SFRC

We wrapped up the Schlitz Gusto Guy summer league a few weeks ago with a successful “Processed Food Night.”  A big shout out to our friends at Schlitz for donating the batting title awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place.  Hooray Gusto Guys!

We took that success and brought it to Schlitz Gusto Guy Fall Ball.  It was a 78 degree semi-humid evening for two!

Sans put together some pivot tables to figure out when we won and lost based on opponent, field, time, number of players, number of runs scored, etc.  Based on those numbers Game #2 at 7pm on Lac Lavon Field E is the difference between finishing 9-5 and 10-4. 

The bad news of the evening was Brain pulling a hammy.  Let’s hope some time in a canoe heals that wound (not a largecanoe for what it’s worth).  I’d also like to acknowledge the dedication of a particular SGG for arriving a bit late, getting some work in, and leaving a bit early….all whilst leaving his tracking device stationary.  Good work.

Game #1 vs. Eddy’s Bar and Grill

The Schlitz Gusto Guys battled and fought and scratched and clawed for seven solid innings.  The game was back and forth.  One team would score seven runs, the other would come back with eight.  Luckily for the Schlitz Gusto Guys, we practice 12 months out of the year and we are prepared for anything.  We are so prepared, we refuse to have our timing thrown off by a pitcher “fake-pitching,” “doing the windmill,” or pretending to throw out of a full windup.  And better yet, we don’t have to go to bed at night knowing the “windmill pitch” fooled someone into hitting a triple.  As a former SGG would say, “Good things happen to good people, and Bob Huggins broke some ribs in a fall in Las Vegas.”

Everyone took a turn watching the ball come out of the clowns paw and roped it somewhere.  We beat them up for 19 runs and played enough defense to hold them to 16 runs.  It was a good start to the Fall League.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 19 – Eddy’s Bar and Grill 16

Last out: ?

Game #2 vs. Moose Knucklers

The Schlitz Gusto Guys tied for 1^st Place with Moose Knucklers in the summer league.  We played a few competitive / close games against them in the summer and this first night of fall ball was no different.  Moose Knucklers jumped to an early 2-0 lead, but the Schlitz Gusto Guys came back with a few of their own.  We also locked down the defense with nice plays being made by Niehaus (your 2009 Schlitz Gusto Guy Sportsman of the Year), Ryan, Pint, CW and Pauly, who made a nice catch on a knuckleball with the bases loaded and two outs.  In fact, the Gusto Guys locked down the defense so well, we didn’t give an another run, winning a close one 5-2.

It’s worth mentioning, for an inning or two we had almost two centuries worth of experience in the outfield.  From left to right we went 55 years old, 51 years old, 51 years old, 26 years old.  I doubt anyone in this league can boast such stats. 

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 5 – Moose Knucklers 2

Last out: Mac

Fan of the night: Patsy and Bob (per the norm). 

There were some good Schlitz Gusto Guy laughs after the games as we remained at the fields until well after the final out.  There were some great phrases added to our QUOTES page.

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It is difficult to believe the Schlitz Gusto Guys wrapped up summer softball already.  24 games are in the books.  I believe we finished 18-6 and tied for 1^st Place.  With any luck we had less total runs than the Moose Knucklers.  We know we don’t want to move up a league next summer.  We have been in that league before.  It’s not pretty.  Numbers don’t lie.

Sub-plot of the night.  Entering the game #35 held an ever-so-slight lead over Brain for the Schlitz Gusto Guy batting title.  One of the biggest benefits were those Gusto Guys who did not qualify for the batting title.  The batting title essentially came down to whoever got more hits on this final day of the summer season.

Game #1 vs. Moose Knucklers

The pitcher for Moose Knucklers is up there on the “Most Likeable People” list with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.  He’s just a really fun guy to play against.  After Cinco hit a ground ball up the middle #35 asked if the pitcher was okay.  The reply went something like this, “You tell your *&(@#$% pitcher that I’m coming up the (*&$&$@# middle and I go head (*&$%(*# high.”  Let’s take a step back.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys and Moose Knucklers play in Wednesday night D/E Recreational league.  Further, I’m not sure anyone on the Schlitz Gusto Guys would try to go up the middle to hurt anyone.  It’s just not how the Schltiz Gusto Guys roll.  I don’t want to say karma plays a role in this, but he might be the only pitcher in the league to occasionally pitch between his legs or behind his back.

On to the game…It took a while for the bats on either team to get going.  We headed into the 4th inning tied 0-0.  It was back and forth in the final few innings, and the Schlitz Gusto Guys gave away a few runs en route to a 5-9 loss.

Brain ended 3×4 with two singles and a double / #35 finished 3×4 with two singles and a double.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 5 – Moose Knucklers 9

Last out: Pub Krull

Game #2 vs. Ziegler

After scoring 17 runs in their first game of the night Team Ziegler didn’t have much left.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys, on the other hand, had PLENTY left on this final night of summer ball.  It was one hit after another.  Team Ziegler, usually a solid defensive club, gave us a few freebees, which always helps.  There was quite a bit on the line for this game.  If Moose Knucklers lost in their second game (which they did) and the Schlitz Gusto Guys won, we’d tie for 1^st Place.  The runs came early and often for the Schlitz Gusto Guys as we batted around in the 2nd and 3rd innings and the game was really never close.  Everyone in the lineup had a minimum of four at-bats in Game #2 (in five innings).  Pub Krull slid over to shortstop and immediately had three of the next four put outs.  We also owe a thank you to Pub Krull for extending the game an extra at-bat by throwing just a bit wide of second base.  This biggest impact of this went to the “last out” of the game / summer.  Speaking of Pub Krull….He hit one of the best singles of the season.  A long fly ball, to DEEP left-center field….off the fence.  Nobody has a better “single” trot than Pub Krull.  Nobody.  He looked so graceful trotting to first on that single.  It was almost as if he thought the ball was gone (for a homerun).

Brain ended 4×5 with three singles and a double / #35 finished 4×4 with two singles and a homerun.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 22 – Team Ziegler 7

Last out: FNG (Silkey) – In the second to last inning (we had a walk off 15 run rule win)

Fan of the night: Kurt Student, “like it’s spelled.”

Final batting stats were as follows:

Brain was 48×84 for a 0.571 average.  #35 was 50×86 for a 0.581 average.  DISCLAIMER…If Brain’s last at-bat was scored a hit instead of an error he would have finished 49×84 for a .583 average.  Ol’ #35 owes the score keeper a TALL BOY!

Worth mentioning: As of August 3rd, 2010, there are 267 days until Summer Balm-2011

Also worth mentioning: There are 19 days until FALL BALL (not to be confused with Foul Ball…or Fowl balls).

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If there is one certainty in life, it is that the Schlitz Gusto Guys bring their talents to South Beach, Lac Lavon.  This is never more true than “Processed Food Night.”  We had a record crowd for the annual event with somewhere between 40-50 people attending the event (and games).  It was plenty hot out on July 21st.  The ump was afraid storms were going to disrupt us.  Clearly that ump has not been a umping the Skyline Fighting Red C’s and Schlitz Gusto Guy for the past 20 years.  It doesn’t rain on the Gusto Guys.  Numbers don’t lie.

Game #1 vs. H-Bombs

This was the first meeting between the Schlitz Gusto Guys and H-Bombs sporting their new jerseys.  It’s worth mentioning, the H-Bombs new uniforms are the second best uniforms in the Burnsville D/E Recreational league.  Also worth mentioning, they are a very distant second to our very own Schlitz Gusto Guy threads.

The Schlitz Gusto Guys got after it early, scoring six in the first and 10 in the second.  In fact, every one of the Schlitz Gusto Guys scored at least one run in this game.  We fielded well as a squad and managed not to give up too many extra bases.

Solid games at the plate for CW (3×4), Brain (4×4), Kurty (4×4), CP (3×4), Pauly (3×4 with a HR), Steve/Ryan combo (4×4) and Sans (3×4).

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 22 – H-Bombs 10

Last out: CW

Game #2 vs. Televent DTN

We scored two runs early and then took a couple of innings off.  Televent DTN kept it close throughout the game.  In the end the Schlitz Gusto Guys would not disappoint their fans at a sold out Lac Lavon Field E escaping with a 10-6 win.  There are not too many teams in the Burnsville Wednesday night D/E Recreational league that can hold their focus in front of a sold out field.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys, however, are one of those teams.  Kurty continued his perfect night at the plate going 2×2 with a walk (and finishing just a couple of at-bats shy of qualifying for the batting title).  The original Schltiz Gusto Guy (and the 2009 Schlitz Gusto Guy Sportsman of the Year), Brian Niehaus was a perfect 3×3 at the dish.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 10 – Televent DTN 6

Last out: CW

Fan of the night: Far too many fans to name individually.  I’d highly recommend checking out the BBQ page and looking at all of the pictures of “Processed Food Night 2010” at South Beach, Lac Lavon.  Thanks to everyone who attended and a special shout out to Kurty for grilling and to Schlitz for the beverages and signage.  It was definitely a successful night.  At least judging by the time we finally departed “South Beach.”

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She was MIGHTY hot and humid in the afternoon.  Around 4pm the“feels like” temperature was 106 degrees in the great SFRCMP area.  According to an official Schlitz Gusto Guy car reading we had a temperature of 94 degrees at 5:15pm and still a balmy 91 degrees at 7:15pm.

The Schlitz Gusto Guys were more than ready to tackle mother nature and her balmy humidity.  Especially considering the wind was not blowing.

There are a couple of things we know for certain.

1. The Schlitz Gusto Guys bring their best effort when the balm is “a-plenty” and thick
2. Numbers don’t lie

NOTE: We have a new feature on www.sfrc.biz.  It’s the poll to the right.  This week’s poll is a vote for “Top Play of the Night.”

Game #1 vs. Celts Pub

It actually didn’t feel as humid down in the valley known as SFRCMP (Skyline Fighting Red C Memorial Park) as it had been throughout the late afternoon.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys were consistent throughout the game building an early lead, fighting off a rally by Celts Pub, increasing their lead and finally putting an end to the Celts Pub rallies.  Everyone hit well and hit when it mattered.  Potter made a GREAT diving catch charging a ball in left-center (top play nominee – see voting on the right).  On the night of the 2010 ESPYs, Potter made an early bid for “Play of the Year, 2011.”

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 18 – Celts Pub 9

Last out: Sans

Game #2 vs. Beer Me

Beer Me hits the ball well.  They started off the top of the 1^st doing just that….hitting the ball well.  They had quite a few runners, but managed to score only two runs.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys must have left their sticks at SFRCMP Field B because we were getting “no-hit” until the 3^rd inning.  Trailing 6-0 the Schlitz Gusto Guys pulled it together and got on the board with two runs.  At this point Beer Me lost their focus.  They started trying to figure out which guys were going to play in Fall League and who was going to play next summer.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys are nothing, if not focused on the job at hand.  We deal with this type of conversation after the games over an ice cold Schlitz Tallboy.  If the Schlitz Gusto Guys can hang their hat on one thing, it’s winning the mental game week in and week out.  This night was no different.  Defensively we gave up another run (on a play the ump never saw – the ball went in the dugout and came right back out – being the honest Schlitz Gusto Guys that we are, we admitted the play and it scored a run).  We came back to score a few of our own to close the gap 8-5.  In the bottom of the 4^th with runners and 1^st and 2^nd with no outs, a ground ball was hit to the Gusto Guy shortstop.  The runner on second froze and didn’t leave the bag.  #35 tagged the runner, stepped on second and threw to first for a TRIPLE PLAY (top play nominee – see voting on the right).  But wait….It was a bang bang play and the ump called him safe.  Really?  Can you call the runner safe in that situation?  We were just honest on a play the ump never saw the inning before.  The ump really can’t give us, and the triple play, the benefit of the doubt?  The very next batter hit a ball that somehow found #35’s glove on a diving play in short left field (top play nominee – see voting on the right).  In the words of Rasheed Wallace, “The ball don’t lie.” We came back in the top of the 6^th defensively with another double-play as Pub Krull scooped up a hard ground ball and calmly stepped on 1^st and threw it home where Cinco made the catch and tag (top play nominee – see voting on the right).  Celebrating the double-play the Schlitz Gusto Guys ran into to the bottom of the 6^th as the mighty Sans yelled out, “We need four to take the lead!”  Again, this is how the Schlitz Gusto Guys win the mental game.  Never, under any circumstances, would you hear “we need three to tie” out of a Gusto Guy dugout.  And with that call, the middle and bottom of the SGG lineup lit up the scorebook for four impressive runs taking a 9-8 lead.  We held on defensively for the win.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 9 – Beer Me 8

Last out: Kurty

Fan of the night: Patsy and friend and the “double horn.”

As a reminder, the annual “Processed Food Night” will happen on “South Beach” Lac Lavon on July 21^st immediately after our second game (roughly 8pm).  Please see the BBQ tab for a roster of what to bring.

Highlights:

Sans from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

2′s from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

Pauly from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

Silkey from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

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Wednesday July 7^th brought a series of weather changes.  In the early hours, the sun was out and it was plenty warm for the Schlitz Gusto Guy breakfast batting practice.  By late afternoon the clouds had rolled in over the south metro.  By 5pm there was a monsoon dumping rain over Burnsville.

However, as only the Schlitz Gusto Guy Gods would have it, by 5:45pm (15 minutes before first pitch), the rain lightened up and by 5:50pm the rain had completely stopped.  We had a full night of perfectly balmy, plenty warm, humid weather.  As it turns out, a perfect night for two!  And a perfect night to give the lineup that includes Greg, Greg, Greg a try.  Success!

If the FNG ever sends pictures, we’ll add them to this post.

Game #1 vs. Team Ziegler

In an effort to either intimidate us or show us up, Team Ziegler fielded eight players against the Schlitz Gusto Guys.  They were scrappy and well placed, holding us to only a handful of runs in the first few innings.  When a ninth man showed up, it threw off the defense and the Schlitz Gusto Guys had their way with the gaps.  We had decent runs with two outs in a couple of innings and locked down the defense with a few great plays.  Pauly went WAY back to make a catch in deep left field and Matty covered some ground and caught a ball in short left.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 17 – Team Ziegler 7

Last out: Lars

Game #2 vs. Moose Knucklers

Moose Knucklers were in first place heading into the 7pm game against the Schlitz Gusto Guys.  They are a team that hits the ball well on most nights.  Unfortunately for Moose Knucklers, Destiny made a trip for this game and Sans was escorting her to the 7^th inning.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys found some timely hits as Silkey and Mac beat the left fielder deep and Lars hit a shot to the gap between left and left-center.  We locked down the defense too as only one error was committed and that was on a lazy infield fly with two leaders calling for the ball.  As it turned out, no damage was done and the shutout continued into the bottom of the seventh inning.  Sans threw the ball well all night.  The first batter in the bottom of the 7^th got out quickly.  And then, with the Moose Knucklers best hitter at the plate and one out and Destiny sitting on the right shoulder of Sans to get a great view of the shutout in progress…..Sans throws a great softball pitch….short and in front of the plate.  Unfortunately, the batter is a very good hitter and extended his arms looking to break up the shutout.  The ball carried and carried and carried and….homerun for the Moos Knucklers.  The next two outs were uneventful and the Schlitz Gusto Guys won.  Unfortunately, we lost the shutout in the bottom of the 7^th.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 8 – Moose Knucklers 1

Last out: Matty

Fan of the night: Destiny (at least for 19 outs before she left early on a HR)

OOPS: As the Schlitz Gusto Guys scouted the other teams after their games were done, the right fielder on an opposing team “caught” 10+ guys staring.  There was a rumor that one Schlitz Gusto Guy was even trying to put some of the film into the permanent archives.  This has been unproven to this point.

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