Official Championship Poster!

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Playoff Recap - Grizzly Country

It is playoff time and yes, we have entered into Grizzly Country.  A time of year where the Grizzlies are especially dirty and those who encounter them are likely to be attacked and killed.  Some will play dead, like Gold Nugget, and be mauled methodically.  Others may provoke aggression, like Park Tavern, and be attacked quickly (like a 9 run first inning for instance).  Either way, teddy bear time is over, and the Grizzlies are out to eat.  Up next, a high protein diet of the Balco boys next Tuesday Night.

Game 1 Recap
The game against #6 Gold Nugget started off great for us as we were up 4-0 after one after 3 straight singles and a Grand Slam by Dan.  We added 3 more in 2nd as the top of the order came up big again.  The top 4 in the order started out 7-8 with with 7 runs scored in the first two innings.  By the time GN finally got on the board we were already up 9-0 in the 4th.  They did put up 5 in the 5th to tighten things up a bit,  but a 3 run blast by Fosmo in the 6th put us up ten and ended it early.  Overall it was a great way to start the playoffs as our fielding was sharp and our bats were hot. 
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 16 - Gold Nugget 6

Game 2 Recap
After watching BMW and PT go back and forth from the fence for a while were weren't quite sure who we would play.  After being tied after 7 BMW got up by 5 in the 8th and we were feeling kinda lucky that we might get to play the 7th seed instead of the 2 seed.  Park Tavern came roaring back though to win the game with a walk-off bomb and it was on....

Their team and crowd were plenty amped up after there comeback win, but that all quieted down pretty quick as we began batting.  The first time through the lineup we had 8 hits and a walk.  We didn't get our second out until 13th batter came up.  After all was said and done we ended the first with 9 hits, 2 walks and 9 runs scored.  We then proceeded to shut down the top of their order and were up 9-0 after 1.    After that our bats cooled off slightly and we began leaving a lot of guys on base.  PT scored 3 in the second and 3 more in the third to pull within 4 and keep things tight. But our D picked up and shut them down in the 4th and 5th as we added on a couple of more insurance runs to stretch the lead back to 6 heading into the final innings. 

Park Tavern was able to mount a moderate threat in the bottom of the 7th, and despite giving them a few extra outs and bases along the way we were able to eventually shut them down  and take a big step towards our goal of repeating as champs.  An especially rewarding victory after there bench ran their mouths all game and also knowing that JJ's had lost earlier and we wouldn't have to face them in the next round.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 12 - Park Tavern 8

Lone Spur Hot Wing of the Week
Brian Wedewer
8-8 with 1 Walk, 4 Runs and 3 RBI
Setting the table all night just like they do at Applebee's.

Coop's #1 Defensive Gem of the Week
Derek Berube
You've been digging balls all year, but this week you fielded a few too!

Video of Last nights game...

I will definitely get a recap up later, but luckily one of the Park Tavern fans was filming the game last night and caught most of the action on video along with the aftermath...

2014 Playoff Preview

 

Of all the ways this bracket could have landed I think it shook out about as good as we could have asked for.  Of the 4 teams we lost to this year, 3 of them (JJ's, Ballz Deep, Balco) are on the other side of the bracket.  The one remaining team we lost to is Park Tavern, but we have shown we can beat them (15-13 in Week 2) and the other two games were pretty tight, albeit low scoring (2-6 in Week 5 and 5-8 in Week 7).  Our first round matchup is against Gold Nugget, a team we have beaten multiple times (22-5, 20-15, 19-9) and seam to have good success against at the plate.  We cannot take them lightly though, as there is a chance they will bring in ringers like last year when they made a big splash the first week of playoffs scoring like 80 runs in 2 games.  Our best bet will be to get up on them early, take away any hopes they may have for an upset, get everyone swinging good and then carry that momentum into the Park Tavern were I will take our chances against those douche bags.  Those guys weren't around last year, and they probably have no idea of how to handle the pressure that comes with playoff softball in a league like this....especially against a team of hardened veterans who also just happen to be the defending champs.  Seriously though, there are usually a few crazy upsets in the playoffs, lets make sure we are on the good side of those games.

Week 10 Scores

Also, you may have noticed on the right side of the page a new section: Team Batting Stats. I was curious as to how our hitting this year compares to other years. In general our batting average is way down, at it lowest point its ever been in the 7 seasons. Also, extra base hits also are down compared to earlier years... We will still have hopefully 4 or 5 more games to add to these stats though!

Week 10 Recap

Normally we would have a recap of the games from night, but for 1, we are focused on the playoffs now so no sense looking back, and 2, the photo above pretty much sums up the most exciting part as this accurately shows the amount of damage the deranged soccer chick thought her car had sustained via homerun ball last evening.

In addition to arguing with the crazy woman who was ready to take on 22 grown men at once to get to the bottom of the damage to her beloved Toyota Prius, last night we were putting the lid on a regular season that put us firmly in 3rd place in the standings, but well below where we thought we would be following a 21-1 record in 2013. The season has been quite up and down due to injuries, inconsistent hitting, fielding lapses and a recently diagnosed lack of fun. We scored 13.3 runs per game this year (compared to 15.6 last year) and are giving up 11.1 (compared to 8.3 last year). This has led to tighter games and less margin for error. JJ's alone have handed us 3 of our losses this year outscoring us 39-66 in the process. Luckily for us they fall on the other side of the bracket for the playoffs and we won't have to deal with them until the championship where we beat them last year in dramatic fashion.

I think there is plenty of reason for hope though as our overall attitude was great last night and now the pressure is off of us completely and we can go into the playoffs with people taking us lightly and 0 pressure. Hopefully Dan can get healed up and our bats will come alive when we finally need them.... the hitting against Gold Nugget last night was definitely a good start. I sent out the bracket via email earlier, but I will post it online later in the week with a playoff preview. If anyone wants to get together for some pre-postseason BP let me know as I would be available after work on Thursday or Monday.

Week 9 Scores

Week 8 Scores

Week 7 Scores

Week 7 Recap - Ribs vs Rbi's

It was a hot and muggy and especially painful night for one member of our squad. We have now settled into 3rd place in the standings after our 4th defeat of the year. Luckily we were able to salvage game 2 despite being shorthanded due to a Tony Romo like rib injury that kept Dan on the bench and caused him to lose his flame for the first time in the last 2 seasons.

Game 1 against the first place Park Tavern squad did not go as planned.  We missed a few plays in the field and once again refused to score runs against them, losing to them for the second time on the year.  We will now have to wait for playoff time to get revenge.  Furthermore Dan's ribs gave out after he smoked a double and put a damper on the game as we had to switch up the D and lost our most consistent bat in the process.  Park Tavern may be in first place now, but they don't print T-Shirts in June.  Come playoff time it will be a whole different ballgame.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 5 - Park Tavern 8

Game 2 against the BMW went smoother for us even though Dan had to ride the bench to start his recovery program.  With 9 guys in the field we were in danger of having a really bad night.  Fortunately our D tightened up, not allowing any runs in 5 of the 7 innings.  Fosmo played exceptionally well in the outfield making numerous diving catches in left.  We were able to hold off a late rally and hang on to win which left us with a split but left BMW screaming modified swear words at the top of their lungs. 
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 6 - BMW of Minnetonka 4

Lone Spur Hot Wing of the Week
Scott Hofmeister
5-8 with 2 HR's, a triple and 7 RBI
Way to pick up the slack for Dan, driving in 64% or our runs on the evening.

Coop's #1 Defensive Gem of the Week
Eric Fosmo
Laying it on the line man on a screaming line drive, nice to see!

Week 6 Scores

Week 6 Recap - Get your roll on

It may not have been the most competitive night of softball, but we are starting to get our roll on after a short midseason slump. Everyone got at least 3 hits on the evening and our defense played well as we head into a big game against 1st Place Park Tavern next week at 6:10.

Game 1 against a rag tag Ballz Deep bunch was pretty uneventful except for Derek instigating a near riot with the Ballz Deep bench.  They could barely field a team and didn't bring their usual firepower as half of their guys we missing due to a conflict with a chest waxing convention.  We cruised to an early 5 run lead and kept them at arms length for most of the game led offensively by Dan who went 3-3 with a walk and 5 RBI.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 13 - Ballz Deep 3

Game 2 against the Stepdads felt more like a pick-up game during recess than something that was actually supposed to be competitive.  After getting up 11-3 in the third we proceeded to shuffle the defense, allowing them to put up a few runs (including an inside-the-parker) that kept the game somewhat close.  We never felt the least bit threatened though and had a nice relaxing victory that also allowed Wunder enough at bats to bust out of his HR slump.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 16 - Stepdads 9

Lone Spur Hot Wing of the Week
Dan Kitzberger
5-7 with 2 Doubles, 5 runs and 7 RBI
It would be nice if you'd hit a HR again sometime, but atleast your getting on base.

Coop's #1 Defensive Gem of the Week
Scott Hofmeister
It was a snag at SS instead of the LC, but it was still pretty.

Week 5 Scores

Week 4 Scores

Week 3 Scores

Week 3 Update - We lost.

This pretty much sums up how we played last week...

Week 2 Recap - Atleast WE won

Derek pointed out that we have now gone over a year without losing... which is a nice accomplishment.  Won't mean a thing if we don't win the championship at the end of the year, but still looks good scrolling at the bottom of ESPN.  We were all at the game and I've got a busy week so I will keep this short... plus I am still bitter the Wild lost...

Game 1 against a flashy Park Tavern squad was somewhat back and forth.  Hof rolling his ankle was a negative, but for once all 11 guys were on hand so we were able to cover him.  A 5 run 4th sparked by Dan's 3 run bomb helped us overcome a early deficit and gave us just enough cushion as we failed to score in the last two innings but held on for the win with our good defense.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 15 - Park Tavern 13

Game 2 was against the Gold Nugget squad who returns for their 2nd year in the league.  Mel Kiper would describe this team as raw and scrappy with a high ceiling.  They had plenty of power, but a late defensive adjustment after they used up all their HR's screwed up their swings and allowed us to hang on for to the win.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 20 - Gold Nugget 15

Lone Spur Hot Wing of the Week
Dan Kitzburger
8-8 with 1 HR,  2 Doubles, 6 runs and 7 RBI
Can't wait to see what you do when you shake the rust off!

Coop's #1 Defensive Gem of the Week
Brian Wedewer
When he came in as the 5th infielder everything changed...

Week 2 Scores

Week 1 Scores

Week 1 Recap - Wild night!

Coming into this week we had 2 goals.  Win both games, and get home in time to watch the Wild win.  It all came together for a great start to the season despite missing nearly half of our regular team...

In game 1 we were facing a group of guys who call them the Stepdads.  They may want to change there name to the Step Stools as we were on top of them all game. We scored 2 in the first then 6,5 and 5 in the next innings.  They ended up getting just enough runs in the bottom of the 4th to keep the game alive, but we shut them down after that and the game ended early.  Both Wurd and Berube went 4-4 and Hof had 2 wind aided HR's to right.
Final Score: Dirty Grizzlies 18 - Stepdads 5

In the second game we faced off with Balco who seem to be a poor mans Ballz Deep team... without the death threats to the umps fortunately.  They hit the ball hard and definitely kept the game tight, compounded by the fact that 5 of our regulars were missing on the evening.  Balco was in the mix all game, but some great D by Wurd and Kyle came up huge.  Heading into the 6th we were tied 7-7,  but Hof came up big again with a 3 run, 2 out bomb.  Balco got 2 back in the bottom of the inning to make it a 1 run game heading into the 7th.  We didn't score, but Balco threatened in the 7th, getting the tying run in scoring position with only 1 out, but we shut them down when it mattered most and held on for the win.
Final Score: Dirty Grizzlies 10 - Balco 9

Overall, we hit pretty well on the night and played pretty good D.  To recognize both aspects of the game we will have 2 weekly awards this year: Our typical player of the Week award for the best hitting, and also the Jason Cooper Memorial #1 Defensive Gem of the week.   Wurd looked especially good, going 8-8 and making one amazing over the shoulder grab sprinting into left field... and a case could be made that he deserves both, but Hof's 11 rbi and 3 HR, including the game winner against Balco were absolutely huge.

Lone Spur Hot Wing of the Week
Scott Hofmeister
5-8 with 3 HR, 3B, 4 runs and 11 RBI
It's hard to beat out someone who goes 8-8, but a 2.000 slugging percentage and 11 rbi does it!

Coop's #1 Defensive Gem of the Week
Brian Wurdeman
Awesome catch, one Balco guy said he was glad he came to see it!

Games Cancelled

Games are cancelled this week as expected. The schedule has been updated.  See you next week...