 |
Joe Senser's Softball | |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Joe Senser's Softball | |
| |
|
|
|
|
By Mike Dirksen
Infield Correspondent
A confident Senser�s ballclub entered the night with a .500 record and the will to go undefeated the rest of the season. They had their hopes high, their dreams in order, their bats and gloves ready for action, but lady luck was not on their side from the beginning.
The first game was a pitcher�s duel to the end with Senser�s dropping the contest by a score of 5-4. �This was our second friggin� game of scoring 5 or less runs, I am sick of it,� Jeff Rosner was heard to say shortly after the winning run scored in the bottom of the 7th inning. Kletzin commented that he was amazed by our lack of hitting for the last couple weeks, as was most of the team. �Five runs can win a lot of baseball games, but this is total crap, I don�t want to take a 5-4 loss,� Kletzin continued. The team was dismayed at their offensive attempt and they seemed to concentrate more heading into the second game.
Senser�s gave up a 3 spot in the top of the first of game 2. The team was hanging their heads low as the opponents ran around the bases with ease. But Senser�s rallied offensively by putting 5 up in the first and another 5 in the second to take an early 10-3 lead after 2 innings. Some sloppy defense allowed the opponents back into the game by the 4th inning. Suddenly Senser�s was faced with a huge challenge to come back from a 20-17 deficit late in the ballgame. The team could not put enough timely hits together and dropped the nightcap by the aforementioned score. Obviously disappointed at their performance, team members were heard to comment on their performance by using phrases like, �We played like a bunch of ass-clowns tonight,� and �We should move to F ball after this performance.�
The most interesting play of the year happened early in the second game. With the bases loaded and one out, the batter hit a low line drive to Dirksen at third. Alertly, Dirksen caught the ball in the air, but the umpire disagreed that the ball was caught and yelled �ball down.� At this point, both teams assumed that he meant a �dead ball�, so Dirksen looked on with bewilderment and went over and touched third base, just in case. The umpire called the runner from second out and the runner from third darted home. Dirksen threw the ball to Fanucci who touched the plate, the umpire did not make a call, then Fanucci threw the ball back to Dirksen who now had 2 runners on third. Dirksen then threw the ball to Lindholm at second, but his throw was wild and went over Lindholm�s head. Lindholm collected the ball and touched second before the original runner from third got to home plate. A routine double play that looked like this in the books 5-2-5-4. Even after the game, both teams were still wondering what the hell really happened. Dirksen commented, �I think I caught that ball, there should not have been any play at all.� Riesetter, Clark, Kennedy, Kletzin, Fanucci, and Dirksen�s Mom all agreed that he caught the ball. The umpire could not be reached for comment immediately after the game.
Senser�s plays again next week at 8 and 9pm on Central Park Field # 3.
Who�s Hot
Mike Dirksen � after struggling through an early season slump, Dirksen has raised his average to an acceptable .441 with his 4-6 performance this evening. Praising his Mom�s attendance at the games and the hard hit ball that struck his left wrist, Dirksen commented that his swing was slower since suffering the injury, thereby allowing him to contact the ball more properly.
Who�s Not
Jeff Rosner struggled with only 1 legitimate hit this evening, but reached base a total of 5 times over his 7 at bats. �I am playing �at-em� ball now,� Rosner commented to this reporter, �I can�t help but hit the ball right �at-em�.�
Of note
Former Senser stars Christian Peterson and Dan Hinrichs may be in town next week and may want to pad their stats with an appearance with the team.
Milestones
Jeremy Kletzin collected Senser�s 150th double all-time.
Pete(r) Fanucci collected Senser�s 2400th all time plate appearance.
Mike Dirksen collected Senser�s 800th run all-time.
Mike Clark consumed Senser�s 1600th chicken wing all-time.
career hits on this site.
Click the Adobe icon if you are having difficulty reading the Shooter or other columns on this website.