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Joe Senser's Softball | |
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TEAM RETURNS TO .500 AFTER SWEEP
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Joe Senser's Softball | |
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By Mike Dirksen
Infield Reporter Extraordinare
ROSEVILLE, MN � Senser�s had a huge lift from a couple familiar faces who returned to pad their stats this week. Christian Peterson returned from sunny Florida and Dan Hinrichs returned from Grantsburg, Wisconsin to assist their former teammates in the double header.
Hinrichs lead off game 1 with a double to get the team rolling. The next 4 players reached base and Senser�s took an early 5-1 lead after the first inning. Hinrichs, who finished the game 3-3 with a double and an inside-the-park-homer, commented that he was �stroking the ball like he never left the team.� Biebl chimed in at that point and reminded Hinrichs that Dan lives in Granstburg and should therefore be a very polished stroker.
The team�s defense was not as sharp as it has been in the past few weeks, perhaps due to the illness that manager Fanucci suffered from. �I just can�t be out there to help you guys tonight,� Fanucci was heard to tell the team before the game, �I am going to be bench manager tonight�hustle in, hustle out!� The team was uncertain whether Hinrichs could fill in the massive hole in the middle infield left by Fanucci�s absence. An unnamed infielder was heard to comment upon hearing the news, �Giddy-up, looks like we are going to spin a couple dp�s tonight with Fanucci on the bench.�
Senser�s did have the bats rockin� early and often during game 1. The team strung together key hits to hold off the opponents by a final score of 21-16. �They were trying to come back there in the last inning,� Thomas was heard to say, �but I knew we had them when I saw that monkey-boy they had on their team, looks like he did not take his Ritalin this morning.�
Game 2 started with Senser�s as the home team and Brette Hjelle pitching a gem. Hjelle allowed only 3 runs over the course of 6 innings, before Senser�s ten-runned them 13-3. �I only had 1 called strike all night,� Hjelle told this reporter, �I was getting squeezed by the ump, but at least they were hitting the ball right at you guys.�
A fracas almost ensued in the earlier innings of the game on a play at the plate. Bruns was behind the plate and took a throw from the outfield with a runner rounding third. Bruns moved up the line slightly to take the throw and the runner increased his speed, dropped his shoulder, and knocked Bruns to the ground. Senser�s did not take such an event lightly and was ready for any action that was bound to happen. The umpire immediately threw the offender out of the game and Bruns retaliated in his own way by smacking a couple hard singles at monkey boy at first base. �I know he was not the one who hit me, but just look at him, I mean he deserves to get hit at,� Bruns commented.
Senser�s strung together 8 straight singles in the bottom of the 5th inning following a Rosner walk to score 7 runs and put the game out of reach. Manager Fanucci was happy with the way the line-up flowed this evening and was pleased with everyone�s hustle. �I did not have to tell people to hustle in or hustle out very much tonight, plus it was nice that so many people wanted to sit on the bench with me,� Pete(r) was heard to say.
Christian Peterson, who often uses a wet newspaper to hit softballs was heard to say after the game, �I brought my Wall Street Journal, NY Post and St. Pete Times this evening to see which I could hit better, but none seemed to work, I guess I should have soaked them for a longer time.�
All in all, it was great to have Peterson and Hinrichs on the team again. Later on in the evening, Keith Peterson, another former Senser�s player, arrived at the bar to enjoy some libations with the team. �It�s great to be back from Arizona for a week, but man, its 50 degrees colder here than it is in Arizona.�
Senser�s is off next week for the 4th of July, but we return to action for the final double-header of the year on July 13th at 8 and 9pm, Central Park Field # 4.
Who�s Hot
Ryan Riesetter put fear into the left side of the opponent�s infield with some rocket shots during his 6-7 double header. Ryan collected a double and a solo homerun during his performance.
Who�s Not
Jeff Rosner and Eric Lindholm combined to go 2-10 over the 2 games. Both have struggled so much at the plate lately that they attempted to hit left handed, not yielding better results though.
Milestones
Ryan Thomas slugged Senser�s 50th double of the season.
Mike Biebl collected Senser�s 900th single of all-time.
Mike Kennedy (36) and Ryan Thomas (33) have a chance to break Hjelle�s 1-year hit record of 40.
Kennedy (.655) is on pace to break Hjelle�s batting average record of .635.
Kletzin and Riesetter are on pace to break Kletzin�s slugging record of .957.
Thomas (9) needs 2 doubles to break Rosner�s record of 10.
Kennedy (7) needs 2 walks to tie Fanucci�s season record of 9.
career hits on this site.
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