TomBecker.net

CHAMPIONS!!

<Trumpet Flair>

Last night were the playoffs for Bottom of the Fifth. It was a single elimination tourney, and our first game was at 8 against Commonwealth Chapel. This is the team that has beat us twice, and seeded number 3 in the league. Since we were seeded number 2 we were home team.

The first inning they scored 1 quick run and we held them there for the next 3 innings. We were nervous this first inning and we bobbled a few there, but we held them once we settled down. Our offense though was much more productive than theirs. And we rolled over on them for the rest of the game. I think our biggest motivation to win this game was so we could go on to the finals and kick the crap out of Big League Chew.

We got a 10 minute break between our first game and the second, and we were under way.

Big League Chew was seeded number one at this point, and they we had beat them 2 out of the 3 times we went against them, and they are just all around annoying. So we really really really wanted to cream them. And we did. Both teams came out swinging. We were away this round so we were at bat first and put up a quick 5 runs. We were consistent and had an awesome day both pitching and batting and quickly moved up 15-2. They were ecstatic at every play of theirs, even going so far as calling out our players, asking them if they were ready. They were loud and vocal, and pretty annoying.

So since we were up by so much we flip flopped the last inning (as I have mentioned I am not a big fan of this). So score is still 15-2, and they are up at bat again. We get a strike out and a fly out to left field. 2 outs in the last inning. And we get real nervous just thinking too much ("Get out of your head Crash"). And they get a rally going. Again being really annoying and boastful after every hit. But it doesn't matter, cause we still won in the end. Final score was 15-13.

Hopefully the Fifth will be playing some fall ball, but that is still up in the air, have to make sure we have enough players.

But for now we are the reigning CHAMPIONS!

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 8/18/2009 | 0 Comments

The Pros

So this was the very last game of our regular season. Next week we have play offs and then we are off for a few weeks before fall ball (assuming we can get a team together).

Last nights game against the Pros was an interesting one. We were supposed to have two games yesterday but the first team we were supposed to play had to forfeit since they couldn't field a team. So apparently the commissioner of the league thought that we were going to forfeit our second game for some reason, and told the ump for our field as well as the Pros that we weren't going to be there.

So we get there with no umpire and the Pros leaving the field. We get everything squared away and find an umpire that was hanging around getting ready for a late game and we can finally start the game.

We were the home team, so we were out in the field first and the Pros came out swinging scoring 4 in the first inning. It should have been 3, but I bobbled a pop fly that landed foul, but I should have had anyway. It was in my glove, but it popped back out. Bummer, but we got out of the inning not to much longer after that. Bottom of the first we scored 3.

We rallied a few innings later and put some runs up making the score 13-4. It was about this time that our pitcher Craig took a line drive to the family jewels, and amazingly still made the out at first. It was fantastic. Such dedication, such grit. Needless to say he sat out for a few innings icing down the goods.

So we had to pull in our second string pitcher, Will, who did fine the first inning he pitched with some good fielding we held them that inning. We are up and score one or two runs maybe. I walked a few times, and we were sitting pretty.

The next inning (the fifth I believe) Will is pitching again, and just keeps walking people. They score 7 before Will throws in the towel. And amazingly Craig comes back in to finish the game. He closed out that inning and pitched one more striking out the go ahead run in the sixth.

It was a rollercoaster of a game, but it was a good one. I think everyone played very well, but Craig is the MVP of the game. The only pitcher I know to start, leave the game, and come in to earn save.

Next week are playoffs, and I'll let everyone know how we did. Crossing our fingers for the campionship!

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 8/11/2009 | 0 Comments

Fighting Cox round 2ish

Last two weeks have been rained out so it has been a while since we've had a game, but we came back from the break strong and won what would normally be our last game of the regular season.

It is usually pretty fun to play these guys. They are a team from the local radio station and are a good group. They were getting pretty frustrated with us though since we were taking so many of their pitches and we just kept walking around the bases. I think I was up 3 times, and walked twice, and the ball I hit was low and outside (practicing my golf swing). So there was some grumbling on their end this game, but I think we still had fun.

I don't have the score but I do know we were up 15-2 in the second inning, if that tells you anything.

Next week we have a double header, we are playing the two teams we missed playing the past two weeks, and then after that we are in the playoffs.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 8/07/2009 | 0 Comments

Big League Chew, the Slaughter

I've been late this week posting about the game because it just has been to depressing. We lost...horribly.

This is only our second loss of the season, and I think we are still on top, but a little sad none the less, especially since we won both of our previous games against them. We couldn't put anything together batting, and our fielding was suspect at best.

They just played a better game than us, and I'm going to leave it at that. We play them at least one more and next time we will bring our 'A'-game to pop the Big League Chew bubble.

Game next week is at 7:30 against Commonwealth Chapel (the only other team to beat us). Wish us luck.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 7/09/2009 | 0 Comments

The Pros, doubleheader

So this week, as I mentioned, we had a double header, and we won both games. The first one we kinda rolled over on them, but the second one was quite the nail biter in the last inning.

After the first inning I thought that we were going to just have a huge slug fest of a game. They scored 3 runs very quickly the first inning, and we weren't fielding all that well at first. I blame the sun, which was shining in the eyes of anyone to the right of second base. But at the bottom of the first we scored 14 runs. And that pretty much set the tone for the game. Their pitcher seemed a bit disheartened, and it is understandable we have been there before. But they came back with 4 runs in the second, and held us pretty much for the rest of the game. I think the final score was like 16-9 or something like that.

The second game was a bit more interesting. We didn't have that big first inning, and they came out swinging the second game. They have some very big hitters on their team. A few consistently hit it to deep deep left, which we aren't really used to in this league. So the game went on with nothing all to interesting (other than my *HUGE* wiff, I ended up getting walked but it was a bad swing) till the last inning. Since we were ahead by 5 they flipped the innings around so they batted twice in a row. They do this to make the games shorter. If they had come ahead we would have gotten our last at bat, so it is fair. I'm not a huge fan of it, but whatever.

They scored four runs in that last inning, and it was hard fought. The go ahead run was at the plate, and our pitcher struck her out. It was tense....full count and the whole nine yards. Only thing that would have made it better would have been the bases loaded.

Next week we have the late game (8:30) against Big League Chew.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 7/01/2009 | 0 Comments

The Fighting Cox

This was the second time we have played this team ( didn't write about the first one), and both results were pretty much the same, a decisive victory for Bottom of the Fifth.

The first inning though had us worried. We were first at bat and we scored a few runs and we started off strong. We get into the field and make some silly errors that put them in the lead. An over throw to second sent the ball just off the dirt behind first base. I run to get it and a hit that should have been held to a single with no one coming into home was converted to a triple and 1 or 2 runs came in.

After the first inning though we got it together a bit. Richie hit a grand slam, and I homered in my third at bat. One of the best hitting nights we've had in a while.

The funniest part of the game had to be our pitcher, Craig. He was pitching well the entire game, but his fielding...well left something to be desired. We had a large amount of slow dribblers go straight to him and for some reason he couldn't pick them up. And when he did, his throws were not very accurate. He threw one to me on first at my shoes, and one to third which went almost straight down and rolled over there. Needless to say we didn't get the outs on that one.

But despite a rough start and some crazy little fielding errors we won the game 12-5.

Next week is a double header, but I'm not sure against who, since all these rain outs have messed with the schedule quite a bit. I guess you'll just have to wait till next week to find out.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 6/24/2009 | 0 Comments

Payerpath

So I forgot to write about last weeks games, but we had a double header last week against Commonwealth Chapel. We split the series 1-1. Both games were very close the first game with us only losing by a single run. Looking forward to playing them again as we are very closely matched.

Yesterday we played Payerpath, a team we have played before. We played well with very few errors fielding. We also batted very well, with I think everyone getting on base at least once. We won the game 15-2 I think, I don't have the score book here, and the Wife is no longer our scorekeeper so I don't have access to it.

I must say that the very last play by Will was one to remember, and a good way to end the game. Their batter hit a screamer between first and second base and he just reached out and snagged it. It was a good play and a good way to end the game. But I must say that the most interesting play of the game was when a batter from the other team hit a pop fly between homeplate and the pitcher's mound. Both our catcher, Erika, and pitcher, Craig, run of the ball and neither of them call it. So they both watch it hit the ground between them, when all either one of them had to do was reach out their glove.

So like I said over all a very good game. Next week Bottom of the Fifth will be playing "The Pros" at 7:30.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 6/09/2009 | 0 Comments

Big League Chew, round 2

So this game was kind of a nail bitter. It really did come right down to the wire with the winning run on first. We ended up winning 12-9, but it was touch and go there in the last inning.

We started off really well, we had a 10-0 lead coming out of the first inning, and then I don't know what happened we stopped hitting and they started. I really don't know how else to explain it. I think there were a couple of iffy calls made by the umpire but that really doesn't explain us pissing away a 10-0 lead. Personally I walked once (first inning) and grounded out in the second, and then we subbed me out before I could bat in the third.

I think we got cocky and over confident with our lead and just started playing bad fundamentals. We had some good plays with our shortstop and 3rd baseman snagging some line drives, but lets just say that if we had to play one more inning the outcome may have been a bit different

No game next week because of Memorial day, but in two weeks we play The Pros.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 5/20/2009 | 0 Comments

Big League Chew

So it is that time of the year again, softball season has started! This year I am only playing on team (Bottom of the Fifth) up in Richmond. And there have also been a few changes. For example we are no longer playing double headers, there are unlimited home runs (which worked out well for us last night), and and we moved down to a lower league instead of the really high league like last year.

So yesterday we played Big League Chew, and it was a great opening day for us. We won the game 11-9 I think, I don't have to the score book around here.

We had our usual crowd out there, but we were down one girl, so we had to take an auto out at the end of our lineup, but it didn't seem to hinder us too bad. Everyone hit real well last night with 4 home runs, 2 from Aaron, 1 from Richie and 1 from me. So hopefully we can keep that trend going.

Our defense was pretty good last night as well, just a few small errors and a couple bad hops down the third base line. The one that sticks out in my mind was the last inning, when our team captain Will came into left field, we were up 5 and just had to hold them to get the win. High fly ball out between left and center, both fielders running, Will almost has it and then slips in the grass and lays down in the outfield, they come in for a home run on that one.

I will be missing next week's game because I'll be on my honeymoon. But I'll be back in two weeks against PayerPath.

Oh yea, and check out our schedule.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 4/14/2009 | 0 Comments

Got Skillz Round 2

I am happy to report that we got to play Got Skillz this weekend. I was starting to worry on Saturday when it started pouring down rain. But the skies cleared and it was a pretty good day for softball. Well, other than the fact that our field was covered in kitty litter to help soak up some puddles that were left on the field from Saturday.

Got Skillz, as you may remember, was the team we were supposed to play the very first week, but they got their dates mixed up. And I am kinda sad to report that; yes...yes they do got skillz.

So as I mentioned the field conditions left a little to be desired, but we slogged through the mud and played some good defense the first game. We were even ahead for most of it (all but the last 1:30 to be exact). I bought a new bat last week and I'm still breaking her in, and she is a beauty. I bought a DeMarini White Steel. It is a single-wall steel (duh) bat, that just screams. I hit a great ball to deep center that I though I could have at least got a triple off of....but their center fielder is a beast and caught the fly ball. We couldn't get anything past him either game.

So, back to the game, we are up 2 runs in the penultimate inning and they being the home team, get to bat last. There is 5 minutes left and if we just hold them in this inning they wouldn't get another chance to bat and we win. But we got them out with 1:30 left on the clock which means we both get to bat once more in the final inning. Of course we didn't score that inning, and all they need to do is score 3 this inning. They load the bases and just our luck a power hitter comes up and crushes one to the outfield...and the rest, as they say, is history.

The second game we don't fair any better; one or two boneheaded plays on our part, including my sliding into the litter laden second base and twisting my ankle. Mud doesn't slide as well as the dry clay we're used to, just as an FYI. Another, what's the word, interesting play came from our left fielder. He hit a great ball to the deep outfield, and he gets to the third, and comes a little off the bag, which is fine, the ball is at home...he is just running aggressively trying to push it where he can. Fine. No big deal. My issue with the play was he ignored the 3rd base coach and started running for home. Their pitcher has the ball at home plate. There is no way he is going to juke her and tag home, but he tries it and I don't have to tell you that he doesn't make it and gets tagged out. I forgot the score book at home this week so I don't have the exact score of either game, but what I can tell you about the last game was we get trounced.

Tune in next week when we play Sheetz Softball. I hope they bring some snacks...

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 9/30/2008 | 0 Comments

The Green Hornets

So this was the first softball game for me in a while, both on Sunday or my Wednesday league. Was gone last weekend for my sister's baby shower and had dinner with some family on Wednesday. Hence no softball posts in a week or so.

This week we played the Green Hornets, which is essentially the same team as the Tornadoes from last season. They have some new players, but the same core people and they still have the same great skill of being so darn consistent. They don't have many power hitters (they have a few mind you but they are in the minority) but almost every one will get on base, letting the few power hitters send them round the bases.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 9/23/2008 | 0 Comments

Got Skills?

No that really isn't a question posed to you my reader. Nor is it a rhetorical question. That is the name of the softball team we were supposed to play this weekend.

It was our season opener this Sunday, but our opponents didn't show. I think they had their weekends mixed up. So they had to forfeit since they weren't there. First 2 wins of the season. And since this is the Fall season we only play each team once, so we won't be playing these guys at all, which is a shame.

But since we had the field for the next hour and forty minutes we scrimmaged an all guys team that was playing a field over. They were a lot of fun. Their first baseman played with his glove on one hand and a beer in the other. I wish I could get away with that...

Anyway good little game with a lot of our new players. I think this is going to be a good season. No game next week cause of Labor Day.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 8/26/2008 | 0 Comments

End of Season Stats

On of my teammates took home the score book this week to do some statistics. And I thought I'd post them here for any major league recruiters.

Batting Average:	.688
On-Base Percentage:	.778
Slugging Percentage:	.969
On-Base + Slugging:	1.747

Not to shabby. Now our best player's stats (and the one who did them) are...

Batting Average:	.576
On-Base Percentage:	.682
Slugging Percentage:	1.303
On-Base + Slugging:	1.985

So it would seem that I should be batting before him since I am more likely to get on base, but he is more likely to drive in runs than I am.

And just for the record, I didn't come up with any of this, this is all from Richie and the Fiancee, I am just putting them out here.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 8/05/2008 | 0 Comments

The Tornadoes

This was the last series of the season for me as I will be on vacation next week, so I will miss our season closer. A little sad, but I need the vacation so it will all be good.

We played the Tornadoes yesterday, and I had a very good time, not only did I play pretty well, but they are a very fun team to play. We lost both games, but I think everyone had a good time over all. We even had our biggest fans stay and watch our games after they finished. Hi Miss Piggy and Beaker!

We didn't have our full normal team, but some people who are going to play fall ball with us came out ready to play and they filled in for us. One girl in particular has a hell of a bat, she is going to be a great addition for fall ball. Even with her though we got trounced this game. I really think the Tornadoes strength is their consistency. They have a few power hitters that can knock it out of the park, but they usually don't. They all just try for a base hit, or at most a double, of course they will go for more when they can, but almost all of their team get on base every at bat. So that just pushes people around the bases and they always end up racking up big numbers. The first game I think they beat us 10-3 or something like that.

The next game was kinda a heart breaker. We are at bat first and score 13 runs the first inning. They come up and score 3 by the end of the inning. So we are feeling pretty good at this point, thinking we have it clinched, but they come back and score 13 the next inning after keeping us scoreless, so that puts them up 16-13. Last inning of the game we just have to score 3 in order to keep us alive, but we just couldn't pull it off.

I had a lot of fun at my last game and I think I played very well. I will be taking over managing the Sunday Scared Hitless team while the other captain will take the Tuesday night league for fall ball. And that season starts in a few weeks. Once I figure out how we do next week, I'll post our final league standings.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 8/04/2008 | 0 Comments

Orange Crush, final Round

This was our last series against Orange Crush, and I wish I could say we won at least one game, but they ended up creaming us both games. And I also wish I could say we just played poorly; but I can't do that either. We played well considering the circumstances; they just played that much better this week. Which makes it that much harder to swallow.

We decided to change some things up this week. I ended up playing right and right-center both games instead of my usual 1B. An interesting move for me since I haven't played outfield in over a year now, but it seemed to work out alright I suppose after I shook the dust off. The first game a pop fly came almost right to me, but I missed it. It hit my glove but I took one step to many forward and the ball grazed the top of my glove and rolled out. That was the only one I dropped, but still pretty disappointing. We also changed up some of the infield, moving our 2B over to first and one of our right fielders to 2B. It was working alright until they started to find the holes.

One of our weaker players who normally plays in right got moved to 3B in the second game, she has tried to play there before. We try to close up the whole in the outfield, and just have our shortstop cheat over a bit and cover 3rd as well. Now I didn't find this out till the ride home, but The Fiancee (and score keeper) said that the other team tried to get us to remove this player from 3rd since they were scared of hurting her. Now she doesn't have the most athletic stance in the world while playing ball, but she knows that a risk of playing ball is potentially getting hit. We say we aren't going to remove her, that she is on our roster and signed the waiver and she wants to play. So after this dialog with the Ump and our other team captain a batter comes up, who we know can hit, intentionally hits a little dribbler to her as if to prove their point. And I wish I could say she scooped it up and got him out at first, but she didn't. I think he may have even gotten to second on that.

For some reason I felt more detached from this game. Maybe it was because I was not playing the infield so I missed a lot of stuff. Maybe it was because they just rolled over us. Maybe it was because I was fed up with all the high school drama that has been floating around these past few weeks. I dunno but it was weird.

With those two wins Orange Crush are now the league champions. There are a few more games to play, but they have won it. No team can catch them now. My hat is off to them.

Next week we play another hard team, the Tornados. These guys were the only other team to beat Orange Crush. So we'll see how we do this week.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 7/29/2008 | 2 Comments

Newbies and Orange Crush

So I know I haven't posted about softball for the past two weeks. That is partly because of all the drama that has happened around this little blog. People have gotten upset, and tried to start stuff behind the team's back and it is childish. I can write whatever I want here and I plan to. If people don't like it, well I'm sorry. If you don't like something then put on your big boy/girl pants and talk to me. There is a comments section, you really want to say something (yes they are moderated, but if it is nothing to bad I'll usually post them).

So I'm going to write about both games here.

The one two weeks again was against the Newbies, but it was two weeks ago so I don't remember all that much about the game. I know they beat us both games. But I think they were pretty close both times. I do remember one thing that upset me.

So I think it was the second game and our left-center fielder (we play 4 outfielders) fields a ball. He doesn't catch it in the air, but on a bounce. So instead of throwing the ball in to the infield he decides to run down the guy who just hit the ball who is rounding 2nd. Our outfielder is pretty fast, he is defiently a runner, but there is no reason to do that. Just a dumb move. He tags the guy out a few feet from home plate but that is beside the point.

Other than that I think the games were rather uneventful. We lost but good games over all.

--------------------

Last week's game was against Orange Crush again. We were no longer the only ones to defeat them. The Tornadoes beat them two weeks ago, but they are still the first place team in the league. There was a bit of tension on the field between us because of the aforementioned drama. We will also be playing Orange Crush for this next week's game.

The series was kinda like first time we played them. They kinda ran away from us the first game, but we still played very well, even though we were down a player and had to take a ghost out. We even got our first double play of the season I think. Our shortstop caught a ball in the air, that the runner on first didn't think she could get. So the runner is over halfway to second. Short throws to me, and we beat the runner to the bag. It was pretty cool. Like I said I think it was the first one of the season for us. I think if we moved where our ghost out game up in the line up we could have possibly done better. We left a lot of people on base because of it.

The second game was a bit more interesting. Reminicient of the first series this was a very close game. The last inning we were even tied it up, but more on that in a minute. We are playing very well again this game with batting being very good, even some of our weaker hitters were making good contact, may not have gotten on base but were making good contact none the less. Toward the middle of the game we noticed a bit of in fighting again on their bench. For such a well put together team on the field I am surprised to hear some yelling coming from the dugout. So fastforward to the last inning. They have home team advantage so they get to bat last. We tie the game, and have a runner on first, and a one of our bigger guys comes up to bat. He can really drive it out there if he wants to, and we have the ghost out up after him. So since they already have 2 outs, they tell the ump that they are going to walk this batter just to get the ghost out, and with that they close out this half of the inning.

Was it a legal? Yes. Was it very sportsman like? No. I realize that it was strategy, and that in their minds it was a very smart move, but come on. If you compare our records, they really have nothing to worry about.

So we take the field, and their very first batter hits a home run and finishes the game, and that was all she wrote for that ball game.

So this Sunday is against Orange Crush again, and we'll see how we do. We are getting very close to the end of the summer season. After that a little break and then on to Fall Ball.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 7/23/2008 | 1 Comments

UPDATED: Orange Crush

----- Update -----------------------------------
Members of Orange Crush, I in no way meant to come down on you guys or anything. I think you guys are a great team, and are always very nice on the field. If you interpreted anything below as inflammatory, then I'm sorry as it was not my intent.

----- End Update -------------------------------

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

This was the first meeting of Orange Crush and Scared Hitless, and we have have taken down the first place team. We have spoiled their perfect season, that's right we have beaten the only undefeated team in the league. We split the series with them, but we beat them. They are indeed fallible.

The first game is the one they won. Their first two batters we got out right away, I thought it was going to be a quick inning. But they rallied and scored 10 runs I think with two outs in that first inning. I dunno what happened, we kinda just fell apart for a couple of minutes there. We were also down a few of our normal players and had to use some subs. We did play well the first game though, with couple of great catches from our third base woman and some good catches in the outfield even though we were short handed. They beat us this game like 16-6 or something like that. I don't have the score book handy.

The second game starts and we are up to bat first, and we score like 10 or so runs in the first half of the inning. Orange Crush brings in their relief pitcher and he ends up closing out the inning. At this point we are in their heads. They are starting to have some internal squabbles, yelling at each other and things like that. They have a four running inning and we are back up to bat and we score a few more. It keeps going back and forth like this for a few innings, both of us scoring a few each inning but us staying firmly ahead. And their composure is going down the tubes. And we won that game 16-11 I think, again don't have the score book in front of me.

We played a couple of great games, I am only sad about a few things, one of them being my blocking a runner rounding first. The batter hit a dribbler to the shortstop and I had my foot on the inside bag (we have two, runners have to tag the outside bag) . Our shortstop stops the ball, but bobbles it a little and she is already on first so I call off the throw, and take a step backwards thinking that she is going to stay where she is. She keeps running and I back into her on accident since she cuts the corner so sharp. So the ump calls interference and gives her a base. It was valid yes...I was in the way, but she wouldn't have made it to second anyway. Oh well.

We have to play Orange Crush two more times. And we are in their heads. They are runnin' scared now. No games next week cause of the 4th. So look for our game in two weeks.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 6/30/2008 | 0 Comments

The Interior Guys round 2

Well we didn't actually play this week because the Interior Guys couldn't field a team and didn't show up to play. So we got two forfeit wins out of it. We'll take them but wish we could have played.

I think it actually turned out to be a good thing seeing as about half the team was feeling pretty rough from a house warming party we all went to the night before. So we just had a little batting practice instead, so it wasn't a complete wash, but a little disappointing none the less.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 6/23/2008 | 0 Comments

The Tornadoes and the Newbies

So, you may have noticed that I haven't posted about last week's game. We played poorly and lost against the Tornadoes, and that's all I'm gonna say.

So we shake it off and played today against the Newbies. And we had a couple of great games.

We won the first game, and it was close one. They were up to bat first and we gave up a few runs because of an error or two and things like that, and then we had a scoreless first inning. Second inning I was up first and hit a home run. Normally it would have only been a triple but they let it get over their heads and I was able to slide into home. We were trailing the most of the rest of the game, and we were batting last in the final inning and tied up the game with two outs (at least I think there were two outs, but that may be just me making it sound all that much cooler). I was at bat and the bases were loaded. So in this league if you walk a guy he can take two bases. And since the bases were loaded that would have forced two runs at home. So the other team, and my future father-in-law are heckling me and saying that the "manly" thing would be to hit, the first two pitches were balls, and third pitch was close but the was called a ball to win the game (this league also starts with a 1-1 count, so there is only two strikes for an out and 3 balls to walk). May not have been the manliest thing to do or look the coolest but we won the game cause of it so i consider it a good thing.

The second game we lost, but it still was a very good game. They pretty much did to us what we did to them in the first game. They had home field advantage and were up to bat last and scored the winning run on a walk too I think. I hit well in this game too but only got on base once. My other at bats were fly outs...but I made solid contact and drove 'em to the fences. The time I got one base was a pretty good line drive for a base hit. The sweet part about that on base for me was sliding into third. I got a pretty good little scratch on that one so that kinda made up for my not taking a cut for the win of the previous game.

I think that this weeks games were ones for the books. We were pretty evenly matched against this team and both teams played well. Since this is the first time we played them we will be playing them one more time this season and I'm looking forward to it.

Next week we play the interior guys.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 6/15/2008 | 1 Comments

The Juggernauts, Round 2

The second meeting of the Juggernauts vs. Scared Hitless went better than the first time. We won both of these games upping our record to 6-4. Not sure how the rest of the teams did yesterday but this weekend may have put us in the number 2 spot.

The first game for the team went really well. I wasn't to happy with my game personally, but the team did really well, winning 15-2. Our outfield had some great plays and our pitching was really good this game, and we had some really good heads up plays allowing us to get a few outs that we wouldn't have normally gotten. I think we need to work more on a few more running plays. For example. I was on first, the batter hit a dribbler to the pitcher. He scooped it up and I wasn't on the bag yet, I was still running to it, way in front of the batter. It should have been an out. But the pitcher threw it to where I was instead of where I was going to be while running. So the ball was thrown behind me and it was a double since I had to turn around and get off the bag.

Second game was a little bit closer than the first with a score of 10-6. With a bit better playing on my part than the first game. Infield did a great job of stopping the ball and getting into first. I even managed to snag a line drive.

The only sad part for me is that I was walked 4 of the 6 times I was at bat yesterday.

Oh and I almost forgot, I had a great play at home. I was running home and had a great slide and had to swing my leg around the pitcher (who was covering home) to tag the bag. I wish I had a camera, cause apparently it looked good. Big cloud of dust and when the dust cleared the ump yelled safe. It was a Kodak moment, even if now my left leg is all scraped up. I'm taking a beating for this team. Got a black eye from a ball at practice last Wednesday, and now my leg is all scraped up. Chicks, and by chicks I mean the Fiance, dig scars (and black eyes).

Next week is the late game against Ro's Hard Hitters.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 6/02/2008 | 0 Comments

The Sharks

I know this post is a bit late in the week for my weekly softball game review, but hey this is my blog...don't judge me.

Last week Scared Hitless took on the Sharks, and we ended up splitting the series. We won the first game pretty soundly. We had some good defense, even if we did have a few errors on our part. And we held them to 5, while we racked up 11 runs. The first game went really well. I don't have many comments on this game, other than the fact that even though I was up twice I didn't connect once, they walked me both times. A little sad about that. It isn't doing much for my batting average.

The second game was very different from the first. It started off with the skies opening up a bit and we got rained on. So that was fun, got to play in the mud a bit. And that was pretty much the only fun thing about that game. We got trounced 11-0. I don't know what happened between the first and second game, but it wasn't good. My theory is that we got cocky and thought we would just roll over them again. And by the time we saw that wasn't going to happen, it was to late to come back and our spirit was broken.

No games this weekend since it is Memorial day. But in the mean time head over to the Chesterfield county web site and check out our standings. We are in the Co-ed yellow Sunday league. We are currently tied for 3rd with the Sharks interestingly enough.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 5/23/2008 | 0 Comments

The Shell Shockers

Yesterday we played a team that spawned from ours this year. Last year we had a player on our team that left unexpectedly. After a game one day she, lets call her Miss Piggy*, left a message on the other captain's voice mail saying that she wasn't going to play anymore and that we were just gonna have to deal with it. And that was it. She wouldn't return any of our phone calls.

It was no real secret that I was not a fan of Miss Piggy, so I wasn't to sad she left. So fast forward to the coaches meeting at the beginning of the season. She and her boyfriend, lets call him Beaker**, wouldn't even make eye contact with us. They also snaked our pitcher from last year too.

OK, so there is why we have a bit of tension between the two teams. So the first game we win due to forfeit since they can't field a team. So technically we won that game. We wait around for about an hour and they are finally able to field a team by cherry picking from other teams. We allow them to play with only 8 fielders (normally you need 10) and they will only take 1 ghost out instead of the 2 that they should take. So we are making an effort to at least be civil. We even give them one of our players to play catcher.

So anyway. The game starts, and we are doing ok. Then the bottom of their line up comes up which they have chosen to stack with 3 guys in a row, when it is supposed to be boy-girl batting. Since they only have 3 girls playing not much we can do. So this game was barely legal. So they get up 3-0 first inning. At this point neither Miss Piggy nor Beaker have gotten on base, which makes me happy. Second inning we tie it up to 4-4. Third inning we didn't score so bottom of the third with like 6 minutes left they score 2. So they are over there gloating their win. So i'm pretty upset about this game.

And to put the icing on the cake Miss Piggy and Beaker don't even bother doing the whole good game high five thing with some of our players.

So we still have a tied season, 3-3. But an upsetting lose this week.

*Miss Piggy cause she is a big girl
**Beaker cause he never talks and has funny hair

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 5/12/2008 | 0 Comments

The Interior Guys

So after a frustrating number of rain outs we finally were able to play a little softball this weekend. Our opponents were the Interior Guys. I'm guessing it was some sort of construction company kinda thing, but no idea. Anyway, back to the games. We logged our first two W's against these guys. Over all the games went alright, but there were a few things that annoyed me.

The first game we were batting first. And by the end of the first inning we had already won the game. Their pitcher wasn't giving us anything to swing at, she was only throwing balls. So we were just standing there, which is pretty unusual for us, we normally swing at everything. I was happy about that. We were waiting for pitches and not swinging at everything that came by. Our games last 50 minutes a piece, and that first inning lasted for 35 minutes. So that should tell you something. So they finally strike out a few people and we take the field. They score three runs, most of which came by the way of an out of the park home run, which is pretty impressive. So in pretty quick succession we get them out. And it is our turn to bat again. This is when the ump came up to us and told us that if we didn't swing at the first pitch, no matter what it was, he was going to be a jerk the next game and call everything as strikes. So next time I am up to bat, I have to swing at this pitch that hit the dirt a good 6 inches before the plate. So I felt pretty dumb about that, but hey, what can you do? The next pitch though we decent enough, and I hit a line drive over second base for a triple. The final score on that game as 20-3. I'm not sure why the slaughter rule didn't kick in...but whatever.

The second game was a bit more interesting. They switched pitchers, he wasn't much better than their first but he was getting them over the plate. The final score on this game as 7-3 us. We played some good defense and over all this game was a lot more fun since we weren't just rolling over them. I think we could have racked up a lot more points this game if the ump didn't kill our streak from the first game. I think it was all mental. Most of their team were gracious in defeat, so that was good too. Over all a good day for Scared Hitless.

Looking forward to next week when we play our rivals the Shell Shockers.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 5/05/2008 | 0 Comments

Sad State of Softball

It is the fourth week of our softball season, and we haven't played but one game. I wish I could tell you that we have won those games due to forfeit, but no. We have been rained out for the 3rd time this week, and there has been some growing discontent due to it.

I am having a few mixed feelings about the rain though. It sucks for softball, but it is pretty good for my garden. April showers bring May flowers (and vegetables) as they say.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 4/27/2008 | 0 Comments

The Juggernauts

So after our first game getting rained out, we finally played our season opener against the Juggernauts, and they did live up to their namesake as they were unstoppable.....kinda.

Let me explain. Our defense was killer this game, they were raining balls into the outfield but we didn't let anything get passed us with quite a few great catches. The infield was equally as good, even though we let a few balls get passed us (I played 1B) the outfield scooped them up and held them to singles or doubles at the worst.

Our problem came with pitching. We are breaking in a new pitcher (our old one got snaked by someone from our team last year...but that's another story), so he had to get zeroed in. They were up to bat first and we walked almost all of the 9 runs they scored that inning. But we came back and almost tied it up the subsequent innings of that game.

The next game, we always play double headers, started off pretty much the same and had the same end result. Good defense, but our pitching still needs some work.

We, and by we I mean our scorekeeper and my girlfriend, are keeping stats this season too. Currently my bating average is .750, which is pretty damn good if I do say so myself. But that is only with 4 at bats, but it sounds good. I currently lead the team in triples too. Whoohoo!

It was a good game over all though, but we just need to shake the dust off and get ready for our game next weekend, against Ro's Hard Hitters. A team that we have played against for the past few seasons. They are a pretty good team. I think that the past few times we have been up against them we have split the series. So I think we have a pretty good chance of winning if we can just get our pitcher zeroed in.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 4/14/2008 | 0 Comments

Softball time

Its that time of year again. Its getting warmer, lawn mowers are revving up, and Apollo is taking longer to ride across the sky. Yes my friends, it's time to lace up the cleats 'cause it is softball season!

I've been playing with this team for 2.5 years now (and changed our name 3 times), and last year we pretty much had a tie season so that is pretty good. We hope to at least keep the same record as last year even though we've had a lot of turnover this year. Some people left on good terms...other's are still in our league but won't look us in the eyes at coaches meetings...but hey that's another issue entirely.

As much as I didn't like playing 1st base at the beginning of last year, it actually turns out that I like it, and will be playing there this season. Good times. I will try to remember to post after each game, score, any memorable events of the game, etc.

Here is our team website for any interested.

So this year look out for 'Scared Hitless' on the diamonds.

Labels: Softball

posted by Tom Becker at 3/28/2008 | 0 Comments