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Wolan contemplates Verdasys’ 2010 potential as he views the demolition of Chestnut Run Park. (Wolan)

The starts of the 2008 and 2009 seasons for Verdasys were marked with washouts, as a stubborn rainy weather system forced postponements of multiple opening games. This season, Mother Nature is giving the team a break as she treats the team with a sunny and delightful afternoon.

But despite the outdoor pleasantries, the team apparently had something other than softball on their mind; with the start of the Fourth of July holiday a mere day away, coupled with pressures at the office, there was sufficient distraction away from the game. As a result, the team was only able to commit 5 players for game day. This group excluded A-WOL, who was away to play with the 356er’s organization the previous afternoon to participate in the final game ever at Chestnut Run Park.

With an anemic line-up, coach Wolan was forced to make the difficult declaration of calling a forfeit, resulting in the first lose of season for the team. The forfeit is the second forfeit in a row for the team, after the coach was forced to forfeit a 2009 playoff game, which was the team’s final game that season. It is also coach’s second forfeit ever as head coach.

Fielding questions from the Herr’s Potato Chip post-game show in Wilmington, DE was coach Wolan.

(Wolan) I understand that there were work commitments and distractions caused by the upcoming 4th of July holiday. I’m not happy by all of this but I understand. It will be a problem if this happens again this season because quite frankly I really don’t want to spend this season begging people to show up.

In the end I am frustrated because we were playing a new team, and it was a game we had a chance at winning. We just didn’t show-up.

(Wolan) That is correct. So I could lead the team remotely, we arranged for an audio and video link from Middlebrook field to be sent to me, via the Internet, to a command post here in Wilmington. I would then relay instructions back to the team based on what was observed.

(Wolan) I tried. No one was interested, not even Muldoon.

(Wolan) Perhaps. Had I been in the area I might have been able to drum-up more support. At the very least, I could have held practice sessions to get the team organized before the start of the season.

After the Q&A session, coach Wolan gave the press a quick tour of the now former Chestnut Run Park site. Construction crews had already removed the outfield fence and had placed a storage container in right field.

Andy Wolan is a reporter and photographer for Verdasys Softball. This story was not subject to the approval of the league or its clubs.