WPCNR PRESS BOX. September 26, 2004: As fall fast pitch softball gets underway, and talk and media focus turns to baseball fall classics, WPCNR returns to celebrate in verse and photograph the splendid triumph of the Champions Nobody Knew About, except the thousands who love them: The New York-New Jersey Juggernaut, Champions of the National Pro Fastpitch league. 

To do the honors in the Grantland Rice style, we turn to the bard of the diamond, the Howard Cosell of poets, the Shakespeare of sports verse, Fast Pitch Johnny:

Hail to the Juggernaut

By Fast Pitch Johnny

The--a Juggernauts Win! Photo, Courtesy, NY-NJ Juggernaut

The women who play are scattered to East and West.

Not to be forgotten their moments in hazy sun the diamond yields

Beautiful and strong they assembled in spring dedicated themselves to a dreamer’s quest

Now they depart as summer rays cast sharp shadows on empty fields.

From campus, office, field, school and lab they came,

To create a big league game for girls of the future

Though dismissed by media blasé as playing just a girls game

The Juggernaut, the Riptide, Thunder and Racer, Sunbird, and Heat,

The NPF did nurture.

Opening Night, June 1. Photo by WPCNR Sports

In openers uncovered by AP or ESPN, with promises not kept by big leaguers

And nasty editors who should know better, they played before first a hundred

Then more. Fans paid a bargain to watch amazed as Amanda the Great Scott would beleaguer

The best girls who ever played, and Lightning Leto would slap deftly, diving in dirt without dread.

The Jugheads (Superfans) with Carri Leto. Photo by WPCNR Sports

Jugheads whipped their necks at the krush of a Killer Kel

Liner in the night to the rumble of the Jersey Transit line.

Little girls from Cobras, Tornado and Explosion  admired the swat of Clipper Klein

Squealing at young women with little girl in them humming the yellow ball.

L’il Fastpitchers  with softball cheers urged Kaci on in the circle

For 22 lnnings she windmilled, matching  greats Babe Adams, Marquard, Nehf, Cy and Grimes

When the Riptide and Juggernaut played 27,  a 21^st century miracle,

Til Venus singled in Klein for the win in the Milkman’s Matinee classic for our times.

Assembled by Paul the Peerless Leader, who better than Chance took a chance

Putting his bankroll on 14 strong women, hearts stolen by the game.

Changing managers twice and stalking the bench like The Tall Tactician

He defied convention pulled out stops and would not accept less than the girls’ best game.

The 21st Century Connie Mack: Paul Plemenos, left, Jen Carlo, Rich Perrotty. Photo, Courtesy, Nick Leto.

Standing in pinstripes in white beside young fastpitchers players, admiring in awe

Holding heads high there was ethereal Venus in left, and Laura in center, that hitters fear

Spiderlady Jackie at the hot corner, and Everything Oaks at  first to enthrall,

With Amazing Amanda at 15-7, staring down to sis Courtney -- battery without peer.

A Naut Tradition. National Anthem with Fastpitch Team of the Night 

Photo by WPCNR Sports

They played a season in the moonlight in the Little Ballpark by the Railroad Line

Creating dreams in girls’ hearts, impressing with effort and unflinching resolve.

From Iancin’s dramatic drilled drives with Nauts on the pond, looking so fine.

To the relentless wand of Germaine, tiring Williams and McHugh, ripping  yellow lasers up the middle to the fence after fouls aplenty, the stuff rallies are made of.

Jen Smith in Right on the Moondeck. Photo by WPCNR Sports

Memorable struggles with Thunder and Racer, with come-from-behind rally

When all seemed over, the Juggernaut made friends for life, showed how to play this fastpitch thing

Dead-tired from intense inning by inning effort, they would sign for

Adoring ponytails and cornrows into the night with smiles and good cheer,

Not for money, not turning away any request, they were all a softball ambassador

Introducing the best game a girl, a teen, a woman can play in any year.

Autograph Alley. Photo by WPCNR Sports

As season wound down they finished # 2 , with playoffs to come.

Amazing Amanda assured the outcome, 2-0, on Kellie’s Booming Fly.

And a Venus bingle.

Amazing Amanda Scott Aces Akron, 3-2 to Pitch Nauts into the Championship Game. Photo, Courtesy, Nick Leto

On faithful Friday, The Blonde Who Rules the World, came through with a never-say-die,

With Harms charms and Sis Courtney’s homer putting the Nauts into the final game.

Right down to the last out, they ousted Racers on Lightning Leto’s Twin Killing.

Setting up a showdown with doughty New England.

Laura Harms, Kellie Wilkerson, Gina Oaks Romp off the Diamond.

Photo, Courtesy Nick Leto.

The Great Scott Mows Down New England for the Championship, August 29. Photo, Courtesy, Nick Leto

 With Riptide succumbing to New England curse, her majesty Klein singled in one

Dynamic G singled home 2, and the Riptide was through.

Innings later, Killer Kel  klonged a 3-run shot

To show New England never belonged,

As Carri and Lisa supported The Great Scott all the way.

Wilkerson on third, Leto on Second, prior to Germaine Fairchild's Game Buster .

Photo, Courtesy, Nick Leto

Put it in the Books! The Nauts Championship Moment.

Photo, Courtesy, NY-NJ Juggernaut.

Holding the first Cowles Cup, the Juggernaut started a tradition – The Juggernaut way.

Champions of the NPF, the  comely competitors  relentless all the way.

Now red dirt diamonds grow dark and languish lonely in autumn sun

We remember the nights we watched the Juggernaut play.

Carri Leto. Photo, Courtesy, NY-NJ Juggernaut

To see Jaclyn’s flash of leather to snare a liner and steal a double

Leto’s sprawl and flip for miracle force at second, or nip a Racer at first.

The Spiderwoman, Jaclyn Pasquerella.

Photo, Courtesy, NY-NJ Juggernaut

To watch Kaci fine, paint the corner time after time, no-hitting the Heat on YES!

 Amanda and Gina reaching back to ease out of trouble.

KACI Clark's Final No-Hitter Pitch.

Photo Capture from YES Network.

Watching Crafty Courtney choreograph an AB and grab risers hard.

Calling for Amanda’s riser, Gina’s slider, or K.C. heat

At exactly the right count to record another K on the card

Celebrating sisters in ball high five Lyndsey , Kelly and G at the home plate meet.

Not to forget role players awaiting their chance to deliver again,

Coming through from the bench, Iancin and Hansen and elegant Jen,

Gina Everything filling in the dependable third circle shift

Rookie Harms who sparked a down-the-stretch lift.

Here’s a Champagne Toast to  Walter Mitty, the persistent Paul

Coach of Champions, who made his ball team dream come true,

Proving a fan can manage and lead, and make decisions too,

Outmanaging legends of the game,  winning his first year,

Something even Steinbrenner did not do.

Paul Plemenos, the Juggernaut played because of you.

In the Little Ballpark by the Railroad Line, with M.C. Kellie

Keeping us amused between innings with many a quip,

To tasty dogs and burgers fried up with a smile

At fair prices that made us come back in a little while.

The Juggernauts in the Little Park made friends for life

Young and old, sons and daughters and parents, too.

We love  you, wherever you go. Thank you for giving yourselves

To us on golden summer evenings.

 We look up to you and wish our daughters

could grow up just like you.