The 2010 season is underway and it got started in fine fashion last night. The two top pre-season teams faced off under the lights on field #5 with both teams ready to play. Defending champion, Resurrection Life, defeated former champion, Wooddale Classic, 16-15 scoring three runs in the top of the 7th to win it.
Both teams showed some early season rust, Rez moreso than Wooddale, but all told it was a well-played game. The Warriors banged out 22 hits and drew three walks. Wooddale ripped 21 hits and drew two walks. Rez did commit three errors, but they were early and the defense played perfectly the last three innings. Wooddale committed just one error which did not lead to any extra runs for Rez.
Rez started the season in style as leadoff hitter Austin Colby launched the first pitch of the season well over the left-field fence into the netting on the baseball field. While it wasn't an effective use of the team's limited homeruns, it was a nice little 'Oh, welcome to OUR league' statement to Wooddale.
Substitute Jeremy Abfalter followed with a single and went to third on newcomer Ryan Norman's single. With runners on the corners, Eric Johnson lofted the first of what will be eight or nine sacrifice flies, plating Jeremy. Adam Hey followed with a liner up the middle to move Ryan to second and Jeff Johnson hit into a forceout for the second out. Up 2-0 with two outs and runners on the corners, Aaron Beintema delivered a single to score Ryan and keep the inning alive for Lee Valle. Lee responded by roping his first pitch in two years to the center-field wall scoring Jeff and ending the inning's scoring at 4-0 Rez.
Wooddale brushed off the little hit barrage put on by the Warriors and calmly ripped five hits and used two Rez errors to score five runs in the bottom half to take a 5-4 early lead. The Warriors didn't waste much time correcting that as Logan Brincefield started the second with a single and jogged home as Austin hit his second pitch of the season just a little bit higher on that baseball field net in left field. Jeremy followed with a single but the next three batters went down in order leaving it 6-5 Rez through one and a half.
Wooddale scored two in the bottom half with three hits including a double. Good outfield defense kept any additional runners from reaching.
Tied at 6, the Warriors took their only goose egg of the game in the third inning. The team went down one, two, three making it six straight outs going back to the second inning. Ouch.
Wooddale took advantage and pounced ahead with four runs in the bottom of the third. Four hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly gave Classic the edge.
Now down four and having set down six straight batters, the Warriors needed a jump start in the fourth. The team answered the call, banging out five hits and utilizing a sacrifice fly and a walk to plate five runners and reclaim the lead, 11-10. John Beintema started the frame with a smooth single to left. After a tough lineout, Austin took his free pass with class to put two on for Jeremy. Jeremy answered and loaded the bases with a single. Ryan followed with an rbi single to score John. Eric eased his second sac fly to the outfield, plating Logan who was running for Austin. Down 10-8 with two outs and two on, Adam came through in a big way launching what looked like a homerun off the wall in left-center to score Jeremy and Ryan and tying the score. Jeff roped a single to center to push Adam home and give the Warriors the lead.
Wooddale looked like it wasn't phased by the outburst and started the bottom half single, double to put runners at second and third with no outs. But, the defense stepped up and set down the next three batters to allow just the one run to score to tie the game.
With three innings to go and a tie game, Rez added a run in the fifth to take a one-run lead. Lee singled to start things and after back-to-back outs, Austin took his second unintentional, intentional walk to put two on for Jeremy. Jeremy blooped one on the right-field line to score Lee, but was thrown out at second to end the inning, 12-11 Rez.
Wooddale showed its first real chink in the offensive armor putting the first two batters on first and second and then going down in order without scoring. Austin snared a line drive hit right back at his shoulder to end the fifth inning, 12-11 Warriors.
Rez tried to add some more runs in the sixth, but couldn't really muster any offense, using two singles and an error to push just one run across the plate.
Wooddale now had a chance to take back the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Classic did just that, scoring four times to really put the pressure on Rez going into the seventh. Classic had four hits in the inning and one walk. Two very nice plays in the field by Austin on the mound and Ryan at shortstop prevented even more runs from scoring.
Trailing by two in the last frame, Rez needed baserunners. John grounded out to start things but Logan came through with a base-hit to left setting the table for Austin. Austin, having not swung since the second inning, seemed a bit over anxious and lunged at the first pitch thrown only to hit a high flyball to center for the second out. For a moment it seemed like the Warriors were done, but Jeremy came through in a big way stroking one through the wind over the center-field fence to tie the game at 15 with two outs. Motivated by the blast, the Warriors kept it going as Ryan singled and moved to second on Eric's walk. Adam proved his worth yet again with another clutch two-out hit, lining a single to center to score Ryan and give Rez the late lead. A flyout ended the inning.
Wooddale trailed by one and strode to the plate in the bottom of the seventh determined to get the leadoff man on first. However, a tricky pop-up in shallow right was held up by the strong wind allowing Eric time to hustle out and snag it for the first out. That was huge. The second batter hit a grounder to Ryan who fielded cleanly and fired to Jeff at first for the second out. The next batter roped one that Ryan nearly speared out of mid-air but was just out of his reach. With one on and two outs, the final batter hit a spinning pop-up on the third base line that Austin tracked down and buried to end the game.
A great, exciting 16-15 victory to open the season for the Resurrection Life Warriors. Adam Hey earns Player of the Game honors for his 4-5 performance including a double and three huge two-out rbi, including the game-winner.
The team's next contest is at 6:50 on field #3 versus St. Andrew Blue on May 6.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
2010 Eden Prairie League Preview
I have just returned from the pre-season managers' meeting. With two new teams this year, the landscape and the league has changed dramatically. Last year's champions, Resurrection Life were the pick to repeat even though the Warriors manager had this to say during the meetings,
'We had an outstanding 2009,' stated Manager Colby. 'Great group of guys, really had fun. I'm not down-playing our abilities in anyway for 2010, but I want the league to know that we have re-tooled our roster substantially to the tune of 60% turnover. Redeemer Bible will be a great addition as four of our regular, all-league caliber players will be playing for that squad this year.'
Apparently, the other managers weren't buying it as Rez received six first place votes, one second place and two thirds for a total of 76 points. Voting is tallied as follows:
1st place = 9 points
2nd place = 8 points
3rd place = 7 points
etc.
9th pace = 1 point
Here were the final tallies from the league meetings with first place votes in parantheses:
1. Resurrection Life (6): 76
2. Wooddale Classic (3): 73
3. Wooddale Mercy Rules: 58
4. Immanuel: 53
5. Redeemer Bible: 49
6. EPAG: 35
7. Pax Christi: 31
8. St. Andrew Blue: 17
9. St. Andrew Red: 13
Despite not having played in the league in five years, Wooddale Classic finished just behind the Warriors with 73 pre-season points. Classic was a perennial league champion before winning the Church class C state tournament in 2005 and moving up to a different level of play. However, Classic has rejoined the leauge and the opening night game's should be fun, as pre-season #1 and #2 kick off the season facing each other.
Last year's most improved team, Wooddale Mercy Rules, captured 3rd in the pre-season polls while always solid, never spectacular Immanuel finished 4th. Redeemer may be flying a bit under the radar as an unknown but with four returning all-league players on its roster RBC could very well be tough to handle, despite placing 5th in this poll.
Always tricky EPAG came in 6th followed by Warrior killing Pax Christi in 7th. Both of those teams will knock off a top team sometime during the season. The two St. Andrew teams came in at 8th (Blue) and 9th (Red). Red has steadily declined each year while Blue has just suffered from tough competition.
Rez landed two players on the pre-season 1st team all-league in Austin Colby and Jeff Tenney and two on the 2nd team in Eric Johnson and Jeff Johnson. Redeemer also had two pre-season 1st teamers in Jason Merritt and Jamy Antoine with Chris Burr and Andy Briggs making 2nd team.
Wooddale Classic place two more on the 1st as did Wooddale Mercy Rules. Immanuel garnered one spot as did Pax Christi. The 2nd team was filled out with two Classic members, one Mercy Rules, one Immanuel, two EPAG and one Pax player.
The league looks much more well-rounded in 2010 and I expect the standings to finish up looking like this:
1. Resurrection Life: 14-4
2. Wooddale Classic: 13-5
3. Redeemer Bible: 12-6
4. Wooddale Mercy Rules: 11-7
5. Imannuel: 9-9
6. EPAG: 8-10
7. Pax: 7-11
8. St. Andrew Blue: 5-13
9. St. Andrew Red: 2-16
'We had an outstanding 2009,' stated Manager Colby. 'Great group of guys, really had fun. I'm not down-playing our abilities in anyway for 2010, but I want the league to know that we have re-tooled our roster substantially to the tune of 60% turnover. Redeemer Bible will be a great addition as four of our regular, all-league caliber players will be playing for that squad this year.'
Apparently, the other managers weren't buying it as Rez received six first place votes, one second place and two thirds for a total of 76 points. Voting is tallied as follows:
1st place = 9 points
2nd place = 8 points
3rd place = 7 points
etc.
9th pace = 1 point
Here were the final tallies from the league meetings with first place votes in parantheses:
1. Resurrection Life (6): 76
2. Wooddale Classic (3): 73
3. Wooddale Mercy Rules: 58
4. Immanuel: 53
5. Redeemer Bible: 49
6. EPAG: 35
7. Pax Christi: 31
8. St. Andrew Blue: 17
9. St. Andrew Red: 13
Despite not having played in the league in five years, Wooddale Classic finished just behind the Warriors with 73 pre-season points. Classic was a perennial league champion before winning the Church class C state tournament in 2005 and moving up to a different level of play. However, Classic has rejoined the leauge and the opening night game's should be fun, as pre-season #1 and #2 kick off the season facing each other.
Last year's most improved team, Wooddale Mercy Rules, captured 3rd in the pre-season polls while always solid, never spectacular Immanuel finished 4th. Redeemer may be flying a bit under the radar as an unknown but with four returning all-league players on its roster RBC could very well be tough to handle, despite placing 5th in this poll.
Always tricky EPAG came in 6th followed by Warrior killing Pax Christi in 7th. Both of those teams will knock off a top team sometime during the season. The two St. Andrew teams came in at 8th (Blue) and 9th (Red). Red has steadily declined each year while Blue has just suffered from tough competition.
Rez landed two players on the pre-season 1st team all-league in Austin Colby and Jeff Tenney and two on the 2nd team in Eric Johnson and Jeff Johnson. Redeemer also had two pre-season 1st teamers in Jason Merritt and Jamy Antoine with Chris Burr and Andy Briggs making 2nd team.
Wooddale Classic place two more on the 1st as did Wooddale Mercy Rules. Immanuel garnered one spot as did Pax Christi. The 2nd team was filled out with two Classic members, one Mercy Rules, one Immanuel, two EPAG and one Pax player.
The league looks much more well-rounded in 2010 and I expect the standings to finish up looking like this:
1. Resurrection Life: 14-4
2. Wooddale Classic: 13-5
3. Redeemer Bible: 12-6
4. Wooddale Mercy Rules: 11-7
5. Imannuel: 9-9
6. EPAG: 8-10
7. Pax: 7-11
8. St. Andrew Blue: 5-13
9. St. Andrew Red: 2-16
Monday, April 26, 2010
2010 Roster Preview
Welcome back to the Warrior softball season!! It hasn't been an easy pre-season, I can assure you that, but now that the real thing is here I suspect things will move along much smoother.
In the last post, the roster was still being decided. That is still up in the air to a small extent. From last year's 17-1 league championship squad, the Warriors lost six of its eleven regular roster players. That is a lot. While five did carry forward, the remaining balance of the roster had to be filled out.
Initially, the squad received interest from several Rez Life members but unfortunately due to time constraints, language barriers and injury that list dwindled in a hurry. As of now, here are the returning roster members that the team has signed for the season:
1. Austin Colby
2. Eric Johnson
3. Jeff Johnson
4. Adam Hey
5. Jeff Tenney
Along with those five, Lee Valle rejoins the team after a one-year hiatus.
6. Lee Valle
After that, the team had to go hunting for some fresh blood. The team found some with a father-son combination:
7. John Beintema
8. Aaron Beintema
Manager Colby had to work hard on the recruiting trail to land those two and he believes it will pay dividends. Beyond that, Colby had to reach into his bag of goodies to locate a couple more full-time players and two friends of his fit the bill:
9. Bryan Christenen
10. Ryan Norman
That gives the team 10 full-time roster players which means the Warriors will be relying on substitutes a lot. The team has extended an offer to an 11th full-time hopeful and if that pans out, then the squad will most likely have nine regulars at each game which leaves just one spot open for a sub.
It should be another great year for the Warriors. Please click on the roster links to read more about each player. Look for the League Preview coming soon...
In the last post, the roster was still being decided. That is still up in the air to a small extent. From last year's 17-1 league championship squad, the Warriors lost six of its eleven regular roster players. That is a lot. While five did carry forward, the remaining balance of the roster had to be filled out.
Initially, the squad received interest from several Rez Life members but unfortunately due to time constraints, language barriers and injury that list dwindled in a hurry. As of now, here are the returning roster members that the team has signed for the season:
1. Austin Colby
2. Eric Johnson
3. Jeff Johnson
4. Adam Hey
5. Jeff Tenney
Along with those five, Lee Valle rejoins the team after a one-year hiatus.
6. Lee Valle
After that, the team had to go hunting for some fresh blood. The team found some with a father-son combination:
7. John Beintema
8. Aaron Beintema
Manager Colby had to work hard on the recruiting trail to land those two and he believes it will pay dividends. Beyond that, Colby had to reach into his bag of goodies to locate a couple more full-time players and two friends of his fit the bill:
9. Bryan Christenen
10. Ryan Norman
That gives the team 10 full-time roster players which means the Warriors will be relying on substitutes a lot. The team has extended an offer to an 11th full-time hopeful and if that pans out, then the squad will most likely have nine regulars at each game which leaves just one spot open for a sub.
It should be another great year for the Warriors. Please click on the roster links to read more about each player. Look for the League Preview coming soon...
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