We played a good game, but didn't win, and ended up losing the tie-breaking scenarios. So no game Wednesday.
Scott
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Not quite
Hi Team,
We played a good game, but didn't win, and ended up losing the tie-breaking scenarios. So no game Wednesday.
Scott
We played a good game, but didn't win, and ended up losing the tie-breaking scenarios. So no game Wednesday.
Scott
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Two Home Runs in Slo-Pitch
On Tuesday night we just played one game due to the schedule change. We were home to Glencairn, a team that surprised some by finishing atop the B division in the regular season. They have a number of players who have very good "ball sense" from long experience, but some of them have also had knee replacements. They are always a good group to play against, though.
After holding them to one run in the top of the first, Kevin Derksen took it upon himself to get it back himself, by leading off with home run over the left field fence. The rest of the team piled on, and we scored a bunch of runs in the first. We gave back five in the second, but held them scoreless again until the last inning, when they got three across. Our hitting remained consisent, with Kevin adding an opposite-field home run later in the game. We ended up winning 22-9, to give us a 3-1 record so far in the play-offs.
Our next game is Tuesday, September 18 at 9:30 pm, visitors at Waterloo MB 2. If we win or tie this game (which may be our toughest opponent yet in the play-offs), we are in the B division championship game. If we lose, we go into tie-breaking scenarios, which depend on what happens in the two other games before us on Tuesday. The most likely of those scenarios are not good for us, though. I know Devin is out, but please let me know if you are able to come or not.
The B championship game is scheduled for Wednesday, September 19 at 9 pm, or whenever the A-championship game is done. The championship games are nine innings regardless of time, and we have a paid umpire. It would be great to play in it. If we keep hitting and defending like we have, we have a chance.
See you at the diamond.
Scott
After holding them to one run in the top of the first, Kevin Derksen took it upon himself to get it back himself, by leading off with home run over the left field fence. The rest of the team piled on, and we scored a bunch of runs in the first. We gave back five in the second, but held them scoreless again until the last inning, when they got three across. Our hitting remained consisent, with Kevin adding an opposite-field home run later in the game. We ended up winning 22-9, to give us a 3-1 record so far in the play-offs.
Our next game is Tuesday, September 18 at 9:30 pm, visitors at Waterloo MB 2. If we win or tie this game (which may be our toughest opponent yet in the play-offs), we are in the B division championship game. If we lose, we go into tie-breaking scenarios, which depend on what happens in the two other games before us on Tuesday. The most likely of those scenarios are not good for us, though. I know Devin is out, but please let me know if you are able to come or not.
The B championship game is scheduled for Wednesday, September 19 at 9 pm, or whenever the A-championship game is done. The championship games are nine innings regardless of time, and we have a paid umpire. It would be great to play in it. If we keep hitting and defending like we have, we have a chance.
See you at the diamond.
Scott
Monday, September 10, 2012
Once you're in the Slo-Pitch playoffs...
Last Wednesday we played two very exciting games.
In the first game, we played a Westheights BIC team that had just squeaked past Waterloo North 11-10. We jumped out with three runs in the top of the first, then held them scoreless in the first two innings. Two home runs of theirs in the third gave them a 5-3 lead, but we kept chipping away, scoring 3, 4, and 3 runs in the next innings, and held them down enough to end up with a 13-11 victory.
Our second game was against Waterloo North, who rested their legs while heckling Chip from the picnic shelter beyond centre field. They led off the game with a home run, and added 6 more in the second. Mark DH’s grand slam in the fifth roused our spirits, but we still ended up on the short end of an 18-9 decision.
We are 2-1 in the playoffs, tied with Westheights and Waterloo MB 2 atop the B-pool. The other three teams are all 1-2. So anything can happen, and a lot depends on who all shows up on a given night.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
The Cycle of Slo-Pitch
I missed the last two games due to vacation, but got back for tonight’s game against Waterloo North. I was told not to talk about the August 1 game, but last week we apparently battled hard, and were tied going into the last inning, only to fall 17-12 to 7th-ranked Glencairn.
Tonight’s game had a lot of ups and downs. While we held them scoreless in at least one inning, then gave up 8 runs once, too. Our outfield was pretty solid, tracking the fly balls and getting in front of the bouncing ones. We had base runners in every inning, so that we got through the 13-person batting order almost 5 times. Steven M and Peter J at the top of the lineup got us started, reaching base 4 out of 5 times each. I ended up hitting for the cycle, sort of. In successive hits I got home, to third, second, and finally first (if I remember correctly), although on most of those hits I got extra bases due to a throw or a misplay by the fielders. Dave, Devin, and Mark DH also hit the ball hard and ended up 4-for-5 with at least one double each.
See you at the diamond.
Scott
Friday, July 27, 2012
Hitting the Slo-Pitch Ball Hard
Last night's game is one that most of us would have liked to see rained out - not because we didn't play well, just because we need the rain. In fact, mid-way through the game we could see the rain falling to the north of us.
Getting back to the subject line, we did hit the ball very hard last night. Devin skied one to deep centre field, which unfortunately was caught by the fielder above his head with his back against the fence. Mark P, Kevin, and Scott also flashed warning track power. Beyond that, though, we had some well hit line drives from almost everyone in the order. Some of them were caught, but others powered their way through the infield or dropped in the outfield for hits. Brian M showed some good agressive running, stretching a single into a double on one of his drives. In the end, we scored 19 runs, marking a season high. It is also the third straight week that we have been in double digits. WMB had 34, including 5+ over-the-fence home runs.
Getting back to the subject line, we did hit the ball very hard last night. Devin skied one to deep centre field, which unfortunately was caught by the fielder above his head with his back against the fence. Mark P, Kevin, and Scott also flashed warning track power. Beyond that, though, we had some well hit line drives from almost everyone in the order. Some of them were caught, but others powered their way through the infield or dropped in the outfield for hits. Brian M showed some good agressive running, stretching a single into a double on one of his drives. In the end, we scored 19 runs, marking a season high. It is also the third straight week that we have been in double digits. WMB had 34, including 5+ over-the-fence home runs.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
An Extra Slo-Pitch Inning
Tuesday afternoon threatened rain and thunder, but by game time it was back to hot and sunny, actually a nice night for a ball game. Eleven of us thought so, anyway.
We were visiting against Waterloo MB 2, and jumped out to a 2-run lead in the top of the first inning. Even better, our defence was quite strong, and held them scoreless for, I believe, the first 3 innings at least. Throughout the game Mark DH twice started 3rd-to-home double plays to get us out of innings. And Dave W had more great running catches in the outfield to prevent harm from their well-hit balls. And for the record, in one of the later innings, I noticed that our female players accounted for all of the put-outs: Angie caught two throws to force runners at second, and Bethany ended the inning by nabbing a foul tip.
Later in the game, WMB 2 did get some runners across. We had base runners most innings, even bases loaded a few times, but couldn't quite cash them in. The game progressed so quickly that we played an extra inning just for fun, and we were still done by 8:30 pm.
We were visiting against Waterloo MB 2, and jumped out to a 2-run lead in the top of the first inning. Even better, our defence was quite strong, and held them scoreless for, I believe, the first 3 innings at least. Throughout the game Mark DH twice started 3rd-to-home double plays to get us out of innings. And Dave W had more great running catches in the outfield to prevent harm from their well-hit balls. And for the record, in one of the later innings, I noticed that our female players accounted for all of the put-outs: Angie caught two throws to force runners at second, and Bethany ended the inning by nabbing a foul tip.
Later in the game, WMB 2 did get some runners across. We had base runners most innings, even bases loaded a few times, but couldn't quite cash them in. The game progressed so quickly that we played an extra inning just for fun, and we were still done by 8:30 pm.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Leading with Slo-Pitch Speed
Wednesday night we played a night game under the lights and the (thankfully non-biting) bugs against W-K United Mennonite Church.
We had Cal J in the lead-off spot, because speed can sometimes intimidate a defense. By the end of the night, it worked, as Cal legged out an inside-the-park “little-league” grand slam home run in the bottom of the last inning. It started with a hit both well-hit and well-placed into left field, and ended with a ball squeaking out of play on an overthrow. It was nice to cash in all those runners for runs 11 through 14 on the night. And on that theme, it was great to have Dave W hit a ball over their left fielder’s head, after they started cheating in on us. Some of us, like Peter and Steven, are good line-drive hitters, which is a very effective strategy. However, it helps to have a few people to pound balls towards the fence, which can makes space for liners to drop in more easily.
Defensively, the play of the game was easily second baseman Kevin D’s leaping catch of a line drive early in the game. The outfielders battled a very hard field but made some nice plays themselves. Kevin also deserves kudos for sliding into second base to beat a force throw, ensuring he had maximum speed without passing the base. That kind of sacrificial play gets the blood flowing and shows how fun this game can be. (Having exactly 10 players was also good, so no one had to sit on the bench.)
See you at the diamond.
Scott
Monday, June 18, 2012
Slo-Pitch Goes Base-to-Base
Hi Team,
Wednesday night last week saw us facing an Elmira team that has been one of the top teams in the league. In fact, they came in as one of two undefeated teams this year.
After a bit of a slow start, the fourth inning saw our offense fall into place. We had just the right combination of well-hit, well-place, and dropped balls to stage a two-out rally that brought in eight runs. Pretty much everyone one advanced one base at a time that inning, but it worked. It was our first mercy inning of the year, but let me be so bold as to say it won’t be our last.
Alas, Elmira mercied us the innings before and after that, so they still escaped the game with their perfect record intact.
See you at the diamond,
Scott
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Slo-Pitch Rallies show heart
Tuesday night we played Glencairn MB on a beautiful night for ball.
The game started out as a pitcher’s duel, with good defensive plays all around. We were blanked for the first four innings, but only allowed a few runs against in that time. Our bats woke up in the fifth inning, as we scored four runs, and followed that with a pair in the sixth. After posting three more in the seventh, two on sacrifice flies by the Marks, we were up 9-7. Glencairn then started hitting it hard and in the holes, scoring 5 in the eighth and 7 more in the top of the ninth, to stake themselves to a big lead. However, we didn’t give up on ourselves at all, and sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, scoring 6 runs. The final score was respectable 19-15 loss, one which we hope to reverse when we play this team again August 8.
As Chip noted on the way home, no one batted 1.000 last game, but everyone contributed. (Actually, Greg (the new guy) E did reach base every at bat, and Mark D-H’s only out was a sac fly.) I think solid defense is contagious, and we have had quite a bit of that this year. I also like the hustle shown by Kevin D, who may need to patch his sweats after sliding into second base in the last inning.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Sailing in Slo-Pitch
Last week we played our first league game of the slo-pitch season (the week before was an exhibition game). We started off against Bloomingdale, who was one of the top teams in the league last year (they went undefeated in the A-side play-off round robin).
With a stiff breeze blowing out to left field, Cal’s “perfect game” was blown by the second inning, as one of their home runs landed not that far from the infield of diamond ‘A’. In the end, they far exceeded their five home run limit, landing I think 8 more over the fence for dead-ball singles (i.e. walks). Despite all their hitting, we had some sharp defensive plays, especially in the outfield (where most of the balls landed). I can think of one of Nathan M’s running catches on a short liner.
In the moral victory department, we did manage double-digit runs against a good defensive team. The last three runs came by our own over-the-fence home run, this time to right-centre field. I’m sure the wind helped it, too, but it still felt good. Despite having 14 players to start, we hit enough to all get at least 3 at-bats (45 in total) in a game that moved along quite quickly.
With a stiff breeze blowing out to left field, Cal’s “perfect game” was blown by the second inning, as one of their home runs landed not that far from the infield of diamond ‘A’. In the end, they far exceeded their five home run limit, landing I think 8 more over the fence for dead-ball singles (i.e. walks). Despite all their hitting, we had some sharp defensive plays, especially in the outfield (where most of the balls landed). I can think of one of Nathan M’s running catches on a short liner.
In the moral victory department, we did manage double-digit runs against a good defensive team. The last three runs came by our own over-the-fence home run, this time to right-centre field. I’m sure the wind helped it, too, but it still felt good. Despite having 14 players to start, we hit enough to all get at least 3 at-bats (45 in total) in a game that moved along quite quickly.
A Dozen in Slo-Pitch
From the 2011 Season:
Last Tuesday evening we had one short of a dozen players come out to take on Erb Street Mennonite Church. It was a warm night, but the wind blowing out to right field definitely affected the flight of some balls.
Last Tuesday evening we had one short of a dozen players come out to take on Erb Street Mennonite Church. It was a warm night, but the wind blowing out to right field definitely affected the flight of some balls.
Our offense got going right away in the top of the first, with Steve M and Peter J reaching base and scoring that inning. Steve also scored runs in the third and fifth innings, in fact. The so-called “bottom” of the order got us going in the five-run fifth. In the eighth inning, I accomplished my career goal of hitting an over-the-fence home run. Not that I plan on retiring any time soon, but maybe after my lazy fly ball to end the game, maybe I should.
Erb Street hit a few balls of their own over the fence, and so ended up scoring more runs than us. But we managed to score an even dozen of our own, which goes into the moral victory department for hitting double digits.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Getting the Slo-Pitch Going
Tuesday, May 1 vs Stirling Ave
May kicked off on Tuesday, and so did ball season. My daughter had her first T-ball practice (ever), and we had our first Slo-Pitch game of the season. (I confused a few of the pint-sized players when I asked if they were excited to play slo-pitch. Too much to keep straight.)
We played Stirling Ave in our exhibition game, and (unlike many previous meetings over the past few years), it didn't rain and we each had enough players.
I heard a few people remark that they were a touching a ball for the first time this year when we were warming up. It seemed to come back pretty well, though. Dave Weber had a great rolling catch in right field, and Jonathan Brubacher hit some deep line drives for extra-base hits. Rookie Bethany Metzger also placed a line drive over the third baseman's head for a single. Mark Diller Harder started a double-play with Angie Goertz finishing it off at second.
We had one of those wonderful problems for a manager Tuesday night. 15 people showed up to play, so 1/3 of us had to sit each inning. I didn't see big chunks of the game as I was trying to make out defensive alignments for the next inning. If I missed your stunning defensive play or amazing hit, do it again next week so I can see.
We are the First Mennonite Church (http://www.firstmennonitekitchener.ca) team, although last night we had 3 people that actually attend our church, one former pastor, and 3 of his new parishioners from St. Jacobs Mennonite. We're glad to have all of you play, no matter what church you might attend.
Next week we play Wednesday, May 9 at 7 pm on Diamond B vs Bloomingdale. Please let me know if you plan to play. Chip suggested a Google doc with attendance - I'll work on something like that, but for now just send me an email or something.
If I know ahead of time who is coming, I can plan the batting order and defensive alignments. (Those who show up unannounced will still play, but be at the bottom of the order, and I'll work you into the field as much as I can.) Don't be scared off by the high number of players out this week - people have many activities in their lives, and especially when we hit vacation season in July and August, we will appreciate having 18 people on our roster.
Fees: Thanks to many of you for paying the league fees already. If you haven't, try to pay me the $50 for a full season, or $35 for 5-7 games plus play-offs in the next couple of weeks.
Contact Info: I'd like to get a good phone number for people, especially one that you might be at in the 6 hours or so before game time, in case I need to make quick contact with people.
Rain: This is a reminder that for this league, all games must be called at the diamond. Even if it is raining torrentially at your house, please show up. Sometimes it is not raining in Bloomingdale, and the fields drain quite well if the rain stops.
Websites: The league website is http://www.kwmennoniteslopitch.com, and we have a team blog at
http://www.firstslopitch.blogspot.ca/ that I will try to keep updated. There is a Facebook group, too, but it got updated and dropped all the members. You can search for it (First Menno Slo-Pitch) and join if you find that helpful.
I'm looking forward to a fun season with a good group of players.
May kicked off on Tuesday, and so did ball season. My daughter had her first T-ball practice (ever), and we had our first Slo-Pitch game of the season. (I confused a few of the pint-sized players when I asked if they were excited to play slo-pitch. Too much to keep straight.)
We played Stirling Ave in our exhibition game, and (unlike many previous meetings over the past few years), it didn't rain and we each had enough players.
I heard a few people remark that they were a touching a ball for the first time this year when we were warming up. It seemed to come back pretty well, though. Dave Weber had a great rolling catch in right field, and Jonathan Brubacher hit some deep line drives for extra-base hits. Rookie Bethany Metzger also placed a line drive over the third baseman's head for a single. Mark Diller Harder started a double-play with Angie Goertz finishing it off at second.
We had one of those wonderful problems for a manager Tuesday night. 15 people showed up to play, so 1/3 of us had to sit each inning. I didn't see big chunks of the game as I was trying to make out defensive alignments for the next inning. If I missed your stunning defensive play or amazing hit, do it again next week so I can see.
We are the First Mennonite Church (http://www.firstmennonitekitchener.ca) team, although last night we had 3 people that actually attend our church, one former pastor, and 3 of his new parishioners from St. Jacobs Mennonite. We're glad to have all of you play, no matter what church you might attend.
Next week we play Wednesday, May 9 at 7 pm on Diamond B vs Bloomingdale. Please let me know if you plan to play. Chip suggested a Google doc with attendance - I'll work on something like that, but for now just send me an email or something.
If I know ahead of time who is coming, I can plan the batting order and defensive alignments. (Those who show up unannounced will still play, but be at the bottom of the order, and I'll work you into the field as much as I can.) Don't be scared off by the high number of players out this week - people have many activities in their lives, and especially when we hit vacation season in July and August, we will appreciate having 18 people on our roster.
Fees: Thanks to many of you for paying the league fees already. If you haven't, try to pay me the $50 for a full season, or $35 for 5-7 games plus play-offs in the next couple of weeks.
Contact Info: I'd like to get a good phone number for people, especially one that you might be at in the 6 hours or so before game time, in case I need to make quick contact with people.
Rain: This is a reminder that for this league, all games must be called at the diamond. Even if it is raining torrentially at your house, please show up. Sometimes it is not raining in Bloomingdale, and the fields drain quite well if the rain stops.
Websites: The league website is http://www.kwmennoniteslopitch.com, and we have a team blog at
http://www.firstslopitch.blogspot.ca/ that I will try to keep updated. There is a Facebook group, too, but it got updated and dropped all the members. You can search for it (First Menno Slo-Pitch) and join if you find that helpful.
I'm looking forward to a fun season with a good group of players.
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