SFRC

2013 – Strange Year

In 18’ish years of SFRC softball I think we have had less than five games rained out. It is a well documented fact that the weather is perfect on Wednesday evenings in Burnsville during softball season. Something happened in 2013 that has ripped the pages out of the Farmer’s Almanac. Week #1 was cancelled due to snow. It has rained every Wednesday since that first cancellation, with the exception of one. This is new for the SFRC squad and it shows. We invested in a film room and a website, but we have not invested in technology to present varying weather conditions on our practice field. It has never mattered. It has never been needed. The weather has always been nice. This has changed in 2013 and this may lead to some new investments in the near future.

In addition to all of the moisture in the form of rain on game days for the SFRC in 2013, we have had unseasonably cold temperatures. We sniffed 70 degrees one week, the others have been 60 degrees or cooler. Generally speaking 60 degrees is still warm enough to enjoy a double header. When it starts to approach 50 degrees or less, danger lingers. Not added danger to any leaders, but danger to weapons in the arms of the leaders. Our beloved Long Haul Bomber will be buried in left center of SFRCMP later this fall.

Are the spirits down? Somewhat. Are the spirits broken? NOT POSSIBLE. Things are looking up. The weather is going to get back to SFRC “normal.” How do we know this? We have 18 years of “veteran-ness” (as Trent Tucker would say) playing in the D/E Recreational league in Burnsville. The rest of the league should prepare. The SFRC tend to play better when conditions improve. Numbers don’t lie.

Random picture that needs to be “global.” After the monsoon passed and the teams cleared out, a few of the SFRC faithful were called out for walking towards their cars. If we can’t win a softball game, we can certainly win the “I can stay later than you” game. And so we did. We aren’t exactly sure what caused the remaining three ladies to rush off in a hurry, but something upset them. Perhaps the whittling career offended them.

The Journey to 3rd Continues

First point of interest. We are two weeks into the SFRC v 2013 and we have a solid start to our quote page.

78 degrees and sunny. It was perfect softball weather. The FRC were a little short-handed, but ever the optimist Pub Krull acknowledged there would be “more at-bats.”

Game 1: SKYLINE vs. Vancortlandt Rangers

Decent guys. Much younger. Better hitters. Ol’ #35 set the tone early on by throwing a ball 15 feet to the right of 2nd base whilst standing 13 feet from 2nd base. It’s not easy to do. At the plate we started off solid, scoring four runs to start the first inning. Unfortunately, they beat us up a little bit after that and it was tough to catch up. The opposing pitcher was tossed for a foul mouth. In his defense, his words were directed at himself, not the ump or any of the FRC leaders. Make no mistake, Red had control of this game. You have to hand it to a guy who is visiting SFRCMP and yet claims it as his own.

Later in the evening we heard “I could not wait to get off of Neill A.” To be clear, that is “of” not “on.”

Last out: Potter

Game 2: SKYLINE vs. Beer Me

This game went back and fourth. They scored five to start the game, the FRC countered with two. They came back with five more in the 2nd inning and the FRC answered with four. Unfortunately, in the end they found the gaps and robbed CW of at least a two run double in deep center (early candidate for Play of the Year – if only opposing teams were eligible) en route to a 20-12 win.

Last out: Thirty-Great

The Vegas odds of a third place finish for the FRC got beter after the 0-2 night, but the spirits were not broken. A few items worth mentioning:

Fan of the game may be @jennifer_studer (just trust the committee on this one)
A good number of the FRC stayed until just before Thursday on this perfect evening
Poor Thirty-Nate…He has only hit into an out three times this season, but is stuck with the refreshment holder for the week
Pub Krull took a strike in at least two at-bats on May 15, 2013 (this is just being documented since 10 years from now we may wonder if it ever happened)

Random clip that some of the FRC’s may appreciate:

The Journey to 3rd

This should be a good year for the SFRC. From the moment the schedule came out, we were on the right track. We are one of two teams listed in ALL CAPS on the schedule. SKYLINE. Love it. For the record, CELTS PUT, another veteran of the Burnsville D/E Rec league went ALL CAPS this year. I won’t attack them by calling them followers, rather I’ll talk about the LEADERS as trend-setters.

The SFRC season was supposed to start May 1st, 2013. Unfortunately, the first week was “snowed out.” The makeup date is July 31st and I’m quite certain it will be 50-60 degrees warmer that day than it was on May 1st. Two words…”BALM!”

Leading up to the opening night there was a 100% chance of rain. At 11:30am on game day it was down to 50%. By 2pm on game day there was a 0% chance of rain. That is no surprise to any of the Leaders or faithful Leader followers.

What was a surprise is that it actually did rain during Game #1. Just enough to soften the infield. The second game was perfect. The SFRC went 1-1 for the night after scratching and clawing there way back. Some highlights included a diving catch by Pub Krull in left-center. Pub Krull also hit two HRs and CW hit one (keeping his streak alive).

Unthinkable – Sun and then RAIN

If I wasn’t there, I wouldn’t believe it….

It was 82 degrees and sunny. So sunny, in fact, that every fly ball to right was a challenge.

Game #1 vs. Celts

The last meeting between the SFRC and Celts ended with the bad guys getting hit after hit after hit after hit scoring seven runs in the bottom of the 7^th to win by one run.

And that’s why we needed a rematch.

The ball felt like mush and the game started very slow. It was 2-3 after four innings. Celts ended up pushing a bunch in the 4^th inning and took 9-5 lead heading into the bottom of the 7^th inning.

Somewhere buried in his books back home we heard Cinco’s rally cry….”We need six to win.”

After a quick out, Thirty-Nate reach on an error. CP hit a single. Sans followed with a single of his own. Pub Krull followed suit and the SFRC were on the board in the 7^th. Matty reach and Brain hit a ball to right that ate up the right fielder tying the game at nine. Who walked to the plate? Mr. Clutch, a.k.a #35. The last time the game was on the line and he was up to bat, he popped out to the catcher. A hit or a SAC would win the game. He walked. This is success in Mr. Clutch’s world. CW approached the plate with a chance to win the game or hit into a double play to end in a tie. BAM! Line drive single up the middle scoring Brain from 3^rd. BALLGAME!

On our way to SFRCMP Away, Pub Krull was overheard stating, “you can’t win both if you don’t win the first.” Truer words have not been spoken. Note – This now proudly sits on the Quotes page.

Final Score: SFRC 10 – Celts 9

Last out: Todd

Game #2 vs. Ziegler (Modified)

I’m going to refer to Ziegler as “Ziegler – Modified” because this is not the same team we have played against for countless years. This group is a bit younger and feistier.

The SFRC started the game at the dish, scoring no one (not to be confused with Noone). Zieger – Modified pushed two in the bottom of the first to take a quick lead. The SFRC bounced back with two of their own in the second and three in the third. After a lame fourth inning, the SFRC got the bats going again with a run started by Sans that went, SINGLE, out, SINGLE, SINGLE, SINGLE, SINGLE, error, fielder’s choice, SINGLE and pushed five in the inning.

Then the unthinkable happened. It didn’t just get cloudy or drizzle a bit. It down-poured. The SFRC opponent was part of the original Zielger team that participant in a few epic games. The “Leaf” game, circa 2007 and “Brian Niehaus” night, circa 2010. However, the rain was no match for SFRCMP away, who merely shed the water aside and allowed the teams to continue playing.

The SFRC scored four more runs in the top of the sixth and exited quickly in the top of the seventh. Taking a 14-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

Ziegler-Modified, didn’t go down so quietly. They got hit after hit after bloop hit after hit. They managed nine runs before the SFRC defense decided enough was enough and closed out the game for the first SWEEP of the year.

Final Score: SFRC 14 – Ziegler-Modified 12

Last out: 2’s

Post game: The skies cleared up and enabled the SFRC faithful to stick around for a couple of hours. The biggest error of the year? We ran out of beverages by 10pm.

Fan of the Game: TO and the Patsy couple

Another Split – See You Thursday

Mrs. H, per the norm.

Game #1 vs. H-Bombs

I may have just dislocated my hip typing the team “H-Bombs.” No explanation needed.

The game started with H-Bombs getting an early boost from another HR by Davis. How did this happen. This guy popped out to the third base dugout three times in the first game of the season last year. Now, he is one of the better hitters in the league.

The SFRC were slow to get going but picked up a few runs every inning and had one big inning finding a way to pull out the win.

The highlight hit was CW’s HR to right-center. “Darrin, be ready, I’m going to leave the field on Thursday.”

Final Score: SFRC 18 – H-Bombs 13

Last out: ?

Game #2 vs. I’d Hit That

I’m pretty sure every softball league in the country has a team named, “I’d Hit That.” The “Usually Blessed, Sometimes Cursed, Burnsville D/E Rec league” is no different.

They jumped on us early and often. Hit after hit after hit. We found ourselves in a 15-0 hole in the bottom of the fifth inning. The worst question had to be asked by the ump, “Do you want to keep playing?” Umm…easy answer. They scored another couple runs and then the SFRC got their act together.

We scored five runs in the top of the fifth and a couple more in the top of the sixth. We were threatening to keep the run going, but the game ended at 10pm by rule. If anyone knows this rule, it was the ump on LL Field E on 5/30/2012.

The bad news is the SFRC lost. The good news is that they avoided a shutout.

Final Score: SFRC 7 – I’d Hit That 23

Last out: ?

Post game: I’m pretty sure the SFRC were due. Due for what? Due for a night to stay until Thursday. It was nice out, the beverages were cold and we packed it up early Thursday morning. This is probably what is needed to turn the tides of splitting every week.

SFRC

Opening Night

2013 – Strange Year

The Journey to 3rd Continues

The Journey to 3rd

Unthinkable – Sun and then RAIN

Another Split – See You Thursday

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