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It was significantly warmer in Week #2 than Week #1. Temperatures were in the mid to upper 50’s. Earlier in the day the forecast called for a 70% chance of showers. Again, that may have been true at Burnsville Mall, but certainly not at the park. It was nice to be back at SFRCMP “Away,” otherwise known as Neill Field B. We welcomed a new SGG, Evan. How did we know he was the FNG? He parked in the outfield of SFRCMP. It’s okay, I think he can be trained.
Game #1 vs. Ziegler
Brain manned the bump for the third straight game due to Sans’ “minor should hitch.” Pub Krull started the game with a solo homerun to center. Clearly the most clutch hit (0-0 game in the bottom of the 1st) since Mr. Clutch (#35) himself. Nice work Pub Krull. The started the momentum and allowed the Schlitz Gusto Guys to take an early 4-0 lead. Ziegler wasn’t intimidated and pushed seven runs in the top of the 2nd inning and another four in the top of the 3rd. The Schlitz Gusto Guys batted around in the 4th and 5th innings scoring six and seven runs respectively. Part of the seven runs was an extremely clutch “no-doubter” grand slam by Pub Krull scoring 2’s, Evan and Lars who had all reached on singles. We fell just a little short in the end.
Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 18 – Ziegler 22
Last out: Evan
Game #2 vs. Goodfellas
Goodfellas made the transition from the fall league into the ever competitive Burnsville Wednesday night D/E Recreational league. The Schlitz Gusto Guys pushed one run in the top of the 1st, but allowed 10 in the bottom of the 1st. Goodfellas was sure the game would be over early. What they did not know is that there is no “quit” in the SGG. We have plenty of “want to” on our squad. We fought back a little at a time. We managed eight runs in the 5th inning and seven more in the 6th and final inning. Unfortunately the game was cut short due to time. Brain and Ryan both took a turn on the bump and did what they good to make the defense play.
Solid hitting by all of the SGG’s. It is not difficult to see how was scored 22 runs. Pub Krull went 5-5. Brain hit the ball hard as well and got robbed at least twice ending up 2-5. Matty hit the ball hard all game, but had a 2-5 to show for it. Cinco was on 4-5 five times. #35 was 4-4. Nate got after one that went well over the left-fielder’s head on his way to a double. Pauly was an impressive 3-4, Ryan was 3-4, Potter was 3-4, 2’s was 3-4, Evan was 3-4 and Lars was 3-4. If my calculations are correct, the SGG hit 0.673 (35/52) for the game. That could be some kind of SFRC/SGG record.
Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 22 – Goodfellas 25
Last out: Cinco on a line drive to second
Hightlights of the game: Evan got robbed of an extra base hit by the Goodfellas left fielder making a diving catch towards the line. Evan was also part of a little league homerun as Goodfellas played “hot potato” with the ball. Another highlight: Lars sent a ball deep, well over the left-fielder’s head. Way to earn some respect Lars.
 Lowlights of the game: Ol’ 35 booted far too many ground balls, one resulting in the picture to the left. Lars took a ball off the forearm in left-center that had a nasty tail on it. We are still waiting on a picture from that mess.
Per the norm, we shutdown the fields as the last team to leave.
 2011 is officially underway. What better way to celebrate Sans’ 50th birthday than with a double header? None in this writer’s book. We have had a few changes to the roster since we last gathered to play an official game almost seven months ago. The FNG has moved into a super-sub role…Niehaus has moved West to Sin City….Sans is “on the bench” waiting until the weather warms up.
The rest of the Schlitz Gusto Fighting Red C*ck guys were ready to go. Fresh of seven months of running SFRCMP hills, watching film and upgrading their equipment, and their equipment.
It’s hard to believe Opening Night 2011 was 62 degrees warmer than it was a few months ago. That, of course meant it was only 46 degrees and breezy. Less than ideal, but at least it wasn’t raining and snowing…until after our games were over.
As you can see from the forecast on April 26th, www.weather.com clearly forgot the softball season was starting. On April 27th, www.weather.com remembered and cleared the skies for the SFRC / SGG doubleheader…and ONLY their double header. It was still chilly but Mother Nature knows not to mess with the karma that is the Schlitz Gusto Guys playing two every Wednesday evenings (tornadoes or no tornadoes in Prior Lake – see summer of 2007).
 Looks like rain...  Check that...SFRC/SGG double dip at 6pm & 7pm Game #1 vs. H-Bombs
Per the norm, we had a close battle with H-Bombs. And in line with our previous games from previous years, they tried to counter the SFRC / Schlitz Gusto Guys with a squad of nine on the field. The are a couple certainties in life. One, the SFRC / Schlitz Gusto Guys don’t get rained out (see above). Another is that we cannot be defended with nine men, especially if the game goes eight innings. History proves that the former SFRC, now SGG, own the 8th inning (see the 20+ runs scored in the 8th circa 2005).
This game was back and forth with the SGG’s falling into an early hole 6-0 heading into the bottom of the 3rd. The cold weather took over and made the “nuts” hard. That enabled ol’ 35 to hit a grand slam to right center scoring Pub Krull, Brain and Cinco. The defense tightened up a bit allowing only three more runs in the next five innings. With the score 9-5 in the bottom of 7th inning Lars started a rally by getting on base. Pub Krull hit a single moving Lars to 2nd. Brain roped one, unfortunately it was right at the 2nd baseman for an out. Cinco followed it with a single loading the bases for the least clutch hitter in the history of the Burnsville D/E Recreational league, ol’ #35. Somehow, someway (luck of the cold) 35 hit another grand slam to tie the game at nine.
“Red” allowed us to play an 8th inning. We locked H-Bombs down in the top of the 8th and then went to work in the bottom of the inning. After two harmless outs, Pub Krull hit a single and Brain followed it with a single of his own. The real Mr. Clutch (a.k.a. “Cinco”) hit a deep ball to right center scoring Pub Krull for the game winner.
Happy birthday Sans, there is your win.
Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 10 – H-Bombs 9
Last out: Lars
Game #2 vs. Beer Me
Beer Me brought an improved squad to the first night of summer ball in 2011. There would be no “Snapper Mow’em down inning” to start the game against Beer me this year. We came out a little flat again, falling behind 10-4 after four innings. Beer me took advantage of some bad hops and a slippery field to push seven more runs in the bottom of the 6th inning. The Schlitz Gusto Guys countered with four of their own in the top of the 7th, but it simply wasn’t enough as we suffered our first loss of the season.
On our way to 3rd place Leaders.
Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 11 – Beer Me 17
 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 1st 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 1st. The game was back and forth with neither team holding on to more than a four run lead after the 2nd 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 3rd 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.
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 4th inning one runner had scored and there were no outs and runners on 1st and 2nd. 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 1st and 2nd 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 1st 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 418th groundball to short with runners on 1st and 2nd 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)
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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Lowlights of the game: Ol’ 35 booted far too many ground balls, one resulting in the picture to the left. Lars took a ball off the forearm in left-center that had a nasty tail on it. We are still waiting on a picture from that mess.
