Slugs get it started for 2011

Slugs softball returned for a 10th season Thursday, as the seasoned squad fell to the Chestnuts despite some spirited play.

Kicking off the 2011 campaign, Slugs rookie Dustin Nicolodi delivered a two-run blast and Kevin Yamamura made the highlight reel with a fully extended catch in center field.

“The mounds of newly cut grass cushioned my dive nicely,” Yamamura said.

The Slugs' offense came to life in the bottom of the third. With two out and Jim Miller on second after a 10-foot hit, the team cut loose.

A key smack came from Kathy Fairbanks, who stepped to the dish after the ‘Nuts pitched around Nicolodi. She made them pay with a two-RBI single to right.

The Slugs set the Chestnuts down in order in the next inning. But that was a close as they got, as the youthful ‘Nuts tacked on a few more runs and won 18-9.

Game notes:

• Coach Kepley said nine runs were the most the Slugs had ever scored against the team of teal.

• Two rain-outs delayed the Slugs' season debut. On Thursday, game-time temperatures were in the 70's.
  

• The Tallac was the venue for post-game pizza, drinks and a Giants 2-1 Opening Day loss. "161-1 is still pretty good," Ahmed Ortiz said.
  

Slugs Win! SLUGS WIN!!

Slugs schedule - Fall 2009

July 30 7:30 p.m. Slugs at Socals
August 6 6:30 p.m. Papi Flanagan's at Slugs
August 13 6:30 p.m. Slugs at University of Phoenix
August 20 8:30 p.m. Slugs at Loose Change
August 27 7:30 p.m. Murph's Red Rocket at Slugs
Sept. 3 9:30 p.m. Slugs at Majority Rules
Sept. 10 7:30 p.m. Chinchillas at Slugs
Sept. 17 8:30 p.m. Socal's at Slugs

Slugs beat SoCals

By Jim Miller

Slugs correspondent

Five years of futility ended convincingly Thursday as the Slugs knocked off longtime rival SoCals, stunning the barstool bashers 9-6.

Clutch two-out hitting, stingy defense, and timely automatic outs improved the Slugs to 2-and-20 lifetime against SoCals and began the fall 2009 season on an up note.

“Slugs beat SoCals!” a joyous Coach John Kepley yelled afterward in a series of cell phone calls to friends, family, and a confused housewife in Bavaria.

Erin McGuire’s pitching kept the SoCals hitters off-balance and she snared a shot back through the box.

Other stellar defense came from Ryan Lillis, who turned three doubles plays, and Mackenzie Yamamura caught a popup in her third base debut.

On offense, Ahmed Ortiz went 3-for-3 and drove in some runs. Kepley posted the team’s only extra-base hit and keen-eyed Judy Lin walked and singled. In the bleachers, Kevin Yamamura’s parents provided moral support.

With two outs and the game tied 6-6, Ellen Chrismer punched a shot up the middle and drove home her dribbler-hitting husband for the go-ahead run. A pair of insurance runs followed.

As the Slugs took the field for the final half inning, few at a tense Tahoe Park were unaware that SoCals had won every matchup since the Bush-Kerry campaign, including some agonizing come-from-behind victories.

Not this time. SoCals’ lack of women spotted the Slugs a first out. Two quick outs followed and the victorious Slugs headed to the Tallac.

“We hit the ball all over. It was awesome!” McGuire noted in her post-game remarks.

Squibs: Katherine Skorupski played the entire game at second base…Kathy Fairbanks tweaked her shoulder during pre-game warmups and is listed as day-to-day…A dead battery kept Dan Smith from the game and Molly Dugan had a migraine…Left-handed slugger Ed Fletcher attended a mixer for the Sacramento Black Journalists Association but joined the Slugs at the bar…Juliet Williams returned from budget duty and played…The Slugs play Papa Flanagans next week.

Slugs to play for title

Another thrilling comeback victory Thursday assured the Slugs a shot at the Summer League softball championship.
Left-fielder Ahmed Ortiz beat out an infield hit to knock in the go-ahead run in the top of the last inning in the 7-6 triumph over E's: The Big Bad Bumpy's. Solid defense in the bottom half locked down the team's sixth victory against one loss. The 6-1 Slugs will face the Bumpys again on July 23 (a make-up from the June 4 rain out) for the title and the coveted t-shirts.
The late-game thrills followed an heroic come-from-behind effort that featured, once again, contributions throughout the line-up:
* -- Two huge plays at first by Jim Miller, scooping two low throws and making an acrobatic leg tag up the first-base line.
* -- Cat-like fielding at third by Erin McGuire filling in for Ryan Lillis who missed the game to be with his family.
* -- Alert outfield play that prevented numerous extra bases by cutting off line drives and making quick, smart throws into the infield.
* -- Molly Dugan's adept snag of a foul tip behind the plate that slowed a Bumpy's rally.
* -- Speedy baserunning by Kevin Yamamura who scored from first on an outfield hit.
* -- Smart managing by Skipper John Kepley (he hadn't had a drink in four days) who noticed the opponents had slipped a sixth man into the field in violation of the rules.
Kepley reveled in the stunning comeback, but said he would use the off week to develop a championship game strategy. Stay tuned.

Slugs unbeaten streak stretches to 4

Slugs Skipper John Kepley called it the second greatest Slugs game of all time.
Lanky left-fielder Ahmed Ortiz opined that it showed the Slugs have "the collective heart of a champion."
If nothing else, the Slugs fourth straight win in the summer campaign -- a 10-9 comeback thriller over the St. Damien's Beard Correctly Punctuated Softball Team -- was a total team effort.
Consider:
* -- Kepley's stunning stop of short-hop line shot for a key out to halt the go-ahead run from scoring.
* -- Ellen Chrismer's nonchalant grab of a testy shot to right field.
* -- Erin McGuire's steady pitching through adversity.
* -- Ryan Lillis' towering grand slam to bring the good guys and gals within two during the eight-run fourth inning comeback.
* -- Several female Slugs showed patience at the plate to draw walks during the comeback.
* -- Jim Miller's long-legged and crafty base-running produced the game winner after a textbook slide at the plate.
* -- Even the old man at first emerged from a season-long slump to go two for two with a pair of RBI.
Slugs held a 1-0 lead early, but fell behind 9-1 after a Slugs-like inning that has been rare this season. "The Comeback" in the bottom of the fourth tied it at 9. The Slugs held firm in the top of the fifth and then declared victory after time expired with Miller's slide-off game winner.
In the end, the Slugs were 4-0, leading the league and walking on air.
The team is guaranteed at least a .500 season after a devastating opening campaign that now seems like ancient history.

Slugs notes: With at least a 4-4 season guaranteed, at least two Slugs will have to make good on pre-season challenges. Vegetarian Chrismer will devour a hamburger from "Burgers and Brew." Kepley will join her but eat a non-meat burger that includes some ingedient we can't even pronounce, let alone spell...

Summer schedule

May 21, 7:30 "University" of Phoenix Diploma Mills at Slugs



May 28, 9:30 Slugs at Papi Flanagan's



June 4, 6:30 E3's: The Big Bad Bumpy's at Slugs



June 11, Bye No game this week



June 18, 7:30 St. Damien's Beard Correctly Punctuated Softball Team at Slugs



June 25, 8:30 Slugs at "University" of Phoenix Campus Strip Mall Profiteers



July 2, 6:30 Papi Flanagan's at Slugs



July 9, 9:30 Slugs at E3's The Big Bad Bumpy's



July 16, Bye. No game this week.