The Boys and Girls of Summer complete 22nd season of the Game at the Corners.

[9/5/21 The final Sunday of the Game at the Corners. The celebrating team won 25 – 5, courtesy of Kramer’s meatball pitches. Photo: David Kramer] SEE FULL SERIES AT END

The game has its roots in pick up games played 35 years ago at the Hillel School. As families grew, the game disappeared. It started again 16 years ago. The theme is to have fun, and hopefully to pass the love of softball to a younger generation.

— Commissioner D. Esan from Pick up softball games still exist (2015)

Today, on an overcast morning at the diamond adjacent to the Twelve Corners Middle School in Brighton, The Boys and Girls of Summer said goodbye to the Sunday Game at the Corners. After the 2020 season had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, it was softball joy to be once again back on the field of dreams.

Some of the Boys and Girls of Summer (t-b, l-r) Aaron, D. Esan, C. Boyar, M. Raff, D. Kramer, H. Kashtan, J. Schaal, S. Davis, S. Silver and Jackie Silver [Photo: Helen Kashtan]

It’s funny, I can’t remember when and how I came across the game and joined the fun. Over the years, I’ve made great friends and even improved my softball skills. I’ve progressed from 1/2 ★ wannabee all the way to 1 ★ athlete.

Some of the longest tenured players. (t-b, l-r) N. Rogachefsky (left field J. Schaal); D. Esan (third base S. Kashtan); D. Kramer; M. Raff (pitcher D. Kramer, shortstop D. Schmerl, left field J. Schaal) [Photos: D. Tucker] From Brighton Town Supervisor Bill “Shohei” Moehle throws out first pitch, goes two for three with 2 RBI’s in the Game at the Corners

As will you when joining us next May 1st at 9:30am for the Sunday Game at the Corners. For more info, contact [email protected] SEE FULL SERIES AT END

UPDATE

The players decided to schedule a post season Labor Day playoff game. Professional umpire Kramer was hired to officiate. However, when some rain began, everyone bailed except Blankley and Feldman who, when the sun soon returned, enjoyed a picture perfect day for softball.

(left) Labor Day, 9/6/21 Umpire D. Kramer. “I was here. The check better be in the mail.” (right) “I am NOT calling the game. It is suspended until May 1st, 2022” [Photo: A. Blankley] See Umpire added to Game at the Corners. Players subtracted and on another rain out, A Boy and his BG: A Love Story (visual poem)

Labor Day, 9/6/21 A, Blankley and D. Kramer who called himself out for stepping on the plate [Photo: J. Feldman]

Labor Day, 9/6/21 J. Feldman deftly snared consequestive hard shots by A. Blankley [Photo: D. Kramer]

The highlight of the season was Brighton Town Supervisor B. Moehle throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

5/2/21 Brighton Town Supervisor W. Moehle pitching at the Game at the Corners, left fielder N. Rogachefsky, shortstop D. Kramer [Photo: B. Davis] From Brighton Town Supervisor Bill “Shohei” Moehle throws out first pitch, goes two for three with 2 RBI’s in the Game at the Corners

Below are other highlights, republished with permission from Sports Illustrated. SEE FULL SERIES AT END

We had our first Designated Hitter only, Milo “Blomberg.” It felt like April 6th, 1973 when Ron Blomberg became the first major league designated hitter. BTW, Blomberg is Jewish!

DH Milo smacking shots delivered by Esan; catching Feldman. Actually, Rochestarians witnessed the DH in 1969 when the IL had a one year experiment: 48 years ago when Rochester saw its first “Designated Pinch Hitter“

Three were placed in softball jail for making excessive errors. We are lucky everyone wasn’t locked up, although each and every player is at risk.

(l-r) S. Davis, Milo and Harrison. “We were framed by the official scorer who ruled those obvious hits as errors.”

Boyar facing Kramer. (middle pic) “What was wrong with that one?!” (right) Boyar blasts one onto the roof of TCMS, just like in The Natural.

Bad Eye Boyar, aka Robert Redford in The Natural [Pitching Kramer; catching Esan]

Battle of the Bikers. Avid cyclist Schaal set to unload for a triple off avid cyclist Kramer.

Lefty Harrison beats the Ted Williams Shift, also known as the Lou Boudreau Shift. The battery: Kashtan and Feldman

The Old Man and The Rookie

Rosenbaum returns for the late season pennant drive. The only problem is that both teams are dead last in the league. He brings with him Sam “The Kid” Rosenbaum to juice up the offense. Kramer delivers one with his tongue out, looking like MJ when he played baseball for the Birmingham Barons. The Rookie smokes a hard grounder. Will Sam eclipse his old man the way Junior Griffey eclipsed Senior Griffey (although the two did play side by side in the Reds outfield)?

Rosenbaum catching and pitching. Remarkably, he did both at the same time. See Farewell Boys and Girls of Summer! Under-40 MVP smashes 5 home runs off Over-40 MVP in Sunday finale

See the ball in the upper right hand corner after Rosenbaum’s smash. Catcher Boyar and Third Base Feinstein. Note that the game attracted at least two fans.

D. “MJ” Kramer pitching to The Kid. The Kid is a two sport up-and-comer as Sam excels in wrestling.

In his first game this season, Soble proved he could hit a home run using just his arms. Newcomer Audrey from UPitt ran the bases like a Panther. Newcomer M. Davis called his own shot, promptly sending a drive off the Brick Monster in right field.

(l-r) Soble, Audrey and M. Davis. See Ball in creek disrupts Game at the Corners; Blake hits for the cycle and First Girls of Summer at the Game at the Corners; Talker wins it with three run walk off homerun

We had our first noticeable crowd. Schaal claimed the group was the “Go Joe Fan Club.” Perhaps not wanting to witness our quality too closely, the Joes mostly stayed hidden on a walking bridge and the brush near the crick.

It was standing room only so these fans had to watch from afar.

Jackie Silver, a field hockey player turned softballer, made her debut, following in the footsteps of other Girls of Summer.

(top and bottom right) On her last play, Jackie stormed around the bases, ending safely act third; Kashtan tried to hit her with a thrown ball that she successfully dodged. (bottom left) Aaron from the Hillel School was back after a year hiatus. Aaron did not make a single out, but Kashtan came oh so close when he had a long drive of Aaron’s in his glove, but couldn’t quite hold on. Blankley pitching and catching. Remarkably, he did both at the same time. See First Girls of Summer at the Game at the Corners; Talker wins it with three run walk off homerun

Hoffman played second base for the Williams College Eeps (2000 – 2004). Showing he’s still got it, Hoffman fielded flawlessly and hit several long home runs, courtesy of Kramer meatballs. This year the Game featured two Williams alums, M. Hoffman and B. Moehle.

On one pitch, Kramer threw a “real” (non meatball) one, prompting Hoffman to meekly hit the ball foul off the backstop, saying “You got me.” Not bad for someone who never played high school baseball and rode the bench his last year of Little League. (below) Matt Hoffman with budding Epps, double play combo, second and shortstop.

The new guy Blankley flashed some leather in the field; Raff making unintelligible gesture. The barnburner of a game ended 10 – 9.

Boyar catching. See On the electoral road with Albert Blankley

In a previous life, Mike “The Kibitzer Kid” Raff was awarded a trophy for his humorous softball chatter that never slips into outright heckling.

BEST WITTY IN-GAME BANTER, Mike R. See Farewell Boys and Girls of Summer! Under-40 MVP smashes 5 home runs off Over-40 MVP in Sunday finale

Raff and Kramer; photos: Kramer and Raff. They are making disapproving gestures aimed at a “No Show, No Excuse” player who was AWOL for The Game. See Five years ago when Michael Raff found his perfect mark. And over 70 years of history at the B’Nai Brith bowling league

Raff shows he can also do physical comedy.

(left) Schaall was named MVP. Along with other hits, he smoked a clean home run over the left fielder’s head. He hustled home from second on a no-look-back single up the middle. Battling the sun in left field, Schaall tracked down a sure extra base hit. Ever modest, he was surprised to find the ball in his glove. Playing center, Schaall made an Andruw Jones-like basket catch, adding a roll to the oohs and odds of the many fans in attendance. (right) Of the catch, Raff, its victim, moaned he was robbed again. And by his bowling partner at the B’nai B’rith bowling league. See Five years ago when Michael Raff found his perfect mark. And over 70 years of history at the B’Nai Brith bowling league

Shortstop Kramer and first baseman Feinstein re-creating their late inning double play. Kramer fielded a grounder near second base, touched the bag and fired a bullet to Feinstein who had just been inserted as a defensive replacement. Third baseman Raff had directed Kramer to shade closer to second. The positioning paid double dividends.

Commissioner Esan explaining the ground rules. “Whoever hits the ball into the creek retrieves the wet ball regardless of personal risk from snapping turtles.” See Ball in creek disrupts Game at the Corners; Blake hits for the cycle

PREVIOUS SEASONS

2015 Game at the Corners