Take me out to the ball game

In my search for the "quintessential summer experience" (otherwise known as my desire to make summer vacation last as long as possible), I can't believe I didn't think about going to a baseball game. Really, is there a more traditional summer activity than the all-American pastime?


So when my friend suggested going to a game at Target Field, I jumped at the chance. I have a habit of romanticizing things and baseball is no exception. I inhaled the entire experience as I spent an inning and a half walking around the entire park, looking at the field from all angles. I was reminded of one of my favorite movies: Bull Durham. Kevin Costner's veteran catcher Crash Davis describes major league stadiums, "The ballparks are like cathedrals." 

I don't know when I'll visit Target Field again, because my Tigers have not won the last three times I've watched them play in Minneapolis. I'm not normally superstitious, but with sports, I make an exception. One summer I listened to Ice Ice Baby before every softball game. True story. 

I know I've written frequently about my Canon lately, and while I concede that you might be tired of hearing about it-- I. Just. Can't. Help. Myself. I took it to the game and tried out some new features. 

Big Ten Country: Legacy Uniform

The first night game in the history of Michigan Stadium will be played tomorrow versus Notre Dame. To commemorate the occasion, the players will wear special legacy uniforms. What do you think?

photo from mden.com

Big Ten Country: Tattoo Love

One great thing about going to college football games is the tailgating. You never know what you're going to see, case in point below:

Take a closer look at the tattoo on this man's calf. Ahh, the craziness of college football fans!

Big Ten Country: the Ultimate Compromise

My cousin Kristy is an avid Michigan fan. She painted this on the wall of her home office.

Kristy's husband, Chris, is a rabid Ohio State fan. Can you tell from the closet doors, complete with custom knobs?

The ultimate irony of this? They share their home office. :)

Big Ten Country: Schembechler Hall

Last summer, my family and I stopped in Ann Arbor and I got a chance to see the "museum" of Michigan football history in Schembechler Hall. I loved seeing all of the Big Ten trophies, the national championship trophy from the 1997 season and the Little Brown Jug, the rivalry prize between Michigan and Minnesota.

I also appreciated the confidence displayed by this note in the trophy case. Gotta love it!

Big Ten Country

I love college football. To celebrate the 2011 season's kickoff, I'm featuring little snippets of fan pandemonium. Come back each day this week to see more!

Mascot week: Special bonus!

Since it's Halloween, my gift to you is a bonus extension of mascot week. I can see young children having night terrors because of this dude's vacant stare! Trick or treat? I'll let you decide.

Mascot week: are you a phan?

This is the world-famous Phillie Phanatic. What happened here? I know he's a baseball tradition, but here's my two cents' worth: he's like a Muppet on steroids with a grudge against Tommy Lasorda. (I guess if a mascot is going to take steroids, it's only fitting that it's a baseball mascot.)

Mascot week: It's time to vote!

It's that time of the year. Our televisions and mailboxes are full of political ads. In fact, my telephone just rang with a campaign call. (I didn't answer.) Maybe you could use a lighthearted look at politics.
Here are the Washington Senators' mascots: Teddy Roosevelt, Abe Lincoln, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. This sports tradition is known as the Presidential Race. They do look very presidential, don't they? :)

Mascot week: World series edition

Time for the fall classic. The San Francisco Giants will battle the American League champion Texas Rangers. The minor league team for the Giants, the Fresno Grizzlies seem to be channeling their inner Berenstein Bear. Their mascot is Parker and he has personality. Read his profile here.





I don't know if this is Parker's girlfriend or Parker himself!

Mascot week: This is how it's done

Since I am a life-long Detroit Tigers fan (like Thomas Magnum, P.I, but without the 'stache), I had to include a picture of Paws. I think he's pretty cute.

Mascot week: The start of basketball season

Today is the start of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2010-11 season, so it seemed fitting to feature a basketball mascot. This is Hip-Hop. He's officially listed as part of team's front office personnel on their website. Clearly, both he and the Sixers' organization take his job seriously. In this photo, it looks like he's wearing a knee brace. Hip-Hop is scheduled for knee replacement surgery. Too much jumping around.

Mascot week: Meet the sausages

Here are the famous Milwaukee Brewers' racing sausages. This tradition is fairly recent (it began in the 1990s with three sausages). At first, I thought this was a strange ritual, but after going to a game at Miller Park, I began to understand their odd appeal. Plus, the marketer in me can't help but admire this perfect promotion for Klement's Sausage of Milwaukee.  The sausages even have names: Brett Wurst (a bratwurst), Stosh (a Polish sausage), Guido (an Italian sausage), Frankie Furter (a hot dog) and Cinco (a chorizo). You can even schedule an appearance with the sausages. Only in Wisconsin!

Mascot week kickoff: Trax

Meet Trax. He's the mascot for our local semi-pro baseball team.

At a baseball game at Carson Park over the summer, I observed that Trax frightened young fans, albeit unintentionally. I can relate.

Describing Trax is problematic. To what species does he belong? The closest I've come to an accurate description is "a carrot with mumps." 

A friend of mine asked him what he was. The mascot craftily evaded answering the question by answering, "An engineer." Well played, Trax. And the mystery remains unsolved.    

So, this post officially kicks off Mascot Awareness Week. Visit each day to meet a new mascot.

Championship game

After advancing through the second round of the tournament, the Tigers had home field advantage vs. the Bronx Bombers on August 11 for the championship game.

Manager Joel Carstensen brought out a semi-familiar defensive set with Paul Tiefel Jr. as the starting pitcher and Rebekah Carstensen behind the plate at catcher. The infield showcased Elizabeth Plath at one, Hannah Tiefel at two, Jer Gurgel at short and Tim Burns at third. Paul Tiefel III played left field, while Jill Tiefel was in left-center. Jarrod Lentz played right-center and Emily Tiefel was in right field. 

The first three batters for the visiting Bombers were summarily retired. In the bottom of the inning, Jer Gurgel led off with a single. Lefty Rebekah Carstensen flied out to left field, which was followed by singles by Jarrod Lentz and Jill Tiefel. Paul Tiefel III and Elizabeth Plath each drew a walk, before Paul Tiefel Jr. hit a double to score some runs. At the end of the first inning, the score was 4-0.

Jarrod Lentz's defense provided the first two outs of the second inning, as he snared a fly ball hit to right-center for out one. The next batter also hit the ball to right-center and Jarrod threw a tight rope to first base for out number two. The next three batters reached first base, but Jer Gurgel scooped up a grounder at short and made the force out at second to end the top of the second inning.

Similar to previous weeks, the second inning proved to be a red-hot one for Tiger batters. The team batted all the way through the lineup, starting with Emily Tiefel. Singles and doubles were plentiful and the inning was topped off by a grand slam by Jarrod Lentz. At the end of the second inning, the score was 16-0.

The Bronx Bombers staged a minor rally in the third inning, scoring two runs. Paul Tiefel III scored for the Tigers in the bottom of the inning on a hit by Tim Burns. The game ended at the end of three innings because of the 15 run lead acquired by the Tigers. The final score was 17-2.

BOX SCORE: Jer Gurgel (2 1B), Bek Carstensen (2 BB), Jarrod Lentz (HR, 2B, 1B), Jill Tiefel (2 1B), Paul Tiefel III (1B, BB), Elizabeth Plath (1B), Paul Tiefel Jr. (2B, 2 1B), Hannah Tiefel (1B, BB), Tim Burns (2 2B), Emily Tiefel (2 BB)

Tiefel Tigers statistics for the 2010 season:
Record: 11-0
Total runs scored: 133
Total runs allowed: 35
Average runs scored: 12.1
Average runs allowed 3.2

And so the sun has set on another memorable softball season. Thanks for your support!

Tigers advance in tournament play

The Tiefel Tigers rolled into the post-season single-elimination tournament with momentum from the previous week's double-header. Their undefeated record in the regular season earned them a first round bye.

As the Tigers' players showed up to the field a few at a time, they witnessed the first round game between Wisconsin Metal Fab and A.H. Bennett with interest. Wisconsin Metal Fab pulled away with a victory and the Tigers were set to face them for the third time in two weeks.

As the home team, the Tigers took the field. Veteran pitcher Paul Tiefel Jr. started for the team, with Eileen Tiefel behind the plate. Lefty sisters Elizabeth Plath and Rebekah Carstensen were the first and second basemen, respectively. Jer Gurgel was back at shortstop and Tim Burns at third. Paul Tiefel III returned to left field, Jill Tiefel in left-center, Jarrod Lentz in right-center and Emily Tiefel in right.

Wisconsin Metal Fab was warmed up and ready to go in the first inning. A combination of hits, four walks and an error in left-center found the Tigers behind the eight-ball and behind by 8 runs in the first half inning.   The Tigers gained two runs back in the bottom of the inning. Relief pitcher Jill Tiefel took over in the middle of the second inning, as Paul Tiefel Jr. pulled himself from the game. WMF scored one run in the second inning, but it was the Tigers' bats that made some noise. The team put together a 13 run rally. The highlight of the inning was Jer Gurgel's in-the-park home run, where he slowed down lest he pass Mom on the base paths. The Tigers lead 15-9 at the end of two.

The team's defense proved to be key during the rest of the game, as left-fielder Paul Tiefel III tallied up several outs and left-center fielder Paul Tiefel Jr. made several semi-routine catches look exciting. In the final inning, Tim Burns helped ensure victory by fielding back-to-back ground balls and threw them to second baseman Rebekah Carstensen for the outs. The final score was 20-12.

Noteworthy on the night:

• Emily's on base percentage was 100% (4-4); on the bases, she had a textbook slide into third base (she was out, but she looked smooth!).
• Mom played her first complete game of the season, sans rhinestone belt.
• Paul III stated how much he loved the new softball jerseys. "I'm ready to wear them for the next 9 years," he reported.

BOX SCORE: Jer Gurgel (HR, 3 1B), Elizabeth Plath (3 BB), Paul Tiefel III (2B, 1B), Rebekah Carstensen (1B, BB), Paul Tiefel Jr. (1B, BB), Jill Tiefel (BB), Jarrod Lentz (2B, 1B, 2 BB), Emily Tiefel (4 BB), Tim Burns (2 1B, BB), Eileen Tiefel (1B, 2 BB)

The Tigers are scheduled to play in the championship game on Wednesday on field 10. See you there!

From the archives...

By special request, here is a picture of the Tiefel Tigers from the 2001 championship season. Come out to support the Tigers in their single-elimination tournament tomorrow! The game is at 8:00 on University field 10.

Double-header to finish the regular season

Sporting new uniforms for the first time in nine years, the Tiefel Tigers had their work cut out for them last Wednesday night. Undefeated thus far in the season, the Tigers faced their main rival, Wisconsin Metal Fab, winner of last season's tournament in back-to-back games.

The first game was a continuation of the rained-out game from two weeks before, so the Tigers started the first game with a 0-3 deficit. (WMF led after one inning of play.) With home field advantage in the make-up game, the team took the field. Paul Tiefel Jr. started at pitcher, with Gretchen Tiefel filling in at catcher. With SS Jer Gurgel and second baseman Hannah Tiefel out of town, the infield had a different look. Elizabeth Plath played first base, Rebekah Carstensen covered second base, while Paul Tiefel III plugged the gap at shortstop and Tim Burns played third base. The outfield was comprised of Jarrod Lentz, Emily Tiefel, Jill Tiefel and Mark Tiefel.

The defense held the opposing team scoreless in the second inning. The offense started strong with a lead off single from Paul Tiefel III. An out-of-control Paul Tiefel Jr. sparked the team with a single which he stretched into a double...triple...home run. At the end of the second inning, the score was tied 3-3. The Tigers held WMF scoreless in the third inning and went on another mini-offensive burst, scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning. Following a lackluster fourth inning (too many walks!), the score was 7-9 in favor of WMF. However, the Tigers scored two runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth and went on to win the game by the narrow margin of 10-9.

BOX SCORE: Paul Tiefel III (2B, 1B, BB), Elizabeth Plath (2 BB), Jarrod Lentz (3B), Jill Tiefel (1B), Paul Tiefel Jr. (HR, 1B), Rebekah Carstensen (BB), Tim Burns (2 1B), Emily Tiefel (1B), Mark Tiefel (2B), Gretchen Tiefel (1B)

After a brief breather, the Tigers began the second game, this time as the visiting team. With two outs, the team staged a rally with three consecutive singles by Paul Tiefel Jr., Rebekah Carstensen and Jarrod Lentz. Jill Tiefel drew a walk and Paul Tiefel III had a double to bat in some runs. The score after one inning was 3-1.

Defensively, Elizabeth Plath and Tim Burns covered the right side of the infield. Brothers Paul Tiefel III and Mark Tiefel shored up the left side. Girl power (Rebekah Carstensen, Jill Tiefel, Emily Tiefel) carried the outfield, with left-fielder Jarrod Lentz as the sole male representative. Paul Tiefel Jr. took the mound for the second game, with Gretchen Tiefel ably catching foul pop-ups behind the plate.

Once again, the fourth inning proved to be the Tigers' kryptonite, as WMF scored five runs. At the end of four, the score was 5-6. But the Tigers didn't give up, digging in on defense, lead by a determined Emily Tiefel with a catch in right field and Jarrod Lentz's diving grab in left field. On offense, the team squeaked out a run in the fifth to tie the game, and a run in the sixth to take the lead. Two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning (and an almost fatally wounded gazelle) left the final score at 9-6.

BOX SCORE: Mark Tiefel (2 2B, 1B), Elizabeth Plath (1B), Paul Tiefel Jr. (3 1B), Rebekah Carstensen (2 1B), Jarrod Lentz (2 1B), Jill Tiefel (2 1B, BB), Paul Tiefel III (2 2B, SAC), Emily Tiefel (1B, BB), Tim Burns (1B, SAC), Gretchen Tiefel (1B)

(P.S. Apologies for no report on week 9. No statistical sheet was available. The Tigers did walk away with a victory, however.)

Game 8: Flooded fields

Missing key players and having had a week off, the Tiefel Tigers were unsure what to expect in the 7:00 game against Trinity Equestrian Center last Thursday, July 7. Clouds were rolling in and a storm appeared on the horizon. Jill Tiefel started as pitcher, with Gretchen Tiefel subbing as catcher. Elizabeth Plath took first base, Tim Burns filled in at second base, while Mark Tiefel covered third base. Jer Gurgel handled his usual position at shortstop. The outfield was comprised of Paul Tiefel III, Rebekah Carstensen, Jarrod Lentz and Emily Tiefel.

As the visiting team, the Tigers struck first by scoring five runs in the first inning. Light sprinkles turned into steady showers as spectators scurried for cover during the second inning. At the end of the second inning, the sky opened up and a fierce downpour caused the game to be halted. After the rain abated and the field drained, the Tigers continued the game. The final score was 12-1.

Noteworthy on the night:

• Bek Carstensen would like it duly noted for the record: She was on base all four times she batted. 
• Mark's comment summed up the evening's playing conditions. "This may be the only time my armpits have been the driest part of my body." 
• This was Gretchen's first game of the season, as she subbed for Joelle, sidelined with a shoulder injury from a tubing accident.

BOX SCORE: Mark Tiefel (2B, 2 1B), Elizabeth Plath (BB), Jer Gurgel (2B), Jill Tiefel (1B, BB), Jarrod Lentz (2 1B), Rebekah Carstensen (3 1B), Tim Burns (2 1B), Emily Tiefel (BB), Paul Tiefel III (2B, 1B)

Game 7: Slugging out a tough win

The Tiefel Tigers ate a big portion of humble pie in week 6 as nothing seemed to go right. Despite fielding gaffes, bad base-running and mediocre batting, the team won 6-5.

BOX SCORE: Paul Tiefel III (2 1B), Elizabeth Plath (1B), Jer Gurgel (3B, 1B), Hannah Tiefel (1B), Jarrod Lentz (1B), Jill Tiefel (2 1B, BB), Tim Burns (2 1B), Joelle Noeldner (BB), Rebekah Carstensen (1B)