This Softball Stuff is Dangerous

Sometimes you run across some dillweed who thinks that toughness and softball don't go hand in hand. "What? Why don't you play football, or rugby" or something similar comes out of their mouth. We'll I'm here to tell you (and show you) that softball can be rough at times as well.

Footballs don't fly through the air at the same speed as a softball. You have to be quick, and sometimes when things don't go right you pay the price.


But this is not the first time this has happened to a Beaver. Luckily never happened at a Beavers game, just while "honing our skills for our farm teams and winter leagues". Just a few years ago there was another eye injury.


Luckily there are 4+ months for Kid's eye to heal and for him to make up some much better stories for how he got his black eye ("you should see the other guy", "I actually caught the ball in my eye socket", "that umpire was lucky to get one shot in before he hit the dirt").

In the meantime, stay tough Beavers. This is a man's sport!

Beaver Times 2009 Edition 17 - Playoffs

With an even 6-6 record the Beavers limped into the playoffs. Luckily, all 4 teams make the playoffs, so it was more a matter of seeding, not IF.

Game one paired us with the Gap Finders. This was our opponent week one of fall, as well as week 4. Our record against these guys was 2-2 (shocking), but as we all know, the playoffs are a new season.

I was called out for the coin flip to determine home team. As the coin spun in the air, I called tails and nailed it. Beavers were to be home team.

The Gap Finders found few gaps in the first and the Beavers held them to 0 runs. There weren't many games this year where that happened in the first inning. Off to a good start. The Beavers came up in the bottom of the first, this time though, it was completely different. To welcome each Beaver to the plate was walk-up music. Some chosen by the individual hitter, some chosen by their teammates. Belle led off to the '70s song Ring My Bell. The umpire was laughing and amazed that we had actually gone through with the music. Maybe that is how Belle walked, doesn't matter, Belle on first. Jake hit second and the theme to Karate Kid escorted him to the plate. He felt the rush and drilled a ball over the left field fence. Theme music working!

Kid walked to the plate with Kid Rock screaming, he doubled. Big John then slowly walked to the plate as the song with the same name played from the bench. Big John, not knowing what his song was going to be could not contain himself and promptly got out. Dupper was next, Mama Said Knock You Out blared, Dupper singled. Sabo then walked to the dish with his Mr. Jones (Counting Crows). Not really sure the significance of this song, but he chose it, and it worked for him this AB - triple. Sonoma edited his song, Down with the Sickness, down to a brief 14 seconds. Almost long enough for his walk to the plate. He lifted a Sac fly to score Sabo. Two outs and Mobilly came to the plate. Since he was not in favor of this activity (music, not softball), we chose for him. Make 'em Say Uhh was chosen for him as he is known for his grunts when hits. It didn't work for him this time. Three outs, but 5 runs scored.

In the second the Gap Finders scored three runs of their own. Beavers led 5-3 for the bottom of the second and the remainder of the walk-up tunes. Santo came to the plate with a little John Fogerty and Centerfield - one out. Rake had to incorporate Beavers somehow, so Wynona's Big Brown Beaver by Primus played while he hit, he was able to reach on an error. P.T. chose 99 Problems but the Bitch Ain't One and used that negativity for good as he singled. The last hitter in the line up was Jimmy-D. Because of his scruffy look at times he has been called Jimmy-C (Christ) and to honor that he chose Personal Jesus. He hit a ball to short. Never would we have expected the SS to try for the play at home, but he did and he threw a perfect strike to the catcher to nail Rake at the dish. Belle then singled in PT for lone run in the inning. 6-3 Beavers.

The third was uneventful for both teams, 1-2-3 each.

Gap Finders added 2 in the 4th and the Beavers came up big again to answer them. 5 hits in a row, including HR by Sonoma and Rake plated 5 runs. Then two outs at the bottom of the order, then the top of the lineup had three straight hits to score another 2 runs. A 7 run outburst. Beavers were up 13-5.

The Gap Finders at this point were done. It was just a matter of time until they were 10-runned. That finally happened in the bottom of the 6th when Big John singled in Jake for the 16th run. Beavers win 16-6 and move on to the Championship game.

Beaver of the game goes to Sabo as he went 3-3 and missed the cycle by only the HR.

For the championship game it was back to the team Robinson, our opponent from the week prior. The Beavers were feeling good and rolled over the lineup from where it ended in the last game. This meant that Dupper was leading off.

Beavers came out as visitors and came out swinging. 5 runs scored in the top of the inning highlighted by a huge homerun by P.T. PT was also pitching well, allowing no runs in the 1st and only 2 in the second. Kid hit a solo shot in the 2nd, Beavers were up 6-2 after 2. In the third the Beavers added another 2 runs; Mobilly and Santo both driving one in.

Then the wheels fell off. Rake grounded a ball to short and the runner was out at second and on the play at first Rake collided with the first baseman who was in the basepath and hit the ground hard. Safe at first, but with a very sore leg. Rake took the brunt of the collision and paid the price. With the leg stiffening up, Big John took rightfield in the bottom half of the inning.

Needless to say, the ball found him, a couple of times. Compound two misplays with many well hit balls in front of and over the outfield the Beavers allowed 12 runs to score. An 8-2 lead was now an 8 - 14 deficit. That was it for the Beavers. Just like the air was sucked out of the Cardinals for the first round of the playoffs, so was it for the Beavers in the last two innings. managing one lone single by Jake the Beavers came in second place with a 19-8 loss.

Beaver of the game has to go to PT for his grand slam. No one saw that coming. It was huge at the time.

So there it is sports fans. Another Beaver season in the books. Beavers ended up 7-7 in the fall league. Some great competition and for the most part, great teams to match up against. There is some talk about getting the team back on the field in November (no, that is not a typo). Fenton offers a wood bat league for 5 weeks. It would be a first for the Beavers to participate in something like that. Stay tuned.

Otherwise, this off season I owe you all information on the annual winter warm up as well as many "Meet The Beavers" entries. I'll try to keep this going over the long 6 months until we start up next season. There has to be something to talk about...

Rake...out
beaverball.blogspot.com

Beaver Times 2009 Edition 16

My apologies for being so late on this recap. Since I am about 3 weeks out from the games my memory is going to be fuzzy. We played team Robinson (I think I have called each opponent Robinson this season, but this time I am sure). As Gee marked in the score book, they were "Bitches" we were "Cream". We'll just refer to them as Bitches from here on out.

Bitches were visitor in the first game and came out to the tune of 3 runs. Like they did the first time we played them, they were hitters. Beavers had an answer though. The top of the order not only got on base, but also scored. Big John K'd but that did not keep "Cream" from scoring two of our own. The second inning was much quieter, Bitches added one then the Cream stranded runners at first and second and got goose-egged. Bitches kept their scoring streak alive in the 3rd with another 3-spot. Cream was ready to make a game of it however.

Jimmy-D made the first out, Belle then got out for the second...then came the two-out rally: Jake walked, Kid hit a dinger, Big John made contact this time for a single, Sabo singled, Mobile singled, Dup doubled, Sonoma launched one into the trees, Santo reached via an error, Gee singled him in. 8 runs! Beavers (sorry, Cream) were up 10 - 7. In the 4th Bitches tied up the score at 10 before Cream came to the dish again.

Keith led this inning off with a hit, Jimmy-D forgot to swing but reached on ball four, Belle singled, Jake hit a HR, Sabo tripled, Mobile singled and Dup singled. Another 5 runs. A 5-run lead heading into the 5th. The 5th was relatively quiet. Bitches added one run and the Cream answered.

The wheels began to fall off the Cream-mobile in the 6th as Bitches scored 6 runs. The demoralized Creamcicles plated no one even while batting the top of the order. In the top of the 7th the Bitches chased another 3 runners around the bases. They had a 21-16 lead with the Cream due up in the bottom of the 7th.

Sabo led off the inning with a single, Mobilly doubled him to 3rd. Dupper then doubled both of them in (21-18). Sonoma reached on an error, Santo singled Dupper in (21-19). Gee then hit a Sac fly to score Sonoma (21-20) with 1 out. Rake was up and lifted a fly ball to rightfield. It did not slice enough and was caught for the 2nd out. Keith was then walked intentionally to bring up Jimmy-D.

Strike two was called with Jimmy's bat on his shoulder. Then came the next pitch. [Jimmy-D has a history of making some clutch hits over his career. I can think of a couple of occasions at Webster where Jimmy-D drove in the winning run in the last game of the season]. The two strike pitch was thrown and Jimmy-D started moving back in the batter's box. It was a high and deep pitch. Jimmy seemed to have a good eye on it. Then it dropped to the ground without a swing. And it dropped on the carpet for strike three. The game was over. Runners stranded on 1st and third. Beavers lost 21-20.

Beaver of the game goes to Dupper as he went 3-4 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI.

Game two started in a few short minutes after the upsetting loss. Beavers were visitors this time and came out swinging. Highlights in the first inning were Kid's 2-run homer and a three run shot for Sonoma. The Beavers scored 6 runs and were dedicated to not losing both. However, Bitches offense and Cream's defense thought otherwise. 4 runs in the bottom assured us that this was going to be a tight game after all.

Cream came up ready for more in the 2nd. Gee doubled, Rake singled, Keith singled (Jimmy hit into a DP), Belle singled, Jake singled, Kid reached on a fielder's choice where no one was retired, Big John walked, Sabo doubled, Mobilly doubled, Dupper singled Sonoma hit his second HR of the game (3rd of the night), Santo singled, Gee doubled (again). It was an impressive offensive inning that totaled 10 more runs. Keith shut them down quickly and without a run scoring, the Cream did the same. Then back came the Bitches. Bringing on 7 runs of their own. After 3 long innings the score was Cream 16, Bitches 11.

From this point on, it was all Cream. We allowed only one more run and scored another 6 of our own. Trying to make up for the demoralizing loss in game one the Cream had won by 10 in the second game 22-12.

Beaver of the game goes to Sonoma with his 2 HR and 6 RBI.

The next games to be played would be the playoffs. Beavers ended the season at 6-6. Very even league. Anyone can beat anyone on any given Wed night. The playoffs were going to be quite even and up for grabs.

Try again next week

You know that odd feeling of showing up somewhere and what you came to see is not happening? Maybe you showed up to play poker with the guys on Friday night, when the game was Saturday. Maybe you misread the time of a party or flight and missed it by 12 hours. Maybe you showed up to play softball and the lights were off and the parking lot was empty. That’s what happened to the Beavers this past week.

There was rain in the area on Tuesday morning, but this was Wed night. The day was sunny, and there was enough of a breeze that you would think that anything that was wet would now be dry. That was the collective thinking of 12 Beavers who one by one pulled into the Fenton City Park to find no game, but other Beavers hanging out in the parking lot wondering how the field could not be playable.

Who would have thought to call the rain-out line when there was no rain? So the season continues. Make up games are scheduled for 9/30 at 8:30 and 9:30.

Beaver Times 2009 Edition 15

Early games for the Beavers this week. Beavers start off as home team as all are accounted for except Mobilly - suspecting he is off on a business trip somewhere. New line up for these games, part due to a hot hitter, part due to necessity. Jake, who has been hotter than a two-bit whore on nickel night, leads us off and Sabo moves to the two hole. Belle, arrives late with his two kids in tow. Wasn't at the fields for the lineup creation, he drops to the 9-spot.

Top of the order starts producing from the first pitch. Jake doubles and Sabo singles him to 3rd. Kid then singles one in. Dupper then lifts a fly ball to left center. Sabo tags at second and comes all the way around to score. A two-base sac fly. The defense was able to hold team Robinson to 0 runs, so the Beavs were up 2-0 early. Robinson goes down 1-2-3 in the second. This was looking like a good night. Unfortunately that was the end of that good luck. Robinson chased in 6 in the 3rd inning. Mainly good hitting, but helped by Rake losing a ball in the dusk sky and allowing a 2-run triple to right.

Santo led off the bottom of the 3rd with a double and Jimmy-D singled him to 3rd. Both of those guys were hitting around .200, so this was huge! Jake singled in Santo and then the meat of the line up went down 1-2-3. Lots of lazy pop ups. The ball was not carrying for us, though we tried and tried to muscle up. Lots of pop ups.

Beavers were able to scratch out one more run in the 5th inning to bring the score to 6-4. Keith was putting up goose eggs on the Robinsons except that one inning. He even recorded a strikeout.

Top of the 7th rolled around and Robinson started hitting again. This time to the tune of 5 more runs. Beavers were down to their last at bat. Rake led off with a single, then the next three Beavers went down 1-2-3. Losing 11-4. Not an impressive game with the stick. Could not get anything going. Beaver of the game goes to Jake again for going 2-3 with a run and RBI.

Game two needed a shake up. Big John was handed the scorebook and told to make a winning lineup. Jake got the honors of leading off again and singled to start the game. Belle followed with a single then Sabo hit an RBI single. Kid lifted a sac fly as did Santo. 3 early runs. Keith thre up a 0 again on them. Beavers started the 2nd as the did the first. First two guys reached and scored. Sonoma homered and Rake singled, Keith later singled in Rake. In two innings the Beavers had surpassed their first game run total. Beavers were up 5-0.

After allowing 2 runs in the 3rd the Beavers started hitting again. Jake with another single, Kid with an RBI single off the right field fence (way to leg that one out). Santo singled and Dup tripled him in. Sonoma singled in Dup. 4 more runs scoring.

About this time Big John asked to pitch and came in to relieve Keith. Team Robinson was able to bring in but one run that inning. The second potential run was throw out at third on a single to right. Rake came up gunning and nailed the baserunner trying to go first to third.

The Beavers played the rest of the game to the beat of 2's. Two runs scoring in the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th. Highlights were a blast from Sonoma in the 5th, Jimmy-D getting ahold of one left handed for a deep sac fly, and the middle of the line up producing every time around.

In the 6th inning Team Robinson tried to make a game of it by putting a 5-spot on the scorecard. It was a rough inning, but with the lead the Beavers had padded there was little drama in it. When it was all over, Beavers landed a split of the night winning 17-8.

Beaver of the game goes to Sonoma. Going 4-4 with 2 HR. Honorable mention to both Jake and Dupper for fine offensive nights as well.

Next games are at 8:30 & 9:30 on 9/23. It is the last week of the season. We are 0-2 against our opponent. Time for some paybacks.

Beaver Times Edition 14

First of all, yes, I am a slacker. Here it is six full nights after the last Beaver games and I am just now starting to write this blog. I blame my two weeks off for getting me out of the rhythm. No more excuses, time to bust into week 14 of the 2009 season.

Gap Finders were our opponent again. If you look back to Edition 11 you will see that we split with them last time. They started this game off just as they did 3 weeks ago - abusing our rightfield. Damn, do they love to hit to right! So off they went. Liners to right and right center. Many of them, some caught, some not. When we finally were able to secure 3 outs we were down 4. Our outfield has a hole. Sorry fellas, but OF practice needs to be in the agenda. But who are we kidding?

So how do Beavers answer 4 runs? Well, this time we came roaring back. Well, kind of. Belle started the game with a single (have I mentioned how hot he has been?), Santo then killed that hit with a DP (wait until you hear how cold he is). Then came the hits. Kid, Big John, Mobilly, Sabo, Sonoma, Rake and Jake all reached safely. Capped by HRs by Kid (solo shot - should be a fine) and Sonoma. Beavers plated 5. We had a game on our hands.

The Gap Finders were not done, however. They added 3 in the 2nd, 3rd and in the 4th, then only managed 2 in the 5th. All this time the Beavers bats went cold. For instance, the second trip through the Beavers' lineup produced but 2 singles (Belle and Gee).

In the field the Beavers continued to struggle. Dropped flyballs in the OF stung us hard this game. But there was one flyball that stung especially hard. The SS for the Gap Finders came up for the second time. The first time up he laced a single between 3rd and short. Sabo even commented "you know it is hit hard when you hear it go past you". His second time up he hit one every bit as hard. This one though with a little higher trajectory. It was lined directly at Belle in LC. Belle had but two choices; pray like hell he got his glove in the way of the ball or let this ball light him up in the chest like a Christmas Tree. Luckily the glove found the ball and Belle did all he could do to not fall backwards after catching the ball.

At bat Big John was hitting into some bad luck. After walking in the first (his team-leading 11th walk on the fall season already) he grounded a ball back up the middle. In his mind this ball was going to find its way into centerfield. In everyone else's mind he had better hustle his arse off to make it to first to beat a possible throw by the shortstop. There were not many that the SS missed, and this one fit that category. Big John could not believe that he got to it and about 2 steps out the batters box he turned for the bench already congratulating the SS on his fine play. Later in the game, after the Beavers had already launched their 3 allowed HR, Big John let one fly, only to be recorded as an out. Over the past few weeks it seems like this has been happening a few times. Looks like some of the Beavers have found their power strokes.

The Beavers were able to scratch together runs in the 2nd, 6th and 7th but not enough to compete. Final score Gap Finders 15, Beavers 8. We were now 1-2 against them. Before the game Mobilly suggested that there were a few people in the lineup that were in need of a swap. Let's see how that lineup swap worked out. Sabo went 2-2 with 2 RBI and a walk. Sonoma (or Sanoma as Molbilly wrote it down) went 2-3 with a HR and 2 RBI. Good production from both, unfortunately not enough to keep us in the game.

Beaver of the game goes to Sabo. Reaching base all three times (other plate appearance was a walk). Honorable mention goes to Kid who was 2-3 with 2 HR. Only problem was both HR were solo shots. We need to get some baserunners!

Now, with a losing record for the fall season, we started game 2. It was apparent to the manager (and your blogger, who is one and the same this week) that the lineup and defense needed to be juggled to get something going on this team. I don’t fashion myself to be Tony LaRussa, Tommy Lasorda, Earl Weaver or Casey Stengel, but I do feel that I can juggle a lineup to get some production. This juggling was more defensive than offensive. Kid was shifted to LC, Santo to RC, Belle to RF and Rake to SS. We needed more D in the outfield, I hoped this would do the trick.

Before we expose what happened with that “D”, the Beavers were Visitors so we took our hacks in the top of the inning. We got lucky. Belle reached on an error, Kid did the same. After a K by the slumping Santo and a fly out by Big John, Dupper drove one deep to left for a 3-run dinger.

Now to the defense. The one other change was on the mound. Big John took the hill instead of Keith. And what do you know? No runs allowed (earned or unearned). That was in spite of an alligator-armed attempt at a ball by the new (actually old) shortshop, Rake. The Beavers went down quietly and quickly in the 2nd. The Gap Finders did just that in their half of the 2nd. Plating five runs by some well hit drives to the gaps and over the fence. One of those drives going off Big John’s glove and dislocating his finger. For those of you who know Big John, you know that each of his fingers has been dislocated before. Not one of those digits can point straight. Add another to the list. He removed himself from pitching to deal with the pain and Mobilly took over for a few pitches.

The Beavers responded well this time, however. The bottom of the lineup fueled the out-burst. Gee, Keith, Jake, Jimmy-D, Belle, Santo all reached safely before an out. Jake’s 3-run HR being the big blow. Beavers had scored 5 of our own and were back on top 8-5. Another quick inning for Big John back on the hill. Beavers kept hitting. This time Sonoma cranked a 2-run HR and a series of singles and errors added two more runs. Beavers were up 12-5 going into the bottom of the 4th.

Don’t expect the Gap Finders to go quietly. And they didn’t…racking up another 5 runs of their own with more line drives and another HR. The good news for the Beavers was that the “D” was improving. They were just hitting. When we lose, we usually lose because we give the other team too many outs. If this defense stays tight, we had a chance for the sweep.

Beavers kept adding to the lead in the 5th and 6th innings. Mobilly chased in two with a fly ball error to right field. That scored two runs. In the sixth the bases were loaded with no one out. Only one run was able to score on a force out. It was enough, the pitching and D held up and the Beavers took the game and the night split 15-11.

Beaver of the game goes to Jake. He went 2-3 with the big 3-run HR in the 3rd, adding a 4th RBI on a single in the 4th.
Other stats to mention; Jimmy-D has improved his average all the way up to .190 for the season. Santo is rivaling him for the low average on the team. His 1-3 second game kept him above the Mendoza line at about .210. Sonoma has a comfortable HR lead. Jake leads the team in SLG %. Big John has a slim 1 walk lead over Sabo. Jimmy-D leads the club with 5 K’s.

Next game is Sept 16 at 6:30 & 7:30 against the Nationals.

Beaver Times Edition 13

Well it was the third week of fall ball in Fenton. This week we were brought back to reality playing against Robinson. Lets just say the first game did not go the Beavers way. Before I get into detail about the game, let me tell you the final score was 27-6 and only lasted 4 innings.

To start the game off team Robinson didnt score in the first inning. Beavers came up and scored 1, so far the game was looking pretty good. The second inning was where it fell apart. Team Robinson came up and scored 10 runs, Beavers went down 1-2-3. The third inning Team Robinson came up and put a 13 spot on us. Score was 23-1.

The 3rd inning looked to be promising, Jimmy D comes up with the longest single of the year. The best way to explain this long single is if you have ever seen Pujols or Barry Bonds hit an without a doubt homerun and they watch it until it clears the fence. Jimmy D hits it, then watches the ball for a few seconds and breaks out into a homerun trot. The one problem? It only hit off the fence and therefore since Jimmy D was not sprinting or running very fast he only got a single. I do have to say though, Jimmy D's bat was on fire this week. He went 4-5 in the 2 games. Next was MoBilly who showed up late to the game. He hits a single, 2 runners on for Santo who makes the first out of the inning. Gee is up and walks to load the bases. Kid comes up and hits a Grand Slam, 4 runs this inning. Next up Big John out, then Dup up and out inning over. 4 runs not too bad in one inning, but definitely not enough to keep up with Team Robinson.

4th inning, Sonoma leads us off with an out, Jake doubles. Belle out and Keith brings Jake in with his single. Jimmy D with a single and MoBilly makes the last out. Game over, Beavers lose 27-6.

Just a couple of notes in the game, OUR DEFENSE SUCKS. If we had a player of the game it would have to be Kid with the Grand Slam, but since we lost by 21 runs no player of the game awarded.

2nd game was better. We still lost but this time by only 4 runs. Final score was 17-13. First 5 players up scored, Gee, Jake, Sonoma, MoBilly, Belle. Big John makes the first out, then Santo Then Dup hits the first homerun of the game, Kid singles and Prison Tits makes the 3rd out of the game. 10 of our 11 batters up in the inning, score is 6-1 after the first inning.

2nd inning starts off with another single by Jimmy D, Gee makes the first out, Jake triples Sonoma singles Jake in. MoBilly comes up and hits the 2nd homerun of the game. Belle makes the 2nd out, Big John comes up and hits a solo homerun, all 3 of our homeruns allowed are gone in the 2nd inning. Santo reaches on an error Dupper makes the 3 out. 2nd inning over score is 11-2 Beavers.

Beavers score one more run in the 3rd inning, Team Robinson comes up and scores 5. Score after 3 innings, Beavers 12-Robinson 7. This is where our defense falls apart. Robinson shuts down the Beavers in the 4th inning, and the Beavers lose it in the field. Robinson comes up and scores 10. Now score is 17-12 in favor of team Robinson. Beavers only score 1 more run after the 3rd inning. Final score 17-13 them.

Couple key highlights of the game:
Jimmy D goes 2-3 with a run
Jake is a homerun shy of the cycle-Remember up above when I said Big John hit a solo shot. Well if he doesnt hit that solo shot Jake gets his cycle because he hit a homerun in the 3rd inning that was an out because we are only allowed 3 homeruns per game. He goes 3-4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI's
MoBilly is a single shy of the cycle-he goes 3-4 with 3 RBI's and 3 runs
Kid goes 3-3
Sonoma goes 3-4 with 3 RBI's and 2 runs

Games next week are at 830 & 930 against the Gap Finders. See you all there.