Softball Schedule

Spring Co-ed Softball at Irving Park Sundays

Sunday, April 11

 
Dan Comes up Big in the Clutch!
Dan Comes up Big in the Clutch!
Sons of Pitches
Sunday marked our glorious return to the softball field at Irving Park, and the schedule gurus at Underdog did not disappoint, arranging a marquee matchup of Jerry Jones Landscaping and Sons of Pitches on the slate. The two longtime Underdog teams didn't appear to have much rust to shake off, as the game progressed quickly through the first four innings. In the top of the fifth, the Landscapers tacked on 5 extra runs to open up a 9-1 deficit, seemingly putting the game out of reach.

Undaunted, Sons of Pitches scored 11 runs over the next two innings to take a 12-9 lead. When JJL rallied for 4 of their own in the top of the 7th, Pitches was staring defeat in the face. Fortunately, they had longtime outfield stalwart Dan step up to the plate with 2 outs in the 7th and the tying run at second. He proceeded to launch a game-tying single to left, securing the tie.

Sunday wasn't the first time the Landscapers and the Pitches did battle on the softball diamond, and it certainly won't be the last. Here's to another fun-filled season!
 
Field 2
10:30 AM
 
  High & Outside [16]
vs
 
  Big Pink [7]
POTG: Raymond M
Game Recap
12:00 PM
 
  Fireballz [24]
vs
 
  Back Up Off Me Pitches [8]
POTG: Joey F
Game Recap
1:30 PM
 
  Balls In! [13]
vs
 
  We Got The Runs [19]
POTG: Brianne S
Game Recap
3:00 PM
 
  Sons of Pitches [13]
vs
 
  Jerry Jones Landscaping [13]
Game Recap
4:30 PM
 
  Cocaine Hippos [1]
vs
 
  Huevos Grandes [19]
POTG: Brady B
Game Recap
6:00 PM
 
  Pitches Be Crazy [17]
vs
 
  Team Hodge Podge [24]
POTG: Katherine E
Game Recap

Visitor (first team) vs Home (second team)

Sunday, April 18

 
Clark Fisher Busts out the Big Bat
Clark Fisher Busts out the Big Bat
Jerry Jones Landscaping
What's your favorite HR call?

"A swing and drive, to deep right field....a-WAAAAAY back, gone!"

"You can...put on the board.....YES!"

"Swung on and belted...fly away, my oh my!"

You could invoke any or all of the three to describe Clark's majestic moonshots on Sunday. Giants fans can count their splash hits; Cubs fans may marvel at their Waveland Avenue shots, but big-time hitters know that to earn your stripes at Irving Park, you've gotta launch one onto the infield of field 1.

Clark's clearly been watching his Tommy Emanski (back-to-back-to-back AAU Champion) VHS tapes, because he paid the Fremont street fence a visit with his tape-measure jobs on Sunday.

 
Field 2
10:30 AM
 
  Cocaine Hippos [8]
vs
 
  Pitches Be Crazy [17]
POTG: Kevin P
Game Recap
12:00 PM
 
  Big Pink [27]
vs
 
  Team Hodge Podge [6]
POTG: Tim T
Game Recap
1:30 PM
 
  High & Outside [14]
vs
 
  We Got The Runs [12]
POTG: justin s
Game Recap
3:00 PM
 
  Huevos Grandes [14]
vs
 
  Sons of Pitches [15]
POTG: Chris B
Game Recap
4:30 PM
 
  Jerry Jones Landscaping [18]
vs
 
  Fireballz [16]
POTG: Jason P
Game Recap
6:00 PM
 
  Balls In! [16]
vs
 
  Back Up Off Me Pitches [10]
POTG: Garrett S
Game Recap

Visitor (first team) vs Home (second team)

Sunday, April 25

 
Don't Stop Believin'
Don't Stop Believin'
Team Hodge Podge
Last week, I threw down the gauntlet to all Irving Park players to showcase their power by driving one to the infield of field 1. Eric, of Team Hodge Podge, promptly did so in the first inning against Cocaine Hippos, proving that he is an offensive force to be reckoned with.

When I questioned whether he had read last week's write-up, Eric was unaware, so I approached it from a different angle; I told him that I work for Nike and was wondering if he'd be interested in an endorsement deal. For a fleeting second, the glimmer in Eric's eye shone with the possibilities of a life of superstardom, before his senses promptly brought him back down to Earth. No, I'm not handing out endorsements.

Underdog is all about safe, fair, and fun. Eric upholds that mantra and keeps his teammates on their toes when pitching. Great job, Eric!
 
Field 2
10:30 AM
 
  Fireballz [25]
vs
 
  High & Outside [10]
POTG: Kyle M
Game Recap
12:00 PM
 
  Cocaine Hippos [13]
vs
 
  Team Hodge Podge [26]
POTG: Brian S
Game Recap
1:30 PM
 
  Back Up Off Me Pitches [9]
vs
 
  We Got The Runs [26]
POTG: Karl K
Game Recap
3:00 PM
 
  Sons of Pitches [7]
vs
 
  Big Pink [33]
POTG: Seth B
Game Recap
4:30 PM
 
  Jerry Jones Landscaping [19]
vs
 
  Balls In! [9]
POTG: Aaron m
Game Recap
6:00 PM
 
  Huevos Grandes [14]
vs
 
  Pitches Be Crazy [9]
POTG: Meghan S
Game Recap

Visitor (first team) vs Home (second team)

Sunday, May 2

 
Jill Hammel is Tough as Nails
Jill Hammel is Tough as Nails
We Got The Runs Stops the Train in its Tracks
90s baseball movies: You know them, you love them. Among the less-heralded run of early 90s flicks that defined the childhood of many Underdog players was 'Major League II.' When Cleveland Indian-turned Chicago White Sock(?) Jack Parkman plowed Rube Baker at the plate to score a run, he reminded the young catcher: "next time don't stand on the tracks when the train's coming through."

Jill was Rube Baker on Sunday, and she flipped the script on that plot. After one close play at home which resulted in a collision and a run scored, most players would rightfully clear off the tracks with any potential incoming close plays. Not Jill. She hung in there and took a perfectly executed relay to cut down another Fireballz run at the plate. This was the third collision that Jill has taken in two weeks, and she's showed no signs of being any worse for the wears. Move over Lenny Dykstra, there's a new "Nails" in town!
 
Field 2
10:30 AM
 
  Back Up Off Me Pitches [13]
vs
 
  Pitches Be Crazy [19]
POTG: Felecia R
Game Recap
12:00 PM
 
  Huevos Grandes [10]
vs
 
  Big Pink [16]
POTG: Ruthie F
Game Recap
1:30 PM
 
  High & Outside [23]
vs
 
  Cocaine Hippos [7]
POTG: Rachel D
Game Recap
3:00 PM
 
  Sons of Pitches [19]
vs
 
  Balls In! [12]
POTG: Abby M
Game Recap
4:30 PM
 
  Jerry Jones Landscaping [11]
vs
 
  Team Hodge Podge [5]
POTG: Mark M
Game Recap
6:00 PM
 
  Fireballz [15]
vs
 
  We Got The Runs [21]
POTG: Patrick S
Game Recap

Visitor (first team) vs Home (second team)

Sunday, May 9

 
Nicole: the SuperSub
Nicole: the SuperSub
Put me in, coach!
Every team needs a "super-utility" player: One who can play all over the diamond, come off the bench to pinch-hit, or be a defensive replacement late with the game on the line. Not only did Nicole play gold glove defense for Team Hodge Podge, but on a day when some players were understandably absent to spend time with mom, she once again stepped in to fill the void, playing wherever she was needed and contributing when her number was called. Great playing, Nicole!
 
Field 2
10:30 AM
 
  Huevos Grandes [11]
vs
 
  Team Hodge Podge [14]
POTG: Nicole D
Game Recap
12:00 PM
 
  Balls In! [24]
vs
 
  Cocaine Hippos [9]
POTG: Corey S
Game Recap
1:30 PM
 
  Pitches Be Crazy [8]
vs
 
  High & Outside [10]
POTG: Renee B
Game Recap
3:00 PM
 
  Sons of Pitches [21]
vs
 
  Back Up Off Me Pitches [14]
POTG: Lindsay A
Game Recap
4:30 PM
 
  Jerry Jones Landscaping [13]
vs
 
  We Got The Runs [29]
POTG: Paige v
Game Recap
6:00 PM
 
  Big Pink [22]
vs
 
  Fireballz [16]
POTG: Audrey W
Game Recap

Visitor (first team) vs Home (second team)

Sunday, May 16

 
Todd Weimer Keeps Things Light!
Todd Weimer Keeps Things Light!
Back Up Off Me Pitches
Prior to the final game of the day Sunday, Todd of Back Up Off Me Pitches presented an awesome idea: A "Best Worst Team" trophy would be granted to the team that scored fewer runs. Cocaine Hippos agreed, and the two 0-5 teams squared off in a good-natured contest that featured plenty of great plays and laughs alike.

After the game, Todd made the formal trophy presentation and both teams cheered one another on as Captain Matt from Cocaine Hippos got lifted on his teammates' shoulders and carried off the field. It's not all about records at Underdog, where we keep the mantra safe, fair, and fun at the forefront. What a cool gesture and a perfect way to cap another lovely Sunday afternoon at the softball field.
 
Field 2
10:30 AM
 
  Fireballz [17]
vs
 
  Team Hodge Podge [8]
POTG: Joey F
Game Recap
12:00 PM
 
  Balls In! [15]
vs
 
  Huevos Grandes [28]
POTG: Azra B
Game Recap
1:30 PM
 
  Pitches Be Crazy [2]
vs
 
  We Got The Runs [8]
POTG: Seth F
Game Recap
3:00 PM
 
  High & Outside [11]
vs
 
  Sons of Pitches [11]
POTG: Sean E
Game Recap
4:30 PM
 
  Big Pink [16]
vs
 
  Jerry Jones Landscaping [17]
POTG: Elizabeth S
Game Recap
6:00 PM
 
  Cocaine Hippos [8]
vs
 
  Back Up Off Me Pitches [13]
POTG: Jesse A
Game Recap

Visitor (first team) vs Home (second team)

Sunday, May 23

PLAYOFFS View Bracket
No games 5/30 - Memorial Day Weekend
Semi-finals and Championship game times will be determined after May 23rd and will be played on June 6th.
 
Brett Pollo
Brett Pollo
Brett Channels Kirk Gibson!
The images of athletes playing through pain to answer the bell are ingrained into our minds as sports fans. You know the names and the moments: Willis Reed. Kirk Gibson. Kerri Strug. (Not) Paul Pierce.

Underdog had one such instance Sunday, when Brett from Pitches Be Crazy pulled himself off the canvas from a calf injury suffered the week prior, to deliver line drive smashes and slick plays at second base. There are plenty of tough cookies in the Irving league, as every week, someone takes a bad hop on a grounder to the face, a line-drive off the thigh (shoutout to MC on Team Hodge Podge), or a blistering comebacker to the mound. But when you have to take yourself out of the game one week and then are back out there the following, you'll always get a tip of the cap. Way to grind it out, Brett!
 
Field 2
10:30 AM
 
  Pitches Be Crazy [10]
vs
 
  Huevos Grandes [4]
POTG: KATI T
Game Recap
12:00 PM
 
  Pitches Be Crazy [5]
vs
 
  We Got The Runs [21]
POTG: Caitlin S
Game Recap
1:30 PM
 
  Balls In! [11]
vs
 
  Team Hodge Podge [14]
POTG: Nick B
Game Recap
3:00 PM
 
  Team Hodge Podge [13]
vs
 
  High & Outside [19]
POTG: Rachel D
Game Recap
4:30 PM
 
  Fireballz [18]
vs
 
  Jerry Jones Landscaping [16]
POTG: Joey F
Game Recap
6:00 PM
 
  Sons of Pitches [16]
vs
 
  Big Pink [14]
POTG: Kaitlyn G
Game Recap
7:30 PM
 
  Cocaine Hippos [10]
vs
 
  Back Up Off Me Pitches [14]
POTG: Matt B
Game Recap

Visitor (first team) vs Home (second team)

Sunday, June 6

PLAYOFFS View Bracket
Fireballz are Underdog Champions Once Again
Outlasts We Got the Runs in a Classic
What a first post-pandemic Underdog softball season it's been! Old friendly rivalries and social camaraderie have each been restored to our Sunday afternoons. While some new faces have emerged as forces to be reckoned with, what makes the Irving league so special is the continuity of the teams who have called it their home park for as long as we can remember.

One such squad is Fireballz. After a year off, the longtime league vets showed no rust, many defining the "COVID 15" as added points to their slugging percentage. They took it to High and Outside from the get-go, before engaging in a rematch of the 2019 summer league championship against We Got the Runs. Captain Jay Ahl did his best Jack Morris impersonation, spinning two complete-game gems while snapping off dancing knucklers and wicked sliders.

The undisputed hero of the championship game, however, was Randall Como. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th inning, We Got the Runs was attempting to pull off a last-inning comeback to stun Fireballz, who was clinging to a one-run lead. With the tying run on base and the winning run at the plate, the rains, which had been intermittent all afternoon, started coming down in sheets. As Jay floated one in, fellow hurler Seth from We Got the Runs sent a shot through the raindrops toward left-center. In a do-or-die play with the championship on the line, Randall came charging hard and snared the liner before it could skid off the grass, preserving the championship victory. A hell of a play to cap another great Underdog softball season. Fireballz is the team to beat at Irving in the summer!
 
Field 2
12:00 PM
 
  Fireballz [22]
vs
 
  High & Outside [8]
POTG: Bryan S
Game Recap
1:30 PM
 
  Sons of Pitches [18]
vs
 
  We Got The Runs [21]
POTG: Karl K
Game Recap
3:00 PM
 
  Fireballz [17]
vs
 
  We Got The Runs [16]
POTG: Randy C
Game Recap

Visitor (first team) vs Home (second team)