NEON Wins Season Opener 4-3

Bassett Creek Park, MPLS, MN

On a dreary April evening, NEON turned up the heat and started the 2011 CSC Kickball League schedule on the right foot.

Staci Gyekis notched the tying- and go-ahead runs in the top of the 7th with a 2-run infield single that put NEON (1-0) in the lead for good.

"Playing short isn't something that we let get to us, psychologically" said Manager/1B Chad Buege. "We've been slapping together our line-up on a weekly basis for 6 years or so now."

Indeed, playing without Kristi Allen (who joined late-last season as a free agent, and signed a contract extension for 2011) left the squad jostling the lineup on a by-inning basis. The team retroactively placed her on the 7-Day DL with a faulty GPS. She is expected to return to the lineup this week.

A surprise return by veteran by SS Kevin Luther seemed to give the team an extra jump in their collective. Luther was expected to miss the game for family reasons, but literally sprinted into the lineup at the 11th hour.

"I think we got what we'd expected from ourselves tonight" Buege went on to say. "Offensively there was some rust, and a minor miscommunication or two defensively, but overall we're pleased. We know we have the horses for this race, and after this training run, we're ready to hit the track running. We hope to be the thoroughbreds when the playoffs come, and tonight was a good start."

The season continues this Thursday, but the schedule is TBA, pending its official release from CSC.

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NEON Overcomes Rough 1st Inning, Rallies to 8-4 Win

--Minneapolis, MN

Learning from their mistakes was something the Angry Dragons had trouble with. Tuesday night, NEON proclaimed that old trend dead.

Fueled by the return, and season debut, of Allen "All Day" LeMay, NEON persevered through a sloppy defensive 1st inning en route to an 8-4 victory over Kickin GrAss.

Kickin GrAss took advantage of two uncharacteristic dropped balls, one by Zach Brown and one by Chad Buege. A double knocked home 2 runs, giving GrAss the lead. Things could have spiraled out of control had a couple of CSC veterans not put a stop to the bleeding.

Matt Devieney raced down a deep drive in the left-center gap. After gaining control of the ball, he turned and fired to shortstop Kevin Luther. Luther then dropkicked home to a sprinting LeMay, who tagged the GrAss runner at the plate for out #1. Later, with the bases loaded, Luther turned an unassisted double play to end the inning, limiting the damage to 2 runs.

NEON responded in the home-half of the frame with a run of their own, slicing the lead in half. Erin Olson got the offense started with a single, followed by a Luther triple, scoring Olson for NEON's first tally.

"I won't say that we were nervous after GrAss got their 2 runs, but it was definitely a wake-up call for us", Player/Coach Buege said. "We passed a tough test today. Our guys and gals showed that not only are we tough physically, we're tough mentally. That's the kind of skill set required to do damage in this league."

NEON (2-0) seemed to take the first-inning miscues personally and drive its ire into its offense, getting a balanced attack from all slots in the lineup. Rookies Lance Ramm and Kate Montague each notched their first hits and runs of the season, and P/C Buege rebounded from a hitless first week with a solid 3-3 performance, raising his season batting average to .500. Luther and Devieney also went 3-3, Olson and Patrick Heckman were 2-3, and LeMay 1-2. Brenda Rush's quest for the first perfect batting average for a CSC season continued in the 2nd inning with a single, but was dashed in the 4th. She finished 1-3.

"It felt really good to be back out on the field and to be back with teammates," said LeMay, who returned to action Tuesday night for the first time since the Fall of 2008. "I think we have a nice blend of talent here, and it's gonna be a blast seeing what I can add to an already robust lineup."

Playing in front of their home crowd for the first time this season, the support from the fans was not lost on the players.

"We'll play anybody, anytime, anywhere and like our chances," Staci Gyekis offered. "But when we're on our home field, we know that we have the best fans in the league. They become NEON's 11th (wo)man, and that makes it tough for anyone playing against us."

It may have made things tough for the home team as well--at least, initially.

"I haven't played on this big of a stage since Gus Macker 2000," Brown said. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little on edge in the first inning. Just looking around and seeing all the signs and jerseys was a little overwhelming. But you can't beat the support we get from our crowd. The fans are the reason we play, and we leave it all out on the field for them every week."

NEON's season-long pursuit of perfection continues next Tuesday with CSC's highest-rated offense, We Got the Runs. WGR has posted 28 runs through the season's first two weeks. NEON counters with the stingiest defense in the league, surrendering only 4 runs in 2 contests, and committing only 1 error.

One inning's worth of defensive lapses could not keep NEON, and the spirit of their fans, from shining brightly yet another week.

News and Notes:

2B/RP Staci Gyekis is being listed as day-to-day, following a double-quad pull suffered in the first inning. Buege is hopeful to have her in the starting lineup next Tuesday, but won't rule out having her rest a week.....While the season is in its infancy, plans are in motion for the first-ever "Fan Appreciation Night". Details will be posted as soon as they're finalized....

Week 1 Team Statistics

OFFENSE

Batting Average

1.) Brenda Olson (2-2, 1.000)

2.) Zach Brown (3-4, .750)

3.) Kevin Luther (2-3, .667*)

4.) Matt Devieney (2-3, .667)

5.) Patrick Heckman (2-3, .667)

6.) Staci Gyekis (1-3, .333)

7.) 5 players tied at .000

Runs Scored

1.) Kevin Luther (2)

2.) 3 players tied at 1

Hits

1.) Zach Brown (3)

2.) Kevin Luther (2)

2.) Matt Devieney (2)

2.) Patrick Heckman (2)

2.) Brenda Olson (2)

6.) Staci Gyekis (1)

Doubles

1.) Brenda Olson (1)

1.) Kevin Luther (1)

1.) Matt Devieney (1)

1.) Zach Brown (1)

Triples

1.) Zach Brown (1)

PITCHING

Wins

1.) Erin Olson (1)

Saves

1.) Staci Gyekis (1)

Innings Pitched

1.) Erin Olson (5)

2.) Staci Gyekis (2)

Strikeouts

1.) Erin Olson (1)

Workman-like Effort Propels NEON to Season Opener Win

--Minneapolis, MN

A sign of things to come?

NEON opened its season sporting new uniforms, a new name, and a new team philosophy in an efficient 5-0 victory over Alcoballics Redux Tuesday night. Winning pitcher Erin Olson (1-0) threw 5 scoreless innings, and closer Staci Gyekis continued the shutout cause by throwing 2 innings of relief and earning her first save of the season.

Chemistry was the focus, and "Continuity" was the word of the day, as NEON took the field with 3 new players. The transition was seamless. Rookies Gyekis, Kate Montague, and Lance Ramm all contributed to a 3 run 1st inning and a 2 run 3rd, creating a hole that the Alcoballics could not crawl out of.

"What we saw was great defense today", said veteran Player/Coach Chad Buege. "A feeling that everyone knew where to be, when to throw and when not to throw, and doing the little things correctly really put us in a spot to win the game. We catch the ball well, which could get us a long way this spring."

The action started early, as leadoff kicker Zach Brown started the game with a single. After a rare foul-out by Olson, veteran slugger Kevin Luther knocked home the game's first run with a double.

"Getting off to a fast start is the way we try to play", said Brown. "Running the bases aggressively and capitalizing on opportunities is the best way for us to win. We have the horses in the lineup get the runners moving, which we feel will be a big key for us and our level of success."

NEON followed with 2 more runs in the 3rd inning, but was left with a dissatisfying taste in its collective mouth.

With 2 outs and Brown on 3rd, Luther lined a rocket to short. The ball was fielded and the throw was late, yet Luther was called out on a very controversial play. Brown's run did not score.

"If that play happens late in the season, I lose my mind" Luther was quoted as saying in the locker room. "The fact that it happened Game 1, with a 5 run lead let me keep my head. I stand by the fact that it was a terrible call, though." CSC Commissioner has yet to comment on the play, but many insiders feel Luther will be hit with a fine for criticizing officials.

In perhaps the most shocking, and entertaining, play of the game, Brenda Kroeger was tagged out on a play at the plate in which the petite runner bowled over the Alcoballics starting pitcher, who was blocking the plate.

"We know it's only the first game of the year, but we're real pleased with the effort we showed tonight" 3rd baseman Patrick Heckman said. "I really look forward to watching us grow as a team, which we most certainly will."

The new uniforms were definitely bright, but the team as a whole shined brightest Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

Welcome!

Welcome to NEON, the one-stop blog for all things kickball. In the near future you'll find game recaps, statistics, schedules, player profiles, and maybe more. Season begins Tuesday, April 13, 7:50 pm at Brackett Field. See you then!