SFRC

The table was set.  It was Mrs. H out at 8pm.  Roughly 67 degrees and partly cloudy, which obviously means, mostly clear.  We received late warning from Cinco that he had a higher priority than Schlitz Gusto Guy softball on this night.  After calling AAA Las Vegas (Niehaus) and getting shutout before finally securing a 10^th leader, we allowed Cinco to take his wife to the hospital (since she was in labor).

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.

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2011 is officially underway.  What better way to celebrate Sans’ 50th birthday than with a double header?  None in this writer’s book.  We have had a few changes to the roster since we last gathered to play an official game almost seven months ago.  The FNG  has moved into a super-sub role…Niehaus has moved West to Sin City….Sans is “on the bench” waiting until the weather warms up.

The rest of the Schlitz Gusto Fighting Red C*ck guys were ready to go.  Fresh of seven months of running SFRCMP hills, watching film and upgrading their equipment, and their equipment.

It’s hard to believe Opening Night 2011 was 62 degrees warmer than it was a few months ago.  That, of course meant it was only 46 degrees and breezy.  Less than ideal, but at least it wasn’t raining and snowing…until after our games were over.

As you can see from the forecast on April 26th, www.weather.com clearly forgot the softball season was starting.  On April 27th, www.weather.com remembered and cleared the skies for the SFRC / SGG doubleheader…and ONLY their double header.  It was still chilly but Mother Nature knows not to mess with the karma that is the Schlitz Gusto Guys playing two every Wednesday evenings (tornadoes or no tornadoes in Prior Lake – see summer of 2007).

Looks like rain...

Check that...SFRC/SGG double dip at 6pm & 7pm

Game #1 vs. H-Bombs

Per the norm, we had a close battle with H-Bombs.  And in line with our previous games from previous years, they tried to counter the SFRC / Schlitz Gusto Guys with a squad of nine on the field.  The are a couple certainties in life.  One, the SFRC / Schlitz Gusto Guys don’t get rained out (see above).  Another is that we cannot be defended with nine men, especially if the game goes eight innings.  History proves that the former SFRC, now SGG, own the 8th inning (see the 20+ runs scored in the 8th circa 2005).

This game was back and forth with the SGG’s falling into an early hole 6-0 heading into the bottom of the 3rd.  The cold weather took over and made the “nuts” hard.  That enabled ol’ 35 to hit a grand slam to right center scoring Pub Krull, Brain and Cinco.  The defense tightened up a bit allowing only three more runs in the next five innings.  With the score 9-5 in the bottom of 7th inning Lars started a rally by getting on base.  Pub Krull hit a single moving Lars to 2nd.  Brain roped one, unfortunately it was right at the 2nd baseman for an out.  Cinco followed it with a single loading the bases for the least clutch hitter in the history of the Burnsville D/E Recreational league, ol’ #35.  Somehow, someway (luck of the cold) 35 hit another grand slam to tie the game at nine.

“Red” allowed us to play an 8th inning.  We locked H-Bombs down in the top of the 8th and then went to work in the bottom of the inning.  After two harmless outs, Pub Krull hit a single and Brain followed it with a single of his own.  The real Mr. Clutch (a.k.a. “Cinco”) hit a deep ball to right center scoring Pub Krull for the game winner.

Happy birthday Sans, there is your win.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 10 – H-Bombs 9

Last out: Lars

Game #2 vs. Beer Me

Beer Me brought an improved squad to the first night of summer ball in 2011.  There would be no “Snapper Mow’em down inning” to start the game against Beer me this year.  We came out a little flat again, falling behind 10-4 after four innings.  Beer me took advantage of some bad hops and a slippery field to push seven more runs in the bottom of the 6th inning.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys countered with four of their own in the top of the 7th, but it simply wasn’t enough as we suffered our first loss of the season.

On our way to 3rd place Leaders.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 11 – Beer Me 17

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To wrap up the 2010 season of Schlitz Gusto Guy softball, we dedicated a night to Carl Pavano.  Some Schlitz Gusto Guy players even went with the unnatural looking mustache.  It certainly was a nice night to put an end to the 2010 season (not coincidentally on the eve of 2011 pre-season workouts).  The temperature for Game #1 was around 62 degrees.  The temperature when we departed about 11:20pm was around 46 degrees.

Game #1 vs. Moose Knucklers

The Schlitz Gusto Guys tied with Moose Knucklers for 1^st Place in the summer league.  The autumn version of Moose Knucklers has been slightly modified.   They do not quite have the horse power they had in the summer.  We started off the game batting through the entire lineup en route to nine first inning runs.  We kept our foot on the gas pedal as we scraped together a few runs in each of the following innings.  We also locked them down on defense on a night where the ball appeared to be carrying.  Pub Krull launched a deep 3-run homerun and T-Mac hit a lazy flyball that carried over the fence as well.  Matty hit a deep homerun that counted for an out since he was late to the homerun party.  Nice plays / catches in the field were made by CW, Matty and 2’s.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 20 – Moose Knucklers 11

Last out: ?

Game #2 vs. Beer Me

The Schlitz Gusto Guys sticks continued to roll on this final night of Fall Ball.  We gave up four runs in the top of the first, but answered with a nine-spot in the bottom of the 1^st.  The game was back and forth with neither team holding on to more than a four run lead after the 2^nd inning.  Again the ball was carrying.  The outfielders reacted to the hits well and chased down many line drives in the gaps.  Brain turned a nice double play on a hard hit ball to third by stepping on the sack and tossing to first.  Pub Krull hit a ball about 350 feet landing in the infield of SFRCP “B” for a three-run homerun.  Sans would later describe this homerun as only Sans could, stating, “That might have been the longest dong I have seen this year.”  I guess what Sans means is, that homerun by Pub Krull was the “Greg Oden” of the 2010 Schlitz Gusto Guys.

Another great quote from the final game of 2010 came from the 3^rd baseman for Beer Me.  He had bobbled a couple of slow ground balls before making a very nice play on a ball smoked his way.  One of the Schlitz Gusto Guys told him “nice play.”  He responded by saying, “It’s easier when it’s hard.”  Truer words have not been spoken, 3-bag….Truer words have not be spoken.

It was tied heading into the top of the last inning.  Beer me pushed three runs and the Schlitz Gusto Guys were set to answer with the top of their order.  Unfortunately, we had a couple of outs before Matty smoked a “no-doubter” homerun to left-center.  After T-Mac narrowly escaped the last out of the season by having the pitcher overrun a foul ball, CW hit a line shot knee high at the pitcher, who made a nice catch to retire the Schlitz Gusto Guys for 2010.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 20 – Beer Me 22

Last out: CW (line shot – knee high to the pitcher who made a nice catch)

Fan of the night: T.O.!  Good to see you #8

There were some good Schlitz Gusto Guy laughs after the games as we remained at the fields until well after the final out.  We could still field a team at 11:20pm.

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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.

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.

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We’ve been waiting for a night like May 19^th.  It was “Mrs. H.”  The temperature at game time was about 74 degrees and sunny, with very little breeze.  May 19^th is a good day for a few reasons.  It is Kevin Garnett’s birthday.  May 19, 2010 is the 6^th anniversary of one of the greatest Game 7 performances in NBA history.  KG went off for 32 points, 21 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and 5 blocks in an 83-80 Timberwolves win.

May 19, 2010 was also a night where the Schlitz Gusto Guys did what they do.  Hit, run, hit, run, make plays, hit some more, come back from trailing, and potentially most importantly, shut down the field at around 11:15pm after finishing our last Schlitz Tall Boys.  Delicious.

Game #1 vs. Beer Me

First and foremost we’d like to recognize our opponents as fellow Schlitz Tall Boy drinkers.  It was nice to see another squad with Schlitz Tall Boys enjoying some D/E Class softball on a beautiful evening.  The game was back and forth throughout.  The Shlitz Gusto Guys took an early 3-1 lead and extended it to 4-1 by the 4^th inning.  Beer Me put a run of their own together and took the lead 9-8 heading into the top of the 7^th.  The Gusto Guys have no quit in them.  Heard as we approached the dugout, “We need two to take the lead.”  We have been over this before, but you will never hear “one to tie” from a Gusto Guy dugout.  We are more optimistic.  It is simply “Two to lead” or “Two to win” for us.  And so, we went on a hit parade.  Leader = Single, Leader = Single, Leader = Single, Leader = Single, Leader = Single, Leader = Single, Leader = Single….One at a time the Gusto Guys stepped up got a hit and moved the runners, got a hit and scored a runner.  As we took the field in the bottom of the 7^th we were up 13-9.  We locked them down and completed the win.

Beer Me was more than just a little impressed / jealous of the Schlitz uniforms.  The Gusto Guys were looking GOOD!

Sans hit well and Cinco made his 2010 debut without getting out.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 14 – Beer Me 10

Last out: Matty

Game #2 vs. Televant

We witnessed a SFRC / Schlitz Gusto Guy first.  Please read the next sentence slowly and make sure you understand the significance…..Sans started Game #2 on May 19, 2010 with a Snapper Mow’em down inning.  Yes, he struck out the side.  He struck out batters 1, 2 and 3. This may not have only been a SFRC / Schlitz Gusto Guy first, this might be a first for the State of Minnesota.

The Gusto Guys jumped to an early lead 14-1 after three innings.  Televant mounted an impressive comeback and plated 10 in the top of the fourth.  Hanging on to a 14-11 lead, the Schlitz Gusto Guys did what they do….hit, hit, hit, hit and score, hit and score, hit and score, hit and score and on and on and on.  We pushed 10 of our own.

Cinco had his first homerun of the year (see quote page for more details).

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 24 – Televant 11

Si Cinco! from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

Brain showing off his range here:

Brain’s Range from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

One of the two double plays turned by the Gusto Guys:

Double Play from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

Last out: Pub Krull (on a double play no less)

Fan of the night: Mrs. Pauly

Quote of the night: Too many to list, you’ll have to look at the Quotes page.

The Schlitz Gusto Guys stuck around enjoying the Schlitz Tall Boys until 11:15pm….PER THE NORM!

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