But the JAM has never been content to fall into a set pattern, and it refuses to conform to anachronistic systems that have long outlived their usefulness. That may be the only way to explain the grind-it-out struggle that occurred on Cook Field this afternoon, as the Ghettoblasters defeated the Patches, 4-1, to capture their fifth consecutive championship.

"Now we've got one for the thumb," captain Chris Crowley, who has been with the squad throughout its title run, said.

The Blasters jumped out to an early lead off Patches starter Pete Chema. Their potent top of the lineup tagged Chema, who at age 55 is the oldest Jammer ever, for four runs in the opening frame, and they never looked back. Chema settled in after that rocky start, but the damage had already been done.

Click above for the Official 1998 JAM photo.

Despite trailing throughout the entirety of the game, Chema continuously taunted his younger opponents, in an attempt to get into their heads.

At the time, nobody could have predicted that the four runs would hold up, especially not Patches captain Chris Spellman.

"Four runs in the first inning and that's it?" Spellman questioned. "That was good enough to win? This is ridiculous. I'll have none of it. We should have won."

Part of the reason those runs held up was the superb pitching performance turned in by two-time Most Valuable Jammer Mike Campoli. Campoli cruised through nine innings of JAM work, plus an extra four frames after that, to capture the JAM ERA title with a mark of 0.75. Nobody else has ever come close to doing that. Campoli, however, was not surprised by his accomplishment.

"The pitching was always there," Campoli, who twice had more home runs in a single game than he allowed runs today, said.

He also gave credit to his defense, which allowed amazingly few balls put into play to result in hits. The infield of slick-fielding first-time Jammers Adam Meza, Tom Dever, John Lyte and Graham Goodkin was veritably impenetrable, and the outfielders turned most fly balls into outs.

"Those guys did a great job backing me up out there," Campoli said. "Its scary to see people with so little JAM experience coming in here and playing like that."

Meza was quick to deflect Campoli's praise, but he did indicate that he believed the Ghettoblasters had something special on the diamond.

"Hey, don't embarrass me," Meza said. "These are a great bunch of guys. You know, nobody, nobody in this whole world, could do what we just did, me and these guys."

Particularly impressive in the field was left fielder Chris Blakely, who made six key put-outs while on his way to capturing Most Valuable Jammer honors. Blakely also went 3 for 4 in the game, to raise his lifetime batting average to .900, thus moving Geoff Bowler into second place. Bowler appeared in the JAM, after missing last year's Phi Beta JAM due to a sudden illness, and avoided a JAM ban.

When asked how he felt about winning the coveted MVJ, Blakely was exuberant.

"I'm sssssuper," Blakely said. "Thanks for asking."

Ed McDowell, the Patches' third baseman, contested Blakely's selection, but his argument quickly degenerated into a stream of incoherence.

"The bartender is so hot," is all the ED-OGG could say when asked about his snub.

The loss was particularly heartwrenching for Spellman, who assembled his best team ever. With the exception of the first inning, their defense was as good as that of the Ghettoblasters, and they had their scoring chances. Their one run, scored by Jim Altomare (the best there is, the best there ever was, and the best there ever will be), represents the last scored in regulation, before the Blasters tacked on three more in the additional frames. And Spellman did use the first double switch and pinch runner in JAM history.

All Spellman could say following the defeat was a meager, "Hob."

Spellman was able to implement these managerial innovations thanks to a concerted recruiting effort that increased the attendance to 37. These included Myles Duffy, making his return from Boston, Jer Silkowski, who again left early, and Joe O'Leary, who made his first Westchester appearance in over a year. Also appearing was a crew from West Yonkers who claimed to be somehow affiliated with 1997 MVJ George McShane, and two stockbrokers, who incorrectly thought attendance would generate business.

This created problems for both managers, who encountered early difficulty determining who was on their roster. Many of these additions possessed impressive softball skills, and they added an immediate presence, particularly on defense, that changed the face of the game.

While the influx of talent did convert the JAM from a slug-fest into a game of strategy in which runs were at a premium, it did not put a halt to the Ghettoblasters' run.

"I'm fired up that we've been successful in the 'Drive for Five'," Crowley said. "Now we have to set our sights on the 'Fix for Six.' If anybody knows a word that rhymes with seven, please let me know."

The 1998 Blasters will also have the distinction of being the first team recorded on the deluxe JAM Cup, which Rob Andrusco renovated in the weeks leading up to the JAM. The work includes a new, third level, eight balls, and a fresh coat of stain.

"It was nothing," Rubar insisted. "You see, first I drilled holes through the balls, and then I got a heating iron. . . ."

The new label will be attached to the Cup in the coming weeks.