Golden Moments Before the season, the one thing I knew, No coaching for me, finished, I'm through. But there was no JV, Nicole wanted to play, I guess I'll retire some other day. Jamie and Lisa in casts, not wearing cleats, We'll do quite well, if we stop breaking our feet. Jen started the first game, 5 innings she went, The arm got tired, energy spent. The game still close, put Nicole on the mound, 2 innings, 4 Ks, mowing them down. Morales and Judge, 4 hits and 4 runs, 16-13, the first game we won. Esopus came to town, facing their doom, Outfield didn't know they should give us some room. First 3 batters came up and loaded the bases, Pritzlaff hit a grand slam, we're off to the races. Jen hit a homer,  a powerful smack, Then Nicole and Karley went back to back. Morales and Pesavento, hitting it well, 2 hits each from Meagan and Michelle. Esopus again, the bats were alive, Morales had 5 hits and 5 RBIs. Karley and Heather, hits each with 4, Twice Gretchen and Tanya came round to score. Kingston Green facing Jen, she simply was great, Only 15 batters reaching the plate. Pesavento, Sciortino, hot grounders today, Foscaldi caught a pop up for a double play. Their second hit,  was also erased, Nicole threw her out stealing second base. Scored 35 runs, another big day Liz, Sarah, and Megan leading the way We lost our first game, what can you say, We hit the ball well, but they made all the plays. Out in the field, 8 errors we made, Lets gather our senses for the next game. Went to Esopus, tried something new, Tanya picked the cheer,  "Big Hits - Big Blue". 11 batters got up before our first out, Tanya and Gretchen, big hits in the rout. With Nicole on the mound, 2 hits was their fate, Sarah and Shannon handled the plate. Home against Ulster, pull out the bats, Jen and Nicole led the attack. Morales had 6 walks, scoring 4 runs, The offensive machine, had just begun. Jonni and Michelle, stinging the ball, 30-8 , the final score. It was hot up in Ulster, around 95, Lets play the game, and hope we survive. Heather and Lisa rallied us on, Both left the game injured, seasons were gone. Coach got excited, argued some calls, Jonni came off the bench and hammered the ball. Rainbows came out, a sign from the weather, The comeback completed, for Lisa and Heather. They lit a fire, gave us a spark, Game balls to the pair, for courage and heart. To the Armory again, Kingston Green is our foe, Finding it hard to get on a roll. Bases loaded, 2 outs, the game still real tight, Karley drove home all three, with a triple to right. The defense was threatened, who'll make a big play, Foscaldi and Hanley,  saved us today. Shannon singled and scored, using her speed, The deciding run, for the 12-2  lead. It got near the end, no one wanted to play, Too many phone calls, the game canceled today. The last practice was hot, a little it rained, Bugs and bees around, the girls all complained. We disturbed a nest, baby bunnies abound, We gave them a roof, our bucket upside down. Kingston Purple to town, came late again, Nicole and Jen pitched a 1 hit gem. Their only hit, the relay erased, Gretchen-Jen-Tanya, an out at third base. Working hard for runs, this could be a fight, Sarah's hit, Michelle's bunt, Megan's single to right. Heather in the dugout, to cheer on the team, Waiting for the offense to gather some steam. The third inning exploded, scoring 8 runs, Sciortino hit 2 triples, Pritzlaff with 1, Morales a double for 2 RBIs, Halstead to right, a sacrifice fly. Later in the game, the offense not done, Liz and Gretchen with big hits, Jen a home run. Remember the goal from our very first day, To learn something new, get better each game. We learned, we won, with moments to treasure, A successful season, by anyone's measure. A dominating year, all the way through, Winning 7 games by the 10 run rule. A 9 and 1 record, the story all told, A final salute, well done Highland Gold !                                               Coach Phil                                             7/1/99