Ugly Day, Ugly Loss

I noticed that this blog has just passed the 10,000-view plateau. Certainly an ego boost, which is a lot more than can be said for yesterday’s game.

Make no mistake, FHC was the better team. If we played them 10 times they would probably win 9, but only if they were sick with the flu or something on the day of the other game. And some of those games would have been 10-run mercy wins. But not all of the, and not yesterday’s 15-run rule if we play like we are capable of playing, which we did not yesterday. Our pitcher, Josie Krueger, deserved a better fate and pitched more effectively than the score would indicate.

Yes it was hot, brutally hot (for both teams). Yes the field could have used as a set piece creating a diorama of the Dust Bowl of the ‘30s. But FHC had not played at that field before yesterday, either. What Coach Cerutti and I talked with the team about post-game was was improving our game readiness, running crisp, focused pre-game warm-ups, being prepared from the first pitch.

We have a busy week upcoming, with games Wednesday (home –McClure North), Thursday (home conference game vs. Pattonville), and Friday (away at Lindbergh), followed by the Parkway Central Tournament Saturday morning. I have requested the bus for 7:00 a.m. hoping we can depart for Manchester Athletic at 7:15. Tournament protocol calls for every player to get at least one full game during a tournament. I will post probable starting line-ups by Friday, latest.

Finally, the Cor Jesu Academy game has been rescheduled for Monday, September 28 on Field 7 at Affton Athletic.

Updates & Reschedules

So here’s the latest, up-to-datest on our schedule. Not since coaching Spring softball at Hancock have I had a team impacted by weather as much as this one.

Nerinx Hall is still up in the air. We tried for a couple Saturdays, but they don’t have enough players on those days. My guess is that was the problem the first night when the varsity played and the JV didn’t. They probably need to find a day when they can use a couple players to “play down.” Disappointing, but what can you do?

We will be making up the Parkway Central game next Tuesday, September 19, at home. The varsity will play them tomorrow, but their JV is already scheduled for that day.

The McCluer North game has been moved to October 7. That potentially creates some personal complications for me, but we’ll find a way around it. And maybe it won’t be a problem.

Remember that the Hazelwood West game has been moved to next Thursday. That makes a game every day next week, which is why we took today off. Plus, indoor practice gets crowded with both teams in a small space. We will have a short, targeted practice tomorrow, with individualized goals for each player. Expect to be finished by 4:30 at the latest.

We have the brackets and locations for the Francis Howell Tournament on the weekend of September 27. We will open against Francis Howell at Francis Howell High School. We will then meet the winner (or loser, I guess) of Lindbergh vs. Ft. Zumwalt South. Winning the first game would mean we will stay at the high school. Losing in the first round means we will finish the day at C&H Park (not a sweet outcome). 

    We have the brackets and locations for the Francis Howell Tournament on the weekend of September 27. We will open against Francis Howell at Francis Howell High School. We will then meet the winner (or loser, I guess) of Lindbergh vs. Ft. Zumwalt South. Winning the first game would mean we will stay at the high school. Losing in the first round means we will finish the day at C&H Park (not a sweet outcome). 

    So that yesterday won’t be considered to total washout, I include below, for your viewing pleasure, the pictures Amy Love snapped before Percy the Lightning Thief made his appearance. (YA literature reference, good for boys, although, as Ted Drewes might say, “Girls like it, too.” [sometimes, says me]) Clearly I have too much time on my hands. Maybe we should have practiced.