This guy has no doubts....

Finals: Game 1 Loss 13-5, Game 2 Win 22-4

Disclaimer: most info taken from the Medford Men's Softball App v2.0.1 for Android found in the Android marketplace

The Ringers took the field against the Sons of Stevie Paz on a wet and windy night on Tony Bova field. The Ringers came in as the favorite in the finals, holding the #2 seed and having a solid record against the Raso's over the years. Raso's, however, have been hot since the 4th of July and knocked off the top seed, the Wet Bandits, rather convincingly. This was sure to be a battle of the bulge, similar to the bowling ball Paz is hiding under his under armour shirt.

The first game kicked off with driving rains pelting the Ringers the minute we took the field. The Boys of the Grill came out hitting and taking pitches and managed to plate 5 in the first inning. The Ringers had been there before, but went 1-2-3 in our home half. Amazingly it looked like Aruba when the Raso's were out on the field, but without fail, the wind and rain came back in the top of the 2nd and they plated 1 more to run it to 6-0 early. Between errors and not being able to put 3 solid hits together, the Ringers plated a few runs here and there but could only muster up 5 runs all game. We really couldn't have played worse. Raso's couldnt muster up too much the rest of the game, getting a run an inning but we couldn't match it and fell 13-5. There were some bright spots though, Danny and McGrath had some great throw outs from the OF, MBags great plays at 3B, Shaun a great tag/body blow at the plate.

We had 5 minuted in between games and we took that time to argue with each other (Shocker, guess who was involved? His name rhymes with poopy). In Arod vs Varitek style MBags and Crupi argued about who was the slowest on the team, and where the best pizza was in North Medford. This may have proved to be the spark that we needed to fire the team up and start plating these runs. Crupi led the game off with a single (which I think was the biggest play of the night) and gave us a wake up call that this is what we do.

The rains continued to come down but the Ringers started hitting the ball, up and down the lineup we were able to really piece things together, taking advantage of a few Raso errors. Big hits by Sully, McGrath, Danny, and TC started things off for us and that kept up all game. The 'ol Ball Fielder took the mound and got out of an early jam to really cruise through the middle innings, self admittedly they have a real hard time hitting a flat pitch, amazing but we will take it! Armed with an early lead of 16-3 through 3 innings, Raso's couldnt put much together and really looked defeated after about 2 innings, they knew the tides were turning.

Great job in the OF and Sully running down some texas league pop ups that were all over the place with that win. That wind was NOT easy. A nice textbook rundown with PR and MBags, Bagger fielding his position, and TC playing a solid 1B. Really a nice win all around, and Boonton the "Big Power" with a nice dinger!

The rubber match comes Tuesday at 7:30, this is for all the marbles...

(thanks to Boonton for working with Bova on this app)

A Ringers Poem...

Imagine you're The Ringers right now.

Imagine you're The Ringers today, this minute, with the ball in your hand and the curtain about to go up.

You've been here before. The lights, the 100 million eyeballs, the pressure that comes with being the men and rising to meet the moment, it's all old hat to you.

You don't sweat the Raso mystique. You remember August 27, 2011, and a certain 8-hit, 1-K night. The House that Bova built doesn't rattle you. You've left notches in that rubber like it was a belt around your waist.

And you can't believe your good luck. A week ago you were done, your boys were done, you were rubber-necking a hideous postseason crash. But no, you get another shot. And like Freddie you're wondering, "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?"

You won 15 games this year. You never give up. You're for the team -- you stand on the top step of the dugout when you're not standing on the hill.

You bear down. You bear up. It's what you do. It's who you are.

You're the Monty Burns Ringers and tonight's the night.

Back in April, Bagshaw wore his Raso hater hat at a Bruins game.

And everybody outside of Medford loves you because you drew the underdog in this fight. (But, of course, that don't mean snot if you don't deliver now.)

This is what you came for. Not to achieve your own legacy (that's already done by Sully's fielding percentage), but to be a part of a place and a people, to help write and re-write their history. You've been here before, with the strange Raso/Bruins logos in your sights and a quiver full of arrows on your back, but you've never exactly been here before, with the hopes and dreams of the Ringer faithful, and their parents, and their parents' parents, riding on you, with air kissed by curse and laden with anguish flowing in and out of your lungs with every breath. You wanted this, you sought this out, you reached for these people and they reached back. And now you're in. All the way in. You've been a part of this team all season, but tonight you become a made guy, one of the family, with all the rights and responsibilities, with all the risks and rewards, therein. You've been here before but you've never been here before.

You hang with The Sons of Sully now.

And TC promised to shut some folks up.

We take the diamond after two of the greatest games in team history. We take the ball after Jay McGrath slapped it around the yard. We take the ball after a season considered nothing but a prelude to precisely this kind of moment.

This is the game that makes you an icon, if you're up for it. Forget Raso Killer or Big Game Ringer. Try Redeemer on for size. Slip into Deliverer.

Imagine you're The Ringers right now.

Imagine knowing you've got to go long tonight, because there's two games and no one wants to play past Thursday.

But that's all right, because it's in you. No doubt. You have that thing. You can summon it. It will drive you.

You can't seem to think of anything else. There are doubts.

Josh is wearing a Johnny U boot and more tape than Swish had around her chest in "Fastbreak," his ankle's throbbing, bobbing and weaving like a marionette and bearing weight the way Jessica Simpson bears hardship, with a lot of whine and wiggle.

You stunk up the joint in the finals of 2009. You can't let things stand like that. This is a get-back game. You need to write a storybook. You know that.

You also know Steven Paz and the guy with the 44 Long jersey were turning your stuff around last time like a bouncer turns away math majors in coke-bottle specs at the door to a nightclub.

You know it's only Game 1, and even a lights-out performance here doesn't close the deal.
That really chaps you.

So you're The Ringers, and you've got all this swirling around inside your head tonight as you toe the rubber, work through the lineup, and stare up into the thousands of screaming Raso faces.

You're part indomitable spirit and part nerves that jingle, jangle, jingle; part seasoned champion, part new kid on the block.

And the beauty of it is, you wouldn't want to be anywhere else, and the Ringer Nation wouldn't rather have anyone else out there.

Imagine that.

Game on.

Finals vs. Raso's Grille

The Men of Medford take on Raso's Grille...

This is for all the marbles....

Ringers take the Semi Finals Series 2-1

The Sons of Sully took the semi-finals series against the Hibernians 2-1.

I wasn't at the first 2 games but the Hibernians came out pounding the ball putting up 9 in the first inning of Game 1. The Ringers fought hard to get back into it and ties it up only to lose in extras and go down 1-0 in the series. The second game proved to be more on track with Ringer softball as the Hibernians bats fell silent and the Ringers mercied them behind solid hitting and pitching.

Game 3 was on Tuesday under the lights at Bova Park. The kid took the mound for the first time in 3 weeks, as did the Big Kitty coming of one hell of an ankle injury. Once again the Hibernians blooped hits all over to start the game hot, plating 7 in the first 2 innings. The Ringers have been here before though and didn't worry (although going 1-2-3 on 3 pitches in the 1st inning wasnt fun).

The bats got hot in the bottom of the second and didn't stop. Bringing it back to 8-8, the Ringers pulled ahead and didnt look back. McGrath had a key bases loaded hit to open the flood gates and the boys won 22-12 on a mercy in the bottom of the 6th.

Good defense all night by MBags, DSull, Danny, Boonton, Jay, and Bags a nice put out at home

The hits came from everywhere, everyone got into the mix up and down the order.

Jeremy gave out the game ball to "Little Boonton!" That's right folks, a mini purge is on the way! He then gave the game ball to Crupi for "hitting well". Then I got a game ball from TC for going the distance and going 3-4 with 5 RBI's....but who's counting?

The boys are back in the big dance...

First Round Bye/Semi-Finals vs The Hibernians

Ringers Finish the regular season and grab the 2 seed

This week in Ringers Softball Game 15 Win vs Diamonds/Game 16 Win vs Brew Crew

The Sons of Sully played 2 games this week. The first one against the hated Diamonds. Prime Time was at the game this time, but the Diaper Dandy, Murph, must have had a tourney game and failed to make the lineup.

Bags took the mound for the 24th time in a row, setting a modern day Medford Softball record. The focus of the game was on the Big Kitty and his hit streak. He came into the game with 9 straight hits and extended it to 13! The Big Kitty hasn't got attention he has deserved (according to him). The kid has been the gasoline that fuels the car, the kindling that starts the fire, and he is a bad bad man this year. A little different than his year in Babe Ruth when he went 1-1 then 0-45, oh wait I forgot the Grand Slam, oh wait, that was a rainout and didn't count...at any rate, the kid is money, hitch on to his trailer, enjoy the ride.

Couple highlights from the game

-Bags walking the first batter but settling down to throw strikes all night

-The human Kiwi leading off the game and looking like he was scalped by Geronimo, also with an amazing catch in the 5th inning to keep the game out of reach

-MBags going 4-4 with the once shunned Miken Vicious

-The kid registering an over the head triple

-The King of Melrose going 0-4 with 4 groundouts to the SS

-TC roping one into Right Center and being called out for stepping on the plate

Final Score 16-8

The Boys of Summer had a date with the Brew Crew last night. We were hoping for a win, they were just hoping that weren't going to get pulled over for a DUI before the game (quote un quote). The Bad boys of the league came in with an 6-10 record and were looking to get there best win of the season against the surging Ringers. The kid took the hill for the first time since 1987 and looked to continue the Ringers march to the playoffs.

Some days you have it, and some days you dont. Some days you wake up on the right side of the bed, and some days its the wrong side (or is it left?) at any rate, it was one of those games for the typically sure handed Mike Bagshaw. Yup, the star of Hot Damn had a day to forget. Paid off by the Brew Crew earlier in the night, he made some very uncharacteristic errors which makes us think that there maybe moles hidden within the Ringers...Cutrell duffing some in right? Noyes throwing meatballs all game?? Sully going 0-4 saying he wasn't "feeling it" Who is the rat???? You had to feel for the kid though, all signs point to an epic comeback next week for him...

We could/should have beat them 36-3 like the first game featuring the Hibernians and the Master Batters. We did the ol position switcherroo a tad too early and paid for it.

We all hit pretty well, DSull had a great game as did Regular Sully, both had a home run and a triple. TC had some good pokes to the outfield, Bags stayed hot showing warning track power all night, McGrath getting a nice late insurance HR, Connors helping out the bottom of the order, and the Big Kitty, without the streak but continuing to rake.

Highlight of the night had to be the play of 2B Bags and 1B Crupi. The Human Kiwi was holding down first base and yelled Bagshaw to "flip it!!!!!!!!". Giving Bags a 2 inch square to toss it in, Bags couldn't quite fit it in there and thus ruined the play all by himself, shame on you Bags for not fitting it in Crupi's duck glove...

Ringers look to extend this weeks winning streak next week with both games at 7:30

Get Some

Game 12 Win! Game 13 Win! Game 13 Loss :(

Alex Morgan (TC's chick) puts one in deep to seal it!

USA! USA! Take it from Han's daughter...

Game 11 win 20-9 or "back in the win column"

The real All Stars were playing on the bad field last night vs the Bruins...I mean Raso's. In celebration of being the biggest Massholes this side of Route 1, Raso's Grille LLP has changed their jerseys to look like a gey version of the Boston Bruins, minus the B, add the R.

The Hometown boys have fallen on tough times of late, losing two straight and falling back into second place. The ol lefty was penciled in to pitch the game but he has been put back on the DL with what has been listed as a Tramp Stamp, apparently the tatoo parlors around King's Cross dont have the friendliest of needles. I believe the tat is the lonely tree scene from The Neverending Story but that hasn't been verified. Capshaw took the mound and had a little trouble finding the distance, they were either 5 feet off the ground or about 22 feet up. Getting himself into a little jam in the first inning, he would settle down nicely until the 6th when Raso's mounted a little comeback.

I stacked the top of the order this game hoping to get some offense going as we have been a bit quiet the last few games. Crupi got things going with a Texas League single in the first and we never looked back compiling 20 runs and a ton of baserunners. Old Man Sully put the kibosh on more runs being scored...which could make for an uncomfortable clubhouse when the RBI title comes out.

Highlights of the game:

-Jay McGrath is a BAD man. 6RBI's, 2 dingers

-Matt Cutrell is a BAD baserunner. I ordered you a rule book

-Do NOT try to stretch first to third and slide while up 18 runs. Your knees will hate you

-My Convo with Paz

Paz: Hey Blue, tell the kid to get them up, pitching shit out there

PR: Stop bitching, just dont swing then

Paz: Don't tell me what to F'n do, I'll swing at whatever the F I want to

(shades of "You shut your mouth when you're talking to me")

-Noyes' victory convo after purchasing a house and a postwin bowl smoke. Yet another place he can jack up the heat to about 82 and rip his can off with no ventilation...

"Hold on the girl is calling (low voice)"

"Heyyyyyyyyy Girlllllllllllll" (mouse voice)

-"The Big Kitty" (Josh) putting the car in park, then blasting a seeing eye single in the top of the first

-Cutrell with a daring basket catch to end the game

-Bottom of the order picking it back up with multiple hits from Bags, PR, Boonton, Sweet

-TC and Sully switching spots and staying hot

-more eTopps talk, looks like Pete hit big with a Lieberthal card back in the day, should be a .pdf file by next week

-Jude Smith picked up a money clip from PB, Christmas came early in Pepperell

-USA! USA!

Schedule

Game 9 and 10 Losses! 12-5 and 7-6 or "Doh!"

Is it time to hit the panic button? No, not yet, but the bats need some warming! Hats for bats, keeps bats warm...Cerrano may be on to something...

The Sons of Monty took 2 losses this week, the first on Tuesday vs the Master Batters losing 12-5. Even Eddie looked perplexed when I told him we lost and that guy doesn't have an expression for anything. We put them to bed the first time we played them, but this game was different. The ol Lefty took the mound and had an early wake up call from a team that was taking pitches and hitting the ball hard. Noyes settled into a groove mid-game and threw a decent ballgame, they just hit it where we ain't. The bats quieted down although we hit it hard, they just seemed to be there to make the play every time.

The next loss came last night in the bottom of the 7th against the Wet Bandits. Again the bats were quiet (especially the bottom of the order, myself included). Solid defense by both teams and some timely hitting locked it up all teh way until the 7th inning. Sully and Josh stayed hot at the plate. MBags made the play of the year at 3rd with a diving stab and a seated throw to nail a guy at first.

Not much good to write about so enjoy today's Crupon. 25 bucks gets you 5 dollars worth of burritos at Anna's (thanks JD)

Game 8 Win 10-8 or "a casual win"

The old men of Medford took the field on a hot and humid day to play the Diapers...oops I mean the Diamonds. Murph and the boys came in with a 6-3 record and inherited some players from the now extinct "European Auto Solutions" including everyones favorite pampers wearer, Murph.

The ol ball coach took the mound for the first time in a few weeks and proved a worthy opponent to the once mighty Diamonds. With the usual muttering and an abnormally low pitch he mixed in, Bags threw strikes and pitched one hell of a game.

The Ringers started out going 1-2-3 in the top half of the first, followed up by a tough bottom in the field. Cutrell had a tough time in right field as the Diamonds were slicing the ball down there all day. Kid jogged in and told me he couldn't see a damn thing...I replied with "what about your contacts?"...he follows with "I don't have them in, only for tennis" Great...

We got out of the top inning only giving up 3 runs and got to work chipping away. Big early hits buy Josh, TC, Sweet, and Sully got us evened up and we went back and forth for a few innings. My wrist hurts for some reason so I made the executive decision to take myself out, put Cutrell at C, inserting the veteran Boonton into RF, Noyes (who rolled in around the 2nd inning) moved into the EH spot. Noyes looked like he was ready to play showing up in board shorts, an inside out blue shirt, and a pair of casual black skechers. Here are the specs about the shoe, it retails for 66 bucks on Skechers.com and is the go to shoe for Men's slow pitch softball.

Men's Diameter - Vassell Lace-Up SneakersSporty good looks and comfort go into the SKECHERS Diameter - Vassell shoe. Smooth leather upper in a lace up casual sneaker with stitching, overlay and perforation accents. Contrast colored side stripes.
Construction:
Smooth leather upper
Lightly rub distressed leather side panels
Stitching accents
Dual stitched toe overlay panels
Front perforation accent for ventilation
Side features layered leather overlay detail
Contrast colored side stripes
Side stripe with perforation accents
Embossed side S logo
Lace up front
Padded collar and tongue
Soft fabric shoe lining
Cushioned insole
Shock absorbing midsole
Flexible rubber traction outsole with wraparound heel

Noyes's triumphant return started out with a swing that started so early I felt like he could go around 3 times and hit it pretty solid. Kid battles though, he got on late in the game to help the Ringers take it

McGrath really turned the game in our favor by making a great off balanced catch in center and firing an absolute laser to an newly inserted MBags at 3B. One of the best plays I have seen and paired with Sully's amazing stabs at SS, we really won with defense. Sweet played a hell of a 2bag all night and TC held the 3bag down while MBags was getting his mani-pedi. Josh solid as heck this year at first.

Big blast by Sully to put us neck and neck. First one of the season and the kid got his monies worth with that blast. Cutrell made up for his early mistakes with a key hit to plate 2 to put the Ringers up by 1.

Bags had the game in hand and bared down in the 7th for the win. Well deserved and as ol Sully said "We have to win games like this", well we did. Ringers are 8-1. What the F's up?

Thanks as always to superfan Liz Seppa, one of the good girls in this wacky world.

Schedule

The Eagle has landed....

J.T. Smith

The Sheriff is back in town boys...

Game 7 Win 8-7 or "Mike Bagshaw is a bad bad man"

The Ringers took the field against the Master Batters this past Friday. Coming off the first loss of the season, the Boys of Summer looked to get back in the W column. I will try to sum up everything as it has been a few days....

The Master Batters threw a tough pitcher out there. Everything was falling short of the plate but it looked like a bach ball coming in, had us off balance all night. Big hits by Josh, McGrath, and MBags got us up early. MBags was the MVP of the game with some stellar D and some big hits all night. Our defense kept us in the from the start. Sweet played a great second base and Boonton, Crupi, DSull, and McGrath played an excellent OF. Ball was tough to see for most of the night and it led to some funny catches but we played solid.

We hit the ball hard all night (except for the multiple groundouts to the pitcher) but they always seemed to be exactly where we hit them.

I cruised a long for most of the night but got into a little jam in the 5th, walked 2 guys to load the bases but got out of the jam with some great plays by MBags and Sweet. We held our 1 run lead as I ended the game with the strangest catch of my career...

Ringers are 6-1 heading into the dog days of summer.

Game 6 Loss 19-15 or "The stunt doubles game"

First loss of the season at the hands of the Wet Bandits

The Gospel according to TC

TC 25:17

The path of the monty’s ringers is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.
Blessed is he who in the name of Miken Freak and a sweet as swing shepherds the ball through the sky of darkness and over the outfielders head, for he is truly a devastating hitter and the reason for lost softballs. And he will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to beat his ringers. And you will know his name is Jay when he lays his freak upon thee.

Daily Boggs scoresheet

Game 5 Win 13-2 aka "The kids are on top"

The Medford 10 had a date with the undefeated Daily Boggs' on a beautiful night in South Medford. The Local 10 were without some key players, D Sull, All Star Catcher Shaun Connors, and some guy they call the vacuum who is surrounded by tables and transdudes in the City of Sin.


A bit of a jumbled lineup as MBags slides over from 3B to SS, TC takes the hot corner, OF of DC, McGrath, Bagger, and the return of Boonton to the lineup. Crupi took the spot behind the dish. Like a waiter serving the finest rib-eye, Crupi hinges at the hip and gets ready for the kid to deal. He will always be the ultimate distraction for batter, hitter, and umpire. I will send over a chiropractor name for you today Crup, if you catch anymore games you will need him...


Two things that needed to happen for us to win the game, solid defense from the people in new positions and I couldn't pitch anything flat to them, everything had to be raining...and the kid made it rain...


We opened up quiet for the first time all year but the bats heated up in the second inning. Huge games from MBags, TC, and McGrath (who may just be hitting 1.000 from the 10 hole) really fueled the early lead, going from 6-0 to 10-0 in just 3 innings. Defense and pitching was the recipe to put the Boggs out of the game early. Huge plays by TC in the first inning and MBags and Sweet playing great D all night long really won the game for us. MBags had a 1-2-3 inning just by himself with 2 popups and a liner. (I can picture the vacuum biting his nails and putting a hex on MBags for the next game). Steady OF play by Boonton and McGrath was huge. I think we really only had one miscue, Ol Wickets himself out there let a ball go through his legs, great backup by McGrath to keep the runner honest.




The kid extended his scoreless inning streak to 10 innings before the Boggs plated 2 in the 5th. They were never really able to piece together a big inning and they stayed silent (literally) for most of the game.

The Ringers keep piling on the runs and don't have any signs of letting up. Ball Fielder is on the hill Thursday vs the Master Batters. Looks to be around 100 degrees which will feel refreshing. DO NOT LET UP! THIS TEAM IS BUILT TO WIN! WHERE'S NOYES?

June schedule

Game 4 Win 19-8 or "The flood gates open up"

The Sons of Mayor Menino took the field on a cold, brisk, June day. The Ringers were riding high winning 3 games in a row to start the season. The cold air was no problem for the Boys in Blue...well, no problem for most of them....

The Two Hole was a bit bothered by the cold and instead of hanging with the home crew and talk some smack, he decided to head into TC's ride and peer out the window creepily, like a dog on a rainy day looking desperately looking for his owner.

The cold wouldnt stop the bats though and the Old (not Ole) Fireballer was on the mound looking to lower his ERA and pick up his second victory. Some shaky defense plagued the Ringers early but Ol Capshaw battled and battled. Tough finiding the strike zone on the umpire but with the usual muttering, Bags kept on firing. Stevie Paz had a key hit for the Grillers to put them up 8-2 early.

The Ringers bats came alive in the 4th for an inning that was the biggest I had ever seen. I honestly can't really remember what happened but everyone was hitting and running and more hitting. Typically I look back at the book at the end of the game to remember some key stats for the blog. I like to give credit where credit is due and to make sure everyone feels the love from the blog...

What I wasn't prepared for was the Pete Brown Book (PBB). The PBB is usually spot on and the kid has really come into his own and has delivered a solid book game after game. Unfortunately this was NOT one of those games. Like a computer that is running too many programs and just decides to freeze up, the PBB went through an epic FAIL. The system shut down, the stats froze up, and Pete was like a deer in headlights on the bench. I could see a little bit of smoke coming out from his ears and the undercarriage. The PBB needed to shut down and retool, with a little help from Raso's and god almighty, the PBB rebooted and came up with this...

It is a bit hard to see but if you look down you can see the aftermath of a 15 run inninga nd what it does to the PBB, I knew we should have switched over to Timmy's Excel Spreadheet (TES) but it was too late, the PBB just shut down....so many columns left to use Pete!

What an inning it was, 15 runs, McGrath sprains his foot, and the Ringers take the lead and never looked back. Raso's seemed to be defeated at that point and went pretty quiety the next 2 innings as we skunked them to finish it in the 6th. Game set match Ringers, 4-0...that's ah niiiiiiiiice!

Game 3 Win 8-2 or "Nothing goes through my hole!"

Sully's 10 took the field on a hot and humid day in June to face the bad boys of the league, Balls Deep. Balls Deep came in leading the league in sleeveless shirts and expletives but haven't really made their mark on the field yet. They finished last year a little below average put proved they definitely can hit. The Ringers have enjoyed a hot start to the year riding hot bats through the first 2 games.

The kid took the mound coming off a win vs the Brew Crew. With a neverending girls softball game running late we started abruptly with a half a warm up pitch. Struggling through the first batter trying to find the right distance (and a little help from Billy's strike zone) the Brew Crew put up 2 runs early, but were silenced the rest of the way. They were taking the first pitch so you throw a meatball to get the call, then work them up the ladder the rest of the count.

The Ringers didn't start as hot this time around, Dirty Knee (3 for 4) lead off but we couldn't get much going in the First. The second, however, proved to be the breakout inning. Singles by MBags (who was hot all night), PR, and Connors (2 for 3)opened the door for McGrath (3 for 3) and the top of the order to do some damage. Nice to have the Baltic Bandit back after his excursion through the Eastern Bloc.

Great defense fueled the team Tuesday night, great OF play by TC, Crupi, McGrath, and Wille Mays Hayes out in right field...



The infield was solid all night and Josh played a hell of a 1 Bag digging and stretching and stabbing an early line drive from that short skinny kid that you can tell you wouldn't like if you talked to him for more than 10 minutes.


One man imparticular stole the show and will get the first Golden Glove of the year. The man we know as Joey Dub, Wertman, and of course, Sully. Joey Glove came out basically telling the Brew Crew that they weren't getting anything passed his hole. Nothing was going in his hole that wasn't getting sent back to first or second. Whether it was catches out in shallow left, or snapping his glove around his hole, the kid came in with a chip on his shoulder and a will to prove who the best SS was. Quite simply, he was the vacuum, and you just don't hit it to the vacuum when he is on...

The Kid pitched 6 scoreless to close out the game with an 8-2 win. It wasn't without being called out on an "early leave" tagging from second to third, I should probably get a pinch runner for the near future until the heat from the league gets off me.

Game tonight vs Raso's Grille. Over/Under on how many times they say "Heyyyyyyy Paz-ayyyyyyy" 7

Ringers move to 3-0 with a looming date with the Boggs next Tuesday.

In the Crowd: once again, Mrs Mike Bagshaw

Game 2 Win 19-15 aka "The Ringers keep poundin that ball!"

The local 10 took the field last night against playoff foe the Hibernians, who are armed with a ton of beers and the most overrated SS/Clean-up hitter in the league, both teams looked to set the tone of the league early.

The Ringers threw the Ole Capshaw out on the mound. Coming off a game to forget at 2nd base, the kid looked to carve out a rotation spot for himself with Noyes possibly out for a while, possibly with Tommy John (or maybe tetanus).

The Ringers got on the board early with Cutrell getting on base, then stealing second? Hits up and down the order plated 6 early. Bags got in some trouble early throwing beach balls up there in the 1st, but like a true veteran he changed the height, and brought back his spin ball that helped keep their bats from doing a ton of damage.

TC woke his bat up with some big hits to plate 2 guys, Bags 4 for 4 and PRich 3 for 4 kept the bottom of the order hot, fueling all of these early season runs. Dirty Knee with a single and a double with 2RBI and 2Runs hitting his way out of the Ringers 2-Hole

We had 3 HR's last night....um 2 HR's...Trot Sullivan hit a bomb and decided to start his HR trot right out of the box, I yelled at him to get on his horse, apparently he thought that meant reaching in his pocket for some seeds and check his HP stock from his new Windows phone while rounding First. DSull stayed red hot at the bottom of the lineup driving in 4 runs and keeping his friendly smile when you meet him back at the dugout. The Big kid hit a towering bomb and with no outs and the ball in the infield blew the stop sign and barrled around third heading to the promised land. As I sang Chariots of Fire to myself I saw him get thrown out by a good 6-7 feet. Billy said it best "Paul, what the hell is Josh trying to score on that one for?" Don't worry though, that wasn't the only bonehead move, apparently I missed 2nd base going from first to third, I thought I hit it, I'm just playing last years 65 feet rules all year so expect a lot of that...

Things of note: Don't be surprised if you see the Hibernians with some Miken's next time, they were eyeing our bats, Pete has set up a stat page for us (http://www.freesoftballstats.com/teamstats.php?team=477), Cutrell lost most of his knee, Sweet K'd, TC and DSull playing a great OF, Sweet and Sully making good on a bunch of force plays, the kid with a nice scoop and tag at the plate.

Ringers move to 2-0 and have Balls Deep and the Diamond's next week!

Faces in the crowd: Mrs Mike Bagshaw and the future Mrs CapShaw all in attendance.

All hail Commissioner Bova

Game 1 win 11-6 aka "A Ringers Family Christmas"

The Sons of Sully FINALLY took the field on a balmy day in West Medford against the Brew Crew (never heard o ya). The Ringers come in as even money with Josh's favorite team, The Hibernions, to "win the whole f'n thing" (thanks Jake Taylor).

Missing from the early roster were Adam Crowley, Jeremy DiStefano, and Aaron Noyes. Crowley has become quite the exerciser and you should be on the lookout for the fitness DVD series "Body by Shot" very soon. Boonton attended a bring your dog to the ballpark day up in Portland...or was it bring your dog to work day? Anywho, he is studying his face off to jump on the next Dancing with the Stars. Noyes is a different story, rumor has it people saw him back in town for a "medical appointment" on Sunday attended by Ringers favorite Amy Noyes. One can only think he is going under the knife for the ol Tommy John on that left wing of his. Too many dirt balls will do that to you.

Back to the action. Lineup shake up for the first game with heralded rookie Matt Cutrell batting leadoff. Cutrell is best known for sleeping in some bushes down at Trinity spring weekend and his last softball game was played roughly 14 years ago. Sounds like a perfect leadoff guy for the Ringers. He also awings like Russell Branyan so he has that going for him...which is nice. Cutrell sets the table early and ends up going 2-3 with a few runs scored. DSull takes the end of the order to add some speed and break up the bottom a bit, kid did a great job and showed some opposite field power. Couldn't have happened to a better kid.

First hit of the game was a flyball out to TCDC and not quite sure what happened but after TC caught it Danny was still on the ground. I thought they may be playing a game from their youth called "snake in the grass" but Danny was down with what turned out to be way more than a shin boner, this was a full blown ankle blow up. Kid toughed it out until being replaced defensively by Matt. (Yes, that is his ankle)

We took advantage of the Brew Crew's errors in the beginning and went up 4-0 early. The kid (of 2009 Cy Young fame) was dealin't tonight and took a no hitter into the 4th but an error by Bags and an error by said Kid allowed them to get back in it 6-2.

Sully broke it open late with a big bases loaded double...wait, single. Sully was running head up. chest out, and might proud of what he just did...the kind of hit that gets the Sullivans another bambino if you know what I mean. He made the mistake of running through 1st base, forever known as the icy patch. I can count 5 times (including myself) that almost broke their neck on the icy base. Connors went beard over feet trying to leg out a grounder. A new 70ft distance combined with an icy base is a longgggg run to 1st. (this video may not work for those who have it blocked, but it is WELL worth the 1 minute video, a true gem)

Few points of interest, Playing with a warped ball for a few innings, I think Worth took the Brew Crew for a ride, Bags was peppered all night at the 2Bag, he looks to take the mound on Thursday, TC almost decapitated the pitcher, Sully, MBags, and Rudelyn's husband Josh showed very solid D all night, Crupi had a nice laser with the new Freak, Shaun solid as always behind the dish, Pete keeping the book all year will be huge...but he forgot it somewhere already..and last but CERTAINLY not least, the kid goes 3-3 with the old Freak and takes home the MVP awarded brought to you by PBR

First game tomorrow night!

Can you dig it?

First month schedule

2011 Ringers Season Starts next Thursday!

I ask you...why not us?

Brutal Loss to Honey Fitz in the semis...