BLASTERS WIN FOURTH STRAIGHT, 20-13

Shortly after the game began, though, it was obvious who had the upper hand. The Ghettoblasters, behind solid hitting from their formidable top six, tagged Smith for three runs in the top of the first inning and then added on three more in the second on the way to a 20-13 victory.

Smith was heckled by the Ghettoblasters while she was on the mound, and she was the object of particularly harsh criticism from opposing starting pitcher Myles Duffy. Duffy, who missed last year's JAM due to philosophical differences, even threatened to break the single-game strikeout record Smith established last year.

"I obviously didn't have my best stuff," the beleaguered Smith said. "After winning so easily last season, I guess I put it into cruise control and lost focus. . . . They weren't exactly gracious about it."

If there is any consolation for Smith, it's that Duffy didn't fare well either. He struggled to find the strike zone through the first two innings, and was finally yanked despite having a five-run lead.

"It's not fair," Duffy said of his early removal from the mound. "I deserved a shot to get the win."

Ghettoblasters captain Chris Crowley said the decision was simple.

"The way he was pitching, it would have been dark by the fifth inning," Crowley said.

Duffy's replacement, Romy Hoque, took the ball with a two strike count on Billy Idleman, and promptly surrendered a home run. The Patches followed this hit with a few more, and by the end of the frame they trailed by only one run.

The Ghettoblasters then turned on the offense to pull away. Led by Most Valuable Jammer George McShane and new initiate Chris Blakely, both of whom tallied six hits, the defending champs established a 15-6 cushion. The lineup clicked from top to bottom, as All-American Ed McDowell, Julie Baker, Matt Fornabaio and Crowley all contributed clutch hits.

Antoine Carr

Not to be overlooked was the performance of Antoine Carr, who batted for Mike Campoli and delivered a key hit for the second year in a row. Carr left promptly after crossing the plate, but he did stop to reflect on the game. "Through these tinted visors, that ball looked as big as a grapefruit," Carr said. "I just rared back and hit the mess out of it. . . . Shut up! Don't be askin' me about the Bulls. At least this game doesn't come down to free throws!"

The Ghettoblasters also turned in an excellent effort in the field. McShane, who at least once attempted to start a "Lets Go McShane" chant, turned in some stellar plays on the left side of the infield, while the rest of the team did a good job of not messing up too badly.

After watching the Ghettoblasters score five times in the top of the ninth, the Patches knew it would be difficult to surmount the 20-10 deficit. But they tried to do just that. After Smith struck out to start the inning, Idleman, Rafaz Hoque, Nalencz and Ozga stroked consecutive hits to close the gap to 20-13.

Rob Andrusco tried to continue the comeback, but his screaming line drive found Campoli's glove at first. Campoli then attempted to end the game by tagging Ozga leaning off first, but he was unable to apply the tag before he returned to the base. This effort proved to be unnecessary, because the next batter, Jim Altomare, grounded softly to Hoque for the final out.

The Ghettoblasters, whose roster has changed dramatically over the years, then celebrated their fourth consecutive title by drinking out of the JAM Cup, which made its first appearance at the JAM. Since the JAM began, the Ghettoblasters have won more titles than the Bulls. The only constants throughout that span have been Crowley and Campoli, both of whom talked about the experience after the game.

"I attribute our success to my ability to consistently find quality players," said Crowley, who was happy to be speaking to somebody face-to-face rather than via telephone. "You can't tell me I don't have an eye for talent."

"We've just gotta keep coming with the thunder, bringing the noise, and taking no prisoners, and we'll be all right," Campoli said. "I just hope I don't get traded to some pathetic West Coast team and get labeled a pretty boy any time soon."

As the Ghettoblasters celebrated, Chris Spellman, the captain of the Patches, wondered what went wrong. After bringing in a car-load of ringers, he can only wonder what he needs to do to reclaim the Cup.

"Annese," Spellman growled. "Why did I pick Annese?"