Upon seeing the news that we have added a “Greg” to our previous roster of existing “Greg’s,” the following comment was made (and immediately put into the Quotes Archive):

“Heavy on the Greg’s this year.  Sounds like runs…”

Clearly the off-season workout program is in full swing.  This is mid-season form.  You come up with lines like this only whilst running the hills at SFRCP in January.

Game #1 vs. The Replacements

The Replacements started with nine bodies and the FRC took advantage of the opportunity by scoring three early runs.  The game was back and forth throughout.  The FRC definitely gave The Replacements some free outs.  35 let a few go by, the outfield let a few go by and so it is in D/E Recreational softball.  The FRC kept their heads high, won the mental game and were in it until the end, coming up just short.  The ageless Walt was managing the field and influencing the game, as he is wont to do.  There were quite a few close plays and surprisingly I think Walt got most of them correct. 

Final Score: SFRC 8 – The Replacements 10

Play of the game: Sans sending a limping Aaron Rogers out to RC only to be called back in to play first base.   

Last out: CW??

Game #2 vs. TC Crush

A much anticipated showdown from two weeks ago when some bad blood was brewing.  I will tip my hat to TC Crush as they left that history alone.  Unfortunately, Aaron Roger had to hang it up after Game #1 due to a 50 year old hamstring.  It was a solid game for the FRC against a short-handed team.  Again, we didn’t play our best defensive game, but that will happen.  One thing that remains constant, the FRC have fun.  Per the norm, the SFRC stuck around and enjoyed some ice cold beverages after the game. 

Final Score: SFRC 14 – TC Crush 16

Play of the game: Sans, like a large preying cat, snagged a line drive up the middle.

Last out: ??

Fan of the night:

Bridget, attending her third week in a row is a valid candidate.  Patsy attending her first fall game after a solid summer showing is also a solid candidate.  However, TO wins the prize.  It’s always good to have TO at the ball park!

Game #1 vs. Property Claim Solutions

It was the SFRC vs. eight bodies from Property Claim Solutions.  That eighth person just made in time to avoid the forfeit.  This was good for everyone.  The FRC didn’t take advantage of the lack of fielders as they should have.  We only pushed three runs in the top of the 1^st inning.  PCS came back with two of their own.  By the top of the 2^nd inning, they had 10 fielders.  That’s okay, as the SFRC have never been a team that wanted to be gift-wrapped any victories.  We are willing to earn them.  The game went back and forth with PCS scoring more than the FRC through five innings.  In the top of the 6^th the ump gave the “10 minutes left” call.  Ol’ 35 ended the FRC mini-rally by getting thrown out at 3^rd base (NEVER make the first or last out at 3^rd).  In the bottom of the 6^th with the clock ticking PCS ran the softball equivalent of “the four corners.”  They were slow to walk up to the plate, slow to figure out who was “up,” slow to swing the bat, etc.  No matter, the defense locked it down when they needed to and got the three outs fairly quickly.  It was 13-10 heading into the top of the 7^th.  We scratched and clawed our way to two runs.  With runners and 2^nd and 3^rd and one out Matty hit the hardest ball of the night.  Unfortunately, in 2009 we are not the only ones with a film room.  PCS had Matty played just right and their shortstop snagged the line drive.  And with two outs as the saying goes, even a blind squirrel finds a nut….

35 somehow managed to hit one over to center for a three run HR and a two run lead (15-13).  MW and company continued the rally and we went on to score three more runs.  These were big as we gave up two runs in the bottom of the 7^th, but again locked it down when we needed to and won the game.  Big comeback for the SFRC. 

Final Score: SFRC 18 – Property Claim Solutions 15

Play of the game: Brain knocking down a ground ball and turning to fire the runner out at 1^st.

Last out: CP (they just beat him to first base on a fluke play)

Game #2 vs. Almost All-Stars

Sometimes a team is just better than you.  Almost All-Stars is simply better than the SFRC.  They are a good group of KIDS and they are fun to play against.  They play the game the right way and look like they are enjoying themselves.  In 25-30 years maybe they will still be playing.  Maybe they will be playing at the level of the 2009 version of the SFRC.  In two years, maybe they will be old enough to have a beer when they play. 

We scored early avoiding the dreaded shutout.  We just couldn’t put enough hits together.  We were probably 20-25 hits short in game #2.  There were some nice plays made in the field, but they simply hit the ball too well to make this a competitive game.

Final Score: SFRC 6 – Almost All-Stars 24

Play of the game: 2’s making a nice catch down the right field line and attempting a triple play.

Last out: Brain (even with the grunt)

Fan of the night:

Bridget (did I get the name right?) for the second week in a row.  At this point in Autumn ball, she is making an outstanding case for Autumn Fan of the Year.   That is not an easy award to earn. 

Words heard at SFRCP on 9/16/09:

Them: Hey, this guy is a switch hitter!

Us: Yeah, he bats left-handed and right-handed too.

Catcher: Big stick here.  This guy has a big stick.

Fielders: This guy is a good hitter too.

Bench: Nice sac, 2’s.  Great sac….Good time for an RBI too.

Leader: We named our dog Darrin.

Leader: If he gets taken out at the knees, he’ll be running in the pool.

Let’s play two! 

Game #1 vs. TC Crush

Shocker, the rain stopped and the humidity stayed by the second inning of Game #1. 

The FRC scratched and clawed their way to an early lead and it looked like this might be the game to upset TC Crush.  But of course, 3-5 threw a ball in the dirt which lead to a seven run inning for TC Crush and took the wind out of our sails.  The game turned ugly both physically and verbally as TC Crush started trying to go up the middle.  They thought they could pick on Sans.  The SFRCP Gods won’t allow it and immediately took 15 years off of Sans person and he made most every play up the middle (with an assist to Brain on the final out).  Sans was like a cat.  A large preying cat.  A panther.  A tiger.  Sans.  For any TC Crush players reading this, I hope you know there is a difference between a couple ground balls up the middle and 10 line drives up the middle to a 50 year old pitcher.   F’em.

In the end, we didn’t have enough.  We couldn’t put enough runs together after TC Crush found a 10^th player.  We took it on the chin and lost by 10 or so.

Pauly, Steve and Nellie were welcome additions.  And surprisingly 35 went 4-5. 

Play of the Game: A line shot up the middle off of Sans leather and into Brain’s glove for a F-1-4. 

Last out: CW

Game #2 vs. White T-Shirts

Maybe the Red didn’t like Ol’ 35’s call of “I think we should call the game.  I hear there are red cells in Prior Lake” when he approached the field.  9-9-09 at 9pm.  Whoa…get ready.

The FRC jumped to an early 6-2 lead after two innings of clutch hits and Texas Leaguers.  Defensively we were not as fortunate.  After booting an easy double play ball, 35 picked up the ball standing on the base, but the red called the runner safe.  Two plays later red made a call worthy of D/E Recreational softball by botching an interference call.  And the flood gates opened.  15 runs and thick fog later the FRC found themselves trailing by too many to mount a comeback.  Thanks Red. 

The fog was so thick you could hardly see Field A and fly balls to the outfield were nearly impossible to read.  As thick as the fog was, it was not a fraction of the thickness of the balm.  She was PLENTY humid on 9-9-09 at 9pm.  Potentially 99% humidity.  It was all but raining.  Read that again Red…IT WAS NOT RAINING. 

CW ended 4-4 in Game #2 and 2’s had (and probably still has) a nice sac….and an RBI on a pop fly too.

Play of the Game: Steve scoops a ground ball throws to Brain at second for one out.  Brain turns and hurls to the plate for Paht to make a tag and the double play was made.

Last out: TMac

Fans of the night:

MW’s guest braving out the potential bad weather and staying for two!  I love it.  Even a guest, who as far as I know was an SFRCP virgin knew the weather wouldn’t claim this night.  Not on 9-9-09.  Not at SFRCP.  STICK IT Red!!

Week  #1

After a rainout on the scheduled opening pitch the SFRC got it going at SFRCP. 

The SFRC broke into Autumn Ball with a win vs. Almost All-Stars (14-10).  It was a perfect night out and good times were had.  We struggled a bit in the second game of the evening falling to Almost All-Stars 25-13). 

We welcomed the addition of M-Dub, C-Dub’s brother. 

Quote of the night: “I think he’s a pedophile.”  We’ll keep the target and speaker anonymous. 

Week #2

Week #2 almost didn’t happen.  As of 7pm September 1^st we only had seven players.  Sans was ready to mail it in, but Brain and T-Mac wouldn’t have it.  SFRC had another perfect night for two games!  Thanks to Bruce, Pauly and Potter we played two games.  In Game #1 we scratched and clawed and Sans pitched a brilliant game leading the FRC to a 4-3 victory over Railroad Specialties.  The FRC fell to Speady Turtles in Game #2 17-2. 

Fans of the night:

Clearly this goes to Mrs. C-Dub and daughter.  Thanks for coming out to SFRCP.

Schlitz Processed Food Night

Processed food night brought out the masses.  There may have been tornados and thunderstorms to the North and East, but above Neill there was a nary a cloud.  It simply doesn’t rain at Neill.  The stats are updated.  Pictures from processed food night can be found here.

 Game #1 vs. Booze Brothers

At 6pm the FRC crowd was lean, but that would change before the evening was done. 

There are a handful of teams the FRC have faced over the past 20 years that could probably beat us with eight players.  The 2009 version of the Booze Brothers is not one of those teams.  They started with eight fielders and were buried before their ninth and tenth players arrived.  The SFRC simply took advantage of the gaps and sent leader after leader to the plate on the way to an 18-3 shellacking of the Booze Brothers.  It didn’t feel that close.

Final score:   SFRC 18 – Booze Brothers 3

Last out: Ryan

Plays of the game:

In the field: There were a few nice plays by CW and Pub Krull staring at the brightest star in our sky.

At the plate: Leader, Leader, Leader, Leader, etc.  I think everyone hit the ball well.   This was partly due to the lack of fielders and partly due to the fact that the FRC are coming into their own in mid July.  Pub Krull also hitting a HR and followed it up with two swings and misses for a K.

Game #2 vs. Edina Realty

There was standing room only for Game #2 at SFRCP a.k.a. Neill Field A.  Game #2 was a competitive game that went back and forth throughout.  They scored a couple, we scored a few, they scored eight, we scored three, they scored one, we scored four, etc. 

Final score:   SFRC 11 – Edina Realty 12

Last out: Cinco

Plays of the game:

In the field:  Pub Krull sits back 270 in left field and waits, waits, waits….then runs in and makes a basket catch at 200 feet.

At the plate:  35 with a graceful slide into second base.  There is a good reason Ol’ 35 doesn’t slide very often. 

Fans of the night:

The list is long and distinguished.  In no particular order…David & Rita Jonson, Heidi Thompson, Susan Meinke, Anna & Owen Stangl, Pat Garrity, Dave Jones, Brent Denoma, Julie, Neihaus family, CW family, Neil Bailey, Steve Oaks, Greg Lovstad, Patsy, Trisha, Kathy Goering, Joann, Don Schwabauer and Kris Cecare.

Post games recap / Quotes of the night (The list really could go on and on):

·         “She was born in 1978.  She should act like it.”

·         “She does not seem to be the kind of girl to jump on that donkey and whip it like there is no tomorrow.”

·         “Patsy, you bent my thingy.”

Game #1 vs. Celts Pub

The SFRC can get it done many different ways.  In Game #1 of the evening we took advantage of the extra outs Celts Pub gave us.  We also took bases when they threw to the wrong base.  Most of all we hit.  It was Leader, leader, leader, all the way through the line-up.  The FRC simply hammered the ball and never took their foot off the gas.  After taking a 22-11 lead, Celts Pub scored a run after Ol’ #35 booted a tailor made triple play ball.  But as the FRC are wont to do, we came back to score four and win 26-12. 

Final score:   SFRC 26 – Celts Pub 12

Last out: Matty

Plays of the game:

In the field: After T-Mac charged a ball, picked it up with his glove and through the runner out at first, Ryan said, “you need to bare-hand that ball next time.”  The very next batter hit a ball that Ryan had to charge.  #7 put the glove in his pocket, bare-handed the ball and calmly through to first to end the game.   

At the plate: Leader, Leader, Leader, Leader, etc.  I think everyone hit the ball well.   I believe the FRC batted around twice in this game.

Game #2 vs. Edina Realty

The other way the SFRC get it done is by doing “just enough.”  With the sun setting right over the pitcher’s shoulder seeing the ball was more than a small issue.  I do not think a single ball went over an outfielder’s head for either team.  There were at least four or five swings and misses and countless lazy ground balls hit by both teams.  This was clearly the worst conditions I have ever experienced considering there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.  The FRC did not bat around in Game #2 of the evening, but we did put a few hits together and scored some runs.  Let the record show that the SFRC won with the wind blowing directly in.  Possibly the first win EVER with the wind blowing in. 

Final score:   SFRC 8 – Edina Realty 7

Last out: T-Mac

Plays of the game:

In the field:  There are at least three candidates.

1.      Kurty made a great diving backhanded stop at short and threw to third for a force out.

2.      Pub Krull made a diving/rolling catch in left center to steal a hit.

3.      T-Mac took a few slow motion steps with cinder blocks on his feet and jumped (using that term loosely) to make a catch with two outs and two on with a one run lead to end the game.

At the plate:  I have no idea who got a hit.  All I could see were sun spots.

Fans of the night:

Clearly it is good to see Patsy week in and week out, but this week’s fans of the night have to go to Mrs. Pub Krull and “little miss giggles” (that was on her shirt).  We give it to the Pub Krull family for letting him show up Sans and stay for a few refreshments after the game. 

Quotes of the night (The list really could go on and on):

·         “Yours is bigger than mine.”

·         “I have been thinking about coming out here to run my doodle.”

·         “She must have smelled my doodle.”

·         “Cute dog.”

Game #1 vs. Junior Varmits

We were back.  Back “at home.”  a.k.a. SFRCP.  For the first time this year.  It was good to be “home.”  After years playing against Varmits, they have slowly migrated to the “sons of Varmits.”  I have no issue with this and it is actually pretty neat to see.  The only issue is that the “Junior Varmits” are faster, quicker, get to more balls and make more plays.  July 8^th was no exception.  They had two shortstops playing different innings and both of them probably made two or three plays (resulting in outs) that would not have been made by other teams in our league.  A positive note about the “Junior Varmits” is that they play at least 40% quicker than their fathers.  We have no problem getting seven innings in with the “Junior Varmits.”  This was always an issue with their seniors.  The FRC struggled with the bats a bit, but hung in there for most of the game. 

Final score:   SFRC 4 – Junior Varmits 7

Last out: Shane?

Plays of the game:

In the field: Without question a top five play of the year (maybe THE play of the year) Lars laying out for a ball right down the line in left field.  He got a good jump on the ball, tracked it down and went “Super Lars” make a diving catch parallel to the turf that is SFRCP. 

At the plate: TO making a comeback after almost four years on the shelf.  He does not need to justify his roster spot, but he went 3-3 for any doubters that were around. 

Game #2 vs. H-Bombs

In typical FRC fashion, we came back for Game #2 with a chip on our collective shoulders.  It was leader, leader, leader for seven innings.  We left a number of runners on base, but delivered when we had to.

Final score:   SFRC 12 – H-Bombs 6

Last out: I feel like someone was forced out at second base???

Plays of the game:

In the field:  Solid defense by the entire SFRC squad.  Sans made a nice “Matrix like” catch on a line drive up the middle (or was this in Game #1?).

At the plate:  TO again hit the ball solid.  Kurty made a big play after his legs gave out (something about batting lefty) scoring after putting some pressure on the catcher.

Fans of the night:

Chad and Mrs. Chad made it to the park.  It was nice to see them.

Game #1 vs. TC Crush

Slow pitch softball is a hitter’s game.  It is extremely difficult to win a slow pitch softball game when you only score one run.  The one run scored was actually fairly decent considering we only had four hits as a team.  Aside from Kurty’s four or five highlight stops / catches, there isn’t much worth discussing from this game.  We lost by the mercy rule 16-1.  Could the SFRC put 16 runs on the board in the next at bat?  Could we have rallied for a big win or made a game of it?  We will never know.  Pub Krull and CW both chased down a fly ball to right center, both could have caught and both let it drop.  Some would call it an error.  The FRC know that it was just our way of showing up TC Crush.  It was as if to say, we had TWO guys that could have made this play, but didn’t want to.  Take that!  J

Final score:   SFRC 1 – TC Crush 16

Last out: ??

Plays of the game:

In the field: “Skin and Play” had three or four great diving backhanded stops at third and almost threw a guy out whilst he was on the ground and threw the ball backwards and underhand.  However, the best play was a blooper down the line that is the shortstop’s ball all day, except the FRC SS is the slowest guy on the team.  Kurty made a diving over the shoulder catch.  Great catch.  Honorable mention: CW bare-handing a line drive single that was coming in hot.  I think TC Crush was a bit intimidated by that play.

At the plate: Ol’ # 35 accounted for two of the FRC four hits.  Both of 35’s hits were smoked…absolute shots that are hits in any league at any level.  We were lucky the balls were still useable after those two hits.  Or were they two terrible swings that simply found the grass somehow?  I can’t remember.

Game #2 vs. Moose Knucklers

In typical FRC style, we would not let a Game #1 collapse impact our effort in Game #2.  The FRC made quick work defensively to start the game without allowing a run.  In the bottom of the first we were able to score three (two more than the first game).  The Moose Knucklers knew they were in trouble.  The FRC just weren’t going to lose two at home on this night.  There were runs scored virtually every inning by the FRC and the lead continued to grow.  Sans had a chance to pitch a shutout, but

Final score:   SFRC 12 – Moose Knucklers 2

Last out: ??

Plays of the game:

In the field:  

1.      Matty tracking down a ton of fly balls in left center

2.      Brain throwing to 1^st as Cinco jogged off the field since an inning ending double play had already been made

At the plate:  A number of two out hits.  Also CW with a few great softball swings and line drives up the middle.  Skin ‘n’ Play going off the pitcher twice. 

Fans of the night:

The SFRC has a very solid showing of fans.  A big shout out to all of them (and especially Joanne for showing up early)!  Fan of the night may have to go to Oliver for attending his first game of the year.