Final Slo-Pitch

Tuesday, September 9 vs Rockway - last game of the Play-offs
Well, this was perhaps the most exciting game since the beginning of the year. With the teams going to the finals already decided, and that not including either Rockway or us, the game was for pure fun, and perhaps some pride.
We scored a run in the top of the first inning, then managed to stay close. The whole line-up (all nine of us) contributed throughout the game. We scored three runs in each of the fourth and sixth innings to come within one run. Solid defensive plays (again, by everyone on the team, including David Neufeld, playing his first game since returning to Canada) throughout the game kept us close, including two outfield-shortstop-catcher put-outs.
Then, after going three-up, three-down in the top of the seventh, we knew that we had to play a quick bottom to get another chance to bat. Indeed, our stellar defence came through, setting down Rockway's hitters in order.
In the top of the eighth and last inning, Scott and Mark started off by grounding out to the (very good) second baseman. However, the three Jutzis (Peter, Cal, and Cam) loaded the bases. Solid hits by the younger two meant that the Rockway pitcher feared the last one, and he walked Cam to get to Kathy Albrecht. She came up with a clutch single, scoring Cal (speedster) Jutzi from second base for the tying run of the game. One out later (on a well-hit ball that was caught, the story of the night), it was time for our defence to play.
Rockway managed to load the bases with nobody out, and the fourth hitter hit a fly ball to the eldest Jutzi in centre field. Cam made a great running catch, then threw a strike to John Pries at the plate to put out the runner trying to tag from third, a catch-and-throw double-play! Two out, tying runner on second. Unfortunately, the next runner cracked a hard line drive to left-centre that brought in the go-ahead run, giving Rockway the win on the scoreboard. But we had a lot of fun (not just in this game, but the season as a whole), made a lot of great plays and good hits. I think that counts for 'moral victories'. Good job, team.
Great season, folks.

Slo-Pitch bats get hot

September 3
Although school has started again in September, Slo-Pitch playoffs continue. It is the game of summer, and summer isn't over until Sept 21, right?
Tonight was a warm night, and it seemed to help our bats. In our first game, Kathy got the team started with a two-run single in the second inning. We also mounted a four-run rally in the bottom of the last inning. That game also saw some great defence, as Mackenzie made another home-run robbing catch at the fence in left, and we blanked Waterloo North in two different innings. Final score was Waterloo North 20, First Mennonite 7.
In the second game, we kept the momentum going on the offence. We batted around in the first inning, scoring three runs. In fact, we scored in four of the five innings we got in. Mark and I each missed home runs by about 3 and 6 inches respectively. We ended up with nine runs, although it wasn't enough for a win.

Slo-Pitch playoffs

August 25 - Playoffs
Monday night (yes, Monday) saw the opening games of the slo-pitch play-offs. Our first game, vs Erb Street, started with a lot of good defence. While both teams got runners on base, no one scored until Erb St's bottom half of the third. We stayed close for most of the game, with a number of shut-out innings, but only managed to score one run. In the second game, vs Stirling, Val Frey stepped up big to take over Lynn's position at second, and allow us to play with the legal minimum of eight players. Our hitting difficulties continued, as we got a lot of runners on base but couldn't bring them in. As I learned the hard way, there is no rally that cannot be killed by incredibly stupid baserunning. (That would be forgetting there was only one out, not two, and running hard from second on a pop fly.) I could go on about the myriad ways that I goofed up Monday night, but I'll just say that our car key was found in the field just before tow truck might have taken it home for me.

First Menno Slo-Pitch team makes the playoffs

The regular season of the K-W Mennonite Slo-Pitch League drew to a close Wednesday night with First Mennonite and Glencairn playing the last game of the season. While Glencairn was assured of their play-off seeding, First Mennonite was a swing team. Rockway's win over Waterloo North earlier in the night meant that a win for First would put them in fourth place, while a loss would drop them to sixth.
Seven players from First showed up, combined with three extra players, to field a full team. The Olympics are only held every four years. First Mennonite managed to score every four innings, which meant that Glencairn scored more than us by the end of the game.
Practice: Many of you have indicated whether or not you can make a practice. It likely won't be a big group, but anyone that can come please meet at the Sheppard School diamonds (at Weber St & Stirling Ave) at 4 pm for some batting and fielding practice. You can get way more swings of the bat at practice than in a game!
Upcoming Games: As mentioned, we are in the play-offs as the sixth-ranked team in the B pool.
Monday, August 25, 6:30 pm vs Erb Street and 8 pm vs Stirling Ave, at BRESLAU upper diamond.
Wednesday, September 3, 6:30 pm vs Waterloo North at Bloomingdale 'A', then at 9:30 pm vs Glencairn at Breslau. Yes, this means driving between games.
Tuesday, September 9, 8:00 pm vs Rockway at Bloomingdale (one game only).
Tuesday, September 16 at 9 pm at Bloomingdale is the B side championship (top two teams in the B pool playoffs). Please keep that date just in case. Also, if there are rainy days the schedule could shift.

Slo-Pitch unknowns

I hope you had a good game on Wednesday of this past week. Since I am in
Saskatchewan for vacation, I don't know how much fun the team had.
A reminder that our next game is this coming Tuesday, August 12 at
7:00 pm, home vs Rockway, on Diamond 'A'. Please let Cal Jutzi know if
you will play or not.
Also, it looks like we will start our first play-off game on Monday,
August 25. Also keep Tuesday, August 26 open. The exact schedule will be
released following the last regular season games. Further play-off games will
be Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays in the first few weeks of September.

Two times Slo-Pitch two's

July 29 vs Waterloo North
Since we gave up the same number of runs this week as last (22), and I can't think of another good theme, we'll do the "two" theme twice.
To start, Kathy and I are heading west for two weeks, starting tomorrow, so please let Calvin know your plans for the next two games. I left the scoresheet in equipment bag, so I have to go from memory on the game. We ended up with too many people to fit on the field at one time, which is a great problem to have. In addition to the seven who I knew were coming from last email, Alan and Lynn let me know they were coming, so I knew we had nine. Then Kendall (Mark's brother) came for supper from London, so stayed to play, and John Pries was able to come, too. Lynn's brother Dan P, Kathy Shantz, and Nathan (friend of Steven M and Kathy Shantz) all came, too. So we ended up with fourteen players! You are all welcome to come back to play for the next three weeks of the regular season. (For reference, when I make out the batting order, people who let me know they can play will be closer to the top.)
Anyway, the game was fun, and a beautiful night for ball. We were tied 1-1 after one and a half innings. If you take out the two mercy innings, we as many runs than Waterloo North! I think we ended up with about 5 or 6 this game. Walks and singles kept us going. With so many hitters, we each only got to or three at bats. (At a practice, we each can get twenty at-bats!) I think Dan had the biggest hit of the night, at two or three run triple.
Next week we play Wednesday (August 6) at 9 pm vs Westheights. Going by memory, I believe that Cam, Cal, Alan, Lynn, Dan P, Dave F, Mackenzie, hopefully Mark, and Nathan plan to play. If that is correct, we have nine. I know that Kathy and I are gone for the next two weeks. Please let Cal (email in the To: line here) know if you can play.
Money: I am still $35 short of collecting league fees. So, for those that have played two or more games, and haven't already paid, please give Cal or I $5 per game. Thanks.
Practice: I haven't heard from everyone, but I know that some people are looking forward to a practice. Unless you hear differently, lets mark Sunday, August 24 at 6 pm, at Sheppard School (Weber & Borden in Kitchener, near the Aud). Let me know if that needs to be changed.
Good luck the next two weeks.

Slo-Pitch two's

July 23 vs Stirling Ave
Anna is starting to grasp the concept and say the word "two", so that is top of mind as I reflect on last night's slo-pitch game against Stirling Ave.
Dave Frey lead us in the batting department, going two-for-four, and scoring the first of our two runs. Mackenzie had three hits, so let's say that the Frey's were the offensive leaders. John Pries and I each had two hits, as well, with me getting the only two-base hit. A number of hard-hit balls that were caught could have improved the stats for the rest of our hitters.
Defensively, we acquitted ourselves reasonably well. Cal Jutzi caught a line drive to start a double-play. A whole team effort kept Stirling to one run in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings, and blanked them in the ninth. By my count, we didn't give up more than four runs in any one inning, although in the end Stirling plated twenty-two.
Two final two references: two players joined Mark in an after-game painting party, which went until two in the morning.
Next week we play Tuesday at 7 pm on Diamond 'B', visitors against Waterloo North. Cam, Cal, Scott, Kathy (pending Anna arrangements), Dave, Mackenzie, and Steven Metzger have told me they plan to play. That is seven players. Mark is gone, John is a maybe. Others, please try to come, and let me know.
Upcoming dates:

Wed, Aug 6 at 9 pm vs Westheights;

Tues., Aug 12 at 7 pm vs Rockway;

Wed, Aug 20, at 9 pm vs Glencairn.

Playoffs will start either Monday, August 25, or Tuesday, August 26, then continue either Tuesday or Wednesday evenings the first few weeks of September.

Practice? I know this is a rarely-heard word around our team, but it could be fun. Often, during games, we only get a few at-bats, and may only see half a dozen pitches the whole night. Why don't we get together outside of the game time once before playoffs to get some batting, baserunning, and fielding practice? We can finish off with a game of scrub. I'll even bring some treats if it helps attendance! I suggest either Sunday afternoon August 17 or 24, or Monday evening, August 18. Please let me know which dates work or don't work for you. We'll find a diamond in K-W once we know the date and who is coming.

Good Slo-Pitch Sports

July 15 vs Westheights
Last week we did end up with nine players - thanks to Jay Jutzi for showing up unexpectedly, and it turns out my intelligence on the elder Jutzi was mistaken, as Cam also showed up to patrol centre field.
We started off well, getting our lead-off man Cal home in the first inning, to take a temporary 1-run lead. The defence held up well, as we held them scoreless in both the third and fourth innings. Mackenzie Frey and Cam Jutzi had some great catches in the outfield. Kathy had three rbi's, one brought in as Steven Metzger hustled in from second on an infield ground ball. Although we ended up losing (they scored a bunch in the open eighth inning), it was a fun game against a team that were good sports.
This week we play Wednesday at 9 pm, at home against Stirling Ave. Please let me know if you can come - we need a few more players.
From now to the end of the season, we alternate between Tuesday 7 pm and Wednesday 9 pm games:
Tuesday, July 29 at 7pm;
Wed, Aug 6 at 9 pm;
Tues., Aug 12 at 7 pm vs Rockway;
Wed, Aug 20, at 9 pm
Feel free to let me know if you can or cannot make any of these upcoming games.

Slo-Pitch manager on vacation

July 8 vs Waterloo MB
Since I was in Winnipeg last week for the Mennonite Church Canada assembly, here is a report of last week's game from Kathy:
"So I climbed into Mark's car at 6:30 expecting 3 players to show up, and looking at the very dark, menacing clouds to the south. When I got to the diamond, only Cal and Jay were there. But then Alan, Lynn and Dan (Lynn's 30-year-old brother) showed up, as did John. And a guy named Ted asked to join us ... because he wanted to play against WMB (aparently used to play with them, but now plays in a different league). And Dave and Mackenzie came a little late (because it was pouring rain at their place at 6:30 and they stopped to call Cal to see whether the game was still on). So we had 11 players, with 6 'old guys'. And it didn't rain or thunder. And we kept them down to mostly a run here or there (except one inning they mercied us, with the 8th run coming as one of the middle runs of an over-the-fence grand slam)."
The scorebook shows that we had a good rally in one of the later innings, and that Alan Jutzi had another two-home run game. The defensive gems and other great hits don't show up on the scoresheet, so I can't highlight our other good players.
This week we play TONIGHT (Tuesday, July 15) at 7 pm. MORE PLAYERS ARE STILL NEEDED. If you come, you should have lots of playing time!
Hope to see you on the diamond.

Finding moral victories in Slo-Pitch

June 24 vs Elmira
Unlike the previous game, last Tuesday's game against Elmira did not result in a victory according to league rules. We did have, as Dennis Burkhardt liked to say, 'moral victories'. For instance, we did not allow any runs against in the sixth inning. In the open inning, we did stop them after 8 runs, and we didn't get mercied after the first inning. Dave Frey showed he likes the lead-off position. He opened the game with a single, and then hit a triple in the seventh inning, scoring the team's first run when Cal Jutzi singled him home. Brian Rempel worked out the rust and got a single in the bottom of the eighth, bringing in some runs (if my memory and the scorebook are correct).
This was David Pilarte's final game with us, as he has some vacation and then finishes his term in Ontario with the IVEP program of MCC. Thanks for coming out, David. We hope you enjoyed your time in Canada, and all the best back home.
Our next game is Tuesday, July 8, 7 pm at Diamond 'A', visiting vs Waterloo MB. I will be away, so please let Cal Jutzi know if you can play. Have a great game, folks.
Scott

Slo-Pitch by default

June 18 vs Rockway
A cool and cloudy day gave way to sunny though windy evening, a delightful night to play slo-pitch.
Eleven players and eight fans (six under the age of 13) gathered on the First Mennonite side, but by a few minutes after seven o'clock, only six Rockway players had arrived. A seventh came late. So, after conceding the game in a default, Rockway borrowed Cam Jutzi and Steven Metzger, and we played on.
Although we missed Alan Jutzi, Mark Diller Harder (the DH) followed Alan's feat of last game by hitting for the cycle. In all, Mark went 5 for 6 with about 6 rbi, and scored a total of 3 runs. That accounts for almost all of First's 10 total runs. Kathy Albrecht "hit like a girl", with four hits in the game. Mackenzie Frey played a solid game in left field, with a dramatic over-the-shoulder catch on the warning track by Rockway's home-run hitter.
I was disappointed not to play a regulation game against a team we would be competitive with, but it was fun just to play and worry even less about the score. For the record, we play Rockway again on August 12.

Next week we play Tuesday, June 24 at 7 pm, home to Elmira at Diamond 'B'. A reminder that there is no game the following week, on July 1 or 2.

Tip of the week: This comes from Tuesday's Blue Jays game. Always run out foul balls, especially those little squibblers down the base line. Even if a ball is foul for a time, if it comes back fair without hitting anything before passing first or third base, it is a fair ball.

Slo-Pitch goes in cycles

June 10 vs Glencairn
I was helping to barbecue 2000 pieces of chicken on Tuesday night, so I am relying on intrepid reporters for this update.
Tuesday's game started a bit rough, as Glencairn mercied us with eight runs. However, First bounced back and held them to one run the next inning, and then a perhaps unprecendented streak of at least 4 scoreless innings. Way to go defence! The bats came out, too (apparently a new bat emerged from Cal's stuff), as First was held to eight runs by the mercy rule, and scored a few in other innings along the way. Unconfirmed but reasonably reliable reports suggest that Alan Jutzi hit for the cycle (home run, triple, double, and single). We're not sure whether he stretched a double into a single to complete it, or had to stretch a double into a triple. Cal Jutzi also went four-for-four, with poor scouting on the Glencairn side making things a bit easier.
Unfortunately, the wheels fell off in the last inning, in which the mercy rule does not apply. Glencairn found their batting stroke and plated eleven runs, to finish with a 20-16 win.

Next week we play Wednesday, June 18, at 7 pm vs Rockway on Diamond 'B'. Again, please let me know if you can play or not. Like this week, this is going to be a competitive game. Let's not underestimate Rockway's desire to end their winless streak, but come with our 'A' game.

I'm not coming up with a catchy Slo-Pitch subject line

Greetings Slo-Pitchers,
(Not that I am saying that any of us are slow, and actually rather few of us are pitchers, but we are players. )

Last night (June 4) we had ten players once Mark arrived, just in time for his at bat in the second inning (he had warned me he might be late due to work). Mackenzie Frey stayed up past his bedtime but showed that he belonged, making a nice catch as rover, getting a put-out at the plate, and hitting at least one rbi single. (I don't have the scorebook with me, so I am relying on my foggy memory.) The next 9 pm game is July 23, well after school is out, so hopefully Mack can keep showing off his skills.

Our hitting was pretty good last night, with a number of sustained rallies. A ninth-inning charge was shut down with three straight fielders' choice to third, but we kept getting bat on ball. We are mainly a base-by-base team, so each at-bat is important. People keep running out the ground balls, which is good since other teams make errors, too. Cal Jutzi had a very good night at the plate, hitting the ball hard and to the right places. He even went first-to-third on a hit by yours truly, without any additional oxygen!
Final Score: Breslau 33, First Mennonite 8.