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.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
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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