| Because I Entertain Myself and a Few Others |
 This weekend was the epitome of the weird softball world we live in. For the first time all year, I promised my wife I would have Sunday free. We were going down to lose 2 games in Mankato - because if we didn't go we couldn't play Nationals. We would be without: Tom King, Tim King, Shane Pauly, Brice, Brandon and Brad Worm - to replace them we could find any ASA D players we wanted to. That's not the best recipe for competing in an Open State Tournament. But when we got there Saturday, something crazy had happened - Team Viesmann had been upset by Minnesota Building Contractors. So our first game was not against one of the top B teams - but a team closer to our level. They only put up 3 runs, but its tough to score off a pitcher who walks 7 guys - you don't know if you'll get a pitch to hit. Next game wasn't until later that night vs Homes Unlimited who we beat 12-9 despite our attempt to get blown out by starting the game defensively with an error, a bomb served up by yours truly, followed by another error and another meat ball bomb. So we went home with the prospects of playing Redwood in the morning, and getting Shane Pauly and the other Worm boys back. Let's be straight up here, when we have our whole team there - you still have to expect Redwood to beat us - they are that good. Fortunately, they used their HR's early and the wind was gusting out so they hit several for outs. Lucky us, we win like 14-11. During the next game is when we were told the bad news. We wouldn't be allowed to win the tourney, we were watching the Championship between Redwood and Viesmann/BBS. I don't get it, I'll never understand it, it makes 0 sense. ASA forces us to play in the tourney, against our wishes and the wishes of every other CC team there - but then you can't win it??? That's so weird, I can't even comprehend it. Forced to play, but not allowed to win. MAYBE THIS WILL FORCE SOME SOFTBALL PLAYERS TO QUIT AND PLAY GOLF... On an equally weird note, Tharaldson's is evidently the 3rd best team in North Dakota. The only B team in North Dakota plays in Tier 1 State vs. North Dakota C teams. They go into Sunday undefeated, and get beat not once - but twice - by two different teams from North Freaking Dakota. I guess BBS/Miken would have a better chance at winning B world's in San Antonio rather than the C in Moorhead. If they have two C teams better than Tharaldson's up there - I want no part of them!!! I can only assume that Demars sat out this tournament, because a former major player who plays on a current WSL A team would never consider playing down to the ASA C level. How can he sleep at night? But by losing to those teams, maybe Tharaldson's inspired several GOLFERS TO TAKE UP SOFTBALL?!? Speaking of ASA C Nationals in Moorhead, did you know they do a blind draw at noon on the Thursday before Labor Day weekend - and all teams need to be ready to play by 5:00 that evening!! This must be a 500 team tournament, since you do have Labor Day Monday on the backside of this thing. Additional Commentary: I've said for years that I never thought I'd be able to compete at the Class B level ever again, and I meant it. But the great equalizers recently are these two factors: The Freaks are out and the balls are mush. Unlike recent years, the 9 hitter isn't going to either gap at will and the 145 lb. guy isn't dropping 3 run bombs. We were outhomered in 2 of 3 games this weekend, and neither team hit one in the other - but since we're accustomed to basehitting year round we're getting some positive results. Meanwhile, big boppers are flying out at a very high rate. The bats are so ordinary now that I'm swinging a Freak 98 over my Recoil, and the two Velocites at the tournament this weekend performed way better than the bats we use today. Teams who have mashed with the Freaks for years have become a little more ordinary. The playing field is becoming more level, this may encourage teams to move up - shoot, who wouldn't want to play for an Open State Title? Where's Woodrow??? Allegedly, Jeremy Lee - known for several years as Hollywood to us all - has disappeared. He hasn't been in contact with any of his fellow Viesmann/BBS teammates and has left his home. No one has heard from him. I know Wood was a faithful reader of the 12's, and I count him as a friend. I wish him luck in whatever he does, and hope he is in good health. Top 12's: 1. CC - If they still have a team. 2. Redwood - Here's what I like about Redwood - their leadoff hitter, Schultz, is money. Their infield defense is tough - Strunk, the big dude at 3rd, Dalbey at 1st, the skinny guys - they all can glove. Their centerfielder can go get it, and they do have enough power. Lastly, what I like about them is they win and lose as a team - they don't need to pick up a Brownie or a Geno for a big tournament - they roll with who got them there. 3. J@H - They have been impressive for a couple years now, and their Showcase pickups make their defense all the better. Their pitcher is great, but they don't amaze me with their sticks. They just win. 4. All USSSA D teams who finished higher than us at the Frolics and those two ND C teams that beat Tharaldson's - Spectrum and Sperle. 5. Tharaldson's - Terrible team from a terrible town, terrible uniforms, terrible fans. Scott Brown called - he said his back is still sore from carrying you at Fireman's. How can you go from a 2nd place finish at the Fireman's, forcing an if game with a Major team to 3rd best team from North Dakota in two weeks? It's a crazy, mixed up softball world. Riggo will get it turned around, and I hope they use this as motivation - they all read the 12's and I'll take the credit if they end up winning in San Antonio. 6. BBS/Miken - My biggest regret from this weekend is that Jesse Worm was not eligible to win the MVP award. No disrespect to any one else, but he hit 4 of our total of 5 HR's this weekend and he is covering more area in the outfield than anyone I've ever played with. I hate to keep gushing over one guy - but he also has a top 5 arm and guns people at the plate regularly. Good work, Jesse. In addition, a big thanks to our mystery pickups this weekend - you guys stepped up and played great. Ballers are ballers, no matter what level they play at. 7. Viesmann/BBS - It was a blast from the past. No one can score like these guys used to score. 35 runs a game used to be nothing to them, and they remembered who they were for at least one game this weekend - scoring 34 runs in 4 innings vs Lucky 13's/MN Jazz on Sunday morning. I don't think any other team scored more than 16 in any other game. 8. Lucky 13's/MN Jazz - These guys are my pick to win the ASA C National in Moorhead. They pitch it well, they pick it well, they have speed in the outfield and they have enough power. They played their best in September last year, we'll see if they can do it again. 9. Team Viesmann - They have great talent, but they've been up and down lately. I hope they finish like they started the year, putting up big numbers. 10. Selloxx/Miken - Another capable team with several good players. 11. Homes Unlimited - Good power on this team, and always come to play. 12. Outpost - Saw them at Frolics, they finally have uniforms. Teams to Watch: Eitzen State Bank - Look for them to get cranked up late in the year, won a tournament down south this weekend. Salscheider - Good squad Mckinley Hill/Grain Belt - Congrats on Frolics Championship, wish I had gotten to watch you guys play. Duffy's - Pulled out a good win against us - nice, young team BBS/Imperial - Won Tier 2 at Fireman's All-American Restoration - Hope they can hold it all together, they've got the hitting ability to be a tough out in a National Tournament GMHI - I heard they are tough C&A - My favorite USSSA D team two years running To all the teams deserving, sorry if I forgot you - good luck. CC State in Sauk Rapids in two weeks - we'll be lucky to make it to Sunday. Be good everyone. |