Little League All-Stars

There comes a time in life when, after years of elementary-school triumph and perfect-attendance awards, you make your peace with the idea that you'll probably never win another trophy.

Then, along comes a summer in D.C. that sees you winning two.

First, "Tuesday Heartbreak," my motley crew of a Stetson's Pub Quiz team, goes the distance to win the summer league and take home the coveted [somebody somebody] memorial cup. Which we promptly ask to be filled with beer.

Then, one week later, I learn that across town at the Stanford Softball awards banquet -- an event scheduled against pub quiz -- Coach Chris announced this year's Rookie of the Year and, lo and behold, it's me:

Full disclosure: As the only rookie to string together enough appearances to qualify for, and then actually attend, the season's year-end tournament, I consider this a victory by attrition. Put it this way: it helped my chances that I effectively had no real competition.

Still, to victory, dear readers. To victory.

Capital Softball

It's the end of softball season in D.C. and time for the modest summer's-end tournament. Necessary elements?

First, acquire sponsorship and arrange the league's 70 teams into a seeded double-elimination bracket:

Second, encourage all 70 teams, with branded sun-tents and carnival games in tow, to show up to a NASA-owned softball complex: Third, obtain the services of a caterer to provide the teams with hours of grilled fare:

Then, finally, top it all off by requisitioning a truck that literally dispenses beer from taps protruding from its side:

And there you have it. Play ball!

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Update: After a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to Boston College in the opening round, Stanford defeated Colgate and Johns Hopkins to stay alive and advance to the next round of the play-in bracket. More next week.

Go Card! (Updated)

I've been playing on Stanford's alumni softball team since moving to D.C., in the (slightly intense) Capital Alumni Network league. (Seriously, there are something like 64 teams in the league, and the season ends with a huge double-elimination tournament.)

After a brutal 0-4 start, with punishing losses to perennial powerhouses Maryland, Penn State and Emory (and a foolish loss to Johns Hopkins), something miraculous happened in this weekend's PAC-10 Alumni tournament: we went 3-0, sweeping Cal, Arizona and Arizona State.

PAC-10 Champions! Go Card!

(Now if I could just stop hitting pop-ups . . . )