Game 1 Stars and Stats

Newcastle Player of the Week: After going completely AWOL during the MFL season and not responding the pre-season Bad Gnus e-mails, Kevin came from nowhere and picked up where he left off. He was a perfect 4 X 4 at the plate. Behind the plate, he showed why he has long been regarded the best defensive catcher in all of Sacramento Softball. He popped out from behind the plate to take an at bat away from URS lead-off batter and Kev's nemisis (still for unknown reasons) by catching a running foul pop. He also applied a tag and masterfully blocked the WNBA umpire's view of a play at the plate to give us an out call. Don't discount the fact that Kevin was busy charming the umpire all night with lines like, "I sure hope the Monarchs repeat this year". Great game, Kevin!

Defensive Play of the Week: Nothing too spectacular comes up. The Kevin tag at the plate was nice but it followed and error and really the guy was safe at the plate. The award this week goes to the all-around play at second base of Erik Grotte. Playa's makin' diving stops up the middle, trying to start double plays with perfect flips to second and had to put up with the shortstop always covering the bag and not going to cut off the ball. Erik looked great out there!

Raw Numbers! (Ted would be proud that there were no walks)

Howard 3X4, 1 run
Keith 2X4, 2 runs
Mike 2X4, 2 runs
Doug 1X4
Kevin 4X4
Bill 0X4
Erik C 0X3
Erik G 1X3, 1 run
Greg 1X3, 1 run
Rex Davis 2X3, 3 runs

Bad Gnus take opener 10-6!

On a chilly March evening, the Bad Gnus surprisingly took the field after a week of rain. It may have been 6 months since the last Gnus game, but everything had such a familiar twang. The opposition was taking infield practice before the game as the Gnus rolled in late and warmed up by shaking hands with their friends they haven't seen in a while. Just like an old habit, Manager Mike had to fake a bathroom break and go Softball Whoring looking for a ninth player to avoid a forfeit. As the game was just starting, the ninth tye dyed jersey could be seen sountering slowly from the parking lot. There was no urgency to Erik Carlson's stroll. Fashionably late, the youngest Gnu looked cool to all the fans in the stands. Oh, that was just the scorekeeper.

The Gnus started very slowly, as you would expect. The pitches falling so tantilizingly slow that the eager batters swung wildly and early. They were still able to string together three hits in the first inning for a run. While the Bad Gnus lookly incredibly rusty the URS team looked devoid of talent. I'm pretty sure URS was an acronym for U Really Suck. I never got the reason, but Kev continued to berate the URS third baseman and leadoff hitter to any Gnu that would listen. The Gnus didn't look too rusty in the field however. Despite fielding their fourth string shortstop, the oversized round mound of ground outs, just about all the Gnus played great defense. I'm not bringing up any names, but it's bad karma to cover up the tye dye. You gotta put that on the outside, my man! Although, upon watching Bill (dangit, I wasn't going to say his name) slip on his powder blue mittens after the game it all started to come together. Bill's hands are dearly supple from an off season with no softball and too much lotion. Put down the baby oil and I think those hands will be in softball shape in time.

Anyway, the game was pretty dull and eventless until the Gnus finally broke out their Gnu inning in the top of the 6th to put the game away. A couple of meaningless runs by URS put the final tally at 10-6. The Bad Gnus played pretty poorly but still dominated a much inferior opponent.

Coming up next.... weekly stars and stats!

2006 Bad Gnus Spring Schedule

It has been released! It is time for all Bad Gnus to spend an hour searching their garages for their softball gloves, scrub off the mold that may have accumulated and throw it in the back of your truck, SUV or minivan (depending on your level of manliness) along with a lawn chair. First game is in 4 days!!! Monday March 13 is the start of the Spring season. Often considered "Bad Gnus spring training" or the first chance to teach those snot-nosed little leaguers most of us coach the phrase "do as I say not as I do."

3/13 6:30 vs. URS
3/20 7:30 vs. The Big Donkeys
3/27 No Game
4/03 8:30 vs. Beer Dawgs
4/10 6:30 vs. Referees
4/17 8:30 vs. Rage
4/24 7:30 vs. The Buindy's
5/01 6:30 vs. URS
5/08 8:30 vs. The Big Donkeys
5/15 PLAYOFFS

I know that several of you cannot make certain games, especially in March. I need to know that right away!! Please post a comment to this blog entry with games you know you'll miss, or go old school and send me an e-mail. Drop into the way back machine and break me off a phone call. I cannot accept the 1980's communication of letter writing or the 1940's communication of telegraph.

Is this thing on??

Always only 3 years behind the times, I have gone for website to blog for this year's Bad Gnus updates. I hope this works. This should allow us to keep the past posts for information and allow for some post game banter. Please respond to the posts so I know you're out there!

Peace!