"Wait this is Bullshit"

The Nahant Men's Softball League graced the cover of Sports Illustrated late in the 1970's with the men of Frank and Sam's becoming celebrities literally overnight. The league fell on hard times until early 2K with the team formerly known as COD, formerly known as Collins, formerly known as Precision Motor Works, formerly known as PMW, formerly known as Piss Moan and Wine finally became the heel that the league needed to thrive. College and high school standouts, Three-sport athletes, Little League phenoms, professional athletes, convicts, alcoholics, schizophrenics, and government officials have all graced the Lowlands Diamond. A vehicle was driven through a roof, countless on and off the field incidents with local officials and law enforcement and at start of new decade we are at a crescendo, the league has expanded to 8 teams, these are their stories.

Game 4 - Champs

Leading two games to none, the Barbarians had the Galaxy's backs against the wall. In the case of the Nahant Softball the wall is orange construction fencing with lopped off chain link fence posts and noodles as top-padding. The Galaxy squad was looking to swing the momentum back, but were bombarded in the top of the first inning by some power heating from the visiting squad. The Barbarians erupted for eight runs on eight hits in the top of the first inning with the help of a three run shot by C. Capinigro. W. Geraci also went yard, putting the Galaxy in a deep hole.

The veteran Galaxy ball club came out in the bottom half of the frame looking to chip away and try to avoid the hole that the Barbarians dug for them becoming their grave. The top of the order broke out there cold chisel and mini sledge to put up two tallies with a solo home-run from N. Liston and a triple from K. Howard. Howard's blast bounced off the steel gate in right field and caromed back toward right center field. C. Lablanc the veteran umpire ruled the hit a triple. Howard would later score to bring the score to 8-2 after an inning of play. An uncharacteristic throwing error by Galaxy led to a three run top of two. Galaxy was blanked in the bottom with a one-two-three inning and looked gassed.

Galaxy dug deep, summoning the souls of past NSL greats on there way to blanking the Barbarians in the third and fourth innings with some stifling defense. Galaxy rattled off three runs in the third and two in the fourth, tightening up this battle at 10-7 at the end of the fourth inning.

The Barbarians, knowing they had to put the nail in the coffin took some time before the fifth inning for a trade-mark Barbarian battle cry to fire up the troops. A three run tater by C. Capanigro, his second of the game, and a two-run shot by T. Nacosia created some insurance for the Barbarians. Galaxy could only muster a single run in the bottom of the fifth due to some superb defense by the Barbarians infield, leaving the score at 16-8 with two to play.

Both teams failed to score in the sixth inning, although Galaxy once again threatened, only to be shut down again by key double plays by the veteran middle infielders from the Barbarians who were playing like they were half their age.

The Barbarians, amped up from the double plays erupted again in the top half of the seventh. A M. Pressman round tripper and a costly error by Galaxy left fielder N. Carmelingo left a five spot on the score board and a sour spot in the hearts of local fans.

Galaxy had the top of their order due up in the bottom of the final frame to try and put together one of the most monumental come-backs in sports history and extend the series. R. Madden started things off with a solo home-run to right that hugged the right field foul pole. Both Madden and the fans at the park were amazed at the 20-year veteran's opposite field pop.

Galaxy continued to threaten and had two on with two out. After a base hit to right, M. Muser decided to try and score from second. The veteran, nicknamed the mule, looked sluggish as he rounded third. A good throw to the plate resulted in a run down, which eventually ended in Muser being tagged out, ending the series.

The Barbarians, formerly known as the Italian Club finally captured the post season crown they had built their roster to get.

Game 3 - Blood Bath

Alcohol is an acquired taste, eventually the stronger more potent stuff ends up tasting the best. I can remember as a kid thinking how disgusting beer tasted, only to crave a cold sudsy just about every day of the week that ends in day. Bloody Marys were at one time beyond my realm of thought. There is a time when putting horse radish on food is a stretch for some people, but to drink it may seem ludicrous. However, just like with beer, most people come around. The whole frame of thought that believes drinking shouldn’t be done before noon is thrown out the window in the Bloody Mary world. Not only does the mixture of tomato juice, Worcester shire sauce, a ton of vodka, horse radish, salt and pepper, and a hint of lime taste great, it gives the common man a perfectly good, mainstream society-acceptable reason to consume copious amounts of alcohol before the noon church bells.

There are two reasons why they call them Bloody Mary’s, first it looks a lot like blood, second, your percentage of blood to alcohol is usually ten times the legal limit after a couple of stiff Bloody Marys. Its like the blood of the beast, it makes your face get all hot and creates a feeling of numbness in your lower body. In game three, the once dominant Galaxy ball club looked numb, as the their long road to the final looked like it finally caught up with them in what was a one sided affair. B. Serino, the ace of the Barbarian staff, was back after missing the first two championship tilts while in Seattle throwing fish to take the hill. The Barbarians tried to gain a stronghold on the 2010 Championship with a game three win. Serino spends time in the Northwest as a fish thrower, one of only three men in the continental United States with the ability to underhand a swordfish twenty plus feet (in Seattle, WA his right arm is considered some what of a mythical creature due to its shear strength resulting from years of unlimited arc, slow pitch softball).

Behind their veteran knuckle ball pitcher, the Barbarians were on fire from the opening bell, never giving Galaxy even a sniff of a lead. Galaxy came out flat at the plate and it spewed on to the field of play as their solid defense lacked confidence. The Barbarians defense came up big again, and their outfield played to their potential, finally getting acclimated to the new bats and associated ball flight. With a sound defensive curtain behind him, Serino let his defense play by peppering the strike zone. Barbarians slaughtered the Galaxy in the most lopsided contest of the 2009 playoffs, 18-1.