Blooming Ideas

The last three Septembers the Bonghitters have been invited by VNU (the publishing company that owns Billboard and many other trade magazines) to join them on Randall's Island for a day of softball, BBQ, beers, buds and remembrance of the 9/11 tragedy. Yesterday, High Times' slugging stoners arrived by bike and car with supplies aplenty looking forward to what has become the traditional last day of the softball season.

Coming into the game with a solid 9-5 record, the Bonghitters were sharp throughout, starting quickly with a 3-run 1st inning. VNU came back with 2 in their half. For the next 4 innings the game was a pitcher's duel. Then in the 6th, Jeremy Allen drove the ball high and long over the rightfielder's head for a 3-run HR. VNU, however, answered with 3 runs to close the gap to 6-5 going into the final 7th inning. With a runner on 1st and 2 out, VNU's leadoff hitter lined the ball between 1st and 2nd, but Bonghitter first-baseman Dawnja reached to her right and neatly backhanded the ball on the fly to end the game and season.

Afterwards, VNU coach Don Salkaln and others spoke about 9/11, and then we all planted bulbs for all those who died that day and with hopes of peace someday in the world.

Here's a recap of the Bonghitters' 10-5 season:

Apr. 27: Bonghitters 12, Business Week 8
May 4: Bonghitters 8, The Onion 6
May 9: Bonghitters 12, The New Yorker 4
May 25: Bonghitters 13, Vanity Fair 4
June 1: Bonghitters 9, WNYC 2
June 22: Bonghitters 17, DC Comics 12
July 1: VNU 11, Bonghitters 6
July 6: Vanity Fair 8, Bonghitters 5
July 13: Business Week 12, Bonghitters 4
July 17: WNYC 6, Bonghitters 5
Aug. 3: Bonghitters 12, DC Comics 5
Aug. 9: Bonghitters 11, Trader Monthly 5
Aug. 12: Wall Street Journal 12, Bonghitters 4
Aug. 31: Bonghitters 10, Rolling Stone 6
Sept. 9: Bonghitters 6, VNU 5

PHOTOS BY DAWNJA