[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 145 (Monday, September 18, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13704-S13705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  VERMONT'S FINEST, SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I recently had a chance to watch some of 
the best softball I have ever seen.
  I saw the Vermonters, who make up my own team, play in the semifinals 
and then the finals and then win the softball championship.
  I was out there Saturday in 95-degree heat, blistering sun, and I 
watched these young men and women from my office's team and I thought: 
That is real sportsmanship.
  Then, the next day the final championship was fought between Vermont 
and New Hampshire.
  In a league with 120 teams, the idea that the Senate softball 
championship this year came down to teams from New Hampshire and 
Vermont is ironic.
  You have to understand we are both northern New England States, and 
the baseball season is rather short in northern New England. Our 
children grew up with hockey sticks and skates and skis--and have to 
squeeze their baseball in between those light May snow showers and the 
September autumn chill that stings the hands of all children who make 
contact with ball and bat.
  But there we were.
  The Thundering Herd, the talented granite-like team of Senator Bob 
Smith's office had not been beaten all year. But neither had Vermont's 
Finest. Vermont's Finest, we say with no hint of modesty, is the name 
of our softball team.
  The game went back and forth, only to be tied at the end of seven 
innings. Vermont scored two runs in the top of the eighth and shut the 
Herd down to seal the victory and the championship.
  We were led by Montpelier's Maggie Whitney, who played second base 
but should be turning double plays with Cal Ripken, Jr. St. Albans' 
Jamie Horan has a black eye and a 500-foot home run to show for the 
series. Beebe Plain's Mike Lawson won rookie of the year honors while 
representing the smallest town in Vermont with glove and lumber.
  And the list of contributors is endless. Big Ed Pagano, our oak tree 
at first; Tom ``Stonewall'' Cosgrove, anchoring third on a nearly 
broken ankle--an ankle, incidentally, we heard snap as he hit home 
plate. He would not allow it to break until he scored that run. Paul 
``The Enforcer'' Johnson, who with aging star J.P. Dowd provided key 
hitting and veteran leadership. Norwich's Regen O'Malley and UVM grad 
Kara Calaca-Mottola were anchors behind the plate. And our own tank 
commander, that stalwart marine, Bill Delaney, had more than a few key 
hits.
  Rookies David East and Narric Rome were vital to the team effort.
  Vivian Cocca pitched as gutsy a series of games as we have seen in 
years.
  Special honors have to go to our player-coach Brady Burgess, the 
solid, taciturn hunk of granite, a native of Lincoln, VT, who grew up 
dreaming of one day holding the Senate trophy aloft. I am sure this is 
a dream he had as a 3-year-old. He batted, fielded, and led his team to 
an impossible series of victories.
  The loyal bench jockeys were Brattleboro's Jenny Backus, the purple-
shorted Kevin ``Scooter'' McDonald, and the pride of St. Johnsbury, 
Zima-drinking Amy Rainone.
  And the whole team was aided by their biggest fan and 5-year-old bat-
boy, Walter Albee, who occasionally let his aging baby boomer, semi-
yuppie father play.
  We have to tip our caps to a few teams. First, our friendly rivals 
the Vermont Saps, from my good friend Jim Jeffords' office, who had 
what we call a ``rebuilding year'' this year but will no doubt be in 
the playoffs next year as they have been.
  Second, our tough but honorable rivals from the McCain-McConnell 
team. It seems one of us is always knocking off the other to get to the 
mountain top.
  Third, our friends on Senator Mikulski's team. In the past 5 years, 
we have each won the championship twice and will be glad to be keeping 
it in the family.
  Finally, to the Thundering Herd from New Hampshire--that the two New 
England teams made it to the top of the heap is a testament to 
traditional Yankee values of team play, strength, and hard work. I say 
to my friends from New Hampshire, they will be first in the Nation when 
Dixville Notch goes to the polls at midnight. You almost made it first 
in the Nation in softball, 

[[Page S 13705]]
and we expect to see you again next year.
  Mr. President, we joke a little bit about this, but I think some of 
the most pleasant moments that I spent this year have been watching the 
softball team play--pleasant, because I know how hard the men and women 
who work for the Senate, who support all of us, do work, Republicans 
and Democrats alike. It is the men and women here who so make the 
Senate the place it is and can be. And they are the ones who make it 
possible for Americans to have hope in us.
  There are 100 Senators. None of us would be able to do our job 
without people, ranging from those who guard the doors of this Chamber 
to those who report our proceedings, to those who handle the bills as 
they go through, and to all the others--those who make the electricity 
work, to those who help us write the legislation. I sometimes joke we 
are merely constitutional impediments to the staff. The truth of the 
matter is, we are, all of us, better--Republicans and Democrats alike--
because of the selfless work of the men and women here in the Senate.
  When I see them have a chance to play softball and enjoy themselves, 
I think how lucky we are to have them here. I have to tell all those in 
my office, I could not be more proud than I was watching them play in 
these championship games.
  Mr. President, I see the distinguished Senator from Mississippi on 
the floor. When I started speaking there was nobody seeking 
recognition. He is the manager of this bill. Is he seeking recognition? 
If not, I have one more item to go to.
  Mr. COCHRAN. No. Please proceed.

                          ____________________