What was a game time decision for player/coach Danny Migliorisi, turned out to be the move of the century. It is one thing to discipline your team, but it’s another to make rash, horrible, decisions. The tabloids showed the Ballers beloved, star first baseman, Frank Green, enjoying a night on the town, rather than mentally preparing himself for the ever important game with Power Hour that was rapidly approaching. Migliorisi was faced with a dilemma, to sit Green, or not to sit Green.
When push comes to shove, the rest of the team plays better with ‘the monster‘ in the lineup. It wouldn’t be fair to the rest of the team, the fans, and the organization, to deprive them of the first ever 3-0 start in franchise history. This is not to be taken lightly, [he] will be fined heavily for breaking curfew, and let this be a warning to the rest of the team as well. – Danny Migliorisi
With the game on the line, the Ballers forced the power play upon Power Hour’s defense. heading into the top of the 7th, tied 5-5, Tim Muscarella took to the plate and continued his career day. Muscarella singled to center to start the late inning rally. Timmy would go 4 for 4 on the day, scoring 3 times and driving 1 run in as well. Natalie Ross follwed suit by intricately placing the ball perfectly between the second baseman and the center field. With 2 on and no outs, struggling left fielder, Frank Arcuri, would come up in his most important at bat of the season. Arcuri had already gone 2 for 3 to this point so much was expected from the fans, but when he popped the ball up right on the edge of the infield, it seemed all hope had been lost, until Power Hour’s shortstop misjudged the high popup and let it fall in. Without much chance to make a play, Ross was forced out at 2nd and the ballers had the lead run on third, with their 2 fastest runners on the bases.
Enter, the Green Connection.
Erik Green reached base safely and loaded them up for the The Monster. Frank Green successfully went yard once already in this game for 1 RBI, but this AB was for all the marbles. He took to the plate with a Babe Ruth-like strut, Bruce Springsteen’s Rosalita, playing in the background, the crowd roaring louder than ever before. Along with the first pitch came about 30,000 camera flashes from around the stadium. Ball. With the second pitch Green was ready to strike, a big juicy meatball, right down Broadway. A heat seeking missile found its way all the way to the left center wall and Green was aboard with a 2RBI double. That would prove to be all the Ballers needed but they weren’t done there. Mikey Williams, in his Bleu Ballers debut, had been quiet thus far, but he stared down the pitcher with confidence, lined one into right center and drove in 2 more Ballers run. He would eventually be tagged out trying to stretch a double but that didn’t matter.
In the past, defense would prove to be the demise of every Ballers lead, but this year Migliorisi has the team thinking positively, and playing spectacular. Renee Basile would march out to the mound for the last time of the day. A lead off triple by Power Hour had fans gasping for air. A superb scouting report by Basile had Erik Green positioned perfectly for the first out of the inning. Another PH single would drive in one run but center fielder Frank Arcuri had the smarts to hit the cutoff man and hold the batter to a single. Renee would pull the plug on Power Hour and get 2 more easy popups, for her 3rd win of the season.
The Ballers find themselves in an unfamiliar position, atop the standings in the Fun Leagues Bard Division. It’s still early in the season but it’s not too soon to consider the Ballers a serious contender. Ballers will fly home tonight to prepare for a home game against the Valinquishers on Sunday morning at South Beach Psych Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 8:00am.
