Despite possibly not having a hit in the months of both May and August, Eddie is your winner of the 2009 Cardinal Cup. For this performance, he will have his name forever engraved in infamy, while also getting a choice of booze before next season.

 

On a sad note, the man credited with implementing the Cardinal Cup received a free agent offer he couldn't pass up as Norm "Nuke LaLooche" Varnel will be moving back to Vancouver in 2010. The rest of the team will need to pick up the slack with post-game beers next year, as Norm polished off 13 cards (182 beers) throughout 2009, a new team record.

 

Also, Mr. Baseball Chris McKee is rumored to be moving back East to Nova Scotia this off-season, and Guy Prince may finally get accepted to the Police Academy/RCMP, while Dave McElroy is also probably moving to Louisiana to be with his wife - a poor excuse.

 

Stay thirsty this off-season Cards!

Since Doogie hasn't been on the team in two seasons, a new venue has been named for the team wrap-up. Nelly will be hosting it this Saturday at 6pm at his house. Address is 105 Copperfield Gardens SE.

 

Also, pictures have been added to the website.

Without being there, the Cocks beat us 17-4. Nelly called Virtue a jerkface in Halifax so we are even. Thus ends another year for the Cards and it was pretty successful. Stay tuned for the team wind-up party, which is sure to be a dandy.

 

Virtue from the Gamecocks wife heckling our team during post-game points:

15 points - Post-Game Beer Cooler, really came through today

10 points - The Sun, was shining one of the teams at least

5 points - Spitz Salted Sunflower Seeds, a forgotten seed really, they build the post-game thirst

10 points - Higgins, on base every time

5 points - JB, was a real ringer out there

We play the Gamecocks in Round 1, with many questions surrounding the team. Will Steve Spurrier continue the Spread Offense against us? Will former coach Lou Holtz make an appearance for the Cocks? Will their coach wear a team uniform or shorts at third base? Will the Gamecocks show up at the fall work bee? Hopefully these will be answered Thursday as we begin playoffs sans Nelly, Burlo, and Norm by the sounds of it.

To summarize we finished the tourney 2-4 just shy of the top 4, with the last game going 8 innings to decide who played Sunday. We could have easily been 4-2 if we make a few plays and a couple timely hits. We knocked out the Tigers from the tourney on their road to 0-6, their 2 National Titles did not help them in this one. The chirpiest team in Alberta the Junior Tigers should buy a rule book, the hi-light was when complaining about Nelly working too quick, the umpire replies "what do you want me to do you are standing in the batter's box". Ft. Sask looked very strong with the best pitching in the tourney for sure, while the only AAA team in Calgary threw a guy who was drafted in the 46th round this year against us (for the 1st inning), how can we compete.

 

The best coaching move was the Riggers taking the 1st base dugout for their game against us despite being the visiting team, it really factored into the game, a tactic that has not been seen since most were in Little League. And the Stags looked strong unless you don't make any errors against them. We beat every team in this tourney over the summer except one who we should have, we just need to tighten up the D and work on small ball to be ready for next year. When teams asked why we don't play in the Sunburst League, we mentioned the obvious travel and that we were in 7th place in our league. We were also one of few teams that didn't have that gleam of hope of someday making it to the show in their eyes.

 

Speaking of the FMBA, we will lose a couple dudes for playoffs with Burlo getting eye surgery and Nelly missing the 1st round, which probably assures us of making it to round 2.

 

Cardinal Cup Points:

Game 2 11-0 Loss vs. Fort Sask

15 points - Perkins, thumbed some stellar relief

10 points - Burlo, two hits

5 points - Rube

 

Game 3 - 9-5 win vs Tigers

15 points - Burlo - he thinks he's so good

10 points - Nelly - 3 RBI's = career high

5 points - Richard - the pudgy man got on base and contributed

 

Game 4 - 18-3 Loss vs Redbirds

15 points - JB - on base twice

10 points - Chico - 3 strikeouts on mound in first appearance of year

5 points - Mike Shlekewy from the Redbirds, had a good game

 

Game 5 - 7-3 win vs Tabbies -

15 points - Nelly

10 points - Ambach

5 points - Chico

Game 6 - 5-3 Loss vs Riggers (eventual champions)

15 points - El Whammy, pitched a stellar game when we needed it

10 points - Chico, had the greatest play ever at SS, good game at dish

5 points - McKee, played a stellar 3B, hit well

possibly -15 points - Blizz, 3 errors at second base

We took a 4-0 lead on a massive HR by Eddie, then we fell apart as the Stags made us pay for our errors beating the Cards 8-4. We also left 13 guys on base including the bases loaded three times, but considering Breen was catching his first game in 6 years and Blizz was in CF for the first time ever we played pretty well. Next up we play the Fort and the Tigers Friday in Red Deer.

 

Cup Points

15 points - Eddie, started our lone inning with a huge shot,

10 points - Shane, had good AB's, made a great catch early in game

5 points - Blizz, pitched well and was serviceable in CF

HM - Breen, may get to catch more in future

On a horrible night where we had helped get the field ready to go, the mist hit and slowly ruined our work with the mound deemed too slippery and unsafe. We might end up making this game up at midnight on Saturday or something crazy since it is supposed to rain all week. Next up we play the Stags in Red Deer on Wednesday night, when we will have 9 players.

 

Also, if you have quit the team and still read this for some reason, please bring your jerseys back.