Game 18 Vs. Dusty Cleats Mr. Triple Play

INTRO:

Donini Deck, Sunday July 21st, 3pm.

Rob:  Hey....how goes?
Doug:   Awesome!
Rob: Cool .... what are you writing about this week?
Doug:   Oh, geez its a busy one!  We've got the Beer Bros., Draft Kings and Dusty Cleats.
Rob:  That's a lot.  You should probably do one about me. 
Doug:   Aren't they ALL about you?
Rob:  Just the good ones I guess
Doug:   I guess. 
Rob:  So seriously.  Is one about me?
Doug:   No.  I'll probably one about big foot sightings, one about kitchen appliances and one about Kevin Hollingshead. 
Rob: Whoa....Hollingshead?  WHY HIM?  I get the appliances and big foot.  But Hollngshead?
Doug:   Yeah.  He's been in on two triple plays in the last couple of weeks. 
Rob:  Big deal!
Doug:   Well, it is kind of a big deal. 
Rob:  Come on, you've been in on triple plays.I've been in on triple plays. 
Doug:   Sure, but in back-to-back games?  You gotta admit that's pretty special. 
Rob:  You're such a loser.  NO ONE CARES ABOUT THIS!.  Write about me!  People will love it.  It'll make that silly CLOG thing of yours popular!  Maybe someone other than your mother will read it.
Doug:   Nah, I think its a legit story. 
Rob:  Geez, I've probably been in on 7 or 8 triple plays since I've been in the league.
Doug:   Really.
Rob:  Yep happens ALL the time!
Doug:   Well, it hasn't happened in the 5 years I've been on the Grisslies, I'd remember.  
Rob:  Wrong.  I had one this year!
Doug: Bull
Rob:  Swear to god.  Runners a 1st and 2nd base and I hit a screamer...
Doug:   Rob...
Rob:  Right at Dave Ague...he takes it and........
Doug:   Robbie....
Rob:  WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Doug:  Kevin didn't hit into 2 triple plays....he fielded them. 
Rob:  Oh! 
                I see. 
                         Well. 
                                 That's kind of a big deal!
Doug:  I know.
Rob:You should write something about that. 

Kevin (He's kind of a big deal)

Last summer I saw Kevin Hollingshead sitting in the stands watching a game.  I felt sorry for him.  He looked lonely, kind of dejected.  He looked like he missed baseball.  I invited to come to the August tournament and play in the beer league.

Mistake.

He damn near killed Dave Fleming who is still trying to chase down that foul ball.

Well it turns out that Kevin did miss baseball.  Missed it so much that he signed up again this year.  Turns out he's still pretty damned good too.  Now sure, this season has seen him have multiple home run games, hes scored 4 runs in a game twice, leads his team in at bats and is playing killer short stop.  But the thing he's most proud of is being in on 2 triple plays this year.

That's pretty unusual.  But this isn't Kevin's first experience with Triples. In fact the guy has been a magnet for the triples, and the number 3 in general pretty much since before his own birth.  Before?  Yeah.  Its not common knowledge, but the name Hollingshead is an old English name from Cheshire that predates the battle of Hastings in 1066.  It means 3 headed sheep.

Hollingshead Heirloom, the family sofa

Kevin was born in Trois-Rivires.  Of course, he was the oldest of Triplets and was raised in a tri-plex on 3rd Avenue.

 Kevin In the Middle with the trowing motion                                        The family triplex

Sadly, he failed grade three; three times, or trois, if you will.  But it was there that he fell in love with sports.  While all the Quebecois children his age were out playing frozen pond hockey in July and August, Kevin found his sport.

Triple Jump

Not only was Kevin skilled at the triple jump, but he also got to wear those really groovy ADIDAS gym shorts with the three stripes down the side.

Finding quality Triple Jump competition in a province know for hockey, maple syrup and losing major league baseball teams was pretty tough.  Clearly there were cultural differences with the whole French thing, so he took this triple-jumping skills to the tri-state area for a full scholarshitp.  It paid off when he got to to compete in the NCAA - Division 3 championships at Three Rivers stadium in Pittsburgh.

Being a college triple jump star is a lot for a young man from Troi-Rivires to deal with.  Before long, he was living life in the fast lane of a 3-series Beemer, drinking Triple Sec and finding he was three sheets to the wind every night.

College life was quickly becoming a three ring circus.  In his last triple jump meet at Three Mile Island, poor Kevin had triple - vision, in the triple digit heat.

It was coming evident that the whole reason for college (learning the three R's) just wasn't working out.  Kevin cleaned it up and joined the Army.  It was one day doing a triple time march that this brainstorm hit him.  "I'm an Athlete", Kevin said to himself.  Athletes need to play sports and make tons of money!  So he got himself a Section - 3 and a discharge from the Army on account of him not being American (you'd think they'd check) and headed off to make his fortune!

Kevin joined the Nike Golf Tour thinking that was the quickest way to PGA.  After a string of triple bogeys on par 3's he gave up.

Then the joined the NBA's "D" league as way to short cut his way to a starting spot in the NBA.  It looked good early for Kevin as he was raining 3's all over the place

And while he led the "D" league in 3 point attempts and was seemingly scoring at will, there was a bit of an issue with defense.

He hoped his third sport would be a charm...you know, 3 times lucky?  So he joined the 3 legged race circuit.  This is ultra competitive racing.

Sadly, injuries befell poor Kevin and despite his dominance in the sport, he was forced to retire early. 

Coming back to Tottenham, he did what most people do....get an a extra large triple triple and relax.  

Then he got back into baseball.  Starting slowly at first in the "SUPER" oldtimers league where they hit with broom handles and don't use gloves.

Then he finally graduated to the "REAL" oldtimers league where he became a triple play legend. 

Now......if he could only play 3rd base.

THE SPEECH

Picking up right where he left off, Rob volunteered a stellar performance of "Stuck In The Middle With You" By Stealer Wheel.   Music HERE

Stuck In The Middle With You

Well I don't know why I came here tonight,
I got the feeling that Sallustio just ain't right,
I'm so scared in case I fall off the mound,
And I'm wondering how I'll get down to the ground,
Banks to the left of me,
Short to the right, here I am,
Stuck in the middle with you.

Yes I'm stuck in the middle with you,
And I'm wondering what it is I should do,
It's so hard to keep this smile on my face,
Losing control, yeah, they're hitting all over the place,
Banks to the left of me, 

Short to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

Well you started out with nothing,
And you're proud that you're got those 6 wins,
And your pitcher, he just throws backspin,
Slap you on the back and says,
Swing Please......Swing Please.....

Trying to make some sense of Roman's last call,
But I can see that Emeil just hits it to the wall,
Is it cool to now pray for a downpour?
'Cause I don't think that I can take anymore
Banks to the left of me, Short to the right,

Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

Well you started out with nothing,
And you're proud that you're got those 6 wins,
And your pitcher, he just throws backspin,
Slap you on the back and says,
Swing......Please.... Swing.....

Well I don't know why I came here tonight,
I got the feeling that Harley Sherman ain't right,
I'm so scared in case I fall off the legion chair,
And I can't remember if I wore underwear,
  Banks to the left of me,
Short to the right, here I am,
Stuck in the middle with you,
Yes I'm stuck in the middle with you,
Stuck in the middle with you

THE GAME

Forgive me....this is gonna be quick. 

21-7.  There isn't much good to say. Let me hit the highlights. 

The Dusty cleats had the bases loaded in the 1st inning with one out and Doris got us out of it with a double play.  No damage. 

The Cleats went quickly and quietly in the 2nd inning and we had a 2-0 lead after two complete.

Do the math.  In the final 5 innings we were outscored 21-5. 

Ouch. 

We had base runners and  couldn't score them.  We had balls hit right to me and Winston that were inexplicably missed.  We had two adventures on pop ups on the infield.  Not our normal game.

Full value to the Dusty Cleats however.  We won't bemoan our bad plays to slight their victory.  They were led by Bob Pearce who pitched a whale of a game.  He may have issued one walk on the night but kept up hitters off balance by grooving a new hole on the side of the board.  Notable hitters for the Cleats were Hollingshead (figures) who jacked one into the tennis courts and Emeil Edwards who seemed to be on base 35 times in 5 at bats. 

Good game fellas. 

Next up for the Grisslies are the Blues Brothers who are probably a little nervous to face us.  I'm not surprised.  We're pretty dominant. 

Next BLOG is the Saturday weekend edition....see you then!