SFRC

To wrap up the 2010 season of Schlitz Gusto Guy softball, we dedicated a night to Carl Pavano.  Some Schlitz Gusto Guy players even went with the unnatural looking mustache.  It certainly was a nice night to put an end to the 2010 season (not coincidentally on the eve of 2011 pre-season workouts).  The temperature for Game #1 was around 62 degrees.  The temperature when we departed about 11:20pm was around 46 degrees.

Game #1 vs. Moose Knucklers

The Schlitz Gusto Guys tied with Moose Knucklers for 1^st Place in the summer league.  The autumn version of Moose Knucklers has been slightly modified.   They do not quite have the horse power they had in the summer.  We started off the game batting through the entire lineup en route to nine first inning runs.  We kept our foot on the gas pedal as we scraped together a few runs in each of the following innings.  We also locked them down on defense on a night where the ball appeared to be carrying.  Pub Krull launched a deep 3-run homerun and T-Mac hit a lazy flyball that carried over the fence as well.  Matty hit a deep homerun that counted for an out since he was late to the homerun party.  Nice plays / catches in the field were made by CW, Matty and 2’s.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 20 – Moose Knucklers 11

Last out: ?

Game #2 vs. Beer Me

The Schlitz Gusto Guys sticks continued to roll on this final night of Fall Ball.  We gave up four runs in the top of the first, but answered with a nine-spot in the bottom of the 1^st.  The game was back and forth with neither team holding on to more than a four run lead after the 2^nd inning.  Again the ball was carrying.  The outfielders reacted to the hits well and chased down many line drives in the gaps.  Brain turned a nice double play on a hard hit ball to third by stepping on the sack and tossing to first.  Pub Krull hit a ball about 350 feet landing in the infield of SFRCP “B” for a three-run homerun.  Sans would later describe this homerun as only Sans could, stating, “That might have been the longest dong I have seen this year.”  I guess what Sans means is, that homerun by Pub Krull was the “Greg Oden” of the 2010 Schlitz Gusto Guys.

Another great quote from the final game of 2010 came from the 3^rd baseman for Beer Me.  He had bobbled a couple of slow ground balls before making a very nice play on a ball smoked his way.  One of the Schlitz Gusto Guys told him “nice play.”  He responded by saying, “It’s easier when it’s hard.”  Truer words have not been spoken, 3-bag….Truer words have not be spoken.

It was tied heading into the top of the last inning.  Beer me pushed three runs and the Schlitz Gusto Guys were set to answer with the top of their order.  Unfortunately, we had a couple of outs before Matty smoked a “no-doubter” homerun to left-center.  After T-Mac narrowly escaped the last out of the season by having the pitcher overrun a foul ball, CW hit a line shot knee high at the pitcher, who made a nice catch to retire the Schlitz Gusto Guys for 2010.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 20 – Beer Me 22

Last out: CW (line shot – knee high to the pitcher who made a nice catch)

Fan of the night: T.O.!  Good to see you #8

There were some good Schlitz Gusto Guy laughs after the games as we remained at the fields until well after the final out.  We could still field a team at 11:20pm.

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It was another fine night of fall weather to participate in one of the greatest sports on earth.  We were playing on SFRCMP for the first time in two weeks, given the unprecedented rainout the previous week. 

Game #1 vs. Goodfella’s

It was a tough day in the sun.  The ball seemed to be carrying a bit and the sun apologized for the previous week by glaring right into the outfielder’s eyes.  It made fielding difficult.  We scored 10 runs in this ball game, but unfortunately gave up 20. 

But the 10 run loss doesn’t matter.  Why?

In the 4^th inning one runner had scored and there were no outs and runners on 1^st and 2^nd.  This situation has happened 4,317 times since they moved the bases back five feet a few years ago.  There was a hard hit ball to short.  Of the 4,317 times there have been runners on 1^st and 2^nd or bases loaded with no outs, 417 times there has been a ground ball to ol’ #35 at short.  413 of those times, T-Mac has booted the ball, once he tagged the runner and twice we turned double plays and once we came a half step / bad call away from a triple play.  Well, on this day SFRCMP did us a favor.  The ball was hit very hard.  Luckily, too hard to have time to think.  It was a one-hopper / Sunday hop right into #35’s glove going to his left.  This led him right into the runner for the 1^st out, stepped on the base for out #2 and threw to first as Pub Krull anxiously awaited and sighed relief when he caught the ball.  A TRIPLE PLAY!  I’d like to type that again…A TRIPLE PLAY!   On the 418^th groundball to short with runners on 1^st and 2^nd with no outs, we turned a triple play.  1/418 = 0.0024. That is 0.24% chance.  In other words, it doesn’t happen often.  Numbers don’t lie. 

So we lost this game, but we had another game to play on this fine evening and no one from the Schlitz Gusto Guys had to go to bed at night knowing they hit into a TRIPLE PLAY!

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 10 – Goodfella’s 20

Last out: ?

Game #2 vs. Rounding Second

The Schlitz Gusto Guys can only be tamed for so long.  They can only be caged for so long.  Eventually, the animal that is the Schlitz Gusto Guys bats will let loose.  And so they did, on their way to 24 runs.  We hit bloopers, groundballs, line drives and deep balls.  This tamed and caged animal was free to go.  We took extra bases when they were given, we tested the arms, we forced them to throw us out between bases and we had Cinco try to “sneak” home after the runner before him had a play at the plate.  He missed it by a step.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys made things happen all game.

Defensively we locked it down making the plays we needed to make.  Pub Krull pitched his first official inning and simply didn’t give up an earned run.  ERA = 0.00.  Opponents batting average = 0.250.  I think the Schlitz Gusto Guys own the best middle reliever south of the river.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 24 – Rounding Second 10

Last out:  Ryan (officially a strikeout, since it was a foul ball)

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For those of you not aware, September 15th was “Brian Niehaus” night.  It was the 2009 Schlitz Gusto Guy Sportsman of the Year’s last night of softball (at least for now / this year).  He is off to Sin City to make some things happen and potentially start a desert version of the Schlitz Gusto Guy softball squad.  We look forward to hearing about the 110 degree “balm” days.   

The forecast was for rain followed by rain followed by more rain.  The radar showed rain covering a 100  mile stretch north to south just west of SFRCMP.  Something had to give.  We know we dont’ get rained out on SFRCMP, but the radar was telling a different story.   

Game #1 vs. Crew’d Up   

Mrs. H. out.  A tad humid, plenty sunny, with some clouds in the distance.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys took a little while to get warmed up and dug themselves a bit of a hole.  In typical Schlitz Gusto Guy fashion, we mounted a comeback before eventually falling 13-7.    

Game #2 vs. Team Ziegler  

Brian Niehaus Night

The rain, however, was not enough to keep the Schlitz Gusto Guys bats quiet.  We picked it up, we took advantage of the elements and we held our own in the field.  “Hey, the ball is giong to be wet when you pick it up!”  We hit cutoff men, we threw strikes and we hit it where they weren’t.  We took extra bases when the situation called for it and we ran out balls in the dirt.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys do some of their best work in sub-optimal conditions.  This may stem from the time they put in at SFRCMP in January.

Tears hitting homeplate on SFRCMP

Some highlights from the 2010 version of the “monsoon game…”  Pub Krull winking at Mother Nature and letting her know who her daddy is as he hit a HR to straight away center into the teeth of the wind and the rain, a nice catch by 2′s going back to the track fighting the rain and puddles to make a catch and finally, Sans legging out a double as he took advantage of the slick footing of the outfielders.

Rain on SFRCMP from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

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September 8, 2010:

Game #1

The Schlitz Gusto Guys 16 – Beer Me 10

Game #2

Schlitz Gusto Guys 8 - Eddy’s Bar and Grill 14

September 1, 2010:

Game #1

The Schlitz Gusto Guys 10 – Goodfellows 6

Game #2

Schlitz Gusto Guys 8 - Rounding Second 5

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August 25, 2010.  

Game #1 vs. Crew’d Up

The game went back and forth and the Schlitz Gusto Guys scratched and clawed and fought their way to a tie?  What?  A tie?  Yep, kissed their sister.

Game #2 vs. Team Ziegler 

The Schlitz Gusto Guys were down by more than 10 runs before they came storming back to tie the game.  Bases loaded, two outs, and an out.  Worth mentioning, for the first time ever, it wasn’t #35 who got out with the game on the line.    Another tie.  Again, kissed their sister. 

Should this squad be playing in Kentucky?

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