Sunfield Area SPY's Report---8/20/09

Reports & Follow-Ups

We've got a lot of "stuff" to pass along in the way of report-outs from some of last week’s Farmer's Picnic activities. To cover everything, we will have to spread things out over the next couple of weeks due to space constraints. So, in this week's column we'll start with the results from the softball tournament

This year marked the 38th. anniversary of what was originally known as the "Sunfield Invitational Softball Tournament". It has also been known as the "Charities Softball Tournament", which instituted the dollar a run format that has raised money for Muscular Dystrophy and the various area youth sports programs over the years. This contest is one of the longest running softball tournaments in the state. It was founded in 1972 and was held for many years in July.

For quite a few years now it has been held in conjunction with the Farmer's Picnic festivities in August in order to keep the tradition of having ball games at the picnic alive. Jake Bosworth serves as the Tournament Director. He has a lot to put up with and does an outstanding job.

There was a lot of high-powered action at the old ball yard from Thursday night through Saturday afternoon. There were a number of exciting see-saw and extra-innings games that provided some great entertainment for the fans. In the end, the high-powered Brodbeck Farms team came trough unbeaten to capture the crown. Below are the final ranking of the competing teams:

Final Softball Tournament Standings

1. Brodbeck Farms
2. Fast Eddie’s
3. Chuck’s Total
4. Slow Bob’s
5. Best Tax Service
6. Balls Deep
7. Jerry’s Pub
8. Sunfield IGA
9. Hometown Boys

Josh Mitchell, of the Brodbeck Farms team, was named the tournament’s “Most Valuable Player”.

Jake would like to extend his sincere thanks to his fantastic crew of support that helped make the tournament a success. Thank you’s go out to the volunteer’s in the umpire crew of John Fisher; Cris Glazier; and Darin Weller. A salute also goes out to Onie Miller; Pete Weller & the Village of Sunfield for the work done on the ball fields. Thank you all for making the tournament a success!

Blood Drive Coming

The Blood Drive Is Coming---The Blood Drive Is Coming---The Blood Drive Is Coming---Thursday, August 27th.---From 1 to 6:45 PM---Sunfield United Brethren Church. Be there! And, give the gift of life!

News Briefs

* The Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth wish to acknowledge a number of
recent contributions to the Scholarship Fund and / or the Youth Activities Trust Fund. We
thank and salute the following fine folks:

+ Gary & Karen Suntken gave in memory of Karen Forshey.

+ Chuck & Janis Williams donated in memory of Uwe Walliczek

+ Ron & Sharon Stanger & Family contributed in memory of Uwe Walliczek.

+ LeRoy Jackson & Elaine Merryfield made donations in memory of Ella Davis and Leslie Gober.

Thank you all for helping us help kids!

* A BIG Sunfield Area SPY salute goes out to four key members who put in a lot of time and effort for the SPY’s cause during the Farmer's Picnic activities. Thank you for all of your hard work event chairmen---

Jamie Peabody (Dime Pitch Booth)
Darin Weller (Barnyard Classic Basketball Tournament)
Jake Bosworth (Softball Tournament)
Rosie Best (Community Celebration Calendar).

You are truly a credit to the community and our organization. You are indeed appreciated!!!!!

* Another BIG Sunfield Area SPY salute goes out to these following fine folks for their donations to our Dime Pitch Booth activity---

Buddy & Jari Collins
Joyce Martin
Phyllis Wilcox
Steve & Tammy Wakley

Thank you all. We appreciate your support!

* We have another important thank you to pass along this week as well. Thank You Craig Mulholland and Joann Van Orman and Cassel Ice, Inc. for all of your tremendous support for our Farmer’s Picnic ice-on-site program again this year!!!

* The Calendars are in! The Calendars are in! The 40th. annual edition of the Sunfield Area SPY's "Community Celebration Calendar" is in! If you placed an order for one, it will be coming your way soon, if it hasn't been delivered already. If you didn't get your order in but would like to get one of these great community building / kid's programs supporting items, just contact project chairman Rosie Best at 566-8858.

* The SPY’s fabulous 50’s / 60’s Dance returns on Saturday, October 10th. Anyone that has an idea for the “acts”-----or would like to be in the “acts”-----or has a request they would like to make for the dance-----just call our Dance Chairperson Juaise Peabody and let her know. Her number is (517) 566-8547.

* Attention All SPY Members---We are seeking someone to take over heading up our Texas Hold ‘Em event chairmanship. This is primarily a scheduling and paperwork filing activity work-wise, but it is for the #1 income-generating program that we do! This is important to our organization and community. Much support will come with taking on this leadership position. If you are interested, or would like to get more information, please contact either Darin Weller (517-819-4657) or John Fisher (566-8278). Our next Hold ‘Em event is coming up on October 12th.; 13th. & 14th.

* Didja Know Department #1: The McDonald’s in Sedona, Arizona is the only one in the world with turquoise arches. They are not yellow because the city said they would look horrid along with the red rocks and demanded another color, the first one McDonalds offered was turquoise and was immediately accepted.

* Andy Woodman’s Sports Trivia Question-Of-The-Week: What sports league made history in 1997 by hiring Dee Kantner and Violet Palmer as its first women to officiate in a pro game?
 (Answer later in this column)

* “Honest Roy’s” Quote-Of-The-Week: “I once had a boss tell me ‘Don’t dress for the job you have; dress for the job you want.’ I showed up the next day in a Tiger uniform.”

* The “Sports Trivia Just For Ward ‘Smarty-Pants’ Mac Cready Question-Of-TheWeek: What record-setting Brooklyn Dodger was known for his base running gaffes, especially the time he “doubled into a double play”? (Answer later in this column).

* Louie “Trouble-Shooter” Trowbridge’s Solution-Of-The-Week: Here’s a tip on how to combat driver drowsiness without caffeine: Pop a peppermint or cinnamon Altoid. These scents work as a curiously strong stimulant in an area of the brain called the reticular activating system. Not only will you be more alert while driving these scents work to lower your levels of anxiety and frustration.

* Didja Know Department: That the words "race car" spelled backwards spells "race car".

* Andy Woodman’s Sports Trivia Question-Of-The-Week Answer: The National Basketball Association

* The “Sports Trivia Question Just For ‘Smarty-Pants’ Mac Cready Question-Of-The-Week Answer: Floyd Caves "Babe" Herman was right fielder in Major League Baseball who was best known for his several seasons with the Brooklyn Robins (later the Brooklyn Dodgers, now the Los Angeles Dodgers). Herman was one of the most noted power hitters of the late 1920s and early 1930s, and hit for the cycle a record three times; his .532 career slugging average ranked fourth among hitters with at least 5000 at bats in the National League when he retired. His .393 batting average, .678 slugging average, 241 hits and 416 total bases in 1930 remain Dodgers franchise records, with his 143 runs being the post-1900 team record; he also set team records (since broken) that year with 35 home runs and 130 runs batted in. He was also renowned for his varied misadventures as a defensive player and baserunner.

Herman's name is associated with a baserunning gaffe during his rookie year. During a game on August 15, 1926, at Ebbets Field, he tried to stretch a double off the right field wall into a triple with one out and the bases loaded; Chick Fewster, who had been on first, advanced to third base – which was already occupied by Dazzy Vance, who had started from second base but was now caught in a rundown and was dashing back to third. All three of them ended up at third base, with Herman not having watched the play in front of him, and the third baseman, Eddie Taylor, tagged all three just to be sure of getting as many outs as possible. The slow-footed Vance had been a major contributor to this situation, but according to the rules the lead runner was entitled to the base, so umpire Beans Reardon called Herman and Fewster out. Thus, Babe Herman was said to have "doubled into a double play".

Also, on two occasions in 1930 – May 30 and September 15 – Herman stopped to watch a home run while running the bases and was passed by the hitter, in each case causing the home run to count only as a single. And on September 20 of the following year, he was thrown out trying to steal a base against the St. Louis Cardinals, even though opposing catcher was 48-year-old Cardinals manager Gabby Street, appearing in his first game (as an emergency substitute) since 1912.

* To find out more about the SPY’s organization, download forms or applications, or catch-up on past issues of the “Dirt Sheet”, go to the SPY’s website at www.sunfieldspys.org.

* MDXXXXIV