Misplaced & Found: Inaugural Camp Gray Alumni Softball Game

By: Skip Carlson
Camp Gray Sports Writer

In what turned out to be a perfectly marvelous afternoon, dozens of Camp Gray staff alumni past and present recently gathered at the Fr. Cassidy Athletic Field at Camp Gray for the Inaugural Camp Gray Alumni Softball Game.

After players warmed up, and caught up (late 90's staff members Brian Spader and Shaun Crumb made the trek back to this humble camp - meaning there was a lot of time needed to catch up!), teams were chosen. Those staff that have at least 4 years of experience serving at Camp Gray were placed on one team (affectionately known as the Geriatrics - or Jerrys for short), while those that are bit more green to the Camp Gray staff were placed on the other team (known simply as the Domin-8-ters).

The Jerrys won the pregame coin toss, and so were awarded with the home-field honors, which seemed appropriate as the Jerry's had nearly 60 years of combined staff experience.

After two innings, the Jerrys had a commanding 6-1 lead, which had the mostly pro-Jerry crowd in an absolute tizzy! Before long, however, the Domin-8-tors settled in, and came storming back with 10 runs over the next 3 innings. After five innings, the score was 11-10, in favor of the Jerrys, but the Domin-8-tors weren't backing down.

The game continued on in this back-and-forth fashion all the way until the top of the 9th, when the Domin-8-tors came to the plate looking to extend their two-run lead, because due up in the bottom of the 9th was the top of the order for the Jerrys: "The Big 3" of Jeff, Shaun, and Brian.

The Jerry's defense came up big in the top of the 9th with several clutch plays, and were able to keep the Domin-8-tors from scoring any runs, however, the Jerrys were only able to score 2-runs in the bottom half of the 9th, knotting the score at 16.

Not unlike the 2002 MLB All Star game, this game ended in a tie, not because the players didn't want to continue, but because the annual fall community picnic at Camp Gray was on-deck (pun entirely and excitedly intended!), meaning hundreds of local folks would be arriving at camp anytime to take in the celebration of Mass, a delicious meal, and fellowship with the staff and volunteers of Camp Gray.

While the decision to end in a tie was difficult, it adds fuel to this young rivalry, and will make future alumni softball games at Camp Gray even more exciting. Won't you join us next year? Thanks to all those that made the first-ever Camp Gray alumni softball game such a huge success.