Diplomatic Softball League

By "El Papa Softball" Sheldon Eisenhower

What can you say about last week's action but WOW! Some tough fought games. There were some tough losses. Teams moved forward. Four teams bowed out. Six teams moved into finals day. But the ultimate test is this Saturday when it will be seen if someone can run the board like The Bones did last year. That would be 5 games more or less back to back. That is a lot of softball. It is your last chance to see some hot action and get a hotdog, hamburger, and a cold drink at the snack shack. Now it is time to Play Ball!

Moe's Tavern came in with a strange reputation of putting away the big guys yet losing to the rank and file teams.  Hit & Run have been anything but running and hitting lately who would be moving on?  Moe's did exactly what it usually does go nowhere someone forgot to start the motor. H&R had limited success managing only a run in the 1^st inning. Both teams managed to add a deuce to the bag in the 2^nd inning then the wheels came of H&R go cart. Moe's pulled out the big little ammo and small balled it to a fiver. H&R tried to recover in the bottom half of the 3^rd but only managed a single run to answer with. Moe's chunked another over the fence thanks to Tracy "The Brady" Bunch second jack of the game. H&R found the tire jack and put some air in the tires adding another four runs over the next two innings to tie the game. Okay sports fans top of the 7^th inning Moe's does what Moe's knows best small ball as a series of singles leads to a deuce added to their totals. Desperate times now for H&R needing two runs to tie and three to win can they score? Nope. Four up three down and H&R become the 1^st casualty of DSL10. All are still invited to the party next week Moe's lives to see another game. 
Final Moe's Tavern 10 - Hit & Run 8.

I love games where it is extreme on both sides then it gets really really close. Well The Obama Nation stood toe to toe with,  Cross Hill Creeps for the dramathon. CHC start of blasting, popping, smacking, scoring and whatever adjective you could come up with to score a five spot. TON basically wrote that inning off as it went down in order in the bottom half for a big fat donut. Both teams were then staring eye to eye waiting on someone to blink.  Top of the 2^nd no blinky blinky, bottom of the 2^nd no blinky blinky, Top of the 3^rd no blinky blinky, bottom of the 3^rd no blinky blinky... Wait... Check that. TON found their groove and rocked CHC's world for a five spot to tie it up. After that stinging slap in the face CHC come back marginally with a 3B from Fast Five Fred and a 2B from Tom Tom to put the lead run on the board in the top of the 4^th inning. Back to blinky blinky bottom of the 4^th, top of the 5^th, bottom of the 5^th, top of the 6^th no blinky blinky. TON are down to their last 3 outs. Memphis One cracks a 1B. He is then moved over to 2B by Brooke on an E4. Mikey ropes a 1B and bases are loaded with no outs for TON. Enrique hits into a U6 FC getting Mikey @ 2B and blisters a throw home to double up Brooke at home trying to score the game winning run. Still the tying run scored as Memphis One cross at the onset of the mayhem and now there are 2 outs. CHC are starting to crumble Eric hits into a FC which gets no one out. In walks the man of the day Sean ropes a 1B scoring Enrique and come from behind win goes to TON! Creeps become the second victim today and they bow out of DSL10 as TON move on.
Final Cross Hill Creeps 6 - The Obama Nation 7.

They say things come in threes.  Well for Chicks With Sticks three would be the number they love to hate as they played the Brew Bears again. Would today be their day?  CWS came out the gate with a big thud. Da Bears started off with a? You guessed it three runs, followed by one of the most unusual plays in baseball let alone turn it on a softball field. Let's pick this up with Rich on 2B and Chiko on 1^st. Katta hits a liner to 3^rd who steps on the bag for out number one of Rich. 3^rd baseman then whips the ball to 2^nd base doubling up Chiko for out number two. Who then fired it over to 1^st for out number 3! Holy Moly a TRIPLE PLAY around the horn! Because of the shortened bases it is basically impossible to turn but Da Bears did. They then piled on what? Yes three more runs and took the wind right out of CWS sails. Chicks manufactured a run in the 4^th inning but Da Bears added yep the third three spot of the day in the 6^th inning. Da Bears move onto the Winners bracket finals while Chicks move into the Losers bracket.
Final Chicks With Sticks 1 - Brew Bears 9.

The once leaders of the league who missed the regular season championship by a whisker Taiwan All Stars got a shot at redemption against Tommy Boy Farr's Bones would they be able to pull it off?  Things did not start off well for TAS as Bonies powered their way to a four spot and never looked back. TAS tried to make a game of it with a deuce in the bottom of the 2^nd but a quick three spot from Bonies on the top of the 3^rd left little in doubt as this game was over almost as quickly as it had begun. The Bones move on to meet the Brew Bears and Taiwan fall into the Losers Bracket.
Final The Bones 9 - Taiwan All Stars 4.

After having survived a tough game earlier in the day then a long wait to meet Guys N Dolls, Moe's Tavern did not lose sight of a place in finals weekend. GND having been well rested were ready and started off well after shutting Moe's out with bases loaded then coming back with a two spot in the 1^st inning. That only seemed to ignite Moe's fire as they slapped out a three spot and shut down GND in the 2^nd inning. Both teams did squat in the 3^rd inning so on to the 4^th inning.  Moe's went on a blistering tear as they hit hole after hole driving the ball all over the yard putting the shock and awe on GND to the tune of a four score. The only saving grace for GND was El Papa's long ball for a solo shot HR in the bottom half of the 4^th to answer. Moe's just seemed to get stronger and GND definitely had the deer in the headlights look of what just happened? Moe's moves forward and GND became the 3^rd casualty of the day.
Final Moe's Tavern 12 - Guys N Dolls 5.

After having shot their wad against Cross Hill Creeps, The Obama Nation ran into the buzz saw in the form of The Generals. The sticks suddenly silent combines with shear rocket firepower of The Generals and this soon became a lopsided a victory as one could get. At least they got off the mark and did not get shut out. But the fat lady was definitely singing on this one. So the final casualty of the day is The Obama Nation.  Played fair played hard and came far. The Generals book the final spot on finals day.
Final The Obama Nation 3 - The Generals 16.

Well we made it through. Thanks to all that played this season.  Let's have a party and watch some ball. Enjoy ourselves. The finals ceremony will be held immediately following the games this Saturday. The party will go all day for only €3 a person.

Sheldon "Time To Bring It Home" Eisenhower

dslberlinHome Plate Slide

By “El Papa” Softball Sheldon Eisenhower

Bring it on. I tell you what. What? I dunno that is a sentence in Texas. So thanks to a little thing called a fence yes a fence! Suddenly the game has changed totally. Runners were running for their lives. Outfielders were running for their lives. Triples were hit. Real home runs were hit. The whole damn thing was a hit! Not only was the fence a big hit so is the new kids playground area for all the players with little tikes. Thanks to CSA on that one. I wanted to give a shout out to Jay Pocklington who is currently in Taiwan flashing a great smile at the ladies. Special thanks to Dr. Klement Gu on the connections for Jay. Here he is being interviewed on Taiwanese television. Do I see the future Mrs. Pocklington in the works here? Jay just relax your grip a little bud. What? I’m just sayin.

Well a little confusion goes a long way towards start of a tournament. Dazed and confused were Hit & Run as they did not meet the minimum amount of players and DSL10 starts with a bang… Or not a bang and a walk over for The Generals.

Final Hit & Run 0 – The Generals 7.

I love games where no one seems to want to win. Man I got to stop plagerizing my own words. Well The Obama Nation stood toe to toe with Guys N Dolls for the polka festival. TON kicks it off with some massive firepower combined with GND E’s and you get two runs and three left on base. Now it is GND’s time to shine. The Grass Whisperer ropes a single followed by El Papa running his butt off as he legs out a stand up triple. Yes baby I love that fence! Lucky Doc slaps another single bringing home El Papa to tie the game… Then it was a whole lotta nothing. Lack of batting or good defense you take your pick cause nothing was going on but the rent in the 2^nd and 3^rd innings. TON then broke free slightly with a couple E’s by GND culminating in Memphis Ones two run jack leading to a three spot. An immediate retort came in the small ball way as GND also scored a three spot to again tie it up. GND applied the clamps to TON and proceeded to smack the ball around the yard thanks to El Papa two run jack a five spot was put on TON. Down to their last time round TON rallied the troops. Let’s break it down Carroll 4-3 out numero uno. Francie smokes a 1B. Enrique F5 for out numero dos. Mike slaps a 1B. EZB towers a shot huge over centerfield for three spot and the chase is on. Now all we need is pastor Frank to get on board and for Memphis One to jack another out of the yard. Franks crushes one high so high so very high it has scorch marks from the reentry into the atmosphere right at the fence and catch F8! Ball game. Final The Obama Nation 8 – Guys N Dolls 10.

Cross Hill Creeps were looking for a little revenge at the expense of Chicks With Sticks. Would today be their day? CHC came out the gate hot and heavy plastering a four score on the board. CWS stunned but regrouped quickly to answer that with a five spot of their own. This quickly turned into a slugfest as CHC came right back at Chicks with another three spot. CWS picked right back up hold one, Chicks walking? Yep CWS were back to their walking ways as five free passes led to five more runs for CWS. CHC went down in order and CWS added another deuce to the pile of mounting runs. Both slugged out another four in the 4^th but it was all over but the crying as Chicks move on and creeps move down to the losers bracket.

Final Cross Hill Creeps 11 – Chicks With Sticks 16.

Deer in the headlights look report number one. I love Moe’s Tavern one day they killing the top seed breaking hearts next day sacrificial lambs. Today the lamb chops took on Tommy Boy Farr’s Bones. This was over in a blink of an eye as The Bones crushed and cruised their way to a mucho solid game. Moe’s did manage to score a three spot but that was far to few to the mountain of runs The Bones had added to the board. Final Moe’s Tavern 3 – The Bones 16.

After having survived a tough game earlier in the day (they won by walkover) a long wait to meet The Generals opponents the Brew Bears did not detract from their focus. Both teams did squat in the 1^st inning so on to the where a 2B a 3B and an E6 led to two runs for The Generals. Da Bears were stuffed again in the 2^nd still trying to shake off the hibernation. Shake it off they did as they shut down The Generals and scored a four spot of their own. Both teams again clinched up in the 4^th inning dancing a waltz toe to toe. The Generals fired of four more rounds in the top of the 5^th as Da Bears responded with only two to tie the game. Da Bears then put on the special D closing it out as they took the permanent lead in the bottom of the 6^th with a deuce. Da Bears survive another round.

Final The Generals 6 – Brew Bears 8.

Deer in the headlights look report number two. After having shot tier wads in the first game Guys N Dolls came out flatter than a IHOP pancake against a jubulent Taiwan All Stars. Well they weren’t that flat but seven batters in the first 2 innings were not a good sign. TAS started off with a deuce and after GND tied it up they simply went on a rampage scoring a fiver followed quickly by a four spot and the rout was on. GND just seemed to melt in the sun.

Final Cross Guys N Dolls 2 – Taiwan All Stars 11.

Well the fence is in place. Now we need to paint… Okay well let’s just plan for the party. Please let us know how many guests we have for the party. We have come up a price for the party of €3 for everyone. This is lower than the €5 originally planned but it will help towards financial matters. Collections will be taken this Saturday and the final day. Naturally you can donate as much as you want. The finals ceremony will be held immediately following the games on Saturday 4 September. The party will go all day during the last day.

Llets have some fun people! Sheldon “I Hit A Triple & A Homerun” Eisenhower

Home Plate Slide

By “El Papa” Softball Sheldon Eisenhower

So it is tournament time. The top two teams get a bye. What seed you finish will directly relate to where in the bracket you fit and the time you play. 14 August Game 1 is 11 am. Game 2 is 12 pm. Game 3 is 1 pm. Game 4 is 2 pm. Game 5 is 3 pm. Game 6 is 4 pm. Good luck to all teams there will be a big party on the final day everyone needs to pay €5 a person so we can have the parties we have always had.. We have a donation! Yes we will be receiving about €1500 towards buying a fence. Thanks to Martin Bailey from Chicks With Sticks. Now Play Ball!

Down to the wire I say as Chicks With Sticks try to turn around a season that started so well today would not be an easy one as they faced the Brew Bears. Da Bears were a surging and had a chance to do the unthinkable a couple weeks ago win the regular season crown. All the planets needed to align for this to create a perfect storm. That and have to beat CWS first. Well the first three innings of this game were a blur… literally as the nonexistent scoring and a person left off the batting order led to a whole lot of confusion. Fortunately Tommy Boy Farr Ski & El Papa figured it all out in the 3^rd as play was resumed. Let’s say Da Bears did not run away with this one but CWS definitely did not lie down and roll over. So half the equation has been written could the other half?

Final Chicks With Sticks 6 – Brew Bears 10.

I love games where no one seems to want to win. You get two teams and no runs for four innings and it is like dude can you please score or what? This is exactly the game between The Bones and The Generals. Da Bones finally scored in the top of the 5^th top of the 6^th and top of the 7^th innings while The Generals were nowhere to be found. The Generals were so inept today not only did they score no runs in 7 innings but they did not even manage to score in 8 innings! Now how this game went 8 innings when clearly The Bones had won after 7 in a new one on me. I do not think we ever had an extra inning game that did not need to be one! A 1^st for the DSL.

Final The Bones 6 – The Generals 0.

Remember the reference to the perfect storm? Well Moe’s Tavern was set to play spoiler for Taiwan All Stars. Everyone is like yeah right Moe’s last on the table going up against Taiwan top of the table this will be over quick. TAS started well enough with a deuce in the top half and then it was Moe’s counter attack to get things rolling as they small balled their way to a four spot on TAS. Both teams did not budge in the 2^nd inning so on to the 3^rd TAS was blanked again as the bats fell mysteriously silent as Moe’s again piled on a four spot. This can’t last TAS are too good they will come back. Top of the 4^th inning again TAS was held in place as Moe’s again added a four spot. Holy cow batman Moe’s has a 10 run advantage on TAS! Someone call the press see if the planets are lining up. Top of the 5^th inning and finally Taiwan comes screaming back blasting balls all over the yard and stymieing Moe’s at the plate for once. Time is running out for TAS last inning needing five to tie and six to win. 1B followed by a K for out #1. 1B again followed by back to back GRD (ground rule double folks) and TAS has scored three and are looking confident. F10 for out #2 and TAS are down to their last out. Su smacks a double and scores run number four. TAS have the tying run on 2^nd base. Ye gets a walk now the winning run is on the base! Moe’s defenses are starting to crumble can they take the pressure. Arthur steps up to the plate and here is the pitch Pop Up F5! Ball game and Moe’s have done the impossible! Taiwan has crashed. Not only was this a stunning win for Moe’s but it allows the Brew Bears to become regular season champions. A devastating loss that sees Taiwan All Stars finish in 2^nd place. Final Taiwan All Stars 11 – Moe’s Tavern 12.

What has happened to the once solid as a rock Obama Nation? Did I say that last week too? Well the heavy hitters landed back to face a surging Hit & Run team. TON started off well but it was downhill fast as H&R put the whack a smack a on in large amounts. It was all over but the crying.

Final The Obama Nation 3 – Hit & Run 14.

Another self implosion team has been the once fast starting now flaming out Guys N Dolls. Cross Hill Creeps were ready to take on all comers. The wheels came off the wagon early for GND so CHC had more or less needed to stand by while GND self destructed again for the 4^th week. GND did manage to finally score six runs but it did not help they were down by eleven as they went sliding into the DSL 2010. Final Cross Hill Creeps 12 – Guys N Dolls 7.

What a way to finish regular season with the two worst teams in the league. Moe’s Tavern and the Cross Hill Creeps. Most of the blood in this match was spilled in the first two innings as CHC scored five to Moe’s three runs. After that it was a whole lotta nothing… Well almost nothing except for a run in the 5^th inning by CHC. Moe’s was still to busy celebrating knocking off the kings of the hill earlier in the day to care. Final Cross Hill Creeps 6 – Moe’s Tavern 3.

We are starting to build the fence I hope to have it completed enough for the finals on the 28^th of August. Any and all help to complete this task would be appreciated. Please send me an email and we can work out the details. So here is the grid for this week. Remember all games are 10 minutes shorter and you now need 8 regulars.

lets have some fun people! Sheldon “Let’s Get It On” Eisenhower