Let the games begin!

Alright Glovers, we're almost out of time and there's not a lot of room for excuses anymore because the games are scheduled.

The schedule for the first half of the season just got posted online; click here to see the schedule. It will also be posted on our home page in the 1st Half Schedule section for your review along with the phone number to call for field/rainout updates.

Our first game is on Cinco de Mayo, so put on your sombreros, eat your salsa, pull the jalapenos out of your asses and get ready to hit the softball pinata!

We have one more week to practice, and whether you make it next week or not please please please take some extra time to swing the bat, hit some balls and play catch before the first game. We want to have fun, we will do our best to win, but I don't want anyone to get hurt. Before you think that I am looking out for your health and best interests, think again; we have a very lean roster this year, and I can't afford to have anyone get hurt, especially all of you old people, present company excluded ;)

I think we have all been looking forward to this day for a very long time, especially after this long, wet, cold winter. Let's make the most of this opportunity. When the other teams see or hear Smell the Glove, I want them to bring their best because that's what it's gonna take to compete against us.

Practice

As the old saying goes, April showers bring seasonal depression and early onset alcoholism.

And despite the soggy ground, muddy fields, achy joints and general lethargy it's time to pull out your mitts from the back of the closet and brave the elements... it's time to gird our glovely loins and hit the practice field.

Thursdays are a good day to practice since our games will be scheduled on Thursday evenings.

I have reserved Field #1 at Normandale Park every Thursday starting at 6pm during the month of April. That gives us 4 opportunities to start swinging the bats in the open air, 4 opportunities to get our arms in shape by playing a little catch, 4 opportunities to strengthen the bond that makes STG such a tough team to beat.

I understand that scheduling conflicts make it difficult for some of you to make it every week, I will do my best to squeeze in a few weekend practice days, weather permitting.

In addition to banging the rust off our collective game, practice is a great way to avoid injury; if you haven't swung a bat or thrown a ball or run for more than 60 feet at a stretch (that is roughly the distance between bases on the diamond) game situations can intensify your physical effort and leave you open to over exertion. I know it's just softball, but I've seen people hurt their arms and shoulders on a throw from the outfield or even a simple toss across the field, I've seen people pull a muscle trying to score from 3rd base on a close play or even the short/easy run to 1st base. And because it is just softball, I'd hate to see anyone get hurt because they weren't prepared.

On the days that the rain may prohibit practice on the field, please be flexible about meeting up at the batting cages on Stark:

Batting A Thousand

8829 SE Stark Street

PDX 97216

503/257-2255

See you on the field!