Another sensational, bright, but cooler day in the 04055 – perfect for the Day 4 schedule in store. The boys went through their morning routine of breakfast, inspection and another pre-game team pep rally to get the juices flowing. Gray had taken control, but Red was nipping at their heels, just a few points behind.
This morning’s action was filled with excitement all over the place. On the Sky I Lax field, Gray ran away with the first game, then Red did the same in the second to split Tigers Lacrosse. Somehow, the teams also split the Stars Waterfront point after the Kayak races put up the same times down on the Pond. Back up top on the Freddie Pierce, Gray led 5-0 early before surviving a last inning rally for a 5-4 win in Juniors Softball. The Gray Stars also chipped their way to a match play victory on the Links but dropped a close one in the Bocce Garden.
The Cubs/Lions again provided the most exciting, nail-biting moments. They split a pair of Football games, but only after Gray came from a 38-24 4th quarter deficit to win the Bunkline game 42-38 in a thriller. Red won a back and forth affair on the Rec Hall field, stopping Gray’s last ditch attempt to win it short of the goal line as time expired. It seemed Gray had protected their lead until the results came in from Sky II. Red Sophs swept Tennis by winning the Skills competition on the Har-Tru courts, and carried Seniors Soccer on the Hejduk as well, 4-2. Red not only wasn’t going away, but they had barely won the morning and drew even closer as we broke for lunch.
Afterward, the boys went straight to another Songs and Cheers rehearsal in preparation for tonight’s pivotal on-stage performances. But first they’d get a bit of rest and go right back at it again with an afternoon full of contests that tested them all.
The Juniors halved the Golf matches out on the Course, and Gray finally won stopped Red’s run of wins in Bocce. At the Rink, Red won the first game easily, then scored the equalizer with under a minute left to tie the second 3-3 and carry Stars Hockey. The teams each won a game on the Hoops court in Seniors Basketball, and Red served and volleyed well enough to win Tigers Tennis. Over at Sky II on the Hejduk, Gray Sophomore Laxers won a low scoring, but very tough 4-2 Lacrosse game to again reassert its position on top.
Then Red rattled off wins in both Cubs/Lions Soccer games and another in Freshmen Baseball to close out the afternoon with only a point separating the teams. 4 days in, and we were now virtually tied!
Tonight’s Evening Activity out on the Rec Hall lawn under a star-lit sky would set the stage for tomorrow’s big finish. For days, the teams have been rehearsing, as there would be 8 big points up for grabs. Each would have to perform a set of 6 songs – a Team Cheer and Camp Cheer (1/2 point each), Team Fight Song and Old Camp Song (a full point each), an Original Camp Song (2 points) and Production Number (worth 3 very big points). It’s hard to comprehend how difficult it is for a few 15-year-old leaders to prepare, write, rehearse and put 95+ kids on-stage for such an impactful event, all the while competing so intensely for the past 4 days. But that’s exactly how it’s been for 76 years. And they did quite a job. The two Production Numbers entertained us all. Gray gave us a Jackson 5 medley, and Red created a musical version of College Football’s Saturday GameDay. When it was over, Gray carried the night 5-3 and will take a slight lead into tomorrow’s finale.
Way too close to call…. this one’s going down to the wire for a photo finish!
