Back to the GRIND

 

***************************

Mon /Weds- PRACTICE DAYS. 

 

 

XMAS BREAK

Dec 16-Jan 5.....Enjoy the Holidays!!!!

 

*******

Lil Sluggers 6-US Nationals 5

Lil Sluggers 11 SC Queens 5

Off to a Great Start...... let’s get this done!!!!

 

SC Heat 3 - Lil Sluggers 11

Semi: SC Heat 1 - Lil Sluggers 8

Championship

Nationals 0 - Lil Sluggers 11

 

WINTER SEASON RECORD

30 WINS 4 LOSES - Who are these Girls???

 

WOW!!!! What a Tournament!!!! Yes they DID!!! 5 wins---0 loses.....Saturday was set up to have our arms ready for 3 games on Playoff Sunday....what I didn't expect was the "chippy" group of the "ShowCase" team Nationals giving it to our girls after our Semi win.....as we walked out of our dugout, they were waiting to play their game, every player of ours was told we were "Ghetto" as we walked by, they were trying to take up "Real Estate" in our heads, and we needed to work our best to not rent to them as we are really bad about handling these kind of situations.....our girls told me we didn't start it "this time".....we talked about it, simply put, it never has any room on the field, you speak with your PLAY, your GLOVE, your STICK, end of story.....play it to the best of your ability and 100% FOCUS, and we'll live with the result......and they did, game started and we were locked in....Coach Joe did a great job of keeping them focused....."we will have an inning, don't let them in your head".....and it happened, we kept the pressure and they couldn't handle it, as cold as it was, the heat was too much in their kitchen, we lit a fire that could not be stomped out, and was it ever SATISFYING........not being one to gloat, I do recall everything I'm told by opposing Coaches, and it stirs me up, but I can never allow girls to lose their "focus" because I feel a certain way, and this game was as good an APPROACH as I have ever seen.....this win was well earned, this game showed that the "mental battle" was won in our dugout, and that is what allowed us to PITCH....it allowed us to FIELD.....it allowed us to DEFEND.....it allowed us to HIT.....and boy did we HIT!!!!!!! so yes girls, you showed what you can do when you apply yourselves and leave the attitude in the truck, it was awesome to see, it was awesome to be a part of, and it was awesome to see you girls give it back to them with the level of play you showed, and not what came out of our mouth, that always gives a Team a reason to go harder, and they witnessed the EMOTION part of the game you girls brought on CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY......JOB WELL DONE LADIES......YOU DESERVED IT....CHAMPS!!!!!!

 

Showcase Nationals-------0 (THAT IS ZERO!!!)

PS Lil Sluggers---------------11 (TOYS 4 TOTS CHAMPIONS)

After that BIG win....and our play did the talking for us, you don't look so "Ghetto" now, maybe lesson learned on both sides, leave the play on the field between the white chalked lines.....and good things will happen, this will give us stories to tell for years to come, cya on the diamond....

more to come tonight........

CONGRATS CHAMPS!!!!!

 

Game vs Nationals

So this was a familiar team, they last beat us in game where P was taken out at physical play at home...I was well aware of it, but didn't tell the girls til game time....what I didn't know was this team went through major upgrade, they took best players from Big Time softball, E1 Prospects Jr, and Team Easton as well as Outlaws....it was a very good team, and they were well aware of it.....we came out flat on defense, 3 mistakes turned a 1-0 game to a 5-0 game.....we have time to rebound, but need to clean up defense.....next 3 inn we only faced 11 batters, only 2 over the minimum, defense was "AWOKE", and we were finally making the routine plays, when we play this way, it gives us a chance, Turbo and Pep led the way in the circle and we backed them up.......we had quality swings, just weren't able to string them together, then the 3rd inn happened.....KoolAid reaches on infield 1b to third.....Beetle followed with blooper over 3rd....Tazz followed with a bb and we had ducks full at the pond....Turtle then drove ball deep to center, they ran it down but we scored KoolAid, we were back in it....KFC followed with 1b up the middle, TBird 1b behind KFC, Turbo 1bs up the middle, Nationals changed pitchers and Gemini pushes TBird and Turbo with ground ball to pitcher and we now have tying run at 3rd and go ahead on 2nd.....KandyKorn then drove a 1-2 count to right center gap and we went ahead 6-5.....after Pep reached on a 8 pitch walk, they finally retired us 11 batters after inn started.....we were the home team, they didn't score after 1st inn, so they attempted to keep game going with 1 miute left on the clock and us with sticks....umpire tells me he already told them they have 1 more ab.....I asked if that was a new rule since we were home team, we had lead, and we are up to bat, run out the clock and game is over, visitors don't bat after time runs out....."you guys are right", Ball Game"....I FINALLY GOT A RULE RIGHT.....

PS Lil Sluggers-------6

Nationals-------------5

Pitching: Turbo / Pep- 4 inn/5 runs/4 hits/3 bbs/ 1k

Hitting: Tazz 2bbs/ KFC 1-2/ TBird 1-2/ Turbo 1-2/ KandyKorn 2-2/ Pep bb/ KoolAid 1-2/ Beetle 1-1

Game 2 vs SC Queens

We got sticks, and we started fast....Turtle reached on ground ball to 2nd, KFC then ropes a 3b, TBird gets hit and the ball is ok.....Turbo 2bs to left center, Gemini walks and we push 3 runs across.....Queens immediately 3b and bunt to get 2nd and 3rd with no outs....Tbird catches deep fly anf throws home, Tazz cut it off and threw runner out at 3rd, 2 down and 1 run across......they loaded bases again, but Tazz strikes out 7th hitter to limit the damage.....our 2nd inn was just as loud....Pep 3bs....KoolAid 1bs....Beetle 1bs....Turtle 1bs up the middle and KFC 2bs to clear the bases....we weren't doen, TBird joins the hits with 2b to center and scored on Turbo's 1b to center....Kandy and Pep both bb and KoolAid 1bs to help finish our scoring with an 8 run inn......Queens 2nd and 3rd inn went quietly, and time running low, we needed 3 more outs with an 11-1 lead......they strung together 5 hits, and though it was big inn, clock ran out and we sealed the game with routine grand ball to short....leaves us in good shape to go after the 1 seed on Sunday.....

PS Lil Sluggers-------------11

Queens-----------------------5

Pitching: Tazz/Pep 4 inn/5 runs/10 hits/2bbs/3ks

Hitting: Tazz bb/Turtle 2-3/ KFC 2-3/ TBird 1-2/ Turbo 3-3/ Gemini bb/ Kandy 2bbs/ Pep 1-1/ KoolAid 2-2/ Beetle 1-3

Game 3 vs In Heat

A familiar team, main goal was to set up pitching to survive as we were short handed, only 2 Healthy pitchers for 3 games, Turbo and Pep were told throw strikes and allow defense to step up their game...they did, only 3 runs and 2 hits in 5 inn...and hitting was on.....18 hits in 4 inn, and we made quick work, but most important keep our pitchers fresh......this game went to plan, and we were able to get ready for game #4 as the 1 seed......

PS Lil SLuggers---------11

Int Heat-----------------3

Pitching: Turbo/Pep- 5 inn/ 3  runs/2 hits/2 bbs/ 5 ks

Hitting: Tazz 2-4/ Turtle 1-4/ KFC 1-3/ TBird 4-4/ Turbo 2-4/ Kandy 3-3/ Pep 3-4/ Beetle 2-3

Semi vs Int Heat

Pitching did their job, throw few pitches, and let defense work.....only 1 run pushed across, bad thing was we only managed 1 run ourselves....12 minutes on the clock and a 1-1 tie.........then it happened, 13 batters, 8 hits, 2 bbs and 7 runs... it took us 5 inn and 1 hr 15 minutes to get there, but girls made it happen, Beetle 2-2 in the inn, Tazz 1-1 with a walk, Turtle 1-2 in the inn, KFC 2b, TBird 2b, Turbo 1b, Kandy bb, Pep 1b, it was an 18 minute inn........Pep closed it out with 3 pitches, pop up to short, pop up tp 3rd, ground ball to short, and "We Are Going To The Ship"......

PS Lil Sluggers------------8

Int Heat-------------------1

Pitching: Turbo/Pep 5 inn/1 run/4 hits/1bb/3 ks

Hitting: Tazz 1-3/ Turtle Turtle 2-3/ KFC 1-3/ Tbird 2-3/ Turbo 1-3/ Kandy 2 bbs/ Pep 1-2/ KoolAid 1-3/ Beetle 2-3

Championship vs Nationals

So our girls were pumped up......they had chip on their shoulder as their girls were challenging us mentally, and to be honest, we are not good at handling this.....though I kept reminding them the best way to get back at someone that you feel has done you wrong, make it happen on the field.....Coach Joe also leading the same charge, hit the ball and it will silence them.....by this time we were really on fumes, KFC hurt Knee, Pep hurt ribs/ Turbo sore arm sore leg, Tazz sore forearm...Turtle battling shin splints..we had our work cut out for us, all this with only 9 players....Tazz has feeling back in arm to give it a try in the circle, it was good timing as Turbo and Pep were running on fumes but were up for the challenge.....Tazz warmed up strong, and we were good to go.....we win the flip, 9 pitches later we were back in the dugout ready to hit......we had 2 harmless inn at the plate, but it was matter of time for us to get un tracked.......defense was working, they stepped up to challenge of taking up the slack for our pitchers......Tazz only allows 3 hits with 1 a bunt and 2 1bs to left, we were making quick work of them.....KandyKorn and KoolAid did excellent work in the 5 games, it is the toughest job on the field, they always strap on their "tools of ignorance", and it enables pitchers to spin the ball and keep batters off balance........we were on, play after play, KFC and Turbo closing down the middle of the infield, Pep and Beetle shutting down the corners of the diamond.....Turtle Tbird and KoolAid patrolling the greens, and making the tough plays along with the routine, we were as clean as we have been.........it felt good, short inn, kept their players off the base, and they only once reached 2nd base......it takes a team, and the 9 strong played HUGE in the cold tonight!!!!!!! Keeping them off the bases, it allowed us to focus at the plate, we changed our strategy, we picked up their sequence, and as we have seen so often, 3rd inn we cashed it in.....KoolAid - Beetle - Tazz all reach on 1bs...bases loaded and no outs in a 0-0 game....Turtle hits ground ball to 1st base, we score KoolAid....KFC 1bs up the middle, we score Beetle and Tazz.....T Bird 1bs and Turbo ground ball up the middle and we push KFC across for a 4 run inn after 3rd inn......Pep 1bs to start the 4th....we steal 2nd and get to 3rd on over throw.... I had utmost respect for catcher, but we had put her to sleep , and had to steal in order to let her know we didn't appreciate the words being said.......KoolAid then hits ball to 3rd, as soon as throw is made to first Pep races for home, we scratch again......Tazz then comes to plate and hammers a 220 bomb to score again....a crooked number in the 4th and now up 6-0.............bottom of 5th, we had 16 minutes on the clock, I simply told girls, lets get some insurance runs, make it tough if they get sticks in the 6th, and girls went to work again......KFC  1bs up the middle, T Bird follows with 1b to left.....Turbo 1bs to right.....we have bases loaded and no one out.....these 3 hits came on only 7 pitches, and now we were poised to speed the clock up, everyone instructed that not only were we going after insurance, but we would put pressure on them to kill the clock.......KandyKorn reached on a 5 pitch walk, rbi and only 6 minutes on the clock.....Pep 1bs on 2-2 count, 2 rbi's and 4 minutes on the clock.....KoolAid 1bs and scores Kandy, Pep reaches 3rd on our aggressive running and KoolAid now at 2nd...., and they are now totally unglued.....Beetle to the plate with instruction to run out the last 3 minutes.....7 pitch at bat and fly ball to deep left, Pep tags and scores, KoolAid to 3rd on the throw, and now 2 minutes left and 1 out....Tazz at the plate, 1 -2 count, time expires, home team wins, (that's us)....and girls let out whatever pent up emotion I made them keep til the time was right, and the time was NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes it was challenging, yes it was a huge test, yes we had to really play together to make it happen, and yes it hurt along the way, but in the end, YES WE MADE IT WORK & CLAIM THE BEST OF THE GAME ON THIS COLD WINDY NIGHT!!!!!! I could not be more proud of what you girls made happen.....from tough defense, from tough pitching, from aggressive base running, from clutch at bats, we put it all together with only 9 players while playing hurt......IT CAN BE DONE by being the SMARTEST PLAYER, AGGRESSIVE PLAYER, AND FOCUSED PLAYER....YES YOU DID MAKE IT HAPPEN, AND MAYBE YOU CAN BUILD ON IT TO MAKE YOU STRONGER IN THE FUTURE GAMES ON THE DIAMOND..........YES I AM PROUD, AND YES YOU GUYS EARNED IT......YOU MADE IT HAPPEN.....JOB WELL DONE.... CYA ON THE DIAMOND...CHAMPS!!!!!!

Pitching: Tazz 5 inn/0 runs/ 3 hits/ 1 k

Hitting: Tazz 3-3/ Turtle rbi/ KFC 2-2/ TBird 2-3/ Turbo 1-3/ Kandy bb/ Pep 2-3/ KoolAid 2-3/ Beetle 1-3.....TOTAL TEAM EFFORT AT THE PLATE!!!!!

PS LIL SLUGGERS-------------11

NATIONALS-------------------0 (ZERO!!!)

------------TOYS 4 TOTS CHAMPIONS---------PS LIL SLUGGERS