First Winning Season on The Books!

Coach Crazytoe:

All,

USIP's softball team, the Screaming Hawks, completed its first-ever winning season last night in a dramatic and pretty fantastic game (til the very end, that is) against Detica, which we lost 18-19.

In its first season in the Think Tank League, USIP established itself as a serious contender in the Whig Division and as a fun-spirited team known for playfully, and perhaps unconventionally, trash-talking each other instead of the opposing team. The Hawks final record for the season was 7-6, only one win shy of qualifying for the playoffs.

As the coach of the Screaming Hawks, I'd like to give a huge thank you to assistant coaches Nick Howenstein, Anil Vargehese and Chris Neu for their logistical, strategic, and philosophical support during the season. I'd also like to thank our official team transporters, Deon Nelson and Craig Jones, who made sure our equipment, coolers, and players made it to the field every week. Last but not least, I'd like to thank ALL the players and fans who joined us during the season. This year we had the highest sustained participation in history, and I don't think it's a coincidence that we also had the best record. Such great turnout made each and every game more fun.

In fact, we're having so much fun that we're not ready to quit just yet! Some of the other teams in the league are organizing a "Tournament of Not-Champions" in these dog days of summer, and USIP plans to participate. So if you are new to USIP, or you've wanted to make it out to our games but haven't been able to, you have one more chance to get involved! We'll play a few more games in August and perhaps into September, and we would love to have new people join us. If you would like to be added to the softball email list, please let me know.

On a side note, we were undefeated in all 4 games that we played at 23rd and Constitution, directly across from the new USIP building. In the hope that this bodes well for the future of USIP softball, we'll make every effort to attain a permit for that lucky field next season.

Thanks again to the 2009 Screaming Hawks players for making this season such a great one!

Coach Crazytoe

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2009 Screaming Hawks Team

(in no particular order)

Harald Fuller-Bennett

Russ Burns

Chuck Call

Scott Carlson

Christine Mosher

Jonas Claes

Pat Shaplan

Deon Nelson

Jeff Krentel

Daniel Noon

Janene Sawers

Shira Lowinger

Craig Jones

Anne-Marie Engelstad

Theo Dolan

Mike Johnson

Kate Eyerman

Rebecca Kullman

Andy Levin

Greg Maly

Liz Panarelli

Dearrin Mickles

Zach McKinney

Chris Neu

Elizabeth Murray

Manal Omar

Megan Chabalowski

Eduardo Abreu

Brian Rose

Hesham Sallam

Sarah Bessell

Stephanie Schwartz

Anil Varghese

Jon Temin

Maureen Sullivan

Leslie Thompson

Doug Smith

Johanna Benjamin

Anand Varghese

Matt Pierson

Sara Thrall

Terry Modglin

Carrie Lee

Nick Howenstein

Kelly Campbell

Hawks Winning Streak Continues, Now Tied for 1st Place

From Coach Crazytoe:

Hawks,

Thanks to everyone who came out last night for an exciting game against Lawyers. We won 17-14 in a game that featured strong hitting by both sides. Kudos to outfielders Russ, Greg, Jeff, Deon, and Pat for solid defensive playing throughout the game. Thanks also to pitchers Sarah Bessell and Janene Sawers (and to Pitching Specialist Anil Varghese); Janene sustained an injury early on and Sarah stepped in to pitch a great game. Finally, the play of the game award goes to 2nd basewoman Kate Eyerman, 1st baseman Daniel Noon, and catcher Anne-Marie Engelstad for an awesome 4-3-2 double play.

I've pasted the standings from the end of last week below to show you the degree to which we are kicking butt this year. We are now 7-3, and the Lawyers 7-4. Even if CNAS wins this week, we'll still be tied for first place. You guys are playing outstanding softball, and I hope you're all having as much fun playing as Nick and I are coaching.

Our next game is next Tuesday, July 28 against Mathematica. After that we have only 2 more games--against CNAS (Wednesday, August 5) and the rescheduled game against Detica (TBD). All 3 of these teams are (along with Lawyers) our main competitors in the conference, so let's keep up the momentum as we finish the regular season!

Go Hawks! Coach Crazytoe

State Department Historian's Office -- One for the record books!

Hawks,

Thanks to everyone who came out last night and helped to soundly defeat the State-HO team for the second time this season, 16-9. Our hitting was fantastic, and our defense was pretty dang solid as well. We're now 6-3, which should mean we're still tied for first in our subdivision (with those sneaky CNAS folks).

Special thanks to short-fielder Scott Carlson for turning 2 double plays and catching so many balls that someone on the other team referred to him as their "worst nightmare." Also thanks to pitcher Christine Mosher, who was hit with the ball and still had the presence of mind to throw it home.

We have a big game coming up this Monday against the Lawyers--as of last Friday they were 7-2 and the leaders in our division. This is our one chance at them during regular season play. We'll be back at field #11, where we were last night at 23rd and Constitution.

Please let me know if you can make it on Monday, and be sure to pack your softball stuff on Sunday night! Go Hawks!

Despite Loss, Hawks Remain Tied for Division Lead

From Coach Crazytoe: The Hawks winning streak ended last night in a narrow loss to CNAS, 12-16. The Hawks staged an impressive rally in the last inning and came close to a big comeback, but simply ran out of innings with which to complete it!

With last night's results in, we are actually tied with CNAS for first place in our 10-team division. Since we'll play our last scheduled game against them, that rematch could be critical for determining division standings at the end of the season. That game is August 5, so hopefully those of you going off to grad school, Syria, or other exciting places will still be around!

Of course, that's getting a bit ahead of ourselves. Our next game will be Wednesday (a week from today) June 10 against the State HR team. State has kindly offered to reserve the field, which will be somewhere near the Lincoln Memorial--Chris, Anil, or Nick will be in touch next week with the details. I will be traveling next week, but I wish you all luck and leave you in their capable hands.

Hawks Win Three!

With the defeat of Mathematica, it's three in a row for the plucky, can-do Institute!


According to Coach Crazytoe: The Hawks battled rain, thunder, field relocations, and even a bolt of lightning or three last night to defeat Mathetmatica 15-12--as Coach Anil pointed out, it was our first victory on the Mall proper. Thanks a lot to those who came out to play and cheer, and hope to see the rest of you at our next game this Tuesday (June 2) vs CNAS. As of this week CNAS was 2-0, and they look to be a rival in our conference. So come out and help us keep the winning streak alive! I'll email Monday with an approximate field location.

USIP Hawks Make History with Two Consecutive Wins

USIP's softball team, the Screaming Hawks, has started the 2009 season with more enthusiasm, support, and victories than any season in recent history. Following a narrow loss (3-5) to the Urban Institute at our first game, the Hawks chalked up two solid victories over the State Department Office of the Historian (20-16) and the Woodrow Wilson Center (21-13), leaving us 2-1 so far this season, our first in the Think Tank League. We've had strong turnout from across the institute, as RAs, PAs, POs, Fellows, and friends have come out to play and cheer us on.

Some highlights from our games so far:
--3rd baseman Chuck Call sliding across a muddy field to the ball, then making the throw on his knees to Jon Temin at 1st for the out (Game 1)
--Andy Levin, Russ Burns, and Deon Nelson combining for 5 homeruns in one game (Game 2)
--Everyone in the batting lineup combining to score 11 runs in the bottom of the 6th, catapulting USIP into the lead and demoralizing the opposing team (Game 2)
--Shortstop Pat Shaplan, 2nd basewoman Kate Eyerman, 3rd baseman Harald Fuller-Bennett and 1st basemen Chris Neu and Terry Modglin combining for 3 double plays in one game, the most in Hawks history (Game 3)

We hope you will be able to join us, as players or spectators, for our remaining games. Our schedule is posted below. Most of our games are on the Mall--in fact, our last two have been played right across the street from our new building site.

If you would like to join the softball mailing list, please let me know. To those of you who have joined us so far this season, thank you for your enthusiasm and dedication, and keep up the good work!

Sincerely,

USIP's Self-Appointed Athletic Management Team
Kelly Campbell, Nick Howenstein, Anil Varghese, Chris Neu
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Hawks 2009 Schedule

Thursday, May 28 vs Mathematica
Location TBD: 23rd & Constitution or near Washington Monument

Tuesday, June 2 vs CNAS
Location TBD

Tuesday, June 9 vs State-HR
Location: Near Lincoln Memorial

Thursday, June 18 vs Detica
Location: TBD

Wednesday, June 24 (Tentative) vs One Economy
Location TBD

Week 9 vs Urban Institute: TBD

Wednesday, July 15 vs State-HO
Location: Field #11, 23rd & Constitution

Monday, July 20 vs Lawyers
Location: Field #13, National Mall

Tuesday, July 28 vs Mathematica
Location: TBD

Wednesday, August 5 vs CNAS
Location: TBD