In stark contrast to the semi-finals, this game started off slowly. After two quick outs in the top of the first inning, Eddie sent a flair to right-center field which skipped by the two outfielders, which he then turned into a triple. An errant throw to third base allowed Eddie to score the first Re-Entry run. In the bottom of the first inning, with a runner on first base, the Moose Knuckler batter sent a ground ball up the middle. Howie dived for it but failed to reach it, and the Moose Knucklers were suddenly threatening with two runners on and only one out. Unfortunately, on the play Howie tweaked his right hamstring and had to come off the field. That would end his day at shortstop. The next batter sent a low line drive out to left center field. Andy came charging in fast and made a nice catch for the second out. With the Moose Knucklers still threatening, the next batter hit a hot shot to the left of the first baseman. Rob fielded the ball (making a tough play look easy) and beat the runner to first base for the last out of the inning. That was a critical play (which earns the defensive web gem of the game), as it kept the Moose Knucklers off the scoreboard and maintained the Re-Entry 1--0 lead.

In the top of the second inning, the Re-Entry bats started to show signs of life. After two consecutive hits, Andy delivered with a blast to deep left-center field for the three-run home run to extend the Re-Entry lead to 4--0. Shaking off his hamstring injury, Howie followed two batters later with a shot down the left field line, but could only make it to first base (ordinarily this would have been a double) due to his injury. A pinch runner took his place, but Re-Entry could not take further advantage. In the bottom of the second inning, a defensive miscue eventually led to the first Moose Knuckler run, but Re-Entry held firm. A foul tip by one of the Moose Knucklers was snagged by Alexa at catcher, and the foul was deemed high enough to be ruled an out. Thus, at the end of two innings, the score stood at 4--1 in favor of Re-Entry.

The top of the third inning proved to be the decisive point of the game. Re-Entry loaded the bases, and then two singles later Re-Entry had two runs in and the bases still jammed. Up stepped Omar to the plate, and he delivered big time with a grand slam home run to the deepest part of the yard. Suddenly, the Re-Entry lead stood at 10--1. Perhaps at this point, it is worth relating how Omar came to be at this game in the first place (which nobody expected at the beginning of the day). Apparently, Omar's day started at 4 am Eastern Daylight Time in Newport News, VA after spending some time at Jefferson Laboratory. Omar caught an early morning flight from Norfolk, VA, which went to National Airport in Washington, DC. From there he took a second flight to San Diego, where he caught his third flight of the day to Sacramento. Omar's wife picked him up from the airport (she lives in Davis, CA), and together they drove to Santa Cruz, arriving at 4:30 pm, thirty minutes prior to the game. And by the way, after the celebratory pizza party following the game, Omar and his wife are driving down to Los Angeles. Commitment wins championships!

The Moose Knucklers pushed one run across the plate in the bottom of the third inning, but the Re-Entry defense held firm. In the top of the fourth inning, the Re-Entry bats became quiet again until Howie stepped up to the plate (was the hamstring quieting down?). He laced a double into the gap in right-center field, but it was a struggle to make it all the way to second base (surely a triple or more on a healthier day). Once again, Howie gave way to a pinch runner. But the next two Re-Entry batters were unable to drive in the run and the score remained 10--2. In the bottom half of the fourth inning, the Moose Knucklers went down quickly in a three up--three down inning, aided by a sweet play at third base where Turner snagged a hot line drive that looked headed for extra bases.

In the top of the fifth inning, Omar stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded once again. Surely thinking about a second grand slam, Omar took a mighty swing. This time, he managed only a ground ball up the middle (nearly striking Andy at the pitcher's spot), enough to drive in two runs. Re-Entry added two additional runs to extend their lead to 14--2. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Moose Knucklers began to make some noise, aided by some shaky Re-Entry defense. After three runs had crossed the plate, the Re-Entry defensive prowess was restored, and the final two outs of the inning were quickly recorded. The Re-Entry lead was cut to nine runs, but that was as close as the Moose Knucklers would get.

Knowing the importance of insurance runs, Howie came up to bat with a runner on base in the top of the sixth inning. This time, the umpires allowed a pinch runner from home (saving Howie the trouble of running with his hamstring problem). Andy served as the pinch runner. Howie took full advantage by sending a well struck ball deep to right-center field, which split the two outfielders. With Andy running at full steam, the race was on, and Andy beat the relay throw to the plate to complete Howie's home run. We're not sure how the official scorer is ruling this, but in the Re-Entry record book, this will read as 2 RBIs for Howie and one run scored by Andy. With the lead now at 11 runs, the Re-Entry defense went back to work in the bottom of the sixth inning. A scorching line drive to left-center field was deftly caught by Andy, much to the surprise and chagrin of the Moose Knuckler batter. The second out was courtesy of Yahoo, who chased down a foul ball behind third base for the second out of the inning. After the Moose Knucklers put a runner on first base, the Re-Entry defense provided the ugliest out of the game. A ground ball to the right side of second base was fielded by Clara, but the ball slipped out of her glove. Eddie, who was playing shortstop, was at second base anticipating a throw for the force. Instead, Eddie went after the loose ball, which was behind second base, picked the ball up, juggled it, and then somehow regained control, then dived for the second base bag, and tagged it for the force out just before the runner from first base arrived. An ugly out though is an out, and the sixth inning was done.

In the top of the seventh inning, Re-Entry looked to extend its 16--5 lead. The bases were loaded once more for Omar, giving him another big RBI opportunity. Omar proceeded to hit a towering drive to deep center field. The center fielder was playing very deep so he was able to track down the blast for the second out of the inning. Both Holly at third base and Eddie at second base tagged, and advanced after the catch. Holly scored easily, and Eddie was following close behind and easily beat the relay throw to the plate with the second run of the sacrifice fly play. With this at bat Omar had 8 RBIs, qualifying easily for the offensive player of the game. Adding two additional runs later in the inning, Re-Entry led 20--5 heading into the bottom of the seventh and final inning. All in all, the Re-Entry offense was outstanding, with solid hitting up and down both the men's and women's lineup. After all, you cannot continually load the bases, which was a consistent theme throughout this game, without reliable hitting by your players.

That first out in the bottom of the seventh inning is always the toughest to get, but Laurie made it look easy in deep left field, robbing a potential extra base hit by one of the Moose Knucklers sluggers. The Moose Knucklers managed to put two runners on by the time the final slow ground ball to third base, fielded cleanly by Turner and accurately tossed to Eddie at first base, provided the final out of the game. And with that play, Re-Entry claimed the Championship of the Spring UCSC Softball league, and avenged the disappointing loss to the same team (previously known as Pitches Be Crazy) in the Fall 2012 season in the last Championship game that was played in February. A very satisfying finish to perhaps the most dominant playoff run in Re-Entry team history. Re-Entry completes a perfect season of nine wins and no losses, which establishes a new team record for the most wins in a season.

A perfect regular season. Five wins, zero losses. An impressive march through the playoffs. Three teams dared challenge, while another decided they were better off not even showing up. A hard fought battle in the quarter finals, a demolition of our long time rivals in the semi-finals, and vengeance in the final, an incredibly smooth and steady victory over the very team who stole glory from us just a few short months ago. The dust has settled and the smoke has cleared, and the only team who can go into the off-season without the taste of defeat in their mouths is us. Re-Entry. Champions.

This season completes my sixth season as a member of the Re-Entry squad, and the fourth season as Captain. During my tenure, we have accrued a flawless 31-0 regular season record, and needless to say put together some incredibly talented teams. There were some seasons where I figured we had a great chance, but unfortunately ran into other talented teams, whether the Brady Bunch who bounced us twice from the playoffs or Beast Mode who came out of nowhere in the playoffs and lit fire to the softball diamond.

Last season, I knew we had all the pieces for a championship, and yet, somehow, the breakthrough win alluded us. Despite the disappointment that came along with the championship loss, I knew when we gathered again this Spring that we were the team to beat. We had a confidence this season that we knew that we were the best team. And Spring softball is not easy. The warm weather seems to draw all the ball player extraordinaires from their warm batting cages and out into the sunshine, where dozens of teams battle to be the only one left standing. Yet, we knew, and we trusted each other, that this season was ours for the taking. We knew that we were the best team last season, and that this season it was our responsibility to live up to our potential. We knew that we would win it all, and we did.

This season, as Captain, my biggest challenge wasn't to find capable players, but to find what to do with all of our amazing players. It didn't matter who I plugged in to what position, it just seemed like amazing play after amazing play was made, and when one hitter was struggling, the others would be there to pick them up until they came back around. I'm not sure I can find superlatives to describe our defense, particularly in the playoffs, where in the last two games we allowed a scant nine runs. NINE runs, while scoring fifty-four ourselves. Incredible.

It's with bittersweet emotions I write this final blog of the 2013 season. Teams this special don't come around too often, and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. Not only playing some great ball with everyone, but the camaraderie and friendship that we developed over the year, or years as is the case with many of you. As with any passing year, we will lose some of our cornerstone players, namely Andy, Tim, and Turner. I know you all join me in giving them my sincerest thanks for their contributions, friendship, and great memories. Because in the end, winning a championship isn't about simply having something to fluff our feathers about. It's about having had the opportunity to share a great moment in time with great company. For that, I thank you all.

So with that, I hope that everyone has a great summer. But stay sharp! There's a title to defend this Fall...