PAX Centurion - Winter 2016 - 2017

Page 30 • PAX CENTURION • Winter 2016-2017 617-989-BPPA (2772) Softball goes down to the wire (Wooden bats) F or the third consecutive year eight teams came together to do battle and raise money for a great cause. This year the five Areas, as well as H.Q., Spec. Ops. and Eversource met at M St. Park in South Boston early Saturday morning on October 29 th to participate in an all-day softball tournament. With one small change to make it a more interesting tournament: wooden bats only this year! The two-time defending champion Area B was again the favorite to win it all. Dave Malcolm’s AreaA team faced GerryAgemian’s Area D team in the first semifinal. AreaAprevailed in a great game which could have gone either way, 5 to 4. Kevin Rooney’s Area B team took on Bruce Grimes’ Eversource team in the second semifinal. Area B outlasted Eversource with a 6 to 3 victory due to a key hit by Capt. Hosein. The game was tied at 3 to 3 late when “Hadji” drilled a line-drive over the 3 rd baseman’s head driving in 2 runs to seal the victory. It’s become a hot rivalry between these four teams. They face each other every year in the semifinals to determine who gets to the finals. This led to a final confrontation between the powerhouseArea B and the underdogAreaA. The game was the type all little boys and old chubby cops dream of being involved in. AreaAheld a 5 to 3 lead for most of the game. Neither team could dent the outstanding defense both teams were displaying. The game went into the top of the 7th whereArea B pushed across two runs to tie the game. AreaAwas quickly disposed of in the bottom of the 7 th . The outcome would have to be decided in extra innings. Area B scored 1 run in the top of the 8 th to take the lead. AreaA responded by loading the bases with two outs in the bottom of the 8 th . With Capt. Hosein on the mound for Area B and Javier Velasquez at bat for AreaA. It would come down to the last pitch. Javier ripped a line drive over the 1 st baseman head into right field to drive in two runs to win the game and the tournament for AreaA! No “3-peat” for Area B! See you guys next year! By Coach Ed MacPherson