The 9th, And Final?, Inning- A Dukes' Tale

In 2008, I began writing an annual poem about the baseball team that plays within the friendly confines of my head.  I published these poems on Good Friday each year to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.

Now, that it is 2016, it is time to publish the 9th poem about the Dukes.  Seeing that a baseball game generally lasts 9 innings, my intent is for this poem to be the final installment of poems about the Dukes.  Of course, just as baseball game sometimes goes more than nine innings, I reserve the right to take this collection of poems into extra innings in the future.

Having said that, please enjoy THE 9TH, AND FINAL?, INNING.

Peace

A collection of all nine poems is available here.

Also, a few years ago, I put the adventures of the Dukes into novel form.  You can read that tale, THE GAMBLE, here.

The 9th, and Final?, Inning

For the Dukes, the ninth inning is the best one of all

Win or lose, it gives closure to one and to all

At times, it goes quickly three up and three down

The Dukes seal a win ‘gainst some visiting clowns

Of course, there are times when a big lead is lost

A ninth inning comeback...defeat is the cost

Then, there is the flip side

Dukes come from behind

And pull out a win

Victory’s sight to the blind

That’s probably the best for those

There at the end

A walk-off surprise they can share with a friend

Indeed in the ninth, clocks are usually late

A sleepy ride home for the patient awaits

Yet, bed time or not, they hold on in their seats

To savor the game, every pitch is a treat

Will it go to the tenth? There’s a chance that could be

11 or 12?  More free baseball to see.

As long as the Dukes have a pitch left to throw

As long as their bats have more outs left you know

The faithful will be there as loud as can be

Past midnight until even 2:23.

c2016 Mike Tauser

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Spartan Senior Has Business to Take Care of Before Season Opener

Before taking the floor for the 2015-16 season, Scarborough Senior Hunter Janacek has a little bit of business to take care of next Wednesday afternoon.  Janacek who was the District 22-4A Offensive Player of the Year last season is scheduled to formalize his commitment to Lafayette University on November 11 by signing a National Letter of Intent.

Janacek and his Spartan teammates are preparing to follow up on their historical 2014-15 campaign, which included the first basketball play-off win in school history.  Janacek will be at Lafayette, in Easton, Pennsylvania for the 2016-17 school year.

Lafayette is hosting an online special on the 11th, during which they will reveal their signing class, including Janacek.

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With just three weeks to go until their first game, here's a link to a video that highlights what the Scarborough Spartans have been doing to prepare for the season. November 17 is opening night.