Team MVP

Last night we capped off the season with a few beers, some food, and a couple hours of Whirlyball.  We also voted on the 2016 MVP, which went to Dan for the 2nd straight year.  The MVP ball will now get to spend another year in his possession / trunk.  Thanks to everyone for making it a fun season!  Adios!

2016 Championship Recap - Total Domination!

After a few days, it is just starting to sink in that we are once again on the top of the softball world.  As you may have noticed at the top of the page, our 3rd championship has not gone unnoticed by some of the biggest names in the sports.  We are happy to allow them space on our website to promote their brands, brands we stand by and are happy to endorse. 

I thought it would be good to recap the happenings of the other night.  But before we get to the games, it is good to remember that we were coming off a stretch where we ended the season on a 2-6 run, having not won back to back games since May!   So you can say that our 4-0 run through the playoffs, winning the championship with a walk-off 10 run, 5 inning win was not expected by any of us.  But, the key may have been having our regular roster.  Aside from the very first game of the year,  we won EVERY single game where we had all 10 of us present.  The playoffs was the first time all of us were together since May 17th, in which we won both games and were sitting at 7-1 and alone at the top of the standings.  Getting our full roster back was clearly one of the key factors in our run.

So, back to Tuesday.  In the semi's, we faced off against Eurotech. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead after 1, but we tightened it to 4-2 after the second.  From there we held them to 0 runs in 4 straight innings, heading into the top of the 7th with a 9-4 lead.  We scored most of our runs in the 4th, where we got 4, keyed by Sam's 2 rbi single.  But in general, we small balled them to death, having only 1 extra base hit the whole game.... Hofs lead off triple in the 6th.  They scored 1 in the 7th and showed signs of a comeback, but our solid D made nearly every play and we shut them down before they could make it too interesting.
Final Score: Dirty Grizzlies 9 - Eurotech 5

After the game, we got to sit and watch Evangelical Fracking battle it out with Eurotech to see who would meet us in the Championship.  After an early lead, EFM folded like a cheap lawn chair and lost by 8.  I was excited to play Eurotech again as we had proven we could shut down there offense....

The Championship started out the same way as the previous game, with us walking off the field after the top of the first down 3 runs.  It could have been much worse though, as they had a major rally cooking with no outs which we were able to shut down without allowing any more runs to score.  In the bottom of the first we quickly tied it up when Dan hit a 3 run bomb to left center.  

From this point on its a blur....  We shut them down in the top of  the second, and then proceeded to have one our greatest innings in Dirty Grizzly history by getting 11 straight hits and on base for 13 straight plate appearances.  When the dust had settled we had scored 12 runs, Dan had hit his 2nd straight HR of the game (a Grand Slam of course, He ended up with 8 rbi in a 5 inning game), and we ended up with 13 hits, 2 walks and nearly batted around twice as we left the bases loaded.  They switched pitchers 2 or 3 times, I don't even know....  It was amazing, and it felt great to eventually enter the 3rd inning up 15-3 (after I was able to find my missing glove).  We gave them 2 back in the 3rd, but after shutting them down in the 4th we got those back in the bottom of the inning, forcing them to score three in the 5th to stay alive.  Behind a couple HR's they did get the three they needed, but it ended quickly in the bottom of the inning as the bottom our lineup delivered again, with Brett drawing a lead-off walk and eventually scoring on Eric's game winning liner to the gap.
Final Score: Dirty Grizzlies 18 - Eurotech 8

Obviously, the huge 2nd inning was awesome, but for me, the one of the best parts of the night was seeing our defense consistently make plays.  We gave them very few extra outs, and hardly any extra bases.  We played the highest scoring team in the league twice, for 12 total innings, and held them scoreless in 6 of them, only giving up a total of 13 runs on the evening.  It is so fun shutting people down... especially when they say  "Whoosh" out loud when they swing!  Awesome job guys!!

2016 Championship Poster

Playoff Bracket

We are 5-3 verses the teams on our side of the bracket....
Here are our games against Dvorak:
May 15th - W, 15-11 (We were up 12-1 after 3, then they tightened it up down the stretch)
June 7th, - L, 13-14 (They were up 13-4 after 3, then we came back to nearly tie it in the  last two innings)

Week 10 Recap - Lucky Lights

Well, it could have been worse.  We ended the regular season losing 6 of 8.  Our hottest hitter from the early part of the season has been changing diapers and unable to attend in over a month.  Our tight d is looser than George Castanzas bed sheets... yet we still landed the #3 seed and are luckily on the favorable side of the bracket!

Since we will surely meet up with one of the same teams from this week in the playoffs in game 2, I thought it would be good to go over what happened in both games. In game one against the jerks from Evangelical Fracking we got up to a early lead behind Dan's first inning bomb. We scored 3 more in the second, but after only scoring 1 in the 3rd they managed to tie the game at 7-7. We scored runs in every inning though, and considering the fact we left runners in scoring position in 6 of the 7 innings this could have been an easier win. I wouldn't mind meeting up with these guys in round 2 if they happened to beat Excelsior Brewers in their Rd 1 game.  Or if we both lose, then we will meet them in the loser bracket.  Worst case scenario would be having them beat Excelsior and us losing, thus having to play the #2 seed in a do or die game in the first week of playoffs... lets just take care of business in Game 1 so we don't put ourselves in that bind.

In Game Two, we got up early on Excelsior Brewers as well, with 4 runs in the first. But they came back with 3 in the 1st and 3 more in the second. We bounced back with 6 in the third though behind 6 straight hits....but we it could have been more as we left the bases loaded.  It was 10-6 after three.  After that rally we didn't score another run though... and only had 5 hits in the last 4 innings. During that same span they put up 6, 3, and 4 runs. From what I remember, our defensive lapses (especially in LF) gave them ALOT of extra bases... many with 2 outs in the inning. If we would have played even average D and would have managed to put up a few runs in the last 4 innings this could have been a very different game.

But with that said, its on to the playoffs. It is pretty clear that anyone has a shot this year from top to bottom. Every game will be a battle, but when the pressure mounts I like the chances of a team that has been through this playoff meat grinder 8 times already...walking away with the title in 3 of those years...

If we have our full team playing at full throttle things could be fun, if not, well then its time to start thinking about Whirly Ball.  I tell ya, it would be a lot more fun doing that as champs than it would as losers!!

Week 9 Scores: Sick of Losing....

Wurd said it best after the game when he lamented about how he is just sick of losing.  I totally agree.  But on the bright side, despite a defense patched together with duct tape and super glue, we managed a come from behind win in game 1 which really helped us in the standings.  Game 2 was a different story though.  An early 5-0 lead sparked by Dan's grand slam evaporated quickly and we could never quite get back on top despite improved hitting.  Recent struggles aside, we are somehow in sole possession of the #2 seed, with a reasonable chance of getting the #1 seed if we win both next week.  Park Tav is in first now, but we own the tie-breaker on them with a 2-1 record and they could easily lose one of their last two games.  Now is when things start getting interesting... nobody will remember this cold spell if we can snap out of it.  Our bats started to wake up, with 5 of us hitting .625 or better on the evening and we also combined for 5 HR's.  If we can find a way to tighten up things on defense we might be able to pull out of this nose dive yet.  Championships aren't won in June... they are won in July and July starts tomorrow!!  We're comin!!!

Week 8 Scores

Update later... I need to gather my thoughts...

Games Cancelled Tonight

Week 7 Scores

Not good...

Week 6 Scores

A lot of crazy stuff happened in the standings the last two weeks...

• Doublewide has gone very cold... 0-4, putting up only 22 runs.
• Mainstreet (Gold Nugget) is hot... 4-0, putting up 57 runs
• Eurotech is coming on... 3-1, 62 runs
• Excelsior Brewers is 3-1 as well, only giving up 22 runs in those 4 games
• Park Tavern and EFM are both 1-3, dropping in the standings as well

The bizarre thing is that 5 teams now have an identical 6-6 record, and we enjoy a nice 3 game lead for the #1 seed.

Week 6 Recap - Celebration Bruhaha!

Game 1 ended early as we sprung out to an early lead and never looked back. Our D was pretty solid all around and the top of our order was on fire, as the guys hitting in the 2-6 spots combined to go 14 for 15.  We now have a combined score of 37-18 vs those guys this year.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 12 - Evangelical Fracking Moguls 2

After a long delay as the ump took his mandatory smoke break, we got back at it versus a very competitive Park Tavern squad.  Hof got us off to a good start by hitting a 3-run dinger in the top of the first, but after that we slowly fell behind in the middle innings as PT used up all of the HR's early.  Our 2-6 hitters that were so hot in game 1 really cooled off combining for a 7-22 (.318) effort in game 2.  Luckily, the rest of the line-up picked things up, especially late in the game leading to 11 runs in the 5th and 6th innings to put us back in the lead. We failed to score in the top of the 7th, but it didn't matter as we shut them down in the bottom of the inning to preserve the 1 run victory. 

Before the dust even settled on the last out, classy #69 from PT took exception to our excitement and he tried to make us feel bad for taking the game too seriously.  From his reaction, you would think that we had acted like we just won the '87 World Series, jumping up and down like Kent Hrbek.  Berube pointed out that this guys statement was quite hypocritical considering the fact he single handedly pulled the pitcher from the game after a few walks without so much as a consultation with anyone else on the team and also berated the ump repeatedly over borderline calls... yet WE are the ones who take things too seriously!  Unbelievable.  We couldn't hit the starting pitcher worth a crap, but funny, as soon as mr tough guy came in he proceeded to give up an inside the park home run to Wurd which cleared the bases.  The very next inning he gave up 5 more runs, including two triples and a double in a row which put us in the lead for good.  It was a fun game, and I don't feel bad one bit for having a little fun celebrating, if he doesn't like having fun maybe #69 should join the soccer league on the other side of the parking lot.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 16 - Park Tavern 15

Week 5 Disaster

Here are the scores from last night.  It was not good.  It was a hot, sweaty mess. Game one was winnable though, very winnable, especially in the 8th when we had a lead-off double which we failed to get in.  Then in the bottom of the 8th they got a walkoff 2-out single which could have been avoided if we hadn't given them some extra outs earlier in the inning.  Game two was a total mess as we were never in it.  It just was not our night.  I am heading out soon for vacation, so there is a good chance the stats won't get updated until next week.  Email me if you can't make next weeks games.

Week 4 Scores

A lot of movement in the standings this week highlighted by previously undefeated Doublewide losing twice, and previously winless Eurotech winning twice.

 

Week 4 Recap - Blood Bath

In game 1, versus the new team to the league, the big hitting Dvorak Lawn Care, our early 12-1 lead slowly deteriorated as this obviously tight knit squad slowly recovered from the traumatic injury to their second basemen. A nasty hop off the bat of Hof nearly decapetaded the poor guy leaving a gash above his eye. Luckily for him it seems that half the team is well trained in first aid and he received a well rounded treatment right in the dugout. Eventually we returned to play, and behind some strong hitting Dvorak clawed back into the contest. The blood wasn't done flowing yet though.... It would be best to let Berube describe what happened in his own words with the critical play at the plate...

"In a situation where the run was dire, the next guy got out ending the inning, had I not done what champions do, we may have lost. And I gave Bret a double and an rbi....just an all around team guy!" -Berube

Berubes knee looked like a bowl of chili...hot chili at that. But he didn't complain (much) and kept on battling all the way through like a tough guy does, without so much as a band aid as we held on for the win.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 15 - Dvorak Lawn Care 11

Our much anticipated matchup against 6-0 Doublewide lacked the big game atmosphere we were looking for. It seemed that half their team was missing so they were more like one of those single wide trailers that you find in my home town. Anyway, Berube's inspirational grit and determination to play through his disfirgurment clearly had a strong effect on us all, and especially Schmidt, as we started out up 11-0 after his HUGE Grand Slam in the third. This one ended early, thankfully, so we could all go home and Berube could get the treatment he so courageously postponed to secure the wins that gained us sole possession of 1st place in the standings.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 14 - Doublewide 2

Week 3 Scores

Doublewide moves to 6-0 (we play them next week).
Dvorak Lawn Core dominates their opponents 51-19 and moves to 4-2 (we play them next week too).
Doublewide:  Blown away in a F-5 tornado!
Dvorak Lawn Care: Put out of business by TruGreen!
Dead, they're all dead!!! 

Week 3 Recap - No Berube, No Problem

Park Tavern was short on guys so they asked us to be the home team. We kindly accepted which eventually lead to us getting the walk off win due to Hof's double to the RC gap. With good D and consistent hitting we did maintain a somewhat comfortable lead throughout the game up until the latter innings, up 12-6 heading into the 6th. But they tied it up in the 7th which led to our exciting 2 out walk off win in which Wurd managed to score the winning run without getting caught in a rundown on his way to home plate.  It was a good win against a undermanned team, but we were clearly missing our most dominate bat and rock solid scoops specialist, so we will take it.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 13 - Park Tavern 12

Game 2 was almost the exact opposite of game 1 except for the fact that we won this one as well. I could not throw a strike in the 1st inning which put us in  a quick 7-2 hole. We bounced back with 6 in next inning and we were within 1 at 9-8 after 2. We held them to 0,0,1 and 1 down the stretch due to Sam settling me down with his soft tones and reassuring attitude,  while our 5 run 4th and 9 run 5th put this one in the books for good.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 25 - Evangelical FM 16

Abbreviated Week 2 Recap / Scores

Great games this week guys. We took care of business against a shorthanded and slightly dysfunctional Eurotech squad and then mounted a ferocious 10 run, walk off comeback against the improved but inconsistent Excelsior Brew crew.  The second game was especially fun since we kept battling and battling as Mike Tice loves to say.  Next week we have a tough match up with Park Tavern right out of the gate so spend the week taking time to get your mind right.  No excuses. Play like a champion. Make softball great again!  Fos is Boss!  Fos is Boss!!

Here are this weeks scores:

Week 1 Scores

Doublewide and Dvorak Lawn Care off to a fast start...

Week 1 Recap - Windy and Weird

It could not have been colder or more windy for the first game of the year.  I don't know if it was the rust of the long offseason, or the weather, but we looked liked crap all around. A low-scoring tight game turned into a blowout in the bottom of the 5th when Doublewide put up 9 runs behind 2 huge dingers while miscues in the field, hitting into double plays and flying bats on strike outs lead to a very weird and humble beginning to the season.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 3 - Doublewide 13

Our opponent for game 2 had to patch together a squad with scotch tape and super glue to even field a team this week, but with that said we played excellent. After a 1 run first, we exploded for 21 runs over the next 2 innings while shutting them down on defense.  The bats came alive with a Grand Slam by Hof and 2 HR's by Fos.  Pretty much everyone contributed so hopefully we can keep this momentum heading into next week.
Final Score:  Dirty Grizzlies 22 - Mainstreet 2

New Individual Records from last year

Dan

Here are the Records that were broken in 2015, as well as those guys who made the board for the Individual Stats.  Dan had an awesome year as you will see below.  Hof wasn't too shabby either.  Congrats guys. 
 

Of the 8 stats we keep track of for individual all time stats, members of the 2015 team made it into the records in EVERY ONE of those categories.  Dan even set 3 new ALL TIME RECORDS while Hof also set the Triples record.

NEW MOST RBI'S IN A SEASON RECORD HOLDER IS:
Dan Kitzberger with 85 RBI's 
(The old record was 70  by Wunder in '08)

NEW MOST TRIPLES IN A SEASON RECORD HOLDER IS:
Scott Hofmeister with 8 TRIPLES 
(The old record was 6 by Brian in '11)

NEW MOST HITS IN A SEASON RECORD HOLDER IS:
Dan Kitzberger with 73 HITS 
(The old record was 60 by Hof in '13)

NEW MOST RUNS IN A SEASON RECORD HOLDER IS:
Dan Kitzberger with 51 RUNS 
(The old record was 50 by Hof in '14)

Here are the other stats with guys who made it into the top 5 this year...

Batting Average
Dan takes over #3 all-time with his .737 average

HR's
Dan takes over #2 all-time with his 19 dingers

Slugging
Dan takes over #2 all-time with his 1.424 slugging percentage

Doubles
Dan ties for #5 all-time with his 11 doubles

Hits
Hof takes over #2 all-time with his 65 hits

Runs Scored
Hof takes over #3 all-time with his 47 runs scored

Offseason Update

Hey guys,

I got the website updated tonight with the new schedule and a few other things.  Here are some highlights as we get ready to lift the lid on 2016, our soon to be greatest 3 month stretch of softball in the history of Big Willow Fields (located less than a mile from Lone Spur Bar & Grill).

• Updated the Individual Records section with the standouts from last year.... Dan made the cut in 7 freaking categories.  Hof also made it in 2.  I will do a post recognizing their great years later in the week or so.
• Updated our Team Batting Stats section as well... You may be surprised to learn that last year we had our lowest team Batting Average, Ever....  Lowest Ever.  That's with 6 guys batting over .570!  How is that possible?
• We have 4 new teams in the league this year, the only carry overs are Us, Doublewide, Park Tavern and Excelsior Brewers.
• The new schedule is up, we have a disproportionate number of 6:10 - 7:10 games again.
• We've got our practice game next Tuesday, 4/19 at 6:10 on Field 5.
• Everyone has paid... except for Kuhn.
• We also received our new $300 bat which was specifically requested by Fosmo.  29.5 ounces of pure, lazy fly ball producing carbon fiber!