SFRC

No surprise here, the forecast didn’t look good.  The rain was coming.  However, the softball weather Gods anticipated such an event and scheduled the SFRCGG for Lac Lavon on June 22, 2011.  Why?  Take a look at the forecast.  The SFRCGG were scheduled to play at 6pm and 7pm.  We did just that and when we were finished the skies couldn’t hold on any longer and dumped rain like it was the Amazon rain forest.  For those with SFRCGG experience, we know there is a covered area to enjoy cold beverages and stay dry.

Game #1 vs. Celt’s Pub

I am not sure what to say.  The SFRCGG brought their bats and simply did not put them away….all night.  Kurty set the tone with a lead off homerun to straight away center.  The game went something like this: Lead off homerun, hit, hit, hit, hit/run, hit/runs, hit/run, hit/outfielders quitting, hit/outfielder walking/run, hit, hit, hit/runs, Nate GRAND SLAM, hit, hit/run, CW HOMERUN FOR AN OUT!, hit/run….angry team shaking hands.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 28 – Celt’s Pub 16

Last out: ???

Game #2 vs. Ziegler

This was a mixed bag of Ziegler players.  Meaning, we only recognized about half the team.  We never put our bats away.  This game went something along the lines of: Start with two runs since Ziegler didn’t bring a game ball, hit, hit, hit/run, hit/run…hits/runs on our way to 27 runs and a four inning game (mercy rule).

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 27 – Ziegler 5

Last out: Matty

Players of the night: We have many options.  Everyone hit very well.  Brain was 9-9.  CW hit his first homerun (check that, it was an out).  Nate hit his first career homerun and it was a GRAND SLAM!  Kurty set the tone with a lead off homerun.  Bruce showed that age cannot take away a sweet swing going 5-7 on the night with a SAC (and an RBI).

56 runs in two games and nine total innings.  That is more than six runs per inning played.  I’m pretty sure that is a SFRCGG record.

Fan of the night: The one, the only…the original Schlitz Gusto Guy….#25!  Yes, Mr. Brian Niehaus made it all the way back from Las Vegas to come enjoy some ice cold Tall Boys under the shelter of the rain.  The ankle is on the mend and we anticipate he’ll be ready for Fall Ball, if he can make it back for a week or two.

We are all looking forward to the return of the Leader of Leaders, Sans.  Set to make his 2011 debut July 6, 2011.  All things will be right with the SFRCGG’s again.

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There were quite a few environmental factors involved for the June 15th double header.  Let’s start with the forecast.  She had been moist for 28+ straight hours.  However, the Schlitz Gusto FRC Guys were never worried.  They were never afraid of a rainout.  It simply doesn’t happen in the SFRC’s world.  We had a small pre-game BBQ to start off this nice evening.  As you can see to the right, it didn’t look good.  Or did it?  Take a closer look and you will see that the chance of precipitation drops from 64% all day to 21% for the 8pm and 9pm games.  Shocked?  No.  Surprised?  No.  Numbers don’t lie.

As further proof, you can see the shadows and the sun shining on SFRCMP Away 30 minutes before our first pitch.  Get your sunglasses out, we’ve got two to play!

We have stated it before and we’ll state it again.  The SFRCGG do not get rained out on Wednesday nights.  It simply doesn’t happen.  I’m pretty sure you can check the Farmer’s Almanac to verify.

Another environmental factor we were faced with on June 15th, 2011 was the “retro hill.”  We have not seen SFRCMP Away this unkempt since the late 70′s.  A welcome change for 2′s.  This was clearly going to be a night for the SFRCGG’s.

Game #1 vs. H-Bombs

This game was back and forth throughout.  We had some very nice plays, like CW catching a ball over his shoulder like a wide receiver.  This may have been the catch of the year.  Matty went back to get a few as well.  #35 missed a hard one-hopper that would have been an easy triple play in the first inning.  The SFRC scored two in the first, four in the third and then pushed five in the fifth.  The defense came through when it needed to on the way to a victory.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 11 – H-Bombs 8

A couple of highlights…

CW goes middle:

CW goes middle from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

Nate doubles to right:

Nate double to right from Tom McInerney on Vimeo.

Last out: Mr. Clutch (#35)

Game #2 vs. Beer Me

As we have mentioned previously, Beer Me is a new and improved squad over the 2010 version.  Heading into this game we were 1-1 against Beer Me in 2011.  In the last meeting the Schlitz Gusto Fighting Red C Guys pushed 23 runs.  To start this game Brain suggested it would take 24 runs to win.  It did not look good early.  The SFRC had not scored through two innings.  However, the last five innings were a completely different story.  We scored four in the third, six in the fourth, four in the fifth and three in the sixth.  We were up 10 heading into the bottom of the 6^th inning.  Give Beer Me credit.  They did not roll over and quit.  They pushed 10 in the bottom of the 6^th to tie the game.  I think they were trying to stall as we were cutting it close on time.  I believe they thought they were going to take the lead.  However, the SFRC may bend, but we will not break.  As umps on SFRCMP have learned, do not give us extra time.  We were not looking to score one or two runs.  The SFRC got after it in the top of the 7^th inning scoring nine runs.  We had 10 of the first 11 batters in the inning got hits.  10 of 11.  The 12^th batter reached on an error.  We allowed one harmless runner to score in the bottom of the 7^th to secure the win.

Highlights of this game included Beer Me yelling age-discriminating banter towards Lars having the left-fielder come in a few steps.  Lars calmly winked at the pitcher and proceeded to launch a ball that one-hopped the fence.   The only regret is that we do not have video of this hit.

In this game six leaders had six at-bats.  The other four leaders (who played) had five at-bats.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 26 – Beer Me 18

Last out: Cinco

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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

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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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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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