Movers and Handshakers

On the eve of the Stanley Cup finals, the Cougars faced off against Slaughter House 9 last night.

Hockey and 16” softball do not have a whole bunch in common.  Sure, the goal in each is to score more than the opponent and we both use some sort of stick. Oh, and we both have dedicated fans!

But really, other than that, there are not many similarities in the actual game. 

One connection we have with hockey is the handshake line after the contest is completed.  This custom of sportsmanship, along with the singing of the national anthem, can create some of the most touching moments in sports, bookending the actual competition. 

In sports, a handshake is an expression of praise and respect for an opponent.

We all teach it to our kids in all youth sports but at some point, as the kids get older, when the stakes are higher, the postgame greeting wanes.

Other sports have postgame greetings but it is mostly just dap in the NBA, handshakes by the QB and head coach for the cameras in the NFL, and greetings in the MLB are nonexistent.

The handshake is believed by some to have begun as a sign of peace by demonstrating that you and your foe hold no weapons. 

There was no pregame handshake but we certainly were not holding any weapons in the first inning.  We saw five pitches and made three quick outs.  In our opponent’s first shot, they scratched out a run with some clutch two out hitting.  Them 1.  We 0. 

In our second chance, we saw hits by Danielsen, Radtke (the younger, quarter inch shorter one), McDonnell and Otsuka for three scores.  They copied our game plan and pushed three across.  Enemy 4.  Allies 3.

The third round mirrored the first as we went down 1-2-3 as did our rivals.  Same score.

In the fourth frame we scored three with hits by Radtke (the svelte fit one), Danielsen, Bobis, McDonnell and Lipsey.   Boomgaarden saved us in the bottom of the inning with two superb snags in the outfield for a rapid inning.  Cougars with 6.  Slaughter House 9 with 4.

In our final trio of innings, Flannery and Lipinski each had two hits but we could not get them across the plate.  Our opponent did get one in the sixth and sure made a run for it in the bottom of the seventh. 

In that final frame they gave us a scare.  After two groundouts, they had a nice line shot up the middle to put the tying run on the bases.  The winning run came to the dish.  Fortier floated the first pitch into the blue sky and it fell dead red just behind the plate for a strike.  Ahead in the count and with room to maneuver, he rocked his arm and tossed an eephus pitch that was hit back to the mound for a putout at first for the final out.

Cougars triumphant 6 - 5.

No handshakes at the Flannery postgame.  Just lots of hugs and kisses (and lots of BBQ and napkins) as we celebrated a victory.  The Cougar kids and wives made it our largest postgame crowd with the wonderful weather and with school winding down.  

The action on the ice is intense and the fight on the field is fierce.  The handshake line is a restorative act.  Celebrate the success or the slaughter with sportsmanship.   

 Go Hawks!  Go Cougars!