M STREET PARK, South Boston- April 25, 2006
The roads leading to South Boston from Dorchester were riddled with a chaotic traffic jam. The closer the ESA Softball Team got to the field, the more that those road conditions seemed like an omen of things to come.
Jessica Murphy hoped to step up with a great pitching perfmance for the second game in a row against Boston Collegiate, but unfortunately, she found herself as hopeless as she was shoeless. Back in Dorchester was her uniform and equipment, but her team couldn't wait.
Not ready to go call it quits, however, ESA called upon Felicia "Birthday Pah-ty" Rosati who had not pitched a game before. So on her birthday, she was asked to do the impossible - and she came through in a big way. At the same time, Mrs. Reily was going bananas stepping on the gas, trying to break through traffic, inching her way back in an attempt to bringing back the aforementioned missing uniform. By the time ESA's beloved Math teacher arrived, Rosati had started to settle into her role after having given up 7 runs in the first few innings.
Slowly, ESA's realization that the game was never out of hand paved the way for a dramatic come back. ESA was within view of Boston Collegiate's rearview mirror, getting closer and closer. The comeback was orchestrated in large part to Kathleen "The Shrill Thrill" McGill who ripped a homerun deep into the outfield and sparked the offense. In the mean time Tiffany "C'mon Let's Rally!" Vitale played Gold Glove defense once again, only this time at third base. And by the fifth inning, Murphy was in the game pitching, shoes and all, with one goal in mind: win. What was once a comfortable 7 run lead for Boston Collegiate quickly diwndled; with only three outs to go, ESA needed two runs to tie.
Christine Landais came up to bat and swung mightly but got only air. Boston Collegiate's catcher didn't get much either and dropped the ball. But since the catcher must hold on to the ball for a batter to strike out swining, Coach White yelled as loudly as she possibly could, "Ruuuuuuun!". And boy did she ever! Landais couldn't have run any faster even if she were being chased by an angry dog with rabies because she made it safely to base before the throw after an adventurous slide to base. Somehow, ESA's hopes for a comeback were alive and well after Nadia "Spicy Like Salami" Salam hit a tiny bloop to the infield and drove Landais home. Before you knew it, it was only a one-run game with two outs and Salam was in scoring position.
Eventhough the Softball Team's fate would only take them that far, with one run to go, against such a worthy contender, they still managed to walk away with their heads held up high. With any luck, the outcome would have been much different. They played proudly and never gave up in front of a hostile crowd. Next Monday, ESA will play against North Quincy High School for the first time.
