|
|
The much anticipated “BBQ Night” provided many long lasting memories. Again, it was a perfect weather night for softball. All of the teams brought fans and it was standing room only at SFRCP. Cinco’s guarantee didn’t quite pan out, but we love the boldness.
Game 1 vs. Team Ziegler (seventh place)
Team Ziegler was as tough as any team the SFRC played this season. SFRC were 0-2-1 against Team Ziegler entering the second to last game of the season. The game was back and forth with each team scoring runs throughout the game. The FRC were up a few runs heading into the seventh inning but Ol’ 35 booted one ball and couldn’t corral a blooper and the game was tied after seven innings. With the other game still being played the ump asked if we wanted to play an extra inning. Obviously the FRC did and, per the norm, the eighth inning was owned by the RC’s. After booting a ball in the seventh, 35 hit a two-run HR in the top of the eighth. At first it seemed like a truly clutch HR, but 15 minutes and 23 batters later, the HR was as meaningless as any other HR 35 has hit this year. Yes, the RC’s went off for 19 runs (25 total batters) in the top of the eighth inning en route to a 34-18 thrashing. True Team Ziegler and SFRC were competitive through seven innings on four occasions this season, but if these games went eight innings, it wouldn’t be close. The facts and numbers don’t lie.
The 19 runs scored in the 8th inning were clearly a SFRC record for runs in one inning. The 34 runs scored in a game was unofficially the second most scored by the FRC (35 were scored against Key Cadillac in the late 90’s).
Note 1: The last out of the infamous 8th inning was an intentional out by “skin’n’play.”
Note 2: The FRC infield tried to bail out Cinco from a dropped triple play earlier in the season. There were runners on first and second with no outs. A ground ball was hit to short, we tagged the runner, flipped to second, threw to first and missed him by a step. Lo siento, Cinco (I’m sorry, Five).
Highlights: Skin’n’play hit two inside the part HRs. At least one was a grand-slam. Just fun to watch and more running than most anyone else is willing to do.
Game 2 vs. Varmits (second place)
As usual, the Varmits lulled the opposition to sleep with their snail’s pace game. The FRC game out of the gates with a few runs, but Varmits came back and dinked and dunked the defense for 13 runs. The RC defense moved around plenty in Game #2, but couldn’t make a return to the electrifying 8th inning of Game #1. Varmits outlasted the FRC’s 13-7 to end the summer schedule.
Post game: It was a perfect night to continue a FRC tradition and cook out after the final summer games. Thanks to all the players and fans for their support. It was a great evening to hang out and share some laughs.
Fan of the game: It was the first night of the season where there was real competition for “Fan of the Game.” Because of the difficulty and the split voting, we broke the night down into two games. Fan of the game (Game #1): Oliver. Anytime you are making the first SFRC appearance of your lifetime, you get to be “Fan of the Game.” This is especially true when you are the author’s son. Fan of the game (Game #2): Trish sporting her custom made SFRC shirt. Quotes were pulled from the official sfrc.biz website and the colors were within spec. Just a great ending of the summer season for the fans of the game! Special thanks: To Senior Lars for making the trip from Arizona!
Something to look forward to…
Foul Ball!
Coming in just a few weeks….
A brilliant night for two softball games and bag balm. At 7:15pm, 45 minutes prior to opening pitch it was 90 degrees and humid. The SFRC had 12 players on hand and three fans. A somewhat typical 4 to 1 player to fan ratio showed up to watch two thrashings. As the saying goes….”Sometimes your are the fire-hydrant, and sometimes you are the dog.” Nobody can hang around the .500 mark better than the “Redc0ck$ de Fight” (see awknowledgements below).
Game 1 vs. Varmit Poontang (2nd Place)
It just wasn’t meant to be. It just wasn’t going to happen. The FRC pushed a few runs, but certainly not enough to beat a team who simply could not get out. The FRC didn’t boot around too many balls (we’re gentle like that). The Varmit Poontang just got hit after hit after hit. Most of them were singles. Just one after another after another after another. Because the SFRC got beat up so bad, the game ended after five innings. A big loss 25-7. This was the first time the FRC of Skyline had the mercy rule used against them. More than half the lineup visited the dish only two times. And with that in mind, the FRC and all of their balm were going to fight back in Game #2 of the evening. It didn’t matter if the opponent was the NY Yankees or the Wednesday night, Burnsville D/E Recreational…..(see below)
Game 2 vs. H-Bombs (now in 5th Place thanks to the SFRC lumber)
The had a few extra minutes to regroup after getting thrashed in the opener. We gathered our collective thoughts, reminded ourselves that it was ideal FRC weather and it was indeed “post-Memorial Day.” The H-Bombs never had a chance. The FRC had the lumber going early and often. After losing by the mercy rule in the first game, the SFRC won by the mercy rule in the second game. Mostly due to Pat being selfish and scoring from first on a “Texas leaguer” hit by Mikey. Some would say it was a rope hit to center that got by the left-center fielder, but from the on deck circle, it looked like a bloop hit and Pat decided to rub it in and score to end the game.
Last out (beverages next week)
Game 1 = Mikey (leaving Ol’ 35 on deck)
Game 2 = Matty – The only ball hit by Matty all night that wasn’t roped (Cinco got a hit enabling the winning run to score and leaving Ol’ 35 on deck…again)
Play of the day: Brain mixing it up and batting left handed (has been known in the greater Dundas area for a number of years to be a switch-hitter) ended up on third. Some would call it a single and two-base error, some FRC score-keepers would call it a triple. Fun to watch, but killed Brain’s after game refreshments.
Player of the night: Matty, who was roping the ball all night. Line drives to deep center more often then not. Honerable mention: Greg Krull and the new stance / swing. It is better to bring it for games 21 and 22, then not to bring it at all.
Fan of the game: I may have to take back the “If you bring a blowhorn to FRC Park and you go ahead and use that haas, you are the fan of the game” statement posted last week. Not only can the FRC ballplayers up the ante each week with field play, the FRC fans up the ante each week. I don’t think there will be many arguments with rewarding JoAnn as the now infamous and saught after “FAN OF THE GAME” award. She was on time, brought her own seat and sported an SFRC lid, with some crazy kind of fowl on the back. In some circles, this fowl (and there were two) was said to be FIGHTING RED C0CK$! Congratulations fan of the game! There is one week left. More fans and their originality are encouraged. For those unable to attend next week, Sans has officially signed us up for FALL BALL (a.k.a. foul ball), so there will be time for more noise makers and SFRC authentic apparel starting in mid-August.
FOR THE BULLETIN BOARD: Mikey has stepped out on a limb and GUARANTEED an SFRC sweep next week. It could be that he feels we are peaking at the right time, it could be that we are playing at SFRCP and it could just be that the numbers don’t lie (playing two teams who we are a combined 0-5-1 this year) and the SFRC are DUE! — As Cinco said, “Go Redc0ck$ de fight!” Hey hey….Quienes tu papa, Cinco?
We will be having a BBQ after our last games on July 23, 2008, per the norm. Updates and items assigned to bring will be posted on the BBQ page at the top of this website.
All friends, family, former players, current / former employees are invited to watch world class D/E Recreational League softball at Neill Park in Burnsville and then join us for some food and drinks after the games.
Come at 6pm and grab one of the few seats that will likely be available to watch some of the best softball you will ever witness, or, come at 8pm and hangout with food, drinks and FRC softball players.
Yet another perfect night for two! It was sunny with a temperature in the low 80’s. Early in the day we thought we had 11 leaders playing. By 2pm we were down to 10 leaders. In the back of everyone’s SFRC contract, you will see:
per·se·ver·ance /ˌpɜr səˈvɪər əns/ [pur-suh–veer–uh ns] –noun
|
1.
|
steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
|
Game 1 vs. Bumpers (2nd Place)
The game started with tough hops, including one of the ankle of our very own 22 at third base. It was looking a bit swollen (inflamed if you will). Soon after there was a collision with “play’n’skin” and 2’s that took a toll on 2’s noggin. We benefited from a couple of very questionable calls by “Rojo.” Unfortunately, the FRC never got their bats going. The took it on the chin 12-4. What makes this so surprising is that this happened on Neill Field A…again! The SFRC are 2-3 this season at the new and improved SFRC Park. Maybe it just takes a little time to warm up to the new surroundings.
Game1 Highlights:
- Greg Krull hitting a ball 296 feet…just short of a HR
- “Skin’n’play” with a couple of over-the-shoulder catches from short
Game 2 vs. H-Bombs (4th Place)
The FRC took on a short-handed H-Bombs squad. The field looked open, but the FRC couldn’t get the bats going. The game was back and forth for all seven innings. We took the lead early and had a shutout going through three innings. The H-Bombs batter hit a deep ball to straight away center. Matty hussled to the spot and made a great catch…except somehow he fumbled it when he tripped. The ump, with his back to the field, got talked into changing his call and the batter scored breaking up the shutout and essentially opening the flood gates. If one guy hit it over our heads, all nine batters hit it over our heads…three times each.
In typical Fighting RC fashion, we pulled it together and had an inning for the ages. A 13-run inning. Bloop hits, line drives, hits to right field, full swing bunts and a 299.5 foot hit by Pub Krull. All of this with the encouragement of a blowhorn and Patsy’s lungs.
In the top of the seventh H-Bombs didn’t quit. They made a game of it, but the FRC held on for a 23-18 victory. FR!
Game 2 Highlights:
- 3-6-5 double play (yes, 3-6-5…Mikey to Skin’n’Play to 2’s)
- Lars with a highlight catch in left falling backwards near the fence
- Matty tracking one down in deep right-center all the way from left-center
- 13 run inning
LAST OUT (beverages next week)
Game 1 = Pat at third base
Game 2 = ????
Fan of the game: I’ll just say it now. If you bring a blowhorn to FRC Park and you go ahead and throw some wind through that thing….You are the fan of the game. I don’t think this can be debated. The bar has officially been raised. JoAnn and friends, your work is cut out for you. Patsy was clearly the fan of the game! Looking forward to more fans next week.
|
|
