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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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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It was another fine night of fall weather to participate in one of the greatest sports on earth.  We were playing on SFRCMP for the first time in two weeks, given the unprecedented rainout the previous week. 

Game #1 vs. Goodfella’s

It was a tough day in the sun.  The ball seemed to be carrying a bit and the sun apologized for the previous week by glaring right into the outfielder’s eyes.  It made fielding difficult.  We scored 10 runs in this ball game, but unfortunately gave up 20. 

But the 10 run loss doesn’t matter.  Why?

In the 4^th inning one runner had scored and there were no outs and runners on 1^st and 2^nd.  This situation has happened 4,317 times since they moved the bases back five feet a few years ago.  There was a hard hit ball to short.  Of the 4,317 times there have been runners on 1^st and 2^nd or bases loaded with no outs, 417 times there has been a ground ball to ol’ #35 at short.  413 of those times, T-Mac has booted the ball, once he tagged the runner and twice we turned double plays and once we came a half step / bad call away from a triple play.  Well, on this day SFRCMP did us a favor.  The ball was hit very hard.  Luckily, too hard to have time to think.  It was a one-hopper / Sunday hop right into #35’s glove going to his left.  This led him right into the runner for the 1^st out, stepped on the base for out #2 and threw to first as Pub Krull anxiously awaited and sighed relief when he caught the ball.  A TRIPLE PLAY!  I’d like to type that again…A TRIPLE PLAY!   On the 418^th groundball to short with runners on 1^st and 2^nd with no outs, we turned a triple play.  1/418 = 0.0024. That is 0.24% chance.  In other words, it doesn’t happen often.  Numbers don’t lie. 

So we lost this game, but we had another game to play on this fine evening and no one from the Schlitz Gusto Guys had to go to bed at night knowing they hit into a TRIPLE PLAY!

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 10 – Goodfella’s 20

Last out: ?

Game #2 vs. Rounding Second

The Schlitz Gusto Guys can only be tamed for so long.  They can only be caged for so long.  Eventually, the animal that is the Schlitz Gusto Guys bats will let loose.  And so they did, on their way to 24 runs.  We hit bloopers, groundballs, line drives and deep balls.  This tamed and caged animal was free to go.  We took extra bases when they were given, we tested the arms, we forced them to throw us out between bases and we had Cinco try to “sneak” home after the runner before him had a play at the plate.  He missed it by a step.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys made things happen all game.

Defensively we locked it down making the plays we needed to make.  Pub Krull pitched his first official inning and simply didn’t give up an earned run.  ERA = 0.00.  Opponents batting average = 0.250.  I think the Schlitz Gusto Guys own the best middle reliever south of the river.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 24 – Rounding Second 10

Last out:  Ryan (officially a strikeout, since it was a foul ball)

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It is difficult to believe the Schlitz Gusto Guys wrapped up summer softball already.  24 games are in the books.  I believe we finished 18-6 and tied for 1^st Place.  With any luck we had less total runs than the Moose Knucklers.  We know we don’t want to move up a league next summer.  We have been in that league before.  It’s not pretty.  Numbers don’t lie.

Sub-plot of the night.  Entering the game #35 held an ever-so-slight lead over Brain for the Schlitz Gusto Guy batting title.  One of the biggest benefits were those Gusto Guys who did not qualify for the batting title.  The batting title essentially came down to whoever got more hits on this final day of the summer season.

Game #1 vs. Moose Knucklers

The pitcher for Moose Knucklers is up there on the “Most Likeable People” list with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.  He’s just a really fun guy to play against.  After Cinco hit a ground ball up the middle #35 asked if the pitcher was okay.  The reply went something like this, “You tell your *&(@#$% pitcher that I’m coming up the (*&$&$@# middle and I go head (*&$%(*# high.”  Let’s take a step back.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys and Moose Knucklers play in Wednesday night D/E Recreational league.  Further, I’m not sure anyone on the Schlitz Gusto Guys would try to go up the middle to hurt anyone.  It’s just not how the Schltiz Gusto Guys roll.  I don’t want to say karma plays a role in this, but he might be the only pitcher in the league to occasionally pitch between his legs or behind his back.

On to the game…It took a while for the bats on either team to get going.  We headed into the 4th inning tied 0-0.  It was back and forth in the final few innings, and the Schlitz Gusto Guys gave away a few runs en route to a 5-9 loss.

Brain ended 3×4 with two singles and a double / #35 finished 3×4 with two singles and a double.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 5 – Moose Knucklers 9

Last out: Pub Krull

Game #2 vs. Ziegler

After scoring 17 runs in their first game of the night Team Ziegler didn’t have much left.  The Schlitz Gusto Guys, on the other hand, had PLENTY left on this final night of summer ball.  It was one hit after another.  Team Ziegler, usually a solid defensive club, gave us a few freebees, which always helps.  There was quite a bit on the line for this game.  If Moose Knucklers lost in their second game (which they did) and the Schlitz Gusto Guys won, we’d tie for 1^st Place.  The runs came early and often for the Schlitz Gusto Guys as we batted around in the 2nd and 3rd innings and the game was really never close.  Everyone in the lineup had a minimum of four at-bats in Game #2 (in five innings).  Pub Krull slid over to shortstop and immediately had three of the next four put outs.  We also owe a thank you to Pub Krull for extending the game an extra at-bat by throwing just a bit wide of second base.  This biggest impact of this went to the “last out” of the game / summer.  Speaking of Pub Krull….He hit one of the best singles of the season.  A long fly ball, to DEEP left-center field….off the fence.  Nobody has a better “single” trot than Pub Krull.  Nobody.  He looked so graceful trotting to first on that single.  It was almost as if he thought the ball was gone (for a homerun).

Brain ended 4×5 with three singles and a double / #35 finished 4×4 with two singles and a homerun.

Final Score: Schlitz Gusto Guys 22 – Team Ziegler 7

Last out: FNG (Silkey) – In the second to last inning (we had a walk off 15 run rule win)

Fan of the night: Kurt Student, “like it’s spelled.”

Final batting stats were as follows:

Brain was 48×84 for a 0.571 average.  #35 was 50×86 for a 0.581 average.  DISCLAIMER…If Brain’s last at-bat was scored a hit instead of an error he would have finished 49×84 for a .583 average.  Ol’ #35 owes the score keeper a TALL BOY!

Worth mentioning: As of August 3rd, 2010, there are 267 days until Summer Balm-2011

Also worth mentioning: There are 19 days until FALL BALL (not to be confused with Foul Ball…or Fowl balls).

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