JKRP Softball > .500!

Zach Here:  Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was the Yuengling Light Lager that no one would touch. Maybe is was divine intervention. Or maybe it was just a level of concentration and skill not seen on the JKRP softball diamond in quite a while. Whatever it was, it was awesome. An 8-run 2-out rally in the third inning had Ewing Cole on their heels and JKRP rounding the bases with every stroke of the bat. After we took the lead, solid defense kept us there.  Long flies to the outfield were caught with ease and ground balls were expertly handled by the infield; halting the opposition's offensive machine. Our runs only came in two innings, but they were enough to lift the JKRP squad to a 13-12 win over Ewing Cole's 'A' team.  With this hot and humid victory, the team's record creeps above the .500 mark as we head into the final games of the regular season.

JKRP 2013 Softball Season Opener

Blake here - After coming off a dominating performance in the preseason JKR Partners took the field last evening for the 2013 season/home opener.  They couldn’t have started it off any better scoring runs in every inning leading to a team record high of 32 runs and the most deliciously sweet taste of victory.  Maybe it was the life force in those bats, maybe it was the heart of each player combining like Voltron into one really big team heart, or maybe it was the fact that they actually looked like team in their fresh new jerseys, whatever the reason it doesn’t really matter.  At the end of the day the team’s spirit and enthusiasm reached a new high after last year’s winless season.  Thanks to the swinging power of newcomer Cory Slahta, the exponentially increasing skill level of the returning Miss Katherine “Katie” Brill, and those great looking new uniforms the future is bright for this squad.  The shock and awe campaign has just begun.    

   

    

"No, I REDACTED lefty"

Is our first win in one of those cargo pockets?

It was another heart breaker, that's all I can say. The JKRP softball team turned in a great effort Wednesday night, but it just wasn't enough to get through the red tape of the Planning Commission. The bats were on fire, with solid singles and longer shots bringing in numerous runs. Defensively, the team was on top of its game. Great catches in the outfield and strong fielding on the diamond helped retire the opposition in all but one inning.  Star pitcher Dave Urffer made his 2012 debut and pitched adequately. We continue to hunt for that elusive first win and are back on the trail next week. Statistically, it just has to happen.

EVERYBODY!

This picture pretty much captures the night.

Zach here with the softball banquet recap:  The beer was cold and the thumbs were steaming as the JKRP softball team sent the year out in grand style Wednesday night.  The squad toasted their 2011 season with a seemingly endless train of pints and fried chicken.  An all-star reservation call by Mike Izzo ensured that the team had some tables to occupy, and no errors were made throughout the night.  Things could have taken a turn for the worse when the group decided to do a round of tequila shots, but they pulled through like the champions that they are and finished the evening with a win.  To top off the banquet, stylish medals were awarded to everyone as a reminder of our turnaround season. 


Sometimes drinking on a Wednesday is just as fun when there's no softball involved.

Birthday Run!

Zach here with the final softball update:  Birthday boy Blake Krevolin was a single shy of hitting for the cycle at last night's victory over Nelson.  A home run in the first inning followed by a double and then a triple secured Krevolin's place in the JKRP Softball record books in the category of "best performance on your own birthday."  The bats for the rest of the lineup were on fire, with many extra base hits and two additional home runs.  Positions were shuffled a bit in both the infield and outfield, but the team's defense remained tight throughout the game.  Solid fielding and laser-accurate throws kept Nelson at bay, allowing the offense to take control.    

The lead changed every inning, with JKRP up by three in the top of the 7th.  Surprisingly good hitting and a slide into first base put the scrappy Nelson team on top by one as the bottom of the JKRP order came to bat.  The future looked bleak, but Dan Howard and Laura Woolford managed to get on base.  Both were later forced out at second, leaving guest-star Mike Krevolin perched on first as Jason Wistreich stepped into the batter's box.  I honestly  have no idea where he hit the ball, but I know that Mike rounded the bases to tie it up and a throwing error allowed Jason to score the walk-off run.  What looked like a 13-14 loss a few minutes before turned into a glorious 15-14 victory to end the season. 

The team will be gathering at the Pub next Wednesday during normal softball hours to continue the beer consumption, but without the swinging of bats or running of bases.

"Like Walking Through a Blanket, A Wet Hot Blanket"

Zach here with the weekly softball recap:  The 2-game JKRP win streak came to a sad, sweaty end Wednesday night as the softball team fell to the #2 ranked sluggers of H2L2.  The JKR defense was solid, giving up only a few fielding and throwing errors.  H2L2 kept star left fielder Pete Hartenstine on his toes, sending 80% of their hits directly to his position for a series of easy outs.  


It took 7 innings to bat through our order twice, illustrating either the prowess of the opposition's fielding abilities or JKRP's lack of hit production.  One bright spot came late in the game, when "Little" Dave McClafferty hit a home run over the right fielder's head, bringing himself and "Original" Dave Urffer in to score.  The other bright spot was the tray of brownies, which were delicious.  


With one game to go, the JKRP team is looking to end the regular season with a win next week.  

Once that shirt's on, she's all business.

Zach with the weekly softball update (a day late, but whatever):  Two outs were all we needed to end the game with another victory.  Two outs is what short-fielder (and team treat-provider) Jen Whary gave us, adjusting to each hit and making the catches look easy.    


The JKRP team took to the field in great form Wednesday night, putting 13 runs on the board with solid hitting (including a home run).  The defense turned in some quick innings, with both infield and outfield stepping up to make plays.  Throws were accurate, bags were covered, and everyone played like we knew what we were doing out there.  We were leading the WRT team going into the top of the 7th inning, and Jen's epic catches (along with her heroic traffic-stop earlier in the game) made her the MVP of the night.


With two regular season games left to play, the team is ready to continue their first winning streak of the decade and finish above .500.       

Hip-Hip-Jose!

Zach with the weekly softball report:  Jose Hernandez didn't wake up Wednesday morning thinking that he would bring in the winning run in the bottom of the 7th inning that night.  He went to bed, however, knowing that he did just that.  Tight defense kept the JKR softball team in the game, and they were only down three runs when their last batters took to the plate.  Strong hits and smart running (aided by excellent base coaching) steadily marched the batters around the diamond, tying the game at 11 when Hernandez stepped into the box.  With one out and runners in scoring position, Jose only had to pop up deep or send a blooper over the heads of the infield to bring the winning run home.  He did neither.  A hard line drive tight to the third base line allowed the runners to advance and gave the JKR squad another win in their turnaround season.


Also worthy of note: an excellent home-brewed beer made an appearance on the JKR bench, marking the first time a keg has been tapped at a softball game.

History Is Made

Wednesday night saw many firsts for the JKRP softball team.  We had Dave's first 2011 appearance (he was 3 for 3), we had our first 9-run inning, and, for the first time in history, a pitching change was called for.  Glenn Werner, amassing a pitch count of 57 on his first batter, was pulled in the top of the third inning by interim manager/center fielder Mike Izzo.  The side was quickly retired after the change.  "The first one was right down the middle," said Werner on the bench, "but he didn't swing.  I guess he didn't want them like that."


There aren't many rules in slow-pitch architectural softball, but it felt like we were up against the entire ASL rulebook last night.  Two outs at the plate were nullified by a vocal Ewing Cole bench.  One in a "slide or surrender" situation (in which the runner neither slid nor surrendered), and another because "the foul tip didn't go over the batter's head."  Despite the bad calls, Marissa turned in some All-Star caliber play at the catcher's position.


What the team lacked in Krevolin brothers it more than made up for with grilled meats and cake balls.  Aggressive base running was not slowed by the pounds of hot dogs, cheeseburgers, and cake we ingested.  We were in it until the end, but ultimately walked away with a loss.  Only four more games to go before the 2011 season comes to a close. 

Bureaucracy Triumphs

Zach checking in with the softball report:  Words cannot describe what nine (9) swinging strikes feel like on a warm summer evening, so I'm not even going to try.  It was a defensive struggle by both teams, but one inning got away from the JKR squad and we scrambled tirelessly in an attempt to make up a hefty deficit.  Two home runs were scored late in the game, but it was too late; the City Planning Commission covered us in red tape.

!!!

Zach here with the softball report:  A record-setting crew of 17 elevated the JKRP softball team to its best record since 2009.  The team now stands at 2-3 for the year and they couldn't be happier.  Nearly flawless fielding, along with strong hitting and aggressive running, led to the 10-8 victory over the fast-pitching Mutts of Hooper Shiles.  New faces debuted on the field and a blast from the JKR softball past returned to lend a hand as well.  The tides have turned for the JKRP team, and we're hoping that the momentum will carry through the coming weeks.

[Song Title Featuring "Hot"]

Zach with the Softball update:  The thermometer read 100 degrees as the JKRP softball team took the field last night, but our bats weren't as hot as the air around us.  The trash bag quality of our plastic-dipped jerseys pushed our sweat glands into overdrive, keeping everyone sluggish and saturated.  Improvements were made throughout the game both offensively and defensively with smart hits and aggressive base-running scoring a number of runs.  The snacks committee will reevaluate their approach this week, as peanut butter cookies were not the easiest food to consume in that kind of heat.

Friday, I'm (Not) In Love

Zach here with the weekly softball update:  After quickly falling to a 7 point deficit Wednesday night, the JKR Partners softball squad rallied to take a 9-7 lead over Friday and Friends.  We couldn't hold on, however, and the Friends scored three runs in the bottom of the 7th to take the win.  An excessively high number of double plays were made by the JKR infield, and star second baseman Mike Bamonti had what many called The Game of His Career.

Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

Zach checking in here:  Shock, surprise, and bewilderment rained upon the Belmont Plateau just after 8pm Wednesday evening as the JKR Partners softball team marked the final out of their first (actual) win since 2009.  The 21-19 triumph snapped a losing streak that has hung heavily over the team's head for far too long.  It might have been the cake, it might have been the beer, it might have been the questionable bats that cost more than a year's worth of GEICO car insurance.  Whatever it was, the celebration commenced once we all remembered what it felt like to win a game.  Good job everyone, let's take this streak to two!