It wasn't the worst game the team ever played. The archives are full of blowouts with AWA on the short end of the score. But the 1975 season opener, the first official game AWA ever played, has its own special place in AWA lore for its example of sheer ineptness. The game of slow pitch softball was still relatively new to everyone, and our only measuring stick as a team came in two practice game losses in the previous two weeks. The last was a 34-1 debacle to a team who, by their own admission, wasn't very good.
It didn't help that AWA would be taking the field against Alaskan Club with a depleted lineup. Shortstop Gary Matsushita and slugging outfielder Steve Barrett were out. And pitcher Earl Yagi, along with infielders Tony Franklin and Mike Applegate, were going to be late. So it was a patchwork lineup that took the field for this one, and it didn't take long for the shenanigans to begin.
The game began auspiciously enough in the top of the first when singles by John Koeplin and Pat Koeplin, followed by a run-scoring hit by Dave, gave AWA a 1-0 lead. Pitcher Ken Morse had two on and two out in the bottom of the inning when the next hitter lined a hit to right center. Right-fielder Sherman Applegate ranged to his right, and just as he was about to field the ball, inadvertently kicked it -- a mammoth boot that sent the ball to deep center field. All three runners scored.
In the second, Doug Hawkins led off the inning with a swinging strike three. Three batters later, his brother Dennis Hawkins ended the inning with a swing and miss strike three of his own. In the bottom of the second, Ken retired the first two hitters, but a routine grounder to second that would have ended the inning was booted by Phill Blake. A grounder to short was mishandled by Tom Sukup. A grounder to third went through Doug's legs. Ken walked three straight hitters, which was followed by another error by Doug at third. A double cleared the bases. The next man up singled to center, which was misplayed by Pat for a three-base error. Nine runs had scored in the inning -- on only two hits!
Mike finally arrived, and as he pulled into the parking lot, Earl came running out to greet him, laughing hysterically. "So what's happening?", Mike asked. "Are we winning?" Earl could barely get the words out through his laughter. "This is a joke!"
The AWA offense put together a couple of four-run rallies in the third and the sixth, but the game was punctuated by sloppy play throughout. The final score read 19-9, and the details of the game were much worse. The team committed 12 errors on defense, three by Tom at shortstop, who was forced to play out of position. Many believe that total could have been higher. The team also struck out an embarrassing total of five times, three by Dennis. Each of Dennis' punch outs were by swing and miss.
It was a performance that was truly humiliating. Fortunately, better days were ahead for AWA in this 1975 campaign that ultimately resulted in the team winning the league championship by season'e end.
In the final count the team errors and strikeouts, along with Dennis' forgettable night at the plate, are records that stood for the entire 26-year history of AWA without ever being broken.
A joke, indeed!
