SFRC

It was a very nice evening for two.  Some may even describe it as Mrs. H.  The forecast called for 82 degrees and sunny with a 0% chance to precipitation.  It was actually 87 degrees just before first pitch.  In other words, it was balmy.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011 marked a couple of occasions worth celebrating.  The first was the return of SANS.  Yes, that’s right.  Ol’ #0 made his 2011 debut.  This brought all kinds of fans to the park.  One fan (Pub Krull’s brother-in-law) came all the way from California.  The other occasion worth celebrating was Ryan’s engagement.  Shocking that he was able to coerce a “yes” out of Brandi.

Game #1 vs. Celts Pub

Strange game.  It felt like we were hitting a pumpkin.  The ball felt like mush.  There was not much pop off of either team’s bats.  Brain started on the hill and quickly recorded four of the first six outs by Celts Pub.  The SFRC put the pressure on early scoring six runs in the second inning.  Celt’s pub made a nice rally in the sixth inning to close within 8-6.  However, the SFRC did what they do.  Potter led off with a single which was followed by a single by Sans and a single by Pub Krull.  Brain followed that up with a double.  Three runs later, the SFRC had an  11-6 lead and locked down the defense in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 11 – Celt’s Pub 6

Last out: Mr. Clutch (#35) – This never seems to change

Highlight of the game: Ryan caught in a rundown either fell or slid head first 15 feet away from first base.

Even Ryan is surprised she said "Yes."

Game #2 vs. Eddy’s

Brain started the game with a chance for the second “Snapper Mow’em Down” inning in SFRC history.  Unfortunately, the third batter made contact and grounded out.  The SFRC had the bats going early in this game scoring four runs in the first and four runs in the third.  Unfortunately, Eddy’s got to work in the second and third and fourth innings scoring nine runs.  The SFRC came charging back and took the lead 10-9.  In the top of the seventh Eddy’s broke through scoring three runs.  The SFRC bats were done after the sixth inning.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 10 – Eddy’s 12

Last out: Ryan

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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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I believe the SGG have accomplished something the SFRC never did.  They have rattled off five straight losses.  We are venturing into new territory now.  The weather is starting to warm up and the SFRCGG have always been a better warm weather team than a cool weather team.  See the National “Usually Blessed Sometimes Cursed” tournament in the July of ’02.  Compare that to the “Everyone is good except your shortstop” tournament in the 36 degree April weekend in ’03.  Numbers don’t lie.

Game 1 vs. Celts

The SFRCGG’s came up firing batting around and scoring five in the first inning.  We fell flat for a couple innings before scoring another five in the 4th inning.  We had our chances, we did what needed to be done…at least for six innings.  We came close, but in the end, we just didn’t have enough losing by one in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Final score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 13 – Celts 14

Last out: Brain

Game #2 vs. Eddy’s Bar & Grill

It was time for the bats to fall flat.  After averaging 14.8 runs per game over the first five games, the SFRCGG could only muster six runs (three by Pub Krull) against Eddy’s Bar & Grill.  There simply were not too many highlights in this game.  It’s time to forget this happened and look forward to next week.

Final Score: SCHLITZ GUSTO GUYS 6 – Eddy’s Bar & Grill 20

Last out: Matty

Fans of the game: Pub Krull Jr. and Nate Jr. (good job retrieving the homerun ball)

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We wrapped up the Schlitz Gusto Guy summer league a few weeks ago with a successful “Processed Food Night.”  A big shout out to our friends at Schlitz for donating the batting title awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place.  Hooray Gusto Guys!

We took that success and brought it to Schlitz Gusto Guy Fall Ball.  It was a 78 degree semi-humid evening for two!

Sans put together some pivot tables to figure out when we won and lost based on opponent, field, time, number of players, number of runs scored, etc.  Based on those numbers Game #2 at 7pm on Lac Lavon Field E is the difference between finishing 9-5 and 10-4. 

The bad news of the evening was Brain pulling a hammy.  Let’s hope some time in a canoe heals that wound (not a largecanoe for what it’s worth).  I’d also like to acknowledge the dedication of a particular SGG for arriving a bit late, getting some work in, and leaving a bit early….all whilst leaving his tracking device stationary.  Good work.

Game #1 vs. Eddy’s Bar and Grill

The Schlitz Gusto Guys battled and fought and scratched and clawed for seven solid innings.  The game was back and forth.  One team would score seven runs, the other would come back with eight.  Luckily for the Schlitz Gusto Guys, we practice 12 months out of the year and we are prepared for anything.  We are so prepared, we refuse to have our timing thrown off by a pitcher “fake-pitching,” “doing the windmill,” or pretending to throw out of a full windup.  And better yet, we don’t have to go to bed at night knowing the “windmill pitch” fooled someone into hitting a triple.  As a former SGG would say, “Good things happen to good people, and Bob Huggins broke some ribs in a fall in Las Vegas.”

Everyone took a turn watching the ball come out of the clowns paw and roped it somewhere.  We beat them up for 19 runs and played enough defense to hold them to 16 runs.  It was a good start to the Fall League.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 19 – Eddy’s Bar and Grill 16

Last out: ?

Game #2 vs. Moose Knucklers

The Schlitz Gusto Guys tied for 1^st Place with Moose Knucklers in the summer league.  We played a few competitive / close games against them in the summer and this first night of fall ball was no different.  Moose Knucklers jumped to an early 2-0 lead, but the Schlitz Gusto Guys came back with a few of their own.  We also locked down the defense with nice plays being made by Niehaus (your 2009 Schlitz Gusto Guy Sportsman of the Year), Ryan, Pint, CW and Pauly, who made a nice catch on a knuckleball with the bases loaded and two outs.  In fact, the Gusto Guys locked down the defense so well, we didn’t give an another run, winning a close one 5-2.

It’s worth mentioning, for an inning or two we had almost two centuries worth of experience in the outfield.  From left to right we went 55 years old, 51 years old, 51 years old, 26 years old.  I doubt anyone in this league can boast such stats. 

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 5 – Moose Knucklers 2

Last out: Mac

Fan of the night: Patsy and Bob (per the norm). 

There were some good Schlitz Gusto Guy laughs after the games as we remained at the fields until well after the final out.  There were some great phrases added to our QUOTES page.

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