EAST HAMPTON-AUGUST 14: 62nd Annual Artists vs. Writers Charity Softball Game on Saturday, August 14, 2010 at Herrick Park, East Hampton, New York. There was in the words of Miley Cyrus a “Party in the USA” on Saturday, August 14th at Herrick Park in East Hampton for the 62nd Annual Artists vs. Writers Charity Softball Game. Since 1948 this has been one of the finest traditions on the East End. Ticket sales, concessions and a silent auction held at the First Pitch Cocktail Party on the night before the game at the Sag Harbor home of event organizer Debby Sands McEneaney, husband Peter McEneaney and sons Peter and Ian McEneaney, benefit three local charities: East Hampton Day Care, East End Hospice, and Phoenix House of Long Island . The game itself was a seesaw affair with several lead changes until finally culminating in a 15-14 extra innings victory for the Artists who evened the score at 11-11 with one tie over the last 23 years. The Artists were led by the steady bat of East End Icon Alec Baldwin , and the stellar fielding and timely hitting of game MVP and American stage, film and television actor Josh Charles who currently plays a lead role in the American legal drama “The Good Wife.” 1010 WINS anchor Juliet Papa and the legendary Bert Sugar served as the game's announcers and Dans Papers founder Dan Rattiner served as an umpire. The Writers seemed notably confident prior to the game until Charles, during batting practice, put on a hitting tutorial that would have made Charley Lau proud. His scalding line drives caught the eye of Writers manager Ken Auletta, star second baseman Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News and New York Rangers Legend Rod Gilbert who by virtue of authoring two books was a member of the Writers' squad. The Writers' worst fears were briefly alleviated when teammate Jeff Hilford smacked a towering three run bomb, reminiscent of one of former New York Mets slugger Dave “Kong” Kingman’s moon-shots, that seemed to take off from his bat like a rocket and head into orbit before ultimately landing well beyond left field fence and the Tennis Courts, somewhere along Route 27 in East Hampton. Perhaps taking a lesson from his own book 'Googled: The End of the World As We Know it', Writers Manager Ken Auletta, in an effort to bring an end to the world as the Artists knew it, juggled his lineup with seemingly great proficiency to preserve some partially injured key players who were unable to play at full tilt. Notably, Writers pitcher Mort Zuckerman got tagged early and was not able to turn on the ball with his sweet Ted Williams like stroke from years past; and thus ultimately unable to take advantage of an inviting right field porch at Herrick Park. The Artists eventually caught on to the Writer’s manager’s strategy which was like Tony LaRussa meets Tony Soprano. Actress and Artists ringer Lori Singer even donned a Writer's shirt and attempted to come to the plate for the Writers in the midst of Auletta's maneuvers and nearly got away with it. While the Artists were unable to articulate coherently in their protest to the umpires where Auletta may have run afoul of the rules, the game continued on with either side seemingly poised to win until a late surge in extra innings pushed the Artists past the Writers. After the game the teams head to East Hampton Library for Authors Night and post game awards ceremony where game participants Alec Baldwin, Ken Auletta, Bonnie McEneaney (Author of ‘Signs, Visits, and Premonitions from Loved Ones Lost on 9/11’ ), Jay McInerney and Dan Rattiner (Author of ‘In the Hamptons Too’) were among the celebrity authors who had a meet and greet with fans of their work. At the Library Artists Manager Leif Hope awarded the MVP plaque. After an afternoon hydrating with copious amounts of Snapple beverages players were seen throwing back Belfast Bay’s Lobster Ale and McGovern’s Oatmeal Stout. Smiles abounded but not a soul was seen crying in their beer.

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