It was slow going in the first innings against Explosive D. It wasn’t until the 5th inning when Tom Rothman sacrificed his body for the team, pulling himself from the game after a wicked line drive took his finger in a direction fingers shouldn’t go. In true MPR form, the team rallied behind Rothman and pounded the heck out of the ball, scoring 11 runs that inning, highlighted by Jill Riley’s towering triple. The team’s integrity was challenged (“How many men do you have playing?”) but we went on to win handily, 14-5 MPR went into game two of it’s double header with momentum on it’s side.

Buoyed by a case of Coors Light on the sidelines, we led from the start and never looked back. Acting manager Linda W encouraged not only the spectators but the players to keep hydrated. Tom Scheck, replacing Ben W in a last minute substitution, took her advice to heart and may be the first person on the MPR team to play the outfield with a beer at his side. Even with the obligatory “inning from hell” we managed to pull out a 25-22 victory over Catch and Release.

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After getting pounded by Mother Goose two weeks ago, we evened the score with an 18 to 12 victory Tuesday night. Coach Bickal was overly intense during the ground rule discussions and in the early innings, but followed the new Tom Scheck’s advice and achieved an inner calm. Suds was a stalwart at first base, teaming with Scheck on a key double play. Mason made an outstanding grab in left to stifle another rally.

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Tom Weber throws his hat in (mock) disgust after flying out in the 7th inning, one of many frustrating moments in a 10 to 9 loss to Cherry Pit. Snarled traffic kept over half the team from reaching the field by game time. Allison did not arrive until the third inning and struck out swinging in her only at bat. Coach Bickal issued some damaging walks, was thrown out at the plate and made the final out of the game. On the bright side, it was the first summer-like day we’ve played in this year; Ben Wareham returned to the team after his adventures in India and Johnny Rothman made a spectacular diving stop at short which he converted into a double play.

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It’s not on the menu, but Suds, a chalk talk veteran, knows that when asked the J.R. Macs chef will prepare a delicious Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich. That’s one of several astute observations that rookie Tom Weber made after Tuesday’s game. Here are some more:

We had some spectacular defensive plays last nite – Rebecca, whilst playing second ran out w/ the sun in her eyes and shagged a short pop to right field over her shoulder, and not far from a patch of muddy muck in the outfield.

That came after Mason had gunned down a very absent-minded batter (who thought the ball was going foul) at first base FROM THE OUTFIELD! Rebecca was playing first at the time and I overheard her, as the ball came flying in, say ‘oh shit!’ – it was cannoned from left field to nab the batter. The ever rare 7-3, if you’re scoring at home.

I also almost got my head taken off by a line drive back to the pitcher, but made no spectacular play… but still have my head.

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…how we lost that game. In a close game marked by several lead changes, Doc’s Landing came out on top 18 to 15 after scoring four runs in the top of the 7th. The big blow in that inning was a three-run homer by the Doc’s centerfielder, a leading candidate for the 2008 Air-Wick Award. His testosterone-fueled performance was exemplified by a play in which he slid headfirst into home and then leap up beating on his chest with both hands.

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Can you identify the four MPR softball players visible amongst the beer in this photo?

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21 players and hangers on swarmed into J.R. Macs after Tuesday’s game. Erin, who had gone home after expecting another poor chalk talk turnout, had to be summoned back to serve the unruly throng. Gary and Joann helped raise our spirits on a night we got pounded by the ringer-laden Mother Goose team 29-15. Centerfielder Tom Scheck made the defensive play of the game, an outstanding running catch to stop the bleeding in the 6th.

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Click on the tiny type to the left to see the current standings for the teams that play on Thursday night. I haven’t received standings for Tuesday night so far this year.

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It was a historic night in St. Paul. 17,000 saw the event, tens of thousands more waited in line to see the action at Battle Creek Field 3. And they were not disappointed. MPR led a close game for much of the night, but allowed the Grand Old Sluggers hope in the bottom of the last. Trailing by one with a runner on and two outs, the GOS’s slugger came to the plate and hit a towering smash to left. Rookie Chris Danforth’s running snow-cone catch preserved the 11-10 victory. Mason, Chris Bjork, and Ward stroked three hits each for MPR.

2nd baseman Jill Riley later lamented chalk talk attendance; some MPR-ers claimed distraction from a frivolous sideshow in the downtown area.

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