SFRC

Balm (Heat index of 106 degrees)

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.

The Schlitz Gusto Guys bring their best effort when the balm is “a-plenty” and thick
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.

Si Cinco! (Oops)

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.

Quick Recaps

I missed a week or two of updates. Some of the highlights missed can be found on the Quotes page, others include: • An “almost” triple play. Probably the second closest the Schlitz Gusto Guys have ever come to turning a triple play (remember a play at the plate in Game #1 circa 2009).

• We were held hitless until the 5th inning before getting the bats going (still lost).

• The ump was unsure if there were one or two outs.

• We had a situation in the base path in both Game #1 and Game #2 (not surprisingly #35 was involved in both).

• We had loons calling at Lac Lavon (an unofficial first for the Schlitz Gusto Guys).

• Most importantly, we had eight “leaders” still at the park 4.5 hours after first pitch, with an average age of 43.

• We beat Televant DTN 12-2.

• We beat H-Bombs (without their new uniforms) 7-6.

• We lost to Beer Me 7-9.

• We beat Edina Realty BCO 11-9 (on a game-saving catch by Pub Krull).

Wally Backman’s Tirade Award (in waiting)

Recently we have been talking about a few of the great tirades that we have seen in the softball league. We had the Little JC “Bobby Knight” tirade. We had the “Hey Red, you mean nothing to me!” tirade and we had the idiot who threw the cooler with all the ice onto the field.

The next tirade we see may win the “Wally Backman Tirade” award.

WARNING: This clip contains language that some folks may find offensive.

CP Prefers B&W TV, Rotary Phones and Everything Else 1975

Another week of Schlitz Gusto Guy softball and more lessons learned. First, the evening only gets more entertaining as the minutes turn to hours and a 7:30pm arrival turns into an 11:30pm departure. If there is one constant in the 20+ years of SFRC / Schlitz Gusto Guy softball, it is the conversations and laughter after the lights go out. In the spirit of trying to keep this site somewhat “clean,” I’ll have to do my best to document the conversations on the night of June 9^th, 2010 in code. The night started with the FNG stating “McLovin’, I’m going to get dirty tonight too.” For what it’s worth, the FNG was also planning on sliding into base or making a diving catch as well. It only got better from there.

Entering June 9ths games the Schlitz Gusto Guys (a.k.a. LEADERS) were batting seven points higher than we finished last season. And, we had hit one more HR than we had all of last season. Numbers don’t lie. Let’s recap the games.

Game #1 vs. Team Ziegler

There is not another team we have been more evenly matched with in the past decade. Our games against Team Ziegler always seem to be one or two run games and at the end of the season we have split wins and losses. This game was no different. The game was back and forth with the lead changing hands at least three times. Cinco welcomed the evening with a L O N G homerun to left-center. McLovin’ (a.k.a. Sans) hit a hard shot up the middle that hit the pitcher’s shoulder. Brain immediately commented that it was the hardest ball Sans has hit in 10 years. It was smoked. Worth mentioning, no one in the league tries to steer clear of the pitcher more than Sans. Unfortunately, this one was a direct hit. “Sorry Team Ziegler pitcher.” T-Mac, Ryan and Sans were all 3×3 in Game #1. Brain and Pauly each had two walks and the Schlitz Gusto Guys took an unprecedented seven walks as a team. This is unofficially a Gusto Guy team record.

The game was played at a very quick pace thanks to a few four pitch innings for both teams. It was played so quickly that the ump was willing to let us play an 8^th inning if we were able to tie the game in the bottom of the 7^th. Unfortunately, Pub Krull missed this opportunity. But don’t worry, redemption would be had before ol’ #36’s head hit the pillow for the night (read on).

T-Mac did feel the need to berate the FNG in front of his teammates. It’s important to know we never, under any circumstance, use the term “leader” when referring to an individual on an opposing team. For the past few weeks we have heard the FNG yell out, “No outs, who is going to get the leader?” We have straightened this out. From now on it will be, “No outs, who is going to get the first one?”

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 7 – Team Ziegler 10

Last out: Pub Krull

Game #2 vs. Moose Knucklers

The Schlitz Gusto Guys remembered how they fell apart in Game #2 last week. Determined not to do the same this week, we came out swinging and fielding. We moved positions quite a bit and Kurty pitched a solid game and fielded 4-5 balls up the middle as well. The Schlitz Gusto Guys were down 12-10 heading into the top of the 7^th. “We need three to take the lead.” Lars started off the inning with a single. After an out, Al lined a single to center. Two men on, one out and Pub Krull stepping to the dish looking to avenge his game #1 ending strikeout. BAM! Three run homerun by Pub Krull. A truly “clutch” homerun. Brain followed that up with a single and Matty also lined a single to left-center. Ol’ 35 flew out to left for out number two. Cinco stepped up and on his own personal mission to lead the squad in homeruns playing only part-time, he launched a three-run homerun to deep left-center field. The Schlitz Gusto Guys are CLUTCH! In the field Brain and CP locked it down to finish the win.

Matty was 4×4 with four runs scored. Pub Krull had three runs scored.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 16 – Moose Knucklers 12

Last out: Pauly

Fan of the night: TO! Also, Patsy and friend (see quotes).

Nightcap conversation:

In an effort to keep this website “work appropriate,” this may be somewhat cryptic for those that were not closing down SFRCMP at 11:30pm. I apologize.

I think we can safely make the following assumptions about CP:

He prefers a rotary telephone
He prefers to watch television in black and white
He prefers the shaggy orange/yellow/green carpet over hardwood floors, area rugs or even a nice Berber carpet
When leaving SFRCMP Field B, he prefers to walk on the right side of the hill (most others choose the less “nappy” left side of the hill)
He loves the Amish way of life
He wished he was in that room at St. Thomas circa 1993
He likes to navigate more than drive

And why? Because that’s how “they” liked lived in 1975. The counter argument of course, is simply that “things change” and generally they get better. If this wasn’t true, they wouldn’t change at all. We’d still be sending telegrams and the Hindenburg would just be one of many airship disasters if it were up to CP. Instead, in 2010 we speak on the phone, send emails and travel via jets.

Some other notes worth mentioning:

Pub Krull carries a Tommy Hilfiger sack for his shoes, etc.
The FNG has the nicest shaved head….(we’ll leave it there)

SFRC

Opening Night

Balm (Heat index of 106 degrees)

Si Cinco! (Oops)

Quick Recaps

Wally Backman’s Tirade Award (in waiting)

CP Prefers B&W TV, Rotary Phones and Everything Else 1975

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