SFRC

No surprise here, the forecast didn’t look good.  The rain was coming.  However, the softball weather Gods anticipated such an event and scheduled the SFRCGG for Lac Lavon on June 22, 2011.  Why?  Take a look at the forecast.  The SFRCGG were scheduled to play at 6pm and 7pm.  We did just that and when we were finished the skies couldn’t hold on any longer and dumped rain like it was the Amazon rain forest.  For those with SFRCGG experience, we know there is a covered area to enjoy cold beverages and stay dry.

Game #1 vs. Celt’s Pub

I am not sure what to say.  The SFRCGG brought their bats and simply did not put them away….all night.  Kurty set the tone with a lead off homerun to straight away center.  The game went something like this: Lead off homerun, hit, hit, hit, hit/run, hit/runs, hit/run, hit/outfielders quitting, hit/outfielder walking/run, hit, hit, hit/runs, Nate GRAND SLAM, hit, hit/run, CW HOMERUN FOR AN OUT!, hit/run….angry team shaking hands.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 28 – Celt’s Pub 16

Last out: ???

Game #2 vs. Ziegler

This was a mixed bag of Ziegler players.  Meaning, we only recognized about half the team.  We never put our bats away.  This game went something along the lines of: Start with two runs since Ziegler didn’t bring a game ball, hit, hit, hit/run, hit/run…hits/runs on our way to 27 runs and a four inning game (mercy rule).

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 27 – Ziegler 5

Last out: Matty

Players of the night: We have many options.  Everyone hit very well.  Brain was 9-9.  CW hit his first homerun (check that, it was an out).  Nate hit his first career homerun and it was a GRAND SLAM!  Kurty set the tone with a lead off homerun.  Bruce showed that age cannot take away a sweet swing going 5-7 on the night with a SAC (and an RBI).

56 runs in two games and nine total innings.  That is more than six runs per inning played.  I’m pretty sure that is a SFRCGG record.

Fan of the night: The one, the only…the original Schlitz Gusto Guy….#25!  Yes, Mr. Brian Niehaus made it all the way back from Las Vegas to come enjoy some ice cold Tall Boys under the shelter of the rain.  The ankle is on the mend and we anticipate he’ll be ready for Fall Ball, if he can make it back for a week or two.

We are all looking forward to the return of the Leader of Leaders, Sans.  Set to make his 2011 debut July 6, 2011.  All things will be right with the SFRCGG’s again.

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There were quite a few environmental factors involved for the June 15th double header.  Let’s start with the forecast.  She had been moist for 28+ straight hours.  However, the Schlitz Gusto FRC Guys were never worried.  They were never afraid of a rainout.  It simply doesn’t happen in the SFRC’s world.  We had a small pre-game BBQ to start off this nice evening.  As you can see to the right, it didn’t look good.  Or did it?  Take a closer look and you will see that the chance of precipitation drops from 64% all day to 21% for the 8pm and 9pm games.  Shocked?  No.  Surprised?  No.  Numbers don’t lie.

As further proof, you can see the shadows and the sun shining on SFRCMP Away 30 minutes before our first pitch.  Get your sunglasses out, we’ve got two to play!

We have stated it before and we’ll state it again.  The SFRCGG do not get rained out on Wednesday nights.  It simply doesn’t happen.  I’m pretty sure you can check the Farmer’s Almanac to verify.

Another environmental factor we were faced with on June 15th, 2011 was the “retro hill.”  We have not seen SFRCMP Away this unkempt since the late 70′s.  A welcome change for 2′s.  This was clearly going to be a night for the SFRCGG’s.

Game #1 vs. H-Bombs

This game was back and forth throughout.  We had some very nice plays, like CW catching a ball over his shoulder like a wide receiver.  This may have been the catch of the year.  Matty went back to get a few as well.  #35 missed a hard one-hopper that would have been an easy triple play in the first inning.  The SFRC scored two in the first, four in the third and then pushed five in the fifth.  The defense came through when it needed to on the way to a victory.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 11 – H-Bombs 8

A couple of highlights…

CW goes middle:

CW goes middle from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

Nate doubles to right:

Nate double to right from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

Last out: Mr. Clutch (#35)

Game #2 vs. Beer Me

As we have mentioned previously, Beer Me is a new and improved squad over the 2010 version.  Heading into this game we were 1-1 against Beer Me in 2011.  In the last meeting the Schlitz Gusto Fighting Red C Guys pushed 23 runs.  To start this game Brain suggested it would take 24 runs to win.  It did not look good early.  The SFRC had not scored through two innings.  However, the last five innings were a completely different story.  We scored four in the third, six in the fourth, four in the fifth and three in the sixth.  We were up 10 heading into the bottom of the 6^th inning.  Give Beer Me credit.  They did not roll over and quit.  They pushed 10 in the bottom of the 6^th to tie the game.  I think they were trying to stall as we were cutting it close on time.  I believe they thought they were going to take the lead.  However, the SFRC may bend, but we will not break.  As umps on SFRCMP have learned, do not give us extra time.  We were not looking to score one or two runs.  The SFRC got after it in the top of the 7^th inning scoring nine runs.  We had 10 of the first 11 batters in the inning got hits.  10 of 11.  The 12^th batter reached on an error.  We allowed one harmless runner to score in the bottom of the 7^th to secure the win.

Highlights of this game included Beer Me yelling age-discriminating banter towards Lars having the left-fielder come in a few steps.  Lars calmly winked at the pitcher and proceeded to launch a ball that one-hopped the fence.   The only regret is that we do not have video of this hit.

In this game six leaders had six at-bats.  The other four leaders (who played) had five at-bats.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 26 – Beer Me 18

Last out: Cinco

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Game #1 vs. Celt’s Pub

Celt’s Pub is the top team in the league and they were looking to add to that lead by beating up on the SFRCGG.  Unfortunately for them, we had other plans.  We scored four runs in the first inning to take an early 4-2 lead.  Celts Pub didn’t quit and scored four in the second, three in the third, four in the fourth and one in the fifth.  Of course the SFRCGG was aware of the game situation throughout.  And whilst we bent, we did not break.  Defensively we kept the game within reach.  Offensively we were pacing ourselves for the sixth and seventh innings.  In the fourth  inning Nate lead the Leaders with a single.  Potter followed it up with a single of his own.  Lars knocked in a run with a single.  After a harmless fielder’s choice, Brain hit a single, Matty tripled, Cinco hit a single, #35 got a single, Ryan followed with another single.  Yes, that was nine base runners out of 10 plate appearances with eight hits. All said, the SFRC scored six runs in the sixth.  When we quickly shut them down in the fifth, we got right back to hitting.  CW went for a triple, Nate reached on an error, Potter found grass for a single, Lars had another RBI single…all before we found an out.  Brain quickly got us back on track with a single before Matty took a walk and Cinco singled.  T-Mac singled and Ryan followed with another single as well.  In other words, it was Leader, Leader, Leader, Leader, Leader…sounds like runs.  Yep, seven runs in the fifth inning and that was the submission hold on Celt’s pub.  They were shutout in the top of the sixth and the game was called because of time.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 18 – Celt’s 14

Last out: Mr. Clutch (#35)

Game #2 vs. Eddy’s

With a very well stated goal of “Finish the Season in Third Place” we took the field against Eddy’s.  We had just beat the team in first place (Celt’s Pub).  The SFRCGG have always been a Memorial Day and after team.  We have done our best work as the season progresses and the temperature warms up.  We have 20+ years of data to prove it.  Numbers don’t lie.   With these facts in mind, June 8^th is not too early to make sure we keep our seasons goals in mind.  “Finish the Season in Third Place.”  We took the first two innings off scoring only one run.  Eddy’s didn’t exactly set the world on fire either.  The game was close throughout before the SFRCGG finally bowed out losing 11-12.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 11 – Eddy’s 12

Last out: Cinco

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Game #1 vs. Ziegler

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 18 – Ziegler 20

Ziegler started out hitting the ball very well scoring 11 runs in the top of the 1^st inning.  As is the case in many of the SFRC games, we’ll bend, but we will not break.  We answered with 13 runs of our own in the bottom of the 1^st inning.  After that, the defense of both teams locked it down.  A few runs were scored by both teams and with two outs in the bottom of the 7^th with two on, trailing by two runs Ol’ #35 walked to the plate.  No need to finish reading, we know what happened….He got out.  Clutch.

Last out: Mr. Clutch (#35)

Game #2 vs. Goodfellas

Less than six minutes after the SFRC lost to Zielger, Ol’ #35 walked to the plate with a similar, but very different, situation.  Two on, two outs in the top of the first.  What happened?  #35 hit a HR.  Again, clutch.  When the SFRC need a big hit in a scoreless first inning game, nobody is better than #35.  This game saw all kinds of things a softball field has never seen.  We saw the “Lars shift,” which is simply moving the shortstop about 50 feet back so he is playing a shallow left field whilst the left fielder and left-center fielder pinch together.  Only to see Lars stick it to them as seen here:

Lars beats the shift from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

We had the opposing team yelling at Patsy for blowing her horn.  Patsy, don’t give in to the bullies.  In my opinion, they were yelling at the wrong things.  Their team was down by a lot and they were booting balls and not getting hits.  Somehow they blamed Patsy.   This game also saw a very pretty / “make it look routine” double-play with Kurty scooping the ground ball, stepping on second and tossing to Cinco at first.  Get a look:

Kurty Double Play from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 24– Goodfellas 6 (and Patsy won the mental game)

Last out: Cinco

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