Parrotheads make history; record thrilling first playoff victory

First base coach Bob Cook knew the Parrotheads would need a little insurance to beat Lavin Brothers during their first round playoff game and speedster Jason Claffey was the perfect player to make it happen.
“I told Jason to run as hard as he could to get to third base if Brandon Palmer hit a single and he did,” Cook said. Palmer cracked a single to right field and Claffey got on his horse making a head-first slid into third base ahead of the throw.
“I knew I was going to get there. It just ended up being a little closer than what I expected,” said Claffey with the front of his jersey caked in dirt.
The Parrotheads were ahead of Lavin Brothers, 12-10, in the top of the 7th inning when Claffey made his iconic dash around the bases. He later scored and another run was plated when Lavin Brothers initially muffed a force out at second. Sure enough, Lavin Brothers scored two runs in the last half of the 7th before Parrotheads pitcher Justin Palmer retired the side.
The final score was 14-12 and many Parrothead players contributed to the tally including left fielder Adrian Alford, who made diving catches, hit his fifth inside the park homerun and just did it all. The Palmer brothers also had an impact along with Cook, who collected a few singles and a few RBIs.
The Parrotheads were comfortably on top 11-2 before Lavin Brothers scored three runs in the bottom of the 4rth inning to close the gap to 11-5. But the Parrotheads were never in jeopardy of losing this game and made sure they made the plays in the field when they had to.
“This was a great game for us,” said Justin Palmer, who threw another complete game and struck out three batters. “Everybody contributed. We had a good feeling if we showed up and played the way we are capable of, we could win this game.”
The momentum didn’t carry over in the two subsequent losses versus Navy Yard and Meat House. The Parrotheads were locked in a 1-1 game with Navy Yard going into the third inning before the three-time Dover Co-Rec League champions blew it open with a 15-1 victory. Meat House then beat the Parrotheads, 13-2, to officially oust them from the tournament.
Overall, the Parrotheads under Justin Palmer finished 6-17, which was five times better than they finished as the Beacons the previous two seasons where they only record three wins. Cook, who finished his 10th season as a softballer, says he is already planning on playing again next season with his teammates because he believes they now have the right core to build on this season’s success.
“We accomplished a lot for our first season together and I think we can accomplish much more if we stay together,” he said.

2010 Tournament: Parrotheads versus Lavin Brothers

Parrotheads fans were already camping out in front of the team's ticket office on Foundry Street just minutes after team officials announced the first game will be Saturday at 9 a.m. versus Lavin Brothers.
GoldStar Park should be rocking for this one because the two teams are evenly matched and should provide a good game. Two of the Parrotheads victories this year were wins over Lavin Brothers: the most recent by forfeit and a 17-7 win back in May.
Look for Justin Palmer, the Parrotheads ace, to take the hill. Also look for a batting line-up that will give RBI machine DH Bob Cook plenty of at bats.
Palmer, who is also the Parrotheads coach, has kept his plans close to the vest. A practice scrimmage against Chumley's scheduled on Wednesday was rained out so the flock won't have any practice time before the tournament begins. Coming off the heels of their impressive win over Collins Sports, the Parrotheads should be ready to battle Lavin Brothers. Win or lose, the Parrotheads will play at least one more game on Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. If the team wins one of those two playoff games, or both, they will advance in the tournament.
Navy Yard, a.k.a. TJ's, the current Dover Co-Rec League champion, is favored to repeat and capture another title. For the Parrotheads, the playoff tournament is more about winning respect after the team posted a much improved 5-15 regular season record and played well down the stretch.
"This is great team with great guys and girls and it is the most fun I've had playing with a bunch of people on a softball field for a long, long time," said Cook, who is finishing up his 10th year as pro softball player.
"I like the way we played in our last game and I told everybody that if we bring that same attitude and energy to our playoff games, we can win," said Palmer. "I know we can compete with anybody if we just play to our ability in the field and at the plate."
Break out the sombreros, Margarita's and Carribean music. It's party time! The first pitch of the Parrotheads first playoff game is at 9 a.m.

Parrotheads finish strong: thrash Collins Sports, 19-5

The Parrotheads were out to make a statement and send a strong message to the rest of the league when they thoroughly destroyed arch-rival Collins Sports, 19-5, and took the season series.
The team was simply unbeatable at the plate, in the field and on the base paths and there were too many highlights to count. Jason Claffey’s diving snow-cone catch in centerfield, Adrian Alford’s inside the park homerun, Bob Cook’s three hits that help the Parrotheads jump out to a quick 3-0 lead, and Justin Palmer’s masterful pitching, which culminated on two Ks. Brandon Leavitt also had some pop in his bat, hitting one laser after another for hits.
“This was a great win for our team,” Palmer said.
The Parrotheads finished the 2010 regular season with a 5-15 record as they prepare to head into the Dover Co-Rec League’s playoff tournament this weekend.
“I just like the way everybody showed up and really gave it their all to generate some offense early and play great defense,” Palmer said.
Collins Sports finished their regular season with one more victory than the Parrotheads, who hope to draw a first round opponent they can handle. But winning the season series against Collins was still very satisfying.
Cook says he is still waiting to collect on the bet he made with Collins Sports utility fielder and former Beacon Todd Collins. “He owes me an eight-pack of Sam Adams Summer Ale.”
Leavitt said the secret of the Parrotheads’ recent success is that the clubhouse always stays loose and nobody gets down on anyone or anything. “I decided to play this year because I wanted to have a good time and this whole season has been a blast,” said Leavitt.
Claffey’s stab, which has quickly become known as “The Catch” in league circles, drew the ire of some Collins players who claim the ball hit the ground, but the umpire didn’t see it that way. Claffey, who has struggled through the year with some nagging injuries, is healthy and ready to contribute his gold glove fielding and blazing speed to the team’s playoff run.
After the game, several Parrotheads retreated to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 47 to wish teammate Brandon Palmer good luck just weeks before he is scheduled to join the Marine Corps and report for basic training on Paris Island, S.C.
The team is scheduled to play Chumley’s in an exhibition game on Wednesday at GoldStar Park to prepare for the first playoff game on Saturday.

Parrotheads record first win in two months; take down Lavin Brothers by forfeit

The Parrotheads fell to Sal’s Pizza, 6-3, at Goldstar Park in Rollinsford Thursday evening, but got some great news from coach Justin Palmer: the team got another win by forfeit when Lavin Brothers could not muster enough players for what was supposed to be the second of two games this Sunday.
“Yes!” Parrotheads DH Bob Cook exclaimed as he chugged a post-game beer in the Parrotheads lockerroom. “It give us four wins and I’ll take it any way we can get’em.”
The team improved its record to 4-14 with two games left on the schedule, Sunday’s contest versus Post47 at 1 p.m. followed by a cruicial third game against Collins Sports on Tuesday before preparations for the post-season tournament commence.
Palmer explained the two teams have split their regular season series and the winner of Tuesday’s game could catapult into 8th place in the overall league standings, which could help the winning team draw a more even opponent in the first round. Palmer was adamant that he wants his team to show up and win Tuesday.
“We’ve got to win that game. We can’t lose on Tuesday,” he said.
As a side note, Cook and former Beacons utility infielder Todd Collins, now of Collins Sports, made a wager earlier this season that if their team won the series series, the loser would have to buy a six-pack of the winner’s favorite beer. Cook wants Collins to buy him a six-pack of Sam Adams Summer and Collins is leaning toward Red Stripe.

Posted! Parrotheads fall again to Post 47, 25-2

Ouch!
The Parrotheads’ loss Sunday to powerhouse Post 47 hurt in every respect as the hometown team got thumped, 25-2 and never put up much of a fight.
Post 47 hitters quickly roughed up Parrotheads starting pitcher Justin Palmer with 10 runs by the second inning before the Parrotheads put up two runs. But that is as close as they ever got thanks to the relentless hitting and aggressive base running by Post 47 players.
Other than some fine running catches in center field by Jason Claffey, this game held few highlights for Parrotheads fans who were thrilled after seeing their team beat Sal’s Pizza last week, 8-7.
“This game was definitely a step back for us,” said Parrotheads DH Bob Cook. “I just told everybody to keep their heads up and not let it get to them too much. Those guys have been around for several years and we are a relatively new team.”
With 10 games played and 10 games to go, the Parrotheads are 3-7 and mired in fourth place in their division. They are scheduled to play Lavin Brothers on Tuesday and Collins Sports on Sunday, two teams they have previously beaten. But Parrotheads Coach Justin Palmer said he is already concerned the team’s ranks could be depleted, which could level the playing field against those two teams.

Parrotheads toss Sal's Pizza, 8-7, on the road

Parrotheads veteran Bob Cook made sure he ate a delicious, gooey Boston Creme donut that he chased down with a blueberry ice coffee before Thursday's game versus Sal's Pizza. The end result was two for three at the plate with five RBIs, including the game-winning runs in the top of the seventh to propel the Parrotheads to a thrilling 8-7 win over Sal's Pizza.
Parrotheads hurler Justin Palmer tossed a complete game, including three strikeouts backed up by great defense from outfielders Jason Claffey and Adrian Alford and sure handed shortstop Rodney Messier. And then there was Cook doing what he does best hitting clutch hit after clutch hit.
There was none more important than the double he smashed into the left centerfield gap all the way to the fence with two outs in the top of the seventh with the score tied at 6-6 scoring Alford and second baseman Jessica Morton.
"Cook has already been up with the bases loaded in this game and didn't cash in. His team really needs him to come through here to give them a chance to win this game. Cook digs in. Here's the pitch and Cook crushes a line drive to the gap that goes all the way to the wall! Alford scores, Morton scores, the Parrotheads are up 8-6! Break out the Crispy Cremes!"
Sal's Pizza managed to scratch out a run in the bottom of the seventh when the Parrotheads got a little sloppy with the ball in the infield, but Palmer and the defense shut the door for good to preserve the 8-7 win.
"This was the most fun I have had playing softball in I don't know when," said Palmer, who threw 75 pitches in another complete game while nursing a sore knee that he injured on a close play at the plate. "Everybody came through. This was a great win for us."
The Parrotheads were also short a female player and were forced to take an out in the line-up which shortened a few of the innings at the plate and forced the team to go with three outfielders in cavernous Pizzeria Stadium. But none of it mattered because the defense kept making plays behind Palmer's strong pitching.
Cook was glad that he could contribute to the victory after he made a few bad plays in right field.
"My team needed me to come through at the plate and I was able to do that. When I saw Palmie battle out there on a bum knee, I just knew there was no way we were going to let him down. This win was for you, big guy!"
The Parrotheads now stand at 3-6 and will play again on Sunday at 1 p.m. versus Post 47 at home at Goldstar Park. Let's hope Cook eats another Boston Creme donut and an ice coffee before the first pitch.

Four Parrotheads go to the 'Show': Red Sox come callin’

Few Parrotheads fans know that their team is actually part of the Boston Red Sox minor league system well below the A Greenville Drive in South Carolina so it was no surprise that Parrotheads skipper Justin Palmer got a call from Red Sox GM Theo Epstein looking for a few players.
Epstein, Red Sox Manager Tito Francona and Big Papi will be saying “Welcome to the Show” soon to Parrotheads centerfielder Jason Claffey, third baseman Brandon Palmer, outfielder Adrian Alfond and catcher Molly Palmer. They were bound for Fenway at the time this dispatch was being written.
The Red Sox have been decimated by injuries and have already depleted their farm system’s top prospects via trades for other Major Leaguers or calls to the Big Leagues. There are simply no available bodies left in Pawtucket, Portland, Lowell or Greenville to help the Red Sox.
“We are very grateful the Parrotheads are part of our organization and we have such a deep supply of talent at all levels,” said Epstein.
Francona says he is eager to pass along his knowledge to young players like Claffey and Alfond so they can one day become everyday Major Leaguers.
“I’m sure all of them will work out just fine. A lot of the guys on crutches, Tek, Pedey, V-Mart, will all be around to guide them,” Francona says.
Claffey says he can’t wait to swipe his first base in the Big Leagues or flash his leather in Fenway’s centerfield.
“I can’t wait to get there and contribute to the Sox. It’s a dream come true for me, being from Westford, Mass.” Chickenman Claffey says.
Palmer will catch her first MLB game on Friday night when Red Sox hurler Daiske Matzusaka takes the mound. She just hopes Jason Varitek will loan her his catching gear. Palmer hopes he doesn’t have any collisions going after foul balls with Red Sox third baseman Adrien Beltre, who caused Jacoby Ellsbury and Jeremy Hermida to have cracked ribs when they collided with him earlier this season.
Alfond says he hopes he can hit as well as Victor Martinez when he bats behind Big Papi David Ortiz.

Station to station: Parrotheads plucked 18-4

Station House wasted no time dispatching the now 2-6 Parrotheads Sunday afternoon at Goldstar Park.
Parrotheads starting pitcher Justin Palmer was tagged for two absolute bombs over the newly christened left-centerfield fence along with a relentless hitting attack. Despite the home team’s surge to an early 2-0 lead, the offense could not keep pace with Station House, which is now 7-1.
But the team was inspired by the play of Brandon Palmer after he was struck in the mouth by a rogue ground ball to third a week before and needed stitches. Parrotheads center fielders Adrian Alfond and Jason Claffey also played solid defense, but neither they or their teammates could find enough offense to keep place with Station House, a team that looks poised to compete with the likes of TJ’s, Brick House and Meat House for the league title.
The Parrotheads now have 10 days to regroup before they return to action on July 8. With 12 games left to play, the team is still confident it will get a few more W’s.
“We just can’t get down on ourselves and we just have to keep playing,” said Parrotheads veteran Bob Cook, who had two RBIs and two hits on the day. “Sooner or later the ball and the calls are going to bounce our way.”

Parrotheads drop third straight; fall to Meat House

A three-game losing streak caused by an inability to score runs or play defense is causing a lot of Parrotheads players to look in their mirror these days.
The general consensus in the clubhouse is there is nowhere to go but up for veterans and rookies alike.
After falling to Meat House on Sunday at Guppy Park in Dover and losing to Brick House, 20-4, on Friday at GoldStar Park, the team has to wait until this Sunday before they can go for their third win versus Station House. The Parrotheads are 2-5.
“I’ve played on a lot of teams over the last 10 years and I still like this team and I like our chances to string together some wins,” says Bob Cook who took the loss Friday after giving up two moon shot homeruns to Brick House hitters. “We just have to keep believing in ourselves and keep playing good softball. Before you know it, we could be on a winning streak.”
Parrotheads coach Justin Palmer is still searching for the right batting order and defensive combinations that will enable everyone to get their fair share of playing time and give the team the best chance to compete. It hasn’t been easy.
In order for the Parrotheads to turn things around, look for the veterans to really step up. Cook knows he has to hit better and put out more effort when he is running the base paths. Jason Claffey knows he has to get on base and use his speed to score runs. Palmer knows he has to be patient with his players as they find the right groove.
“We just haven’t done enough of the things we need to do to win these games,” Cook says. “When we put together a good hitting attack and play strong defense, we will win our share of games.”
Look for the Parrotheads to bounce back Sunday. First pitch is at 4:45 p.m.

Navy Yard submerges Parrotheads, 14-6

ROLLINSFORD -- Going up against the Dover Co-Rec League champion TJ's, a.k.a. Navy Yard is never a welcome prospect on any team's schedule, but the Parrotheads held their own with the softball jugernaught for several innings before falling 14-6 at Goldstar Park Wednesday night.
As expected, Navy Yard hitters jumped all over Parrotheads starting pitcher Justin Palmer and built a 10-0 lead by the second inning. The score ballooned to 13-0 before the Parrotheads offense came to life in the bottom of the fourth inning after the team strung together a series of stinging singles which led to two runs. Over the next three innings, the Parrotheads played better defense and chipped away at the lead with another four runs, but it wasn't enough to cover Navy Yard, a team that has captured the league title two years in a row.
The loss dropped the Parrotheads season record to 2-3 and the team will now have more than a week to regroup before they play Chumley's on June 18. Palmer, the Parrotheads coach, was pleased the team played better than it did in Monday's loss to Post 47.
"We definitely put in a good effort today and I think everybody played well. Even though they jumped on us early with a lot of runs, we never gave in and we kept battling all the way to the 7th inning," said Palmer, who pitched another complete game and recorded two strikeouts.
Bob Cook made good on his promise to eat his pregame ration of donuts and ice coffee so his bat would get going again and it paid off when Cook bashed three hits and knocked in two of the Parrotheads runs.
Outfielders Jason Claffey and Adrian Alfond also played some strong defense and each had a pair of hits. The Parrotheads also threw out their first runner at the plate when Alfond started a relay to Palmer who applied the tag as the Navy Yard runner slid towards home.

Cook looking for mucho hits tonight

Bob Cook cannot say why his productive bat fell silent during Monday’s loss to Post 47, but the veteran slugger promised to put a charge into the ball when the Parrotheads take on TJ’s tonight.
“There’s just not excuse for me not to hit the ball as well as I am capable of,” said Cook, who is in his 10th consecutive slow-pitch softball season. “My teammates depend on me to drive in runs and get on base and I didn’t even come close to getting the job done Monday.”
So what does Cook think caused his power outage?
“It’s simple. The Post 47 pitcher was throwing a lot of junk knuckle balls that threw my timing off. He’s a good pitcher and I have had trouble with him before. Just facing a different pitcher who will throw more regular pitches will make it easier for me to generate some offense.”
Cook says he spent three hours in the batting cages at the Parrotheads training facility on Tuesday honing his swing, improving his mechanics and doing what it takes to hit the ball hard.
“It was a good session. I tried not to overdo it, but I think it will put me back on track for today.”
If the Parrotheads hope to steal a win from TJ’s, a.k.a. Navy Yard, the league champions, Cook and the rest of the team’s big hitters will have to produce at the plate and in the field. Mistakes, like bad fielding plays or poor baserunning, can’t happen against such an experienced team that never takes losing lightly.
“We have our work cut out for us,” Cook said. “I know Justin will put together a good line up and we will be ready.”

Parrotheads run a fowl of Post 47, 15-2

Everything that could go wrong did and everything that should have gone right didn’t.
That was the story behind the Parrotheads disappointing 15-2 loss to Post 47 Monday night at Goldstar Park in Rollinsford. The offense sputtered, the defense buckled, and the base running, well, let’s say Coach Justin Palmer should make Bob Cook do a week in the slow-pitch instructional league.
Cook’s weak attempt to score from third with one out in the top of the third summer up the utter futility of the Parrotheads game. On a grounder hit to short, Cook danced halfway down the third base line and waited until the Post 47 shortstop threw to second to start a double play before he sprinted for home. But the second baseman elected to throw a strike to the female catcher who was waiting for Cook with enough time to order a cheeseburger and fries (Cook’s blazing speed.) Not wanting to injure the catcher who was standing right on homeplate, Cook avoided a collision and was tagged out. He also ran tepidly to first base on another double play ball instead of beating out the throw to first.
After tearing up the league with an astounding 10 hits and 12 RBIs, Cook had his worst game of the 2010 campaign leaving his immediate future in the starting line-up in doubt.
“It was just one of those nights. I didn’t swing the bat well, I couldn’t run that well and my fielding was off,” Cook said. “I’m just glad we will have another game on Wednesday so myself and my teammates can redeem ourselves. Our fans deserve better.”
Some of the bright spots included a towering triple struck by Palmer in the top of the fifth that scored two runs and solid hitting and fielding by left fielder Jason Claffey.
Palmer noted the Parrotheads are 2-2 and the team should feel good about being at .500 after taking on the more seasoned and experienced Post 47, the same team that eliminated the former Beacons team in the 2009 playoff tournament.
“We all know we can play better and I feel pretty good that we will play better on Wednesday,” said Palmer, who pitched a complete game in the loss.
The Parrotheads will take the field again on Wednesday versus TJ’s, a.k.a. Navy Yard, the Dover Co-Ed League’s defending champions.First pitch is at 6 p.m.

Parrotheads take down Collins Sports, 13-5

The Parrotheads wasted no time in beating up on the now 1-2 Collins Sports Thursday evening at Goldstar Park.
All it took to secure the team's second W was a nine-run second inning that was full of walks, misplayed flyballs in the outfield due to a merciless sun that refused to set, and some timely hits. The Parrotheads ran out to a 9-0 lead and never looked back.
Starting pitcher Justin Palmer pitched a complete game and struck out two. Leftfielder Jason Claffey made his share of running catches and also collected a few hits in the win and veteran Bob Cook went 4-4 and knocked in another two runs to help the team to its 2-1 record.
Centerfielder Adrian Alfond turned in one of the most impressive games when he hit a bases clearing triple and made a diving catch to help keep Collins Sports in check. A botched call at homeplate by the umpire that allowed a Collins Sports run combined with a little chippiness borne out of frustration by some Collins Sports players nearly boiled over into an on the field scrum with Palmer leading the charge, but thankfully, cooler heads prevailed.
"Overall, it was a good win for us. Everybody contributed and we had some great defense. We continue to hit the ball and score runs and we are starting to get some confidence," Palmer said.
The first-year coach has already won one more game this season than his former team, The Beacons, won in all of 2009.
The Parrotheads will now take a much deserved week off after tearing it up in May and will play a make-up game versus Post 47 on June 7.
As the team departed for the parking lot, Cook advised his teammates, "Just chill out, get in touch with your innermost selves and find your happy place."

Now on deck: Collins Sports

The Parrotheads will have an opportunity to break the .500 barrier when they take on Collins Sports Thursday night at the old ballyard.
Last year’s Beacons, the Parrotheads’ forebearers, had some tight games versus Collins Sports and notched their lone win of the 2009 season against them. Former Beacons utility fielder Todd Young signed on with Collins Sports via free agency and eager to play some of his old teammates.
“I hear those guys have a good team and we do, too,” said Young. “It should be a good game.”
The Parrotheads won their first game of the young 2010 season on Sunday when they defeated Lavin Bros., 17-7, with veteran Bob Cook leading the way with three highs and six RBIs. Look for Coach Justin Palmer to take the hill on Thursday with Cook possibly coming out of the bullpen late. Jason Claffey, the Parrotheads’ standout centerfielder, showed some signs of life at the plate on Sunday with a pair of hits and could be on the cusp of a real breakout game. His offense is often fueled by his defense, which was spectacular on Sunday.
“What I really like about our team is that we haven’t even played our best game yet,” said Cook.
First pitch at GoldStar Park in Rollinsford is at 6 p.m.

Parrotheads soar in win over Lavin Bros., 17-7

Parrotheads fans had plenty to cheer about Sunday as they watched their team overcome an early 6-3 deficit and turn into a solid 17-7 victory to reach .500.
Bob Cook went 3-5, knocked in six RBIs and scored two runs. Coach Justin Palmer pitched stellar relief through four innings and centerfielder Jason Claffey made some spectacular catches, one of which that resulted in a double play where Claffey doubled up the runner at first after tumbling with a snow cone in his glove was taken away by an errant umpire call.
The Parrotheads also featured some strong defense from other key players all over the infield and rattled Lavin Bros. players at every turn. Cook was king when he came up with the bases juiced on two ocassions and hit sharp singles to left field.
"I just felt really good at the plate and I knew I was hitting the ball well. The first two times I hit some shots right at the left fielder, but I knew I would eventually find some turf," said Cook, who started the game and pitched three innings before moving over the first base.
Palmer, who won his first game as a big league softball manager just two games into the season, was all smiles when it was over.
"I really like our team. We all rallied when we needed to and everybody played well. This is what we are capable of doing every time out. This is going to be a great season for us," said Palmer.
Claffey, who played on two lackluster Beacons teams the past two years, also basked in the glow of victory.
"It feels good to win, that's for sure," said the third-year outfielder who made a stupendous running catch in the gap right up against the center field fence in the fifth inning as he was running out of real estate.
"That drive had extra bases written all over it," said Cook. "But somehow I knew Claffman would catch up to it."
The Parrotheads next game is this Thursday at Goldstar Park against Collins Sports at 6 p.m.

Feathers, field too wet to play

The Parrotheads game versus Post 47 Wednesday night was postponed due to rain and will be made up at a date to be determined.
Team members were disappointed they did not have a chance to take the field at GoldStar Park and go for the franchise's first win after losing the season-opener on Sunday afternoon to Sal's Pizza.
The team's next game is on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Goldstar Park.

Order to go: Sal’s Pizza spoils Parrotheads home opener

The final score of 15-4 didn’t really tell the whole story about the Parrotheads loss to Sal’s Pizza on Sunday afternoon.
The team actually displayed some strong defense and pitching for most of the game until Parrotheads starting pitcher Bob Cook walked a few too many batters and Sal’s Pizza, a.k.a. the former Merrill Radiator, exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the 5th inning before Cook gave way to reliever Justin Palmer in the top of the 6th.
The Parrotheads’ offense sputtered at times until the team managed to string together a few hits and walks and got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the 4rth inning followed by two more in the bottom of the sixth. But the more seasoned Sal’s Pizza squad kept peppering Parrotheads pitchers with too many pepperoni, mushroom, sausage and achovy hits.
First year coach Palmer still liked what he saw at GoldStar Park.
“It was a learning curve for us,” he said. “We played pretty well and we didn’t give up any big hits. I think that as the season goes on, we will get better and rack up our share of wins.”
Veteran softballer Cook, the former coach and GM of the Beacons, said he was pleased with how he pitched the first three innings, but admitted he lost is control in the fourth inning.
“I was a little rusty on the mound and I managed to get through the first three innings with just four runs, but I just wasn’t able to keep them off-balance after the fourth,” said Cook, who also had a pair of singles on the day.
The team’s next game will be on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Goldstar versus Post 47.

Here come the Parrotheads

It didn't take too long for team officials to choose a new name for the new Dover Co-Rec League franchise. With that, the Parrotheads will be playing and partying on a softball field near you.
The Jimmy Buffet-oriented team name summons up images of Margaritaville, Cheeseburgers in paradise, rum and all things Carribean. The team colors will lean toward green.

Six former Beacons join new Dover Co-Rec team

Former Beacons GM and Manager Bob Cook and Jessica Morton found themselves in real dilemma. Neither one had enough players to fill a team roster for the 2010 campaign. They didn't even know the other one even existed until Cook reached out hoping to join one of the league's teams.
Suddenly, everything has changed after Cook and Morton pooled their players and formed a new team that will play softball this upcoming season. The team name, colors and stars are yet to be determined.
Some of the former Beacons players who will join Cook include stand-out centerfielder Jason Claffey, Justin and Molly Palmer, Diana Kitteridge, and possibly Darryl "D-Man" Cauchon.
The new team's first practice is scheduled for Monday, April 26 at 6 p.m. at Goldstar Park in good old Rollinsford.
"I'm just really happy that me and some of the other Beacons were able to find a new home and play in 2010," said Cook, a veteran of nine softball seasons as a player and a manager. "We'll just have to see what we have going into this season and go from there."
Where there's a will, there's a way.