OSI 0 - Amusements Unlimited 19

GLASTONBURY

Finally. In the last game of the season.

After 16 games, after over 100 innings, after well over 1,000 at bats, TeamOSI finally got to see the majesty of a batted ball arcing over the fence. A home run.

No other sport has a play like the home run; it is unique to baseball. No other sport has that singular pause in the game that follows the home run swing, that moment of absolute timelessness when the ball leaves the bat, when everyone knows it has the distance, when there is nothing anyone can do but watch the rise of the ball. There's a sudden quiet, sometimes even a collective gasp--time pauses. Then the clock ticks again and everyone becomes an awed spectator, some cheering, some screaming, some just watching. There's no game clock to consider as in other sports, no worrying if the field goal is going to be good, no wondering if the three-pointer is going in. There's nothing to do but watch and enjoy. At that moment, no one has to do anything, the batter doesn't even have to run; all anyone can do--even the opposing players--is to watch, marvel, appreciate.

And TeamOSI finally got to experience it. A home run.

Unfortunately, Open Solutions didn't hit the home run. It was the Amusements Unlimited leftfielder who hit the home run. TeamOSI was only the spectators, watching as the ball sailed over their heads, over the outfield, and over the fence.

They got to watch twice, in fact, as the guy actually hit two home runs. Amusements Unlimited also banged another four or five shots past the outfielders that didn't go over the fence, but only bounced up against it for doubles and triples. There were plenty of other hits, too, as Amusements racked up 19 runs in the first four innings--which was not very "amusing" at all.

Still, TeamOSI was not to be outdone. They two managed a first, too. Not quite as impressive as a home run, not quite as sexy, but they did do something they've never done before.

They scored no runs. None. Zero. Zilch. Nil. Nada. Zip. Squat. Goose eggs. Donuts. Jack. Diddly. Bumpkiss.

Yet there is one positive about getting shut out on the last game of the season. The shut out becomes the low point of the season, and by contrast it then improves everything that came before it--which makes TeamOSI's first season a great year.