That's Johnny, Johnny Steele

Johnny Steele is off to live out his days in Big Sky country, and the Coneheads will miss him.

He shoulda been a porn star with a name like that: Johnny Steele, Longer and Wider.

I'll admit it, I looked it up, there's a gay porn star but no hetero equivalent, so maybe it's not too late.

On the other hand, while most of us take some time to acquire our softball nicknames, John came without a need to get one - he real name has it all.

And when he roped a ball over the left fielder's head, as he often did, it made perfect sense - it was as if his arms and bat were made of steel.

There is another comparison. Clark Kent's alter ego was known as the Man of Steel. Like Clark, Johnny was a mile mannered truly great teammate - most of the time. But he did have a bit of a temper and there was the fabulously funny episode when he got into it with his Old Scout teammates on the other side of the field, and ironically the Coneheads had to prepare to defend him, AS AN OPPONENT, in that case.

Mostly, he hit line drive singles and scurried with speed around the bases. But once in a while, he snuck into the phone booth, and took off his softball uniform and emerged with his tights and his cape and bombed one to left.

You could put him anywhere on defense, and he played fly balls and grounders with equal skill. And never complained whether he was in left field, right field, rover, shortstop, catcher, wherever., or batting first, second, or 11th in the order. Just played the game, right, and supported his teammates all around.

And could hold his own in the jibber-jabber over post game beers just as well.

We'll miss you Johnny. Our loss is Big Sky's gain. Take care.

The Rugged Hooligans

It was a time like no other, at last professionally and personally.

Let's face it, I was not a good fit at Chevron Corp., not a good fit for all of nine years too. I thought I would be there a couple of years and then move on. But the first three were so much fun professionally (and they liked me!) and I was making friendships that have lasted to this day, some of them. We were young, just out of college, shared a compassion for Geology and Geophysics, and loved to party. What was not to like?

But after five years it was time to go. I was too much of a rebel. One year the Holiday Party was at Blackhawk Country club, in the exclusive gated neighborhood where celebrities, pro athletes and our local group manager Bob Adamson lived. A rumor started that my partner in crime Ralph and I were going to get on our bikes and on the way to the Holiday Party give a lawn job to Adamson. I was even called into his office to defend myself, BEFORE it happened, even though I had never even considered this act, as cool as it may sound.

I wanted to be vested in their stock plan, and Chevron was reducing the number of years required daily it seemed. If I could just stick it out, it would pay off. And then they offered me a year long temporary transfer to SoCal, where they paid for all expenses, and I couldn't turn that down.

When I returned to the Bay Area, by year 8 1/2 I was burned out. So I went out and got another job. The new employer wanted me to start right away. But I had three weeks of vacation saved up. I needed the break between jobs. And there was an opportunity for some free training I could get at Chevron that would be quite pertinent to my new job. I asked them to wait a couple months and they actually said OK.

The training thing was typical Chevron. I was working on a system at the time comprised of Dec computers running their operating system, VAX. Chevron in their magnanimity had procured training from Dec an unlimited training course (you could take as many classes that they offered for a year for a fixed price) for everyone in the group, but then never gave us the time to go to them. Then, with less than six months left, they told us to pick three to attend. So I had attended one and was scheduled for two more. One was irrelevant, but the other one was central to my new job. Here is what I did:

The first thing was march into by boss' office and tell him I was going to take three weeks vacation, starting...tomorrow. I am sure he knew what was up but amazingly did not question me, I think he was probably glad to get rid of me without having to possibly tell me I was transferred to Houston, as he had been threatening (after taking the vacation, while I was in the class, I actually drove up to the office to give my official notice!).

So I divided the vacation between a family trip for a week and a half, and a bike (motorcycle) trip for the other week and a half. For family vacation (my two daughters were under 5), we decided to visit my wife's best friend from college and family in Ft. Bragg, CA. While we were there, they told us about place called Crabtree Hot Springs out in the middle of the wilderness in Mendocino County. To get there you had to drive up from the south for many miles or from the north for a similar distance. The route from the south was mostly flat, and crossed just a shallow river (one of the forks of the Eel river near its headwaters). However, the last bit was up a very steep hill and then down to the stream that held the hot springs.

Bear in mind in those days, we had a custom converted VW Vanagon for camping. It was the lap of luxury - koa wood throughout, stove, fridge, two double beds, sink, faucet and water tank, fold up kitchen table, and a large tent attachment - the works. However, I say luxury slightly tongue in cheek. The water tank was old and not air tight and needed to be pumped up with an air compressor as often as once a day for there to be water pressure. And there was a leak in the electrical system. The golf cart batteries were supposed to run everything, but you had to run the car for the car batteries to recharge the golf cart batteries quite often - more than you wanted to when you were serenely camped in nature.

But the worst of all was that it was a 1980 VW Vanagon. Which meant that it was air-cooled (VW added a water cooled version a year or two later) and it had an under-powered Porsche engine, which was basically designed for a light sports car.

The van did all right until we came to the Big Hill. Then it became the Little Engine That Could. Or, as it turned out, That Couldn't. It huffed and puffed its way up that hill, and we were about two thirds of the way up, and it just said "No Mas". And had to back all the way back down since the road was too narrow to turn around until near the bottom.

We still had loads of fun. Fun like this: My wife left her purse at the lakeside park where we stopped for a picnic lunch. We didn't realize it until we were camped about an hour later. Fun like I had a tick that burrowed into my neck and did not want to come out no matter what we did, and I was kind of an expert at getting ticks out from having a dog for 14 years that got them constantly. Then when I drove by myself back to the picnic area (miraculously the purse was still there!), a hornet flew into the window and stung me on the other side of my neck.

When we got home I had to have emergency surgery to remove the tick, which was by now probably infected. And they put me on antibiotics - which meant no drinking until the regimen was complete.

But I was determined to get to Crabtree Hot Springs. I decided that the bike trip would be to take the northern route to the hot springs. A few friends and I had made a habit for a few years of taking fully loaded (for camping) street motorcycles into the middle of nowhere seeking the smallest of roads with the least amount of traffic and thus the best of scenery. Our mottoes were "It's only a couple of miles of dirt", and "Rough Road Ahead". We had many successful and a few not so successful adventures this way.

On those trips we may have smoked some smokables and had other stimulants during the days and drank Jack Daniels or brandy at night around the campfire. I made it through three or four days before I said the hell with it and replaced the medicine with alcohol medicine.

The road in from the north went up to Pillsbury Lake on a paved road and then the rest was dirt. Maybe just a few more than a couple miles of dirt. It went down into the canyon that held that same fork of the Eel River much further north where it was an actual river that needed to be crossed, and then up along a ridge, and finally down a steep canyon to where the hot springs were.

The first thing that happened was out of nowhere my battery died going down to the river. There was nothing to do but coast the rest of the way down. We decided to set up camp at the river. The next day I rode into town on the back of my friend's bike with my used up battery and purchase a new one. We had breakfast while it was being charged up, and then headed back to the others at the river. The next morning we headed to the hot springs. Crossing the river was fun and quite challenging as the moving water was about two or three feet high.

The last leg was down maybe a 30% grade with switchbacks galore, and maybe an 1800 foot near cliff off the side. As I often did I got ahead of the rest. I came around a turn and the bike gave way under me. I slid to a stop just off the edge. I was uninjured. However, the bike had my lag pinned, inches from the tailpipe that was probably about 300 degrees. If I moved, I could just completely fry my leg.

When my friends came around the corner, due to the steep angle of the road, they couldn't see me 'under' the bike. Their first thought was that heffe went over the side! but then the next thing they heard was "Get this fucking bike off of me!". I was panicking and decided I couldn't wait for them. Somehow, I summoned superhuman strength and lifted the bike enough to get my leg out and I was free.

The rest of the journey down the hill was uneventful, and we parked at the bottom. We saw a car parked there. It was about a quarter mile hike to the hot springs. It was wonderful, and all the trials and tribulations I went through melted off of me as we soaked. The springs are not what I would call hot springs, more like warm springs, which was in a way better, because we could stay in them as long as we wanted.

It turned out that the occupants of the car were two middle aged brothers. They left a little before we decided to, and were still at there car when we emerged from the trail. They looked at us and at the bikes, and realizing what we went through to get down the canyon to the springs, said "You guys are Rugged!"

And that, my friends, is how we dubbed ourselves the Rugged Hooligans. 

Game, Set, Match

After a couple of beers and pizza from both sides of Hartz Ave. in Danville, the waitperson came up to us on the deck with a steaming plate of wings and said, "Here is a reward for winning your match." I checked my pockets - no matches, not even my trusted Bic lighter. We looked at him quizzically, then the collective bell rang in 10 Wolfheads - oh, you mean we won the game! Yes, Americans can be very dense at times.

While we chowed on the wings, we became deliriously optimistic about our team, vowing to carry the momentum into the regular Danville season, which we have never done. Because there was never any momentum to bring. So look out Danville, here come the Pack!

All this, because in a game that while meaningless in the chase for first place and Cotton, leapfrogged us once again ahead of the Crows in the season standings by a half a game. We took the game 17-8, and won the season set, three games to one (now if we can only beat Vintage like we are supposed to), and we won the match!

All it takes to end up in third place is beating Leo's next week, who have lost but one game all winter. Or the Crows losing to Vintage, which is entirely possible. But wouldn't it be good to end with a win over puffy Leo's?

The game had plenty of heroes and lots to write about. It was 3-2 in the fifth when Doug circled the bases on a gapper home run to tie it up. Then after a Mike single, David P hit the next big blow of the game - a blast to left for a two run triple, and he scored to put us up 5-3. It was significant because in each of the first three innings, Dave Hoge had fought off the sun in left to rob three of us of hits. Our David found the solution - blast it over his head!

After the Crows answered by tying it up, the bottom of our lineup made a statement that we were not to be denied today. Frank and JP led off with singles and then John L hit the prettiest hit of the day. He had been practicing going to right in BP and hit one of those spinners just inside the foul line. The slow right fielder had no chance to cut if off and John was soon standing on third with two runs in. It was a 7-5 lead that we would never give up. The one out rally continued with a run scoring single by Dave R, and follow on singles by Wilbur, Paul, Doug and Billy gave us our first five run inning.

We added two in the sixth, and then Dave R provided the killing dagger in the top of the seventh. With the bases loaded and no outs, Dave hit a liner that split the right fielder and it was off to the races. He stopped at third after emptying the bases in front of him, and after we cleaned him up and scored one more, we found ourselves up 17-5. They added a couple in the next two half innings (we flipped the flop) but we never were threatened again.

What turned the game besides our timely hitting were several great plays in the middle innings (the Crows scored all of two runs in innings 2-6). Paul (running back) and Chris (sliding forward) made outstanding catches in the middle outfield in the fifth and seventh, respectively.

On the infield, the stop of the day was made by John L on a one hop laser in the 3-4 hole in the fourth.

The first basemen had a collective good game. JP bent way over to rescue a very low throw, and came off the bag to take another errant throw that took him right into the runner but he made the tag. I think we had at least five DPs (two started by Doug at SS, one by Mike at third, once or twice by Les at rover, and once by John L at rover). Heffe was on the receiving end of all of them, and one required not only bending over, not easy for a short old man, but stretching to all of his 5'7". And the other was bouncing on the turf and required every arm, finger and even his toes to corral.

In a game where we hit .681 as a team, Billy led the way with a perfect 4-4 day. Mike and Dave R joined him in perfection at 3-3. Paul and Doug joined them with three hits, and everyone had at least one.

Well there we go again - every other week playing lights out. Maybe it's time to reverse the trend next week and hand Leo's their lunch before they go out for their after game meal. I'll bring the matches.

First to Ten Wins!

They say they don't do it on purpose.

Frank made a hell of a play yesterday. With Vintage Terry bearing down on him, the throw sailed toward third base from the outfield offline. Frank did what you are supposed to do - he came off the bag to catch the errant throw so there would be no further advance. But then in a very nifty two step, he tip tapped his toe to the bag, beating Terry there by half a step. It wasn't even that close.

And the call from Pitcher Pete umping at home plate - "Safe" - with a big sweep of his arms.

I mean, Mark Kraft wasn't even present, the most notorious Vintage umpire. Still this is what we get. If they ain't cheating, they blind! Vintage is a walking testament to not have self-umpiring, unfortunately.

It allowed three extra runs to score, creating a tie going into the eighth inning. Once again we had taken an early lead but stopped hitting and let Vintage creep back in until they scored six altogether in the seventh to tie it up.

But we scored one in each of the last four innings, and that was enough to eke out the 11-9 victory. Too close against the other Green lineup but a win is a win. And for this (and putting them out of the playoff hunt), we get to go through it all again next week. What a strange schedule they concocted this year.

Depending on whether we make up the rain out as rumored, we either did or did not clinch the playoffs with the win. Even with it Vintage would have to win every game and we would have to lose every game from here on out. That ain't gonna happen. In other words the magic number is one for us to make the playoffs if there is a make up. So let's take it out on them once again next week, and not give them hope next time.

Chris had the biggest blow of the game, a three run homer in the fourth that produced most of the runs in our only five run inning. The only other extra base hit was vintage Heffe, a slicing line drive down the left field line for a double. Billy and Heffe were the only ones with three hits, but John L drove in two without a hit, and JP got two clutch two out RBI singles. Chris, Frank and Dave R all had two hits plus a walk.

On defense, we were under the big top in the middle outfield. First Paul in the fourth, and then Chris in the fifth made circus catches on balls that turned them this way and that, and Chris added a juggling act to his. The latter also had a great running catch in the first. David P in left didn't get an out but did an outstanding job cutting off a hard liner to his right that prevented extra bases and probably a big inning in the third. In the eighth, Doug made a strong play to his left to get an out on a grounder ticketed for center field, and then Frank closed it out by starting a 5-11-3 double play to John L (strong turn and throw) and JP on first. JP also had a good time catching a tough foul pop in the fifth.

It was too close for comfort but with Leo's helping us as expected by beating the Crows, we leapfrogged back over them into third place again. They have the easier schedule down the stretch, but if we can manage to put Vintage out of their misery next week again, it will come down to our head to head meeting with the Crows in a couple of weeks. It would be a lot nicer to end up third and face the Hornets in the first round of the playoffs instead of Leo's. But I digress. One at a time.

Eat Crow

In a well paced and crisply played game, the WolfPack prevailed over the Crows to retake third place today, 13-9.

There were numerous highlights on offense and defense, and as Frank predicted, the first team to eight runs won. The low scoring game was 3-0, 4-3, 4-5, and 6-5 through seven innings. Someone was going to break out and we were glad it was us when we plated five in the top of the eighth. Dave R. started it when he gapped the right fielders (he's been due for a break for a while) for a triple. Wilbur promptly brought him in with a single to right. Singles by Al and Doug brought in another run, and then Billy smashed his second straight extra base hit, to the same right center gap, and this time, instead of loping into second like he did to start the seventh on a hard shot to left center, he rumbled and hustled all the way to third base. After a walk to Frank, Mike cleaned up the fifth run with a single.

When the Crows answered with three in the bottom half, the 11-8 lead seemed a little precarious. But hits by David P, Chris, John L., and a ground out by JP scored our last two runs in the top of the ninth, allowing the defense to take over in the bottom of the ninth.

With one out, Al made the play of the game. Charley Pastor smashed one up the middle, and Al stuck his glove out from behind the net and snagged it cleanly. The easy out at first took any wind out of the Crows' sails, and soon the third out was caught.

Billy was the hitting hero, 4-4 with the double and triple and two RBIs. Mike was 3-3 with a sac fly, good for three RBIs. David P., Heffe and John L. joined the three hit club. Wilbur had two clutch hits, driving in two runs.

On defense, Wilbur had a magnificent game. His reaction time is like no other old guy. He plays shallow, even on the turf, and still nothing gets by him. He made numerous outs, but the one that stands out is a one hopper, where he chased Mike Nagy back toward first trying to tag him, and then tossed to me to get the speedy Anthony (the batter) out. Then Doug and I completed the double play by getting Nagy in a rundown. It was your standard 4-3-6-3 DP. A  run did score but it got us two outs in the heart of their lineup.

David and Paul and Chris and Billy made some fine running catches in the outfield. The sun was particularly brutal for Chris and Billy on the right side, so really any catch over there was spectacular.

There should be a new stat - two out run scoring hits. Today, Wilbur, David P, and I had them.

Over all, a finely played critical win. We are in third place again, and have a shot to move up as we wind down the season. Now if we can only play like this two weeks in a row!

Blackeyed Mudcat

Now that is more like it. Today we beat one of the teams we are supposed to defeat in our quest for glory this season. We trounced Mudcat Black 20-9 and it wasn't that close.

Something weird was up though. When two of our three extra base hits were doubles by Heffe and Frank, something is up. But you look at the rest of our lineup - everyone was hitting. We hit .673 as a team. Every single batter got at least one hit, and three were produced by Al, Mike, Heffe, JP, and Dave R. The latter has been hitting line drives all over the place for weeks and until today many seemed to be right at gloves. In his return, JP hit like he should always take a few weeks off mid-season.

We had some outstanding plays, especially on the infield. Mike turned an excellent third unassisted to first double play in the second. Wilbur replicated the feat at second base in the sixth (tag out, throw to first). Les made a fabulous stop on a ball to his right at rover, and wheeled and fired to Wilbur at second for the third out in the fifth. Throw in one K by Al, and a few good running catches in the outfield and we had a good day on defense.

There was even a miracle play. JP caught a popup at second that was right in the late arriving sun in the seventh.

Play like this and we can compete with any team in the league. Even Vintage.

Dr. Wolf and Mr. Pack

Last week, the Dr. Wolf played a relatively flawless game, and beat the vaunted Hornets 16-11. Al was at his best and kept that lineup reaching and off balance.

We built a 13-3 lead after five innings. It was never comfortable - the Hornets are capable of breaking out for 10 runs at the drop of a hat. But we held them to one late rally - six runs in the eighth - and after adding three more in the seventh and eighth held them scoreless in the ninth.

The defense was solid all game long. Highlights included a great running catch in right center by David P, and another going back by fill-in Chuck. Heffe had a good game at first - he snagged a hot hot line drive by Tommy Stone, although it may have been self-preservation as much as anything, and stretched for a one hop throw to get an out.

The offense was balanced - three hits by Al, Paul, David, John L, Dave R., and Wilbur. Lee L had a monster home run. The key was how focused we were - perhaps because of the challenge of playing the Hornets. They have not lost to anyone else and we have not lost to them yet this season.

This week the Mr. Hyde emerged. We were unfocused on defense and at the plate and on the bases. Sure the bad 'homer' calls by Vintage contributed - but that would just be an excuse - we should beat them by plenty.

As it was the inner Pack rat emerged, and mistakes and lack of timely hitting doomed us, and we lost 17-14. We found ourselves down 16-7 going into the bottom of the seventh. We rallied, especially in a four run ninth, but it was too late.

The only defensive highlights I remember were a couple of nice catches by David P in right center and Wilbur had a one man show in one of the late innings, getting all three outs. Al had a tough time on the mound, getting hit twice, but also made some fine knock down get em out plays on balls headed to center field.

Al was perfect at the plate, going 3-3 with two walks. Joining him with three hits were Doug, Mike, Lee L, and Frank. Heffe had two and two walks. Doug had our only long ball, a two run shot in the seventh.

Next week we need to regain our focus and beat the lowly Mudcats. They are winless this year but they just took a one run loss to the Hornets, 18-17. The lesson for the week is anyone can beat anyone if you give them the chance.