Bammel Softball Wanders into Doubleheader Split; Now 3-5 on the season

Associated Press - Wire Feed

NCS BASEBALL FIELD - The fall co-ed softball schedule took a temporary Halloween hiatus last week. Unfortunately, the initial lukewarm performance of a bye-week beleaguered Bammel lineup made it feel like the co-ed caravan had been wandering for 40 years in a softball scoring wilderness. The team could not catch fire --- by pillar, cloud or at the plate --- and fell in the early match to Champions. However, a late spark in the first game would allow hope to spring eternal in the second contest of the night as a resilient roster of nearly 20 players bounced back with just enough swagger to claim victory over an equally determined Spring Creek squad. The split record for the evening brings Bammel's record to 3-5 on the season with only a season-ending playoff remaining next week.

After dispersing into the wild following a loss two weeks ago, Bammel softball nomads from various lineages re-organized on the arid, chalk-outlined savannah for an early game re-match against a familiar opponent. Team captain and spiritual leader, Jason Dyniewski, put forth an initial lineup consisting of key members from several of the family tribes of Spring including Robyn Archer (lf), Taylor Rathbun (lc), Macy Archer (rc), Carley Pope (rf), Chris Russo (3b), Aaron Milam (ss), Mandy Chan (2b), Russell Wiggins (1b), Dennis Huff (p) and Jason Dyniewski (c). As reinforcements continued to file in, players began alternating shifts so much that it was easy to mistake this softball squad for a hockey team. The depth on defense paid off handsomely as both infield and outfield groups played well. A few highlight reel moments occurred late in the game as 2b Cassie Miller improvised on a ricocheted ground ball off of 1b Russell Wiggins to turn a force at second while late-inning P Mandy Chan displayed her fielding chops by snagging a hot shot and tossing to Cassie at second for another force out.

Unfortunately, not even a pre-game, players-only email message from Dennis Huff was capable of igniting any offensive confidence in the team. Faced with the proposition of entering the promised land of softball victory, batter after batter set forth to scout home plate but quickly returned to the fold with nothing but reports of despair as outs on the base-paths piled up. It appeared that this group was destined to go hungry for runs until two unlikely individuals changed the forecast. With victory out of reach in the final inning, Mason Rathbun's 1-out single was the start of a shutout buster when Robyn Archer laced a 2-out single to drive Mason home and break the string of zeros. After so many had returned with dire reports, Mason and Robyn returned to the dugout triumphant with promising tales of a land where softball runs flowed like milk and honey! The battle against Champions would be lost but the tide of the larger crusade would turn for the better on this news!

The late-inning inspiration of the first game carried into the second match of the evening against Spring Creek. The manager's card may have looked different --- with a re-worked starting lineup of Don Allen (lf), Cameron Ruthstrom (lc), Mason Rathbun (rc), John Taylor (rf), Aaron Milam (3b), Cole Ruthstrom (ss), Cassie Miller (2b), Kevin Ruthstrom (1b), Mandy Chan (p) and Coco Stewart (c) --- but the strong defensive play of the team never skipped a beat. Several players made cases for Gold Gloves including a scintillating 5-4-3 double play from Aaron to Cassie to Kevin, a dandy snag of a laser line drive by 2b substitute Robyn Archer and a sparkling out at first-base when 3b Aaron Milam fired a one-hop bullet that 1b substitute Macy Archer dug out of the dirt with silky smooth glove work. Pitcher Mandy Chan delivered such an inspiring ministry of defense that her play could only be summed up as a sermon on the mound. Overall, the interior defense robbed the opposition of enough hits that one frustrated hitter exclaimed how "the infield is normally a house of error, but [Bammel] has made it a den of thieves!" upon his return to the dugout.

Offensively, the team found itself down 6-3 heading into the fourth inning but this would all change on the swing of another Rathbun bat. With one out and one run in, Taylor Rathbun unleashed a ferocious drive to left center-field that resulted in a 2-run, in-the-park-home-run and knotted the game at 6-6. This proved to be the catalyst the team needed as Bammel rode the momentum to plate five more runs in the 5th inning and secure victory. The offense was also aided by the veteran bats of designated hitter Chris Russo and uber-utilityman John Zavala who returned to the team after spending the bulk of the season providing instruction to the team's IAH affiliate. It should be noted that another family softball record was set as all three members of the Ruthstrom father-son combo --- Kevin, Cameron and Cole --- scored a run in the same game.

As the season nears completion, it is clear that a special camaraderie continues to grow between the players and fans. Not even a stint on the disabled list could keep the veteran presence of Danielle Savaria, Taylor Huff or Caleb Davis away from the ball park. In fact, Caleb conducted the final rounds of his physical therapy among the crowd on Monday night as he chased his kids around while wife Kari Davis contributed as a late inning defensive replacement off the bench. Even Dr. Bob Stewart was back in the stands to show his support after ironing out a 9.75% tithe rate in his re-worked contract extension with the team. This should allow the front office to focus attention on contract extensions with pitching coach Kent Pope and scouting director Dennis Huff in the off-season.

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Borrowing a page from the NBA, essentially all league teams are eligible to make the playoffs regardless of regular season record. As a result, Bammel fans will be treated to a final week of fall co-ed softball next Monday, Nov 14 when the post-season tournament is played. The 7pm game will feature #2 Bammel against #3 Spring Creek with the winner advancing to face #1 Champions in the title bout at 8pm --- weather permitting.

See you at the park!