Cougars: Home Sweet Home

Like many of us, I have fond memories of my hometown, South Holland. It is where I went to school, made great friends and played sports. It is also where I met Julie. A few years after high school we reconnected at Paarlberg Park, the local 16-inch softball field in South Holland. With a bit of symmetry, we now live directly across from Wilmette’s famed 16-inch softball fields at Howard Park.

Along with the Radtkes and Otsukas, the Bobis family also hails from South Holland. While a few years younger than Julie and I, Jeff (Bobi), Greg (Diddy) and Marc (Li’l Rads) were all classmates. In fact, Jeff’s dad, Nick (Coach), was one of our high school guidance counselors.

South Holland, as you may guess from its name, was founded by the Dutch in the mid-1800s. The church quickly became the center of community life for the small band of Dutch settlers. South Holland’s motto is “Faith, Family, Future,” and the church has been a backbone of the community since its inception.

How did some of us South Siders end up on the North Shore, you ask? Well, in Jeff’s case he married a Wilmette girl who attended McKenzie and New Trier. Jeff and Diane were married at St. Joe’s, which is the backbone of Howard Park.

At the wedding, Jeff’s best man was his younger and handsomer brother, Jason. It was a glorious and sweltering September day. During the vows, Jason passed out from the heat.

Jason has not been back to Wilmette and St. Joe’s since the wedding twenty years ago.

That is until last night when he played for the Cougars. Tuesdays are church for the Cougars and we always pray for a win.

While Jason also grew up in South Holland with the rest of us, he now lives in New Holland, which is the historical European name for what we know as mainland Australia.

Jason came from Down Under to help the Cougars get up over the Tappers and he was so hot that the rest of the Cougars almost passed out.

First Inning

The Tappers were men at work and scored seven.

Rads and Martini reached base for the Cougars but were stranded on the bases.

Second Inning

One hit and no runs for the bad guys.

Jason led off the inning by lacing a single to left field. His big brother, Bobi, followed with a similar hit. Not wanting to be left out of the fun, Li’l Rads socked the ball for a single. We had the bases loaded but could not plate any runs.

Third Inning

One hit and no runs for the Tappers.

Tiny Rads crushed a double to left field but we stranded him on the bases.

Fourth Inning

Tappers go down 1-2-3.

Fort beat out an infield single to start the inning but forced out a couple pitches later. Joker walked. JD pummeled a liner to left center to score Joker for our first run. Jason then hit a pitch that landed in the Southern Hemisphere of left field for a ground rule double and an RBI. Big bro Bobi one-upped his little brother with a triple to the gap for our third run.

Fifth Inning

Tappers had four hits and two runs.

Pastor Ted singled up the middle and Tiny Rads hit a line shot up the middle getting Teddy to third but we did not get them in.

Sixth Inning

Tappers came up sevens again to extend their lead.

Cougars went down 1-2-3 and end up on the wrong side of the equator and go down with a score of 16-3.

Even with the loss it was a festive night having Jason with us. It is just a reminder that coming home it is more important than touching home.