Three sheets to the wind at Game at The Corners 6/5/16
Casper was not such a friendly ghost Sunday at The Corners.
At our regular Sunday morning softball pick up game at the field off Winton Road in Brighton between the Middle School and the High School, when we have less than 18 players, 3 teams of four or more players are created. Two teams play the field, while the third team bats. Each batting team supplies its own pitcher and catcher.
This shorthanded version of the game requires using the Invisible runner or Ghostrunner rule. Once more than one player reaches base, the invisible runner — or ghosty — replaces the real runner. The ghost runner then advances based upon the hit of the next batter.
The problem is that many of our players are poor at abstract thinking. If they can’t see the ghosty right in front of them, they don’t believe or forget the invisible runner is there. No matter how much we shout, “ghosty on second” or “ghosty on third.”
To help these conceptually and supernaturally challenged softball players, during the week we took a recruiting trip to the Brickyard Trail in Brighton (running between Westfall and Elmwood.)
Casper I, II and III. So as to prevent further panic amongst the good people of the Town of Brighton, there are no ghosts on the Brickyard Trail or at the old Groos Farmhouse [Photo: T.C.]
In the last months, in Do the troubled spirits of John and Irene walk the Brickyard Trail?, we created a suburban legend that ghosts roam the Brickyard Trail, and later, that ghosts live in the old Groos Farmhouse. This is a myth. There are no Ghosts on the Brickyard Trail nor in the old Groos Farmhouse. But there are ghosties. At the Trail, we recruited the triplets, Casper I, II, and III.
For most of the game, the Casper trio aided play to benefit of the literal minded who needed to see it to believe it. In the last inning, however, Casper I floated on third base as the winning run. On a smash to the shortstop, Casper dashed home, literally running through the catcher’s outstretched glove. But, unnervingly, with spectral spikes sharpened, the ghost also tore into its human counterpart, catcher Kid Hansen. Victim of a gory spiking, suffice it to say, Kid may not be having his own.
Casper I and Kid Hansen at the Corners 6/5/16
Disturbed by this unfriendly play, Mike “A-Gal” Raff — channeling his inner Werewolves of London — held an impromptu séance. After a brief interrogation, Mike determined Casper was none other than the Georgia Peach, Ty Cobb himself, known for his vicious spike first slides. The peach fuzz on “Casper’s” aura was the giveaway clue. Cobb’s apparitional appearance was not a complete surprise as a recent video (below) also captured Ty’s supernatural return to baseball.
As for resolving the issue, we would never ban ghosts from enjoying the Game at the Corners. So, humans, please join us Sunday so we will have more than enough players. You gotta see it to believe it.
As for the Sunday game, we were treated to some masterful fielding by Andy. A graduate student and teacher living in Ithaca, Andy was visiting his brother Scott. Andy is left handed had not brought his left handed glove nor was one available. But — a little like St. Louis Brown’s outfielder Pete Gray in 1944 and former pitcher Jim Abbott — Andy deftly switched the ball from his borrowed right handed glove into his left hand.
(right) Brighton Town Supervisor William Moehle [Photo: Nancy Gingold] 6/5/16
As every Sunday, the Brighton Farmer’s Market was in full swing (9am – 1pm) just down the road. Brighton Town Supervisor William Moehle was there at this week’s Eco Fair. Bill has pretty much made it a campaign promise he will join us — although he has been there in spirit — for a Sunday game.
Playing this week was the Charlie Mitchell Band. The quartet has performed at the Wegman’s Café in Penfield, Espanda in the Village Gate, the Little Theatre café and Tavern 135 in East Rochester. Photo taken by Nancy Rae Fox, retired RCSD teacher now living in Hawaii. Nancy’s work has appeared in national publications, Island’s Magazine and Curve.
The Charlie Mitchell Band. Charlie Mitchell (front) sax, Richard Crummins, piano, Pat Parrien, drums, and Eric Davidson, bass [Photo: Nancy Rae Fox] 6/5/16
Farewell Boys and Girls of Summer! Under-40 MVP smashes 5 home runs off Over-40 MVP in Sunday finale
Celebrating the Fourth of July at the Game at the Corners. And much more.
Ball in creek disrupts Game at the Corners; Blake hits for the cycle
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