Morningside Athletic Club · 155 like this45 minutes ago near Minneapolis ·
- Morningside West ‘Shocks the World’ in Softball Game for the Ages
By Dan Miller
AP Softball Writer
MORNINGSIDE, Minnesota (AP) -- In a stunning reversal of fortunes, Morningside West defeated Morningside East 30-25 in an epic softball game on Sunday. On a sundrenched afternoon, a capacity crowd of 63 at historic Weber Field witnessed an improbable comeback that will go down in the MAC history books. Trailing 19-0 in the fourth inning, the West commenced a stunning rally that left the East Siders scratching their heads and wondering where things went wrong. Following the victory, the normally understated West bench coach Jim Mahoney yelled, “We shocked the world!”
The post-game euphoria in the West dugout stood in stark contrast to the dispirited tone evident during the game’s first four innings. Confidence was tested early on, when just prior to the first pitch, West first baseman, Jim Wilde, was overheard asking, “What time is kickoff?” Things did not improve from there as the powerful East bats and a stingy defense helped manager Rick Lavercombe’s East squad take a commanding 19-0 lead after four innings. In a blow to team unity, after an error-filled third inning, West veteran Goose McGowan was overheard placing a call to his realtor and demanding angrily, “Don’t ask questions, just find me a [expletive] house east of [expletive] Grimes!”
Just when it seemed that the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt, East pitcher Phil Mero arrived late to the game in the fourth inning after a weekend bender in Sartell, Minnesota. “Mero and his striped socks really seemed to change the tone of the game,” said West shortstop Mark Stevens. Lavercombe went to his bullpen in the fifth inning and called on the Shoreview native, Mero, to preserve the significant East lead. Mero was rudely welcomed to the mound as the once-dormant West bats came alive during a three-inning barrage of line drives. When asked whether it was Mahoney’s inspirational words that propelled the West rally, West outfielder Jeff Carlson noted, “No, I think it was Mero.”
In a move that is sure to be questioned for years to come, Lavercombe did not change pitchers until Mero had given up 18 runs in three innings. As Mero trotted back to the dugout following the pitching change, chants of “MVP! MVP!” could be heard from the West dugout. The normally unflappable Lavercombe had a testy exchange with reporters after the game. When asked why he left Mero in the game for so long, an exasperated Lavercombe declared, “It’s not like I had Mariano Rivera warming up in the bullpen!”
Despite the hard fought contest, both sides gathered for a post-game pork-fest sponsored by Ryan and Nicki Williams. The mood of the East squad seemed to improve as East members turned their attention to the usual barrage of pork jokes that highlight William’s fondness for smoking meat. East mainstay, and pork lover, Scott Smith giggled, “Pork jokes just make me laugh.”
As the sun set on this idyllic neighborhood, the fallout from today’s legendary game could be seen and heard up and down Grimes Avenue. On the south end of Morningside, East Siders Jeff Framke and Ed Mathie watched film from today’s game and wondered what could have been. For the victors, it was a different response. Farther north on Grimes, West coach Jim Mahoney was seen running down the Grimes hill with his arms outstretched yelling, “I’m the King of the World!”
