Recap: McGugin All-Star Softball Game

By TY – In front of a standing room only crowd with temperatures flirting in the low 90s, Team Gold dominated Team Black, 7-2, in the first annual McGugin All-Star Softball Game Wednesday at Hawkins Field.

The squads were comprised of coaches and staff from Vanderbilt Athletics. Team Gold (TG) was managed by assistant women’s basketball coach Vicky Picott while head women’s golf coach Greg Allen managed Team Black (TB).

After surveying the media after the game, the following awards were given out:

Best Pitching Performance: John Peach (Compliance Coordinator, TG) stifled the bats of Team Black, throwing a complete game and only allowing six hits and two runs to pick up the win.

Best Play: Patricia Marett (Associate Vice Chancellor & Chief of Staff) set the tone for Team Gold by flashing a “web gem” in left field in the top of the first, stranding two runners on base.

Billy Martin Award: With Team Black mounting a rally, crew chief umpire David Williams II (Vice Chancellor of Student Athletics) called interference on Travis Young (the intern, TB) for not avoiding a double-play opportunity on ground ball hit to third base. Allen was than called out at first base as well and that’s when fireworks went off.

Following the scene of events, Allen turned his hat backwards and sprinted to argue face-to-face with the crew chief in front of home plate causing a loud stir among the crowd of 3,700. Seconds later Allen found himself tossed from the game and than on his way back to dugout, he threw gloves, bats and whatever he could find onto the field.

Rawlings Gold Glove: John Williamson (Head women’s bowling coach, TG) made 19 of the team’s 27 put-outs, including the last nine

Charlie Hawkins Sportsmanship Award: Team Black (Allen became the first coach ever doused by Gatorade after a loss)

Best Attitude: Thomas Samuel (Communications, TB) retaliating against his sidekick Brandon Barca (TG) by tackling him to the ground in the first baseline

Hardest Worker: Eric Jones (Ticket Manager, TG) was the only one that wore batting gloves and eye black but he showed he was versatile behind the plate. And kudos to him for setting up the event.

I'll leave you with some of Barca's pictures from the event (click to make bigger):