NO GAME TODAY! NARRATIVE TO COME!

Hi, fellow CCSL’ers, I hope you are all having a wonderful Thursday and are also not planning on attending today’s Art Museum vs. Please Touch Museum makeup game.

 Word has just been received at the Commissioner’s Office that one captain, alias Pittsburgh Suspendee #1, forgot to confirm an agreed-upon date with the Touchers.  Looks like my latest Edventure Full Moon Rallye really “stumped” him!

As you all know, Full Moon Rallyes (entry fee of $15.99, optional commemorative Rallye towels $8.99, for a pair!) are an exciting time, and also a great way to experience the city of Philadelphia and schedule makeup games.  Pittsburgh Suspendee #1 must have missed a clue right outside his place of work (What is a statue and rhymes with Socky?) and got lost on his way to Please Touch to inform them of the aforementioned agreed-upon date. 

A 300 word narrative is expected to arrive sometime this afternoon, and a decision will be made regarding the future of this game.  Depending on the tone and punctuation of the narrative, Please Touch may be awarded a 4-run handicap, and also 4 outs per inning from innings 5-7, inclusive.  This is in accordance with our latest rulebook (which is conveniently located on the right tab.)

But don’t worry. Just think of that 4-run penalty as an Edventure!

Important Reminders!!!!

Everyone, I hate to be a Gloomy Gus, but I have  to draw your attention a problem that's currently running rampant throughout the CCSL.  Apparently, some people have been playing for a couple of teams due to scheduling, rain, and women concerns.  This is not acceptable.  I don't want to name anyone specifically, but there are 3 people who have played for multiple teams this year.  Two girls have done this and one guy to the Office's knowledge.  One girl played for the Tap Room then defected to the Refugees for what I assume are obvious reasons.  Another girl played for the Franklin Institute then played a game for the Fleisher Art Museum.  The guy, a cousin of some other new guy named TJ (apparently people really are named TJ) played for the Philadelphia Art Museum then for the Refugees.  No fines or suspensions will be rendered for prior infractions but shall be handed down going forward.  Remember that you must follow the league rules if you wish to change teams and get your 300 word narratives in early!  They must be laminated and written in Courier at 18 pt font for ease of readability. 

Moving on, there has been a rash of pitching injuries recently, mostly due to over-eager hitters.  Just a reminder to protect yourself out there.  Catcher's gear can be purchased from the League office for $32.50 and pitchers are allowed to wear arm guards ($17), leather tunics ($44), or use a large padded cushion ($22) to deflect wayward balls.  These prices do not include tax and service charges.  Please email the league for further inquiries.

Now that the gloominess is over, I'd like to also remind you of the Full Moon Rallye that's coming up soon. June 12-23. Remember to bring your owns skiffs and scuttleabouts.  See that email that I sent to all of you for registration fees and rules and also know that as a friendly competitive warning, Carolyn and I will be winning all the marbles so expect to compete for 2nd place!  Just kidding.  Stay safe and see you soon!

TIME TO GET UP FOR HOAGIEFEST!

Yes, Hoagiefest is upon us, according to Sandwich Chairman Phyllis Demon and the scheduled date is June 5 at Dairy 2. This is the 3rd Annual Hoagiefest and the previous ones have been great, except for last year when Ron Goldwyn ate all the hoagies.

As you know, there are proceeds in the Center City Softball League bank account to cover prepared meats, cheese and fabulous rolls, and these are a result of your continuing participation in Edventures!

Speaking of which, this coming weekend, we will be Edventuring around the city of Philadelphia. Prizes will go to the teams that can solve the mystery of which Broad Street Line station has the cleanest restroom. Sounds like fun to me.

Participating teams can register ($35 registration fee) with me, and must also purchase a CleanliSwab Kit ($15) and ToxiWaste Holder ($12) to qualify for the fabulous prizes, which include one free pint of Woodchuck Cider at Cherry Street Tavern (minus a $4 handling charge) and a batting practice ball signed by adult film legend Don Money.

So, don't miss Hoagiefest. Should be another cracker of a good time.

ARE SHADY CHARACTERS HANGING AROUND YOUR GAMES?

It has come to the attention of the commissioner's office that there are betting lines being posted for Center City Softball League games, even though this is in obvious violation of league rules, which state emphatically that there can be no financial changing of hands involving league play without the standard 10 percent service charge being delivered to Club Edventure in small, unmarked bills hidden beneath the porta-potty at Dairy 4.
I think we all know the dangers of gambling and its possible effect on the public's confidence that CCSL play is "on the level." I will give you a quick example and in no way an I saying there was anything hinky about this result, but it is the sort of thing that the media can pick up on and make us look bad.
The Catahoula Refugees and the Zoo played on Tuesday night. According to a "betting line sheet" that I found crumpled near the trash can that the park commission has conveniently placed at the bottom of the hill near Dairy 2, the Refugees were 12-run favorites in the game and the "over and under" on the game was a total of 25 runs.
Well, and as you know I have to recuse myself in some ways from getting involved in this matter, because Commissioner Ed Venture (me) plays for Catahoula, but I don't know if there was anything "funny" going on, but it turned out that the 13-9 final score didn't cover the spread and the 22-run total was also under expectations. Now, it's clear that some members of the Catahoula team, without my knowledge, and perhaps even in cahoots with the Zoo, could have conspired to keep the score close and cashed in on the outcome. Guys, we can't have this in the CCSL.
What we can have, however, is a great time this coming weekend as Club Edventure looks for buried treasure along Forbidden Drive. Every contestant will receive a shovel (for a $45 service charge) and an official Edventure Booty Bag ($25 service charge). Come on out and see what you can find! And while we're digging through the dirt, let's remember to keep the CCSL clean!

WEATHER TO PLAY EXPLAINED

Reminder:  As I emailed before Thursdays appear to the best makeup day although no one has really checked other times.  Please remember to start rescheduling those makeup games early so I can get the schedules out and we make sure that our postseason and All-Star games are not interfered with.

Additionally, for rogue captains who don’t want to play when the weather is just a little gloomy, remember that we need to get these games in. Regardless of your own personal feelings about mist and drizzle, you put the league back when you put your own needs ahead of those of the other teams.

 In their defense, focused rainstorms were called for on Dairy 4 between 6:30 and 8 with “mild winds” and less than half an inch of rain.  So be careful out there, campers.  Can’t be injured for Summer EdventureFest.  July 12-17.

Rules for calling off a game

·         Captains must meet at field 1 hr prior to start of game, regardless of weather

·         Captains must both wander around the field for 5 minutes testing for puddles, playability, and mudification.  Safety is a priority.

·         Captains must then check Weather.com to determine forecast for the field between 6:30-8. 

·         If the field is unplayable as determined by both captains and the above rules are met, captains must then email Commissioner to get postponement approval.

·         Once approval is given (allow 1-2 hrs), captains are free to email their team and set up a rescheduled game through the League office.

EARLY GETTING STARTED MID-SEASON CCSL REPORT: LOOKING GOOD

We're off and running, kids, and I don't know how things could be going much better in the Center City Softball League, which is really, if you think about it, just a reflection of good organization at the top of the league.

I expect to hear any day now about that sixth field permit that we knew we were going to need if we wanted to expand from eight to 10 teams and not get ourselves into a nightmare situation with the scheduling. Nope, we're too smart for that.

As it turns out, though, nagging the Fairmount Park Commission can have a little bit of a downside. When you complain about not having enough fields, those darn guys -- with kind of a wacky sense of humor, you must admit -- dig up one of the fields that we do have. I'm sure you've noticed that Dairy 2 is under construction, and those of you who have been scheduled to play there this season had to go on a scavenger hunt for another field.

But, you know what, scavenger hunts can be kind of fun. And that reminds me. If anyone is looking for an Edventure this coming weekend, I am sponsoring a City Hunt on Saturday and Sunday. Three-person teams, which must include at least one female, will scour Philadelphia for misspelled street signs. When you locate one, you have to cut it down and bring it to the Cherry Street Tavern to register your find. All signs become property of Club Edventure, but if you are sentimental about it, we'll be happy to sell it back to you at a reasonable price! Anyway, register now or miss out on a great time!

Now, where were we? Oh, yes, softball. As you can see by the standings, the new guys, those wacky Catahoula Refugees, are undefeated in one division and the South Philly Tap Room is undefeated in the other. The rest of you also-rans are having nice seasons, too, I'm sure, although I'm not paying that much attention.

Please send me any suggestions or complaints and keep us informed of where those darned games are being played, if anywhere. Just think of it as an adventure. Better yet, an Edventure!