There was some behind-the-scenes drama in West Seattle late Monday afternoon as many of the Luna Park Cafe crew showed up at Lincoln Park to play rival team, the Hotwire Coffee staff, in softball. Hotwire owner Lora Swift said her team bowed out due to an employee's illness. The feisty barista added, Hotwire crushed Luna Park three years earlier and we wanted to spare them the humility of a second loss. CLICK ON PHOTO FOR SLIDESHOW.
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR SLIDESHOW.
"I was born on March 19, 1989, and Luna Park Cafe opened one day earlier," said Victoria Roper. "It was in my contract when I was born that I was destined to work there. We work so well together. Look at this motley crew."
Part of the motley crew included cafe owner John Bennett's daughter, Conny. She grew up on Alki and worked the Cafe at age 17 and 18. Her father now lives in the Alaska Junction. She is a chef at Poco Wine Room on Capitol Hill.
"We played Hotwire three years ago and they won," recalled John. "This was supposed to be the 're-challenge'."
Alas, Luna Park Cafe had to split into two and play each other.
Added John, "Today's score was like 300 to 299. Or maybe it was a draw. I think Hotwire was afraid to show up today," he suggested.
The West Seattle Herald caught up with Hotwire Coffee owner Lora Swift after the game while she was closing her shop for the evening to see if she really chickened out, as John Bennett asserted.
"We just didn't have enough people due to an illness at Hotwire," said Swift. "We crushed them the last time we played them." Then she added, with fighting words, "We asked John Bennett to reschedule but he refused to only because now he thinks it's a victory. You will go down again, John Bennett. You will be mine."
