University of Virginia Library

Relief Pitching

Conversation
Piece

By John Markon

"FRANNIE..." SHE SAID WISTFULLY.

"Yes."

"How come we never talk about Cavalier lacrosse
anymore?" she pouted, "You haven't said Word One to me
about that big game with Maryland."

"Well, there's really not that much to say. I think we'll
beat 'em. They've got a good attack unit and Bill Reilly is a
good goalie but if they try to run and cut with us I think we've
got the edge."

"That guy with the funny name, you know, with the 'a'
and the 'e' together, does he still play?"

"Who's that, John Kaestner? Yeah, he's still playing. He's
having his best season ever, too. Leads the team in the scoring.
He'll play left behind and those other guys that play with him,
Dave Dempsey, the creaseman, and Eddie Mullen, the right
behind, they ain't that bad either."

"That doesn't sound too good," she purred, "Who else do
they have that's any good."

"Quite a few people, really. They've got two midfielders
named Doug Schreiber and Kevin Rogers that do a lot of
scoring for them and a defenseman named Gary Besosa who
could make it tough for our attackmen. The rest of their
middies and defensemen are on the young side and, like I said,
Reilly is a great goalie."

"THEN HOW ARE WE GOING TO BEAT THEM,
LOVER?" was her simply posed question.

"We'll beat them because I don't think they're going to
stall," I said, lighting a Salem. 'Tom Duquette's over his ankle
injury and our attack is in great shape. They looked good last
Saturday against Towson State and I really think we're ready
for a big game. Chip Barker scored five goals, Duquette got six
points and some of Jay Connor's passes were unbelievable."
With that I threw some pillows aside, quick-sticked a few times
with an imaginary STX and rammed a hellacious shot into the
lower right-hand corner.

RESUMING A SUPINE POSITION, I continued my
incisive analysis. 'Our middies, you know, had a tough time
scoring against Towson but I'm not worried about them. Only,
Doug Cooper and Jim Ulman scored but Pete Eldredge and the
rest of them will come around.

"Who's going to play goal?" she cooed, "I remember in last
year's game the goalie tried a real long shot in the last eight
seconds and made it. That was dreamy.'

"Scotty Howe, I guess," was the reply, "It's not the goalies
we have to worry about, though. If our defense can just come
through and check those Turtles I think we can spring that
upset. I saw Ed Spencer play against Towson and, I tell you, it
was his best game of the year. He played his man tight, picked
up quite a few ground balls and started some strong clears.
Besides, if we win this game we take the ACC title. It would
be awfully nice to win an ACC title in something."

"YOU'RE GOING TO THE GAME, AREN'T YOU? You
lucky stiff. When is it? Can I go?"

"Yes I am. Two o'clock tomorrow in College Park. No you
can't. I hope that answers all of your questions. I wouldn't
miss this game for the world. I hope I haven't given you the
impression that the game's going to be easy. It won't. We're
the underdogs, you know. Maryland was Number One in the
goddamn country until Army knocked 'em off. You know
they'll be snarling about that too.

"Ooooo I'm worried now," she said.

"Don't be. Even if we should lose we'll still probably get in
the NCAA tournament if we beat W&L next weekend. It
would be really nice to win, though. Some people are saying
we can't but I have faith. Besides, the baseball team's playing
here this weekend and if we win three in a row, we could win
that ACC title. You could go to those games you know. Single
game Saturday and a double-header Sunday. It would do you
some good, you're losing that Florida tan of yours."

THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF ICY
SILENCE. After what seemed like an eternity I felt a soft
nudge.

"Frannie," she said, "Take your socks off."