So, Good News. I'm Not Dead.

Actually, I think I've used that one before.

Well, it's true again. I'm alive and kicking.

So a little birdy did a Google search for me and brought this blog up, figured I'd do a minor post in her honor, just to show her search was not in vain. (Also, I did a Google search on myself, just to see where I had been. Quite a bit, actually.)

So I'm in Arizona, after probably the greatest summer of my life. Cause I'm an idiot. And it's been a roller coaster ride ever since. But it's, how shall I say it, builds my character.

Also, probably the most important thing I have found out in the past week: I have a young soul.

My body ages at about 1 year every 365 days. My soul, not so much. Because, as I was thinking about it, up until two days ago I was still sleeping in a bunk type bed. Now I'm basically sleeping on the floor. And I want to get a hammock for my room. That would be awesome. Cause, like I said before, I have a young soul.

And something that I brought up today, because I was thinking about it, was baby A Brian and baby B David, or was the first one out Brian and the second one out David? Could I have been David, or was I always Brian. This, is a question that needs to be answered. (And another reason that I should not use Brian.)

Ok, that's it, I'm done. Don't know when I'll be back, but perhaps it will be sooner rather than later.

Ah Spink, Our Own Beat Writer

As submitted by Rick Spink to the Carroll County Times. He of course is our player/stat keeper/beat writer for both the WildCats in PA and the Elite Fastners at Freedom.

The WildCats recently faced off against nemesis New Park in the York County Mens Softball League in the wake of a four game winning streak, but came up just short of victory.

Craig Schubert got the 'Cats off to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, slamming a home run over the leftfield fence. Starting pitcher Allen "Monk" Rogers stifled the rival ball club until the third frame, when New Park put together three runs. New Park took a 7-4 lead in the top of the fifth as the WildCats changed hurlers. However in this seesaw struggle involving two strong hitting lineups, the 'Cats bounced back with a seven run outburst in the sixth inning, highlighted by Herbie Hewlett's two-RBI triple, then capped by a bases clearing double to center by Brian Timchula. Unfortunately their foes replied immediately by scoring five times in their half of the seventh and held on for a 12-11 win.

The WildCats (4-2) now trail New Park (4-1) by 1/2 game in the standings. In another exciting contest, the local Marylanders defeated Corbett's Construction 3-2 in extra innings, scratching out a tally in the bottom of the ninth inning as the torrid-batting Don Osborne crossed the plate for the finish. Don leads the team with an exceptional .722 average. Buddy Widerman chucked the last four innings in shutout relief, striking out the side in the seventh.

Other fence-clearing dingers at the "Chicken Coop" field in New Freedom have come in games earlier this season off the potent bats of Dave Sufcinski and Craig's brother Phil Schubert, both contributing to "the win column".

The WildCats have strengthened their depth by recruiting three talented young "kittens", including Timchula, from the Freedom District Optimist Adult Fast Pitch League. This Sykesville loop is beginning its 2006 regular season on Tuesday, May 23rd. Game times are 7:30 pm in Freedom Park.

So that's what is happening with softball, let me tell you a little about football.

My wrist hurts. Somehow, during what was only a little practice involving a half a dozen players on Mother's Day, I managed to akwardly land on my wrist. Hard. The next day it was swollen, and right now it is still sore. Stupid clumsy me.

Besides the injury (which I probably aggravated more by playing Wednesday night and swinging the bat with it) I have not done much more in football. There has not yet been a game, and there will not be a game this week either. Instead there will be another practice Sunday morning with, hopefully, the entire team. Perhaps even an intersquad scrimmage?

Maybe I can stay off my wrist this time, and, if all goes as planned, catch the ball.

What Have I Been Up To?

Well, not much really.

I got my notice of acceptance from ASU the other day. It's just letting me know that they need my transcripts. Yep, both of them. So I have to send them my one from LVC and the one from Liberty. Seriously? I thought I was done with high school. Apparently not.

Also, I'm not looking at Clemson anymore. Apparently they aren't transcript friendly. Didn't hear that from anyone, just something I noticed (or at least couldn't find) on their website.

Ok, on a more athletic note, I've started softball league one and already played 3 games. I was suppossed to be involoved in a tournament with them, but that was rained out. So I went into the games without at least practicing. Let's just say the first game didn't go well at the plate. But I hit my first double in my second game and my first triple in my third game. That means next game I'll hit a homerun.

Doubt that.

Also, when an ump says 'Ooooouuuuuutttt!' or at least sounds like that's what he said, I'm expecting to be out. I don't expect him to go 'Ooooouuuuuutttt!' and make the out sign and immediately go into a safe sign without any verbal cues as to him making an erroneous call and expect me to be safe. Sorry, I just slid headfirst into the bag. The only thing I see is dirt, a glove and the bag. From what I heard, I was out, so I left the bag. Wait? Why did the shortstop just tag me with the ball? You mean I'm out now? Damn it.

Also, I joined a flag football team. A flag football team sponsored by a tavern. Niccccccccccce. Haven't yet played a game with them, but we practice on Thursday. I told them I'd play defensive back as long as I don't spy the QB, no good in that position.

So, if you were wondering, this is how my week shapes up:
Monday: Softball 1 in PA.
Tuesday:Softball 2 in Eldersburg.
Wednesday: Softball 1 in PA
Thursday: Football practice in Glen Burnie.
Friday: Softball 2 in Eldersburg.
Saturday: Football practice in Glen Burnie.
Sunday: Football game(s) in Glen Burnie.

While working during the days into the evenings, leaving me enough time to skiddadle on to games/practice. I might get a little burnt out, but no worries, only the job will suffer, not the games. I'm not an idiot.

(Also I'm looking at maybe doing a few local volleyball tournaments, you know, when I find a partner to play with.)

And you may be wondering why I'm doing all this:
Softball 1 goes to a tournament in Salisbury in August. But that's not as cool as Football. They go to Cleveland, also in August, for the second largest Flag Football tournament in the nation (or so I'm told).

That's freakin' awesome. Go football!

Also, if I ever end up in crutches, you'll know why.

(Also, I'm still working on my travel post, I know, a month after the fact most of it happened. But writing those are hard. It's hard being witty. It's harder being witty in two sentences. This is why I talk a lot. But then again, most people are bored by my talking and zone out by the time I get to the witty part. I should take that as a sign.)

I've Just Applied

Crossing my fingers...

The Stats Have Been Compiled,

the announcement has been declared. I was the co-MVP of the league for the 2005 season.

Kinda.

I was declared co-MVP with another person on our team by our coaches. They then declared us the c0-MVP's of the league because we had won the league. So it was a unilateral decision. Not that I'm complaining.

We were supposed to have a tournament today, but that was washed out, so the coach ended up at home going through all the stats from last year. My season long line came out to: (All are team highs, except the ones in parantasis, which are tied for team lead. Also, I tried to explain some of the terms, for those of you that spell your name totally wrong and do not know what a baseball is. I tried my best, hope you can understand it.)

26 Hits (hit the ball and reached safely)
55 Plate Appearances (total times facing pitcher)
50 AtBats (Plate Apperances that did not result in sacrifice or walks)
31 Times Reached Base (total Plate Apperances that resulted in me reaching first base safely (Walk, Hit, Error, Fielder Indifference, etc.)
.980 slugging percentage (of total Hits [Singles + (2 x Doubles) + ( 3 x Triples) + (4 x Home Runs)] divided by (AtBats))
19 RBI (Runs Batted In; how many runners scored directly from my Hits, Sacrifices, Walks)
5 Doubles (Hits resulting in reaching second base)
4 Home Run (Hits resulting in me reaching home, again)
1 Grand Slam (Home Runs with bases loaded)
12 Extra Base hits (Hits other than Singles (Doubles, Triples, Home Runs)
7 Multi Hit games (games with more than one Hit recorded)
2 - 4 Hit games (games with 4 Hits recorded)
(1 - 3 Hit game) (games with 3 Hits recorded)
49 Total Bases (for each Hit, total number of bases reached (Single=1 Double=2 Triple=3 Home Run=4
(15 Games played) (out of 16 games)

So there you go, that's why I was declared co-MVP. Pretty sure the other guy was MVP also because he was a good pitcher as well as a pretty decent hitter. That just means I have to learn how to pitch fastpitch softball style.

And on a completely unrelated note, I just finished a long trip with some interesting moments, and you know what that means: there's gonna be another list at some point. I've gotten a few ideas down, I just haven't gotten to the point where I want to type them up yet. But they shall be coming. I don't know when as I have one part that's from my travels in Mississippi during October, so there ya go. Keep your eyes peeled and this page bookmarked.

And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, take a look at this, this started it all off. You know, after I stole it from Tim Keown.