The softball season wraps up.

Just to update a little. Sun valley beat Arcata Garbage 22-11 or around that for the Arcata metal Bat Championship. Central Station won the BLT in Willow Creek 8-7 over Tomaso's. My Eureka Team Arcata Countertop's lost to George Peterson and then the Pukes yesterday to be eliminated in the Eureka Championships. I am canceling the Tomaso's wood bat tournament this weekend due to circumstances that were starting to look out of my control, the last one my being scheduled to work Sunday at Evergreen Pulp. The man is holding me down I tell ya. This time of the year really bites as far as the softball weather quickly leaving us. See you at the North Country Fair!

9/11/01 Bad as it gets.

I was handbilling a plant named Dopaco in Bakersfield California at around 7am as a union organizer. (They made McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell cups and utensils. One of my In Plant Committee organizers named "Big Mac" drove up in his bright yellow truck and told me and my sidekick Dan Marino that the United States was under attack. Everything was pretty sketchy on the radio. After we handbilled we had a union organizing meeting with the workers at a nearby coffee shop. Everyone was stunned. We talked about what was happening and of course the whole coffee shop was abuzzed. I went back to my hotel and people were panicking about what to do. Rumors were that Los Angeles was going to be hit at anytime because of planes still unaccounted for. It was an anxious day and I was along ways from home. That afternoon the people from Dopaco were getting off work and were meeting with me in a pizza parlor. They had all just heard rumors and such while at work. Their faces when they came in the pizza parlor was of shock in seeing the surreal images on the big screen. It made for a somber meeting. We ended up losing this organizing drive. I felt we should (the union) have left for a bit and let things work out after the twin towers fell. The union just was not all that important to them in relations to what had happened to us as a nation.

Anyone out there?

The Eureka Glass/Rhodes Warriors got knocked out by Tomaso's 16-4 in the semi final game in the BLT setting up a championship game of Tomaso's vs Central Station. We did not stick around for the outcome. Can anyone give the score? ACT vs George Peterson in Eureka at Kennedy at 7:45. Winner goes to the Championship! And I got to work. Nuts! Next weekend is woodbat in Eureka. Call me at 445-3432.

Eureka Glass still undefeated at the BLT.

Eureka Glass AKA Rhodes Warriors (Defending 2 time champs), Tomaso's and Murphy's are undefeated after one days play at Willow Creek. Our Eureka Glass team has Doc Jones 48, Dave Damme 48, Myself 50 here soon out in the outfield and Pat Conway 51 at 2nd, John Lyon 51? at Catcher, Kurt Hiemlich 53 1st base. We have only two players under 44 years of age on the team. I just noticed today that our team was creeping up there in age. But we outscored our opponents 28-5. If you are not doing anything tommorrow, head up to Willow Creek! It was a fun day for everyone!

Warm ups for the BLT.

Try this addictive little practice. Oh please , no poiltical correctness comments. I love penquins: http://n.ethz.ch/student/mkos/pinguin.swf

Gutsy ACT upset!

We had our first game in the Eureka City softball playoffs. We had to play the first place team in the division ahead of us which is 10-4 Blue Lake Casino. I think we are the lowest seeded team in the top division tournament. Joey and Barry Scarpillino, Jason Francis, Jason Makie and Neal Barsante all homered for Blue Lake. We had...O. But we prevailed in a huge upset 19-17. Our defense held on when they needed to and the whole lineup came through. Mark Bateson, Aaron Schmidt and Ben Hickock had huge contributions. That is why I love softball, you just never know. 5 out of our 10 players on the field were over 40! If Bonds can do it, we can too!

Best Softball Home Run Hitters.

I have played a few thousand softball games all over the west coast. For over thirty years I have averaged nearly 100 games a year. So I have seen my share of boppers. Here are some of the best I have seen through the years. Please add your picks. In the 70's Steve Kosak, Steve Hart and John Listor from Tiny Tot's and Mike Jett and Barry Scarpellino of Mazzoti's were a monopoly on the long ball. In the 80's Bob Mcrea, Bob Sprague and Big Daddy Dave Frost. In the 90's I would say Rick Webster, Jeff Frizzell, Jason Makie, Barry Oliver, Pat Anderson, Garrett Anderson and Rodney Dickerson. For the 2000's so far, Scott Eskra, Dan Nord, John McGinnis, Matt Jones, Jeremy Buck and Joey Scarpillino. I know I have passed over some, who might I missed? My pick as the most feared long baller? I will go with Bob McCrea.

No Labor Day Parade here.

Ironic as it may seem, I had to work today on this Labor Day. 7am to 7pm. Pretty much wipes out the day. But at almost $50 an hour, I will whine all the way to the bank. The original Labor day observance was in early May commemorating a protest of more than 10,000 people in Toronto supporting 24 workers from the Typographical Union for leading a strike for shortened work days back in 1872. A larger protest in Ottawa that year led Prime Minister Sir John A. MacDonald to abolish laws in Canada that barred organized Labor. OH...Canada! This inspired American unions to begin holding rallies of their own. The first September rally was organized by the Knights of Labor in 1882. In 1886, more than 80,000 people marched and were joined by 70,000 workers at more than 1,000 factories joined a picket line supporting the 8 hour work day. Violence broke out in Haymarket Square a few days later resulting in 11 deaths. The "Haymarket Riot" drew national attention to the labor movement. President Grover Cleveland proclaimed May 1st as a day of remembrance but changed his mind because socialist unions also supporting the May observance. In 1887 labor day was officially declared for early September. Most other countries celebrate International Workers Day on May 1st. May day rallies in the United states slacked off due too anti-communist socialist sentiment after World War II.

Locally in Union news, I read in the Eureka Reporter's Andrea Arnot's about town article that Sid Berg, Business Representative for Local 290 Pipefitters and Steamfitters has publicly came forward endorsing the Marina Center project. Mr. Berg says "it will be a positive project for Humboldt County which will bring jobs into our community and an increased level of prosperity to the area." Is he speaking for other unions in the area too? I seem to remember that most other locals supported Bonnie Neely who is opposed to the project. Has something changed that I am missing?

In 2004 the San Manuel tribe had a decision made against them by the National Labor Relation Board basically saying their sovereign nation rights do not supersede NLRB jurisdiction. This gives workers at Indian Casino's the right to organize without the fear of reprisal. It has been an ongoing issue. Locally workers feel that they can not even talk about the union without the fear of being fired. Too bad, this used to be a very well represented union workforce in Humboldt County. I hope that Arla Ramsey and the Blue Lake Rancheria abides by NLRB laws and lets their workers talk freely of their desire to be represented by a union. Stay tuned.

Man I hate negative political campaigns!

I went to the CO-OP in Eureka today to buy the Chronicle and TS (Scored the ER for Free!) and there among the Fishwraps was a negative hit piece leaflet on Eureka Councilman Mike Jones. The flyer had his picture and took soundbites out of an old article from the Northcoast Journal. It was done very sophomoric on purpose I am guessing, so as not to hint to the origin. Nothing to do with Mike's record on the Council. Just old news about neighborhood issues. I sure hope Nancy Abrams campaign had nothing to do with it. I am sure this came from the Left or Liberal factions and I will to tell you, I do not condone this behavior. If you are going to put out a hit piece, at least identify yourself. Too bad local politics can come down to innuendos and misinformation. Just my take.

Wood Bat Tournament Sept. 16th & 17th in Eureka

I am hosting a wood bat tournament on Sept. 16th and 17th at Hartman and Kennedy Fields in Eureka. On Saturday there will be a wood bat and metal bat Home run contest at Hartman. Call me at 445-3432 if you want to reserve a spot. We can handle up to 16 teams.

Evergreen Pulp buying Weyerhaeuser Pulp Mill?

I read this mornings news with great anticipation. The rumor mill at Evergreen Pulp has been at full operation concerning the purchase of Weyerhaeuser's Pulp mill in Cosmopolis Washington. Times-Standard Online - Evergreen weighs Washington mill purchase I became interested in this story about a year ago checking out the mill on line The Daily World. I was saddened to hear that a company that was making a profit was deciding to close an operation because it did not fit in their "core" business plan. Same thing Louisiana Pacific did to our pulp mill in the 90's. Since they were making a profit the employees wanted to put together an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) buyout. The company said the plant was not up for sale. The closing of this facility would be devastating for the Aberdeen Washington area. (It rains around 80 inches a year there if you are looking to relocate.) Local community leaders contacted the Governor and other politicos to help them do something to save the mill. The Daily World As far as Lee & Mann purchasing the plant, it seems unlikely but not out of the question. It is a small capacity mill that has to be converted to make the same product that we produce. I am not sure their production could be raised to a level to warrant the investment. They may decide to hit a different niche market and expand on their investments here in the United States. They were able to buy our mill for a relatively small price of 5 million, so they might be able to get another bargain. But only if Weyerhaeuser decides to sell. They have taken alot of negative publicity up that Washington way about their decision so you never know what may happen.

My last softball Newsletter 2003

I used to do a newsletter for softball back in the 90's and it used to cause an uproar for my radical opinions. I t was sent to people all over Northern California. I became busy with union organizing and had to discontinue the project. My old computer upstairs had this last newsletter I did back in 2003. I am sure I will get some comments. Who knows, maybe I will start one again. Maybe a recap of the year 2006! Inside In this Newsletter
1. Best 10 of 2003
2. Fast Pitch re-visited
3. Re-rating the players
4. Tourney re-caps & Opinion
Rating teams for Summer 2003
Here is my list of the top 10 teams from Humboldt County as of July 1st and why:

1. Tastebuds-Why: Only lost three games last two years in tournaments. Why not: Long ball will kill them on a short porch. They prefer the short game and are the best at it. Very good defensively. Is this really the Sun Valley Team in disguise?
2. James Hill Trucking-Why: Always causing havoc in tournaments. Why not: Who are they week to week?
3. Wise Flooring-Why: Seem the best in Eureka. Why not: Play a tournament or two. Get dirty!
4. Ray Wolfe Construction-Why: Game for every tournament. Any time/Any where. Bring it. Why not: They will even admit they are inconsistent. Ended up 7th in tough Red Bluff Invitational.
5. Babes Pizza- Why: I don’t care if the whole team is over 50! Great collection of solid players. Why not: Have lost a step maybe. Maybe not?
6. Pacific Towing-Why: Solid Defensively. Will keep all scores low. Why not: Need to score more runs and get some breaks.
7. Brew Crew-Why: Experienced and solid ex Stingers. Why not: Have these players lost the edge? Once were the best.
8. Young Guns/Matsen Insuranace-Why: Crazy young fearless players. Why not: Need to do small things to win. They are close to the top.
9. Pukes-Why: Been here a while. Why not: Have they lost interest?
10. Porter Street BBQ- Why: Beat all the best so far in wood bat! Why not: Still early in the season.
Best Fast Pitch Teams and Pitchers.
Recently there was a Fast Pitch Softball Tournament hosted by Sargent and Sons. They won the Tournament and left behind many memories of the history of the game past and future. Here are some of the clips through my eyes of the best teams and pichers through the ages:
1960s: Louisiana Pacific-Merle Annis
1970s: Rockin’ R-Bob Cinkle
1980s: Rockin’ R-Willie Brunton
1990s: Cutten Reality/Belchers-Brunton/Rick Borges
1995 on: Sargent and Sons-Billy Osbourne/Bobby Annis/Josh Sargent
If you can think of any teams and pitchers from the past deserving, give a call.

Best Slow Pitch Players so far for 2003:

Catchers:
1. Jeremy Rasmussen- Good all around player. No nonsense. And good pitcher
2. Ryan Wolfe- Can anyone outhit him at this position? Not many.
Pitchers:
1. Hank Cain-Best placement and definitely the best scout. He is watching you! Bat is way hot.
2. Marti Conti-Upsets hitters and umps! Good singles hitter. Has won more than his share of games.
3. Mickey Ayala-Just keeps getting better no matter the age. Still best glove up the middle.
4. Dave Damme-Power and plain seriousness.
5. Jacob Kadle-Moving up fast on the list!
1st Base
1. Jeff Frizell-Power and singles. Who knows what he will do. Don’t push and he will dominate the game. Once hit 5 hrs in one game.
2. Scott Cambell-Great Defensively and power.
3. Pat Moore-Defense and hitting, look out!
2nd Base
1. Mike Cyphers-Bat and glove working overtime this year. (Broken hand may end his run for 2003.)
2. Robbie Lawler-Solid, consistent defensive player.
3. Scott Rocha-Quickest glove around.
4. Scott St. John-Not flashy, just gets the job done.
3rd Base
1. Rex Green- Power and clutch plays. Would some one tell him his glove is on the wrong hand?
2. John McGinnis-Quick Glove and bat. Switch hitter with great power.
3. Andrew Lang-Long Ball and defense.
SS
1. Tommy Lawler-Power, Speed, Defense and consistency. This is the best around.
2. Neal Barsanti-Same stuff, more power can play anywhere well.
3. Matt Jones-In two more years he is the best hands down in every catagory. Good fast pitch future.
4. Kirby Reninger-Those who know him will agree. Many say he is the best period.
5. Matt Socha-Best at any position he has played on any of my teams.
Outfield
1. Eric Eichen-Scary. Good arm, glove, bat and head.
2. Jason Makie-Glove, arm, calm and maybe quickest bat around.
3. Sam Keyjar-Up and coming. Needs one position to call home.
I know that there are a number of players I am overlooking. Players like Todd Gonsalves, Stacey Lyons, Ramy Dickinson, Scott Eskra, Ben Matthias, Glen Hamanaka, Dwyane Johnston, Greg Alora etc. and so on. I will add and subtract as the season goes on.
Some early Tournament results for our locals:
Eureka Preseason:
Champs: Matsen Reality/Young Guns 2nd: Eagles
Weaverville Memorial:
Champs: Tastebuds 2nd: JHT 4th: tie Ray Wolfe Construction
Mike Powers Invitational:
Champs: JHT 2nd: Tastebuds 3rd: Pac Towing 4th: Brew Crew
2nd Division Champs: Ray Wolfe Construction 2nd: Homeplate 3rd: Matsen Reality/Young Guns

We got spanked 23-11. Ouch!

Arcata Garbage knocked Eureka Glass (The clear choice) out of the Arcata Metal Bat championships by the above score. They hit at least 6 home runs to our none. They were using a Miken Maniac and we had a Miken Freak plus. We asked about using a MikenUltra 2 and were told no. They had the better bat. They won. That is how it is in Arcata Metal Bat. It is a bat war. We put up 11 runs and were not in the running. I hope the Mad River Softball Board looks into this problem next year. Why is there only 5 metal bat teams and 27 wood bat? This is why.

Sighting of Manny and Mark Marquez.

Saw Manny and Mark Marquez at Angelo's Pizza today. Mark works in Orthopedic Equipment in the Fortuna area, Manny is in the Hot Tub and Pool business back east. Manny was visiting family for awhile. He says the harsh winters are getting to him. Both brothers played softball with me on the Everett's Bombers back in the 80's and early 90's. Mark was a very tough out in the 2 hole and had many great years as did Manny. We won many championships together. I have known both for many years as they both grew up in Samoa. It was nice to see them. Good guys.

The big toilet in Arcata.

Robin and I took her gray Pomeranian "Smokey" for a walk at The Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary. Pretty fancy name for a wastewater treatment plant. We take quite a few easy walking trips there pretty much year around. It is a great look at the bay and the surrounding areas. It is interesting to check out all the birds. Lots of berries are looking like they are about to get ripe. It is just a pleasant way to spend some quiet time. Even if we do run across many young people smoking hooch (bet you haven't heard that in awhile) and drinking. We have never run across any rowdies. Everyone seems to enjoy the Marsh's solitude. If you have never checked it out, it is one of Humboldt's best kept secrets.

Beer League Wood Bat Championships In Willow Creek!

Chuck Kirscher will once again host the highly contested Wood Bat Championship on September 9th & 10th at Willow Creek. Chuck is actually over his limit on teams, so you might want to talk around to play with somebody. There will probably be 10 teams and well over 100 participants and hundreds stopping by to watch. I may be holding a Tomaso's Invitational Wood Bat Tournament the next weekend at Hartman and Kennedy in Eureka the 16th and 17th of September, so stay tuned.

Bad driver is us. Me that is.

I had to miss a softball playoff game in Arcata last night because I had to go to a traffic violator class to keep a point off my driving record and keep my good driver standing on my insurance. I got my ticket trying to hurry from a softball tournament in Red Bluff to a game I had in Blue Lake. I was ticketed abut 10 miles east of Weaverville for 65 in a 55. 5 people out of the 13 in class received their tickets near Weaverville! The instructor said each class he does has an average of around 3 from that area. The last ticket I received was while I was working for the union. I was on my way to Heyburn Idaho to organize a Boise Cascade plant there. I was in my Mustang going a safe speed, I thought, in the middle of the desert near Elko Nevada on Highway 80. I forgot what I was wrote up for, but I think I was doing well over 80 in a 70 MPH zone. But in the Mustang you couldn't hardly tell. I sold that good stead and now drive a Mercury Tracer. Less prone to go that fast.

The Bruce is Loose!

I play Basketball each Tuesday and Thursday at noon that I can at Cal Courts in Eureka. We play full court 4-4. Loser has to wait out and rotate in. Lively ball some times. I have been playing pretty regular since I was in my 30's. It is pretty diverse group. We have some 50ish people such as Phil Wright, Doug Rasines, Brian Barcot and Ed Fregoso. Pastor Steve Berti leads the way for 40ish types. Brandon Murphy is probably one of the better players in his 30s. Then there are a bunch of 20 year olds and younger running amuck. Joey Scarpillino, Dave Norton, Brian Ayala, Jeff Dees, DJ Beckstead, Danny Corwin, Ken Tinkham, Ben and Elijah Horton just to mention some. But a few years ago a retired Lawyer and Nuclear consultant decided to move back to Humboldt County after being gone nearly 40 years. 65 year old 6'3" Bruce Norton. I was introduced to this man the hard way. I am usually the oldest player so naturally our team had me cover Bruce. Myself at the time was probably 5'11" 250lbs (220lbs now) so I figured I would just run right by him and push him around the court. Boy was I wrong! Bruce used me badly and has terrorized me ever since. But it is not just me. I have seen him humble players in their twenties by just court smarts. And the man can shoot from anywhere! So if you just so happen to be at Cal Courts at noon and this guy asks you to play, look out! His youngest son David will be playing a CR this year after a stellar stint for Eureka High.

Eureka Republican Women endorse Nancy Flemming.

No real surprise here. Bonnie Neely seems to be the more left leaning liberal candidate but I do not think that Nancy is die hard conservative. But they are both Republicans and Bonnie even went as far as to write a guest opinion in the TS complimenting Arnold on his environmental achievements. I have seen on other blogs that people are critical of Nancy because they feel the endorsement leans her to the far right. I do not think it hurts her that much. I do think that the Marina Center project will weigh in heavily in this race. Yes, I know that this is more of a Eureka City Council land issue, but voters do not always line up the dots. Here is how it breaks down, Nancy is for the development of the Balloon Tract (Track, whatever) through Security National private funds, and Bonnie is for the property to be cleaned up by Union Pacific and have the City Council deal with the issue publicly to decide which is the best land use. To voters it will be black and white, for Home Depot and fast growth or against Home Depot and wait and see what the options are. I do find it interesting that Nancy has been painted by the left as an Arkley candidate when there appears to be no financial tie with campaign disclosures in. Yes there are lots of prominent Republicans who donated but no big SN people. Hmmmm. I had a chance to meet Robin (Rob) Arkley while I was at work for Evergreen and discuss some of SN's projects. Unfortunately we wavered to a discussion of Measure T and I got an earful. I did score a sandwich from Scotty's Porter Street BBQ though, so it was not a total loss. I can tell you that Rob is passionate for the Marina project and other ideas he has for this community. He did not like some of my comments but we did leave each other on respectable terms. No surprise, left leaning liberal union organizing Democrat talking to a Billionaire right wing conservative corporate Republican. No, I have not been invited for lunch again. Rob does have long time ties to the community that are not all negative. He went to school with my wife and many of my Arcata buddies. He sat in front of local sports coach/Murphy's general manager Carlos Avelar and I have not heard anything bad about his adolescence, and this is a small community. Anyways, it should be an interesting race in the 4th District!

My type of movie! I could have been a star!

I was sent a link of a soon to be released movie. Boy if they only seen the real softball goings on. Man I love the game and everyone on the teams I participate with. I will be doing marathon playing this next month: Playoffs in three leagues- Wood Bat in Willow Creek, Smoke Tournament in Reno, Wood Bat in Eureka and Off the Wall in Redding. Over 40 in Redding if they can get it together instead of Eureka Wood Bat. Oh yeah, my arthritis of the ankles is going away again so look out! I am burning the base paths. I plan on being the fastest 50 year old softball player around! http://www.beerleaguethemovie.com/index2.htm