SFRC

It is difficult to believe the Schlitz Gusto Guys wrapped up summer softball already.  24 games are in the books.  I believe we finished 18-6 and tied for 1^st Place.  With any luck we had less total runs than the Moose Knucklers.  We know we don’t want to move up a league next summer.  We have been in that league before.  It’s not pretty.  Numbers don’t lie.

Sub-plot of the night.  Entering the game #35 held an ever-so-slight lead over Brain for the Schlitz Gusto Guy batting title.  One of the biggest benefits were those Gusto Guys who did not qualify for the batting title.  The batting title essentially came down to whoever got more hits on this final day of the summer season.

Game #1 vs. Moose Knucklers

The pitcher for Moose Knucklers is up there on the “Most Likeable People” list with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.  He’s just a really fun guy to play against.  After Cinco hit a ground ball up the middle #35 asked if the pitcher was okay.  The reply went something like this, “You tell your *&(@#$% pitcher that I’m coming up the (*&$&$@# middle and I go head (*&$%(*# high.”  Let’s take a step back.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys and Moose Knucklers play in Wednesday night D/E Recreational league.  Further, I’m not sure anyone on the Schlitz Gusto Guys would try to go up the middle to hurt anyone.  It’s just not how the Schltiz Gusto Guys roll.  I don’t want to say karma plays a role in this, but he might be the only pitcher in the league to occasionally pitch between his legs or behind his back.

On to the game…It took a while for the bats on either team to get going.  We headed into the 4th inning tied 0-0.  It was back and forth in the final few innings, and the Schlitz Gusto Guys gave away a few runs en route to a 5-9 loss.

Brain ended 3×4 with two singles and a double / #35 finished 3×4 with two singles and a double.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 5 – Moose Knucklers 9

Last out: Pub Krull

Game #2 vs. Ziegler

After scoring 17 runs in their first game of the night Team Ziegler didn’t have much left.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys, on the other hand, had PLENTY left on this final night of summer ball.  It was one hit after another.  Team Ziegler, usually a solid defensive club, gave us a few freebees, which always helps.  There was quite a bit on the line for this game.  If Moose Knucklers lost in their second game (which they did) and the Schlitz Gusto Guys won, we’d tie for 1^st Place.  The runs came early and often for the Schlitz Gusto Guys as we batted around in the 2nd and 3rd innings and the game was really never close.  Everyone in the lineup had a minimum of four at-bats in Game #2 (in five innings).  Pub Krull slid over to shortstop and immediately had three of the next four put outs.  We also owe a thank you to Pub Krull for extending the game an extra at-bat by throwing just a bit wide of second base.  This biggest impact of this went to the “last out” of the game / summer.  Speaking of Pub Krull….He hit one of the best singles of the season.  A long fly ball, to DEEP left-center field….off the fence.  Nobody has a better “single” trot than Pub Krull.  Nobody.  He looked so graceful trotting to first on that single.  It was almost as if he thought the ball was gone (for a homerun).

Brain ended 4×5 with three singles and a double / #35 finished 4×4 with two singles and a homerun.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 22 – Team Ziegler 7

Last out: FNG (Silkey) – In the second to last inning (we had a walk off 15 run rule win)

Fan of the night: Kurt Student, “like it’s spelled.”

Final batting stats were as follows:

Brain was 48×84 for a 0.571 average.  #35 was 50×86 for a 0.581 average.  DISCLAIMER…If Brain’s last at-bat was scored a hit instead of an error he would have finished 49×84 for a .583 average.  Ol’ #35 owes the score keeper a TALL BOY!

Worth mentioning: As of August 3rd, 2010, there are 267 days until Summer Balm-2011

Also worth mentioning: There are 19 days until FALL BALL (not to be confused with Foul Ball…or Fowl balls).

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April 28, 2010 6:00pm vs. H-Bombs at Alimagnet Field B.

I’m a little disappointed we didn’t get SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS in all CAPS, but I’m happy to see the name change.  The end of the season will have a little different feel to it since we won’t be playing Varmits or Varmit Jrs.  We may also have to celebrate processed food night a week early at Lac Lavon, since the last week of the year we have late games.  That is okay.  The last time we had PFN at LL we had a very strong showing to help celebrate.

I am ready and excited.  We begin to taper our workouts now so we are at our peak on April 28, 2010 at 6:00pm.

Love it!

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Autumn Ball continues to serve up the humidity…the balm….the cheese.  It was 70 degrees, clear skies and a heat index into the upper 80’s I’m sure.

Game #1 vs. Property Claim Solutions

It was the SFRC vs. eight bodies from Property Claim Solutions.  That eighth person just made in time to avoid the forfeit.  This was good for everyone.  The FRC didn’t take advantage of the lack of fielders as they should have.  We only pushed three runs in the top of the 1^st inning.  PCS came back with two of their own.  By the top of the 2^nd inning, they had 10 fielders.  That’s okay, as the SFRC have never been a team that wanted to be gift-wrapped any victories.  We are willing to earn them.  The game went back and forth with PCS scoring more than the FRC through five innings.  In the top of the 6^th the ump gave the “10 minutes left” call.  Ol’ 35 ended the FRC mini-rally by getting thrown out at 3^rd base (NEVER make the first or last out at 3^rd).  In the bottom of the 6^th with the clock ticking PCS ran the softball equivalent of “the four corners.”  They were slow to walk up to the plate, slow to figure out who was “up,” slow to swing the bat, etc.  No matter, the defense locked it down when they needed to and got the three outs fairly quickly.  It was 13-10 heading into the top of the 7^th.  We scratched and clawed our way to two runs.  With runners and 2^nd and 3^rd and one out Matty hit the hardest ball of the night.  Unfortunately, in 2009 we are not the only ones with a film room.  PCS had Matty played just right and their shortstop snagged the line drive.  And with two outs as the saying goes, even a blind squirrel finds a nut….

35 somehow managed to hit one over to center for a three run HR and a two run lead (15-13).  MW and company continued the rally and we went on to score three more runs.  These were big as we gave up two runs in the bottom of the 7^th, but again locked it down when we needed to and won the game.  Big comeback for the SFRC. 

Final Score: SFRC 18 – Property Claim Solutions 15

Play of the game: Brain knocking down a ground ball and turning to fire the runner out at 1^st.

Last out: CP (they just beat him to first base on a fluke play)

Game #2 vs. Almost All-Stars

Sometimes a team is just better than you.  Almost All-Stars is simply better than the SFRC.  They are a good group of KIDS and they are fun to play against.  They play the game the right way and look like they are enjoying themselves.  In 25-30 years maybe they will still be playing.  Maybe they will be playing at the level of the 2009 version of the SFRC.  In two years, maybe they will be old enough to have a beer when they play. 

We scored early avoiding the dreaded shutout.  We just couldn’t put enough hits together.  We were probably 20-25 hits short in game #2.  There were some nice plays made in the field, but they simply hit the ball too well to make this a competitive game.

Final Score: SFRC 6 – Almost All-Stars 24

Play of the game: 2’s making a nice catch down the right field line and attempting a triple play.

Last out: Brain (even with the grunt)

Fan of the night:

Bridget (did I get the name right?) for the second week in a row.  At this point in Autumn ball, she is making an outstanding case for Autumn Fan of the Year.   That is not an easy award to earn. 

Words heard at SFRCP on 9/16/09:

Them: Hey, this guy is a switch hitter!

Us: Yeah, he bats left-handed and right-handed too.

Catcher: Big stick here.  This guy has a big stick.

Fielders: This guy is a good hitter too.

Bench: Nice sac, 2’s.  Great sac….Good time for an RBI too.

Leader: We named our dog Darrin.

Leader: If he gets taken out at the knees, he’ll be running in the pool.

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Simply put, there are not many emails that are more exciting than the one received last evening. 

The subject was: 2009 Summer softball league

The message read: Good Evening Skyline FRC ball players: We are scheduled to play Men’s D/E Recreational Wednesday nights, starting on April 29: 12-weeks of double header fun! As of today, there are 63 days until “balm.” 

This is one of my two favorite emails every year.  The other is when the annual trip to Las Vegas is booked.

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It was plenty toasty by game time (85 degrees).  85 degrees = POBB (Plenty O’ Bag Balm).  The ball was carrying a bit in the humidity.  We had a full squad of 12 leaders, but by 10pm we were two leaders crossing home short from going 0-0-2 for the evening.  Nonetheless, we had a sold out FRC crowd of five fans.

Game 1 vs. Speedy Turtles (1st Place)

The SFRC came out swinging and scoring.  A quick five runs put the 1st Place Speedy Turtles on their heels.  Matty smoked a line drive that went off the pitcher’s knee.  This became a theme for the evening.  The SFRC buzzed the pitcher at least six times thoughout the game.  We are still hoping they kids don’t think that was intentional.  Being the seasoned veterans that we are, we were not prepared for the arms from the outfield.  We were thrown out on the basepaths at least twice. 

“Red” may have cheated us out of the last inning calling time after the sixth.  This happened to be exactly when the FRC were planning to make their move.  Such is life on Neill Field B.  This simply would not have happened on Neill Field A (a.k.a. SFRCP). 

Final Score: Speedy Turtles 10 – SFRC 9 (one leader crossing the plate away from a tie)

Game 1 Highlights:

1.  Lars with a “Play of the Day” catch in left.  He even managed to keep his ribs in check.

2.  Mikey’s bomb to right-center

Game 2 vs. Team Ziegler (Last Place)

For some reason known only to the softball gods and Him, the FRC have always struggled against the last place Team Ziegler.  The gimp was on the mound for Team Ziegler.  The FRC struggled to put hits together.  They didn’t have their typical “post-Memorial Day two out rally” or their “post-Memorial Day bat around the lineup one inning” rallies and scratched and clawed their way to eight runs for the game.  Team Ziegler wasn’t too much better. 

“Wasn’t too much better” does still mean they were better and SFRC took their second loss of the night.  The first two game “0′fer” in the post-Memorial Day season.

Final score: Team Ziegler 9 – SFRC 8 (again, one leader crossing the plate away from a tie)

Game 2 Highlights:

1. Brain’s backhand stop at third and bullet to 1st for an out

2. The gimp hitting into a 1-4-3 double play.   If the gimp were a RC, he’d be bringing a 12-pack in two weeks. 

LAST OUT (owing beverages in two weeks):

Game 1 = Paht, formerly known as 2-4

Game 2 = Matty – Taking after our very own Mr. Clutch on us with an F7 (just missing by the way)

Night: Again, Mrs. H out.  It was the first evening of the season a third baseman of record didn’t have to go with the flanel or burlap lined cup to produce balm.  The FRC continue to struggle with Mayo onsite (MWC courtesy of Lars).  As always, we would prefer to go 0′fer the season and have Mayo. 

Fan of the Game: There were many to choose from to be sure.  After an early charge by Speedy Turtles, Senior (for fetching all the HR and foul balls) Ol’ # 8 prevailed.  Good to see TO again.  And THANKS to all the other fans who found time for an evening of memories, Blizzard’s in hand.

Flashback of the evening: Midnight babushka from passerby at Lac Lavon, circa 1999?

Neill, Field B finally closed it down around midnight.  Hello, Mr. Early Thursday morning. 

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