$1299.99 on eBay

Surprisingly, it was a beautiful night for two games.  There was jealousy all around for the new SFRCGG beer holder which was still hot off the presses.

You can only keep a lion in a cage for so long.  When said lion comes out of its cage, it may snack on a small bunny or a dirty rat (see Game #1 vs. Goodfellas), but only until it identifies the largest water buffalo (see Game #2 vs. Midwest Realty) to attack.

Game #1 vs. Goodfellas

Goodfellas is an interesting name.  The team certainly has a couple of “fellas” who seem like good people.  They also have two or three of the biggest Jack-O’s in the league.  These are the same goons who chose to yell at Patsy a few weeks ago for blowing her horn instead of their own players for popping out and booting balls.  In summary, this is a fun team to beat.  How do I know this?  Because that is what we do.  Yes, the SFRCGG beat the Goodfellas regularly.  That’s just what we do.  It doesn’t matter that they kick fence posts after losses and talk about “losing to one of the worst teams in the league.”  Maybe I’m missing something, but in most leagues (of any sport) wins and losses are the distinguishing numbers between which teams are better than others.  Currently, the SFRCGG are two games up on Goodfellas.  Maybe I heard them wrong.  Maybe they were upset about losing to H-Bombs (second worst team in our league) back on May 11^th.

On to the details of Game #1….

Sans took the bump for the first time in 2011.  He admitted to having a few jitters.  After walking the first two batters, Sans was locked in and pitched a very good game.  With the first two batters reaching base, the SFRCGG fielders took over and shutdown Goodfellas in the first inning.  We answered with two runs in the bottom of the first.  The game was low-scoring as neither team could get things going.  The SFRCGG took a 5-3 lead into the top of the seventh inning.  After getting two outs Goodfellas put together a little rally and scored three times to take a 6-5 lead.

Karma and the SFRCGG came to bat in the bottom of the seventh.  Matty started off with a solid single.  Cinco followed up with a line drive single of his own.  Mr. Clutch came to bat with two on and no outs.  Surpringly, contact was made, and although Mr. Clutch stood and watched what he thought was a HR, he made it to first for a single off the fence that scored Matty. With Cinco on second and Mr. Clutch on first, Ryan hit a solid single loading the bases.  CW made a sacrifice taking the “last out” rule and a game winning SAC fly.

Karma was caught winking to the right side of the infield.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 7 – Goodfellas 6

Last out: CW (Game winning SAC fly)

Game #2 vs. Midwest Realty

The lion (SFRCGG) was tired of snacking on a small rodent and they were ready for a real meal.  This came in the form Midwest Realty who was tied for first place heading into the evening.  It is difficult to single out an individual leader for this game.  It may sound cliché, but it was Leader, Leader, Leader, Leader, Leader throughout this game.  The worst stats for the game were two players who went 2×4 (which is very good).  The best went 4×4.  As a team, we were 30×43 for the game.  That is a 0.698 average.  When the team bats around .700, you are going to win most games.  Numbers don’t lie.

We plated three runs in the top of the first inning and shut them down defensively for a 3-0 lead after one.  The second inning was one for the record books.  It went like this: walk, double, single, walk, single, single, single, single, single (first out of the inning was thrown out at the plate after we had scored seven runs), walk, single, single, single, double, error.  Some fun numbers for the inning:

• ·        19 plate appearances
• ·        All but one person batted twice
• ·        There were only two walks
• ·        We had 14 hits in the inning
• ·        We scored 14 runs

That really took the fire out of Midwest Realty.  It did not, however, take the fire out of the SFRCGG’s.  We went on to score one run in the third, four in the fourth and three in the fifth on our way to a 25-8 victory.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 25 – Midwest Realty 8

Last out: Mr. Clutch whilst running from second to third on a ground ball (yes, #35 has the beer holder per the new rule “Last out of the second game brings a 12-pack AND the beer holder”)

Post game:  It went something like this:

• “We are out of beer.”
• “No, really?  Let me look [helping himself].”
• “Can I have another [putting a couple in the back pockets]?”
• “Remember that play in the Savage, NM tournament?”
• “We are chasing a pennant.”
• “How old are you?”
• “28.”
• “I’m 50.”

 

Game #1 vs. Celt’s Pub

Celt’s Pub is the top team in the league and they were looking to add to that lead by beating up on the SFRCGG.  Unfortunately for them, we had other plans.  We scored four runs in the first inning to take an early 4-2 lead.  Celts Pub didn’t quit and scored four in the second, three in the third, four in the fourth and one in the fifth.  Of course the SFRCGG was aware of the game situation throughout.  And whilst we bent, we did not break.  Defensively we kept the game within reach.  Offensively we were pacing ourselves for the sixth and seventh innings.  In the fourth  inning Nate lead the Leaders with a single.  Potter followed it up with a single of his own.  Lars knocked in a run with a single.  After a harmless fielder’s choice, Brain hit a single, Matty tripled, Cinco hit a single, #35 got a single, Ryan followed with another single.  Yes, that was nine base runners out of 10 plate appearances with eight hits. All said, the SFRC scored six runs in the sixth.  When we quickly shut them down in the fifth, we got right back to hitting.  CW went for a triple, Nate reached on an error, Potter found grass for a single, Lars had another RBI single…all before we found an out.  Brain quickly got us back on track with a single before Matty took a walk and Cinco singled.  T-Mac singled and Ryan followed with another single as well.  In other words, it was Leader, Leader, Leader, Leader, Leader…sounds like runs.  Yep, seven runs in the fifth inning and that was the submission hold on Celt’s pub.  They were shutout in the top of the sixth and the game was called because of time.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 18 – Celt’s 14

Last out: Mr. Clutch (#35)

Game #2 vs. Eddy’s

With a very well stated goal of “Finish the Season in Third Place” we took the field against Eddy’s.  We had just beat the team in first place (Celt’s Pub).  The SFRCGG have always been a Memorial Day and after team.  We have done our best work as the season progresses and the temperature warms up.  We have 20+ years of data to prove it.  Numbers don’t lie.   With these facts in mind, June 8^th is not too early to make sure we keep our seasons goals in mind.  “Finish the Season in Third Place.”  We took the first two innings off scoring only one run.  Eddy’s didn’t exactly set the world on fire either.  The game was close throughout before the SFRCGG finally bowed out losing 11-12.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 11 – Eddy’s 12

Last out: Cinco

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 18 – Ziegler 20

Ziegler started out hitting the ball very well scoring 11 runs in the top of the 1^st inning.  As is the case in many of the SFRC games, we’ll bend, but we will not break.  We answered with 13 runs of our own in the bottom of the 1^st inning.  After that, the defense of both teams locked it down.  A few runs were scored by both teams and with two outs in the bottom of the 7^th with two on, trailing by two runs Ol’ #35 walked to the plate.  No need to finish reading, we know what happened….He got out.  Clutch.

Last out: Mr. Clutch (#35)

Game #2 vs. Goodfellas

Less than six minutes after the SFRC lost to Zielger, Ol’ #35 walked to the plate with a similar, but very different, situation.  Two on, two outs in the top of the first.  What happened?  #35 hit a HR.  Again, clutch.  When the SFRC need a big hit in a scoreless first inning game, nobody is better than #35.  This game saw all kinds of things a softball field has never seen.  We saw the “Lars shift,” which is simply moving the shortstop about 50 feet back so he is playing a shallow left field whilst the left fielder and left-center fielder pinch together.  Only to see Lars stick it to them as seen here:

Lars beats the shift from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

We had the opposing team yelling at Patsy for blowing her horn.  Patsy, don’t give in to the bullies.  In my opinion, they were yelling at the wrong things.  Their team was down by a lot and they were booting balls and not getting hits.  Somehow they blamed Patsy.   This game also saw a very pretty / “make it look routine” double-play with Kurty scooping the ground ball, stepping on second and tossing to Cinco at first.  Get a look:

Kurty Double Play from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 24– Goodfellas 6 (and Patsy won the mental game)

Last out: Cinco

The SFRCGG were carrying a five game losing streak into this game, and that is simply unheard of in our world.  We have been shutout a time or two, but we have never endured a five game losing streak.

Game #1 vs. Midwest Realty Group

Brain climbed on the bump to continue filling in admirably for Sans who is still out with a bum wing.  We fell behind early 4-0 in the first.  2’s scored the first run for the SFRCGG in the 3^rd inning leading to a 6-1 deficit.  The bad guys found green all night and we just couldn’t lock them down.  We managed to push three runs in the bottom of the 6^th inning, including Matty trying to make things happen by running right over second base on his way to third.  After a brief conversation with Brain, who was also standing on third, Brain headed home to score.  It simply was not enough as the Schlitz Gusto Guys suffered their sixth straight loss.

The highlight of this game was clearly CW’s back to back triples to straight away deep center.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 4 – Midwest Realty Group 15

Last out: Lars

Game #2 vs. Beer Me

“Beer Me” is the same team name on the same field we first faced them last year.  However, this is a very different squad than the one who started the game last year with three straight strikeouts.  The 2011 version of “Beer Me” can hit the ball fairly well.  However, there are a few certainties in life, but one of them is that the SFRCGG will, under no circumstances, lose seven straight games.  Everyone hit well and we had a number of clutch two out hits.

Speaking of clutch…No one is more clutch than Pub Krull who started the game with a line drive homerun.  That was one of four runs Pub Krull scored and one of two homeruns he had in the game.  I could almost see the size of his head change during the night.  Not because of arrogance, but rather all of the HGH and other PED he had been ingesting (see Barry Bonds).

The hit parade was on all night as the SFRCGG were simply ready to outscore anyone, including Beer Me.

Pub Krull scored four runs, as did 35.  Veteran Ryan and Lars touched the plate three times.  Brain, Matty, Pauly and 2’s crossed twice and FNG Ryan scored once.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 23 – Beer Me 14

Last out: 2’s

Play of the Game: Pauly made a diving catch in left

Fan of the Night: Kurty, Ol’ #4

At 11:00pm the SFRCGG could still field a team (per the norm) to play a third game if we only had lights and an opponent.

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 4^th inning one runner had scored and there were no outs and runners on 1^st and 2^nd.  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 1^st and 2^nd 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 1^st 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 418^th groundball to short with runners on 1^st and 2^nd 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)

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.

1. The Schlitz Gusto Guys bring their best effort when the balm is “a-plenty” and thick
2. 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.

It was 71 degrees, not a cloud in the skies and winds from left to right.  It was absolutely “Mrs. H” for a season opener.  Without question the SFRC were in mid-season form.  Physically and mentally.  That only happens in Week #1 when teams spend 12 months a year together.  This only happens by running the SFRCP hills in January and keeping the chatter going watching pitches in the cage in March.

Game #1 vs. H-Bomb

There are a few certainties in SFRC softball.  One is “numbers don’t lie.”  The other is that Pub Krull will have grass stains by the end of the evening without exception.  In 2010 this happened on the first batter of the game.  It was a blooping pop up to shallow left.  Pub Krull got a good jump on the ball, used his world class D/E speed and made a nice diving effort on the ball.  A single.  The first inning looked promising for Ol’ 35 at short, making two putouts in two attempts (it went downhill from there).

How many times do you see it?  How many times do you see a guy dive for a ball (and miss it) in left field to start a game, then lead off the top of the 1^st for the home team?   How many times does said left fielder lead off the bottom of the first and the first AB for the 2010 FRC watch the first pitch and then hit a HOME RUN?  Hey, there aren’t many firsts for the SFRC anymore (we’ve been going strong for 20 years), but I think it is safe to say Pub Krull’s 2010 leadoff HR is a SFRC first.  This does not happen by taking HGH in early April.  This only happens when HGH is used as your daily vitamin.  Pub Krull has been sharing his secrets as the FRC hit FOUR homeruns in Game #1.  In addition to Pub Krull, T-Mac had 1+ (more on this later) and the FNG (Silkey) had a HR for an out.

As mentioned earlier 35 made the first two plays hit his way after taking a bad hop in the fact last week.  After those two plays, the flood gates opened.  We had another SFRC first.  Three straight errors on three straight batters.  All by Ol’ #35.  Not exactly how someone wants to go down in the SFRC record books.  These errors allowed the H-Bomb crew to stay in the game.  H-Bomb had a two run lead heading into the bottom of the last inning (6^th inning due to time).  Per the norm you did not hear “we need two to tie.”  Not on this team.  Not in the SFRC dugout.  Rather, a number of guys were making the “We need three to win!” call.  Truly a sign of winners.

Brain led off the inning with a solid hit.  Matty followed that up by smoking a ball to left center.  Being the aggressive base-running team that we are, Matty went for three and had Brain making a late dash for home.  Everybody safe.  The FRC now were down one with a runner on third.  T-Mac stepped to the plate hoping to get the “Mr. No Clutch” hex off his back.  He managed to hit a wind aided game winning HR.  Oh wait, even though H-Bomb had hit a HR the rules say you both have to hit two HRs before either team can hit another one.  “Mr. No Clutch” came through again with a HR for an OUT!  No matter, the SFRC don’t have quit in their vocabulary.  Ryan got on with a game-tying RBI single.  CW got on base on a fielder’s choice.  Runners moved over to set the stage for 2’s (aka CP).  2’s came through with a walk-off RBI single, scoring CW.

SFRC WIN!  SFRC WIN!  OOOOOHHHHHHHH SFRC WIN!

The FRC are nothing if not dramatic.

Final Score: SFRC 17 – H-Bomb 16

Play of the game (aside from the open grass stained Pub Krull): Ol’ #22 with the walk-off game-winning single.  As someone stated later in the evening, “CP was huge tonight.  And he hit well too.”

Last out: Ryan on a fielder’s choice hit by CW

Game #2 vs. Televent DTN

The FRC started where they left off.  The hits came early and often.  We scored two in the first, a couple more in the second a few more in the third, and so on.  In what turned out to be the last inning, the FRC went Peter North on the opposition en route to 20+ runs.  After batting around multiple times heard from the opposing bench was, “No damage done, let’s go.”  I guess that’s true if you define “damage” as the mess left in the Biffy prior to Game #1 by one of the SFRC faithful.  We locked them down in the field ending the game with a double-play.

Highlights of the game: Pub Krull swinging and MISSING on two straight pitches for a K (I’d like to say this is a SFRC first – hitting a HR and swinging and missing twice in the same night, but I don’t think it is).  Also, Pauly being the team player taking two walks.

Lineup call: I have written about how much I love softball.  Here is an excerpt:

There are countless reasons to enjoy softball.  Being outdoors, the laughing and joking during and after the games, the chance to be competitive and maybe the greatest thing is hearing the lineup called for each inning.  Playing with the same guys for a number of years usually ends up in calling each other by their nickname.  A lineup could read: Moose, Hollywood, Pig, Shooter, Flash, Shorty, Deuce…

Based on names from a friend’s squad, their lineup could read: Cozzie, Moore, Moore, Byrnes, Whipple, Uber.  Or, it could read: Moore, Cozzie, Uber, Bush, Moore, Whipple, Byrnes… Read that fast like you are calling out a lineup.  You can’t make stuff like that up.  Just fantastic. If you don’t see the humor in that lineup, well, stick with book club and avoid the softball field.

Well on 04-28-2010 if you listened carefully you would have heard something like this: Steve, Greg, Sampson, RON, JEREMY, Alex, Sprout, Eric, etc.  There is something to be said about a lineup that can provide a stick like RON, JEREMY.

Final Score:  SFRC 27 – Televent DTN 4

Last out: Ryan (twice in one night – ouch)

A shout out to the FNG for catching two straight games.  Silk and Mauer are generally known as the two best catchers at calling a game.  The calls from behind the plate led to multiple strikeouts thrown by Sans.  All of the Schlitz Gusto Fighting Red C Gusto Guys hit well.  Moving Brain over to short definitely increased the reliability of the team in the field.  It’s worth mentioning again, the SFRC were in mid-season form on their chatter.  Check out some of the best on the Quotes page.

Fan of the night:  We had a very solid showing on Week #1.  Mrs. CW was present, Patsy and friend, Merrie (Pauly’s sister), TO, et. al.

He’s our Darrin Nelson, our Barry Sanders, our Billy Simms, he’s Brian Schmoll.  What do they have in common with the 2010 version of the SFRC?  2-0 describes them all perfectly.  The Schlitz Gusto Fighting Red C Guys have never lost.  Never.  “Numbers don’t lie.”

We are already looking forward to “Cinco de Mayo con Cinco.”