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
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
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 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.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
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.
(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.
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