University Hills Optimist (UHO) Little Miss Kickball

By Dennis, Your Neighborhood (and DVD watchin') UHO Webmaster

Let me introduce you to modern dramatic theory.

While there may be some variations of one sort or another, dramatic theory divides a story into three parts. Those parts (typically referred to as acts) are the setup, conflict, and resolution.

Act I, the setup, introduces the main characters and their goals. Act II, the conflict, introduces circumstances, obstacles, and individuals that hinder, or perhaps prevent, the main characters from reaching their goals. Act III, the resolution, is all about ending the story while answering lingering questions: did the main characters reach their goal? Did the main characters change their goals? Did the main characters change within? Did they learn anything along the way?

Watch any American-made movie and you’ll more than likely see an application of the theory here.

This structure is the nature of drama.

When the Jaguars slipped past the Lady Hurricanes in a 7-6 thriller on May 26th, the end result setup the stage for a final showdown between the two in the Juniors division for the overall top spot.

Enter the Jaguars, winners of three straight games (one by forfeit) against the Lady Hurricanes. They came in as confident, speedy, and stingy on defense. Their goal: extend their streak by another two games and take the Juniors championship, leaving no question about their recent mastery over the Lady Hurricanes.

Enter the Lady Hurricanes, seeking redemption for a stinging loss occurring on their last defensive play, which took away their opportunity to battle for the second-half championship. Their goal: blow back the clawing offense of the Jaguars by responding with their own offense in an overwhelming display while eliminating past defensive mistakes.

Indeed, on this Memorial Day Weekend, the specter loomed large over both teams: lose two and you will have nothing but Bar-B-Que.

Enter May 29th at the UHO Reznicek Fields. It’s 8 AM and the morning humidity is high. Even more, the temperature makes a rapid climb as the clouds give way to the blaring heat of an unobstructed sun. It’s hot. It’s humid. It’s playoff time.
The conflict: who will be the overall Juniors champion? Each team’s obstacles: the heat, the other team, and themselves.

Once the pledge was said by both teams, the conflict ensued.

Game 1: Riding the wave of confidence from their last game, the Jags got out to an early lead and managed to keep the lead throughout the game. The Canes got as close as within two runs, but the Jags delivered a knockout blow to flatten any chances the Canes thought they had. Jags win, 10-6. That makes it four straight wins against the Canes for the Jags.

Game 2: The Canes are nervous. Mistakes from game 1 in fielding and managing certain defensive situations sapped the team dry of any chances of overcoming the Jags. Deflated but determined, the Canes muster up one last strong wind and blow out to an early 3-0 lead. The Canes gambled at times through the game, conceding intentional walks to get into favorable defensive situations. The strategy works and the Canes keep a cushion in the lead, though the Jags did get within one run at one point. Canes win 6-3.

The teams split the weekend, 1-1.

Now we come to the resolution of this drama and the questions are clear: who will win the title? Who will score more runs? Who will make the least mistakes, offensively and defensively? Who will let frustration and emotion wreck them? Who will let frustration and emotion motivate them? Which team will focus, ignoring the fervor and calls of the crowd?

This much we know: there will be only one winner.

Watch the drama conclude: 7 PM at UHO, May 31st.

The conflict will end and the resolution will begin. May the best team survive the drama.