Week 1 Scores

The most interesting things I see here are that the new team (team extreme) got man-handeld, and that Ballz Deep got 15 runned by Doublewide.  For you new guys, Ballz Deep is the team we beat in the championship last year.

Two and Oh my goodness!

The first night of the regular season was by all accounts successful.  The first game against Alliance was tight...but exciting.  The score was 5-3 heading into the 6th.  We scored some runs and had a 9 run lead heading into the last inning, but gave up 7 until we got the final out with the tieing run at the plate.  Implosion averted. 
Final Score: 14-12

Second game was much more relaxing, mostly due to the 15 run third inning...  All of those third inning runs were scored without homeruns either....all 3 bombs were hit in the second.  Silver Bullets handeled the situation with class though, and you have to appreciate thier attitude.  Final Score: 22-2

Everyone played good this week, but when you look at the box score only 1 guy really stands out...

B-Dubs Playa of the Week
Scott Hofmiester
8 for 8 with 4 home runs and 14 rbi's
An unreal week for Hof...maybe the best single performance that we have ever experienced.  Nice work man!

Sports Psychologist

After hitting .689 last year and winning the triple crown... Fosmo doesn't look so good this year.  If his pre-season workouts and practice games are any indication, he seems destined for an early season slump.  To help him out, I contacted a sports psychologist to see if he had any advice for our #4 hitter.  I really hope this helps...

First admit what you are going through....

"When you’re in a hitting slump, everything seems wrong. Your stance just does not feel right. You don’t see the ball well. You don’t react well. You don’t anticipate well. The bat is not comfortable in your hands. You’re guessing wrong and you’re thinking too much. You try to focus on the ball, but your mind is some place else. Pitchers seem to sense this and they pitch aggressively to you and keep you off balance. You are making matters worse by criticizing yourself and your confidence is dropping just like your batting average."

Then visualize where you want to be....

"When you’re in the zone, your bat is hot. The ball seems large-like a basketball. You’re timing is perfect. You feel comfortable at the plate and you make solid contact with everything. Your cleats feel good. The bat feels great in your hands and the game is lots of fun. You guess right and the pitchers are scared of you. Everything is easy. You don’t have to think about a thing. It just happens. It is almost magical."

A few final words from the doctor....

"I'm not going to teach you anything that you don't already know how to do! You have everything that you need inside you right now in order to play the way you once did! Just think back to some of those great games that you used to play. Remember what they felt like! All those skills and feelings are still there. We just have to help you get back there."

"Mental toughness in softball starts with your ability to handle failure. You can't be good in this game without the ability to quickly bounce back from errors, miscues, lousy calls and strikeouts. If you have trouble letting go of your failures and tend to carry them around with you, then chances are good that you'll consistently play way below your potential. How about pressure? Do you know how to stay cool in the clutch? Can you effectively manage the stress of big game competition? Without the ability to relax you can't play good ball. Don't forget your concentration skills. The cornerstone of peak athletic performance on the ball field is your ability to focus on what's important and block out everything else. What kind of focusing skills do you have? Can you block out the razzing crowd, your rowdy opponents and the scouts in the stands? Let's not forget self-confidence and that all important belief in yourself."

Are you in a hitting slump? Are you struggling with a repetitive throwing problem? Let me help you get your game back on track with my One-On-One phone consultation services. Call me today at (413) 549-1085.

Scrimmage Sunday

For those of you who are coming...here is the info if you need it.

Be at the field by 6:00....we will start playing shortly after.

Take 494 to Hwy 7 West.  Head west past Excelsior.  You will see a green sign for Eureka Rd on your right.  Take a right onto that road...then a take your 2nd left to the fields.  We will have 3 teams coming together to make up 2 squads.  We plan on playing a full scrimmage...but you may have to be somewhat flexible since we will be combining squads to create the teams.  If you are riding with me, be at my place by 5:30.  We can stop at BWW in Chanhassen on the way home if you want....or maybe Dairy Queen if you are good.

Practice Game Recap

We were a little rusty for the first few innings of last nights game...especially on defense....but tightened things up for a respectable showing, even taking the lead for small time.  On offense, the top of the order was great last night...top 3 guys combining to go 15 for 18.....the heart of the order wasn't as great....going 6 for 17 (Fosmo was 1 for 6...but he is a notorisly slow starter) and the bottom 4 guys were all 2 for 5.   Props to both Derek and Scott who both went 6 for 6.   If you would like more practice before the games matter, we are playing a scrimmage on Sunday night at 6pm.   The game is at Freeman Park off of Highway 7....if you are coming from the East feel free to come to my house in Eden Prairie and ride up there with me.  I will send out an email shortly.

Practice Scheduled - Next Tuesday

Hey guys, we reserved a practice field for April 13th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.  We will take some fielding and plenty of BP.  Try to make it if at all possible.  A few new guys this year so its good to meet everyone before the bright lights....um, well not really, just be there.  The practice is at the same field we practiced at last year (not big willow).  The first game at Big Willow is on Tuesday April 20th.  The real games start on the 27th.

Central Park Field #2

It is located right off of Excelsior Blvd. between 169 and Shady Oak.  Field 2 is the one on the right (east side).

Parking...there is a parking lot to the NW of the field, or there are spaces along 13th Ave S. along the east edge of the field.

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