Roll Call

By Jimmy Dunne

Twas at Veterans Gardens — it was late afternoon
The Summer League Finals would be starting soon!
The grounds were just stunning — so lush everywhere
The songs of our blue jays chirped through the air
When out on the courts there ‘rose such a clatter
I hopped off my bike to see what was the matter!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But players, and fans — and court volunteers!
More rapid than eagles, the teams they all came
I gave ‘em big hugs and called them by name
On Paisanos! On Pallinos! High Rollers, you rock!
On, Friends & Neighbors! Win for your block!
They started the matches — fans lined down the courts
Glued to each shot — in our town’s newest sport
In the Senior League’s finals, Fazzy was great
The balls of poor Vito just wouldn’t roll straight
Lorraine, and the Arnolds — they gave it their best
But Cindy and Trudy — they weren’t impressed!.
In the Sunset League’s finals, it went neck and neck
Mark Paulsen looked up and said, “What the heck?”
He made the “Bay” sign — calmly rolled a true classic
The Pallinos made noises that sounded Jurassic!
The Hathaways and Goldbergs — all played like stars
But sweet Natalie said, “This match is ours!
We ended the season with a party right there
On a 100-foot table — oh, the fun that we shared!
Pie and Burger was great — we all ate like kings
Peter Schemer, I think he ate five of those things
But the best part of matches — I truly must say
It’s the magic that happens right after teams play
Everyone shakes hands with hugs all around
In that single moment, it’s what makes town — town
The heart and the joy in that moment, you see
You earn it — from months of great memories
The friendships, the teams, it’s more than a game
It’s more than the best roll you’d have in a frame
Behind all the team hats and fun uniforms
Are friends that will be there when there comes a storm
Life is so precious, so fragile, so dear
We’ve all seen how quickly it can all disappear
The wonder of life — sometimes it’s right there
If we just stop a moment, and are willing to dare
To dare to be grateful for what’s in our life
The treasure of children, or the love of a wife
I take things for granted— I know that, my friend
I’m running so fast — and not willing to bend
We get caught in the treasures of money and things
When treasures are only from what a heart brings
Of all places, I found one, right here on these grounds
A treasure of beautiful folks from our town
I stood in our park right out on the lawn
I was the only one there — the players were gone
Sometimes in the quiet you can see so much more
Sometimes you can see how to walk through life’s doors
Well, I got on my bike and rode out of sight
Cheers to the gifts we all opened that night!

Senior League
Champion: Friends & Neighbors
Cindy Seiler
Fazzy Noori
Shahram & Lill Moghbel
Mehdi & Trudy Razavi
Bob & Evelyn Fowlks
Toni Gundershaug

Sunset League
Brian Pado
Rick & Gina Wahlgren
Annika Toomey
Natalie Villablanca
Kevin Harrington
Jeff Outcalt
Mark Poulsen