Austin at the Bat

The outlook wasn’t brilliant for Austin’s Army at the company softball game,
John Austin’s team was down, with but one inning more to play.
But then when a few got on, the decibels got loud,
Hoot and hollers rang all over coming from the crowd.

Sure a few got up to grab another slice of pizza from the box,
Austin was more focused looking cunning as a fox.
The crowd frenzied, with Austin getting another crack,
There’s even money, now, with Austin at the bat.

And now the softball sphere came hurling through the air,
But Austin stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Right across homeplate the ball unheeded lobbed
“No thanks, sir,” said Austin. “Strike one,” the umpire sobbed.

Austin stepped back to the plate,
He stretched following a yawn.
He watched the pitcher toss it through,
As the umpire roared, “Strike two.”

Austin was now ready, he controlled his fate,
He focused on the pitcher, pounded his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Austin’s blow.

Oh, somewhere in the bay area the sun is shining bright,
Music’s playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.
And elsewhere people laugh, and somewhere children shout,
But there is no joy in Oakland- mighty Austin has struck out.

OK, so John Austin, A’s Ticket Services Representative, didn’t actually strike out with the game on the line, but at the annual company softball event Team Stomper Fun Zone defeated Team Austin’s Army in the championship game. But, as John notes, it wasn’t about winning or losing, it was about having fun playing on the same field that has provided so many amazing moments over the last 41 years.

Of special note, Austin’s strikeout poem is a rendition of the classic poem “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Lawrence Thayer, originally published 1888. The original is much better.

(Photos copyright Travis LoDolce)