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After an unfortunate forfeit their previous game, KOOP Radio (2-6) recruits some new players and comes out swinging against South by Southwest (3-6), winning 17-10. BookPeople captain Mandy Brooks and I speak with KOOP left-fielder Long Le after the game. Follow the ASL on Twitter at www.twitter.com/altsoftball and on Facebook.

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History repeats itself as league leaders C3 Presents (7-1) prevail in a tough defensive matchup against the Chronicle (6-3), winning 9-6, just as they did in their previous game against BookPeople. BP captain Mandy Brooks catches up with Chronicle team leader Mike Bartnett afterward for some post-game reflection. You can follow all the haps with the Alternative Softball League on Twitter at www.twitter.com/altsoftball and Facebook.

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After a four-game losing streak, the BookPeople Filthy Animals are back in the win column, rejuvenated by the return of shortstop Jamie Reaves, who suffered an ankle injury earlier in the season, and first basewoman Jennifer Morris, who had been working abroad. BookPeople (3-6) authoritatively put down the South Division's Waterloo Records (6-3), 20-9, and we were there for post-game commentary with an all-star BookPeople cast: captain Mandy Brooks and third baseman Bryan Sansone.

On Friday, July 26, the Brentwood Donkeys entered their matchup with the BookPeople Filthy Animals sporting a dismal 0-6 record. BookPeople was struggling as well, having won only two games out of the six they have played after competing for the 2008 ASL championship, where they fell short to The Austin Chronicle. What transpired Friday night – a stunning 23-22 BW walk-off victory – would seem impossible to some of the league's faithful. But we have footage to prove it. Enjoy this video shot by Mike Bartnett of the historic ninth inning …[video-1]

I never thought I'd say this – but I am going to miss waking up at 5am for 6am workouts three times a week. I always get nostalgic and misty-eyed at the end of things (movies/relationships/meals), and the Anytime Fitness Media Challenge ain't no different. Who will guide me through the fluid and difficult movements of the TRX Suspension System? Where will I get my fill of 90s alternative music? And will running with weights up and down a flight of steps and ramps be the same without the other challengers cheering each other on? Here are the answers: No one; nowhere; and no. Pretty bleak, if you ask me. But however sad I may seem I have already gained loads from this fitness challenge.

As much as many of us Alternative Softball Leaguers would like to lay claim to being the most sandlot, I think these guys own it. The Brentwood Donkeys. During one of their recent games, I noticed they had one bat and one ball. They may have also had a gloveless player or two. I can almost hear them during practice (if they do). “Nice hit, Hartstein, now we can’t play anymore.”
“Don’t blame me. I’m outta here.”
“What do we do now?”
“Where’s the beer?”
“Hartstein had it.”
“It’s five dollars for another ball.”
“That’s almost a six-pack.” The Brentwood Donkeys stayed with C3 Presents for half the game, teetering on the verge of their comeuppance, but couldn’t stop the Presenters. They lost 18-5 on May 13.

[Editor's note: SHEESHBYGOLLYDANGIT! In all of this Pride fuss, I totally neglected to launch this excellent blog post from Andy a few weeks back on 5/23. CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP. – KXM] Listen, just because I've been walking around all week with, as Kate calls them, John McCain Arms doesn't mean I'm hating on the Fitness Challenge. Exhibit A In fact, not being able to lift my arms above my shoulders has focused my energy on the lower half of my body. So the legs and ass have been getting more love lately, and that's not so bad. Lots of lunges (ugh), lots of squats (double ugh) and lots of fake bike riding.

We have served the dark will of cooperation for three decades. Skin as pale as soy milk in the moonlight … eyes blood-shot … showerless. The personal guard to Ronnie Earle’s refrigerator; the food-fighting elite. The deadliest softball force along all of Guadalupe … the Wheatsville SKUs. Wheatsville marched through the Alternative Softball League's northern division, defeating South by Southwest, BookPeople, and the 2008 Champions, The Austin Chronicle, on our way to a 4-0 record. All that stood in our way of divisional domination was KOOP Radio. The odds seemed stacked against KOOP. They were outnumbered. We had four women to their two (hobbling them with an automatic out). Our bleachers groaned under a screaming sea of green-clad berserkers; theirs were empty. We had won four games in a row, KOOP had dropped two.

Inspired by Saturday's Kettlebell workout: Iron balls coated with rubber so the metal don't cuts// I feel it in my legs, my backs, my arms, my butts. Now that, is poetry.