SFRC

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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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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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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After the offensive onslaught on Cinco de Mayo the Schlitz Gusto Guys came back down to reality.  We played the top two teams in the elite Burnsville D/E Recreational league on 5/12/10 and we simply could not get it going.  Even a Ferrari needs to stop for gas from time to time.

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.

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