My super competitive slo-pitch team, Raging Storm, seems to be coupling off. A couple of months ago I witnessed my left fielder and 2nd basemen tie the knot, and yesterday I saw my center fielder and rover/3rd baseman get married. Ok, technically I missed the actual vows, but I was there for the cocktails, grub, speeches and tunage.

It was a super fun night. They even had this candy table with old school goodies like Bottle Caps, Nerds and Fun Dip. I was lucky enough to be at a table with a couple of people willing to play "Name That Rapper". I drop a rhyme from a rapper and they have to guess who recorded the original. Yes, it's as fun as it sounds.

Congrats to Michael Engell and Colleen Gauthier. I hope you don't mind that I stashed about 15 boxes of Junior Mints in my pockets before I flew the coop.

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Our first regular season in the Comp division of the RSPA has ended and now it's playoff time. Tonight we throw it down OBA-style with double knock-out rules.

That means we play two games and they add up the scores to determine the winner. If we're tied plus-minus after two complete games we must start a third game tie-breaker, starting with new lineup and new courtesy runners,but using the International Tie-Breaker Rule. That means the last batter in the batting order from game 2 will start as a baserunner on second base, and there will be one out. We then play one inning at a time until there is a winner.

Last season, when we were in the highest intermediate division, we had a great playoff run, won the division and earned the right to compete with the best teams in Comp. If we win tonight, we extend the season one more week, and that's incentive enough to kick some ass. I'll leave the final word to Mr. T.

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I spent yesterday evening at Berkeley Church on Queen Street East between Sherbourne and Parliament. I was there to witness two of my ball players exchange vows.

Raging Storm, the slo-pitch team I manage and play for, used to be called Hooray For Everything. I'm a founding member of this team that formed about eight or nine years ago, and one of the members of that inaugural squad was Jordy, a nice girl who was working at HMV at the time.

A season or two later, we added a young guy by the name of Mike Kic. Another season went by before I realized Jordy and Kic had coupled up. The two have been core members of the team ever since and even play on my dodgeball team.

I'm not a big fan of weddings. All the pomp and circumstance rubs me the wrong way. Last night, at the very cool Berkeley Church, I enjoyed a very cool wedding. The ceremony was short and very sweet, the speeches were heart felt and sincere and the vibe was comfy and joyous. It was my kind of wedding.

There are four female players on Raging Storm, and all four are going to get hitched in the next year. Kic and Jordy were first to bat and they hit a home run. Congrats, kids. Cito is proud of you.

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It's only August 12 but we in Raging Storm have already completed our regular season in the RSPA Slo-Pitch Comp Division.

We played 20 games and finished 9-11. Considering this is our first year in the highest division, that's not bad. It's not great, but it could have been worse.

In an attempt to get the troops in playoff mode I've ordered everyone to watch this scene. If this can't get you up for playoff ball, nothing will.

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I'm spending the weekend representing at the RSPA Slo-Pitch Tournament. We entered Raging Storm in this thing and played a few games yesterday with the playoffs starting in about an hour.

The rain started during game one, came down a little harder during game 2 and by game 3 it was a torrential downpour. We're talking massive puddles that were more like little ponds, a drenched uniform so your jersey weighs 20 lbs and periodic lightning flashes that made you drop the aluminum bat in a hurry.

I see it's already raining for day #2. That sounds about right.

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I once wrote that I like progress, I just don't like change. My slo-pitch team (the comp one, not the beer league one) has worn the same blue jerseys for years. We've done quite well in those old blue shirts, having won our division last season. Still, a few teammates wanted a change so we ditched the old blues for new red jerseys.

The moment we switched, we lost four in a row. We went from a 7-5 record in comp to a 7-9 record. Naturally, I blamed the new jerseys. The Jays haven't won since they ditched their old logo and I remember the Pittsburgh Penguins changing their jerseys after back-to-back cups and they haven't won since. You don't change your jersey following a championship season!

Last night, however, we actually won a game wearing red. It was a hard fought 14-13 victory with a thrilling conclusion and the monkey is off our back. The next step is a return to .500.

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We lost our second game of the season 17-0. I believe that's the worst defeat in the history of this team we now call Storm. We sure didn't forget it.

Tonight we had our rematch and we brought it. We mercied them 19-2. Now we're even.

For more on our first slo-pitch season in comp, visit http://www.torontomike.com/softball.html.

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For us in Raging Storm, this is our first season playing in the comp division. There are dozens and dozens of slo-pitch teams playing in the RSPA and the comp division is for the best of the best. We got bumped into comp when we won the highest intermediate division last year.

We've played five games thus far, winning two, losing two and getting edged in extra innings once. On the surface that 2-3 record doesn't look horrible, but we've never worked so hard for those wins and we were hammered in a couple of losses. Yes, we're taking our lumps, but we're hanging in there.

The biggest difference between the intermediate divisions and comp is the calibre of the opposing batters. These guys and gals can hit. It no longer matters that we get good pitching and play wicked defense, they just blast the ball where we ain't.

In WKRP fashion, you're left facing the harsh reality. Excelling in this division would require an upgrade of parts, including yours truly, but are we prepared to break up the family. Of course not. Andy wasn't about to boot Herb and Les and we're not about to rip Raging Storm to shreds just so we can play with the big boys.

We'll just take our lumps... and try to hang in there.

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Summer officially starts Monday when Raging Storm plays their first games of the season. We've got a double header as we test the waters in the Comp division.

I've been playing on this slo-pitch team for years, and since we won the highest intermediate division last year, we've been bumped up to the most competitive division in the RSPA. It might be time for a reality check.

We'll see how we do with a couple of games against Down & Dirty on Monday night. It's time to play ball.

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My slo-pitch team Raging Storm just got word that one of our players can't commit this season because of a 12-8 shift he can't shake. That means we need to fill a roster spot asap.

We play in the RSPA, which means diamonds in Mississauga or Etobicoke, and we play once a week, usually on a Monday or Tuesday night. The guy we're replacing was one of our bats, so if you can hit for a little power and don't mind playing the outfield, we need you.

Contact me if you're interested. $118 will cover you for the entire season plus a tournament and you'll get to part of a passionate slo-pitch team.

Who wants to play for Raging Storm this summer?

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That was ridiculous. Whose idea was it to hold a slo-pitch tournament outdoors on March 22?

I've just returned from a day of slo-pitch at Diamond Beach at Centennial Park. They called this a sno-pitch tourney, but they should have named it the ice bowl. The diamonds were covered by a sheet of ice making it rather difficult to get any traction. As I said, it was ridiculous, and I'm just happy I escaped unscathed.

And no, we didn't win the tournament, either. We were eked out in the playoffs by a single run. I'm putting the glove away until the temp hits positive figures.

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We've been warned. With 7° temps Thursday and Friday, all this snow is going to melt and that could mean flooding in the streets of Toronto.

I need this big melt. Raging Storm, my champion slo-pitch team, has registered to play a tournament on March 22nd. That gives Mother Nature 11 days to clear this white crap off of the field. A little warmth to thaw the ground might be nice too.

Of course, with the strong possibility Diamond Beach could be one massive pool of water, I might be better off with the snow.

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SkyDome was not kind to Boonie's Angels. The fact I'm home writing this tells you we didn't qualify for the playoffs. It was fun and I'm glad we gave it a shot, but we weren't particularly good.

Here's a collection of thoughts...

• At 4:15am, it took me 8 minutes to get to SkyDome.
• At 4:15am, it's impossible not to speed. The speed limit on South Kingsway is 50km/h but just try going less than 70 at that time of day.
• At 4:15am, 102.1 played House of Pain's "Jump Around" and Cypress Hill's "Insane in the Brain" back-to-back. Perfect.
• Hankering for breakfast at 6am on a Sunday, we walked the streets until we found a 24 hour Golden Griddle.
• The teams in this tournament were true teams. They clearly play together all summer long. Our team was a mishmash of players, most of whom don't play together. It took us three games to gel and by then it was too late.
• The dome is cavernous but while playing you totally forget where you are and find yourself totally focused on the game.
• Michelle and James came out for yesterday's game and had a blast.
• It's 10am and I've already been up for six hours! I feel like the host of a morning show.

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Tonight, I made my highly anticipated SkyDome debut. I had a perfect day at the plate, going three for three with two runs scored in a 5-4 loss.

I can honestly say that my regular slo-pitch team Raging Storm would have won easily, but this new hybrid struggled at the plate and in the field. I actually thought I scored the tying run and was rather shocked when I saw the ump calling Andge out at first to end the game. That f-bomb heard echoing through the dome belonged to me.

It was a lot of fun playing on the turf under the roof where my Jays play. I was wearing the retro logo in their honour and took some pics. Check out my photoset to see how they stage this thing.

If we want to advance to the playoffs, we have to win tomorrow. Cito's confident we can turn this around. Boonie's Angels ain't dead yet.

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As you know, my slo-pitch team is participating in the 2008 'Round the Clock Tournament taking place at SkyDome this weekend. We couldn't get enough members of Raging Storm to commit, so this team includes a handful of players I've never even met. We're entered under the name Boonie's Angels.

Our first game is tomorrow night at 9. Another game is taking place Saturday afternoon at 1pm and one is scheduled for 5:00 am Sunday morning. I guess that's the "round the clock" component of this tourney. It's free admission for anyone who wants to crash SkyDome and watch us do our thing.

Fellow members of Boonie's Angels, I've posted the positions and lineups for our first three games over at http://www.torontomike.com/softball.html. If you've got a beef, let Cito know asap.

It might be January, but that doesn't mean we can't play a little baseball.

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No sooner did I write about not being able to stay up for an entire Leafs game on the west coast than did our 2008 Round the Clock Slo-Pitch schedule get posted. One of our games is at 5am.

That's right, our third game is scheduled at the diamond formerly known as SkyDome for 5am on Sunday morning. I don't know if that means I'll be up really late or waking up really early. With the Leafs playing at 10pm, things might work out nicely. I can watch the game, pretend I'm ten years younger and hit the clubs and then play ball at 5. Then, I can stumble home and hit the hay.

Unless we make the playoffs. That could ruin everything.

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The 2008 'Round the Clock Coed Slo-Pitch Tournament takes place at SkyDome in January. For those only born in the past few years, the SkyDome is that ball park downtown officially named the Rogers Centre. Call it whatever you want, I'm just psyched about playing there.

That's right, my championship winning slo-pitch team, Raging Storm, has been entered to compete. I don't believe I've ever played ball in January, so this should be fun. I know I've never played ball at SkyDome, and that will be very cool.

Another member of the team filled out the registration papers and he didn't enter us under our usual moniker. For this tournament, we'll be Boonie's Angels. Another dream come true...

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Last night, I attended our slo-pitch league's annual banquet. My team, Raging Storm, plays in the RSPA and I joined five teammates in representing the division one champs.

Here's a little recap of the event, which included lots of music, drink, dinner and awards at the Westwood Banquet Hall in good 'ol Rexdale.

A Brief History Lesson
The RSPA is an Etobicoke / Mississauga slo-pitch league with several divisions for recreational ball and intermediate ball, and one division for the best of the best they call Competitive. The teams are placed in divisions according to their on-field ability. In Intermediate, for example, there are several divisions, with Int-1 being the best of the teams not in Comp and then there's Int-2, Int-3, etc. We just won Int-1, making us the best team not in the single Competitive division.

The RSPA has gotten so big, there are now two nights for this annual banquet. The weaker divisions were supposed to attend last night and the higher divisions were to attend next Saturday. We got an exception and attended last night with the less talented teams.

My Flashback
We all agreed to show up at 8pm, just before dinner. I joked I'd be there at 7:53, and that's exactly when I showed up. A half hour later I was still the only person at the Raging Storm table, nursing my cranberry juice and listening to AC~DC's "Back in Black" blaring out of the speakers. It was just like the high school dances I attended!

The Boos
I gave that little history lesson so you had some perspective. We were by far the best division champion in attendance, so when it was time to acknowledge the champions and distribute the awards, we were called first. Marc and I were actually scoring some pastries when they announced the Int-1 champion Raging Storm, but nobody could miss what happened next. The entire hall booed us. They booed us heavily, even though we had never played a team there.

You may assume, as we did, that every divisional champion would be booed. This didn't happen. All other divisional champs were cheered. Why did they boo us? Did our reputation precede us? Was it because we were announced as champions of the strongest Intermediate division?

The Tower
At one point, with people hitting the dance floor, I decided to build a tower. I got cocky, and introduced a platter to the tower, and the tower fell, knocking a full glass of cranberry juice onto Jordy's lap.

It was perfect.

The Sweater
As predicted, they gave us sweaters. This was our grand prize for winning the division. They're nice sweaters, but they're sweaters.

Oh yeah, they also bumped us up to the esteemed Comp division, which may be more of a curse than a blessing. Still, I'd rather go 0-16 in the toughest division than 16-0 in the 2nd toughest division. It was a great year, and even the cheesy banquet didn't totally suck. Here's the obligatory photoset.

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Shower me with your love. Tonight, we of Raging Storm, RSPA Int-1 division champions, will be recognized for our outstanding achievement at the league banquet. I normally don't attend these things, but this year I'm going. We're champions, dammit!

The award itself will likely be a sweater or something craptacular like that, and the open bar is completely wasted on a teetotaler like me, but I want to be lauded. Who doesn't enjoy a good lauding?

I'll snap a few pictures and report back here tomorrow.

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We did it. We swept the S&M Flyers tonight to win our division and that means we'll be playing comp next season. I've played on this slo-pitch team for the better part of a decade and we've never tasted success like this.

Both games were wickedly close. We eked out a 9-8 win in extra innings in game one and then, in game two, I was at the plate with two on in the bottom of the last inning and down by a run. All I could think about strolling to the plate was Joe Carter and his walk-off homer to win the series in '93. I laced the second pitch I saw into centre field, scoring two and giving us a 14-13 win and the championship.

As boring as this is for everyone not on Raging Storm, I've got to get this all down while the euphoria still wafts in the night air. Everything I've written about this team I've meant. It was a controversial regular season and our worst record in years, but I've played on no finer a ball team. We always came back when it mattered. In game two tonight, we were down by seven and easily could have mailed it in and hoped for better in game three. Instead, our defense shut the Flyers down and our bats chipped away at the stone.

Finally, I want to thank my teammates. I had never played the role of Cito before, and I couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to the season. This was awesome and I'm damn proud. Kids, you deserve it.

Raging Storm, 2007 Int-1 Divisional Champions:

• Engell
• Jordy
• Alek
• Kic
• Marc
• Patino
• Andge
• Richard
• Matty
• Kelley
• Me

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