FOURTH INNING

Things got a little dicey for the Senators in the fourth inning, as the Gridlockers came to bat and unsheathed some of their tradecraft trickery. They slowed progress on Real ID compliance by raising suspicions about government intrusion into private lives, and the ongoing Senate mantra “get ‘er done” lost steam.  Effective and efficient governing suffered at the hands of fear-mongering, and the Senators’ achievements in the first three innings were in danger of becoming a distant memory.

Dropped balls, missed grounders, and wild pitches allowed the Gridlockers to score three runs and build momentum.  The University of Minnesota Regent selection process was clumsy, and hyper-partisanship played too big of a role in this important bicameral task.  The only bright spot in the top of the fourth was a skillful catch on the centerfield warning track by Andrew Mathews (R-Milaca), as he succeeded in getting the Sherco power plant bill passed with support from both sides of the aisle.

A somber bunch of Senators gathered in the dugout, looking at a tie score and contemplating what was yet to come when Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) took on the role of “spark plug” clapping his hands and encouraging his teammates to work together.  With a disarming smile, he advanced Sunday liquor sales to the plate and hit a huge homerun into the left field second deck bleachers – Sunday sales passed with a bipartisan 38-28 vote.  Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake) was next and ready to swing for the fences when the opposition insisted on using the Real ID bill as a vehicle for illegal immigrants to obtain driver licenses.  Pratt was temporarily sidelined and Gary Dahms (R-Redwood Falls) pinch hit for him.  After telling umpire Michelle Fischbach (R-Paynesville) that reinsurance was the best way to stabilize the individual health insurance market, Dahms slapped a double down the right field line.   Unfortunately, the inning ended when Dave Osmek (R-Mound) resolved to fool the Gridlockers with a drag bunt – he took too much time complaining about light rail and dreams, and was easily thrown out at first.

With the fifth inning about to begin, the Senators led by a run and had received a painful reminder that keeping an eye on the ball would be necessary if they were going to prevail over gridlock.

Senators 4, Gridlockers 3

 

Play by play provided by Senator Scott Jensen