Into the Sunset at Slo-Pitch

Wednesday, August 25 vs Glencairn
For the second game in a row, we had an amazing sunset during our game. This week we also witnessed a harvest moon (I think), as the moon was rising in the east as the sun was rising in the west. As this was the final game of the regular season, the sunset image is appropriate.
We had a good, tight game going last night. We held Glencairn scoreless in the first three innings, and only allowed three runs in the fourth. As we had scored one* in the top of the third, we had a lead going for a while. While we allowed eight runs in the bottom of the fifth, we came back in the top of the sixth to more than bat around and score five runs ourselves. We also sent all eight players to the plate in the top of the ninth and tacked on two runs. While we lost our edge in the last half the game, we had some good solid defense in the first four innings, and it was fun to be right in the game. In the end, Glencairn won and clinched 11th place. We claimed the final play-off spot.
Play-Offs: Next week we play on Tuesday, August 31 at 8 pm and 9:30 pm. We play on Wednesday, September 8 at 6:30 and 9:30 pm, and on Tuesday, September 14 at 8:00 pm. All games are in Bloomingdale.
Please let me know if you can come to these games. For next week I expect Peter J, Mark P, Scott A, Dave F, Mackenzie F, hopefully Mark D-H and Steven M. Nathan M can only make the 9:30 game. Cal is likely at Algonquin by then.
Have a great week.
Scott

*We had a disputed play in the third inning. With the bases loaded and two out, a ground ball was hit towards third base. The third baseman fielded the ball and tagged the runner going from second to third (instead of stepping on the base), but not before the runner from third crossed the home plate line. Question - should the run count. Clearly, a force play is in effect (as it was here), and the fielder steps on the base, the run does not score. If, on the other hand, it were a different situation and a player was tagged out in a non-force situation, the run would score. Does the fact that the fielder elected to tag the forced runner instead of stepping on the base alter the scoring? My reading of the Slo-Pitch rules suggests that the run should not score. Rule 8, Section 5 N says the following:
A BASERUNNER IS OUT under the following circumstances:

N. When, on a force out, a fielder tags him with the ball or holds the ball on the base to which the baserunner is forced to advance, before the baserunner can reach that base.

EFFECT Sec. 5 M-Q The ball remains alive and in play and all other baserunners are in

jeopardy.
This suggests that no distinction is made between touching the base and tagging the runner when a force is in effect. Sorry Cal. We didn't score the run, and that appears to have been the correct call.

Everyone scores in Slo-Pitch

Tuesday, August 17 vs Stirling Ave.
We played Stirling Ave, and it didn't even rain! (See the team blog http://firstslopitch.blogspot.com/2010/05/slo-pitch-vs-stirling-means-rain.html for more details.) However, we do seem to have trouble getting in actual games against our up-the-hill friends. In July, we defaulted to them, and last week they didn't muster enough players (only 6). Cal became a turncoat (although he kept wearing his yellow shirt), and we played nine on seven.
Looking at the scorebook, it seems that every person scored at least one run in the game, and nobody more than two. How is that for spreading around 15 or 16 runs? (The scorebook doesn't show John Pries scoring, but I think he came in on my triple in the second.) I was able to get out twice in the sixth inning, meaning that we more than batted around. I don't know how many runs Stirling ended up with, but we won the game for the standings.
This week is our final regular season game, Wednesday, August 25 at 7 pm, on Diamond 'B' vs Glencairn. Your schedule suggests the game will begin at 6:45; however, because of the new lights we can start as usual at 7. Being there early is always good, though. I am expecting Peter J, Cal J, Scott A, Dave F, Nathan M, Mark P, Steven M, and hopefully Brian M. I know that John P and Mark DH are unavailable. Cam J is a maybe who would be very welcome. What about Sal U or Chris S??
An interesting note, we have one win this season (last week). Glencairn has two. If we win the game this week we tie for 11th (5th in the B pool) of the league. We could enter the playoffs on a two-game win streak!
Playoffs: All playoff games will be at Bloomingdale, under the new lights. As we are in the 'B' pool, we will play on the following nights:
Tuesday, August 31 (2 games)
Wednesday, September 8 (2 games)
Wednesday, September 15 (1 game unless we need to make up a rain-out)
Tuesday, September 21 will be the championship games for each pool, with Wednesday, September 22 as the back-up date.
Exact game times for these dates will be announced after results of this weeks' games deternine the seeding. Game times will likely be 6:30 pm, 8:00 and 9:30.
Team Party: It's not too early to think about a season-ending team party. Ideally, this could take place on the weekend of Sept 17-19 or Sept 24-26, and family members and significant othters are welcome. Let me know if you are open to hosting, and if a particular date works better than others. We have had an evening BBQ the last couple years. Ideas are welcome.

Tearing the Cover off the Slo-Pitch Ball

Wednesday, August 11 vs Waterloo MB 2
Here comes the long-awaited (in my own mind, I guess) Slo-Pitch game report, after I took the last four weeks off.
Last night's game started well, with our team scoring three times and going through the entire eight-person batting order in the bottom of the first. I have to say "person" and not "man" since Peter's girlfriend Andrea stepped up to play second base and later rover, saving us from a default. Mark P hit the ball so hard it ended up with a tear. Really.
We scored one more run later in the game, and got mercied only once, so we lost this game to Waterloo MB 2. We also had two "half fans", Debra and Stacey Gerber of First Mennonite, who also cheered on son and brother Joel playing for WMB2.
Next week we play Tuesday, August 17 at 7 pm, on Diamond A, home vs Stirling Ave. I am expecting Peter J, Cal J, Scott A, Mark DH, Dave F, Steve M, Nathan M, Brian M, Mark P. If I am correct in all that, we will have 10, but others are quite welcome, especially if you need a couple games to be eligible for the playoffs.
The last regular season game will be Wednesday, August 25, 7 pm on Diamond B (not 6:45 as the schedule says, since there are now lights on the diamond). Playoffs will be either Monday or Tuesday, August 28 or 29, and all will be at Bloomingdale. They will continue on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the first two or three weeks of September.