Molloy and Becky pose for a shot while Jim M watches the game behind them.  (Wolan)

It’s one thing to play hard, it’s another thing to play like a jerk. JQS, a team that clearly was going to win the night’s match-up felt it was also necessary to rub into the face of a much lesser GD-A team that they were a more dominate team. JQS played a disrespectable and a dishonorable game, and even attempted to intentionally injury a player. They won the game, 3 to something, won the division and get to boast to they egos for beating around a lesser team. They also earned the title of “JQ Asses”, which is fitting for their level of sportsmanship… or lack there of.

New to the line-up tonight was Dave Valicenti. According to Rochelle’s scouting report, Valicenti is an athletic individual how has played the game in the past. Wolan is unsure where to play Dave V. on the field, but plans on playing him in game two of tonight’s double-header.

There was not much action to note. Harrison hit a one out triple in the second inning, but the Avengers were unable to bring him home, stranding him on base. In the third, the Avengers reclaimed three runs. Dave Lysonski scored on an RBI single by Jim M, which was followed by a two RBI double by Jenn, scoring Wolan and Jim M. Sadly, that was all the Avengers were able to muster together.

As for defense, Wandrei made three terrific catches out in short left field to retire the final batter i the first, second and third innings. Her final catch was a snow-cone grab above the diving body of Dave Lysonski.

The following is a summary of the rude behavior JQS exhibiting in Game 13.

The guy with the white t-shirt and red shorts is believed to be the "over zealous outfielder".  (Wolan)

It’s one thing for someone to cheer the strike-out of a heavy hitter on the other team. Heck, any male batter for that matter. Cheering the strike-out of a female a batter that can’t hit is like trying to rub it in to a guy with no legs that you are a better running.

In the second with Rochelle at bat, Rochelle struck-out. This was followed by screams and cheers from a fielder in the JQS outfield. Trying to co-relate the strike-out of one of GD-A most unskilled female batters to a strike-out of Manny Rameriz in the bottom of the ninth to win the ball game is uncalled for. It’s rude, immature, unsportsman-like, and above all, shows that the player has absolutely no class.

The same player was also overheard saying how the JQS team didn’t need any outfielders. Ya, that’s a very classy thing for a guy playing on a dominating team to be saying that opening about the lesser team.

Sadly, not everyone can be mature...

In the second inning, Wolan pitched a ball that was called an illegal pitch by the umpire. (The ball did not reach the 6 foot minimum.) The batter then hit it for a ground ball to Molloy. Wolan told Molloy the play is dead because it was an illegal pitch and did not make a play. The umpire ruled otherwise.

Recalling a rule in the book regarding illegal pitches, Wolan mistakenly though that when a batter hits a ball that is deemed “illegal” by the umpire, the pitch is nullified, the play is dead, and the batter is awarded a ball. In reality, the “call” is nullified and whatever happens after the hit stands. Wolan argued the play with the umpire, but without the rulebook in hand it was impossible to get the call reversed.

Instead of trying to confront Wolan and discuss with him on his misinterpretation of the rule, the JQS manger sculled him, saying, “if you are going to play the game, know the rules”. Apparently, he didn’t read that his mouth was not part of the rulebook. The JQS manager was clearly unwilling to be cooperative and was looking for any excuse to be a jerk.

Wolan simply replied to him that he read the book and recalls reading otherwise. It’s interesting how the JQS turned a simple misinterpretation into an excuse to be pompous ass for the remainder of the game, as we shall see.

It is understandable for players to get a little hot under the collar after the above incident. The mature thing to do is to let it go and continue playing. There is no need to continue to mock a player on the field for the duration of the game because of a misinterpretation of a rule. Sadly, the JQS manager felt otherwise.

For the remainder of the game, the JQS manager (and possibly other players) was mocking Wolan from the dugout. His comments were childish, ranging to ridicule of how Wolan gets on the ground to get out of the way of a throw to first base, to how Wolan misinterpreted the rule. Crybaby-ish comments were also heard from JQS dugout. The JQS manager even mocked Wolan after reaching third on a triple: he faked a slide into third base by mimicking how Wolan lays on the ground after a ground ball to third. Such comments and behavior are uncalled for.

Wolan, being the better man, ignore his comments and continued to pitch the best he could, given the circumstances.

In one inning of play, a JQS batter spat into the dirt and then, using the bat, hit some dirt into the face of GD-A catcher, Rochelle Schworm. Rochelle, not know for have a temper, snapped at the batter and asked what he was doing and asked if he was trying to start a fight. The batter responded that there was no problem and continued to bat.

Was this an isolate incident? Unlikely. Given JQS’s uncalled for resentment towards GD-A, one has to view this kick of dirt into the face as intentional. Kicking dirt into the face of a lady catcher, ya, that’s very mature.

In the fourth, a batter hit a line-drive up the middle. The ball was hit close to where Wolan was pitching. The ball was head high and was a feet or two out of the reach of Wolan. Wolan didn’t think anything of it. The very next batter, the JQS manager, hit a line drive that was about a foot or two from Wolan’s head. Again, Wolan didn’t think anything about other than that perhaps he could have made the catch.

Under normal circumstances, those two hits would just be a coincidence. However, while on second base, the JQS manager was heard and seen using hand jester to comments how he missed Wolan’s head by “this much”. (A foot or two.) Where these two hits coincidences? It’s hard to say. Were they an intentional act to “accidentally” harm the pitcher? Given what has been going on up to that point, I would be a fool to say no.

I have seen players get mad at other players, talk trash and make threats. It’s totally different to actively try to harm another player on the field. That sort of behavior is unprofessional, childish, and borderline criminal. It’s a freaking softball game where the prize at the end is a stupid trophy. May I ask you, Mr. JQS manager, is that trophy so important to you that you are willing to accept that prize with blood on your hands?

The tradition after a game is to shack the hands of the opposing team. This tradition promotes respect, sportsmanship and is a sign that the game was played fairly and honestly.

Given the events up to that point, Wolan was clearly unwilling to shack the hand of anyone on the JQS team, never mind their manager. The JQS manager had the nerve to approach Wolan and ask that they shake hands. Wolan, with his back turned in the dugout refused to shack his hand and told him no. The manger asked why and Wolan responded about how he (the JQS manager) was bragging how he nearly his A-WOL in the head with a line drive, or how their manager was running his mouth for the duration of the game. If the JQS manager wants Wolan’s respect, he has to earn it.

The JQS manager, who undoubtedly knew that he was asking like a prick throughout the game, was hoping he could “undo” his rude behavior with a quick handshake. When it was clear that Wolan was unwilling to let him off that easily, he turned around and said, “fine, be a little fagot.” He didn’t even attempt to ask Wolan what the problem was or even try to make peace after the game.

Despite all the bickering, despite all the rude inexcusable behavior exhibited by JQS, the Avengers did not stoop down to their level. By ignoring JQS’s childish behavior and continued to play the game as a normal, they avoid escalating a situation that could have easily turned a into a brawl.

Though the Avengers were well within their rights to snap back, they choose to keep a cool head. Given the events that had happened, it was by no means easy, for resentment and frustrations flared within the GD-A dugout as the game progressed. Holding back that kind of anger is not easy, but not submitting to the opponent childish behavior and avoiding a fight is an example of true sportsmanship. I tip my hat off to the GD-A team and give a middle finger salute to JQS.

Andy Wolan is a reporter for MLSB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Softball or its clubs.