The Newtown Sandy Hooks appeared to be facing insurmountable odds as they entered Sunday's meeting with cross county rival Bridgeport Orators in what was scheduled to be an '1886' overhand match. Vintage 'Joe' Vigorito, anticipating a full-force effort by the Newtowners, brought season veteran 'Cap' Caparosa out of mothballs to face 'Muhl' Snyder in what was expected to be an epic dual at Seaside Park. Unfortunately, Snyder's long planned vacation in Estonia put a serious crimp in everyone's plans as the Newtowner's stood with no one to man the box for the day's highlight event.

'Shutta' Shaw, anticipating pending doom, did his level best to convince the Bridgeport skipper to reconsider the '80's match in favor of a couple of '60's games when Phil '90' Keane, Newtown's stalwart underhand hurler, stepped forward to offer his services. Keane, suffering from the affects of a twenty year old rotator cuff injury, is known to be unable to peg the ball between bases so the possibility of being able to pitch for seven innings of an 'overhand' game seemed remote by anyone's imagination. In spite of that fact, the Sandy Hook's GM agreed to bite the bullet and let a seven inning '80's match be the pick of the day.

As the Orators took the field for the match Shaw, being the only person dressed for the occasion, was thrust into the role as umpire.

First Newtown batter Matt Maleri singled on the initial offering from 'Cap' then, as the Bridgeport hurler dabbled with his control, 'Lightning' struck second, third and home on passed balls and wild pitches to place a single run on the board in the first stanza. Bridgeport knotted the score at one in the final half of the inning as Keane acclimated himself with his new role and able backstop Toomey. Newtown reacted in the second as a walk and wild pitches accounted for another run for the Hooks.

Keane never showing anything overpowering from fifty feet, combined off-speed junk and pinpoint control to kept the Orator batters off-balance throughout the afternoon. In spite of that fact, Bridgeport responded in the bottom of the second frame with two runs of their own to take a three to two lead.

In the top of the third the wheels came off the Bridgeport' wagon. Never really in control of his delivery and facing a mental block of Knoblauchian proportions, Caparosa walked five Newtown batters while keeping his gritty battery mate 'Gozer' Gleza scurrying to the backstop. The sum total of his efforts resulted in a stunning seven run, 20 minute, headache-inducing marathon that finished his efforts for the day and put the Sandy Hooks in the driver's seat.

Keane toiled for the next four and a half innings as the Orators manufactured serious challenges that were thwarted by miraculous plays in the field. 'Lightning' Maleri and his infielding team supported Keane with great aplomb. Maleri showcased a Jeterlike presence behind second and third sack eradicating numerous close plays with over the shoulder acrobatic catches and by initiating two inning-ending double plays.

Unable to find many strikable pitches, the Newtown bats never really showed evidence of their prowess with the bat until they ignited a four run top of the seventh to edge the tally to 13 to 5. Those four runs would eventually provide the margin of victory for the Sandy Hooks. (Unfortunately, in the excitement of the moment, the scorebook is empty in the last two frames so this 'scribe' has no idea who was responsible for those runs)

In the bottom of the frame, as Keane seemed to be succumbing to the 90-degree heat and high humidity, Bridgeport responded with four aces of their own. However, thanks to the constant drone of third sacker (and resident cheerleader) 'Herman' Weiner to 'Get a grip!', '90' closed out the final inning and the match without further damage.

As congratulations were heaped in Keane's direction, '90' proved on this day, no one should underestimate the ability of a true competitor.

After a brief intermission, the stalwarts from Newtown retook the field to play an 1864 match with eight players. 'Hoboy' Norwich pitched the visitors to an entertaining 6 to 4 victory while the constant heat and building humidity sapped any drive to finish the match. In spite of that fact, both sides persevered and eventually both clubs met at center field, exchanged pleasantries, and toasted a long friendship.

On September 19th, the Sandy Hooks travel to Colt Meadows in Hartford to play the Providence Grays in 1886 ball. This final event on the Colt Meadow's calendar is expected to be a barnburner as the Sandy Hooks look to avenge defeat at the hands of the Grays at Old Bethpage earlier in the month.

The Sandy Hooks look forward to the closing match of the 2009 season with the Orators at McLaughlin Vineyards, tentatively scheduled for October 10. This match replaces the September 12 currently residing on the schedule.

	Teirnan Keane maintains the bats while his old man toiles in the Summer heat.