 30 of them about the same age. I was tempted to ask an Owl player if they were all brothers or if they just shopped together. To make matters more complicated, the Fighting Diplomats were featuring their dark blue top while pants ensemble and the Owls featured the exact same look. You gotta love D-3 baseball.

The day started poorly for our Fighting Diplomats as we gave up a quick 5 run lead on some early sloppy play. Undaunted the Diplomats battled back to within 2 runs when senior Catcher John Dutton came to the plate with two on and two out in the 7th. There are three good catchers competing for the job—and there are reasons to like each of them for the job. As preface to this at bat, John homered in his starting debut against Elizabethtown. Now John had a chance to show something in the clutch . And show he did- with a blast to the deepest part of center field off the top of the fence 400 feet away. As John skipped into second base Coach Taylor sent out a pinch runner to try and grab the lead on a single.
The baseball gods were engaged now peering intently at the action with the score tied and the lead runner at second with one out. Baseball games are decided in moments like this. As our runner took his lead, a bloop single headed out over the shortstops head. But out runner did not read it as a single and held second before advancing to third after it dropped in. Your faithful correspondent looked up at the heavens and hoped the gods did not notice the baserunning mistake. But hoping for the baseball Gods to pass on a mental error at a crucial point in the game is not a good survival strategy. The next pitch-a grounder to shortstop.. step on the bag for one and over to first- inning over. The Gods gave it exactly one pitch before they administered their cruel justice. Sort of like a jury that comes back with a verdict after 12 seconds. The baseball mavens who only look at stats will have missed a crucial element. A good player would have scored and made a difference in the game. But there is no stat in the box score nor even in a mention in the game summary to illumniate this key moment. this is remarkbale for the game of baseball--a key impact on the outcome does not register in the statistics or get mentioned in a game summary yet it made all the difference in the game.
A well pitched inning in relief seemed to appease the baseball gods as the Fighting Diplomats began the bottom of eighth inning with a runner on first and third and one out. A faked safety squeeze however resulted in the runner on first picked off and now we cowered in anticipation of the gods wrath. It did not take long .. in the top of the 9th, as the bases soon loaded with Owls. A pitching change with the sacks jammed and the clean up hitter due up gave us some pause and yet a source of hope. But our hopes were dashed as the first pitch was rocketed out of the park for a grand slam . After the granny, we got a couple runners on in the bottom of the 9th but not enough and we found our selves with our first loss in Florida. In retrospect, we had a chance but we also gave up 5 in the first and did not get a run across in the 8th to take the lead. The baseball gods are really about playing the game right. They believe deeply in merit and their punishments are hopefully enough of a lesson to keep improving. But the baseball gods are not the warmest members of the species and are very unforgiving.

Between games of the double header with the Owls. I wandered to the adjacent field to see a team labeled the Gators take on Messiah from Pa. Curious I asked a Gator fan who the Gators were and was surprised to learn they were the Allegheny (Pa) Alligators. I must have missed a key Animal Plant show as I was completely unaware of the Pennsylvania Alligators. However, the Gator fan assured me there are no alligators in Pa but the trustees seemed to like alligators and went with Alligators because they liked the alliteration. Alliteration? What 's next? The Pittsburgh Pilleated Woodpeckers?? As for Messiah I was rooting to hear they were the Apostles or even more bold " the Sinners" but alas they are the Messiah Falcons. It seemed this was my week for aviary themes as the Diplomats were up next against the Gulls of Endicott.


The games proceeded as we worked our way through the week at about a .500 clip. Most of the good moments were the at bats as the lads came to hit. Oddly, we seemed to be hitting batters at a prolific clip. One of our top pitchers had an unusual line score of 18K's no walks and 9 HBP. and there were quite of few near misses ( or rather "near hits" I never figured out why planes have near misses! aren't they supposed to miss?). On one at bat, our guy hit the batter only to have the ump call the pitch a ball arguing the effort to evade was insufficient. Given this break our guy with the next pitch fired one which found its way into the middle of the hiiters back --sometimes you need to make sure.


As a team we hit a staggering 30 hitters which I imagined must be some sort of record. So I checked the tourney records in Winter Haven, Fla and found that in 1913 a team of Titanic survivors were playing and hit 56 batters. It seems they had a catcher who called a lot of "sinkers" and this made the pitchers nervous and jittery. The pithcers lost control and hit numerous batters with errant pitches and soon had to be ushered off the field muttering to themselves. The papers reported the survivors opted for the cruise ship vacation the next year.


As we neared the end of the week the Fighting Diplomats hosted the Washington and Jefferson Presidents. Now the aplty named "Presidents" ranks with some of the top names and conjured up last years possibilities ( Adrian College "the Yo's" and Chapman College, in California --"the Mark David's"). When you have the Diplomats playing the Presidents you don't expect to get players tossed out of the game.

The catching battle brought out the best in each candidate. Russell Tischler, a sophomore had a game with 6 RBI's and his first HR. "Blue" Wells, the colorful and popular freshman who comes to us from a delightful family of Cubs fans , has made his case to be to be considered a top choice with his hitting and defense. The good news is all three of them can play well and will be big contributors.


After 10 games and a double header, the lads decided to take in a D1 game and we all watched Ohio Sate play Indiana. Indiana features a catcher named Josh Phegley who you will hear about again-in the big leagues. What a cannon for an arm and he bats like Jeff Bagwell ( complete with
the squatting stance) . We all noticed him and discovered later he is the top rated catcher in the country. What a relief. After seeing him I didn't want to think there were hundreds out there that were that good. The Ohio Sate pitcher had pretty good zip (90 + and he struck out 14 ) but the game is same just faster at the next level.


On the final day the lads played Rhodes College from Memphis. Tennessee. Everyone wants to know --did they go by the "Rhodes Scholars"?? Nahh another wasted opportunity as the Rhodes "Lynx" played a long sloppy 17-13 game with our boys and eventually one exhausted team had to win.


After this trip and a .500 record , one ponders the expectations of the Diplomats chances this year but as Yogi warned "Predictions are tough, especially when they are about the future". Yogi also offered "The future ain't what it used to be" and that is the case for our Fighting Diplomats and for Shea as his knee injury is serious and has kept him out of play.


But the games play on and the conference play starts now. Let us root for the players to be at their best and have the baseball gods smile at our play.

-Your faithful Correspondent

Let's Play 2!

After a cold and dark winter , Ernie Banks's urging to "Let's play two" fell eagerly on on the ears of your young Fighting Diplomats on the first day down south here in Winter Haven, Florida. The opponent of the determined squad was the Red and White of Denison, a liberal arts schools near Columbus,Ohio.
Denison has notable alumni in the entertainment world such as Steve Carell, Hal Holbrook as well as Michael Eisner, former Disney CEO and Jennifer Gardner, the actress from the show "Alias". This background proved helpful as the Denison pitchers were pounded by the Fighting Diplomats. Junior Nick Rolnick blasted a home run at least 20 feet over the 410 foot center field fence. During his trot around the bases, the pitcher was pondering the seemingly small field dimensions and distinctly heard Disney's "it's a small world after all". In game two, Dension again was hammered and the rumor was the pitcher left with a disguise including a wig and makeup and assumed name ( the reference to Alias that you have been waiting for :).

A beautiful day went well for the Fighting Diplomats but the baseball gods were gleefully ( for them) in attendance after the winter break. They were not any more liberal than in years past and after the Fighting Diplomats opened a quick 3-0 lead, the baseball gods observed our guy walk two in a row and then hit a guy to load the bases. The baseball guys were rolling the eyes and shaking their heads ( they are big on nonverbal communication). By now, readers know the baseball gods will extract punishment for this transgression and you would not be disappointed in their swift dispensation of justice. Two base hits scored three runs and another fielders choice gave the Red and While a lead but we managed to stop the bleeding with a double play. On rare occasions, a pitcher can get himself in trouble and with a strikeout and maybe a double play to wriggle himself out without any damage. And it might be fun and even exciting to see him get out of the jam. But this kind of activity is like dating a stripper -it might be exciting and fun in the beginning but in your heart you know it is going to go horribly bad.

An additional note in Game 2 Junior Jason Anderson blasted a home run way over the fence in left field. So far in fact it went over a second fence 50 feet away that served to enclose a parking lot. This was one of the top five hardest hit balls I have seen. It exploded into the atmosphere like a missile. North Korea reports it can send missiles to Alaska. Hah! Watch a college baseball game Kim Jung!! After seeing a day of these aluminum bats, I would tell the Koreans to use aluminum bats ( or titanium ) and they ought to be able to reach Boulder, Colorado.

Jason however triggered an entrant into the supervision of baseball--the Karma Police. After the blast, and blast it was, Jason pondered it a bit and then flipped his bat up in the air and actually sent it about 10 feet towards the Diplomat bench. Somehow despite the awe inspiring shot he just hit Everybody noticed the bat flip . Denison surely noticed it and could not shrug it off as "Jason being Jason"and after being embarrassed by the missile projectile, Denison developed plans for Jason's next at bat. Additionally, an alert was sent to the Karma Police!

Some of you may wonder about the difference between the Karma Police and the baseball gods. It is a distinction of primarily jurisdiction as well as range of punishment. The baseball gods only focus on the baseball field. The only time they have their attention off the field is when the player behaves in a manner to inhibit his performance on the field. Additionally, the baseball gods only hand out sentences on the baseball field. The Karma Police who seem to be more of a combination of the Gestapo and the police in the movie "Minority Report" have far more encompassing responsibilities well and abilities to meter out punishment in any medium ( although they are said to enjoy administration on the field for those who they think it will hurt the most). For example, a counterfeiter who gives his daughter "bad paper" does not attract the attention of the baseball gods unless he walks the leadoff hitter or he throws a bunt into right field. The baseball gods don't care about the counterfeiting or his evil treatment of his daughter. The Karma Police however care deeply. In the case of the counterfeiter, the Karma Police will likely wait until the counterfeiter pitches in the the championship game and is leading 1-0 after 5 innings and then our counterfeiter will mysteriously"lose it" and give up 6 straights shots and find himself trailing 5--1. And then get arrested after the game. You don't see many evil counterfeiters in baseball anymore!

Dension indeed did plunk Jason in his next at bat but by then everyone expected it. Later discussion revealed Jason didn't intend to show the Dension pitcher up. He just got caught up in
the moment ... maybe the Karma police will give him a reprieve


But we have a day in and the season has begun. We shall take this journey together and as your faithful correspondent I will enjoy taking the journey with you as my companion. But it sure is terrific being outside on a sunny day watching your Fighting Diplomats play baseball.

The only sad note is that Shea is unable to play after hurting his knee last week in practice.
The swelling and limping earned a trip to the orthopedist today and an MRI. The Doc suggests he will be ok as he did not think there were any tears but pending the MRI we won't be sure. When we know more your faitful corresspondent will report it and we are hoping he can get out there soon.

Getting a sense of Belonging

When a freshman arrives at college he is prone to wondering if he belongs. The school is likley steeped in tradition and the naive freshamn views the campus as and populated by upperclassman who all seem to know their way. Do I belong here? the frosh often wonders but no ansers come fromm the environment . In the opening game of the spring trip against Denison a young freshman got a start due to an injury to an established upperclassman. His first two at bats were not successful but on the third at bat he managed to hit a ground ball single up the middle for his first hit . On his fourth at bat, he drove a line drive single to the outfield. I coudl se him run off the filed at the end of the inning and see he was brimming with intenal; delight. Yes he belonged now and I suspect he was soon to tell his friends and parents how much he loved the school. For everyone who goes off to collge they find a sense of belonging in a unique way. For some it is going to a football game or even a party with a bunch of new friends. For athletes though it is showing you can play and compete at this college level. But once you have the sense of belonging you are on your way to loving the experience.