Moving on, with just three weeks remaining in the regular season we have a tight race in the Feeney division. Six teams are separated by a single game - 53 Movers (9-3), Shea's Tavern (8-2), The Greatest Bar (8-3), Chemist Cocktail Club (8-4), Ghost Light Tavern (8-4), and Ochoa Brew Crew (7-2) are all bunched at the top. With a handful of games remaining, all of these teams still have a great chance at finishing first overall in the division.

Just off the pace but still in a playoff position are the Shamrock Pub (6-3), Silkworms (6-4), Shannon Tavern (6-5), and the Seapoint Slammers (6-4). Roza Lyons (5-5), Local 149ers (5-6), and the L Street Tavern (4-7) playoff hopes are dimming and will need to string together some wins here down the stretch. However, Seapoint is not one of those teams though as they have won six games in a row.

McGonagle's Pub (2-9), Sal's Softball Club (2-10), Small Victories (1-10), and the Gatey Softball Club (0-9) have found their inaugural season a very rough ride so far. There's good news coming for you though - keep reading.

The league is hoping that the rainouts have halted which would have the playoffs starting the second week of August. Speaking of, all six of our teams in the Moran division will qualify. The first two finishers will receive a first round bye…third place vs. sixth place, and fourth place vs. fifth place play a best of three series. The winners will move onto to play the top two finishers in a best of five series followed by a best of five final for the Moran Cup.

In the Feeney division, the path to the championship has more hurdles. Teams that finish 7-10 will play a single elimination "play in" game. A best of three quarterfinal series between the top six finishers and the two "play in" winners will follow. The winners of those series will move onto to play a best of five semi-final series followed by a best of five final for the Feeney Cup. It's going to be an exciting time to be at the park as we expect the playoffs to conclude sometime around mid September. Buckle up!

Before we briefly look ahead to what's coming for the 2027 season, I must share a related story about a friend who was looking to get into long distance cycling. He's a skinny guy who weighs about 160 lbs soaking wet. Anyway, the groups he was looking to ride with were all big, strong athletes, and experienced riders. Being at a disadvantage, my friend decides he better have the proper equipment that will help him keep up. After selecting a top of the line fast bike, the salesman at the bike shop says "those gears are much too big for you so we're going to fit you with some gears that are custom fit to your size and experience." My buddy says great, that sounds good! "These gears are lighter and you won't have to work as hard as your friends have to work and you'll be able to keep up easier," the salesman added. Even better - what a guy! At the time, my friend is thinking wow; I sure came to a great bike shop.

A few days later they hit the road and right away the guys at the front are hammering it, and quickly pulling away. There's my buddy in the back pedaling his ass off trying to keep the pace with his lightweight gears but nothing is getting him any closer. The pack eventually drifts out of sight. He's frustrated and realizes he can't keep up because the guy at the shop thought he was doing him a great service but in fact, he made it too easy.

That's where we are here at M Street - several of our teams have stayed in the Feeney ("B") division for far too long. When we split the divisions in 2018, the goalwas to keep the new inexperienced teams from getting mercy ruled every game. Unlike in years past where teams paid their dues in routs, we made it easier for them to start their softball journey. That was the correct move at the time but at some point these teams needed to be promoted and that's where we missed the mark.

This will be corrected for next season as we will realign the divisions and will also put limitations in place. The playoff champion of the "B' league will automatically get moved up the following season. Also, moving forward, all of our new teams will have a maximum of three seasons of "B" league ball before they are forced to move up.

What will this look like if all our current teams returned for next season? Clock Tavern, Fat Baby, Sam Adams, Publico, Lincoln Tavern, and Park City would stay put in the Moran division. Joining them would be 53 Movers (4th season), Shea's Tavern (6th season), Chemist Cocktail Club (4th season & 2025 champion), The Greatest Bar (5th season), Ochoa Brew Crew (8th season), and Shamrock Pub (6th season).

Gatey Softball Club, Small Victories, Sal's Softball Club, McGonagle's Pub, L Street Tavern (3rd season), and Local 149ers would make up the "B" or Feeney league. This would leave a handful of teams that don't have a designation: Ghost Light Tavern, Seapoint Slammers (5th season), Silkworms (10th season), Shannon Tavern (11th season), and Roza Lyons (4th season & 2024 champion). At this time, their placement will depend on how their season concludes. A strong playoff run would likely vault them into the Moran division while a quick exit or no playoffs at all would likely result in them staying where they are for another season.

We can already hear the grumbling…just remember my cycling story above. Yes, there will be some tougher games on the schedule but you will also play against familiar foes in the teams that are moving up too. Going to battle against the better teams will benefit you, even if you don't win the game. Over time, you will strengthen your weaknesses and eventually you will become a much better team.

Speaking of strengthening your weaknesses, we feel that the main difference between the two divisions is the quality of pitching. Looking ahead, we need pitchers (men or women) who can throw strikes with speed and/or movement on the ball. If we can develop a handful of pitchers before next season arrives, then we could have something really special. We feel the following three-point plan is the first step in making this happen:

1. Further develop our current pitchers and teach the basics to any positional player who wants to become a pitcher through several league-organized clinics.


2. Limit the number of experienced pitchers (two) a team can roster.


3. Recruit and place new pitchers on teams that have immediate needs.

The game of modified softball can be a great experience for every player when we have teams that are similarly built in talent in the batter's box, in the field, and especially on the mound. We had that here at M Street for most of our fifty-six year existence and are looking to alter our current course and get back on track.

In closing, do some research and look around the country for a modified softball league. There are not many of them in existence. I often hear from former M Street Softball players who have relocated and they all tell me the same thing, "we don't have anything like M Street here - I miss it!" You don't know what you'll miss until its gone. Let's take this step together and preserve this great game at M Street. See you at the field!