End of the Season, by Vista Blue

End of the Season

by Vista Blue

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1.	Play Ball 02:52	buy track
2.	Turn Two 01:39	buy track
3.	Hit the Cut-Off Man 01:35	buy track
4.	Billy Missed the Sign 02:49	buy track
5.	Run, Run, Run 01:48	buy track
6.	Double Switching 02:43	buy track
7.	My Bat, My Glove, and You 01:42	buy track
8.	Lefty Reliever 02:39	buy track
9.	A Life Worth Living 03:24	buy track

about

The last day of the season had finally arrived, and for the hometown Hawks and the visiting Lions, it truly was the final day, as the calendar turned to October. There was a World Series to play, but neither of these teams would be in it.

Many of the players and coaches were already thinking of their families they'd be seeing the next day or the vacations they'd take to celebrate the end of the long season. Others had trains to catch right after the final pitch, with jobs waiting for them back home.

For some, including Hawks skipper Woody Smith and reliever Lefty Hoover, this would be the final game of a career. And while many had contracts to play again the next season, some of the players didn't know where they would be the following April, or if they'd be playing baseball at all.

But none of that mattered on this day. There was still one game left. The fans had come for one last grasp at summer, and it was up to the players to go out and play.

1. Play Ball

The first inning was mostly uneventful. Hawks pitcher Jack Mahaffey gave up a leadoff single, while Lions starter Denver "Ducky" Giles allowed two walks, but neither team scored.

2. Turn Two

The Lions threatened to score in the 2nd when "Billy Bases" Derringer, Weston Smith, and Shrimp Steverson each singled to load the bases, but the Hawks got a double play up the middle to head back to the dugout. The first two Hawks reached, but Giles retired the next three to keep the game scoreless.

3. Hit the Cutoff Man

The Lions went down easy in the 3rd, with only a bloop single by Marty Palmisano, but the Hawks started the scoring in the bottom of the inning. With Ray "Toledo" Stanz on second and Moose Peterson on first, Horace "The Racer" Flowers lined a shot to the right field gap. Chester "Flash" Gilkey ran the ball down and threw a straight shot to Steverson, who got the ball in to Smith at home plate just in time to tag Peterson for the final out. Still, the Hawks took the lead 1-0.

4. Billy Missed the Signs

The Lions wasted another scoring threat in the 4th, when Derringer was caught stealing second base, thinking he had seen the hit and run sign. The Hawks loaded the bases on a single and a pair of walks in the bottom of the frame, but Stanz flied out to right to end it.

5. Run, Run, Run

While the Lions were retired in three straight at bats in the top of the 5th, the Hawks threatened again, taking advantage of poor throws from Weston "The Rifle" Smith behind the plate. Flowers started a two-out rally with a single (his third hit of the day) and stole second and third, before catcher Frankie LaRue walked and stole second himself. Giles avoided trouble by striking out "Mack" McCartney, who was hitless on the day.

6. Double Switching

After Mahaffey easily took care of the Lions again in the top of the 6th, Hawks manager Woody Smith decided to pull him for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the inning, double switching his bottom two positions and bringing in rookie Jake Gibbons at third base. Gibbons led off with a single, and the Hawks loaded the bases again, but Giles limited the damage there.

7. My Bat, My Glove, and You

The Lions finally scored in the top of the 7th as Billy Derringer led off with his third single of the day, went to second on a sac bunt, and came around to tie the game at 1-1 on a Shrimp Steverson single. During the 7th inning stretch, Derringer surprised his girlfriend by proposing to her on the field. Ducky Giles sat the Hawks down in order in the bottom half.

8. Lefty Reliever

The Lions grabbed the lead 2-1 in the top of the 8th, when Sandy Hargrove led off with a single against new Hawks pitcher Leroy "Lefty" Hoover. Hargrove advanced on a soft ground out by Palmisano and then scored on a single by "Hammering" Hank Wagner. Hoover got Murphy to ground into a double play on what would be the final pitch of his 17-year career.

The Hawks tied the score 2-2 in the bottom of the 8th. After a fly out by Gibbons and a routine grounder from "Lightning" Lou Greene, Giles issued three straight walks. Although he seemed to escape trouble with a grounder to third, Hargrove missed it, allowing Petey "Pasta" DiPolito to score the tying run.

9. A Life Worth Living

With the score tied 2-2, Derringer led off the Lions half of the 9th with his fourth hit of the day, a double off of new Hawks pitcher Boyd Quigley. Smith sacrificed Billy Bases to third, and Quigley walked Steverson intentionally. Phil Simpson, pinch hitting for Giles, hit a soft grounder to the mound, and Quigley easily threw Derringer out at home. Flash Gilkey hit a pop up for the final out.

New Lions pitcher Warner Martin retired the first two Hawks in the bottom of the 9th. But then Gibbons singled, followed by a Greene single to put runners at the corners. In the season's final at bat, DiPolito singled to center field, and Gibbons crossed the plate to win the game for the Hawks, 3-2. Manager Woody Smith walked off the field as a winner in his last game.

credits

released March 30, 2018

Recorded by Mike, Mark, and Todd in Nashville and Cincinnati in February-March 2018. Extra vocals by Reese and Donna. All tracks by Mike except (4) by Mike/Reese/Mark and (9) by Todd/Mike.

Thanks to all of our friends who contributed to the game story, including Deuce, Allen, Andy, Rusty, and Christopher.

Cassette release TBA vis Byaaaaaah! Records.

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about

Vista Blue Nashville, Tennessee

Vista Blue is a rock band based in Nashville. Rooted in New Orleans, members have played in The Loblaws (Mutant Pop), Second Saturday (Excellent Records), and The Robinsons (One Eye, Mooster, Killer Records). Influences include: Beatles, Beach Boys, Ramones, Fountains of Wayne, Weezer, MTX, Queers, Apples, etc.

Pre-order the upcoming Seasons 12-inch here: radiantradish.storenvy.com ... more

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