And last, but far from least...

One last beauty night for baseball. Thank goodness, as it is starting to get windy and a wee bit chilly. Almost time to get some frost on your pumpkin. The final game of the season, the ultimate showdown between two teams, the greatest challenge since trying to be civil in the morning before that first cup of coffee. The greatest adventure known to mankind since trying to find your way without GPS. The intense struggle between two forces, an epic battle between two opposing teams to determine who shall get all the glory.

The game of all games. The game to decide who takes home the undeniable honor of taking full grasp of last place. ‘Budweiser’ took the field against the ever dominant ‘Bat Busters’ to try and avoid victory and earn the honour of finishing in the always sought after position of last place. ‘Budweiser’ strategically wooed the ‘Bat Busters’ into a false sense of over-confidence, forcing them to score run after run, blissfully lulling them into an open-ended victory, giving ‘Budweiser’ the required loss to finish with the lofty goal of last place. Congratulations to the ‘Budweiser’ team for their satisfied achievement of that goal. Well done, boys and girls. Condolences to the ‘Bat Busters’ for securing third place, a position of less importance, but a position that cam also be taken heartily.

Congratulations to both teams for a game well played, entertaining and deserving of credit. And, I think there is something else I am missing, a small thing that may have dropped into the shadows and become overlooked. Oh, right! There was a second game of less importance for something called first place. ‘Mooseheads’ took that one. Guess they deserve congratulations as well, since they attained last place for the regular season, but just barely. But seriously, congratulations to one and all, even the 'Bevies & Bats', who were firmly ensconced in second place. The winners, the losers, the movers, the shakiers, the champions, the less than champions, those that just look good and those that just continually bothered to show up in the face of adversity. Troopers, one and all. Traditional at this time to send out kudos to all those involved. Thanks go out to the convener, Sandra, who got to deal with the administration of the league and take the full brunt of those who chose to assume some other form of leadership and take on the various forms of captaincy. Thanks to the captains (Glenn and Kathleen, Sandy and Dana, Edie and Jennifer, Cheryl and Lisa) who deflected the full brunt of the players from the convener and kept the unruly masses in an organized, yet still chaotic, semblance of order. Thanks to all the players for fully participating in the entire affair or just for showing up and being there. Wouldn’t have happened without you. And thanks to Diane for making sure it all gets paid for and nothing goes to waste.

Special thanks to Sid, our umpire, for taking the full brunt of everyone and keeping us honest and within the prescribed time limits of the game. Even the unruly are better off with rules. Only first names, of course. If you do not know last names or recognize them by face, you may still be doing something wrong. Kudos to all. Enjoy the off-season and try to stay in shape. Continue to have fun, even if it is without the entire motley crew. Hard, but perhaps you'll manage with a little extra effort. And that, for once, is all I have to say about that.