Miller's Opens 2009 With a Win....

They Are Now On The War Path!!!!

AP Wire - Ted Danson of The Hunterdon County Herald

        Miller's Tavern got off to a good start in 2009 as they took on and defeated Annandale Hose 12-2 at Foran Park last Friday Night. Miller's started off slowly and actually fell behind 2-0 but scored 12 unanswered to get the Opening Day "W".

        Ironically Joe "I Dream of" Eugenio (2-for-3), who made the last out of last year's playoff loss to Rudl Fencing, got the rally started with a single to LF. Scott Farrell (4-for-4) then also singled and then came a key veteran at-bat by Kevin "If The Shoe" Fitzsimmons that was huge in the Miller's rally.

       It was an overanxious 'K-Fitz' who jumped at the first pitch in his first AB of the entire season  in the first inning after Farrell lead off the game with a single. However, the wiley veteran made the adjustment and made the Pitcher work this time and eventually worked a walk. Fitzsimmons has usually wound up with one of the better averages over the years for Miller's because of his good pitch selection and he reached safely twice in this game.

        Jimmy "Man-to-"Mannion (2-for-4) and Bill "Full" Nelson (2-for-4) followed with hits and the Miller's inning hit full stride. Later it was the McKinney connection that was 'mountainous' as Father Mike (2-for-3) singled and son Ryan (2-for-3) connected for a laser beam Home Run to straightaway CF on the open field that is Foran #2 and that capped off the 7-Run outburst and Millers never trailed again.

       Consecutive singles by John "Rhino" Rinald, Eugenio, Farrell and Fitzsimmons were a big part of a 4-run 6th that helped put the game even further out of reach as Mannion's base-clearing double capped things off. The Clinton Twsp Men's Softball League itself ,led by Commissioner Mike "Less is" Moreland, has picked up the pace a bit this Season of 2009.

       They now have a brand new League website that has already been updated with the Miller's win and some other results. The site can be found at www.CTMensSoftball.com .... The League has also seen fit to follow in Readington's footsteps and has adopted "League Bats". It is by far one of the best rules in the history of any League.

       Each team swings the same bats during any Clinton Twsp Mens game. This was unfortunately brought on by the gang over at AJ Jersey who cheated their way to a Championship a season ago. Although Miller's did not make it to the Finals last year, AJ Jersey won many games last Summer solely because of a certain white bat as they illegally captured the #1 seed.

       Had Miller's been able to grab the #1 seed, which they missed out on by a single game, they probably beat the #4 seed and get to the Sunday Championship. Considering the fact they've never even seen any Game #3's in their three year Championship run, it is would've been highly unlikely that even with a loaded weapon, anyone would've beaten Miller's two out of three times when Miller's would've had all hands on deck.

       But what's done is done and as the saying goes, you can't cry over spilt milk. The best Miller's can do is try and win 4-out-of-5 on a very level playing field and years from now when the Twsp puts an asterick next to AJ's 2008 Championship, the Taverners could technically claim they won 4 in a row if they pull it off. Next up for the Tavern Boys is a date at Bundt Park Friday Night vs longtime respected rival Tiff's/Tap Masters at 6:15pm. If there are no April Showers interfering, it could be an early season dandy.