We have now played eight regular-season games, plus one exhibition game. There are eight more regular-season games left, plus five or six play-off games. Since next week is the league's mid-season break (sorry, no all-star game in this league), let's call this half-way.
Tonight was a beautiful if hot night for a baseball. Erb Street came out swinging, scoring seven runs in the first to set the tone. We did, however, hold them scoreless in the second, seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. Sal made a nice catch in foul territory on a ball many of us thought was going out of play, which was part of a three-up three-down inning for our defence. Sal also had one of the big hits of the night, a single that went all the way to the centre field wall. Mark Peters also had a long double in the seventh, and with smart and agressive baserunning, later scored our first run of the night. Cal Jutzi, who was three for three on the night, scored the second run the next inning. Peter Jutzi also reached base in each of his three at-bats, including a double in the eighth that cashed in Cal.
Next week there is no game, since Canada Day falls on the Wednesday. Our next game is Tuesday, July 7, 7 pm on Diamond A, home vs Westheights BIC. I am expecting Cam J, Cal J, Scott A, Dave F, Mackenzie F, Peter J, Sal U, Nathan M, and Tracy K. I know that Mark DH is gone until early August. Anyone else coming, let me know by email or facebook, or even in person!
Practice: Since there is no game, let's have a practice and/or game of scrub on Tuesday night next week (June 30). Purely for my own convenience, let's meet at Sheppard School (Borden & Weber Sts, near the Kitchener Aud) at 7 pm. Let me know if you can make that. You can bring friends, too. If not enough people reply, I'll send an email Monday cancelling it.
Enjoy summer, and have a good week or two!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Close only counts in horseshoes and Slo-Pitch
Tuesday night saw an excellent defensive game played on Diamond 'B'. After Waterloo North had a five-run outburst in the bottom of the first, we all settled down into a low-scoring match.
We played solid defensively, with David Neufeld making a number of slick pick-ups and strong throws from shortstop, to mention only one player. John Pries also made a number of catches roving in the outfield. The pitching of Dave Frey and Cal Jutzi combined to allow only four more runs over the next seven innings, despite a gusting wind playing with the pitches.
Offensively we did well, even if we came up short. My scoresheet shows that Cam J reached base all four times at-bat, and I think that included a few runs batted in. Mark DH had the three shorter parts of the cycle, and scored each time he got on base. Cal (speedster) and Cam J showed some heads-up base running, taking an extra base when third was left uncovered by Cam's fly into short left field. Cal (the lead runner) wisely ignored my coaching instructions, and Cam followed Cal's lead by sneaking into second on the play.
In the end, we did score six runs, just short of Waterloo North's nine, but we were in the game the whole time. It was just their three-run homer in the first that made the difference. We had eleven players, which was a nice amount, even if two of the eleven were different than who I was expecting. It is quite helpful to know ahead of time with some degree of certainty who will come or not.
Next week we play Wednesday, June 24 at 7 pm, home vs Erb Street on Diamond 'B'. I am expecting Cam, Cal, Scott, Dave F, Mackenzie F, Nathan M, and Tracy K. Mark DH's brother Kendall facebooked the event, wanting to come. Mark himself, and John Pries, are not able to make it. Please let me know if you will come. I anticipate that this could be another close and competitive game.
T-shirts: We approved the design of the t-shirts that Tracy is getting for us. On the front, it will say "The Last Shall Be FIRST", and the back will have a large 1, with the st in small superscript for all of us. Since Tracy is getting these from a client in lieu of money she is owed, I think that we should each pay her $10 for our shirts, and some of the team's extra funds beyond what is needed for this year's fees could go to purchase remainders for future seasons. (Future players could then pay into the team kitty for their shirts.) It might be hard to get Tracy (who doesn't have email and so is likely not reading this) to take the money, but she deserves it. I have also not collected player fees from her, offsetting the "cost" of 5 shirts. If you have any comments on this, you can post them here on the blog or on the group page on Facebook, or email me, or talk at Wednesday's game.
We played solid defensively, with David Neufeld making a number of slick pick-ups and strong throws from shortstop, to mention only one player. John Pries also made a number of catches roving in the outfield. The pitching of Dave Frey and Cal Jutzi combined to allow only four more runs over the next seven innings, despite a gusting wind playing with the pitches.
Offensively we did well, even if we came up short. My scoresheet shows that Cam J reached base all four times at-bat, and I think that included a few runs batted in. Mark DH had the three shorter parts of the cycle, and scored each time he got on base. Cal (speedster) and Cam J showed some heads-up base running, taking an extra base when third was left uncovered by Cam's fly into short left field. Cal (the lead runner) wisely ignored my coaching instructions, and Cam followed Cal's lead by sneaking into second on the play.
In the end, we did score six runs, just short of Waterloo North's nine, but we were in the game the whole time. It was just their three-run homer in the first that made the difference. We had eleven players, which was a nice amount, even if two of the eleven were different than who I was expecting. It is quite helpful to know ahead of time with some degree of certainty who will come or not.
Next week we play Wednesday, June 24 at 7 pm, home vs Erb Street on Diamond 'B'. I am expecting Cam, Cal, Scott, Dave F, Mackenzie F, Nathan M, and Tracy K. Mark DH's brother Kendall facebooked the event, wanting to come. Mark himself, and John Pries, are not able to make it. Please let me know if you will come. I anticipate that this could be another close and competitive game.
T-shirts: We approved the design of the t-shirts that Tracy is getting for us. On the front, it will say "The Last Shall Be FIRST", and the back will have a large 1, with the st in small superscript for all of us. Since Tracy is getting these from a client in lieu of money she is owed, I think that we should each pay her $10 for our shirts, and some of the team's extra funds beyond what is needed for this year's fees could go to purchase remainders for future seasons. (Future players could then pay into the team kitty for their shirts.) It might be hard to get Tracy (who doesn't have email and so is likely not reading this) to take the money, but she deserves it. I have also not collected player fees from her, offsetting the "cost" of 5 shirts. If you have any comments on this, you can post them here on the blog or on the group page on Facebook, or email me, or talk at Wednesday's game.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
New Slo-Pitch Recruit
I have a new prospect for our team starting in the 2024 season of Slo-Pitch. I caught John Funk Albrecht at 1:35 am today (Thursday, June 11), and I didn't even drop him!. At 9 lbs 3 oz we expect him to be a heavy hitter.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
A happy Slo-Pitch birthday to Cal
Tuesday, June 9 vs Bloomingdale
I guess the BBQ didn't materialize, but Judy brought cookies to help us all celebrate Cal's 55th birthday last night. It's good we have Dave Frey starting to pitch, because Cal probably only has 15-20 more years in his arm.
I don't have the scorebook with me (it's in the equipment bag in case I can't make it next week), but we had some good defensive innings, holding them to one or two runs a number of times in the game, both with Dave and Cal pitching. We had one double play from the "that's how we wrote up the play" category: Sal went for a pop-up and deflected it to Scott with his glove, fooling the runner at third into breaking for home. A throw to Mark D-H at third and the runner was caught not tagging up.
Hitting was better than the scoresheet might show. We loaded the bases at least twice, once cashing in two runners. I forget who the batter was - sorry for the lack of recognition.
Next week we play Tuesday, June 16, 7 pm on Diamond 'B', visitors against Waterloo North. I am expecting: Cam, Cal, Sal, Mark D-H, Steve M, Mark P, Nathan M, Dave F, Mackenzie F, Tracy, likely me. Please let me know if there are changes.
T-Shirts: We agreed to yellow t-shirts with the slogan "The Last Shall Be FIRST" in black letters.
Facebook: I am getting into 2006 already, and have a Facebook page, with a group called First Menno Slo-Pitch. Search for me or that, or try this link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=95594325932&ref=mf
Gotta run - going to the hospital tonight.
I guess the BBQ didn't materialize, but Judy brought cookies to help us all celebrate Cal's 55th birthday last night. It's good we have Dave Frey starting to pitch, because Cal probably only has 15-20 more years in his arm.
I don't have the scorebook with me (it's in the equipment bag in case I can't make it next week), but we had some good defensive innings, holding them to one or two runs a number of times in the game, both with Dave and Cal pitching. We had one double play from the "that's how we wrote up the play" category: Sal went for a pop-up and deflected it to Scott with his glove, fooling the runner at third into breaking for home. A throw to Mark D-H at third and the runner was caught not tagging up.
Hitting was better than the scoresheet might show. We loaded the bases at least twice, once cashing in two runners. I forget who the batter was - sorry for the lack of recognition.
Next week we play Tuesday, June 16, 7 pm on Diamond 'B', visitors against Waterloo North. I am expecting: Cam, Cal, Sal, Mark D-H, Steve M, Mark P, Nathan M, Dave F, Mackenzie F, Tracy, likely me. Please let me know if there are changes.
T-Shirts: We agreed to yellow t-shirts with the slogan "The Last Shall Be FIRST" in black letters.
Facebook: I am getting into 2006 already, and have a Facebook page, with a group called First Menno Slo-Pitch. Search for me or that, or try this link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=95594325932&ref=mf
Gotta run - going to the hospital tonight.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Slo-Pitch answer is blowing in the wind
Wednesday, June 3 vs Elmira
Fifteen of us showed up at the diamond tonight for our game vs Elmira, although Tracy Kauffman decided to go back to work instead of playing. We also had lots of fans tonight, filling nearly an entire row of the bleachers! Thanks to Susan Pries, Val Frey, Kathy Clemence, Kathy Albrecht, Rachel Diller Harder, and a bunch of younger fans who "watched" from the playground areas beyond the outfield. There were two others in the bench that I didn't meet.
There was a wind blowing in from left field tonight, although it only seemed to knock down our balls, as Elmira managed to drop a few over the fence. Dave Frey pitched another three innings for us tonight, including a scoreless sixth. Our closer, Steven Metzger, finished off the bottom of the eigth in similar fashion.
Dave Frey also had the big stick of the night, leading us off with a solid single to centre. Later in the game he cashed in our only two runs of the game with another single. With 14 people in the batting order, most of us only got up 3 times, and poor Nathan and Mark Peters only twice. (We do, however, like having enough players, and we will likely need everyone when summer holiday season starts.)
Next week we play Tuesday, June 9, at 9 pm on Diamond A, home vs Bloomingdale. It is hot dog night - come early to help celebrate Cal's birthday! The balls are in the bag - we will use an orange or yellow ball for games under the lights. I am expecting Tracy, Mark P, Nathan M, Steven M, Sal U, Mackenzie F, Dave F, Mark DH, Cam J, and Cal J. I will come if baby isn't in the middle of being born. If anyone else can come (it's a late game), please let me know.
T-shirts: Tracy is offering to get T-shirts for the team. Please send me suggestions for colour and lettering. Also, let me know what size you wear.
Fifteen of us showed up at the diamond tonight for our game vs Elmira, although Tracy Kauffman decided to go back to work instead of playing. We also had lots of fans tonight, filling nearly an entire row of the bleachers! Thanks to Susan Pries, Val Frey, Kathy Clemence, Kathy Albrecht, Rachel Diller Harder, and a bunch of younger fans who "watched" from the playground areas beyond the outfield. There were two others in the bench that I didn't meet.
There was a wind blowing in from left field tonight, although it only seemed to knock down our balls, as Elmira managed to drop a few over the fence. Dave Frey pitched another three innings for us tonight, including a scoreless sixth. Our closer, Steven Metzger, finished off the bottom of the eigth in similar fashion.
Dave Frey also had the big stick of the night, leading us off with a solid single to centre. Later in the game he cashed in our only two runs of the game with another single. With 14 people in the batting order, most of us only got up 3 times, and poor Nathan and Mark Peters only twice. (We do, however, like having enough players, and we will likely need everyone when summer holiday season starts.)
Next week we play Tuesday, June 9, at 9 pm on Diamond A, home vs Bloomingdale. It is hot dog night - come early to help celebrate Cal's birthday! The balls are in the bag - we will use an orange or yellow ball for games under the lights. I am expecting Tracy, Mark P, Nathan M, Steven M, Sal U, Mackenzie F, Dave F, Mark DH, Cam J, and Cal J. I will come if baby isn't in the middle of being born. If anyone else can come (it's a late game), please let me know.
T-shirts: Tracy is offering to get T-shirts for the team. Please send me suggestions for colour and lettering. Also, let me know what size you wear.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
