Spring 2011 Superlatives Part 2

Sarah Redfield (CF/2B):

Team Sister

            Everyone enjoys the fact that Sarah comes out to hang with us during our games, regardless if she gets the chance to play or not.  She’s good at giving tips, cheering us, and quietly heckling the other teams while keeping score well.  Thanks!

Divided Loyalties

            Unfortunately, Sarah is on another softball team, and while we would never play her team, the question may arise of who she would root for in the situation that we would in fact play them in a scrimmage.  Hmmmmmmm...!

Spring 2011 Superlatives Part I

Now that the spring season has come to an end and all of the stats have been accumulated, I would like to take the time to thank each player of this last VBC Softball team. I really appreciated the effort and commitment that everyone put into the team in the last fifteen games.  Certainly, because of everyone’s great attitudes and spirit, playing softball with you all is one of the highlights of my week every week.  The energy and fun that we produce certainly outweighs any sense of winning or losing, which is why I look forward to returning season after season with you all.  Now, without any further ado, to show my appreciation, I would like to award every core player with two superlatives each:

(in alphabetical order)

Ryan Cahill (LF):

Most Valuable Player (MVP)

This was practically a no-brainer.  Ryan slugged a monstrous 1.258 and kept his average at .548 with 31 at-bats.  Almost every third hit he got was a home run, and then the second third was full of his other extra-base hits.  Whoa!  That explains his 16 RBIs.  Did I mention he also arguably has the best glove and arm on the team?  If you can count on anyone to make a play at the plate happen, whether he's in outfield or not, it's this guy.  

Like I said, practically a no-brainer.  Congratulations for an awesome season, Ryan.

Most Likely to Hit a Pinata

            Ryan will do anything for a home run—including swinging at things way above his head.  But, hey, it’s worked out for him so far!

Game 15: vs. ZDUB Softball

Rusty offense, pitching reins-in Unicorns

With manager Greg Weaver on vacation, the responsibility of getting win #2 on the season fell to bench coach Bobby Weaver.  So, after an extended break of nearly a month, due to the July 4th holiday and a rain postponement, the Unicorns of the Apocalypse took to the Princess Anne Athletic Complex's Red 4 field to close out VBC Softball's Spring 2011 season.

The game started off promising enough with the night's DH1 Nick Wasilewski getting on base with a single, and moving to third on two weakly hit balls back to the pitcher. With two outs, 2B Elisabeth Edge worked a walk before slugger LF Ryan Cahill lined a double to right - plating both Wasilewski and Edge, and moving to third on the throw.

Summer Training

First baseman Nicholas Wasilewski
perching during the mid-practice break

There was no telling how hot it was.  No one out today really needed a thermometer--all one would have to do is look at the sweat-soaked shirts of the Unicorns of the Apocalypse to know: it was certainly hot.

Eight members of the Unicorns journeyed to Kempsville Rec Center yesterday to engage in some summer practice.  Normally they would be staying fresh for fall, but most of the Unicorns were making sure that they stayed loose for the make-up game two Mondays from now.

Sub Overview

With the retirement of Alaina Coletti from VBC Softball, it is only appropriate to take a look at the Unicorns' success with minor league call-ups* to determine who might best aid the Unicorns as a replacement in the fall season.  Here are the nine subs listed on the spring season's roster:
*Editor's note: minor league meaning Duffer minor league, meaning E class, meaning anyone that does not play softball--essentially, everyone is eligible for a call-up

1. Sarah Redfield - Redfield regularly attends Unicorns games and is considered part of the team's 14-man roster that is comprised of the team's primary players.  However, she is also a member of the Blue Bombers, a C-league team that plays on Friday nights, so they only use her when they need to.  Otherwise, she supportively cheers and keeps score.  Redfield is batting .364/.417/.364 this season, having 11 at-bats in 5 games.  She has played softball since high school, which gives her a very sturdy sense of fielding and provides the team with a reliable defensive sub, especially at 2B and in RC and LC.

2. Jen Doo - Though never having played a game yet with VBC Softball, Doo is considered sub-eligible and was on the roster before the Unicorns started needing subs.  Currently she resides in Northern Virginia, making it near impossible to get to any games since they are on Monday nights.  However, Doo proudly sports a Unicorns jersey and is considered ready-to-play-if-necessary by Coach Weaver if she is around during a game.  During throwing practice sessions, Doo has proven herself to have a strong arm and good accuracy, yet her being a novice shows in errors, as occasionally the ball pops out of her glove and lands hard on her legs. The good news is that she has been consistent in continuing to throw despite visible bruises on the hit spots.

Alaina Coletti Announces Retirement

Eight days ago, VBC Softballer Alaina Coletti hinted at an early retirement.  This afternoon at 1:44pm EST, she confirmed that she will in fact not be returning to play with the Unicorns of the Apocalypse in the fall.

"Not that I don't love you guys, but it's just not reasonable for me," Coletti told her skipper in a heartfelt e-mail.  She punctuated the sentence with a colon followed by an open parenthesis.

Coletti joined VBC Softball in 2010 as one of the founding members of The Legion of Fistpumping Turtles, even before the team had a name.  Though inexperienced in softball, her natural athletic abilities and soccer training made her a quick study, and she sped up the batting order in a hurry, procuring the #2 spot in the nightly lineup.

The Turtles' coach, the coach of the Unicorns, Greg Weaver, recollected, "We had a lot of confidence in her ability to get a base hit and aggressively speed around the basepaths.  Most of all, though, we will miss her competitive spirit and great attitude in the dugout.  She was a lot of fun both to cheer with and to have cheering for you."