In memoriam:
Providence College Baseball
1923-1999
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JD At The Bat
Origin: "Casey At The Bat"
Words by Clarke Moore
Things were looking dismal for the
Seminoles that night;
The score stood four to one with but two innings more to fight,
As Hudson ruled the hill, it seemed our pipes were turned to stone
AU'd be off to Omaha, and we'd be staying home.
The Bat Girls argued balls and strikes, the Animals led cheers
The scouts deployed their radar guns, assessing pro careers;
But confident were those of us who in the grandstands sat
That Auburn U would rue the hour J.D. next came to bat.
And true, J.D. was up on deck, but two were fast away
As Brooks Badeaux was in the box, and we began to pray
But then, our prayers were answered with the bases ripe with juice
Brooks drew ball 4, 4-2 the score…
And then, all Hell broke loose!
For all among 5,000 fans who packed the stands that hour
Unleashed as one, in unison, a sonic blast of power
3 on, two out, down two, and dwarfing even all of that,
Your Player of the Year, J.D., advancing to the bat!
The young man didn't swagger as he stepped inside the line
A solemn executioner came number thirty-nine
Large as life, a juggernaut, all pecs and delts and lats
The faith of thousands on his shoulders, Drew stepped up to bat.
And Hudson, standing on the hill, so tiny did appear
But showed no signs of worry, nor fatigue, nor even fear
Still he must have cursed the Deities, the Furies and the Fates
For loading up the sacks and putting Drew upon the plate.
He threw the ball and stunned surprise resounded through the stands
JD stuck out the bat and shot the handle down his hands
He, bluffing at a 2-out bunt, our hands upon our heads
But Hudson's heat was off the plate; "Ball One!" the umpire said.
To the dugout shot ten thousand eyes, and deadly was their aim
As we wondered what would prompt that call in this, the title game
"A two-out sac? From J.D. Drew?!?" the crowd began to rage
But Drew regrouped, and took his stance, and once more seized the stage.
We marveled at the sight of him, the best we've ever had,
Who dined on expectations that would drive mere mortals mad
For this hour was Drew created, and the hour was his, we knew--
But again, the pitch was off the plate. The umpire cried, "Ball Two!"
Tension mounted on the field, and elsewhere in the place
As sparks flew off our hero's bat, sweat formed on Hudson's face
A walk would bring up Morris, and another run would score,
But you somehow got the feeling Drew would never see ball four.
And Hudson fires at 2 and 0, as Drew uncoils the steel
The bunt charade now cast aside, the moment thus reveals:
As bat meets ball, metallic thunder crashes through the night
And history plays out beneath the blazing grandstand lights.
In Baton Rouge, Miami, and in Tuscaloosa, too,
Their eyes are aimed upon the prize, their fans are born anew
In Starkeville, Palo Alto, and Los Angeles they shout,
But it's quiet in Tallahassee--J.D. Drew has grounded out.
Note: This didn’t come from the Animals, but we felt
it was worthy enough to be included in our songbook. This poem was re-written by
Clark Moore following the FSU/Auburn game during the 1997 NCAA Regionals.