When I say that there is parity in the NSL this year, I am speaking of the ability of almost (Sand Bar Pirates) any team to win on any given night. Many times in sports parity exists due to the teams in a given league are very evenly matched, whether it be because of a high or low competition level. Parity exists more this season than in any season in recent memory, and it is because of the elevated level of play, hitting, and most importantly, pitching.
The NSL utilizes one of the hardest cored softball that exists. This is clearly not because their is a lack of hitting, considering the NSL boasts some of the finest athletes to ever fail to become anything other than an unlimited arc slowpitch softball phenom. The key word in my previous sentence was "unlimited arc". The rules set forth circa 1927 in the NSL states, "a legal pitch is one that is released from the hand of the pitcher with contact with the rubber that is greater than six feet in height." So "unlimited arc" actually means "at least six feet of arc" This rule gives pitchers in the NSL the ability to throw a pitch as high as possible making it increasingly difficult to hit with every inch of arc. A 20 foot arcing pitch that hits the back of the mat is equivilent to a 95-mile-per-hour heater, on the top half, in baseball. There are very few leagues with this rule, most employing a 6'-12' arc, like most leagues in Lynn, or a modified where a pitcher can throw the ball as hard as he wants to a called strike zone without swinging his arm around 360 degrees, like in Marblehead. The former two methods make it easier for the hitter, making it more of an offensive game, often times rules are set in place to limit homeruns (example: every home run after three counts as an out, etc.) Pitching in the NSL has always taken precedent over hitting, and this year each of the eight teams in the NSL has quality pitching, giving each and every ballclub a chance to win on any given night. The implications are simple, the top three spots in the regular season standings are extremely valuable this season.
Thursday of last week marked the return of the Barbarians, who due to a rainout and a scheduling snafu, went over a week without a game. The Barbarians made quick work out of GEA, getting a much needed win after losing to NFL, and climbing above .500 on the season. GEA drops another, but have showed their trademark resiliency that they had in last years epic playoff run. The Barbarians still look like a favorite, and GEA will undoubtably make some noise come playoff time. Friday night of last week was a matchup of bitter rivals and comrades, The Knights vs. Galaxy. A gorgeous night was ruined by heavy rainfall the night before, and the game was canceled.
Games resumed monday with NFL looking to remain undefeated, taking on the surging and much improved GEA. With a comfortable 9-4 lead going into the top half of the seventh, J. Moleti and NFL looked like they were going to continue their win streak. GEA is in the midst of a season of "just misses", with all of their losses and wins coming in close games. This would not be any different. With nobody on trailing by three runs, C. Pantano stepped to the plate and sent a J. Moleti off speed pitch deep into the night, giving GEA the lead. GEA wasn't done, and rattled off a total of ten runs in the top half before NFL could get an out. Leading 14-9 C. Pantano shut the door on NFL's undefeated season. Parity is alive this season, as GEA proved once again, that on any given weeknight, no team is safe from a loss. GEA has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 2008. The following is an exerpt from a blog posted on April 10, 2008:
George's Expert AutoChris Pantano became the first player to ever be hit with a one-year suspension by the league. In the third game of 2007, the then first baseman for NFL, told umpire Chuck Sanphy, to suck a fart out of his ass, and that he was two-balled bitch. He will manage his own team, known only as a bunch of his buddies, including his shortstop, a "friend" from Salem, who played baseball in high school. Activities of GEA remain unknown.
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