To say that the evening started out on a good note would be accurate.  However, to say that it ended sour and asinine would be an understatement.

The two drunk guys, rolling around in the hay together, singing songs with two other drunks welcomed the Firecrackers to a rather hostile pitch.  The putrid smell of alcohol and those unsanitary people, among others, wafted across the grassy dirt as the team in yellow warmed up.

(due to constrained time, there will be a shortened recap this week)

The play of the game was fairly rough, and tempers often flared during the game.  The Latinos continued their cheap, dirty play and took it out both on the Firecrackers and the ref's.  One player on the sideline was ejected after he spouted vulgarities to the ref in his limited English.  Play was held up until he left the field, and after he threatened to "find the ref" after the game, he took off, with his tail between his legs.

Justin Basanese scored two great goals, both coming from throw-ins.  Usually, Justin is on the throwing side of goals, but this time he took throw-ins from his older brother Jeremy, as well as Brian Sturges.  Composure was the name of his game.

John Basanese took the role of goalie with Travis out.  He did well to organize the back line, but had a fairly boring time back there.  There was one instance when the Latinos scored, when John thought he had more of the goal covered when he did.  "I thought I had the back post covered, but I was a lot further out than I though".  Not bad, though, for being thrown into the fire!

Later, Brian Sturges would assist himself by teeing up on a free kick.  With 5 diminutive SJ Latinos lining up to form a wall, Brian hit the shot just past them from about 25 yards out, well beyond the diving goalie.

Then we wheels fell off the SJ Latino train.  They began to foul harder and more often, until eventually, a second scrum on the field ensued and the referees smartly ended the game 15 minutes early.  The police seem to have been called as the ref were being threatened.

A violent conduct report was filed against a couple players on the SJ Latinos team after the game.  They likely won't be allowed into the league next year.

In any case, everyone made it home safely, and the Firecrackers were victorious!