Greetings, everyone! As we start getting ready for softball, I figured it was time for the first blog post of the season coming to you live from cloudy Hilton Head Island. This will be the offseason version with the season preview coming next week.
I hope everyone had a nice off season and is healthier than the Reds coming out of spring training.
First, and I’m sure there were a lot more, here are guys that celebrated birthdays since last year: (sorry if I missed yours these are the ones that came across my desk)
Jeff “the Natural” Weisbrot
Former league MVP, Mark”Big Blue”Tenenholtz
Rabbi Yitz
Former league all-star, Weezy Lefton
Everyone’s favorite sister, Brooke Fogel
Everyone’s favorite league wife and mom, Laurie Lefton
Todd “The Mayor” Wasserman
Scott “Shorty” Adams
AJ Goldhoff
Former league Commish, Ryan Kirzner
Duffy Wolf
Eric “The Mouth of the Midwest” Gruen
Dr. Bob Pelberg
Jimmy Lefton
Mark “Bruiser” Wolf
Alex Kraus
Matt “no, I am not Wes Miller’s Son” Miller
Mr. Fun, Gregg Harris
Danny Grefer
Handsome Sam Castellini
Josh Lisman
Greg “Follow the” Leader
Corey Norris
Z also celebrated a birthday
Random league notes
I know this is way late, but thanks to all of you who ran in the Oy Vey 5K. We broke the record this past year and I hope to do it again next year. So, expect me to bug you all once again.
Jamey “the Rookie” Drennan welcomed a baby girl this off season. Congrats to Jamey.
David “D-Sol” Solomon also became a new dad this offseason.
And I believe Alex Kraus and Jared Kamrass did as well.
Way WAY Back at the end of UC’s football season, Cam Kirzner was selected for the kick for cash and he became only the 2nd person all year to make the field goal. $1,000 bucks for going to a UC game. Not a bad Saturday!
As we all know Albert Weisbrot likes to sing the National Anthem at sporting events around town. He’s a UC Season ticket holder, yet somehow still enjoys singing at XU games. I hope it was way off key like Carl Lewis back in the day.
Has anyone ever seen Mr. Mike and Pat McAfee in the same place at the same time? They look more and more alike by the day.
A big thank you to Rick Lefton who has been on the softball commission for 24 years on and off. Thanks for everything you do for the league and the JCC in general.
I was talking to a buddy of mine who lives in Atlanta and they have a modified fast pitch league there as well. He told me they have an 80-year-old pitcher, so Howie and Eppy you’ve got something to shoot for.
Zach Michelson was the first person to sign up for the league this year. Not sure what that means other than that Zach was logged in and ready to go at 12:01.
I have never rooted more for a player whose team I have zero interest in than Iowa’s Caitlin Clark. Can she teach the UC point guards how to pass like she does?
It’s going to be even MORE Fun this year to watch OSU with all the Yankee money they spent on NIL this off season still not win the National title and still finish 4-5 in the country. (Although I am a little bitter about losing Caleb Downs)
Going to Opening Day is fun and we all love seeing GABP packed but when it’s two outs and the top of the 9th and I’m the only one standing in my entire section to get the last out since no one there even realized that it was the 9th, I could do without those “fans.” I did enjoy the guy in the Puig signed jersey sitting in front of me betting on his phone all game. And yet Pete is still suspended.
Am I the only dad of a little leaguer who finds it insane to spend $300+ on a bat? I love Jacob, you guys all love Jacob, but he isn’t the next Joey Votto.
Speaking of Votto, I wish we could banish to Pittsburgh or maybe the South Side of Chicago all of the Reds fans who don’t understand why the Reds let him walk this off season (with $7 million dollars). He wasn’t good the last two years, they have no place to play him, and they want to get younger. It’s as simple as that. Father Time never loses.
Finally, if you are ever fortunate to get a call from Roger make sure you have a good 10-45 minutes to talk. And that includes listening to his messages. Roger is like the guys in the Progressive commercials who are turning into their parents but without kids or parents. He’s just that guy 🙂 But that’s why we love him. Don’t ever change, Roger!!
The league preview will drop sometime this weekend can’t wait to see everyone out at the field next week.
Marc