Tagged: Softball

July 27, 2010

All-Star Softball

Trevor Cahill and Andrew Bailey were not the only A’s participating in recent All-Star Festivities. Your favorite Ticket Services Representatives took the field this week in the annual front office softball tournament at the Coliseum. With the sun baring down, John, Lauren, and Andrew took the field with their own teams to determine who is the best softballer in the Ticket Services office.

In the first game, Andrew had some early hits turned into runs. By the end of the game, it was Lauren who tied the game with two outs in the bottom of the 7^th inning to keep her team’s rally alive, sending Andrew to the bench to await the consolation game.

In the consolation game, John and Andrew teed-off against each other. John hit a couple of long balls, but the athleticism of Andrew’s team turned them into fly ball outs in the box score. Unfortunately for Andrew, John’s team kept Andrew off the base path all game. In the end, it was John who won the game, leaving Andrew in last place.

For the championship game, Lauren, who already proved her softball skills to the other representatives, took the field. Though her bat and glove shined during the game, Lauren’s team proudly settled for second place. At the end of the day, your favorite Ticket Representatives agree that there was a great time had by all.

Speaking of great times, check out the new Summer 6 Pack, 6 tickets in the Value Deck for one low price!

Ticket Ops Softball Players: (Top L-R) Anuj, Travis, David, John, Josh, Steve (Middle L-R) Catherine, Lauren (Bottom) Andrew

July 14, 2009

Company Softball

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.