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Joe Senser's Softball
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SENSER'S SWEEPS SB'S, 18-8, 13-3
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Joe Senser's Softball
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By Dan Hinrichs
Infield Correspondent
ROSEVILLE, MN- Just when the Senser's gang thought it couldn't possibly get any colder than last week, this Thursday's games felt more like a game played after watching football all day in the middle of November. "F---, it was cold out there," Bill Remick said after the games. Then again, Senser's may be proving to be a cold weather team, as they recorded a doubleheader sweep, invoking the 10-run rule twice at the expense of the Surfin' Birds (or "that S--tbrick team" as Mike Biebl says), thus establishing Senser's bar supremacy. The night started in a big way for Senser's as Dan Hinrichs burned the first game's home run on the first pitch. "Really, people bitch about a solo jack, but look at the rally it ignited. If it weren't for that Fanucci GIDP, we would've put up a lot more than 6 runs that inning." Not everyone was as excited as Hinrichs about that leadoff home run, however. "F--kin' Hinrichs screwed me out of a dong," Mike Kennedy lamented to his fiancee Ellen Tuchner in between at bats. "There really should be a stat for home run-outs, just so the record shows that I went yard this season." When all was said and done, Kennedy, Bill Remick, and Brette Hjelle hit HR-O's the first game, giving Senser's 4 jacks for the game...something they rarely accomplished in C-ball last year when they all would've counted. The defense also made a few great plays behind pitcher Brette Hjelle, including an unassisted double play by Kennedy. "That play probably saved me from the MVMP- I would've been a leading candidate having had an HR-O and a GIDP." Behind the strength of two 6-run innings, Senser's ended the first game in 5, 18-8.
The second game started out to be a real pitcher's duel, as Hjelle kept the SBs off balance and worked the wind to his advantage. After 2 1/2 innings, Senser's and the SBs were tied at 2. "It was getting a bit ridiculous out there, giving up 2 runs and not being ahead," Hjelle said afterwards. "I wasn't too worried, I knew that once the temperature dropped below 35, we'd be tough." Almost on cue, Ryan "Mack Daddy" Thomas belted an incognito solo home run to instigate an 8-run third inning, giving the blue a 10-2 lead. "That was the first home run I've heard absolutely no reaction to from the fans," Thomas said when he got back to the dugout. Kennedy then challenged the four fans, "Do you guys even know that we hit a home run?" No response. #1 fan Susan Hansen admitted her guilt later in the evening- "My boyfriend batted eight times tonight? I must've missed quite a few of them...I guess I was talking too much." Hjelle continued to deal from the mound, not allowing a crooked number to the SBs all game, and even striking a guy out. "That strikeout was pretty," catcher Tim Bruns beamed. "I set up inside on that third strike because I knew he'd foul that one off." Hjelle also was the beneficiary of another DP, this time turned by shortstop Hinrichs and Kennedy. Going into the bottom of the 5th, Senser's led 10-3 and had a golden chance to end it in 5 and get to work at the bar. Player-manager Pete Fanucci led the inning off with a ringing single, and four batters later, Senser's was walking off the field with a 13-3 win. "Sometimes the manager's just gotta lead out there," Fanucci said of igniting the final rally. "Besides, Jayme was getting really cold and she would've had my ass in a sling if I would've let that game go on any longer."
The bar was well attended again, as 9 of the 10 players made the trek, as well as five fans. Bar attendance is still over 100% for the season, which makes former manager Mike Dirksen happy. "I see the bar has been set pretty high in my absence, a 3-1 record and great bar attendance. I'll be ready to rock in a couple weeks, and that wheel is mine!" Speaking of the wheel, Hansen had an opportunity to open up a big lead with one of the two spins of the night, but she came up with a zonk. "Dammit, I just want a little something," Hansen said upon returning to the table, and right on cue, Biebl spat out, "well, s--t, that's why you're with Hinrichs, right?" (It should be noted that Biebl swung and missed last night.) Biebl also managed to take the lead in players' bar stats with a $6 appetizer win. Later in the evening, a theologic discussion broke out between manager Fanucci and some of the fans, encompassing such Church issues as birth control. Fanucci stamped out that fire by decreeing, "that's why I'm going to have Jayme neutered." The managers of Senser's came through with a few free pitchers, helping to loosen Fanucci's tongue even further. "Why do I give a s--t?" Fanucci asked when asked about people's birthdays by girlfriend Jayme. The jury is still out on whether Pete got more hits on the field or took more hits from Jayme. Christian Peterson was lamenting the fact that his copy of the Duluth News-Tribune took a lot of water this week and even more the fact that he tried to bat with it. "Yep, the wet newspaper bat is back, even though that one pop-up was huge," CP told Thomas during the rare moments the Mack Daddy was at his table. "I'll need to dry that thing out for next week...maybe see if I can find an old Sunday edition or something." Thomas joined the Fanucci table for a good discussion on sac flies (question- if a ball is hit deep to an outfielder and obviously would be a sac, and then outfielder drops it, it is still a sac, saving the batter an AB and giving him an RBI, or is it a reached on error and count against him?). Hinrichs pointed out that with two last night, he has the most SAC on the team, which Kennedy and Biebl promptly disputed. The players started talking about the qualifications for a SAC, and Hansen piped up with, "I know what a SAC is!" That line got the Senser's boys to raise their glasses, as did Hansen's previous classic, "Hey, what happened to my zipper?"
Next week the fun begins at 6:00 on field 6. It should be a golden opportunity to get some good wheel spins and hopefully another sweep!
Swelvax Player of the Week:
Ryan Thomas. Thomas went 8-for-8 on the night, hitting for the cycle over the two games (1 HR, 2 3B, 1 2B, 4 1B) and keeping his 1.000 OBA intact.
MVMP, presented by Mike Biebl:
Pete Fanucci. The manager takes one for the team after getting a GIDP, declaring himself a "pussy" by not getting in front of a grounder, and attempting to send a runner to second when there already was a runner on second.
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