St. Catherine's All-Neighborhood picnic:  Lawn Manor This Saturday – URGENT

As most everyone knows the picnic is this Saturday, and traditionally the Men’s Club Softball Teams play an important role in the set-up and administration of the event. 

 

Set-up:  9:30 am

Traditionally we ask the last-place softball teams (Hughes-McGovern-Cisko-Neylon) to handle the set-up but we encourage all teams to help.  With enough guys this generally takes less than 30 minutes.  Coffee and donuts will be provided.

 

Picnic Volunteers:  12:30 – 4:30 pm

Some volunteers are still needed to help out at the picnic on August 25th.  Many of the shifts have been filled but we still need some help.  See grid below for times and tasks

 

Task	12:30 – 1:30	1:30 – 2:30	2:30 – 3:30	3:30 – 4:30
Root Beer	Garrett Adamczyk	Ryan Riemersma	Pat Riemersma	Done
Popcorn	Chris Ivers	Joe Conroy	1 Volunteer need	1 Volunteer need
Inflatable 1	Pat Hynes Ray Kash	Bob Helme Tony Krokos	1 Volunteer need Jerry Ashe	John Campbell Katie Campbell
Inflatable 2	1 Volunteer needed Suzie Kelly	2 Volunteers needed	2 Volunteers needed	2 Volunteers needed

Kids Games:  2:30 – 3:30:  Kevin Hughes, Chuck Boecker, and a 1 volunteer needed.

Clean-up:  All Day & Afterwards (Kids can get confirmation and service points)

PLEASE, if you can help out please contact Sean Kelly ASAP:  seanfkelly@comcast.net or 312-259-0826. 

 

Bean Bag Games:

We need around 10 sets of Bean Bag Boards for the picnic to be dropped off at Lawn Manor early Saturday morning.  Please contact Butch Roche if you have a set you can lend:  Butch Roche, 708-228-0401, roche399@comcast.net

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT UMPIRES

·        Umpire Abuse:  There have been several reports of umpire abuse in the last few weeks.  As the rules clearly state, there is NO justification for umpire abuse, least of all “competitiveness” as a rationalization.  Captains must immediately intercede and stop any player who abuses the umpires, and we must all remember that the penalty for abusing umpires can be as severe as banishment from the league.

·        Need for Umpires:  If you don’t have an umpire please do your best to fairly officiate your own games.  However, we will have umpires for all playoff games.  If you or someone you know can umpire please contact Butch Roche:  708-228-0401, roche399@comcast.net

Standings after Week 6

 

NOTE:  Due to delay in getting Captains’ recaps, they are provided below without edit for content, profanity, ball-busting, etc.  Captains’ names are being withheld to protect the guilty.

 

Game 6 Recaps

Lawn Manor North: Kelly 3, Neylon 2

Yes we did hold Kelly to only 3 runs but only managed to score 2 runs ourselves. The boys really played a great defensive game and did attempt to live up to your prediction of knocking off the undefeated Team Kelly who had all players in attendance. Team Neylon had 12 in attendance for this game pitting the seniors against the youth of Kelly.   Frank Lonergan pitched a masterful game and repeatedly had Kelly players fouling off his very limited offerings at the plate.

 

Gene Mroch had a fine night at the plate going 2 - 2 and also keeping Lonergan on target at the plate.  John Pavesic had a big blast in the bottom of the 6th driving a ball over the left fielders head that drove in 2 runs, but in a real close play at the plate John was called out for what would have been the tying run. The call was made by Frank Lonergan who split the umpire duties with Jim Gallagher who had just scored and was also standing at the plate, he agreed with the Lonergan's call and then the fun began. An infuriated John Pavesic said after the game that he no longer will play in games without a "regular" umpire.  But he better – or we’ll tell his dad.

 

Lawn Manor South: Krokos 7, McGovern 0

After last week's shellacking from Team Kelly, Team Krokos was looking to mix things up defensively. Team Krokos' "former" starting pitcher George Lefils couldn't play due to a family obligation. Up steps Bob Kelleher. All year he has been dropping hints that he could pitch, which fell on the deaf ears of Team Krokos' captain. Without any other choices, Bob Kelleher was given the start. Being a wise veteran, Bob has been pitching batting practice all year waiting for a chance to show his stuff in a game. The game, which was played in less than an hour, was over before Team McGovern knew what hit them. There were several great defensive plays on both sides, but the Web Gem nomination goes to Bob Kelleher for holding Team McGovern to only 5 hits and 0 runs in 7 innings. Team Krokos was sparked offensively with multiple hits from Brian Donegan, Chip Cisco, Rich Kevin, James Golon, Mike Spedale and Mike Cummings.  As always, Mr. Pav's umped a great game.

 

Five hits?  I only counted 3!  In what may well be the most futile effort in the history of Men's Club Softball (or another league for that matter), team McGovern was completely dominated by Bob "Money talks….Forever in Blue Jeans, Baby" Kelleher.  Not much else to say other than, “When does Basketball start?”

 

PIE Southeast: Phelan 6, Roche 1 (Marquee Match-up)

Not much to report, other than Captain Phelan’s error prevented what should have been the 2^nd shut-out of the night for new league-leading pitcher Jerry Ashe.  Dan Mulhal hit well, as did John Quinlan.  The sweat stain on the front of Brian Kelly’s shirt – formerly taking the form of the late Jim Croce (or as some commented later, Al Pacino in “Serpico”), this week took the form of Annette Funicello (unfortunately the Mouse-keteer years, not “Beach Blanket Bingo” years).

 

PIE Southwest: Walton 7, Hughes 6

In a true grinder game, Team Walton eked out the victory.  Walton’s bats exploded in the first inning for 4 runs to take a 4-1 lead.  Big hits from Tom Maher, Ed “My cooler holds 4 beers” Arquilla, and captain Ken Walton (Note:  For the record, Kevin Hughes provided the Walton compliment, thus Ken Walton is not in violation of the “John Roche Proviso” which prohibits shamelessly self-promotion by captains). 

 

Hughes Pitcher John Sanchez settled down after that to allow the Hughes bats to get them back in the game.  Captain Hughes consulted his kindergarten daughter Colleen to help fill out this week’s line-up.  Example:  “Daddy our next door neighbors are Jimmy & Tommy, and I have a brother Danny.”  Result:    Top of the order was “Jimmy” Burke, “Tommy” Curley, and “Danny” O’Shea, who all had multi-hit games. 

 

The game came down to the 7^th inning, with Walton hanging on to the 7-6 lead, and Hughes runners on the corners, and pitcher John Sanchez at the plate to help his cause.  But pitcher John “4-fingers” Leahy got Chez to groundout to end the game.  Web-gem nominee to Bill Snoreck’s 7^th inning line drive down third, that  Walton 3B Randy Justin leaped (as high as he could) to have the ball tip off his fingers, while SS Tom “ I have a horseshoe up my ass” Maher caught while sprinting to back up Justin

 

Cary Cisko umped a SUPERB game. 

 

PIE Northwest: Carberry 4, Moss 2

Team Moss continues its downward spiral. In a painful 4-2 loss to a Captain-less JCarbs, Moss continued to struggle mightily at the plate. In a duel between crafty veterans Leo Novosel and Kevin Lyons, neither team could muster much offense. Both pitchers had stellar defense behind them. Moss was led defensively by John Farrell who is pushing hard for his first Gold Glove award at 3rd. Ray Kash continues to play flawless SS and Chris Ivers made several nice scoops at 1st. JCarbs combination Of SS Travnik and SC Tom Duggan took away the middle of the infield, turning 3 (yes 3!) double plays.

 

Captain Moss invites the rest of the league to an after-set at Lawn Manor North this Thursday given all their beer from the double plays and many base running gaffes. Offensively, there were no highlights for Moss, but clutch hits for Carbs were provided by B.J. Phelan, Duggan, and Novosel. The Web Gem goes to Rich Eber who ran all out into foul territory and, fully extended, made a spectacular diving catch, in what has to be the catch of the year.  Moss is down, but certainly not out. As the playoffs loom, Moss is still confident that his squad shall reign on Super Saturday. Joe Labuda had a good game, having to make several close calls. He definitely earned his 15 bucks.

 

 

PIE Northeast: Cisko 5, Schumacher 4

Not sure what happened since I had a make-up playoff game in another league, but according to a very unreliable and slurred report from Brad Thompson and Keith Otto, Cisko got off the snide with a 2-run rally in the bottom of the seventh.  Something about a John Roche bloop hit, an intentional walk after a 5 minute mound strategy meeting, and a timely hit by Scott McCabe.  Behind strong pitching from Mark, we had a solid outing defensively with 2 separate inning ending double plays. Offensively we put approx. 14 guys on base, but only scored 4. We left too many stranded.  We did see some unexpected speed and extra-bases taken by 2^nd-year man Mo O’Connor on a couple different occasions.

 

Week 6 Web-gem Winner

Rich Eber for his diving grab.

 

Game 7 - Thursday, August 23^rd, 6:30 PM

Lawn Manor North: Moss v. Schumacher*

Lawn Manor South: Roche v. Krokos

PIE Southeast: Cisko v. Neylon

PIE Southwest: McGovern v. Carberry

PIE Northwest: Walton v. Phelan*

PIE Northeast: Hughes v. Kelly

* Marquee Match-ups

 

 

Week 7 Reminders & Important Notes

·        The Daily Southtown “Speak out”  - URGENT

Many read the item in the Southtown last Friday from someone complaining about the drinking and noise at Lawn Manor and PIE after Thursday night softball.  OL Police Chief confirmed they received complaints as well.  This is not a call for everyone to “Go to Quigley’s” – this is a directive from OLPD to clear out of the parks by 10 pm or risk jeopardizing the fun for everyone.  You don’t have to go to Quigley’s but we have to get out of the parks.  And do your best to clean the fields before it gets dark so we don’t miss anything.

§         Mark Your Calendars:  New Member Drive Party at Quigley’s following week 9 games (September 6^th)

§         Softball Bins – Please MAKE SURE they get where they are supposed to go

1. Lawn Manor: (Bob) Stokas' house, 10828 Kostner, 708-425-8091
2. PIE: (Jim) Burke's house, 10829 Kenton, 708-636-0334

§         Patronize Quigley’s: And remember to tip your bartenders