Congratulations to the Winners of the First Tocci Softball competition, EVERYONE WHO PLAYED!

For those who missed the Tocci First Ever East/West Softball Game, you missed a beaut. The West built up an 8-2 lead with timely hitting and some power strokes from their big bats. Kudos to the West, hitting when the setting sun was making life miserable for most of the hitters. The East battled back with a six-run inning in the bottom of the 7th, to force extra innings. In the 9th both sides hit home runs – The West hit one to take a 3-run lead in the top of the 9th and the East hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 9th. This game exemplified the purpose of the event, to have a ton of fun and have everyone come out of it glad to have played. Great unity inside the office is fostered by great unity outside of the office. Thank you everyone for participating.

Particular thanks to Xiaoxiao for her photography and continual (and I mean continual) commentary during the game. Shout outs to Joe Ferolito, pitching a complete game and struck out the side in the 5th, Peter Tremblay, hitting the three-run home run in the top of the 9th inning to ultimately push his team to victory, James (“the Big Cat”) hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the 9th to threaten the West’s victory. Nice play by Jared to snare a scalding line drive at 3B. That’s why, in slow-pitch softball, you need an athlete at that potentially life-threatening position. Three for three by Joe Flaherty, who likewise played a stalwart 1B, Val hitting a sweet line drive single up the middle to score two runs in the 6th when he had previously never played softball (or baseball) before, The John Tocci (hitting) and Tia (running for our fearless and gimpy leader) combination that went three for three including the hit that started off the fateful six-run 7th inning.

Jeff arrived late and proceeded to make a big impact with two hits. Brian, who went three for four and befuddled opposing baserunners (particularly Tammi squawking and flapping her arms as she rounded the base straight into an out) as he ingeniously impersonated the East’s third base coach whenever the East foolishly forgot to man that position. Great outfield defense by David (who had seven or eight put-outs by himself), Greg, and Bryan. Great infield defense from Chuck, Ryan T., Mark, Melissa (sweet work at 1B), and Katie (great work at 2B) with a nice- but unfortunately illegal – effort to prevent Jeff from getting onto the second base in the fateful top of the 9th. Great games from Joanne C., Alli, Andrew, and Hector (who also excelled in the Postgame festivities). Ashwin applied the old “run until someone tags you out” strategy that apparently is how you play Cricket (and usually very effective in Little League). Also nice work by Tammi’s sons, Mitchell playing a valiant 2B for the West and Nick tipping the balance with a great play at SS and 3B.

After a game like that, all I can say is “Anyone want a REMATCH?”