Beaver Times 2010 - Edition II

...Play Ball...

It seemed like the season would never get here. While the Clayton softball league starts in late April, many leagues already have a few games under their belts in other leagues. April 28th finally arrived and the fields dried up enough to host opening night under the new lights at Shaw Park.

To get the team fired up about playing the career stats were brought to the game (and pre-game festivities). Last year, while finishing in 2nd place in the summer league and 3rd in the fall, the Beavers for the most part had an off year. The bats were just not there. Many career averages took a hit because of it. Call the career stats a little "motivation".

It was time for the 426th & 427th career games for the Beavers. This year's roster looks quite familiar. In fact, the top nine Beavers all-time in games played were in the lineup. It was good to get much of the old group back together. And this old group hit like they were comfortable.

The opponent was the new team, the FDPD. We did not know for sure if they would show up. It was about 5 minutes to first pitch and no opponent was in sight. Then they started filtering in. Followed by a fire truck of spectators mid-way through the game. What their fans saw was not pretty.

The Beavers were the home team and disposed of the FDPD rather quickly in the first. Sabo set the tone with a diving stop down the line at third and a force out at second. I think this was when the FDPD realized they might be overmatched. For the Beavers the first 4 batters reached base. Deuce led off with a ground-rule double, Sabo walked, Kid doubled and Big John doubled. After Mobilly's first K of the night Dup singled, Rake took a stab at Dup's career lead in SAC flies and Tanner singled in the 5th run.

The top half of the innings went about the same as the top of the first. Very little threats - and no runs. The Beavers came back swinging again in the 2nd. The bottom of the lineup starting the rally. Sabo, PT and Jimmy-D all reached base to set things up for the top of the order. I referred to this group as the "meat of the order", I was not let down. The top of the order produced again. As the runs began to pile up most Beavers started slowing down. What could be HR were stretched into triples, Doubles were left for singles. We do need to check Elias Sports Bureau for this, but the Beavers may have set a club record with three triples in one inning; Big John, Dupper and Rake. It was 12-0 and the FDPD was not happy. Especially the lippy second baseman who thought we were running up the score.

In the third inning the "meat" did not fare quite as well. Santo singled but otherwise the bottom of the order went down quietly. For a brief moment, the FDPD thought that they might be able to hang. They celebrated their accomplishment of allowing no runs...it was only temporary.

In the bottom of the 4th the flood gates opened. Again, most Beavers were pulling up a little, but the bats were hot and the Beavers were combining strong hits with poor outfield fielding. The top 5 guys in the lineup reached safely with 2 more triples and 3 singles. Each of them scored along with another 3 as the Beavers batted around. As the 8th run of the inning scored and the 20th of the game, the umpire called the mercy-rule and the first game was in the books. Beavers had a shut-out; 20-0. 4 scoreless innings tossed by a combined effort of PT and Mobilly. While any pitcher on the roster will claim that few runs they have allowed were earned, this shutout was legit. The Beavers were back!

MVB of the game goes to Big John for his "perfecto" 3-3, 3 runs, 3 RBI (single, double, triple) - the triple is not a typo

Game two started right away. While Rake caught a little flack for not "rolling the lineup", Deuce led off game 2 as he did game 1. This game started off quite differently than game 1. The Beavers were silenced for the first 3 innings of the game, only getting two runners as far as 2nd base in that time. The FDPD then pounced first as they scored 2 in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Screams of elation resonated from their bench as they scored their first runs of the season and first runs in 7 total innings. I guess that is all that was needed to awake the new bats of the Beavers. The 4th inning started with the first 8 hitters all reaching base. A barrage of singles with and error and walk sprinkled in. When the inning ended the Beavers had taken control of game 2 with 10 runs and 15 batters taking their cuts. The inning was capped off by Mobilly's second strikeout of the night.

While the Beavers' bats were warming up again, the FDPD bats reverted back to their cool states. A quick bottom of the 4th brought the Beavers back to the dish quickly. The hit parade resumed. A run of seven straight reaching base after Rake popped up plated 5 quick runs. Them the top of the order loaded the bases as Mobilly stepped the plate. The Beavers were moving comfortably ahead on the scoreboard and there was plenty of time remaining in the game. Not sure if it was competitive spirit or trying to make up for his 2 Ks, but Mobilly launched one into centerfield. It shot over the FDPD outfielders, it shot past the outfielders of the opposite field. As the right center fielder chased it down, Mobilly was chasing down Beavers on the base path. Big John, about 2mph faster than a human road block, was on first for Mobilly's big fly. Big John was in no hurry to score and was not in favor of running up the score. Mobilly was not going to let that stop him from getting his HR. While a triple would have added to Mobilly's career triples lead (46 total), he was going for the extra bag. Not even Big John and his "extra 10 pounds" was going to keep Mobilly from the HR. A grand slam and a slap in the face to the men in blue of Clayton. It was wise for all to drive cautiously in and around Clayton. The Beavers were not making friends. Dupper followed the Grand Slam with a single and was chased around by a single by Rake and Tanner for the 20th run - before Gee went down with his first K of the season.

In the bottom of the fifth the FDPD found the plate two more times, but it was not enough to save them from the mercy rule for a second time in one night. Beavers win 20-4 in game 2 for a total thumping of 40-4 for the night.

Game 2 MVB goes to Sabo for his 3-3, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 1 BB performance (sorry Mobilly, in most circumstances a Granny gets you the award, but not this time)

Next week's games are at 8&9 on field #2. We play Team USA, the team who won the league last year. Time to exact revenge.

Beaver Times 2010 - Edition I.I

The schedules has changed since the writing of the 1st Beaver Times this year. Opening night will be on 4/28 at 8 & 9 pm on field #1 - not 6 & 7 pm.

Hope to see you all there.

_rake

Beaver Times 2010 - Edition I

Welcome to the 2010 Beaver Times. It has been a long winter, but now softball is right around the corner. The Beavers are back at Shaw Park in Clayton for a 3rd straight season. This year, trying to make amends for a tough championship loss to the Team USA. It looks like most of the Clayton teams are back; Team USA, Bi-State Meat, Golden Sombreros, CJC Transportation, Cousin Hugo's and Dogs in a Bathtub are all on the schedule again. New teams like The Bucks, Ivey-Selkirk, Bottom of the Fifth and FDPD replace the old Sportsman's Park and Scared Hitless. There are also more teams this year since it appears that Clayton has decided to put lights up on fields #1 & #2. This means 2X the fun of playing back to back with another diamond. It also means 2X the chance for an outfield collision - stay tuned!

Just as the Beavers did last year, they will open the season against Team USA. The Beavers handled them somewhat effortlessly in the opening week of the season last year, but Team USA grew stronger throughout the season and met the Beavers for the Championship game early last August. Team USA ended up victorious in an 18-12 game. The Beavers will be seeking revenge on Apr 28.

Only time will tell how these new teams fare. It appears to bode well for the Beavers in the pre-season polls as the Beavers were 1-2 against Sportsman's Park and Scared Hitless combined. They were 13-1-1 against those teams returning. I am expecting the FDPD team to be a worthy opponent and can't imagine Ivey-Selkirk is much with the bat. No predictions for the team naming themselves after the Wisconsin NBA franchise or the team whose name may refer more to downing hard liquor than it does coming through in the clutch late in the game.

Sabo enters the game as the reigning 2009 MVB. He will have a couple of past MVBs gunning for the trophy this year. Dupper, Kid and Big John all had off years in 2009. Mobilly also a past recipient strung together some impressive numbers, but not enough to beat out the third sacker. Still need to come up with a penalty for Sabo not posing for the "Annual MVB Photo" with the wait staff at Beavers N Hooters.

First game starts at 6pm on April 28 on field #1. Come on out for opening day - there is nothing like it in St. Louis.

_rake

The Crowning of the 2009 MVB

Another successful Beaver Winter Warmup has come and gone. 10 of the players got together at Hooters to hand out the hardware for the 2009 Most Valuable Beaver. It was basically a two-person race with Sabo and Mobilly getting most of the votes. Here's your 2009 MVB:


There is a little discontent within the team over the winner, however. Typically...scratch that...always the winner cups the breast of a Hooters waitress with the glove trophy for a photo opp. Sabo refused to do this...and the board is now looking into the official rules and conduct of a MVB to see if he needs to be stripped of his title and trophy. Official word is expected by opening day in late April.



Opening day is within a month. Career stats should be posted soon reflecting 2009 stats. Stay tuned for the opening pitch of 2010 and hopefully some more championships.

_rake
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