cinco — SFRC

Entries in the 'cinco' Category

Si Cinco! (Oops)

Posted on July 12th, 2010

Wednesday July 7^th brought a series of weather changes. In the early hours, the sun was out and it was plenty warm for the Schlitz Gusto Guy breakfast batting practice. By late afternoon the clouds had rolled in over the south metro. By 5pm there was a monsoon dumping rain over Burnsville.

However, as only the Schlitz Gusto Guy Gods would have it, by 5:45pm (15 minutes before first pitch), the rain lightened up and by 5:50pm the rain had completely stopped. We had a full night of perfectly balmy, plenty warm, humid weather. As it turns out, a perfect night for two! And a perfect night to give the lineup that includes Greg, Greg, Greg a try. Success!

If the FNG ever sends pictures, we’ll add them to this post.

Game #1 vs. Team Ziegler

In an effort to either intimidate us or show us up, Team Ziegler fielded eight players against the Schlitz Gusto Guys. They were scrappy and well placed, holding us to only a handful of runs in the first few innings. When a ninth man showed up, it threw off the defense and the Schlitz Gusto Guys had their way with the gaps. We had decent runs with two outs in a couple of innings and locked down the defense with a few great plays. Pauly went WAY back to make a catch in deep left field and Matty covered some ground and caught a ball in short left.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 17 – Team Ziegler 7

Last out: Lars

Game #2 vs. Moose Knucklers

Moose Knucklers were in first place heading into the 7pm game against the Schlitz Gusto Guys. They are a team that hits the ball well on most nights. Unfortunately for Moose Knucklers, Destiny made a trip for this game and Sans was escorting her to the 7^th inning. The Schlitz Gusto Guys found some timely hits as Silkey and Mac beat the left fielder deep and Lars hit a shot to the gap between left and left-center. We locked down the defense too as only one error was committed and that was on a lazy infield fly with two leaders calling for the ball. As it turned out, no damage was done and the shutout continued into the bottom of the seventh inning. Sans threw the ball well all night. The first batter in the bottom of the 7^th got out quickly. And then, with the Moose Knucklers best hitter at the plate and one out and Destiny sitting on the right shoulder of Sans to get a great view of the shutout in progress…..Sans throws a great softball pitch….short and in front of the plate. Unfortunately, the batter is a very good hitter and extended his arms looking to break up the shutout. The ball carried and carried and carried and….homerun for the Moos Knucklers. The next two outs were uneventful and the Schlitz Gusto Guys won. Unfortunately, we lost the shutout in the bottom of the 7^th.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 8 – Moose Knucklers 1

Last out: Matty

Fan of the night: Destiny (at least for 19 outs before she left early on a HR)

OOPS: As the Schlitz Gusto Guys scouted the other teams after their games were done, the right fielder on an opposing team “caught” 10+ guys staring. There was a rumor that one Schlitz Gusto Guy was even trying to put some of the film into the permanent archives. This has been unproven to this point.

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CP Prefers B&W TV, Rotary Phones and Everything Else 1975

Posted on June 10th, 2010

Another week of Schlitz Gusto Guy softball and more lessons learned. First, the evening only gets more entertaining as the minutes turn to hours and a 7:30pm arrival turns into an 11:30pm departure. If there is one constant in the 20+ years of SFRC / Schlitz Gusto Guy softball, it is the conversations and laughter after the lights go out. In the spirit of trying to keep this site somewhat “clean,” I’ll have to do my best to document the conversations on the night of June 9^th, 2010 in code. The night started with the FNG stating “McLovin’, I’m going to get dirty tonight too.” For what it’s worth, the FNG was also planning on sliding into base or making a diving catch as well. It only got better from there.

Entering June 9ths games the Schlitz Gusto Guys (a.k.a. LEADERS) were batting seven points higher than we finished last season. And, we had hit one more HR than we had all of last season. Numbers don’t lie. Let’s recap the games.

Game #1 vs. Team Ziegler

There is not another team we have been more evenly matched with in the past decade. Our games against Team Ziegler always seem to be one or two run games and at the end of the season we have split wins and losses. This game was no different. The game was back and forth with the lead changing hands at least three times. Cinco welcomed the evening with a L O N G homerun to left-center. McLovin’ (a.k.a. Sans) hit a hard shot up the middle that hit the pitcher’s shoulder. Brain immediately commented that it was the hardest ball Sans has hit in 10 years. It was smoked. Worth mentioning, no one in the league tries to steer clear of the pitcher more than Sans. Unfortunately, this one was a direct hit. “Sorry Team Ziegler pitcher.” T-Mac, Ryan and Sans were all 3×3 in Game #1. Brain and Pauly each had two walks and the Schlitz Gusto Guys took an unprecedented seven walks as a team. This is unofficially a Gusto Guy team record.

The game was played at a very quick pace thanks to a few four pitch innings for both teams. It was played so quickly that the ump was willing to let us play an 8^th inning if we were able to tie the game in the bottom of the 7^th. Unfortunately, Pub Krull missed this opportunity. But don’t worry, redemption would be had before ol’ #36’s head hit the pillow for the night (read on).

T-Mac did feel the need to berate the FNG in front of his teammates. It’s important to know we never, under any circumstance, use the term “leader” when referring to an individual on an opposing team. For the past few weeks we have heard the FNG yell out, “No outs, who is going to get the leader?” We have straightened this out. From now on it will be, “No outs, who is going to get the first one?”

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 7 – Team Ziegler 10

Last out: Pub Krull

Game #2 vs. Moose Knucklers

The Schlitz Gusto Guys remembered how they fell apart in Game #2 last week. Determined not to do the same this week, we came out swinging and fielding. We moved positions quite a bit and Kurty pitched a solid game and fielded 4-5 balls up the middle as well. The Schlitz Gusto Guys were down 12-10 heading into the top of the 7^th. “We need three to take the lead.” Lars started off the inning with a single. After an out, Al lined a single to center. Two men on, one out and Pub Krull stepping to the dish looking to avenge his game #1 ending strikeout. BAM! Three run homerun by Pub Krull. A truly “clutch” homerun. Brain followed that up with a single and Matty also lined a single to left-center. Ol’ 35 flew out to left for out number two. Cinco stepped up and on his own personal mission to lead the squad in homeruns playing only part-time, he launched a three-run homerun to deep left-center field. The Schlitz Gusto Guys are CLUTCH! In the field Brain and CP locked it down to finish the win.

Matty was 4×4 with four runs scored. Pub Krull had three runs scored.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 16 – Moose Knucklers 12

Last out: Pauly

Fan of the night: TO! Also, Patsy and friend (see quotes).

Nightcap conversation:

In an effort to keep this website “work appropriate,” this may be somewhat cryptic for those that were not closing down SFRCMP at 11:30pm. I apologize.

I think we can safely make the following assumptions about CP:

He prefers a rotary telephone
He prefers to watch television in black and white
He prefers the shaggy orange/yellow/green carpet over hardwood floors, area rugs or even a nice Berber carpet
When leaving SFRCMP Field B, he prefers to walk on the right side of the hill (most others choose the less “nappy” left side of the hill)
He loves the Amish way of life
He wished he was in that room at St. Thomas circa 1993
He likes to navigate more than drive

And why? Because that’s how “they” liked lived in 1975. The counter argument of course, is simply that “things change” and generally they get better. If this wasn’t true, they wouldn’t change at all. We’d still be sending telegrams and the Hindenburg would just be one of many airship disasters if it were up to CP. Instead, in 2010 we speak on the phone, send emails and travel via jets.

Some other notes worth mentioning:

Pub Krull carries a Tommy Hilfiger sack for his shoes, etc.
The FNG has the nicest shaved head….(we’ll leave it there)

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There is No Quit in the Gusto Guys

Posted on May 20th, 2010

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