A long time ago, back in my high school years, that I learned that the cool kids don't get to the party when it starts. You need to show up after the keg is tapped, after the Betties have arrived and after the music is pumping. (I sure am glad teenagers nowadays don't go to parties.) So it only figures that the cool kids of the Arden Park Men's Softball League, the Bad Gnus, wouldn't be hitting on all cylinders during the first week of the season. They haven't even played the Prince album yet. In typical April fashion, the Gnus had a hard time getting 10 guys on their 20 guy-deep distribution list to commit to playing. With a couple of new Gnus, the 2011 season began on a sunny Tuesday evening against the defending champion, T-Sox. (Note: not sure who won last year, but the T-Sox did in my mind.) The T-Sox scored 3 runs in the first. Newcastle Player of the Game, third baseman Clayton "Slammin" Smith, nearly got us out of a jam early. With the bases loaded and one out, he fielded a grounder on a short hop tagged his bag and alertly threw home for the double play. The throw at Jim's feet was too hard to handle and the T-Sox drew first blood. They were able to tack on a couple more before we were out of the jam.
Erik not only brought his employee to the game, but also
a spanking new bat! Nice work, Erik. Unfortunately, the Bad Gnus kept many of the hits still in the bat. The Bad Gnus only scored twice. Clayton had the most consistant, positive hitting. There was a 7 or 8 way tie for most consistant, negative hitting. Greg Thiesen did most of the offensive damage by smashing a ball over the outfielders in center. The fact that Greg was four feet in front of the batters box was not noticed by the umpire. Nice poke.
Somehow the Gnus were hanging around late. They were only trailing 4-2 with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Up stepped the top of the T-Sox order. Back to back players drove the ball between Keith and Sean in left center for home runs. I particularly enjoyed Sean's tumble and extended rest on the outfield grass as the ball rolled toward the tennis courts. I haven't seen that from Sean since the last concert in the park.
The T-Sox added three more in the bottom of the 6th to put the game out of reach at 9-2. 2 runs isn't a lot when the other team is throwing the ball underhand. I promise the Gnus will at least double that next week. We will be playing our dopplegangers, the Young Guns at 6:45 on Monday. The weather will be warmer, the time will be later and the keg will have already been tapped. Seriously, someone bring beer.
