Showdown! - The Cobra Kai entered Fridays Showdown with the Cleaners in First Place despite missing key players through long stretches and devastating injuries in this up and down season. The Kai are a resilient group of veterans that seen it all…..but this season is one that is proving to be a teaching moment and showcasing the Cobra Kai resiliency.“Perseverance is not a long race it is many short races one after another” And Part of being a champ is acting like a champ. You have to learn how to win and not run away when you lose. Everyone has bad stretches and real successes. Either way, you have to be careful not to lose your confidence or get to confident.” The surprisingly upbeat Johnny Blaze uttered at the post game press conference before coming to and asking what he just said because he blacked out.
On top of missing Roundhouse Reger Friday night who has been on fire for the Kai at the plate the team lost their hustle board leader Rambo to a broken thumb earlier in the week. On top of that the usually reliable leadoff hitter Dinger was caught in traffic and was late to the game. To add to it…the Umps were being investigated for cash/bribery allegations after calling the teams rock “Figgy” ineligible because of a failed waiver claim and alleged involvement with a 16 year old in an incident with Sully over 12 years ago. Figgy and the Cobra Kai declined comment but steadfastadely denied his involvement.
As the first inning came to a close the team had to shuffle around their defensive alignment as they were facing not only a tough Cleaners squad but apparently the Umps were against them as well on this fateful Friday Night. In the bottom of the 1st after giving up only 3 runs Oil Can Sprague’s gathered the team and told them:
One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team." If you are going to be a champion, you must be willing to pay a greater price.” Now let’s go out there and show them what the kai are about!!!
The Cobra Kai then struck back and regained the lead in the first inning lead by Capt Tucci and Oil Can Sprague’s clutch hitting that set the pace for the Kai. Koko continued to showcase his new skill set of speed, power, and agility, as he tries to make his mark as a 2.5 tool player in Red Bug Lake. “I recently switched to the “The Flash” underoos and it has given me a boost in the speed department all around” Koko said after the game. He also noted that Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to the man of steel.
B-Groves the newest member of the Cobra Kai continued to showcase the team’s new resiliency and reliance on speed and perseverance. B-Groves has shown he can can go deep at games or draw a walk…whatever it takes for the team. Well, ON this night B-Groves was getting on base like Sully used to score at the candy store.
Speaking of On Base percentage and streaks…….a remarkable streak died this past week. The U of Miami alums failed to score a touchdown in an NFL game for the first time in146 weeks… a record surely not to be surpassed any time soon. However, DONJUAN’S streak of reaching base for the Cobra Kai remained Strong at 141 straight games……..” I am deeply saddened My “U” could not carry on the tradition….for that I will do everything I can to continue my streak in their honor and for the Cobra Kai” DonJuan said in his usual resilient and calm demeanor.
In the field the Kai were solid. Johnny Blaze turned the Cobra Kai’s First Double Play of the year and Oil Can made a play at the plate that at the time seemed like the play of the game and one that would seal the Cleaners fate on a Froze Rope throw from Capt Tucci deep in Center field.
The Game went back and forth and the Kai lead for most of the game. Then the Cleaners channeled their inner Mr. Clean and mounted a game tying rally in the bottom of the fifth. The Kai had their moments and then Sully showed up in his Levi’s after a meeting with Brett Favre delayed him….and he promptly ran out to the hole we had in RF by Figgy’s absence. Sully drew a walk in the bottom of the 7th…but the Kai fell a run short.
After the game the befuddled Leadoff hitter for the Kai simply said this”
"I promise you one thing. A lot of good will come out of this. You will never see any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of the season.
You will never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of the season. You will never see a team play harder than we will the rest of the season."
Red Bug Lake…Beware….The New and Improved Cobra Kai is ready to Run the Table!!!!
See You Under the Friday Night Lights…………..God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!!!
