Rookies best performance in 6-3 loss to the Divisional leaders

After last week’s loss to the Giants the Ford Rookies needed to find a spark to get themselves back on track. Every person on the Rookie roster has shown good potential both offensively and defensively but the team has not been able to turn this potential into consistent wins. It was not going to get any easier with their next scheduled game against the league-leading and undefeated Koreanz Blue team. When asked about the Rookie chances given their current form co-manager "Gman" Brown replied "The Koreanz are a good team but I know we have the squad to take them down."Our supporters are psyched for this game and have been practising the Mexican wave all week. The groundskeeper gave us a detailed topological map of the HP2 infield which shows the terrain in fine detail including any cracks deeper than 4 feet".

Co-manager "Stealth" Hughes, speaking on condition of anonymity, added, "Our sponsors Zingo Tromsko have supplied us with a few boxes of even more dangerous and experimental supplements for the guys to try before the match and Ford are putting up a car if we win. All the pieces are there and we just have to put it together today".

Rumours have spread that members of the other Diamondblacks Divisional team the B-52’s have already been down to the TAB to bet against the Rookies at 13+. When asked about this after the game outside the Papatoetoe Bridge TAB outlet, B-52’s supercoach Terry "Big-T" Dartnall replied, "Ever since we beat the Rookies earlier in the season it seems that the wheels have fallen off completely; and they don’t seem to be able to buy a win. I might as well earn some pocket money".

The game was scheduled for a 1pm start on HP2. The Koreanz arrived 2 hours before the start for their extensive workout whereas the Rookies started turning up ½ an hour before the game. "We have a loose management structure in place with emphasis on personal responsibility" said "Stealth" as he started handing out cups full of Zingo-treats to the players. "Our relaxed style is in contrast with most teams in the league but we think outside the square. Our one rule to the players is ‘please turn up’ and we ruthlessly enforce this with timely phone calls to the appropriate authorities in the justice system".

So the game began with the Ford Rookies up to bat first. Some great leadoff hitting by Dean "Deano" Henney and the top order stunned the Koreanz (and no doubt the B-52’s watching the game on TV at the TAB) and with the score at 2-0 in favour of the Rookies at the bottom of the first it was clear we had a game on our hands. The Rookie’s ace pitcher John "Bullet" Ma’atafa knew that the fate of the Rookie’s rested squarely on his shoulders and he took up the challenge to limit the Koreanz to 1 run in the first inning. The game was close all the way but in the end with both teams fielding well it came down to offensive production and the Rookies couldn’t quite bring home the runs needed.

The Ford Man-Of-The-Match was awarded to John "Bullet" Ma’atafa for a superb pitching performance. He pitched the entire game and held the Koreanz to 6 runs. "I really had my Get-The-Ball-Over-The-Plate delivery working well today and the team really got behind me with an almost error free performance" said "Bullet" after the game while enjoying a refreshing and well earned chilled beverage.

The Zingo Tromsko Special Mention award goes to the legendary "Pops" McKibben, flashing the leather in right field and making it look easy. He turned back the clock to his MVP days in the Okinawa Independent League in the early 80's. In particular he made a critical full length diving catch late in the game to deny the Koreanz 2 valuable runs.

Finally, if the Rookies ever bring Tellus on board as a sponsor they will be able to have a "Hoover" award for the veteran Fion "Pup" McKibben who was a rock at catcher and trapped virtually every loose ball.

After the game Mark Lieburn, President of corporate communications for the Ford Motor Company, was very enthusiastic about the Rookie performance. "I have been closely following the Rookies all season and I knew they were close to realising their potential. This was clearly their best game of the season. I was so confident that they would win that I drove the Man-Of-The-Match car to the ground (The SUV of the Year – Ford Territory).

"Unfortunately there was a misunderstanding with the lads," Lieburn continued. "They thought we were actually going to give away one of these beauties, but the promotion we were running was that we were going to put it up for auction to the highest bidder during the game. Sadly, the reserve price was not met. So we'll try again next week."

It seems that controversy is never too far from the Rookie camp. Michelle "Stats Queen" Brown the Rookie scorer is currently under investigation by the SSA (Scorer’s Standards Authority) for dubious assignation of base hits to various Rookie batters instead of noting the appropriate fielding error. This allegation of bias was strongly refuted by Michelle : "I call it as I see it and to accuse me of favouring the all conquering, magnificent and invincible Rookies is drawing a long bow in my opinion".

Notice to all persons reading this. The Ford Rookies are always looking for new recruits. If you want to ditch the sport you are playing and try baseball out give the club a ring and tell them the Rookies recommended you. Providing you are over 5 years old mentally and can provide bank manager’s recommendations of solvency we want to hear from you. Be a part of the most successful Divisional team in the history of Divisional Baseball*, you won’t be disappointed.

*actual claim may not be true