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WPCNR PRESS BOX. September 26, 2004: As fall fast pitch softball gets underway, and talk and media focus turns to baseball fall classics, WPCNR returns to celebrate in verse and photograph the splendid triumph of the Champions Nobody Knew About, except the thousands who love them: The New York-New Jersey Juggernaut, Champions of the National Pro Fastpitch league.
To do the honors in the Grantland Rice style, we turn to the bard of the diamond, the Howard Cosell of poets, the Shakespeare of sports verse, Fast Pitch Johnny:
Hail to the Juggernaut
By Fast Pitch Johnny
The–a Juggernauts Win! Photo, Courtesy, NY-NJ Juggernaut
The women who play are scattered to East and West.
Not to be forgotten their moments in hazy sun the diamond yields
Beautiful and strong they assembled in spring dedicated themselves to a dreamer’s quest
Now they depart as summer rays cast sharp shadows on empty fields.
Championship Lineup, August 29, 2004, Akron, Ohio. Photo, Courtesy Nick Leto.
From campus, office, field, school and lab they came,
To create a big league game for girls of the future
Though dismissed by media blasé as playing just a girls game
The Juggernaut, the Riptide, Thunder and Racer, Sunbird, and Heat,
The NPF did nurture.
Opening Night, June 1. Photo by WPCNR Sports
In openers uncovered by AP or ESPN, with promises not kept by big leaguers
And nasty editors who should know better, they played before first a hundred
Then more. Fans paid a bargain to watch amazed as Amanda the Great Scott would beleaguer
The best girls who ever played, and Lightning Leto would slap deftly, diving in dirt without dread.
The Jugheads (Superfans) with Carri Leto. Photo by WPCNR Sports
Jugheads whipped their necks at the krush of a Killer Kel
Liner in the night to the rumble of the Jersey Transit line.
Little girls from Cobras, Tornado and Explosion admired the swat of Clipper Klein
Squealing at young women with little girl in them humming the yellow ball.
L’il Fastpitchers with softball cheers urged Kaci on in the circle
For 22 lnnings she windmilled, matching greats Babe Adams, Marquard, Nehf, Cy and Grimes
When the Riptide and Juggernaut played 27, a 21st century miracle,
Til Venus singled in Klein for the win in the Milkman’s Matinee classic for our times.
Kaci Clark. Photo, Courtesy NY-NJ Juggernaut
Assembled by Paul the Peerless Leader, who better than Chance took a chance
Putting his bankroll on 14 strong women, hearts stolen by the game.
Changing managers twice and stalking the bench like The Tall Tactician
He defied convention pulled out stops and would not accept less than the girls’ best game.
The 21st Century Connie Mack: Paul Plemenos, left, Jen Carlo, Rich Perrotty. Photo, Courtesy, Nick Leto.
Standing in pinstripes in white beside young fastpitchers players, admiring in awe
Holding heads high there was ethereal Venus in left, and Laura in center, that hitters fear
Spiderlady Jackie at the hot corner, and Everything Oaks at first to enthrall,
With Amazing Amanda at 15-7, staring down to sis Courtney — battery without peer.
A Naut Tradition. National Anthem with Fastpitch Team of the Night
Photo by WPCNR Sports
They played a season in the moonlight in the Little Ballpark by the Railroad Line
Creating dreams in girls’ hearts, impressing with effort and unflinching resolve.
From Iancin’s dramatic drilled drives with Nauts on the pond, looking so fine.
To the relentless wand of Germaine, tiring Williams and McHugh, ripping yellow lasers up the middle to the fence after fouls aplenty, the stuff rallies are made of.
Jen Smith in Right on the Moondeck. Photo by WPCNR Sports
Memorable struggles with Thunder and Racer, with come-from-behind rally
When all seemed over, the Juggernaut made friends for life, showed how to play this fastpitch thing
Dead-tired from intense inning by inning effort, they would sign for
Adoring ponytails and cornrows into the night with smiles and good cheer,
Not for money, not turning away any request, they were all a softball ambassador
Introducing the best game a girl, a teen, a woman can play in any year.
Autograph Alley. Photo by WPCNR Sports
As season wound down they finished # 2 , with playoffs to come.
Amazing Amanda assured the outcome, 2-0, on Kellie’s Booming Fly.
And a Venus bingle.
Amazing Amanda Scott Aces Akron, 3-2 to Pitch Nauts into the Championship Game. Photo, Courtesy, Nick Leto
On faithful Friday, The Blonde Who Rules the World, came through with a never-say-die,
With Harms charms and Sis Courtney’s homer putting the Nauts into the final game.
Right down to the last out, they ousted Racers on Lightning Leto’s Twin Killing.
Setting up a showdown with doughty New England.
Laura Harms, Kellie Wilkerson, Gina Oaks Romp off the Diamond.
Photo, Courtesy Nick Leto.
The Great Scott Mows Down New England for the Championship, August 29. Photo, Courtesy, Nick Leto
With Riptide succumbing to New England curse, her majesty Klein singled in one
Dynamic G singled home 2, and the Riptide was through.
Innings later, Killer Kel klonged a 3-run shot
To show New England never belonged,
As Carri and Lisa supported The Great Scott all the way.
Wilkerson on third, Leto on Second, prior to Germaine Fairchild’s Game Buster .
Photo, Courtesy, Nick Leto
Put it in the Books! The Nauts Championship Moment.
Photo, Courtesy, NY-NJ Juggernaut.
Holding the first Cowles Cup, the Juggernaut started a tradition – The Juggernaut way.
Champions of the NPF, the comely competitors relentless all the way.
Now red dirt diamonds grow dark and languish lonely in autumn sun
We remember the nights we watched the Juggernaut play.
Carri Leto. Photo, Courtesy, NY-NJ Juggernaut
To see Jaclyn’s flash of leather to snare a liner and steal a double
Leto’s sprawl and flip for miracle force at second, or nip a Racer at first.
The Spiderwoman, Jaclyn Pasquerella.
Photo, Courtesy, NY-NJ Juggernaut
To watch Kaci fine, paint the corner time after time, no-hitting the Heat on YES!
Amanda and Gina reaching back to ease out of trouble.
KACI Clark’s Final No-Hitter Pitch.
Photo Capture from YES Network.
Watching Crafty Courtney choreograph an AB and grab risers hard.
Calling for Amanda’s riser, Gina’s slider, or K.C. heat
At exactly the right count to record another K on the card
Celebrating sisters in ball high five Lyndsey , Kelly and G at the home plate meet.
Not to forget role players awaiting their chance to deliver again,
Coming through from the bench, Iancin and Hansen and elegant Jen,
Gina Everything filling in the dependable third circle shift
Rookie Harms who sparked a down-the-stretch lift.
Here’s a Champagne Toast to Walter Mitty, the persistent Paul
Coach of Champions, who made his ball team dream come true,
Proving a fan can manage and lead, and make decisions too,
Outmanaging legends of the game, winning his first year,
Something even Steinbrenner did not do.
Paul Plemenos, the Juggernaut played because of you.
In the Little Ballpark by the Railroad Line, with M.C. Kellie
Keeping us amused between innings with many a quip,
To tasty dogs and burgers fried up with a smile
At fair prices that made us come back in a little while.
The Juggernauts in the Little Park made friends for life
Young and old, sons and daughters and parents, too.
We love you, wherever you go. Thank you for giving yourselves
To us on golden summer evenings.
We look up to you and wish our daughters
could grow up just like you.