Opening Day March 21st Wrap-Up

rogergoehring
Mar 20, 2021
4 min read

Updated: Apr 8, 2021

First some administrative info: We have a new page on the blog. See the menu at the top of the home page for GALLERY - it will take you to posted pics and videos of the day referenced in the below wrap-up, along with a few other and future memories. Members should be able to upload pictures to the site.

Also, be sure and click the CONTACT button on that same menu and add your name for access to features afforded members (more discussion on that as it becomes available).

Welcome to Stickball Boulevard

My oh my, the day was finally here - Opening

ceremonies and first game of the season for SCP Stickball!!!

A great turn out of players, visiting players, and spectators alike.

Hope everyone read the previous post of the commish's opening ceremony order of events and checks out the gallery for many more images of the grand day! We again want to thank Dave Miller for his musical contribution to the day honoring our American tradition. We thank Max for taking the time to include the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence for the fallen victims of wars both military and COVID, the unseen enemy. We hope and pray for peace and safety as our nation has aided in putting an end to the oppression of all enemies and providing for freedom and democracy.

And now for the lineups: We had 18 players ready to make their mark on the game today, many more showed up but had other commitments and didn't stay to play - notably our other founder Bob Ley, we appreciate him joining in the opening ceremonies. A few on IR or DL still stayed to coach and spectate, and contribute to the heckling :-0 Max's wife Judy, our treasurer, was on hand to enjoy the festivities and attend to colleting the dues and shirt/hat monies for new players. We were happy to see her out and about now on rehab after a prolonged injury. Bob Stoakley's wife, Winnie, our most steadfast spectator out to cheer Bob and all on, and to keep Bob from any further contact with our pavement ;-) Nearby neighbors attended, most notably from the founder Max's pod - the Kesselrings, Sharon Janecek, and the Hones. As always we appreciate the support of the fans, it was great to see the Sun City interest in our game.

The teams being distributed as evenly as 'imagined' the Tigers took on the home Lions in what looked to be more of a Lions -vs- Christian Roman Exhibition as the Lions devoured their opponents for 4 innings. Lots of offensive fireworks as the Lions Ed Hance blasted 2 HR in his first at bats while his teammates Gordon, Max, Helen and Edsel provide ducks on the pond to be driven in - all by ED! The third inning was quiet but they maxed out the 4th inning doubling the Tigers to death as runners advance with the speed of sound - the ball off the bat sound that is! The top of the order 6 players, Gordon, Moe, Ed, Max, Edsel, and Norm all got hits to score the 5 runs without a single out being registered!! The damage had done with the score 11 to 2 even though the Tigers shut down the 3rd twinning, only allowing one run. Manny, Bob S. and Helen were limited to 3 at bats on the day as the last twinning for the Tigers wasn't needed.

Not much Tiger action early with the exception of a Dave Miller smash as not only can he play the horn he goes around the horn for a HR! The only other run was a Keith HR as well. Only in the last twinning did the tide turn slightly giving hope to the Lions as in the 7th inning they had bases loaded and 2 outs but couldn't keep the rally going, stranding the base runners only to start the next inning with 3 HRs: 2 solo shots by Keith and Roger followed by a 2 run Mitch blast returning for his first game with some authority. The ladies played well on both steams as Barb smacked many a fly ball well into double territory only to have them caught and Sonya snuck 2 singles past the Lions. Both put the ball in play 3 out of four ABs.

The defensive action was fierce as batters faced a sea of 9 defenders making it much harder than pre-season to hit it where they ain't!! Manny showing great range and hands (gloves) clapping his way to catching everything that came his way today in an MVP fielding performance of 5 to 6 fly outs including a stunning line drive catch for the ESPN highlight reels - frustrating the Tiger hitters all day :-0 Roger and Keith did what they could to capture a few outfield flies to keep the Lions tamed for a short time. Mitch returned to his 3rd base position, welcomed by a line drive that nearly took his hands with it … performing the duties very well on his first outing in a long, long time, welcome back Mitch. The Lions front line of defense of Bob S. Moe/Norm, and Helen made very few mistakes and allowed few hits for the Tigers.

HOME RUNS: Mitch, Keith (2!), Dave (plus 2 long fly outs), Roger, Bob S. (1!),

Ed (2!! in an MVP performance at the bat) TRIPLES: NADA!!!? DOUBLES: Mitch, BARB(2! - robbed), Steve, Edsel, Max, Moe (3!), Gordon (2!) SINGLES: Fran (3! plus long fly out), Mitch, Roger, Steve, Sonya (2!), Helen, Norm, Edsel, Max (3 - batting 1.000!), Ed