An ode to Wiffle Ball: SGF to the Death vs. the City, Sandlot League semifinals

It looked – well, not too rocky

for the SGF to the Death team that day

They had not five but four

but they were ready to play

The fifth was climbing 14ers, somewhere west of here

The rest said hey, meet up: at the Hollywood East field

The opponent –

the city –

they wore blue shirts and matched

SGF meant to iron numbers on the backs

but at least they all wore hats

Johnston – the heart – diving catches and high-fives

Banion – the great physician – the eyes

Lemmon – the starting pitcher – and then

well, Hornsby, the player/manager

a perfect ten

(She goes by Chiles in another life

but let’s return to the game site)

Lemmon knocked the ball over the left field fence

but they took 2, and then

– bases loaded –

well, it’s a short fence

SGF was down 6-1 in a blink

Spirits low, needing a drink

They fought and cursed and swung

but the City’s starter hit his high strikes

it seemed like every one

Another two insurance runs in the top of the fifth

SGF to the Death had three more outs to somehow conquer it

then 2

then 1

A runner on

and Hornsby

walked to the plate

Strike 1 –

kill the umpire –

but she wouldn’t allow hate

because there wasn’t an umpire

a couple of pitches outside and low

her hitting eye certainly showed

another ball, a chance to walk

and a subject of talk

for the generations of wiffle ball stars to come

Hornsby dug in

and whiffed –

strike 2

The pitcher kicked and threw and

Hornsby swung with all her might

expecting the glass to fall

from the stadium lights

as she rounded the bases

and shook her fist

and cheered her teammates on

but oh

this sorry tale

remember how it ends

Hornsby swung and missed

and the season was finished.

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