THE FUTURE IS NOW!

Game's Cancelled comes out of the Thursday night co-ed softball league and wins the "Destiny" league championship in only their fourth season with CSA.

During the spring 2006 season, Game's Cancelled started the season representing the future of CSA softball. They were a team with an average age of 27, that was hungry, and was still smarting from the playoff disappointment in the "Grand Finale" tournament. They entered the Grand Finale as the Thursday league division champions and the third overall seed, but they weren't ready to compete with the elite teams of CSA on the highest level.

This season, that all changed. After a disappointing loss in the opening game, Game's Cancelled went on a run that few teams in CSA can say they have matched. 11 consecutive wins gave them a regular season division championship and their first ever CSA league title. Eight of the wins were games ended by the mercy rule and they allowed more than 10 runs only two times.

During the regular season, Game's Cancelled didn't have any games that went to the seventh inning and they allowed only 37 runs. An average of 4.6 runs allowed per game. In 11 games during the regular season and playoffs, the league champions allowed 51 total runs.

See below for a game by game recap of the entire season.

Game 1 - March 30, 2006
Lost to Last Call 12-2
The first game of the season was not the start that GC was looking for. They were missing starting pitcher Wade Pearson, so Clay Jordan took the mound. Struggling in the first inning, Clay allowed Last Call to score six runs in the bottom of the first and Game's Cancelled couldn't recover. They hung tough against Last Call, who was in the process of winning their 10th straight game, but fell by mercy rule in the sixth inning.

Click here for the Game's Cancelled starting line-up versus Last Call

Game 2 - April 6, 2006
Win versus Short Bus Crew 15-1
The moment that Game's Cancelled became a champion happened in the first inning of a game that was never really close, even before it started. In the top of the first inning, an infield grounder to third base with one runner on turned out to become an indicator of how close a team Game's Cancelled was. With one runner on base, the ball was thrown past the second baseman into the outfield, where it was fielded by the rightfielder, who threw back to third base. The ball rolled away and was thrown back to second, in an attempt to now get the batter who was advancing from first to second. It rolled away and was thrown home, to the pitcher, who was covering the plate. When time was finally called by the umpire, no one was out, Short Bus Crew had runners on second and third, and Game's Cancelled had all 10 fielders on the infield. When noticed by Short Bus Crew pitcher Leland Dombrowsky, it was then that Leland knew the game was over and he was playing against a future champion.

How long it would take until they won a championship was the only question left.

The defensive cohesiveness kept SBC to only one run in the first and then GC lit Leland up with six runs in the first and four more in the second. Five fourth inning runs made the invoking of the mercy rule in the fifth inning a mere formality.

Click here for the Game's Cancelled starting line-up versus Short Bus Crew

Game 3 - April 13, 2006
Win versus Cleats & Cleavage 16-4
The domination for Game's Cancelled continued. Their first ever game was a 6-4 loss to Cleats & Cleavage on May 12, 2005. A year later it was no contest. Five first inning runs were followed by five second inning runs and they quickly had a 10-0 lead. For the second straight week, GC, won by mercy rule.

Click here for the Game's Cancelled starting line-up versus Cleats & Cleavage

Game 4 - April 27, 2006
Win versus Tough Times 14-8
The most important game of the regular season. Tough Times was playing the back end of a "Little Fenway" doubleheader and had just defeated Last Call. Tough Times was in first place with a 4-0 record, Game's Cancelled was 2-1. The winner of the game would have the inside track to the division title.

The game started out a tough contest. Tough Times scored three runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game and after three innings the game was still even at four. For the first time, the GC defense was shoddy and Tough Times was on a roll. With two outs and no one on in the top of the fourth, Game's Cancelled pitcher Wade Pearson willed the game for his team, and the troops followed suit. A solo homerun by Wade gave GC the lead and the rest of the team came to life. They scored four runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth. The defense settled back in and started a streak that saw them hold the next six opponents to five runs or less.

Game's Cancelled gave Tough Times their first loss of the season, moved up from 5th to 4th in the Destiny standings, and had overcome their first obstacle on their championship run.

Click here for the Game's Cancelled starting line-up versus Tough Times

Game 5 - May 4, 2006
Win versus Your Wife, My Way 18-3
Playing an overmatched opponent, Game's Cancelled routed their opponent despite having only nine players. Your Wife, My Way was coming off their franchises first ever win (after 19 losses). The game was never in doubt. An eight run first inning left no doubt and the game was over by mercy rule in the fourth inning.

Click here for the Game's Cancelled starting line-up versus Your Wife, My Way

Game 6 - Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Win versus Wheels on Ice 14-4
The win over Wheels on Ice was critical. Wheels on Ice was 6-1 entering the game and an upset win would give them an unlikely division title. After allowing three runs in the bottom of the first, Game's Cancelled took control of the game and cruised to their fifth straight win. A seven run third inning blew open the game.

Click here for the Game's Cancelled starting line-up versus Wheels on Ice

Game 7 - May 18, 2006
Win versus F.A.S.T. 24-5
The front end of a doubleheader, the game didn't have any real significance and didn't project to be much of a match-up. F.A.S.T. was already eliminated from playoff contention, and the winner of the game later that night between GC and Bayside Tigers would determine the division champion. After allowing another three run first inning, GC followed their familiar pattern and blew away their overmatched opponent. It was the second time this season that they won by mercy rule in the fourth inning. The most important part of the game was Game's Cancelled finding a back-up pitcher. Sandi Johnson took a turn on the mound. This would end up being critical in the playoffs.

Click here for the Game's Cancelled starting line-up versus F.A.S.T.

Game 8 - May 18, 2006
Win versus Bayside Tigers 15-0
The last game of the regular season was between two teams that were 6-1 and was for the Thursday league division title. The match-up was the first ever between the two teams that were very familiar with each other, but had never played. It wasn't much of a game. It was more of an annihilation. Game's Cancelled won their seventh straight game, a four inning, one hit shutout.

GC burned out to a quick lead, with five first inning runs. A one out single was all that Wade and the Game's Cancelled defense allowed in the first. The second was a repeat of the first. Five more runs scored for GC and except for an interference call with one out that allowed a runner to reach first, Bayside couldn't manage any offense and no runs scored for Bayside and it 10-0 after two. The third went just like the first and second inning, five more Game's Cancelled runs and Bayside went down in order. In the fourth, Bayside was able to prevent Game's Cancelled from adding to the lead, but in the bottom of the inning they needed one run to extend the game to another inning. Bayside couldn't get the run, they went down in order and the game ended by rule in the fourth, 15-0. Game's Cancelled scored 15 runs and Bayside Tigers had 14 batters in the game.

The domination gave Game's Cancelled their second consecutive regular season division title and the fourth seed entering the "Destiny" tournament

Click here for the Game's Cancelled starting line-up versus Bayside Tigers

Game 9 - Round of 16 - Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Win versus (20) Renaissance Renegades by forfeit
Only three batters into the game Renaissance had to forfeit and Game's Cancelled advanced to the quarter-finals.

Click here for the Game's Cancelled starting line-up versus (20) Renaissance Renegades

Game 10 - Quarter-Finals - Thursday, May 25, 2006
Win versus (5) Last Call 13-2
Avenging their only loss of the regular season, Game's Cancelled runs away from their Thursday rival and right into the "Destiny" final four. Click here for the complete game recap

Click here for the Game's Cancelled starting line-up versus (5) Last Call

Game 11 - Semi-Finals - Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Win versus (1) In Every Orphus 13-11
Only four outs away from elimination, GC staged an amazing sixth inning rally and came from behind against the previously undefeated top seed, In Every Orphus. Click here for the complete game recap

Click here for the Game's Cancelled starting line-up versus (1) In Every Orphus

Game 12 - Championship - Thursday, June 1, 2006
Win versus (2) Todd's Team 13-1
Jumping out to an early lead, Game's Cancelled played a nearly perfect game on defense and ended up routing another opponent that was previously undefeated. Click here for the complete game recap

Click here for the Game's Cancelled starting line-up versus (2) Todd's Team

Team Stats

Scoring percentage - By Inning

Runs Scored - Overall - 157
Runs Allowed - Overall - 51
Runs Scored - Regular Season - 118
Runs Allowed - Regular Season - 37
Runs Scored - Tournament - 39
Runs Allowed - Tournament - 14

Games scoring 20 or more runs - 1
Games allowing 5 or less runs - 7
Wins by 10 or more runs - 8
Losses by 10 or more runs - 1

Games lasting seven innings or more - 1
Games lasting six innings - 4
Games lasting five innings - 3
Games lasting four innings - 3

Team Roster

Starting Line-ups