MCSN: June 7, 2008

Eye Openers

Week 1 Recap

Tue, June 10, 2008

missing photo

The wait is over. The 2008 Moody Softball Season is officially open for business and Saturday's opener found teams hoping to cash in on success.

The Barn Burners got off to a fast start, shutting down the Calvary in a 14-8 victory at the early slot. Manager Pat Brown attributed the win to preparation.

"After our pre-season practices, I knew we would be a team that could hit pretty well," Brown said. "We are not going to hit a lot of home runs, but we'll play small ball with the best of 'em. In fact, 16 of our 20 hits on Saturday were singles."

The Calvary proved to be a formidable opponent, leading by three runs at the top of the 3rd inning, thanks to some solid hitting of their own.

"Lawrence Fieber Sr. got two solid hits and Sonia Soto got a hit for the first time in her Moody Softball career," Calvary manager Rob Tong said. "I wanted to keep the game ball for them because I felt like a proud parent."

Short three players, including Dan Koehler out with mono, the Calvary couldn't match the Barn Burners' triple-threat combination of solid hitting, fielding, and pitching. Brown explained, "We tried out Ethan Sinnema at lead-off and he came through. He was 3-for-3 and scored each time he came to the plate. Wendy Ploegstra qualified for our Play of the Day with a grab of Bruce Riegel's deep fly ball into right field. And Sam Baturoni pitched seven solid innings for his first win of the season."

Both teams are looking to capitalize on the wide variety of talent available in their dugouts next week.

"It was cool to look in the dugout and see new faces and teammates with this new mixed-class format," said Tong. "I'm still trying to figure out where to play everyone...one thing I found is that Jeremy Huntington plays a mean catcher."

Brown added, "This was an experimental game for us. Some people played a lot of different positions. We are just trying to figure out everyone's role and how they fit into this team. Fortunately, we came away with a win."

Speaking of wins, there wasn't one in the 9 a.m. slot. The Carter Administration tied the Eagles 10-10.

The Eagles were in the lead most of the game, but the Carter Administration fought back. A four-run rally in the 7th inning, capped by a clutch, two-out single by Christie Lee, secured the tie.

"We're never satisfied with anything short of victory, but we felt good getting a tie given our early deficit," commented Carter Administration assistant to the manager Bill Van Tuinen. "There appears to be a lot of parity in the league."

Throughout the game, Tim Kurtz urged his Eagles teammates not to underestimate their opponents.

"The Carter Administration has a lot of great talent on their team," Kurtz said. "Don't let their ugly t-shirts fool you...they are really good! Honestly, was Shannon Carter out of the room when they decided on those colors???"

Questionable style choices weren't the only consequences the Carter Administration suffered from missing catcher Shannon Carter behind the dish.

"What stood out for our team was the absence of Shannon Carter," lamented Van Tuinen. "Her head games can really disorient opposing batters and it showed with the Eagles scoring 10 early runs. It's like Jimmy Carter trying to run the country without his brother Billy's input--you're just not going to get the same great results."

Overall, the Eagles were pleased with their performance and options on the bench. Kurtz commented, "I was very happy. Sure, we have kinks to work out, but what team doesn't after its first game?" He added, "We've really benefitted from the diversity of our players including spiritual maturity from Rev. Bill 'Part-Time' Bertsche."

Van Tuinen is also hopeful about his team's future play. "I think the synergies between the many classes represented on our team will grow over time. Much like the Carter Administration in the late 70s, I think we will blossom as a team as we learn from one another. I'm pretty sure by time the playoffs roll around, our dominance will resemble Jimmy Carter's huge popularity in America in 1980 before Ronald Reagan stole the presidential election from him by having people from all 50 states actually vote. It's a little known piece of American history. This Carter Administration will learn from the past."

[Editor's note: if your eyes are glazing over at the analogies to a guy who was President when you were
a wee little kid, you ain't alone.]

“Don't let their ugly t-shirts fool you...they are really good!”

- Tim Kurtz on the Carter Administration

The Carter Administration will meet Fire and Ice next week. Both teams anticipate a heavy matchup.

"I know that Chris Carter and Bill Van Tuinen are strong hitters and they will be a tough team to beat," predicts Fire and Ice manager Mat Smith. "Since it is the early game, I am hoping that they will forget to drink their Starbucks and be too tired to play. It should be very entertaining."

The Carter Administration isn't taking any chances. "We're hoping to see some improvement next week," said Van Tuinen. "Fire and Ice was cold last week, but if you overlook them you can get burned."

Fire and Ice had trouble heating up in Saturday's game against The Moody Blues, sacrificing five early runs. Despite a strong showing later, Fire and Ice wasn't able to thaw out.

"I felt that our team played extremely hard and never gave up," said Smith. "We allowed 5 runs in the first inning and I think we tightened up trying to come back. Phil 'Cowboy' Nelson was throwing some nasty pitches and kept us off balance all game.""

The Moody Blues manager, Ali Stolzenbach, also pointed to slick pitching as a key factor in the win. "Our pitching by Cowboy, and our defense, played very well the entire game," she said.

The Moody Blues rounded out a defensively strong game with a diving stop by Tyler McElheny in the last inning to rob Smith, leaving Stolzenbach singing songs of success.

Stolzenbach also praised Peter Moy's exceptional sense of timing, both on and off the field. "It turns out that Peter having to unexpectedly take his son to the bathroom worked out in our favor during our first at bat of the season! We had to move him down in the order, and once he finally came back, he had the opportunity to drive in some runs…and, he did!"

The Moody Blues plan to stretch their win into this week's game against The Eagles.

"We have to capitalize with runners on base and play a solid defensive game," said Stolzenbach. She added, "I hear they have a pretty good center-fielder that we need to keep in check while at the plate...I will look to Cowboy to keep the reigns on him and his bat!"

The Living Stones could have used those reigns Saturday, when two-time MVP Michael Thate went 5-for-5 at the plate. Thate unleashed several big hits for the Emoticons, including three home runs, and lead the team to a 17-8 win.

Of Thate's showing, Bill Van Tuinen (now a spectator) remarked, "The Emoticons showed off a lot of power in their game. Michael Thate started the season with a rarely seen blend of power, speed and boyish good looks. It looks like he could run away with the MVP this year, if there actually was an MVP."

The Emoticons gave a solid all-around performance, said Thate. "Simone Halpin was spectacular on the mound, Sarah Bettencourt played golden-glove defense at second, and Ovi and Andy Tisler combined for a 10-for-10 afternoon! Andrew Tan was a force in the leadoff spot, and Christine Jun and Sarah Bettencourt both had an RBI to start the season."

Manager Anthony Halpin, who missed the game, couldn't be more proud of his team's conquest--and countenance--in his absence. "I will tell you that we expect a lot from our next opponent but even if they bring all they have, they still won't be able to touch us because the Emoticons dominate with a smile."

Anne Marie Misovich and the Living Stones weren't smiling after the Emoticons silenced their bats at 8 runs. "It was a good effort for opening day against the tough competition that the Emoticons offered," she said. "Next time we match up against them, we will show no mercy. :)"

Misovich speculated how far her foes would go to secure future wins. "Look out for the Emoticons.....right now I hear they're doing some technical analysis to determine how to get the ball out of the park without hitting the trees. Maybe they can pay off someone in the Chicago Park District to do some 'creative tree trimming.'"

With 10 games left in the season, no one is willing to make Championship predictions. Misovich expects the unexpected. "You know how it is when you put a bunch of nice church folks together in competition out in the heat of summer? Can get kind of nutty, if you know what I mean!!!"