COAKLEY BLUNDERS AGAIN

A Christus Vincit Sports special flash!

This time, she called Curt Schilling a Yankee fan. That's like saying Poncho Ladies are real Catholic priests!



RSCT to the food chain: The Catholic Caveman, who linked Curt Schilling, who linked Michelle Malkin.

I'm Brian Michael Page, and I approve this message on behalf of Scott Brown! GO SCOTT!
Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

NFL Edition

THE NEW OFFICIAL FIGHT SONG OF
THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
At least after halftime, anyways!

In light of blowing a 17-7 halftime lead to the Denver Broncos, losing 20-17 in overtime, I figured that this might just be the new "fight song" of the Patriots. Enjoy!
Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

Introducing...

The ROIDS BROTHERS!

A-Roids (aka "Ster-rod") and Wo-Manny Ramir-roids!

A-Roids played in his first game this season after admitting his steroid use.

Ramir-roids (or Wo-manny) just got busted the other day, testing positive for a banned drug that Manny claims was prescribed by his doctor and was supposedly okay. However, the banned drug in question is a female hormone drug that is often used to cover up the steroids and/or brings one back up after a steroids crash.

Yankee nation may say, "well, at least A-Roids admitted it".
Red Sox nation is very thankful that we got rid of Ramir-roids when we did.

Any way you slice it, there you go - the two highest paid players in baseball. My theory is this: if you take a huge salary, you have room to lose a chunk of your salary to a 50-game suspension and still make enough to support me for the next 50 years.

Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

MVP Edition

Congratulations to Dustin Pedroia, the first Red Sox player to win the American League Most Valuable Player award since 1995, and the first second baseman to win it since 1959! Well deserved!

Congratulations also to Albert Pujols of the Cardinals for winning the National League MVP for the second time!

Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

WTF Awards Edition

Today I have a WTF award to give out, and it's in the field of sports. The recipient: the New Haven (Connecticut) Little League. Here's why.

What kind of league bans a nine-year-old kid from pitching just because he's good? Yeah, so he throws 40 MPH. SO FREAKIN' WHAT?! He hasn't hit a batter all year, and he's accurate! Yeah, so he's struck out your kid who can normally park a ball against most other pitchers. Instead of being wusses, toughen your players up and teach them to swing at faster pitches. Give them a good practice session at a batting cage. My daughter plays in a girls softball league where many of the girls, even at nine years old, can hit pitches that fast and more.

Teams have been forfeiting games anytime he pitches. WHY?! The kid himself feels it's his fault that others don't want to play. It's NOT his fault. You can't be faulted for excelling at your craft. That's just plain wrong.

Now - check out this political bull shit...

Jericho's coach and parents say the boy is being unfairly targeted because he turned down an invitation to join the defending league champion, which is sponsored by an employer of one of the league's administrators.

So, that's why? Is the "defending league chump" that afraid that this kid's going to upstage them with his pitching? Well boo-freakin'-hoo! Real champions will step up to the challenge.

So, congratulations to the New Haven Little League (not the kids, but the officials), recipients of the August 2008 WTF Award. Jerks!

Peace,
BMP

(PS: for those who aren't used to seeing me this harsh, I'm sorry, but being a father whose daughter is in sports, this really pisses me off!)

RUNNING UP THE SCORE

Now here's a score you don't see very often in baseball:

O'MALLEY RED SOX 19, VANN RANGERS 17

That's exactly what happened last night at Fenway!

The Red Sox put up 10 runs in the first inning (six of them driven in by David Ortiz, who hit two three-run homers in the same inning). However, by the sixth inning, the Rangers took a 15-14 lead (they scored eight runs in the fifth, and five more in the sixth).

The lead returned to the Red Sox as Kevin Youkilis parked one in the eighth inning for a three-run homer (he also hit a two-run homer in the fifth). This put the Red Sox back ahead to stay.

Here's the linescore:

			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		R		H		E
	Vann Rangers	0	2	0	0	8	5	1	0	1	17	20	2
	O'Malley Red Sox	10	0	2	0	2	0	1	4	X	19	17	2

I haven't seen a slugfest like that since 1979, when the (now Rigali) Phillies beat the (now George) Cubs 23-22! Also, the 19 runs that the Red Sox scored is the most since 2003, when they smoked the (now Galeone) Marlins in an interleague game 25-8. In that game, the Sox put up 14 runs in the first inning, and 11 before the first out was even made.

I love slugfests (especially when the Red Sox are on the winning end)! :-)

Peace,
BMP

THE EXTENDED WEEKEND VACATION, SORT OF

A special edition of Christus Vincit Sports

Let's just call this weekend the week from hell, with the only thing going right being my daughter's all-star team was victorious in their final tournament of the summer.

Our original plan was to camp out at Burlingame State Campground from Friday to Monday. We were supposed to leave from home after I finished a funeral at St. Leo's. Well, that plan backfired, as I got home and learned from my wife that Britt's coach had called and decided to hold a practice at 5:30 tonight. And there was no way that I was going to make the hour-long trek to the campsite, come back home, and go back again, especially at today's gas prices.

So, we get to the practice, which was called, due to a torrential downpour that had just finished minutes before. However, the coach gathered us anyways to give us directions to the tournament field (which I had gotten the night before from the coach's wife) and for the girls to sign a ball for the team's sponsor in thanks for paying for our team's entry fee.

I got to the campground, finally, at about 8:00 PM --- NO CAMPSITES AVAILABLE! Until this year, Burlingame's tent sites were first come/first served. We never knew that they started reserving sites before. On a normal summer Friday, we would have had a site had we gotten there by 1:00 PM. Well, it so happened that my wife Ann had invited her friend Candy to camp out with us, and it worked out nicely that Candy's stepfather had a beach house not far from Burlingame. So, she called her stepfather and got the OK for all of us to crash at the beach house for the weekend.

Now for the tournament (OR: Finally, the CV Sports portion of this post!):

Like the previous two tournaments, we played three games on Saturday to determine seed for Sunday's games. Our first game was a 9:00 AM game against Smithfield's Blue team (their "A" team, shall we say). We lost 6-4. Britt went 1 for 2, grounding out and reaching on a bloop single.

The second game, immediately after, was against Smithfield's White team (their "B" team that we've smoked more than once). We smoked them again - 10-0. Britt walked (and scored on a later hit) and whiffed in her two plate appearances.

The third game, immediately after that, was against North Kingstown, the host team. We've beaten them before, although they smoked us in the regional tournament in Lowell, MA. This time, we won - 2-0. Britt whiffed twice. However, this was a classic pitcher's duel. We were scoreless till the fifth inning.

Our 2-1 finish for Saturday gave us second seed out of five teams (only the Smithfield "A" team was undefeated). Now we go to Sunday - single elimination. BUT FIRST...

Yours truly travels back to Burlingame at 8:30 AM, manages to get us a site. I pay for the next three nights. Now, back to sports...

We re-match North Kingstown. What a nail-biter! We had a 5-2 lead going into the top of the last inning and we gave them three runs! OUCH! In the bottom of the inning, with the score still tied 5-5, two out and bases loaded, Kamryn, our sole lefty, walked in the winning run for us - 6-5. Britt's hitting: two walks and a ground out.

So we now land up playing the championship game against none other than Smithfield's Blue team, the team that beat us Saturday. This time, we dominated our way to an easy 8-2 victory! Britt's hitting: walked, grounded into a force play, and grounded out.

Britt gets another trophy, and a piece of victory cake, and we finally get to Burlingame. We pitch camp, eat supper, sit and relax, and we go to sleep. 1 AM - Wouldn't you know - MORE FREAKIN' RAIN! All morning!

Finally yesterday was nice for a bit, but we had five spot showers throughout the day. Today, now that we pack up and go home, guess what! Nice day, no rain, no dark clouds, just nice sun!

Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

WE'RE NUMBER ONE!

We WON the Attleboro Tournament! - UPDATE 9:00 PM

Early this morning our girls played the game that they were supposed to play yesterday afternoon (it just HAD to rain now, didn't it?). Britt's team beat Abington, MA, by a score of 8-2. Brittany walked in the first inning and scored on a triple by Kaylee M. I had to leave for Mass after the triple. The report from Ann (my wife) and Brittany (my daughter) was that Brittany went 1 for 2 after that - first a whiff, then a two-run single.

This third victory, coupled with the fact that we outscored our opponents in these three games 29-2, gave us top seed for the championship round.

The 2:00 game was a rematch against the Boston team we played yesterday. Britt whiffed twice, again baffled by Boston pitching, but we beat them again - this time 5-1.

The 5:00 game was a 7-0 shutout win over Plainville, MA. Here Britt walked and grounded out.

Finally, the 7:00 game against Swansea, MA - Britt whiffed twice, but we took that game 6-0, and the CHAMPIONSHIP! In six games, we outscored our opponents 47-3.

Peace,
BMP, the proud Dad!

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

Another tourney - this one close to home, finally!

This post will be updated throughout the day, as we're coming home in between games.

This weekend begins a tourney in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Three games today - 8:00 AM, 12:15 PM, and 4:30 PM - to determine seed for championship games to be played tomorrow (same format as what the rain-shortened tourney last week in Warwick, Rhode Island, was supposed to be).

8:00 AM - vs. Natick, MA
Our girls put on a clinic, smoking Natick by a score of 14-0. Brittany hit a sacrifice grounder to short in the second inning, driving in a run. In the fourth, she hit an RBI single to right field.

12:15 PM - vs. Boston, MA
Another shutout win for our girls - this time 7-0. Brittany whiffed twice, both times swinging. For the second straight game, Kayleigh, our pitcher, pitched a beauty - giving up only ONE hit (five girls walked, but I'd say at least twice as many whiffed, and one of Boston's girls reached on an error)!

4:30 PM - vs. Abington, MA
Rained out! GRRR!

First game tomorrow is at 8 AM.
Peace,
BMP

(PS: This is actually post #2099. I moved it up to reflect the update.)

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

Yesterday, the ultimate three-team trade took place between the Cardinal O'Malley Red Sox, the Cardinal Mahony Dodgers, and the Bishop Zubik Pirates...

Red Sox send Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers, and Brandon Moss and Craig Hansen to the Pirates.
Pirates send equally good left fielder Jason Bay to the Red Sox.
Dodgers send two minor leaguers to the Pirates.

A win-win-win for all three teams. The Pirates, minus Bay, beat the Cardinal George Cubs 3-0. As for the Dodgers game against the Bishop Olmstead Diamondbacks, we'll have to wait till the morning for that score (they're scoreless in the third as I write this - 11:15 PM). However, Nomar Garciaparra was reportedly happy as a pig in the mud to see Ramirez.

The big story (at least right now) is Jason Bay's first game in a Red Sox uniform. Though he struck out twice, Bay also walked twice and was hit by a pitch. Fast forward to the 12th inning - yes, I did say 12th (it was tied 1-1). With two outs in the bottom of the 12th, Bay hit a towering shot that just missed being parked over the Green Monster by inches. Instead, it hit off the mammoth wall and Bay slid into third for a triple - his first Red Sox hit. Next batter: rookie Jed Lowrie. Lowrie hit an infield single, scoring Bay, and ending the game with a 2-1 Sox victory.

WELCOME TO BOSTON JASON BAY!
Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

Rainy Day Edition

This past weekend was another all-star softball tournament for Brittany, albeit a rain-shortened one. Her team played one game Friday night, and two games yesterday to determine the seed of the championship games that were supposed to be held today. However, rain and thunderboomers put an end to that.

Friday's game was a 16-1 smokeout win over Smithfield, RI. Britt went 1 for 3 plus a walk. She reached on a fielder's choice in the first inning, grounded out to the pitcher her next time up, followed by a walk, then a sharply hit single to right field.

On Saturday, we played a 9:30 game against the Appanoag Pride (Warwick, RI) and got our butts whooped by the same score that we smoked Smithfield by (16-1). Brittany (0 for 2) hit a sharp liner that had the misfortune of landing in the first basegirl's glove, then grounded out to third.

We then played a 12:30 game against the Long Island Sharks (NY), and because of a time limit, we landed up finishing in a rare 4-4 tie. Since this game counted in standings to determine seed, it was basically a 1/2 win. Had this been a championship game, then yes, someone would have to win. Britt came to bat in the 4th and grounded out to second.

Now, Sunday's debacle. The forecast Saturday had mentioned rain for today, but not until evening. Well, as I always say: Have faith in God, not your New England weatherman. It was raining when I got up this morning. The game that was scheduled for 10:00 this morning didn't start until after 1:00 this afternoon. At that point the rain had appeared to stop. But going into the top of the third, it came back, and so did the thunderboomers. The tourney had to be stopped, and after enough waiting around, it was determined that whatever seed was achieved after Saturday was the position we finished in for the entire tourney. In our case, third place in a field of six teams in Britt's division. Not bad.

Next tourney: this coming weekend in North Attleboro, MA. Unlike the Lowell, MA tourney, we won't need to camp out for this one.

Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

Redneck Regionals Edition

Well, the Regionals didn't go as well as we were hoping. Our girls lost all three games...
11-3 to the "Capital Manie-acs" of Maine
4-1 to North Kingstown, RI
9-3 to Hudson, NH

Defense was on the most part good, but hitting was a weakness for just about everyone.

Two tourneys left, both open tourneys. I'll have more once it's available.

Peace,
BMP

Europa Meisterschaft: Spain-Germany, 0:1

Congratulations to the Spanish team who won victory over Germany in the EM 2008. Although we would have liked to see our team win its 4th EM title, they still gave an excellent show on the field against a rather formidable opponent. Angela Merkel commented that it indeed was excellent that Germany came so far to play in the final game of the EM, and there is still the World Cup, she reminded the viewing audience.

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

We are STATE RUNNERS-UP!

Today was another grueling set for Brittany and her all-star team. THREE games... (9:00, 11:00, and 1:00)

Game 1: A re-match against the RI Thunder travel team: this time we hung on for a 3-2 win.
Britt struck out twice (there was a good share of whiffs on both ends).

Game 2: An 8-3 win over North Kingstown. Britt went 0-4 (three whiffs and a ground out back to the pitcher).

Game 3: THE FINALS - we were blown away, 11-1, against the Appanoag A team (another travel team). Britt didn't start, but came in as a late inning replacement and walked.

The two finalists (the Appanoag A team and Britt's team) will be representing Rhode Island in less than two weeks in the regionals that will take place in Lowell, Massachusetts.

These girls have a lot to be proud of - nine games in four days and finishing 7-2. Now they get a much deserved rest.

A proud dad himself, I peacefully remain,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

Saturday Triple Sweeps Edition

Well, today Brittany's all-star team landed up playing THREE games today in our state tournament - in TWO different cities (Providence and Warwick).

First game was in Providence (at 8 AM) - an 18-0 blowout win against Chariho. This is another one of those games that was cut short by the "mercy rule" (12-run difference after three innings).

In that game, Britt got plunked, walked (later scored), hit a two-run triple (again, later scored), and a single (but was out trying to stretch it into a double).

Also, in that game, Chariho's coaching staff was fixing to protest the game due to our pitcher's stance (which was really no different from their pitchers). However, they found the powers that be, but only to find out that our pitcher's stance was fine.

After that game, it was off to Warwick for the next two games.

In the noon game, Brittany's team managed to hang on for an 8-7 win against Smithfield. Britt walked and whiffed in her two appearances that game.

In the 4 PM game, Britt's team smoked the Appanoag B team 9-3. After whiffing twice, Britt landed up sitting out with bone spur pains in her heels. Our coaches had been trying to change her batting stance, but in order for her to keep playing, she'll have to go back to her old stance (which is the stance she used when she hit the triple this morning). If all goes right, she'll be back in action tomorrow.

What I'm NOT happy about is the time of her games scheduled tomorrow. Her first game is tomorrow at 9 AM. They want her in Warwick for 8 AM. Because of the driving time to Warwick, there is no Mass I can get to around here that's early enough. If her team wins, then she has games at 11 AM and 3 PM. My only chance would probably be Our Lady of Loreto in East Providence for 7 PM (they've had a 7 PM Sunday night Mass for years). There are very few churches around with any Sunday night Mass at all (even fewer in the summer), but I fear if we go all the way, we'd be too late to catch a 5 PM Mass. So 7:00 it is. After all, 'tis the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul - not to mention today begins the Year of Saint Paul, as declared by Pope Benedict XVI.

Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

Doubleheader Splits Edition

Tonight we landed up playing a doubleheader.

We lost the first game to the RI Thunder travel team by a score of 12-6. The ump calling from the plate was absolutely clueless, though we did make a few careless moves on our part as well.

Britt came in as a last inning replacement this time, along with a couple of other powerful bats, but the move turned out to be unfruitful (Britt and Kayleigh both whiffed, Amanda grounded out).

As a result of the loss, we played a loser's bracket game against Johnston immediately after. We won that game, shortened by a mercy rule, 15-0.

In that game, Brittany walked in her first trip to the plate. In her second trip, she hit an infield single, but made it to third on errors. She scored both times.

Next game is 8 AM tomorrow morning. Whether there be more than one game will depend on if we win the first one. If we lose, we're done right quick. If we may win, we may have to travel to another town for the next game that same day.

Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

State Softball Tournament Edition

Today was the first day of the state tournament, at which Brittany's all-star team played tonight. Britt herself drove two two-run singles - one in the first inning, and one in the third inning. In another plate appearance, she took a routine hit-by-pitch on the hip (when I say "routine", I mean, she's so used to it that she just trots to first with the "what else is new?" look). She scored a couple of runs as well.

Final score - our girls smoking Mount Pleasant on their turf, 15-3.

Next game: tomorrow at 6.
Peace,
BMP

Sportschau im ChristusVincit

Our Lady of Fatima pulled through for us to deliver a glorious win for Germany over Portugal in the quarter finals of the Europa Meisterschaft! Some tongue-in-cheek witnesses claim that for a short period, the sun featured black, red, and gold stripes and danced around the sky, and others claim to have seen a stout image of Henry the Navigator pointing out Berlin on a map and gesturing a “thumbs up”. At any rate, the victory set the team against Turkey for last night's first semifinal in Basel. Then, midway through the second half with a little more than 6 minutes of play left, someone tripped over the extension cord in Vienna, and television reception was lost Europe-wide. According to the rules, broadcasters had to obtain their video from the official Viennese feed, while only a local station maintained a fiber optic video feed directly from the stadium and were able to see Germany’s semifinal win against the Turks, 3:2. The winner of the second semifinal between Spain and Russia will determine Germany’s opponent for the finals scheduled for Sunday in Vienna (20:45 local time). The German news network ZDF is promising “uninterrupted broadcast” for the finals. Meantime, Vienna has some ‘splainin’ to do. Read more about the EM at www.zdf.de. Hang out your Black, Red, and Gold!

Consumer tip for Lafayette/Youngsville fans: Nunu’s Grocery in Youngsville sells König Ludwig Weizen, the official beer of Christus Vincit In Louisiana for the EM-2008!

Responsible Weizen drinking tip: do not drink this beer straight from the bottle. You must pour it into a proper Weizen glass so the yeast doesn’t settle at the bottom.

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

Playoff Round 3 Edition

Brittany's playoff season is finished, as her team got beat by the team managed by her all-star coach - 7-6.

Hitting-wise, she whiffed in the first, and singled in her next trip (she scored later on a three-run single).

It was a good comeback attempt against a very good team to begin with. Since this was the semi-finals, we finished third, which is really good (there are 12 teams in our division). This is far better than the dead last finishes of the previous two seasons.

So, it'll be another all-star tournament next weekend.
Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

Girls Softball Playoffs, Round 2

Well, we did get our game in, despite some passing showers at the beginning. Guess what --- we won again. This time, 11-8.

Britt's batting:
First at bat: she reached on a fielder's choice (she hit a grounder to the pitcher, but the pitcher, instead of putting out Brittany at first, got the runner out trying to score).
Next ups: a walk
Then: a plunk (she's gotten used to getting hit by pitches these days, not to mention the opposing pitcher plunked five batters that inning alone).

Next game: Tomorrow at 6, against the team managed by Britt's all-star coach (btw, her regular season manager is assisting on the all-star team).

Peace,
BMP