Mohawk Natives Legends of Sports

A short story of an old friend Mike Sunday, a Snye resident, now deceased. This one is in 1980 as teammates on a softball team for Pat & Rays Hotel Bar in Rooseveltown, NY.

During a home game vs. American Legion. It was a nip and tuck affair, going into final inning and game tied 6-6 each. The visitors are at bat and one man on base. He steals second base and Mike tries to throw him out, but the ball hits a bump and ends up at mid center field and the runner ends up at 3rd base, where I was playing. Our pitcher mows down two batters. We call time, and the Legions best batter was on deck. Our plan to Kerney was all fast pitches and his first pitch was on fire, and the swing hit the ball straight up about 25 ft. high. Mike (catcher) was in a quandary while he is watching the pop up. As the ball came down he throws his glove to the side. Meanwhile the base runner on third took off thinking he (Mike) can’t catch the ball without his glove. But Mike fooled everybody as he cupped his mask and caught the ball and tagged the runner for the third out. By the time I reached home plate I hollered, “Why throw the glove?”

He answered I remembered- throw something and I got confused. By this time the whole infield was closing in on him and barely able to contain themselves. They started hugging him one by one. As the Empire came to the group he said, “The game is not over”.

We called time again, to settle our players down, as Mike’s brother Bobby was up next, but he was still holding his stomach too. The Legionnaire’s hit the field with a funny look-what happened here? And tried to call time, but Empire declined and ordered “Batter up”. By then Bob had cooled down and was ready. Something unbelievable happened. The first pitch was smacked over the right field fence and a walk-off win! I didn’t mention brother Bob was also a power-hitter himself.

I remember this game like it happened last week. Another “Wahonnise Tsi-Snaihne”.

I realize I am out of season, but humor never is. I also think of Mike at the end of every year. His name was “Ohserase”

By R.T.