The forecast called for upper 40’s and rain and thunder storms.  It started raining by about 3pm.  However, there was a never a fear of a rainout because we were playing two at SFRCMP (Skyline Fighting Red C*** Memorial Park).  It simply does not rain on the Gusto Guys at SFRCMP.  Numbers don’t lie.

We did have a few compliments paid on our striking Schlitz uniforms.  We also generously offered a “tall boy” to the opponents of Game #1, you know, to spread the love.  Here’s to Schlitz and here’s to turning it around next week!

Game #1 vs. Team Ziegler

I don’t know much, but I do know we have not lost a softball game in 2010 when Pub Krull starts off the night with a homerun.  Numbers don’t lie.  In Game #1, this trend came to a stop.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys just couldn’t put any hits together.  Luckily, CW legged out a groundball to the shortstop and the rest of the Gusto Guys moved him around the bases to manufacture our only run of the game.  This game simply lacked enthusiasm, hits and “Gusto,” you know, the things that make up the Schlitz Gusto Guys on most nights.  We had 12 leaders and a few of them only had one at-bat in this game.  This game ended in about 25 minutes.  Yuck, yuck and yuck.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 1 – Team Ziegler 16 (five innings)

Last out: Brian Niehaus was forced out on a fielder’s choice.  This has been a 15 year rule for the Schlitz Gusto Guys.  Simply put, the last player out owes a 12-pack.

Game #2 vs. Moose Knucklers

We simply started where we left off in Game #1…Getting out, missing balls, etc.  We did manage to put a few runs together and made a game of it.  However, in the end we just didn’t have enough.   I believe Pauly, Niehaus and Brain may have been the only three players with three hits for the evening.  This is in contrast to all of the guys who had four or more hits last week.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 8 – Moose Knucklers 14

Last out: Silkey

Fan of the night: Nary a fan on this cool evening.

Quote of the night: “Beat it!  Beat it! Beat it!”……”And get on base too.”

The Schlitz Gusto Guys did stick around and enjoy the refreshing taste of ice cold Schlitz (no cooler necessary on this evening), PER THE NORM!

The good news is that the forecast for 5/19/10 is calling for upper 70’s and sun.  That is usually the recipe for the Schlitz Gusto Guys to get back on track.

Blurry, but SEXY!

The Gusto Guys lost their Schlitz uniform virginity last night.  Numbers don’t lie.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys have never lost whilst wearing their Schlitz uniforms.  Worth noting, at least 90% of the squad looks sharp, svelte and dare I say, SEXY, in their new uniforms.  She was chilly and breezy for the 8pm and 9pm games on Cinco de Mayo, 2010.  But the Gusto Guys have never let the conditions dictate their play.  They simply persevere.  They fight.  They battle.  And on Cinco de Mayo on Skyline Fighting Red C Memorial Park (SFRCMP), they WIN.

Game #1 vs. Edina Realty BCO

Leading off for the Schlitz Gusto Guys is a badge wearing Schlitz Gusto Guy member (Pub Krull).  Worth noting, Pub Krull was also the Schlitz Gusto Guy of the month for March, 2010.  On the first pitch of the game, on the first swing in a Gusto Guy jersey, BAM, a homerun to centerfield.  This was the second week in a row that Pub Krull started the SGGFRC night off with a homerun.  Numbers don’t lie.  That immediately put the opposition on their heels.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys kept the heat on kept hitting and running and scoring and hitting and running and scoring and hitting and running and scoring.  All 10 leaders hit well and everyone had either two or three hits as the team accumulated 26 total hits, scoring 23 times.  Matty also had a “no-doubter” over the fence in left-center.  Pauly was a solid 3-3 and had a nice sac too.  In the field nice plays were made by Niehaus, CW, Ryan and Brain turning a double play.  Sans recorded another strikeout on the mound.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 23 – Edina Realty BCO 6 (five innings)

Last out: There is a 15-run rule after five innings.  In the bottom of the 5^th, the run to go up 15 scored, then the run to go up 16 scored and then the run to go up 17 scored.  The rally stopped when Ryan smoked a line-drive to third for the final out of the inning.  As we were taking the field, the ump let us know the game was over by the 15-run after five mercy rule.  In theory, Ryan should never have batted in the inning, the game was already won.  However, a team-rule is a team-rule and Ryan got the last out of this offensive explosion of a game.

Game #2 vs. Celts Pub

We simply started where we left off in Game #1…Hitting, running, scoring…hitting, running, scoring…again and again and again.  We batted around in the first inning, the second inning and the third inning.  At one point in the first inning the Celts Pub pitcher asked, “Is there a 20 run 1^st inning rule?”  I think he was serious.  Ryan had two triples to revenge his last out of the first game and Pub Krull had another homerun enroute to a 4-4 game.  Niehaus was also 4-4 in Game #2.  Sans was ripping the ball all evening.

Defensively we were solid with only one error on record.  Al made two nice defensive plays on the same ball throwing to first and then jumping off the mound to cover first as the ball went by Pub Krull.  Kurty also made a couple of nice plays in the field.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 27 – Celts Pub 4 (five innings)

Last out: C-W

Fan of the night: Braving the cold in a hood, blanket and coffee…BRANDI

Quote of the night: “I screwed myself and I didn’t have to leave my house.”

A few things worth noting:

• The 2009 Schlitz Gusto Guy Sportsman of the Year (Brian Niehaus) started the year on fire going 7-8 with a double on the night.
• As a team wearing their Schlitz jerseys, the Schlitz Gusto Guys are batting .591 and averaging 25 runs/game.
• #35 didn’t have an error in two full games.  That may be the first time in years (of course he was catching too).
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