It was the best of games, it was the worst of games. It was a perfect, hot, but not too hot, August evening. The late-day sun massaged the Squids with its gentle rays, while it simultaneously cooked the brains of our foolish opponent, Ball Bustaz. Though our defense was impenetrable for most of the game, the bats were only lukewarm. In the last, or maybe second-to-last inning, various strokes of bad luck allowed the lowly Bustaz to finally get on the board. In technical terms, this led to the game ending in a 4 – 4 tie. Of course, after including our bonus runs from pre-game warm-ups, and after coach PANCAKE MASTER filed the paperwork, the official score was 127,881 to 4. It was a crushing victory. Our winning streak stayed alive. So did our streak of winning all games in 2009 by 100,000 runs or more. But an “unofficial” tie was insulting. I was left feeling empty.

However, that August night, I was awarded The Game Ball for the first time in my Squids career. I was shocked. I considered it for a moment, and realized that, YEAH!, I had made some pretty great plays. And that YEAH!, so had all the Squids. I looked at the bigger picture. Despite being undefeated, perennial champions since the inaugural season in 2005, the Squids have never once rested on their laurels. Some days are harder than others, but a crushing victory by way of an unofficial tie is just as good as a crushing victory by way of an unofficial win. These realizations quickly scrubbed away my disappointment. And so I’d like to amend my opening line… it was simply the best of games. Come to think of it, I don’t think a Squidball game can even be a “worst of” anything.

Thanks to the Squids who played that night:

BEASTOR-X, COOLHAND, JBIRD, SMALLS, MOTORBOAT, PANCAKE MASTER, SAK, SCHRAPPEN and SWITCHBLADE.

You all continue to show me just how special Squiddin’ It really is.

-BUBBLE KING

(Note: This game was originally scheduled for April 13, but had been postponed due to the Ball Bustaz fear of playing us. Perhaps they’re not so foolish afterall?)