DONEGAL ACORNS SOFTBALL ROUNDUP 2011

The 2011 was marked by deluges of rain, postponements, long dry spells and plenty of surprises. Would this be the year that we finally won the coveted Willis Stine Memorial trophy after years of frustration? Could we possibly top last year’s best ever win total of 15? Well, whatever you do, don’t touch that trophy Natalie!

This season we welcomed four new players to the team. One, a son of Donegal, is Phil Bixler. Phil is brother of Frances Mateer and Joanne Myers and played for Donegal’s softball team back in the 1970’s and has been a stalwart pitcher on many E-town area teams for decades. Ethan Cleis, son of John Cleis, played many games for us in the middle of the season when we really needed a shot in the arm and is a valuable asset to the team going forward. Additionally, we obtained the services of John Bitner and Greg Yohn who played on a limited basis for us over the season, both lending valuable experience, softball IQ and depth to our roster – hopefully we will have them for more games next year.

After the rains subsided and a record number of games over the first month of the season were rescheduled, the Acorns dug in and reeled of an impressive start to the season, 10-3, our best 13 game start. Not only did we win the games in our division that we should have, we again knocked off several very good Division 2 teams again this year to boost our power point total. This year with the new 3 division realignment, 3 playoff teams would come out of our division, and it was looking very promising that we would be in the playoffs already at the mid-way point.

EMMA, STAY AWAY FROM THAT TROPHY!

Not that ballplayers are superstitious, but like in hockey where it is verboten to gaze at Lord Stanley’s cup for more than a second if you’ve never won it, it is more of a temptation of fate to touch, handle, or God forbid – lift the trophy prematurely. But who’s superstitious? Perhaps no one more than our cagey, competitive Pastor Tom “Mac” Kinnon wanted to hoist this baby after a decade of near misses, dubious scorekeeping and bake-oven August conditions. Is anyone near the golden cup on a wooden stump? Maddie get away from it!

Now, the regular season is winding down to the last half dozen games. The Acorns are still poised to clinch a playoff spot, but the division title is really what we aspire to in the DACSL because winning the league championship is beyond the realm of possibility – a fact that does not escape any of us. Having controlled our own destiny up until the last 4 games of the year, we had to beat our new nemesis, E-town COB, in the season rubber match and then win out to take the title. Unfortunately, they proved too worthy of an opponent and took that game and the division title. We wound up with a record of 16-8 and would bow out of the playoffs with 2 straight losses.

The Saturday after league playoffs ended, the Acorns were hoping to top off a season to be remembered. Typically the first weekend of August is a scorcher, but this year was an exception, with unseasonably cool temps and overcast skies. We opened with Middle Octorara and put up 7 runs in the first inning. The game would be close but we closed them out to stay in the winners’ bracket. Based on experience, we knew that avoiding the losers’ bracket would be our best route to victory, as we could avoid playing some additional games to get through to the final. With only 5 teams in the tournament this year, and Little Britain a step down from years previous, we only had to beat Little Britain, which we did with relative ease, and then wait for our eventual opponent in the title game.

Thanks to some outstanding defense and hitting from Dan and Chris Royer who played shortstop and second base, our girls Jodi Musser, Caitlin Royer and Laura Jo Funk, great pitching from Phil and solid team defense and hitting, we would handle Middle Octorara a second time and conclude the game just before tropical rains would move in. It finally happened, and it was almost anti-climactic. This team exuded confidence all day and our well-rounded line-up proved too talented to really be challenged.

Tom - you can retire now. Musser girls – you can touch the trophy now.

We would like to thank our families who put up with all of the softball playing over a 4 month season and our loyal fans that saw us play great and not so great during the year. We are also grateful for everyone who bought a discount card or sub this year to support the Acorns, and especially Warren Pennypacker who sold over 50 discount cards again this year.

We held our annual softball team picnic at the home of Greg, Jodi, Maddie, Emma and Natalie Musser. Yes it rained, we finished eating just before the storm hit. Then when the rains subsided, we went out to Judy Weidman’s Field to have a fun, relaxing game of whiffle ball. Nothing on the line, just pure fun. Thanks for a great season all. Who said you can’t play in the rain?

Faithfully Submitted,

Mitchell Forry, General Manager.

A special thank you to Mark Kunkle who took over the role of assistant manager and did yeoman’s work, I couldn’t have kept my sanity without you Mark.

NOTE: If you are interested in joining our team, please talk to any of our players, Warren Pennypacker, or myself. Our annual winter meeting is usually the first Sunday of spring, which you are welcome to attend.

If anyone is interested in advertising his or her business at the Armstrong Fields, please contact me for more information. This process must be completed by March 15 in order to have your sign ready for league play in mid-April.

WE ARE A CO-ED TEAM.

AGE DOESN’T MATTER. (Pastor Tom plays!)

TO PLAY, YOU’VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO HIT, RUN, CATCH & THROW.

For further information, contact

Mitch Forry at 367-4752 or MitchellTForry@msn.com

Last updated: 10/1/11