SFRC

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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Wednesday, July 1^st, 2009 looked a little gloomy when the alarm went off in the morning.  It drizzled most of the morning but cleared up in the afternoon and was “Mrs. H” by 5pm.  It was 74 degrees and sunny.  It was good to be back “home” (Neill) after a two month road trip.  There was no wind.  It was a brilliant night for two, save for the nats.

Game #1 vs. TC Crush

Slow pitch softball is a hitter’s game.  It is extremely difficult to win a slow pitch softball game when you only score one run.  The one run scored was actually fairly decent considering we only had four hits as a team.  Aside from Kurty’s four or five highlight stops / catches, there isn’t much worth discussing from this game.  We lost by the mercy rule 16-1.  Could the SFRC put 16 runs on the board in the next at bat?  Could we have rallied for a big win or made a game of it?  We will never know.  Pub Krull and CW both chased down a fly ball to right center, both could have caught and both let it drop.  Some would call it an error.  The FRC know that it was just our way of showing up TC Crush.  It was as if to say, we had TWO guys that could have made this play, but didn’t want to.  Take that!  J

Final score:   SFRC 1 – TC Crush 16

Last out: ??

Plays of the game:

In the field: “Skin and Play” had three or four great diving backhanded stops at third and almost threw a guy out whilst he was on the ground and threw the ball backwards and underhand.  However, the best play was a blooper down the line that is the shortstop’s ball all day, except the FRC SS is the slowest guy on the team.  Kurty made a diving over the shoulder catch.  Great catch.  Honorable mention: CW bare-handing a line drive single that was coming in hot.  I think TC Crush was a bit intimidated by that play.

At the plate: Ol’ # 35 accounted for two of the FRC four hits.  Both of 35’s hits were smoked…absolute shots that are hits in any league at any level.  We were lucky the balls were still useable after those two hits.  Or were they two terrible swings that simply found the grass somehow?  I can’t remember.

Game #2 vs. Moose Knucklers

In typical FRC style, we would not let a Game #1 collapse impact our effort in Game #2.  The FRC made quick work defensively to start the game without allowing a run.  In the bottom of the first we were able to score three (two more than the first game).  The Moose Knucklers knew they were in trouble.  The FRC just weren’t going to lose two at home on this night.  There were runs scored virtually every inning by the FRC and the lead continued to grow.  Sans had a chance to pitch a shutout, but

Final score:   SFRC 12 – Moose Knucklers 2

Last out: ??

Plays of the game:

In the field:  

1.      Matty tracking down a ton of fly balls in left center

2.      Brain throwing to 1^st as Cinco jogged off the field since an inning ending double play had already been made

At the plate:  A number of two out hits.  Also CW with a few great softball swings and line drives up the middle.  Skin ‘n’ Play going off the pitcher twice. 

Fans of the night:

The SFRC has a very solid showing of fans.  A big shout out to all of them (and especially Joanne for showing up early)!  Fan of the night may have to go to Oliver for attending his first game of the year.

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A team full of leaders needs it’s own website.  Here we go…

It came down to WWW.SFRC.BIZ (because it’s a business out there) or WWW.NEILLFIELDA.COM.  In the end SFRC.BIZ won out.  We’ll try to get an update or two out each week.  Currently, I’m hesitant to post anything about the two “headers” we had or the booted double play ball in the last inning we had in our last game. 

To the right you’ll see a few items of interest, including: Days until next game, links to the schedule, weather forecast (including wind speed – which is always a factor for the FRC), standings, etc.

The Fighting Red C0CK$ with their own website….FR!!

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