Stadium Rock

Creed Ink Issue #1

Fall 2001 League Champions JHMP Jets

Most of what you read in the sports pages or the entertainment mags about athletes and rock stars crossing borders, ends up being more for the photo op than for the competition. In the case of Scott Stapp (shortstop), Mark Tremonti (centerfield) and Scott Phillips(catcher); it is either about a meaningful cause or some serious ballin'.

The JHMP JETS, lead by Coach Hanson, won the Fall 2001 City League Championship, with Stapp and Tru contributing some of the season's better moments. Probably the most notable game came against a team staffed from a local radio conglomerate. After a half dozen games, word had spread throughout the league that the JETS had a couple high profile players. By mid-season it became somewhat standard for fans, as well as hecklers, to fill the bleachers. On this night, however, they came out in droves. Being that a few of the competition's players worked for the local rock station, it made it even more of a challenge not to be park of the jock's on-air jokes the next day.

The ballgame was tight for about three innings, with the usual exchanges coming from the dugout to the bleachers and back to the field. A couple hecklers took it upon themselves to start making 'rock star' references to the JETS shortstop and centerfielder. Going into the 5th inning, with yours truly down two runs, the cinematic moment had arrived. Stapp approached the plate with two men on. After a brief look at the bleachers he turned and took the first pitch about 320 feet for a three run dinger. Next up was the other 'rock star'. Tru turned to the umpire and asked if the rulebooks would allow another homerun - as some softball leagues have a limit. The umpire nodded.Tru launched one the same distance for a casual trot around the bases. Needless to say, the opposing bleachers became fairly quiet. I wish I made this story up, but sometimes the facts are more entertaining than fiction.

"We play to win," Stapp says. We don't just come out here to have fun. If you're not going to go all the way, why even bother to play?"