...end of requirement that she shower at the truck stop. There is a long-standing Slugs tradition requiring the coach to shower at the oddly-named Silver Nugget truck stop if the team goes undefeated. It was beginning to look like Slugs skipper Tamara Keith might have to start getting the flip flops ready as the Slugs started off the summer season with a stellar 2-0 record. But Backseat Drivers had a message for the Slugs last Thursday night "put away those flip flops."
Other than Ellen's stellar hitting, the rest of the Slugs had cold bats Thursday night. We just couldn't catch a break. How many of us hit a grounder to the first baseman? Coach Keith says: "I lost count, but I know he grabbed every single one of them." Our defense was totally solid, but without our usual good string of swings, we just couldn't defeat the Backseat Drivers. But, former coach Kepley says "It was close...and if we had kept playing a few more innings, we would have beat them."
Center fielder Ahmed Ortiz said many things after the game about learning moments, overcoming adversity, playing well as a team, etc...but this reporter was too upset about the loss to write down the quotes.
Frustrated by her own batting, Coach Keith went on an E-Bay rampage Friday night. She purchased a $90 bat (which totally kicks butt, just wait) and a special cover so she can use it at the batting cages without destroying it.
Any Slugs interested in hitting the cages some night this week?
Monday, July 30, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
Who's Your Daddy?
By Neurotic D-Leaguer
When they took the field Thursday evening, the Slugs didn't know they would rally in the last inning for victory over Papa Flanagan's.
In fact, one Slug didn't even know this after playing in the game.
Before a record-setting crowd of seven for the 2007 season, the Slugs defeated Papa Flanagan's, moving their record to 2-0 in Summer League.
While Coach Tamara Keith served her second suspension of the year for bringing a pink water bottle to softball, the Slugs' good play extended up and down the available roster. From Jim Miller's dazzling outfield play and brilliant hitting in the lead-off spot to Ellen "Sproutsy" Chrismer's gritty game behind the plate, the home team kept it close all game before locking down the Flanaganses in the top of the last inning and coming back from a three-run deficit in the bottom half.
The game was so close that the Slugs' right fielder didn't realize her team had won.
"We won?" Judy Lin asked after the celebratory handshakes.
Her confusion might have resulted from ex-Slug-turned-turncoat Chris Bryce pitching and hitting cleanup for the Flanaganses, with a newfound Zen and needing only one shirt for the entire game. Or she just might be that confused all the time.
But she wasn't confused when a Flanagan hit a rocket shot to right in the last inning. Lin knocked her hat off like a pro, charged in and made a sweet one-handed grab. The roar of the crowd sounded like at least 10 people were there.
Lin joined an outfield of Ed Fletcher, Miller and Ahmed Ortiz that combined for nearly flawless play. Other defensive highlights were Christa Hunter snagging some wicked liners at third; shortstop John Kepley combining on a double play with Harrison Sheppard, who played a great game in his inaugural appearance at first; and Erin McGuire's usual outstanding pitching performance.
The only lowlights were another bite by the injury bug (this time a mosquito, not five wasp stings) and Matt Coldwell not showing up again. Kevin Yamamura, resting a sore Achilles' tendon, provided insightful analysis from the bench and expertly managed the baserunning in the decisive final inning.
What we do know is that the Slugs -- at 2-0, in first place, with momentum and improved teamwork, and Yamamura and Chrismer getting extra time from next week's bye to heal up -- are poised to rekindle the venerable Slugs tradition of the undefeated manager taking a shower at the 49'er Truck Plaza after the season.
When they took the field Thursday evening, the Slugs didn't know they would rally in the last inning for victory over Papa Flanagan's.
In fact, one Slug didn't even know this after playing in the game.
Before a record-setting crowd of seven for the 2007 season, the Slugs defeated Papa Flanagan's, moving their record to 2-0 in Summer League.
While Coach Tamara Keith served her second suspension of the year for bringing a pink water bottle to softball, the Slugs' good play extended up and down the available roster. From Jim Miller's dazzling outfield play and brilliant hitting in the lead-off spot to Ellen "Sproutsy" Chrismer's gritty game behind the plate, the home team kept it close all game before locking down the Flanaganses in the top of the last inning and coming back from a three-run deficit in the bottom half.
The game was so close that the Slugs' right fielder didn't realize her team had won.
"We won?" Judy Lin asked after the celebratory handshakes.
Her confusion might have resulted from ex-Slug-turned-turncoat Chris Bryce pitching and hitting cleanup for the Flanaganses, with a newfound Zen and needing only one shirt for the entire game. Or she just might be that confused all the time.
But she wasn't confused when a Flanagan hit a rocket shot to right in the last inning. Lin knocked her hat off like a pro, charged in and made a sweet one-handed grab. The roar of the crowd sounded like at least 10 people were there.
Lin joined an outfield of Ed Fletcher, Miller and Ahmed Ortiz that combined for nearly flawless play. Other defensive highlights were Christa Hunter snagging some wicked liners at third; shortstop John Kepley combining on a double play with Harrison Sheppard, who played a great game in his inaugural appearance at first; and Erin McGuire's usual outstanding pitching performance.
The only lowlights were another bite by the injury bug (this time a mosquito, not five wasp stings) and Matt Coldwell not showing up again. Kevin Yamamura, resting a sore Achilles' tendon, provided insightful analysis from the bench and expertly managed the baserunning in the decisive final inning.
What we do know is that the Slugs -- at 2-0, in first place, with momentum and improved teamwork, and Yamamura and Chrismer getting extra time from next week's bye to heal up -- are poised to rekindle the venerable Slugs tradition of the undefeated manager taking a shower at the 49'er Truck Plaza after the season.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Things are looking up already
After a few touch and go hours, with the lineup in question, more than enough Slugs showed up for our first-ever bout with Amara. Amara is a solid team made up of residents of one apartment complex, so some on the bench started calling them the "Melrose Place" team. Coach Tam, having never watched more than 3 minutes of that fine evening soap, still agrees that it's an excellent nickname.
Lessons learned: Many of their women pack a lot of power with their bats. Many of their guys are also powerful hitters. Some are not. All of them appear to be getting a hang of the rules of D-B League Co-Ed Softball.
Things we learned about ourselves: hitting cutoffs is a good thing, and we did it well. Another thing we did well, backing each other up in the outfield, and calling flies when we had them. You all looked very solid out there. Also, it is critical to have a good pitcher. Erin, we love you.
Big thanks go out to Ed for bringing a cooler full of ice, and water. We needed it. Did that 106-degree day break some kind of Slugs softball record? I hope so...because we sure seasoned our jerseys with a heavy dose of sweat.
Then, I came home to a 90-degree house. It seems the Gordon AC is broken. :-( Perfect timing.
Next week: We take on a tougher opponent, with one hell of a pitcher. That is, Papa Flanagan's featuring the pitching/batting powerhouse of Chris Bryce. Fielders, you can't play this man too deep.
Mark your calendars - Papa Flanagan's V Slugs, 9:30PM (thank God), Tahoe Park
Lessons learned: Many of their women pack a lot of power with their bats. Many of their guys are also powerful hitters. Some are not. All of them appear to be getting a hang of the rules of D-B League Co-Ed Softball.
Things we learned about ourselves: hitting cutoffs is a good thing, and we did it well. Another thing we did well, backing each other up in the outfield, and calling flies when we had them. You all looked very solid out there. Also, it is critical to have a good pitcher. Erin, we love you.
Big thanks go out to Ed for bringing a cooler full of ice, and water. We needed it. Did that 106-degree day break some kind of Slugs softball record? I hope so...because we sure seasoned our jerseys with a heavy dose of sweat.
Then, I came home to a 90-degree house. It seems the Gordon AC is broken. :-( Perfect timing.
Next week: We take on a tougher opponent, with one hell of a pitcher. That is, Papa Flanagan's featuring the pitching/batting powerhouse of Chris Bryce. Fielders, you can't play this man too deep.
Mark your calendars - Papa Flanagan's V Slugs, 9:30PM (thank God), Tahoe Park
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