and this guy...

I had a DK last night as well...a Crupi specialty

Game 5 Win 21-14 vs Diamonds aka "you take your pitches, we will take our HR trots"

Finally, we got to play some competition. Built up as the '27 Yankees, these guys for the most party were a bunch of pinstripe wearing pricks. Bottom of the first, Sam Smith, "hey, why don't you shut the hell up!" (ding...and we're off).

Bats haven't quit all year so let's ride them while they are hot. McGrath actually got out but kept peppering RF with a dinger. D Sull took advantage of a short porch and rounded the bases, pretty sure he was home by the time the ball reached the cut off man. Bags a very solid 4 for 4, showing sings of his Lawrence Academy days when he was named MVP in 1995. MBags hit a bomb and after dusting off some early defensive troubles made a huge play in the 5th for a force out. Sweet stayed hot at the top of the order and played a solid second base. Timmy, DSull, and McGrath covered a lot of ground in the OF and Timmy hit some ropes into center going 3for5. I snuck one past the shortstop, scored someone, then the "Phantom tag" play happened on DSull, catcher couldnt even believe he got the call. Sammy steady on the field and at the bat, shades of Kirk Gibson's limp around the bases. Noyes tomahawking his way on the base paths. A ton of GT's last night which is obviously the biggest acheivement last night.

The first baseman: "what is a GT?"
Sweet maybe? :"a gentleman's turn, just respecting the game the way it was meant to be played"
First Baseman "oh nice"

That umps strike zone was tighter than the bottom of Bagshaws sweatpants. Not my finest hour in the first inning but I finally got it. Helps that you can move off that designated rubber, makes it a bit easier. You guys brought me in to beat them and that's what we did. When you have to dig your tooth out of your mit from gnawing on it, you know it's a bit frustrating. Oh and Bags hit me off the head with the ball. They look for the walk at the detriment of their own hitting, we just walked up and pounded the ball, so awesome. They learned at the end of the game that they wouldnt get the baserunners they thought they would by doing that, and started feeling a little heat. They pressed and started popping most of the pitches up. A team effort last night, nice work.

5-0, who is better than us right now? Not many people, and definately not the manager of the Ashville Tourists

Where was this guy last night?

Which pitcher would you rather have a drink with?

These Guys?

Or this chick?

Game 4 Win 15-5 aka Bags' immediate backup of McGrath

Nice win by the Ringers, bats woke up by the 4th inning and we put them to bed. Noyes was crafty and kept them off balance with is occasional dirt ball. Sammy missed the cycle by a double, McGrath picks up where he left off with a HR. Connors a solid 3 for 3. Sam also was busy at first with some unassisted and some interesting flips to Noyes. Big game Thursday.

Stats through 4 games

Hitting
Jon Sweet .588 7rbi 10runs
Tim Charest .571 6rbi 8runs
Joe Sullivan .667 7rbi 8runs
Mike Bagshaw .545 10rbi 3runs
Dave Sullivan .625 4rbi 4runs
Aaron Noyes .333 1rbi 3runs
Geoff Bagshaw .455 2rbi 4runs
Josh Smith .615 12rbi 7runs
Sam Smith .615 6rbi 7runs
Shaun Connors .315 3rbi 1run
Adam Crowley .600 1rbi 2 runs
Jeremy DiStefano .600 2rbi 3runs
Jay McGrath .818 5rbi 6runs
Danny Charest .800 6rbi 5runs
Paul Richards .667 2rbi 4runs

Pitching
Paul Richards 2-0 4.66ERA 1BB
Aaron Noyes 2-0 6.41ERA 4BB 1K

Respecting the game
Sammy 1GT
Noyes 1GT

The Face of Massachusetts Slow-pitch Softball

With that win boys, we are 3-0

Three Wins, Zero Losses

Just when you thought the Captain was down and out...

he comes back and totally redeems himself

Game 3 Win 20-1 or The Return of Dirty Knee

Crupi's swing: Almost like sitting in a chair at the plate, bat straight up with a bit of movement. At the point of impact he lunges to the ball and buries that back knee right into the dirt.

Game Highlights:
-Sweet stays hot at the top of the lineup (again, if we had some stats...ahem MBags...)first HR of the year
-Sully with a dinger
-Danny great diving catch in left field
-MBags 4-4 w 8RBI's, havin a day
-Sammy smacked with a ball in the very quad that he hurt
-DiStefano keeps his DiMaggio-like streak in tact with a perfect fielding percentage
-walked my first guy, I got arrogant out there, lost my shutout, blah blah
-Bags made a triumphant return to the team after being mauled by an Easton
-Crupi great catch to start the game out, threw the ball into Katrina and signed it "the only better catch I have had is you, Love, Dan"
-the other team's pitcher had pretty sweet pants on, almost like jockey pants worn at the Derby
-anyone else think that black guy stuck out like a sore thumb? I mean how does that guy play with those 40 yr olds...strange
-Noyes was nice enough to bring a 30 for the game, here's to your K
-Connors called a good game behind the plate, read the knuckle ball well

The various points of a "Gentleman's Turn"

Head down at the bag, the legs take you into foul territory, chopping the feet and taking a brief look in the outfield feeling very good about yourself and your place on the team. Respecting the game as it is supposed to be played...

Game 2 Win 24-6 or "when you can't hit, and clearly can't field, you won't do very well"

Muttered by the old skinny guy who may just be Noyes' drunk dialing buddy "Tony". Words have never rang louder than his summary of that team. So basically they can only pitch, physically he is right as they used 5 pitchers. At one point they had 3 cut-off men in right field, the throws to second reminded one of an illegal softball pitch that was too high. A win is a win though, and we shall take it.

The only real bright spot on the team was the "professional hitter", we will call him Pete since that was what was written on the scorebook. His hair was old school Stairs and his swing was just as sweet. Noyes struck him out twice, once on a hard slider coming into hands, and the other on his signature 12 to 6 hook. These two look like they will have quite a rivalry going this year.

And now to the highlights, no stats so I will do my best. Sweet continues to set the table with 4 runs scored, anytime the leadoff guy has an RBI in the first and it's not a dinger you know it will be a long game. Danny great throw out at home with Capshaw behind the dish, he exited shortly thereafter but we will get to that. Josh another dinger and textbook wonderful baserunning. McGrath was all over those pitchers, kid could go up with a toothpick and slap one to right. Sully righted the ship after some early trouble to throw in a great web gem with a dive and force at 2nd. You know a team can't hit when nothing goes to third (I could be wrong but I don't remember anything going to Timmy). Crowley a solid first base. DSull good day all around, field and at bat. Noyes kept them off balance all night with a combination of changeups and sliders, he also almost lost his nuts but the kid is like a cat out there. The lefty is 1-0.

Capshaw took one on the chin last night, well the upper lip. Could be worse Bags, you could have cried or lost teeth. All in all a good showing and you will be missed behind the dish. A similar situation happened on the Brady Bunch, then it was a football and a hot chick...so I guess it is not even close to this.

On a softer note, RIP popular red bat, no idea the make or model but it seemed like one hell of an aluminum stick..that's what she said. Sully seemed a bit off after McGrath cracked it. I see a nice Christmas gift from McGrath in Sully's future.

A couple solid "gentleman's turns" last night, nice work respecting the game.

Seen in the crowd: Rudelyn Smith, Nurse Seppa, Amy Rossi-Noyes-Norris, "Tony"

Not seen: anyone related to Jeremy DiStefano, "Jacob" from Lost, Crowley's new snapper, TC Fight Club, Chris Sabo

I know I forgot some stuff, feel free to comment on it at the bottom. Get Some

Fun Fact:
“Not to be forgotten was ANOTHER sunflower seed record set by Lyn "seed sucker" Smith. Got to love her. Great fan and one hell of a "seed sucker" -TC

Lyn would be proud, her comment to the blog would be, "Perfect American's Douche"

Seed Sucker? Wasn't that a name of a porno? I'll ask Brown...anyways here's to hammerin on fools...

Kid rakes line drives all over the place...now it's legal

* another Boonton Richards Production (BRP) or BuRP

Game 1: Win 17-7...aka "why didn't you swing, that was a meatball"

...words muttered by our very own catcher Capshaw, talking to the other team...about one of my pitches. Thanks for the support Bags, you were probably tipping my pitches too...

Opening Day for the Ringers last night at beautiful Mike Jackman field in Medford. Official stats aren't in so I will wing this one a bit. Bags was behind the dish, Richards on the hill, first was held down by Crowley and "Smith", Sweet at 2bag, Timmy at 3bag, Mbags at SS, OF of Sammy, McGrath, Danny, Boonton.

Game got off to a tough start as a line drive hit that mine field they call LF and gave Sammy some trouble, place is a nightmare out there. A few early miscues gave way to some stellar D with Timmy leading the web gems with some great plays at the Hot Corner, and man thats hot over there. Sweet some great scoops on some force outs at 2B. McGrath held a guy to a triple racing down a bomb hit off me, the stranded him at third, big play. Danny played a good center "I got it....I think", catch made.

As advertised I had no walks, gave up a few shots though. once I realized they couldnt hit anything above their waist I just pounded the strike zone and Bags called a great game behind the dish. Had a 1-2-3 inning, I don't even think I had one in High School...it was hard when Josh is giving me the middle finger catching and Sully is meowing in CF.

Boonton was obviously late, forgot his keys or something, and then steps in and goes 3for4 I believe. Just like Wade Boggs' chicken before the game, Boonton now has his pre-game ritual. Danny hit a bomb, Sam hit a ground ball and muttered "wow that is so geyyyyy" as he ran to first. Josh finished up the Mercy Rule in the 6th with a jack and almost ran over Sweet running to home plate. They say only A-holes wear a jersey with a "#1" on it, this still holds true. No stats, missing some stuff, Timmy 2 huge sac-flys, McGrath a shot down right field line followed up by a "gentleman's turn" at the bag...just respecting the game the way it is supposed to be played, Danny a dinger, Riz 3-4, Bagshaw had a single robbed by a pinball play pitcher to second to first. Good hitting all around and if I forgot you I apologize, I was trying to put as many seeds down Josh's shirt as possible. Feel free to comment on it with stuff I didn't see or anything of note.

Seen in the crowd: Alice Thompson with her dog "Pol Pot", Liz Seppa, Rudelyn Smith setting a new sunflower seed record, a kid that was a cross between Frank Getek and Mark DeRose. I thought I heard ol' Terry Smith yell "Fries are ready" from the concession stand as I was in my windup but I think I just still have flashbacks...

Not seen: anyone related to Joe Sullivan, Nina, Selchan, Tim McKenna, and anyone Crowley has luged with. Also not seen was this gentleman. Good Game guys. Thanks for the D.