Sloppy Mess

I've said it time and time again, the NSL is a mixing pot of different folks of different strokes, all with one common goal, have fun, and be messy from the hours of 6pm-8pm on weeknights during the summer months.

By messy, I don't mean getting dirt on your pants and hands, I mean forgetting things, like stressful bullshit, losing yourself in the moment, and losing control over things like bodily function and decision making. Normally the latter would cause you to make a life-altering mistake or end up in jail; however, in the shelter that is the NSL, these activities are practiced and promoted as a way of coping with reality. Winning a championship is just icing on the cake, it also makes an end-of-the-year open bar and lobster buffet taste that much sweeter.

There have been a few weeks of games, so a short synopsis will have to do to catch you up on what has become a heated race for both the top three spots, as well as the middle of the pack, in terms of playoff position.

On Monday, the two-time defending champion Brickyard took on a surging GEA club in a closely contested mathcup between two evenly matched, middle-of-the-pack teams. The Brickyard had been playing well as of late and looked to make a much needed late season run, and more importantly get the swagger back that they had in 07 and 08.

The Brickyard came out of the gate swinging, and put up three runs on some good hitting against GEA's quality southpaw, C. Pantano. The two teams would trade blows in the remaining innings and GEA got help from some poor baserunning by Brickyard, and a two-run tater from their mountain of a second baseman to tie the game at four. The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh, when a line drive to the right-center gap resulted in a double with a two-base error, giving GEA the win.

Two games were played on Tuesday, The Knights vs. the Gulls, and The Brickyard vs. The Barbarians. The Barbarians were shorthanded against the defending champs, and could only field a team of nine. In a cheeky move, the Barbarians decided to dismiss the use of a second baseman in favor of four outfielders against the power-hitting Brickyard. Another game that came down to the last out, the Brickyard prevailed after the Barbarians decided to walk two batters to face D. Malloy who came through with the game winning single.

The Gulls, riding a two-game win streak over The Pirates and Galaxy, came into the game against the Knights looking to make a statement before the playoffs. Batting first, the Gulls hit the ball all over the field en-route to six runs. The Knights who are no strangers to come-backs, had dug themselves a deep hole against the talented Gulls. D. Barille kept the Knights offense silent until the bottom of the fifth inning where consecutive three-run home runs by D. O'Connor and C. Doucette tied the game with no outs. The Knights would rattle off another five runs for an eleven run inning. P. O'Leary closed the door in the latter innings for the Knights, completing the monumental come-back, all but securing a much-anticipated first round matchup with the Barbarians.

Standings

1. NFL 10-3

2. Barbarians 9-4

3. Knights 9-4

4. Brickyard 8-6

5. GEA 8-6

6. Galaxy 5-7

7. Gulls 4-10

8. Sandbar Pirates 0-13

Regular Season Remaining Games:

Tonight : Barbarians vs. Pirates

Tommorow : Knights vs. Galaxy

Friday: NFL vs. Galaxy

Playoffs: Monday August 6th, Gulls vs. Pirates.