Brethren:

Happy Independence Day to each and every one of my swell Hot Stove League amigos.  I hope that you have a safe and family-filled 4th. 

My sister Kathi was born on the 4th of July, and so I always think of her on this holiday.  Her middle name was Lou, after my Uncle Louis Ernst, also born on the 4th of July.  Uncle Louie was 12 years my father’s elder, a big brother, who was a World War II hero and a fighting skier (or maybe more properly a skiing fighter) in the mountains of Europe.  He was a mailman in rural Onega, Kansas, for the great majority of his working career. 

Other famous or notable 4th of July birthdays: 

Neil Simon (84)

Abigail Van Buren (93)

Gina Lollobrigida (84)

George Steinbrenner (1930-2010)

Geraldo Rivera (68)

Malia Obama (13)

Emerson Boozer (68)

Also, you may know that both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, our second and third cousins, died on the 4th of July, on the 50th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence in which they were both instrumentally involved, within hours of each other, after living historic lives and being Revolutionary era comrades, then bitter rivals, then dear friends.  A great story if you haven’t heard it. 

THE STANDINGS HALF-WAY THROUGH

The 4th of July holiday also generally serves as the approximate half-way point of the Hot Stove League season.  Half-way through our 2012 campaign, it looks like Magpie and his Bums are the heavy favorites to capture the 2012 HSL crown.  With a 295.4 point lead over the Wahoos, and no signs of slowing down, Da Bums make us wonder now why we ever thought that the Wahoos were going to walk away with the ’12 title. 

In any event, here are the standings through Monday morning, July 2:

LEADING HITTERS

Here are the top 25 hitters through the half-way point:

Notice that there is nary a Senator on the list.  Big surprise there. 

LEADING PITCHERS

On the other hand, if you look at the list of top pitchers, we find two Senators prominently listed, R.A. Dickey at the top with 469 points, followed by Justin Verlander at the No. 2 spot with 418 points.  As my 12th place standings clearly prove, this league is not all about pitching.  Memo to file,  Stupid. 

ANOTHER NIGHT TO REMEMBER

As mentioned elsewhere, on the league Message Board, Jori’s wedding and reception on June 16 to the former Andy McCarville -- Scott made him change his last name to Krause -- was a day and night to remember.  Jori was the most beautiful bride that I have ever seen, and the wedding at Cathedral Lincoln was beautiful and the reception at the Krause Kompound spectacular, and nothing short of it.  The Krause plantation has never looked more beautiful, and Herr Krause must have taken out a fifth and sixth mortgage and sold a few pints of plasma to pay for this lavish reception.  Or cashed one of his Runza dividend checks that rolls in each month.  Anyway, it was truly a wonderful night. 

I am happy to see that B.T.’s face has finally uncontorted from the expression that it was locked into as he walked down the wedding aisle that Saturday afternoon, as he mustered up every muscle, fiber and cell in his face into a “lock” position, all intended to prevent him from bursting into an Angel Falls-like torrent of tears.  To his everlasting credit, B.T. avoided breaking down into a blubbering, sobbing mess of a man as he contemplated giving away his oldest daughter, but I swear that his face would have cracked into a thousand pieces if someone had tapped on it with a pencil as he walked down the aisle.  Well done, Brother Trumpetfish.  You are truly an amazing man.  And Jori, great job at planning this beautiful and memorable event. 

COMMANDER’S CORNER

With your continued indulgences, I am proud to report that the Mount Michael Senior Legion baseball team won a wood bat tournament this past weekend, sweeping through the field with victories over four Class A school teams (albeit not powerhouses), Omaha Benson, Bellevue East, Millard Black Sox, and Bellevue West, to capture the Omaha South Wood Bat Tournament.  The first three games of the tournament were played at Roddy Field, a beautiful facility in Bellevue, the home field for Bellevue East, and which formerly served as the home of the Bellevue University Bruins until their then-coach Mike Evans had a falling out with the Bellevue schools superintendent.  The final tournament game was played at historic Brown Park in South Omaha. 

Joe had a solid tournament at the plate, batting over .500 for the tournament and hitting a couple of doubles, a triple, and a no-doubter, laser-like home run over the 325-foot left field fence at Roddy Field.  With a wooden bat.  Against a slow-throwing lefty for the Black Sox.  Proud, proud moments.  It is pretty clear from whom he got his power:  Clearly, his mother. 

Joe didn’t pitch in the tournament, having pitched earlier in the week against Bennington, which was a disappointing loss.  Will pitched solidly against Bellevue East, and left the game with a 6-4 lead, which was extended to 8-4, then disappeared with the Knights tallying a run in the top of the 7th to get the 9-8 win. 

For the season, the Knights are now 21-and-6, with only a few games remaining before Districts, and hopefully State.  The Legion statistics through last Thursday were posted this past Friday, and both Ernst boys were among the leaders in numerous categories, with Joe leading all reporting Legion teams with 15 doubles and among the leaders in hits (37), batting average (.521), RBIs (28), and pitching ERA (2.10).  Will cracked the leaderboard in pitching wins (4), ERA (1.71), and strikeouts (26).  The only hope here is that they are able to keep it up when it really matters, in the post-season. 

Published Friday June 29, 2012

BASEBALL

American Legion Statistics, June 30

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Note: Stats through Thursday, not all teams submitted statistics.

HITTING

Batting average: Schroer, Lincoln Judds, .593; Meyers, KB Building Services, .579; Caniglia, T. Hurt Construction, .539; Ernst, Elkhorn MM, .521; Walter, Millard Sox Gold, .509; Kramer, Pinnacle Bank, .500; Ryan, PI Midwest, .500; Bailey, Millard Sox Gold, .500; Muth, Columbus, .492; Finocchiaro, KB Building Services, .485; Fonfara, Ralston Post 373, .483; Gruber, Pinnacle Bank, .482; Manley, S. Sioux City, .482; Emodi, PI Midwest, .478; Wulff, Roof Tech, .478; Murphy, Columbus, .477; Placzek, Pinnacle Bank, .475; Gay, Pinnacle Bank, .471; Wakefield, Blair, .469; Ethen, Roof Tech, .459; Elman, PI Midwest, .458; Cain, KB Building Services, .457; Bausch, S. Sioux City, .455; Huelskamp, Millard Sox Gold, .447; Rose, Millard Sox Gold, .444; Keffer, Ralston Post 373, .442; Phillips, Vikings, .438; Ahart, Ralston Post 373, .437; Cate, T. Hurt Construction, .434; Scheil, Ashland, .426; Taylor, Elkhorn MM, .426; Gay, Columbus, .426; Hechtner, PI Midwest, .425; Johnson, Associated Fire, .421; Connolly, PI Midwest, .420; Knicky, DiGiorgio’s, .417; Meiners, Millard Sox Gold, .417; Kinsella, DiGiorgio’s, .414; Lindhorst, Ashland, .412; Zagurski, KB Building Services, .409; Kirsch, Associated Fire, .404; LeBlanc, T. Hurt Construction, .400; Hough, T. Hurt Construction, .400.

Hits: Kramer, Pinnacle Bank, 43; Wulff, Roof Tech, 43; Gruber, Pinnacle Bank, .41; Gay, Pinnacle Bank, 41; Ryan, PI Midwest, 39; Ethen, Roof Tech, 39; Placzek, Pinnacle Bank, 38; Tangeman, DiGiorgio’s, 38; Caniglia, T. Hurt Construction, 37; Cain, KB Building Services, 37; Ernst, Elkhorn MM, 37; Kinsella, DiGiorgio’s, 36; Miller, Roof Tech, 35; Elman, PI Midwest, 33; Cate, T. Hurt Construction, 33; Emodi, PI Midwest, 32; Phillips, Vikings, 32; Schroer, Lincoln Judds, 32; Spenner, Columbus, 32; Finocchiaro, KB Building Services, 32; Hechtner, PI Midwest, 31; Murphy, Columbus, 31; Knicky, DiGiorgio’s, 30; Benes, Pinnacle Bank, 30.

Runs: Placzek, Pinnacle Bank, 53; Kramer, Pinnacle Bank, 40; Gruber, Pinnacle Bank, 38; Hechtner, PI Midwest, 36; Ethen, Roof Tech, 32; Gay, Pinnacle Bank, 31; Kinsella, DiGiorgio’s, 31; Miller, Roof Tech, 31; Tangeman, DiGiorgio’s, 30; Elman, PI Midwest, 30; Ryan, PI Midwest, 30; Phillips, Vikings, 29; Bailey, Millard Sox Gold, 28; Cate, T. Hurt Construction, 28; Wulff, Roof Tech, 28; Finocchiaro, KB Building Services, 28; Knicky, DiGiorgio’s, 27; Taylor, Elkhorn MM, 27.

RBIs: Kramer, Pinnacle Bank, 55; Wulff, Roof Tech, 33; Gruber, Pinnacle Bank, 30; Elman, PI Midwest, 30; Miller, Roof Tech, 30; Steyer, Roof Tech, 29; Ernst, Elkhorn MM, 28; Murphy, Columbus, 27; Placzek, Pinnacle Bank, 27; Taylor, Elkhorn MM, 26; Tangeman, Ralston Post 373, 24; Benes, Pinnacle Bank, 24; Caniglia, T. Hurt Construction, 24; Tangeman, DiGiorgio’s, 24; Cain, KB Building Services, 24; Gay, Columbus, 23; Ryan, PI Midwest, 23; Weisbeck, Pinnacle Bank, 23; Emodi, PI Midwest, 22; Johnson, Associated Fire, 22.

Doubles: Ernst, Elkhorn MM, 15; Ryan, PI Midwest, 13; Murphy, Columbus, 12; Placzek, Pinnacle Bank, 11; Kramer, Pinnacle Bank, 11; Zagurski, KB Building Services, 11; Murray, KB Building Services, 10; Elman, PI Midwest, 10; Benes, Pinnacle Bank, 10; Wakefield, Blair, 10; Wulff, Roof Tech, 10; Fonfara, Ralston Post 373, 9; Kinsella, DiGiorgio’s, 9; Ek, Columbus, 9; Knicky, DiGiorgio’s, 8; Phillips, Vikings, 8; Comstock, S. Sioux City, 8; Cate, T. Hurt Construction, 8; Cain, KB Building Services, 8; Fitzmorris, KB Building Services, 8; Gay, Columbus, 8; Tangeman, Ralston Post 373, 7; Young, Pinnacle Bank, 7; Hechtner, PI Midwest, 7; Schroer, Lincoln Judds, 7; Duren, Lincoln Judds, 7; Walter, Elkhorn MM, 7; Caniglia, T. Hurt Construction, 7; Ethen, Roof Tech, 7; Miller, Roof Tech, 7.

Triples: Placzek, Pinnacle Bank, 6; Kramer, Pinnacle Bank, 5; Kirsch, Associated Fire, 5; Walter, Millard Sox Gold, 4; Steyer, Roof Tech, 3; Safranek, Pinnacle Bank, 3; Kramer, Pinnacle Bank, 3; Groth S. Sioux City, 3; Timmins, Tom Hansen Construction, 3; Finocchiaro, KB Building Services, 3; Guthrie, SO Post 331, 3; Tangeman, DiGiorgio’s, 3; Taylor, Elkhorn MM, 3; Caniglia, T. Hurt Construction, 3; Schlegel, SO Post 331, 2; Manley, S. Sioux City, 2; Benes, Pinnacle Bank, 2; Bussard, Associated Fire, 2; Lipari, PI Midwest, 2; Wilson, PI Midwest, 2; Macek, Blair, 2; Lange, Medicine Man Pharmacy, 2; Vanlandingham, Medicine Man Pharmacy, 2; Spenner, Columbus, 2.

Home runs: Kramer, Pinnacle Bank, 7; Miller, Roof Tech, 5; Schroer, Lincoln Judds, 4; Placzek, Pinnacle Bank, 3; Tangeman, Ralston Post 373, 3; Tangeman, DiGiorgio’s, 3; Connolly, PI Midwest, 3; Emodi, PI Midwest, 2; Elman, PI Midwest, 2; Duren, Lincoln Judds, 2; Knicky, DiGiorgio’s, 2; Fonfara, Ralston Post 373, 2; Nuzum, Vikings, 2; Carolan, Millard Sox Gold, 2; Caniglia, T. Hurt Construction, 2. Cate, T. Hurt Construction, 2; Gay, Columbus, 2.

Stolen bases: Kinsella, DiGiorgio’s, 23; Trevarrow, T. Hurt Construction, 23; Phillips, Vikings, 20; Hechtner, PI Midwest, 17; Gerren, Ralston Post 373, 16; Ethen, Roof Tech, 15; Merrill, Roof Tech, 13; Wood, PI Midwest, 12; Stueck, KB Building Services, 12; Knicky, DiGiorgio’s, 11; Connolly, PI Midwest, 11; Ayars, Lincoln Judds, 11; Moore, Tom Hansen Construction, 11; Odom, Tom Hansen Construction, 10; Tangeman, DiGiorgio’s, 10; Keffer, Ralston Post 373, 10; Plath, T. Hurt Construction, 10; Guthrie, SO Post 331, 9; Lange, Medicine Man Pharmacy, 9; Connors, SO Post 331, 9; Wulff, Roof Tech, 9; Bussard, Associated Fire, 9; Kiger, Associated Fire, 9; Emodi, PI Midwest, 9; Fonfara, Ralston Post 373, 8; Placzek, Pinnacle Bank, 8; Warren, Medicine Man Pharmacy, 8; Gay, Pinnacle Bank, 8; Dineen, PI Midwest, 8; Elman, PI Midwest, 8; Schroer, Lincoln Judds, 8; Walter, Millard Sox Gold, 8; Carolan, Millard Sox Gold, 8.

PITCHING

Wins: Muth, Columbus, 7; Ramsey, PI Midwest, 6; Benes, Pinnacle Bank, 6; Taylor, Elkhorn MM, 6; Jonas, PI Midwest, 5; Elman, PI Midwest, 5; Gruber, Pinnacle Bank, 5; Furne, Roof Tech, 5; Ethen, Roof Tech, 5; Missak, DiGiorgio’s, 5; Barton, Medicine May Pharmacy, 5; Knicky, DiGiorgio’s, 4; Baker, Pinnacle Bank, 4; Hargis, Roof Tech, 4; Wilson, PI Midwest, 4; Wakefield, Blair, 4; Novotny, Ashland, 4; Ernst, Elkhorn MM, 4; Loeffelholz, Elkhorn MM, 3; Campbell, Ashland, 3; Pettit, Ashland, 3; Birkemeier, Pinnacle Bank, 3; Bruch, Pinnacle Bank, 3; Gassert, Pinnacle Bank, 3; Mogensen, S. Sioux City, 3; Barajas, Ralston Post 373, 3; Cox, Vikings, 3; Raburn, PI Midwest, 3; Warren, Medicine Man Pharmacy, 3; Johnson, Medicine Man Pharmacy, 3; Schroer, Judds Brothers, 3; LaHood, Millard Sox Gold, 3; Meiners, Millard Sox Gold, 3; Goetzinger, T. Hurt Construction, 3; Pullen, T. Hurt Construction, 3; Cate, T. Hurt Construction, 3; Daubach, T. Hurt Construction, 3; DeJong, T. Hurt Construction, 3; Edwards, T. Hurt Construction, 3; Ek, Columbus, 3; Cain, KB Building Services, 3; Meyers KB Building Services, 3; Boyd, KB Building Services, 3; Waldron, KB Building Services, 3.

ERA: Benes, Pinnacle Bank, 0.00; Bussard, Associated Fire, 0.24; Wood, PI Midwest, 0.55; Wilson, PI Midwest, 0.61; Comstock, S. Sioux City, 0.74; Elman, PI Midwest, 0.88; Johnson, Associated Fire, 0.90; Hoskins, Associated Fire, 0.98; Furne, Roof Tech, 1.02; Taylor, Elkhorn MM, 1.07; Pettit, Ashland, 1.13; Litz, Medicine Man Pharmacy, 1.29; Wakefield, Blair, 1.30; Cox, Vikings, 1.31; Ethen, Roof Tech, 1.40; Novotny, Ashland, 1.42; Muth, Columbus, 1.55; Timmins, Tom Hansen Construction, 1.63; Ramsey, PI Midwest, 1.64; Schroer, Lincoln Judds, 1.68; Raburn, PI Midwest, 1.69; W. Ernst, Elkhorn MM, 1.71; Albrecht, PI Midwest, 1.81; Gassert, Pinnacle Bank, 1.84; Busbice, Associated Fire, 1.94; Mogensen, S. Sioux City, 1.97; Baker, Pinnacle Bank, 2.00; Kahler, S. Sioux City, 2.03; Jonas, PI Midwest, 2.04; Missak, DiGiorgio’s, 2.07; J. Ernst, Elkhorn MM, 2.10.

Strikeouts: Novotny, Ashland, 70; Tangeman, Ralston Post 373, 53; Albrecht, PI Midwest, 46; Barton, Medicine Man Pharmacy, 44; Wakefield, Blair, 43; Miller, Roof Tech, 40; Bussard, Associated Fire, 40; Arenas, SO Post 331, 38; Ethen, Roof Tech, 36; Ek, Columbus, 36; Campbell, Ashland, 36; Mogensen, S. Sioux City, 34; Warren, Medicine Man Pharmacy, 34; Timmins, Tom Hansen Construction, 34; Benes, Pinnacle Bank, 33; Gerren, Ralston Post 373, 32; Elman, PI Midwest, 32; Lange, Medicine Man Pharmacy, 32; Connors, SO Post 331, 30; Johnson, Associated Fire, 29; Jonas, PI Midwest, 29; Raburn, PI Midwest, 29; Pettit, Ashland, 29; Hoch, S. Sioux City, 28; Taylor, Elkhorn MM, 28; DeJong, T. Hurt Construction, 28; Cate, T. Hurt Construction, 27; Gruber, Pinnacle Bank, 27; Fonfara, Ralston Post 373, 27; Ernst, Elkhorn MM, 26; Cox, Vikings, 25; Phillips, Vikings, 25.

Saves: Carolan, Millard Sox Gold, 3; Wood, PI Midwest, 2; Dineen, PI Midwest, 2; Edwards, T. Hurt Construction, 2; Manley, S. Sioux City, 2; Wakefield, Blair, 2; Rall, Lincoln Judds, 2.

So that will be it for this issue.  I again wish you all a happy and healthy 4th of July holiday. 

Skipper