Finally, a Thriller!

It was a beautiful night for softball and for just a few minutes on a warm summer evening, things looked like all was right in the world of the Bad Gnus. Five minutes before game time there were 10 Bad Gnus at the yard! There would be no player whoring in the bathroom this night. As the Bad Gnus trotted out to the field, there was the encouraging sight of Howard in left field and not the bumbling load, holding his right butt check the whole game that has been out there. The other welcome sight was Derrick at shortstop. In the top of the first, Derrick made a wonderful 6-3 double play to end the Limelight's first inning without a run.

Optimism was running rampant through the dugout as the Gnus came to bat in the bottom of the first. However, the rust that comes with months of Bad Gnus inactivity for the two prodigal Gnus was a splash of reality water thrown in their dreaming faces. In trying to describe Howard's first at bat for the Gnus in over a month, I searched and searched my keyboard for the appropriate key. I've tried this one (?l) and this one (7l) and this one(>l). I've searched the internet for the appropriate emoticon. I didn't know a smiley face could do so many things! I didn't know whether to go with the one that turns green then barfs or the one that just stands there looking at me. After all of this, I'm just going to say that Howard owes us some beer. That about explains it. Derrick didn't want his compadre-in-absence to go alone and quickly bounced into a 6-4-3 double play during his first at bat.

The game did feature two D league teams for the first time in a while. For the first 5 innings the Bad Gnus played more like a F league team. It was refreshing seeing the other team make an occassional error and not all of their hitters bouncing the ball of the fence. They did have one guy who knocked one over Howard's head his first time up and over Howard's head and the fence's head the next time. But with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, the Bad Gnus had still failed to score. But John Wiesenfarth barrelled toward third and completely ignored third base coach Doug's stop sign and raced toward home. Or more specifically the general area of home. John ran about 10 feet to the side of the plate in full view of the Gnus and the umpire who was patiently waiting for the defense to realize it and tag him out. The Bad Gnus did not want to make a scene and were trying to get John's attention to touch the plate. The catcher threw the ball back to the pitcher and the dugout erupted with a "John, touch the plate!!". The shutout was averted!

The Bad Gnus gave up 3 more runs in the top of the 6th and the scoreboard showed 11-0, Limelight, withholding our lone run of the night. After a brief discussion with the scorekeeper, the Bad Gnus were credited with a run. However, we didn't need the old lady scorekeeper to pile on. Her comment was something like "wull, I pushed her, but it mussn't had known whut to do since I've hadn't touched it all ding dang game. It's like when my babies was playin in the Rio Linder little league and that darn Vern's Hardware team just never could plum get any one in". Then she spit out a little of her chew. Well maybe that's what that's what my mind perceived, but it was something like that.

With two outs and nobody on the in the bottom of the sixth, the Gnus slowly spung to life. Mike singled and that was followed by about 8 more consecutive hits to bring the game to a respectable 11-7. The Gnus finally felt alive! They were back in it. They remembered how to score. The Gnus gave up a couple more runs in the top of the seventh, but they had a good feeling going into the bottom of the inning. They picked up right where they left off and quickly picked up 4 runs before there were any out. Then with two out and the bases loaded, Keith drilled a single into left scoring the tying run and John Wiesenfarth came storming around third. Once again ignoring his third base coach's plea to stop. John actually headed for the plate this time and slid hard and perhaps was under the tag, but he was called out. Solid effort to slide to score the winning run by the newest Gnu.

Much to the chagrin of the 9:30 teams who were already late to get started, this game was going to extra innings! The Limelight was also surprised to be in extra innings after holding what looked to be a very safe 11-1 lead. The comeback was right out of the Bad Gnus history books. Only the Bad Gnus could play completely horrible for almost 6 complete innings to nearly win it in the bottom of the 7th. The Gnus often play as if their games are scripted. The material if often fresh and surprising, but this twist was not one that anyone wanted to see. The Bad Gnus gave up 10 runs in the top of the 8th to go down 23-13. It was time for the Bad Gnus to perform one more time this night. After already scoring big in two consecutive innings, were they up for a third go around at their age? No matter how much the Limelight nibbled our ears or kissed our neck, we rolled right over and went to sleep. Typical. The final score was 23-15.

The Defensive Play of the Game could well have Doug's sliding catch in right center in the 8th inning to get a crucial out. The throw to second from his backside almost doubled up the surprised runner. Erik also made a beautiful tumbling catch going into right from second base that was very impressive. But the play of the game this week is awarded to Derrick Rebensdorf. Not just for one particular play but for his role in three double plays during the game. He took two 6-3 double plays then turned a nice 1-6-3 number in the late innings that was key. It was very nice having D out at shortstop again! Let's hope he didn't mess up his knee by refusing the courtesy runner.

The Newcastle Player of the Game could also go to Derrick. He played great defense and had three solid hits reminding everyone why he is the starting shortstop and cleanup hitter on the all-time Bad Gnus team. The NPOG this week goes to John Wiesenfarth. John went 4 for 4 and displayed the reckless running prowess of a lifelong Gnu, but slid like a new guy. Great enthusiasm! He scored our first run of the game and almost scored the game winner. He has been a fine pick up for the team. Great game, John.

Next week's game is at 9:30. Everyone get a nap!

The Summer G-D League Schedule

6/12 6:30 v. The Buindy's
6/19 8:30 v. Limelight Cardroom
6/26 9:30 v. Capital Christian Center
7/03 HOLIDAY
7/10 7:30 v. The Pig Farmers
7/17 BYE
7/24 8:30 v. Referee's
7/31 6:30 v. Rage
8/07 9:30 v. URS
8/14 7:30 v. The Big Donkeys

Please let me know in advance if you cannot make a game. I'm going to assume you can make every game. Assuming that actually will not make an ass out of me as goes the saying, just u if you don't let me know. :)

Bad Gnus Score 4 in Last Inning

(Hang in there. I had some time to kill at work today. This is a long one.)

This year is not turning out to be very competitive. Once again, the softball complex only has one men's league on Monday nights. Whether you are a bunch of meth-head, athletic tourneyment teamers, like the Buindy's that we faced last night, or you are a bunch of beer-bellied, 30 or 40-somethings that play once a week, everyone is in the same league. No amount of tantrums by our manager is going to change it. Hopefully, half the league will be actual D league teams and those games will be closer. This season will likely end our association with the softball complex. Be on the lookout for new locales. The faves right now are Howe Park and Arden Park.

Despite the outcome, it is always great to go out to the yard with the fellas. the Bad Gnus are and always will be an exceptional group of guys. Even though we were down 14-0 after the top of the first, who would've wanted to miss out on Bill tripping on first base after hustling to not hit into a double play. Well, maybe Bill. But the rest of us had a hoot. I mean you get to see the roll... the huge dust cloud... the feet in the air... It's beautiful. Already made me forget that I followed that up by hitting into a double play myself. It was topped off by seeing the blood running down his leg when he came back to the dugout. He'll be picking gravel out of the pus-ridden, swolled gash for weeks.

The Buindy's had our old buddy Joaquin out in right field! I never wrote up the game that Joaquin whored for us. Dude was something else. Every ball hit, no matter where it was, you would hear a loud "I go!" and he'd run and cut someone off for the ball. I have never seen someone with his energy level on the softball field. Maybe he drinks a lot of coffee. Yeah, that's what it is. He seemed rather subdued last night. I think he was on the phone all night in the field. That's a bit of a sad commentary of our offensive prowess.

As I mentioned, the Buindy's scored 14 runs in the first inning, including two very long home runs. Joaquin batted three times in the inning. We only had four players bat three times the whole game. It took us three innings to get everyone one at bat. No matter how hard the other team hits the ball, if you don't score you can't win. After the first inning, the Buindy's only scored 5 times for some reason. They were only advancing one base at a time and their third home run counted as an out.

The top of the first inning did include our defensive play of the game. Our first out of the game came on a very hard hit line drive that was targeted for the grass in right center field before Erik Grotte's glove made what would be its last play of what appears to have been a very, very long life. Erik reached across his body and snared the shot backhanded. In the next inning, Erik almost made another great catch of a line drive, but the ball ripped through the dried and cracked leather laces holding the glove together. Erik played the rest of the game with his son's little league mitt with no noticable difference in play. Great play, Erik!

With the score 19-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bad Gnus put together a Bad Gnu inning. With a runner on, Erik Grotte drilled a ball to the wall in right center. Erik was using an Easton bat Joaquin supplied for us as he is sponsored by the bat company. Fittingly, the Bad Gnus have been trying all year to get sponsored by a beer company. Erik raced around the bases. As he turned for home, the Bad Gnus third base coaches, all conveniently located in the first base dugout, told Erik to hold up, but he ran right through that stop sign and challenged the arm of the shortstop who was holding the ball in shallow centerfield. The relay throw sailed wide and Erik had broked up the shutout and completed his inside the park home run!

That gave the Bad Gnus life. This week's Rex Davis (Rex was looking good this week!) ripped another hit, bringing up John Weisenfarth. John, this season's first alternate, which means he'll probably be asked to play every week, was making his second appearance for the Gnus. John smoked the ball into the right field corner for a double. But John, perhaps fueled by the earlier excitement provided by Erik, tested Joaquin's arm in right by going for third. The dugout was only hoping the good doctor would not slide before being tagged out to avoid witnessing an awkward self-examination, but John beat the throw! The ball got away from the third baseman and John took off for home, beating the catcher who was out of position and fell down trying to beat John to the plate. Another thrilling two run homer!

The league director, after hearing the Bad Gnus manager whine about the unfair competition earlier in the evening, notified us during the big rally that a fourth home run by the opposition would result in an ejection. The Buindy's only had 9 players, so an ejection would result in a forfeit and give the Bad Gnus the most improbable of comebacks. Doug had the plan to groove meatballs all inning to the muscle heads who can't keep the ball in the park, but the next inning only lasted one pitch, a long foul ball, before time expired. So close!

The Newcastle Player of the Game wasn't much of a struggle this week. Doug receives consideration as he put on the finest display of player whoring we've seen, pulling the guy in jeans away from his nachos to be our 9th player and 2nd whore right before the forfeit. What was that guy doing there anyway? He wasn't with anyone. He wasn't there to play as he didn't have a glove. (Wearing jeans cannot be a sign of not being ready to play anymore thanks to EG!) He wasn't even watching the games. He was just sitting in the beer garden, eating. Did he choose that as a restaurant? Doug also pitched well and I don't remember him doing anything embarrassing at the plate. But the winner this week goes to EG! Erik Grotte made the defensive play of the game, then played 3+ innings of defense with a little league glove. The also had the highlight reel homerun. Great game, Erik!

As part of his prize package, Erik will be able to open the first beer at parking lot camping following our next game. Well, that is the prize package. Game time is 8:30 on June 19. Please be there so doug doesn't need to troll for the next Rex Davis.