Yesterday’s afternoon washout had us wondering if Mother Nature had any idea what was about to happen here. Captains Sam and Michael had spent the day preparing for last night’s clandestine “draft” of the teams, then notified each new teammate by “pinning” a Red or Gray ribbon on their pillow well after midnight. The excitement of awakening to see which team you’re on, and who else will join you in battle for the next five days, had campers out of their cabins well before Reveille, just like the first day of summer. And Mother Nature must have known, because she dialed up one of the most magnificent, sunny, cool breezy Maine days of the season for the start of Color War 2023.
For the next five days, all sporting events on the fields, courts, and at the lake, will be competed, Red vs Gray, within each of the seven Color War Divisions – Lions (Bunks 1-7), Tigers (8-10), Freshmen (11-14), Sophomores (15-19), Juniors (20-24), Seniors (25-27) and Stars (28-JCs). The build-up had reached a crescendo, the buzz infectious!
But first, the annual, ever-popular “Red and Gray Breakfast Buffet” gave us all the energy boost needed to kick-off this most anticipated week. Afterwards, the boys went through their regular morning inspection, eagerly awaiting the PA call that would get the ball rolling. “Gray Team to the Pine Grove, Red Team to the Mail House.” The Captains would rally their troops for the very first time (bound arm-in-arm in what could only be described as a circle of spirited bedlam) and the first of several team “psych-up” meetings to come. These are meant to energize, focus, guide and encourage their “brothers” to give maximum effort in every event, every day going forward.
Shep then called both teams to the Middle Diamond (a temporary stand-in for our beloved Fred Pierce Field, which was waterlogged, due to the remnants of a meddling Mother Nature) where the Stars Division Softball game would open Color War for the 75th time. As history dictates, all participants would watch the 1st inning of the game before heading out to their own divisional contests all over camp. The ceremonial first pitch was tossed by our own celebrity favorite, do-it-all, behind-the scenes Skylemom, Holly. Umpire Shep roared the long-awaited, traditional proclamation that starts every baseball game anywhere --“PLAY BALL” -- and Color War 2023 was off and running.
In the Stars game, Red jumped on top early with a 5-run burst in the top of the first, and built an even bigger lead by the 3rd. Then Gray began to chip away with some timely hitting and got within 14-11 in the 5th, before Captain Michael went deep for the game’s only HR, opening it up for Red.
The Lions moved to the Hockey Arena for a pair of games. They also squeezed their archers in between games to start accumulating points for the total team Archery point, settled after the all divisions have had the chance to shoot. In the rink, Lionel and Alex B were unbeatable in the nets for both teams in Game 1, resulting in a scoreless tie. Then a couple of early first period goals set the tone in Game 2, carrying Gray to a 3-1 victory.
In Tigers Football, Jacob W and Dash were terrific for Gray, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the running and passing of QB James T for Red in their 45-36 win on the Bunkline Gridiron.
The Freshmen played two Hoops games on the blacktop, and one in the Gym. It was a triple-header of very close, well-played games. The teams split the outdoor contests, then watched a last second shot roll around the rim and out at the buzzer, preserving the tie in Game 3, and splitting the Frosh Basketball point.
Over on the SkyLinks, Red duffers dominated, winning 6 and halving 3 of the ten matches on way to victory in Sophomores Golf. The rest of the Sophs found their way to the Bocce Garden, where Gray extended the match to three games with a comeback of their own in the 2nd, before succumbing in the rubber game.
The Juniors put on quite a show over at the Hejduk with two outstanding, hard-fought, very tight Soccer games. Finley M scored twice to keep Red alive and deadlocked in Game 1 at 2-2, before Hamish tallied two second half goals to break a 1-1 tie and seal the 2nd game and the Juniors Soccer win for Red.
The Seniors gave us the most exciting event of the morning down on the Pond. Gray had already won the Boating portion (kayak races) of the three elements that make up the Waterfront competition (along with Swimming and Skiing). They were just about to close the door after building a nice lead in the Freestyle Relay that would determine the Swim Meet win, when Leo F dove in as Red’s anchor leg just a few lengths behind. With his teammates screaming support from the Trickey docks (heard up on the Sky I ball fields and courts) and an Olympian effort to close the gap, Leo came back and touched barely inches ahead to win the relay. Red’s hopes were kept alive…. but alas, only briefly, as Zane B skied impressively and quite steadily in some very choppy Trickey waters to win the Ski element, and the Seniors Waterfront point for Gray.
What an opening morning, with action and excitement all over camp! Red had taken the early lead as we headed to lunch.
The afternoon promised plenty more, and it sure delivered! After a hearty meal and a much-needed rest hour, the teams gathered for another “psych-up” meeting before heading back out to venues in all corners of Skylemar.
The littlest guys were down at the lake, where choppy waters prevented the ski-off that would have broken the tie. Gray won the Swimming element while Red took the Boating, splitting the afternoon Waterfront point.
On the Hockey court, Joaquin knocked in a rebound followed by TI’s insurance goal to go up 2-0. Good thing for Gray as Mason tallied late to bring Red within one, but it wasn’t quite enough to keep the Gray Sophomores from holding on for the win.
Gray also won Tigers Baseball 7-3, doing most of the damage early before giving up a few late runs.
When word spread of the Gray Juniors win in the first Lax game over at the Hejduk, it seemed up to the Red Juniors to put a stop to the Gray afternoon run. They controlled much of the Game 2 action, but Harvey‘s debut in the cage was sensational, making saves on shots from all angles, preserving the 2-2 tie that gave the Juniors Lacrosse point to Gray.
It finally appeared that Red had halted Gray’s afternoon momentum when their Freshmen volleyed their way out of a deep hole created by Gray’s advantage in the Tennis Stroke Skills portion on the Sky II Tennis courts. Red won 4 of the 6 singles and doubles matches played at both Sky's I and II to stem the tide. But then news of the Gray Seniors Bocce win followed (another three game, extended match that was decided on the final throws), and left a gathering gallery of fans closely monitoring Seniors Golf. Gray led 5-4 with one match left on the course. The crowd watched intently as Noah L vs Harry went the distance, but ended in a tie, also preserving the Seniors Golf point for Gray, 5 ½-4 ½.
The most fantastic finish of the day came in the sometimes-rough, always-tough Stars Football game. Red jumped out early, scoring the first two times it had the ball for a 16-0 lead before the teams spent the better part of the next 3 quarters trading touchdowns. Late in the 4th quarter, Gray, playing behind for most of the game, got the defensive stop they needed and one more possession to try to win it. A minute later, when Captain Sam went sliding on his knees to snare a long TD pass in the corner of the endzone with eight seconds left, Gray had all but completed the most improbable comeback. But wait, Red was not done. After the ensuing kick-off return, Red had three seconds left, enough time to get off one final play. Then a long bomb from QB Michael was hauled in by Sam M as he lunged toward the goal line, rolled into the endzone and raised his hands high above awaiting the referee’s call. With confirmation by ‘instant replay” (sharpshooting photo director Shannon had the money shot) the play came up inches short of the goal line, again preserving the victory for Gray.
Red had taken the morning lead, but Gray responded in a huge way, nearly sweeping the afternoon, and seizing command as the action-packed athletic activities of the day ended.
Tonight’s traditional first night event, the Ping Pong Competition would close Day 1, but no one could have figured it ending in equally thrilling fashion. With 21 matches on the docket, it would take 11 wins to grab the Ping Pong point. The bright moonlit Maine sky backlit the tri-table arena under the Pavilion lights making for a spectacular setting. Red surged ahead winning seven of the first eleven matches before Gray went on a streak of their own to go up 10-8 on the verge of victory. But then, Red evened it up at 10, leaving Red’s Charlie F vs Gray’s Nick N alone playing their 3rd and deciding game (they split the first 2 of 3) in the middle of 220 sets of Red and Gray eyes focused solely on them. Back and forth it went. Each point seemed like it went on forever, each daring the other to miss (rarely) until finally…. finally…. Nick and his Gray Team carried Ping Pong, and at least for tonight, will sleep on the lead. Whew…good night!
