JPS v. Psychology

August 23, 2005

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Anyone with their finger on the pulse of Tufts League Softball knows that the JPS and Psychology had captured the last four league titles, with a fifth in the balance coming into the 2005 Championship Game. The JPS had taken the even year crowns (sorry Rube, no prime numbers here) in 2002 and 2004, with Psych winning in 2001 and 2003, including that ’01 win over what was the nascent stages of Jumbo’s Peanut Surprise, who came off of a three win season to rally in the playoffs for an unlikely title game appearance, only to sputter out against a talented and strategically superior Psych team. Fast forward back to 2005, with both squads coming off of tight division championship matches, this game had all the makings of a classic.

That is, until the JPS came to bat in the top of the first.

In an unlikely outcome between two strong and experienced teams, Jumbo’s Peanut Surprise scored early and often, to the tune of an 18-3 lead after three innings, and coasted to their third league title in four years. In what can only be described as a team effort, the JPS pounded out 33 hits and scored 4 or more runs in 5 out of 6 innings while batting seventeen deep against Pysch.

The JPS lost the coin toss and were forced to be the road team, but the top of the lineup saw an opportunity to start the game off right. Rube singled and went to second on a bobble in the outfield, and Egon hit a homer for the second time in his last two ABs to give the good guys a quick 2-0 edge. After Tater flew out to left, the offense knocked out four straight singles and a sac fly to add three more runs, making for an early 5-0 lead. After Tater and the D set Psych down in order, Kirk Gib-, er, Derek Fisher, only two weeks off a major knee injury led off the second with the JPS's second homer of the game, a solo shot to right-center. The next seven hitters reached on base hits, five of whom scored - including a Crumpler triple to deep center - and just like that it was 11-0.

Psych scored two in the bottom of the frame, but left runners on, something that became frequent in the game and a testament to the solid pitching and nearly flawless defensive effort the Peanut Surprise put forth. Then, not to be outdone by the two previous innings, the offense scored seven in the third, highlighted by a deep two-run double to right by Uncle Cliff, and a LederJay triple.

Shadder, reprise

JPS put ten more up in the fifth and sixth, with three more Fletcher wall balls - another homer by Fish, and doubles by Egon and the Shadder, while only allowing three more runs the rest of the way. The game was called after the sixth due to darkness, and the festivities began.

Hats off to everyone this year. Congrats to Psych on having a great team and playing a great season. And for being no slouch in the drinking department, meeting us at Redbones, parting ways and then reconnecting at Uncle Cliff’s for a few extra beers to cap the evening. No doubt our paths will cross again soon.

Notes: Shadder, Grits and MK are now a perfect 2 for 2 in championship games, each a part of the 2004 pennant winner... Grits and Tater combined to pitch the whole game, but Erik was waiting in the wings had we needed a closer in the 7th... Stay tuned for news on the Great JPS Divide, JPS West, JPS Espana and JPS Cali...

Box Score