Happy Monday !!!
Monday, September 14, 2015
Thursday, September 10, 2015
As the Winds Blow, So Does OBI,,, All the Way Back into D2...
One Bad Inning is on the move,,, back to the Lower Division in Thursday Night Men's Softball at Victory Lane Sports Park.
This truism despite a productive offensive outing in the Season 4 Tournament where the team scored 27 runs in only two games. What seems a slightly above average outing to most was an explosion by Season 4 standards. Hell, we scored 5 runs just the week before...
The offense was potent this week and I think we can all agree that one factor was the key. The wind was blowing out at about 100mph forcing OFers to play deeper than normal as pop flies were warning track depth at times.
Irrespective of the wind direction, mostly we saw line drives off everyone's bat and that was good to see. Our defense, though not particularly spectacular, was solid as we typically play it.
Clint was super solid in Game 1 with a 4-4 effort and there three hits each by Jakob, Juan, Paul and Nuta. Game 2 was less offensive, in fact it was more about Juan's Big Fly and 7 RBIs than anything in our 11-13 loss.
With the move back to D2, a few changes have been made to our lineup. Ok, very few...
-- Jakob is moving to #1 spot in the order.
-- Matt is moving to #2 spot in the order.
-- Jayse is moving to #3 spot in the order.
Week 1 we will be missing Jakob and John, but have Armando as a fill-in. Field 2 at 6:15 & 7:15 gents... Let's begin rebuilding our missing attribute(s) and prepare ourselves to return to D1 someday in the near future... Goooooo OBI...
This truism despite a productive offensive outing in the Season 4 Tournament where the team scored 27 runs in only two games. What seems a slightly above average outing to most was an explosion by Season 4 standards. Hell, we scored 5 runs just the week before...
The offense was potent this week and I think we can all agree that one factor was the key. The wind was blowing out at about 100mph forcing OFers to play deeper than normal as pop flies were warning track depth at times.
Irrespective of the wind direction, mostly we saw line drives off everyone's bat and that was good to see. Our defense, though not particularly spectacular, was solid as we typically play it.
Clint was super solid in Game 1 with a 4-4 effort and there three hits each by Jakob, Juan, Paul and Nuta. Game 2 was less offensive, in fact it was more about Juan's Big Fly and 7 RBIs than anything in our 11-13 loss.
With the move back to D2, a few changes have been made to our lineup. Ok, very few...
-- Jakob is moving to #1 spot in the order.
-- Matt is moving to #2 spot in the order.
-- Jayse is moving to #3 spot in the order.
Week 1 we will be missing Jakob and John, but have Armando as a fill-in. Field 2 at 6:15 & 7:15 gents... Let's begin rebuilding our missing attribute(s) and prepare ourselves to return to D1 someday in the near future... Goooooo OBI...
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
No So Triumphant Return...
3-11 (and #8 seed) OBI layed two eggs this Thursday by taking it on the chin 4-15 and 1-12. The 5 runs scored in two games is a season low that will be tough to duplicate, fingers crossed. The two losses put us into a play-in game for the Season 4 tourney, which starts Thursday at 6:15 on field 1 vs. #9 see Murphy's Law.
Game 1 was all about hitting:
Bring your $75 this week for Season 5. See ya there for the 6:15pm game on 1 !!!
Game 1 was all about hitting:
- Our opponents hit consistently throughout the game, scoring 14 runs in 4 innings at bat.
- OBI had one hit that drove in a run.
- Michael returned from 2 week sabatical and tripled in 2 runs then scored on a ground out by Larry.
- Fourth run scored on a Sac Fly by John.
- OBI had 10 hits in their 5 innings at bat.
- Both Matt and Juan collected two.
- Nuta is recovering from a foul bat taken across the nose. As is a key subject in Major League Baseball, broken bats do enter the stands from time to time. Thus, all should be mindful of flying debris (but I digress).
- Our opponents hit consistently throughout the game, scoring 12 runs in 5 innings at bat.
- OBI had five hits, total.
- JR raked two hits and scored the lone OBI run.
- Matt, Jayse and Michael each had one hit.
- Spillane, John, and Juan each had one plate appearance.
- Interestingly, the run was scored on a Fielders Choice by Larry.
Bring your $75 this week for Season 5. See ya there for the 6:15pm game on 1 !!!
Thursday, August 6, 2015
12 Reasons Life Will Get Better
OBIers, take note of the 12 Reasons Life Will get better...
12 Players will pave the way into the future.
Last week, 11 Players felt momentum begin to crumble.
10 Baserunners stranded in Game 1.
Almost all 9 lives used up by Team Wear It.
Ain't (8) Gonna Play those guys no more... (Really?)
Scored 7 Runs in the double header.
6 Baserunners stranded in Game 2.
5 Gold Rings (sorry, had to do it).
4-ever and Never are a really long time.
Total of 3 players batting .500 or better through 6 games in season 4..
2 Wins There for the taking turned into losses.
1 Chance we Each have, every time we take a breath.
No matter your past victories or failures,
Standing up and giving you best each time you are given an opportunity,
That is what makes you the best you can be, in life, in softball, in your own heart.
Let's play OBI Softball from today forward. As Babe Ruth once said, "Never let the fear of striking out get in your way"... Just hit, baby...
And as I like to say "Be The Ball"... However, the real quote goes like this,,, "There's a force in the universe that makes things happen; all you have to do is get in touch with it. Stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball." -Ty Webb
Ok, am about cliched out. Is it August yet? Yes !!!
12 Players will pave the way into the future.
Last week, 11 Players felt momentum begin to crumble.
10 Baserunners stranded in Game 1.
Almost all 9 lives used up by Team Wear It.
Ain't (8) Gonna Play those guys no more... (Really?)
Scored 7 Runs in the double header.
6 Baserunners stranded in Game 2.
5 Gold Rings (sorry, had to do it).
4-ever and Never are a really long time.
Total of 3 players batting .500 or better through 6 games in season 4..
2 Wins There for the taking turned into losses.
1 Chance we Each have, every time we take a breath.
No matter your past victories or failures,
Standing up and giving you best each time you are given an opportunity,
That is what makes you the best you can be, in life, in softball, in your own heart.
Let's play OBI Softball from today forward. As Babe Ruth once said, "Never let the fear of striking out get in your way"... Just hit, baby...
And as I like to say "Be The Ball"... However, the real quote goes like this,,, "There's a force in the universe that makes things happen; all you have to do is get in touch with it. Stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball." -Ty Webb
Ok, am about cliched out. Is it August yet? Yes !!!
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Flying Force are just Runnin' Fools in Disguise,,,
0-2 OBI Coach Michael Lee walked towards Field 1 this past Thursday with a bounce in his step. We were riding a 6 game losing streak and heading into a battle against a New opponent in 0-2 Flying Force. And then there was Jeff, sitting in the dugout opposite J.R., and realization set in. Flying Force was simply Runnin' Fools renamed.
Pleasantries were exchanged and onward Matt and I marched, me cursing under my breath to no avail. We had two games to play, against a known opponent, and it was stinkin' hot on field 1 for the 6:15 game. Even when things change, they stay the same. C'est la vie (such is life for those who do not eat french toast)...
This weeks version of softball life was all about defense and timely hitting. We made the defensive plays we needed and hit just well enough to come from behind in game 1 and simply scratched and clawed our way to two victories in pitching duel fashion at 9-6 and 5-3.
Game 1 started with a Brent two-out Single driving in Nuta. Then, after The Force put up all 6 of their runs in the bottom of the 1st, Larry and Paul started some fireworks OBI-style by each Doubling. Then, Matt, Nuta, and Spillane singled to answer back and bring the score to 4-6.
After Brent's 300' Single (I mean his bat flip and HR trot looked good), Larry and JR singled as we pulled within 1 run. Tie the game we did in the top of the 4th after sickly Matt collected his second hit of the game, eventually scoring from 2B on a Deep Sac Fly by Jayse,,, to third base... Moving on,,, the score remained the same until the top of the 7th inning when OBI broke out on Singles by Jayse, Brent, Jakob,,, and, oh ya, a 2-run Triple by J.R.
Defensively, after giving up 6 runs in the first, we held The Force scoreless in their final 6 at bats. We made the plays when we needed and Larry pitched extremely well the entire game.
Game 2 was another 7 inning affair. Again, good defense, not so good hitting (especially by the Force), and pitching were the difference in this game. After The Force put up a run in the top of the first. OBI went quietly into that dark night, 1,2,3...
OBI then put up back to back 2 spots over the next two innings and took a 4-1 lead after 3. Jayse, Michael, Larry and J.R. singled in the second. While it was Nuta and Spillane who singled and scored on Brent's double in the third inning.
The Force made it interesting scoring 2 in the top of the 5th inning. But, OBI was up to the task and pushed across a run in the bottom of the 6th. This insurance run made the difference and was the final tally of the double header, giving OBI the 5-3 win.
J.R. pitched game 2 and was as on point as Larry in game 1, giving up only 3 runs. Combined, the Lefty/Righty combo,,, errr, combined to give up only 9 runs over 14 innings. Even more impressive is the fact that over the final 13 innings, we gave up only 3 runs defensively.
This is where I bow to the pitching and defensive gods. Keep on Keepin' On !!!
Pleasantries were exchanged and onward Matt and I marched, me cursing under my breath to no avail. We had two games to play, against a known opponent, and it was stinkin' hot on field 1 for the 6:15 game. Even when things change, they stay the same. C'est la vie (such is life for those who do not eat french toast)...
This weeks version of softball life was all about defense and timely hitting. We made the defensive plays we needed and hit just well enough to come from behind in game 1 and simply scratched and clawed our way to two victories in pitching duel fashion at 9-6 and 5-3.
Game 1 started with a Brent two-out Single driving in Nuta. Then, after The Force put up all 6 of their runs in the bottom of the 1st, Larry and Paul started some fireworks OBI-style by each Doubling. Then, Matt, Nuta, and Spillane singled to answer back and bring the score to 4-6.
After Brent's 300' Single (I mean his bat flip and HR trot looked good), Larry and JR singled as we pulled within 1 run. Tie the game we did in the top of the 4th after sickly Matt collected his second hit of the game, eventually scoring from 2B on a Deep Sac Fly by Jayse,,, to third base... Moving on,,, the score remained the same until the top of the 7th inning when OBI broke out on Singles by Jayse, Brent, Jakob,,, and, oh ya, a 2-run Triple by J.R.
Defensively, after giving up 6 runs in the first, we held The Force scoreless in their final 6 at bats. We made the plays when we needed and Larry pitched extremely well the entire game.
Game 2 was another 7 inning affair. Again, good defense, not so good hitting (especially by the Force), and pitching were the difference in this game. After The Force put up a run in the top of the first. OBI went quietly into that dark night, 1,2,3...
OBI then put up back to back 2 spots over the next two innings and took a 4-1 lead after 3. Jayse, Michael, Larry and J.R. singled in the second. While it was Nuta and Spillane who singled and scored on Brent's double in the third inning.
The Force made it interesting scoring 2 in the top of the 5th inning. But, OBI was up to the task and pushed across a run in the bottom of the 6th. This insurance run made the difference and was the final tally of the double header, giving OBI the 5-3 win.
J.R. pitched game 2 and was as on point as Larry in game 1, giving up only 3 runs. Combined, the Lefty/Righty combo,,, errr, combined to give up only 9 runs over 14 innings. Even more impressive is the fact that over the final 13 innings, we gave up only 3 runs defensively.
This is where I bow to the pitching and defensive gods. Keep on Keepin' On !!!
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
OBI Drops 2nd Double Header to Midlife Crisis in 3 weeks...
Season 4 started where Season 3 left off, another Double Header loss. Grrrrrrrrr,,, as OBI scored 6 runs in both games and lost to Midlife Crisis 6-8 & 6-11. We played excellent defense in both the outfield and infield. In fact, one of the double plays has Matt's fingers still numb.
A few notable things happened this week:
-- J.R. was unable to play and contacted his own fill-in.
-- Brent played well as J.R.'s fill-in.
-- Nuta and Hanshaw begged out late and did not provide a fill-in.
-- Juan Reynoso has agreed to join our squad, but will miss week 2.
-- A different Brent will fill-in for Juan this week.
-- Did I mention Matt's hand is still numb from last week?
-- Spillane hit very well batting second
Only a couple players did not have 2 hits in the game. We were simply unable to put more than a couple hits together for the first four innings.
Game 2 was very similar, obviously as we once again scored only 6 runs. As we all know, only going to win a few games scoring this number of runs per game.
However, good things are on the horizon. OBI heads to field 1 this week and is poised to make some noise.
Let's each work hard to perform this week at the level we know we can. Play within ourselves, hustle and "Hit it where they ain't".
Season 4 stats will be available after the Week 2 games...
A few notable things happened this week:
-- J.R. was unable to play and contacted his own fill-in.
-- Brent played well as J.R.'s fill-in.
-- Nuta and Hanshaw begged out late and did not provide a fill-in.
-- Juan Reynoso has agreed to join our squad, but will miss week 2.
-- A different Brent will fill-in for Juan this week.
-- Did I mention Matt's hand is still numb from last week?
-- Spillane hit very well batting second
Only a couple players did not have 2 hits in the game. We were simply unable to put more than a couple hits together for the first four innings.
Game 2 was very similar, obviously as we once again scored only 6 runs. As we all know, only going to win a few games scoring this number of runs per game.
However, good things are on the horizon. OBI heads to field 1 this week and is poised to make some noise.
Let's each work hard to perform this week at the level we know we can. Play within ourselves, hustle and "Hit it where they ain't".
Season 4 stats will be available after the Week 2 games...
#8 Seed OBI Unable to Play Up to Competition...
Before their contest against #1 seed Team Wear It,,, the OBI squad conceded defeat with their actions in the dugout and on the field. Tough to stay positive and play against well a team we dislike so much, I get it. This is simply a culture issue, it is not a reflection of the talent on our OBI team. We can hang with any team when we play our game.
It really boils down to how we approach each game,,, the culture cultivated by the coach. Here is where I have failed OBI/Split City/2x Champs in 2014... And I hope to right the ship as we move forward.
I feel the key is maintain our core group and add a piece or two that will have a positive affect on the overall performance of the squad (from both an offensive and defensive perspective). The first move has been made, I am putting it in writing here in the blog...
Next step, another on me,,, be a better leader on the field and in the dugout. Leadership by example on the field and at the plate is my plan. Am going to take Paul's words of encouragement to heart and I hope each of you will do the same... "Hit it like you do in the batting cage". Thanks for the reminder Paul !!!
In the Season 3 tourney opening game, we found ourselves down 15-2 after 3 innings. Dim things looked prior to the top of the 4th inning where things took a positive turn with Clint leading off with a Double. One out later, Michael doubled, then Jayse and Nuta each singled. After John walked, Jakob singled in another run and finally, Paul singled home 2 more runs to bring the score to 15-7.
The final score was a 5 inning defeat of 18-7. This sent us to up against Runnin' Fools in the 7th Place Consolation game,,, wellllllll, after 3 innings OBI was once again down, but this time was only 8-1. Our 1 run courtesy of hustle and back-to-back singles by Nuta and Jayse with a Sac Fly by Michael.
Again the 4th inning played a big role in the game as J.R.'s one-out single followed by a Nuta double set the tables for Jayse's 2-run single. Then the unexpected happened in the bottom of the inning as the Runnin' Fools loaded the bases with no outs. The next batter, Jeff, hit a two-hopper to Michael playing shallow at third base and an unusual triple play unfurled.
With the runner on third not immediately breaking from third base, Michael took the ball in his hand and in one motion tagged the runner standing on 3rd base (first out), stepped on 3rd base (second out), and threw to 2nd base for the third out of the play.
There, Jayse,,, I posted the note about the play (whew)... This was a special play in my life, especially getting a high five from all my teammates as they stepped off the field afterwards. I look forward to making the second half of 2015 special as we continue playing hard, no matter which team is in the opposing dugout.
It really boils down to how we approach each game,,, the culture cultivated by the coach. Here is where I have failed OBI/Split City/2x Champs in 2014... And I hope to right the ship as we move forward.
I feel the key is maintain our core group and add a piece or two that will have a positive affect on the overall performance of the squad (from both an offensive and defensive perspective). The first move has been made, I am putting it in writing here in the blog...
Next step, another on me,,, be a better leader on the field and in the dugout. Leadership by example on the field and at the plate is my plan. Am going to take Paul's words of encouragement to heart and I hope each of you will do the same... "Hit it like you do in the batting cage". Thanks for the reminder Paul !!!
In the Season 3 tourney opening game, we found ourselves down 15-2 after 3 innings. Dim things looked prior to the top of the 4th inning where things took a positive turn with Clint leading off with a Double. One out later, Michael doubled, then Jayse and Nuta each singled. After John walked, Jakob singled in another run and finally, Paul singled home 2 more runs to bring the score to 15-7.
The final score was a 5 inning defeat of 18-7. This sent us to up against Runnin' Fools in the 7th Place Consolation game,,, wellllllll, after 3 innings OBI was once again down, but this time was only 8-1. Our 1 run courtesy of hustle and back-to-back singles by Nuta and Jayse with a Sac Fly by Michael.
Again the 4th inning played a big role in the game as J.R.'s one-out single followed by a Nuta double set the tables for Jayse's 2-run single. Then the unexpected happened in the bottom of the inning as the Runnin' Fools loaded the bases with no outs. The next batter, Jeff, hit a two-hopper to Michael playing shallow at third base and an unusual triple play unfurled.
With the runner on third not immediately breaking from third base, Michael took the ball in his hand and in one motion tagged the runner standing on 3rd base (first out), stepped on 3rd base (second out), and threw to 2nd base for the third out of the play.
There, Jayse,,, I posted the note about the play (whew)... This was a special play in my life, especially getting a high five from all my teammates as they stepped off the field afterwards. I look forward to making the second half of 2015 special as we continue playing hard, no matter which team is in the opposing dugout.
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