Newf...

From: Marrie, Shane
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 10:07 AM
Subject: RE: Season-ending sorrows.

Gentlemen....

I have not had a chance to write everyone till now... but wanted to echo Robs sentiments.... :)

I am thankful I managed to line up a game with all you guys this season... coming here would defintely have been a different experience had I not. Nate.. thanks for taking me on and keeping me in there till I arrived !!

it is with a saddened heart, tear filled eyes.... and a completely healed toe... that I say it was a great season !!! Joe, your arm and inspiration is something that I will carry with me for all time !!

Lets hope that we make a point of getting together for beverages and stories ! I am in for anything generally.... and look forward to seeing who in the new group will be able to keep up with a Newf and his drinking habits :)

My # [removed] until I get a new phone.... lost m personal cell about 2 months ago..... but thats how we do !!!!

Daunte..Ill see you this weekend.... Nolte..I guess unfortunately you too hahahahaha I know I wont see Rob as he only gets every fourth day free and i think this week is his hair and nails day LOL

So.. everyone keep in touch.... Ill start working on liking Football as much as I do Hockey so i can be a contributing member of the FOG football entourage....

Long Live Grahame my fellow Canadian, Boyds girlfriend, and Peters Goatee...... may the fog continue to roll in like the tides !!!!

Newf....

Steve Boyd Breaksdown

From: Boyd, Steve
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 5:43 PM
Subject: Steve Boyd's Fog Eulogy

We lost a friend this week... and that friend was the Fog. Needless to say, I'm pretty fond of them.

It's hard to write about this in the past tense.

Last night we sucked it against a big bunch of a-holes. Sure, I accused the visor dude of paying for his entire outfield, but the damage was done before that.

I'm just having a hard time coping with the loss today.

In the Jewish faith, when someone passes away, the family will "sit Shiva" in their home. Shiva means seven and you are supposed to observe this mourning time for that many days. That is what I will do... sit in my house for 7 days and think about our loss. I believe it was a special team and inevitably not everyone of us will be back for next year. Whether it be a tranny volleyball tournament or a missing craigslister... we'll never all be together as a family again.

I miss the Fog already.

Graeme Looks Back on 2007

From: Graeme Hanson

Team,

Apparently today is about each of us thanking the group for a great season.

And so, I thank you all for the opportunity to share the field with you….be it turface, field turf, sport turf, windswept deathtrap or other.

When it’s all said and done, we’ll forget the painful losses, and only remember Shane’s childhood stories, Rob’s gangrenous leg, Danny’s Ivy league stroke, Nolte’s red shoes, Ben’s windbreaker, Nate’s lying about game start times, Joe’s backwards hat, Rich Singer’s gentle sensibilities, Peter Watson’s Mohawk and pubic goatee, Daunte’s batting gloves, Jess’s Yankee hat, Boyd’s girlfriend, Gregg’s glasses, Brent’s thermos, and Cook’s likeness to R.O.Y Brandon Roy.

I love you,

- Graeme

2007 Playoffs Game 4

AP - Loyal Heights, WA

The Fog were only one victory away from the hardware as they faced Production Foundry for the third time this year. Having swept the season series - including the infamous game at Interbay when the lights went out mid-inning mid-play, the odds makers had the Fog heavily favored.

As the visiting team, the Fog raced out to a 1-0 lead and added an additional run in the 2nd to lead 2-0 heading into the bottom of the 2nd inning. Highlights from the 1st inning included Nate swinging and missing at strike 3 for the 3rd out of the inning and Joe promptly striking out the PF #5 hitter, also for the 3rd out of the inning.

The PF got their half of the 2nd going with a walk, which was promptly plated by the next batter who homered to right. Fog 2 PF 2. After a fly to left center followed by consecutive singles the lead off hitter homered. PF 5 Fog 2. A single and a walk before a singled plated another. PF 6 Fog 2. Next batter followed with a three run homer. PF 9 Fog 2, still only one out and they had batted around. The guy leading off the inning helped the cause by grounding out to short. Which was followed by a solo home run. Boyd called time and walked to the dug out to ask Nate if they could demand to see their official roster. PF 10 Fog 2. After two more singles, the PF's captain, pitcher and visor wearing jacka** strode to the plate. Boyd commented to him, you guys are much better than the regular season. To which the pitcher said, we turn it on for the playoffs. Boyd responded as Joe was releasing the pitch, too bad you had to buy your entire outfield. To which the pitcher said as he swung "F--- You" and he crushed a three run homer. PF 13 Fog 2. A little brew hahah ensued with words cast about, warnings issued to both benches, but nothing would come of it. Inning over. Season just about dead as well.

The Fog scored three more in the 3rd to make it 13 to 5, but the PF scored 2 in their half. PF 15 Fog 5. Fog scored 2 in the 4th, 5th and 6th to trail 15 to 11 going into the bottom of the 6th when the PF plated two more to lead 17 to 11 heading into the 7th. One hit was sandwiched around three outs - ball game and season.

Rob, Nate and Cook were a glorious 0 for 9.

2007 Fog Stats

Season-ending sorrows

From: Joe Gerlitz
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 1:21 PM
Subject: Season-ending sorrows.

Fogs. Well, we fell out of the playoffs last night like poop falls out of a Chihuahua's butt. Overall, though, I’ve got to say it was one of the most fun seasons we’ve/I’ve had in awhile. Yeah, we’ve got to try and win the stupid thing next year, but I think our craigslist pickups added to a good existing nucleus of Foggers, personality and talent-wise. And special recognition goes to Eric Nolte. A lot of people don’t know this, but he’s a Make A Wish Foundation kid, and his wish was to play a season with the Fog. He chose this over Skydiving With Dan Cortese and An Hour of Dance with Mikhail Baryshnikov. I hope you had fun, Nolte.

Good season, Fog.

Joe's Keys to the Game III

2007 Playoffs Game 3

AP - Maple Wood, WA

The Fog returned to Maple Wood for the last time this year as they took the field to battle the #1 seed Excitable Boys. The night was hot and the Fog were looking to end their consecutive losing streak to their arch foes.

As the home team (As Graeme would say, what does that mean), the Fog took to the field and despite the windy conditions, saw a two run homer put the Boys on the score board with a two spot. Boyd opened the Fog half inning with a walk and scored on Peter's triple. Rob plated Peter and later scored on Nate's single. Fog 3 Boys 2.

Joe put the Boys down one two three in the 2nd, but the Fog couldn't get anything going in their half either. In the third after a lead off single and a three pitch walk, Joe struck out the next hitter looking. The next batter hit into the rare infield fly. The third out came courtesy of a grounder to second. The bottom of the third saw the game take a heated change, but not much else. After a Cook line out, Daunte singled. Ben then hit what appeared to be a routine grounder to short, but the throw was a bit late and the umpire felt the first baseman wasn't on the bag. Daunte scampered to third and was standing a foot off the bag daring a play. The Boys were livid, led by their first baseman who was storming across the infield and made a line for Daunte. Like a game of chicken, Daunte wasn't going to give in until the last second, when he put his foot on the bag, but like A-Rod, the first baseman gave Daunte a two handed shove. This provoked the Fog and now both teams were losing it. Once order was restored, the Fog had runners on 1st and 3rd and only one out and a chance to drive a stake into their opponents heart. Boyd then hit into a 6-4-3 double play, with Boyd being called out due to runner interference on Ben. Inning and drama over.

Neither team amounted any challenge in the 4th and in the 5th the Boys tied the game at 3 all. In the bottom of the 5th, Nate lead off with a single, Danny followed with a single, Shane then singled scoring Nate. Fog 4 Boys 3. Jess hit into a fielders choice, getting Shane at 2nd, sending Danny to third. Nolte hit a sacrifice fly plating Danny. Fog 5 Boys 3.

Would 2 runs be enough? A month ago the Fog had a 5 run lead going into the 7th and it wasn't enough with these guys.

The sixth saw the Boys send 10 batters to the plate and score 6. Boys 9 Fog 5. In the bottom of the sixth the Fog could only muster a single. In the 7th the Boys played add on by scoring two more. Boys 11 Fog 5. Was this our time to turn the tables? Unfortunately, no. Again all the Fog could muster was a single in their half of the 7th. Excitable Boys 11 Fog 5 and the Boys have their ticket punched for the championship. They now have to be defeated twice is another team wishes to call themselves champs.

In the end the Fog were undone by poor defense and lack of hitting. Unable to generate a long inning, other than the first when they scored 3 and sent 7 batters to the plate, The best the Fog could muster was one extra base hit. Failure to convert sure outs or complete double plays, prolonged innings and didn't help the cause.

The Fog return to the field on Monday at 6pm at Loyal Heights (we played their last Friday - sports/field turf) to face the Production Foundry, who the Fog swept the season series.

2007 Fog Stats

Fog slide show

Joe's Keys to the Game

2007 Playoffs Game 2

AP - Loyal Heights, Seattle

Fresh off their resounding first round playoff victory, the Fog set their sights on avenging their last loss. The Dubliners defeated The Fog with a huge 7th inning come back and in the process earned the #2 seed and first round bye. The Dubliners won the coin toss and elected to be the home team. The game also presented both teams with their first chance to play on the new field/sport turf at Loyal Heights. As addressed in Joe's keys to the game, the turf would play differently than natural grass.

The Fog jumped out to a three run lead via the long ball from Graeme's bat. Joe held The Dubliners at bay in the bottom of the first and he educed three routine fly balls around two singles. The Fog failed to score in the 2nd and The Dubliners pull back two as the Fog were a little loose with the ball in the infield. After two innings, Fog 3 Dubliners 2.

In the top of the third Rob and Graeme hit back to back home runs, to double the Fog score to 6, and in the bottom half of the inning, Joe again put down the Dubliners with three more fly balls will stranding two more runners. The Fog failed to score in the 4th and 5th innings, While, the Dubliners scored three times in the 5th and could have put more on the board had Joe not helped himself by retiring the last two runners 1-4. Leading 6 to 5 heading into the bottom of the 6th, the Fog saw their lead disappear as a fluke triple plated two. After six innings, Dubliners 8 Fog 6.

Danny lead off the 7th by flying out to right, Nolte then singled and advanced to second on Joe's single (first hit in 6 playoff at bats - it's all about what you have done lately). Ben approached the plate with the tying run on first and only one down. He sent a fly ball to right center that fell for a double and scored both Nolte and Joe. Tie game! Greg then strode to the plate like Atlas only he was carrying the Fog not the world and promptly singled, scoring Ben. Fog 9 Dubliners 8.

Heading into the bottom of the 7th, with the slimmest of leads, Joe proceeded to get to work. He educed the first batter to fly out to right center, got the next batter to hit a come backer to the pitcher. With two down, the next batter singled, but as clear as day, Joe was in a zone and got the next hitter to hit a grounder to Graeme at second, who flipped to Nolte at the bag for the third out. Game over, Fog 9 Dubliners 8. Unlike the movie Rudy, Greg was not carried off the field, but he was one of the heroes.

The Fog Championship drive continues this Wednesday at 7:15 at Maple Wood as they face the winner of the #4 and #1 seed game that followed ours last Friday.

2007 Fog Playoff Stats

Joe's Keys to the Game

Audio

2007 Playoff Game 1

AP – Interbay (Seattle), WA

Refusing to dwell on what could have been, The Fog and their newly minted #3 seed returned to the diamond for their first playoff game. Facing the #6 seed Mortgage Brokers, and team The Fog had swept in the regular season.

The weather was perfect, the squad was complete – 14 guys and Boyd had brought Ding Dongs for substance. As The Fog took to the field in the top of the first, a old familiar face returned after a few months chasing his volleyball dreams – Graeme Hanson was back at first base!

The MB immediately put pressure on The Fog, and nerves played their part. After allowing a lead off triple, Joe appeared to have his nerves in check as he retired the next to batters, but he quickly walked two in a row and before the inning was complete, the Brokers had scored 3.

After Boyd flew out to left, Peter induced a walk before Rob hit into a fielders choice. Graeme showed that he was born to do one thing – hit and tripled, Nate followed with a triple and before the inning was complete, Danny had tripled and Nolte had doubled and a fortunate error had plated 5 for the good guys.

In the second Joe settled down and retired the side without allowing a run, and the Fog got back on the merry-go-round and put in 6 more runs. After two, Fog 11 MB 3. Maybe it was the sunshine, maybe it was the change at catcher (Greg for Boyd), maybe it was a sugar crash from his diet Capri Sun and 3 Ding Dongs but Joe struggled in the 3^rd as the Brokers put three more on the board. It was during this inning, the foursome on the Fog bench (Boyd, Nate, Danny and Daunte) noticed that Joe wasn't striding with his pitches. Following an awkward conversation with Joe following the inning, Joe was like King Felix, hitting his spots and pitching with confidence.

The Fog scored one more in the 3^rd and 5 in the 5^th to take a 17 to 6 lead heading into the 6^th. The Brokers scored once more to close the game to 10 at 17 to 7, but the Fog made quick work in their half of the inning.

After Greg K’d leading off the inning, Daunte and Ben singled, leading to the night’s comedic event. Boyd hit a grounder to third, the third baseman tagged the bag then attempted a throw to first. Had the throw been on line, Boyd would have been out by a mile, but the throw wasn’t even close, in fact it careened off the fence and bounced back to the first baseman, who had he been aware could have still fielded it and gotten Boyd at first. Alas the first baseman was struggling with a bad leg and couldn’t catch the ball on the rebound. The ball rolled past him towards second, yet the second baseman had gone to the bag. As the first baseman gave chase, Boyd took off for second, and rather than run inside of the first baseman, he gave him a shove and ran around him. Laughter erupted from The Fog dugout as Boyd was on 2^nd and Ben on 3^rd. Peter ended the game with a 2-RBI double, Fog 19 Mortgage Brokers 7.

The game also featured some great defense with Daunte throwing out a runner at 3^rd; Peter avoiding a charged Graeme to field a ball in the hole at second and firing to Joe who covered first; Graeme tracking into shallow right to catch a pop up and Joe snaring a liner up the middle.

The Fog return to the field this Friday, July 6^th at Loyal Heights at 6pm

2007 Fog Playoff Stats