High Times Bonghitters Win NY Media Softball League Title

Jen Bernstein

The Bonghitters, High Times’ storied softball team, defeated the Wall Street Journal 11-5 in the New York Media Softball League Championship yesterday, reclaiming a title that has eluded them for the past seven years.

Taking the field on Central Park’s Great Lawn, The Bonghitters advanced from the semi-finals after defeating Forbes in a 9-1 win. WSJ won their semi-finals game vs. DC Comics, 22-5.

Under overcast skies and with tension in the air, both The Bonghitters and WSJ brought their A-games to the field. Pulling ahead early, WSJ led 2-0, with HT catching up 3-2 and scoring two more runs to take a 5-2 lead as The Journal came to bat for the final time in the bottom of the seventh. They strung together a few hits to tie the game, but were unable to score the winning run and the game headed to extra innings.

In the top of the ninth, The Bonghitters broke the game open by batting around and scoring six runs, including a three-run homer by right-fielder Luigi. High Times’ defense kept strong during The Journal’s final at-bat in the ninth inning – securing the 2014 NYMSL championship for The Bonghitters.

Second baseman and cultivation editor Nico Escondido powered the offense with a 5-5 day at the plate.

The team celebrated their victory on the mound by singing their infamous “Ol Bong Game” song and received the much coveted Bloom Cup from Steve Bloom, former High Times editor and commissioner of the NYMSL.

It is the first title for High Times since 2007, which was the inaugural year of the NYMSL. The Bonghitters had been defeated in the last four championship games, falling to The Wall Street Journal in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and to Institutional Investor in 2013.

As High Times celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, it’s fitting that The Bonghitters have brought home a much-deserved and long-awaited championship and the Bloom Cup.

Let’s hear it for the ol’ bong game! Go Bonghitters!