Fog Recap: Game 5

AP - Maple Wood Field, Seattle, WA

Steve Pool, Jeff Renner and every other city weather forecaster were falling over themselves trying to describe the great weather the city could expect, and according to the Fog schedule, we had a game. Holy Cow the stars had aligned. One small problem, the Fog were quickly running out of bodies and a forfeit was not an option. Joe - helping braid Ronaldinho's hair in Barcelona; Graeme - redecorating his cubical; Ben - in Atlanta for Mike Vick's final dog fight and the list goes on.

Fortunately, like the Grateful Dead and Rolling Stones, the Fog has been around long enough to have a following that is second to none, and after a couple of quick calls - Dan Houser and Josh Drenckpohl, we had our 9. Sure you can play 10 in softball, but the Fog seems to prefer the edge 9 gives you.

Game time and only 8 are at the field, no worries, that is enough to start the game and Nate convinces the Mortgage Brokers to provide a catcher if we cover home. As Nate walked back to the dugout, he had a batting order and defense to figure out - small details. Maybe it was the sun, or the excitement of seeing little Joshua, but Boyd, Rob and Nolte went down 1 - 2 -3. Just as we took the field Daunte showed up, and rather than field a catcher, the Fog fielded 4 outfielders. If they weren't going to ask, we weren't going to offer.

Josh was on the mound, Boyd at 1st, Greg at 2nd, Nolte at SS and Peter at 3b, only slower infield would involve Nate. Rob, Daunte, Dan and Nate rounded out the outfield. A couple of base runners were stranded with no damage after one. Fog 0 Mortgage Brokers 0.

Nate opened the 2nd with a single, Peter followed with a single and Dan singled to score both. The Brokers answered in their half of the inning with a 4 spot. Fog 2 Brokers 4. It should be noted that the 2nd inning saw a minor defensive change with Nate moving to 2nd and Greg to right, now we had our slowest infield. The 3rd saw the Fog score twice more and the Brokers add another . Fog 4 Brokers 5.

With the sun beating down, Rob clearly confused as to why the ground was so green (Nolte giving Rob a short history lesson on the differences between Kentucky blue grass and your standard Pacific Northwest short blade), the Fog said enough was enough as they hung a 6 spot The Brokers had no answer in their half and after 4 it was Fog 10 Brokers 5 or 6 there was a discrepancy in the books, and rather than resolve it, the Fog scored another 9 in the 5th. Needing 2 or 3 to say alive, the Brokers failed to score and the game was called due to the 12 run rule.

Fog 19 Mortgage Brokers 5 or 6

Fog stats to following tomorrow

Next game is Wednesday, June 6 at 9:15 at Interbay

Fog Quote

Last week saw the 2007 debut of Daunte Gouge, who missed the 2006 season due to a freak hunting accident. The Fog Blog was able to catch up with Daunte and ask about his amazing play where he advanced from first to third on a ground ball to the short stop. Turning a sure fielders choice into a first and third opportunity.

Said Daunte "It was pretty funny! The third baseman was no where to be found and the guy covering second spun like a top. we all got a great laugh out of it....but I think the guy was pissed." Ever the consummate teammate, Daunte followed up his comments with "The best part was we won two games and played a man short in both games"

Fog Recap Game 1 2007 Season

Maple Wood, WA

The Fog returned to the diamond for their 13th year, lead by founder Steve Boyd. Welcomed to the 2007 squad were Rob, Danny and Greg.

As with all first games, there are the jitters and quirks of getting back in to the softball mindset. Seems for many of the team, they couldn't even get themselves to the field as the Fog could only turn out 9. As many thought, here we go.

With Joe back on the mound, Boyd behind the plate, they looked to continue their battery chemistry formed last year. The start of the game was delayed 15 minutes as the umpire had troubles finding a ride to the field. The first inning was harmless as No Fly Zone only scored 1. The Fog bats seemingly were still in their winter hibernation as they posted a goose egg.

The troubles began in the 2nd as the Zone posted 5 largely due to the shoddy fielding of the Fog, highlighted by Nate Watson getting nutmegged by a routine grounder at third. Would Brent have had it, no doubt, but as Coach Knox always said, you play the hand you are dealt. The Fog followed their first inning performance in the second, going down 1-2-3.

Facing a 6-0 deficit, the Fog changed their defense, Peter replaced Nate at 3rd, Rob replaced Danny at 2nd, Nate replaced Greg at first, with Danny, Ben and Greg in the outfield. It helped a little as the Zone only scored 2, and of greater highlight was Joe struck out the lead off hitter and later that inning finally posted his first called strike. Comeback? Down 8-0 the Fog finally put a number on the board when Peter sent a drive over the right centerfielders head for a solo bomb. After 3, Fog 1 No Fly Zone 8.

The Zone put one more on the board, but the Fog defense was tightening up. The bottom of the fourth saw the Fog score three to cut the deficit to 5 runs, 9-5 No Fly Zone. The Zone scored three more in the 6th, but the Fog bats were back, as 6 more runs were put on the board, including the last two by Nate's sacrifice fly - that's right, both the runner from 3rd and 2nd tagged up and scored on the fly ball. Against all odds we had a ball game, down by just 2, Fog 10 No Fly Zone 12.

Due to the late start the umpire advised this would be the last inning. The Zone continued their trend of scoring each inning, but again, only scored once. Needing 4 runs to win, the Fog wasted no time. Nolte lead off we a single, Ben singled, Greg singled, scoring Nolte - down by 3. Boyd's single scored Ben - down by 2. Peter's single scored 2 - tie ball game and Boyd was 3rd only 60 feet away from victory and still no outs. It should be noted that Rob Parsons was having the kind of Fog debut Hollywood makes movies about. He was 4 for 4 and if that isn't enough, this was his first softball game ever on grass, see they don't have grass in Alaska where Rob recently moved from. He was accustomed to playing ball on gravel, tundra and floating ice. But Hollywood would have to wait, as Rob was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a force at home. Nate stood and home plate and the most anticlimactic event happened, he walked. 4 pitches, 3 balls and the game was over. Fog win 14 to 13.

2007 Season

The 2007 Fog softball season starts tomorrow at 6pm when The Fog take on No Fly Zone at Maple Wood 1. Welcome back to the blog. Remember that on the right hand side is are links to the 2007 schedule, 2006 stats and 2001-05 stats. 2007 stats will be added once the season starts.

If you need any help finding the field - here you go

For those that haven't paid, bring your $$ tomorrow.