Raging Storm
Brampton Extreme Slopitch League vs. RSPA
Published by Toronto Mike on March 1, 2012 @ 14:44 in Raging Storm
 My slo-pitch team has been playing in the RSPA for several years now, but we're looking for a change. The RSPA doesn't have a set schedule, and often it will be Friday before you know what time and night you're playing the following week. It's tough to plan a summer when you have no idea which night you're playing each week.
One league we're looking at is the Brampton Extreme Slopitch League. The entire schedule is posted before the season begins and most games will take place at the Powerade Centre in Brampton. It sounds promising, but I'd love to hear from some folks who play in the Brampton Extreme Slopitch League.
If you play in the Brampton Extreme Slopitch League, let me know what you think of it.
This Storm Won't Die
Published by Toronto Mike on September 20, 2011 @ 10:17 in Raging Storm
I play on two teams that play slo-pitch in the RSPA. One of these teams hasn't played weeks. In fact, I can barely remember playing Intermediate slo-pitch with the Piranhas. It's been a while.
My other team, Raging Storm, plays in the Competitive division, and this Storm won't die. We keep playing and playing in a double-knockout playoff structure that's far too complex for mere mortals to understand. All I know is we'll keep playing until we lose twice or win it all. Whichever happens first.
We played in the pouring rain last night. By the middle of game two, the puddle was up to our ankles when we stepped to the plate. My shoes are soaked. And we play two more games tonight.
Rumour has it a win tonight puts us in the finals against the Hawks, starting next week. Storm... you know what to do.
What's Wrong With Storm? (This Entry Will Bore You)
Published by Toronto Mike on June 22, 2011 @ 12:39 in Raging Storm
I play for two teams in the RSPA. Some tell me this isn't allowed, but I got special permission from the commissioner. Besides, one team is in the Competitive division while the other one is Intermediate. There's no overlap.
That Comp team is Storm, formerly known as Raging Storm, and originally known as Hooray For Everything. The core of this team has been together for about a decade now, and we've been very successful. Just last season we made the finals of the highest co-ed division in the biggest slo-pitch league in West Toronto / Mississauga. Yes, we're getting tee-shirts that say that.
Something's very wrong this year. Last week, we were mercied, and we started to implode. Last night, up by six runs in the last inning, we coughed it up. Three errors did us in. We've lost six in a row.
Remember when Canada's hockey team finished poorly in the '98 Olympics? There were symposiums held to fix what ailed our men's hockey program. I'm thinking we need a symposium. We've got to fix this.
Something's wrong with Storm. I warned you this entry would bore you...
Where It's At - What a Week!
Published by Toronto Mike on September 15, 2010 @ 21:00 in Raging Storm
 This has been a week I'll not soon forget. On Monday morning, I was selected to the jury for a big murder trial. Then last night, an epic Raging Storm comeback playoff victory. I can't write about the trial, but I can write about the comeback win.
We had two games against The Naturals. It's cumulative score, so you can think of it as a 14 inning game with an intermission after 7. After the first game, we were down by six runs. That meant we had to win game #2 by 7 runs in order to make the RSPA comp division finals next week. If we won by 6 or less, or lost outright, our season would be over.
Early in game 2, a close call at the plate went against us, and my buddy Kic lost his cool. One f-bomb at the ump and he was tossed. That didn't just mean losing his glove and hot bat, that meant that every time we reached his spot in the order, we had to take an automatic out. So there we were down an all-star, getting an automatic out and having to beat a great team by 7 runs.
Without boring you to tears with the dramatic details, let's just say it went into the 10th inning. That's three innings with the special SPN playoff extra innings rule: starting with one out and a runner on second base. We kept trading runs until we pulled out the unbelievable upset comeback victory, winning by 7. Raging Storm is in the finals!
And just now, I see Jose Bautista has hit #47. My man George has company.
What a week...
My Boner
Published by Toronto Mike on September 2, 2010 @ 08:57 in Raging Storm
So, we lost last night. Luckily, it's double knockout rules so we can still win this championship.
I pulled a boner in the first game, a serous boner, and it's something I don't remember ever doing before. I was batting 2nd in the lineup, and I led off the third inning. I hit a single, advanced to second and with Mofo at the plate, I completely believed there were two outs. In my head, I batted second, and counted the lead-off batter as the first out. So when Tink popped out, there were two away. Or so I believed...
Mofo hit a long fly ball, but with two out I was running full out on contact. I was four feet from home plate when I heard a teammate yell "there's only one out!".
Mofo's ball was caught and I was easily doubled up. I swear I thought there were two outs!!!! I've never pulled a boner like that before, but I did last night, in game one of the playoffs.
Two Games, Total Runs - A Storm's A Ragin'
Published by Toronto Mike on September 1, 2010 @ 13:23 in Raging Storm
My comp division slo-pitch team, Raging Storm, has a couple of playoff games tonight. It's two games, and the total score determines who advances and who's done for the year. I like to think of it as a 14 inning game.
We had a good season, and I'd argue this is the best team we've ever fielded. A loss tonight would be a very bitter pill to swallow.
Just win, baby.
Slo-Pitch Tournament Time
Published by Toronto Mike on August 20, 2010 @ 18:53 in Raging Storm
I play for a slo-pitch team in the comp division of the RSPA. As part of the deal when you play in the RSPA, you have to enter at least one tournament. This weekend, we'll be paying our dues and competing in the creatively titled RSPA 2010 Summer Slo-Pitch Tournament.
Game one is tomorrow morning then we play all day Saturday, and if we're any good, we'll get to play a bunch on Sunday, too. This is an SPN sanctioned event, which means it's not the 7 and 3 co-ed split we usually play with. SPN rules are 6 and 4, which threw us for a loop. Most of today was spent searching for female ball players willing to spend their weekend with me. Surprisingly, the pool is rather small.
If you need me this weekend, I'll be playing ball at a diamond in or around Centennial Park in Etobicoke. I really want to win one of those awesome new hooded sweatshirts!
[my apologies for the gayest slo-pitch photo ever]
The 19 Run Inning
Published by Toronto Mike on June 26, 2010 @ 10:12 in Raging Storm
Last night, in the first game a double header, we in Raging Storm put up 19 runs in one inning. We put our collective heads together and couldn't remember ever scoring 19 runs in a single inning.
This got me wondering... had 19 runs ever been scored in a single inning in major league history? I honestly wasn't sure. It seemed highly unlikely but plausible, so I looked it up.
Way back in 1883, on September 6, the Chicago White Stockings put 18 runs on the board in the 7th inning against the Detroit Wolverines. That 107 year old record remains today.
Of course, now there's a new record. Raging Storm scored 19 against the Hawks in the comp division of the RSPA.
Strange Outs During a Sweet Sweep
Published by Toronto Mike on June 16, 2010 @ 08:56 in Raging Storm
My slo-pitch team played a double header last night. We won both games in a sweet sweep, but this entry isn't about that. This is about the two times I was called out on the basepaths.
Jimmy the Ump calls a good game, and is a stickler for the rulebook. On one play, I got to third before I was held by our third base coach, Mofo. Before time was called, Mofo affectionately patted my back. I was called out for interference by our third base coach. In my illustrious career I've never seen that called.
Later, in game two, I was at second base. This league has a no lead-off rule, but you can run on "anticipation". Apparently, while at third, I lifted my foot off the the base for a second. It was a vertical move, I wasn't "leading off" by any stretch of the imagination. Yes, Jimmy the Ump called me out for leading off. I've never been called on that one either.
In the parking lot, after the game, Jimmy the Ump saw me as he was getting into his car. Once again, he glared at me and called me out. It was one of those nights.
Your 2010 Raging Storm Slo-Pitch Superstars
Published by Toronto Mike on March 15, 2010 @ 11:57 in Raging Storm
In the comp division of the RSPA, there's a slo-pitch team called Raging Storm. The core group has remained pretty much intact for about a decade now, but there's usually a little turnover.
This season, we added a couple of new guys and a new girl. Here's your 2010 Raging Storm slo-pitch superstars.
Men
Booner
Engell
Kicster
Mofo
Pats
Gregger
Andy Mac
Will The Thrill
Women
Kitchenette
Colleen The Dream
Mighty Mouse
The Sakker
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