Two Weeks of Pattaya Softball. Welcoming Back an Old Comrade and Continuing its Fun in the Sun.

All the softball crew was elated to see him back on the mound, and although he has lost a step or two in his running speed, he is still a tough pitcher who plays tenacious defense.  To honor his return, Alan was asked to name the teams and he came up with two beauties.  His team was nicknamed the “Malignant Spores”, while Phil and Perry’s team were dubbed the “Chonburi Carcinomas”. 

They were two fiercely competitive games, with the Spores winning the first by the score of 22-18 with clutch hits from Brett, Norm, Rocky, John S. and Alan himself.  Game 2 saw Alan out and Fred in as pitcher for the Spores.  The Carcinomas jumped out to an 11 to 2 lead, and used Perry’s precise and unpredictable pitches to preserve that lead.  John McHugh, Scotty, Jimmy and Perry, and Peter were strong with their bats, and the final score for game 2 was Chonburi Carcinomas 20, Malignant Spores 12.  For photos of the winning teams, for this week, see below.

On Sunday the 18th of January, on yet another glorious afternoon of sunshine, the Pattaya Softball Club enjoyed another action packed, double header and a half. Many old and new Pattaya players were there to ring in 2009 properly, by hitting the ball, running the bases and arguing with Jimmy the umpire as often as possible.  It was a festive environment that greeted the rowdy ball players as well.  Sausages and hamburgers were barbequed by the lovely Ice, while beers, water and soft drinks were chilled to perfection, waiting to be imbibed.  Perry and Phil drew up equal sides, and Jimmy hollered out the well worn, but effective phrase “Play ball!”

Game 1 saw Team Charlie Hustle, led by the speedy sexagenarians, Peter (who still runs with reckless abandon).  Perry (who still pitches sky high moon balls with reckless abandon) jumped out to a strong hitting 4 run start.  Team Bernice is backing (named in honor of the returning superstar Ernie and his penchant to dress in women’s clothing) started sluggishly.  They went down in order in the first inning and only managed 1 run in the second; (a beautifully blasted ball by Ernie). But down 7 to 1 in the top of the third inning, the Bernice boys put on their game face and started smashing the ball all over the diamond.  Phil started the onslaught with a hard hit double, and it was followed by hits from Odvar, Mark, Steve, Jim Bob, Rick and Rhys.  They batted through the order and managed to score 8 runs, to go into the fourth with a 9-7 lead.  Team Charlie Hustle is no quitters though, and they battled back to score 5 in the fourth and 1 in the fifth with solid hits coming from John Eden, Mikes, Norm, Jason, Josh and John McHugh.  But Bernice is back team was not to be denied.  Ernie belted 2 more home runs, Diego slammed some triples and Scotty, Mark, and Phil rocketed doubles.  They scored 4 in the fifth and broke open the game with 8 runs in the sixth.  Final score Bernice is Back 24, Charlie Hustle 16.

Game 2 saw Perry being traded to Bernice’s team for Phil and 2 of our Bangkok Japanese players being added to Charlie Hustles team.  The trades were made to try and level the teams, but Bernice is back would have none of that.  Ernie earned hitter of the day honors for banging another homer and a triple and a double.  Scotty earned bully of the day honors for arguing with anyone who would talk to him, lifting up and pretending to suplex Jimmy the umpire, and nearly causing Rocky to soil his shorts when he riffed a ball at him from point blank range.  He was also the thirstiest ballplayer out there.  Anyways, team Bernice is Back scored a half dozen runs in two of the first three innings, never trailed and won the game by two converted touchdowns, 24-10.  Team Charlie Hustle did manage a win in the end, with a convincing 8-0 mini game (2 innings) victory, so that everyone went home a winner.  See box scores and line ups below for more.