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El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Page 1-B
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3A Baseball Tourney
Good Luck Ritual
L-N Photo by Jay T. Strasner
Hats off
Ricebird players take their hats off and point them toward the batter during one of their many rituals this season. The Birds fell in a doubleheader in the Class 3A Regional Semifinals on Friday to Boerne. The game was held in New Braunfels. El Campo ended the season with a 21-12 record.
Doubleheader loss brings big season to end
“Thanks to all the seniors for four years of hard work and dedication,” EC Head Coach Russell Krenek said. “They will be missed.” Boerne outhit the Ricebirds 14 to 6 in the game and did not commit an error while El Campo had 2. Bryce Brandl started on the mound for EC and tossed 5 innings, allowing 11 hits, 3 earned runs and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts. Blaine Fuechec tossed two innings of relief and BY JAY T. STRASNER allowed 3 hits, 1 walk and no earned runs. publisher@leader-news.com Clayton Harp led El Campo at the plate after going 2-3 with 2 triples, 2 runs and an RBI. BryBoerne jumped out to a 3-1 lead and held on for lan Crivellari knocked in 2 runs. Clay Kresta and Fuechec each had an RBI in a 6-5 win to end El Campo’s season in the second game of a doubleheader Friday at New Braunfels. the defeat, while Brandl and Calen Collins added The Ricebirds, champions of District 25-3A, a hit each for the Birds. Trailing 1-0, EC knotted the game in the botend the season at 21-12.
tom of the first. Brandl reached on a 1-out single and moved to second on Beau Talley’s groundout. Kresta then knocked Brandl home with an RBI single. After the Greyhounds moved ahead 3-1, EC added another run in the bottom of the third. Harp tripled and scored on Crivellari’s RBI groundout to pull El Campo within 3-2. Boerne led 6-2 after getting a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the frame, Collins reached on a 1-out double and scored on another Harp triple to make it 6-3. Harp then crossed the plate on Crivellari’s RBI groundout to pull within 6-4. The Ricebirds pulled within 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth on Fuechec’s RBI single to score Brandl. EC had two runners in scoring position in the (See BIRDS, Page 2-B)
Rituals, superstitions mark memorable year Big Swing Ricebird Brylan Crivellari takes a hack at a pitch during postseason action for El Campo. The Birds ended the year with a 21-12 record and a 25-3A District Championship. L-N Photo by Jay T. Strasner
Many folks watched with great interest the amazing year the Ricebirds had on the baseball diamond during the 2013 campaign. As fun as it was to witness the highlights of home runs, big strikeouts, walk-off hits, no-hitters and the many Jay T. other top plays from El Campo Strasner this season, another spectacle Ink By The was being orchesBarrel trated just off the playing field. I’m referring to the Ricebird dugout, of course. That cutaway bastion of manhood and rowdiness was brimming with fun, superstition and excitement throughout the season. And I was lucky enough to get a small peek into that side of the baseball activity during my duties photographing the action this season. It was a rare treat indeed.
One of the superstitions was for a player on the far end of the dugout to use the end of a bat and draw a big circle in the dirt with various other lucky artwork. Players were warned not to step on the sandy shrine, lest the luck be diverted to the other team. Another fun ritual arrived anytime the scoreboard read 2 strikes, 2 balls, 2 outs. Players would take two fingers on their right hand and rub the bill of their caps while yelling “deuces” until the pitch was delivered. As the pitch was released, they’d quickly take off their hats and point them towards the batter. Some of the players and coaches really got into the deuces chant, some sounding like Count Dracula with their exaggerated baritones. (See FUN, Page 2-B)
El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Page 2-B
Sports Beat Sports Shorts A number of outdoorsrelated education courses will be held this summer, including the following: Boater Education Course, June 10-11 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the ELK’s Lodge. Cost is $20 per student.
L-N Photo by Jay T. Strasner
Yer Out!
Blaine Fuechec looks to apply the tag on an opposing baserunner during postseason action.
—Fun times had in the Ricebird dugout Home runs in particular were greeted with the very unique “Stroke!” cheer. Players, along with Coach Gordon, would climb the dugout steps and then with both hands pretend they were rowing a boat, all the while heartily yelling “Stroke, stroke, stroke!” The choreography involved was so precise, even the Jackson 5 would have been jealous of the moves of our beloved Ricebirds. When it was all said and done, it was fun to reflect on a season that not only gave us so many highlights, but also a few laughs along the way. Afterall, isn’t that what sports is all about? So thanks Ricebird players, Head Coach Russell Krenek, Asst. Coach Elliot Babcock and all the friends and family members than shared these young men with us. We won’t soon forget the memories.
(Continued from Page 1-B) Assistant Coach Kevin Gordon played a big role in the delightful dugout, along with the other coaches. For part of the year Gordon carried an old wooden fungo bat. This piece of equipment was mainly used to tap rhythmically on the concrete floor of the dugout while the Ricebird foes were pitching. Opposing pitchers must have really grown to dislike that never-ending pinging sound. I can personally vouch that I had a pretty decent headache following the Somerset doubleheader in the regional quarterfinals and heard that pinging during my sleep later that evening. Yet another really fun ritual occurred whenever the Ricebirds would notch a particularly solid hit during the games.
—Birds fall in 1-run finale to Boerne (Continued from Page 1-B) bottom of the seventh with one out, but couldn’t push a run across as the season ended. Boerne 5, EC 4 The Greyhounds scored 3 runs in the bottom of the seventh in the first game of the doubleheader to rally for the win. Talley allowed 10 hits, 4 earned runs and 4 walks with 6 strikeouts on the mound. Harp had another solid day at the plate, going 2-3 with 2 RBIs. Matt Edwards went 3-4 with an RBI in his first action since missing time with mononucleosis. Kresta was 2-4 with a run, while Collins had an RBI hit. Michael Wall, Brandl, Talley and Fuechec added hits to the cause for El Campo as well. EC trailed 2-0 heading into the fourth before taking the lead with a 3-spot. Kresta began things with a single and moved to second on
KRENEK Fuechec’s base knock. Edwards then singled to
load the bases and Kresta scored on a groundout from Collins. Harp then singled as Fuechec and Edwards both scored to push El Campo ahead 3-2. The Ricebirds added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Brandl walked and moved to second on Talley’s single. Two outs later, Edwards then made it 4-2 on an RBI single. Boerne then loaded the bases, scored a run and then won the game with a 2-RBI double in the bottom of the seventh.
Hunter Education course, to be held July 2223, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the ELK’s Lodge. Cost is $15 per student. To sign up for the class, call 979)-543-4322. A maximum of 30 students will be allowed per course. Waiting lists may be available if classes become full. Fast-pitch tourney The Texas 18U Sharkettes will host the Summer Kick-off Girls FastPitch Softball Tournament set to be held beginning on June 8. Age groups inclue: 12U, 14U & 18U. June 6 is the deadline for entering this tournament. There will also be a 4GG/2 Pool and Double Elimination format for the tournament. Entry fee will be $125/ PAP $35 - ASA Umpires will be on hand for the event. Location: Victoria Youth Sport Complex, Victoria. For additional infrmation, please contact: Horacio Molina 361-676-8617 or horamol@ykc.com
erman auch Jr.
Toll Free:
A Good Will Offering Sandwich Luncheon will be served by the American Legion Auxiliary at
12:00 noon SPONSORED BY: American Legion Post 251 • V.F.W. Post 2786 D.A.V. Chapter 72 • K of C 4th Degree • Elk’s Lodge
Fred.Carterjr@shos.com
(318) 792-2648
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Call, text or email David at: 832-221-1253 or chlfreeman@yahoo.com
Guest Speaker: Paul Pope, LT. COL. Retired US Army Reserve Music By: Morgan & Debbie Chappell, Solo by Tracey Wood
Contact Fred Carter
Cell: 541-9842
SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013
American Legion Hall, El Campo
El Campo
Office: 1-800-286-0790 979-543-1220 Life • Auto
GARWOOD
Monday, May 27, 2013 11:00 a.m.
Texas Market Now Available
979-532-2852
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979-543-2753
1912 N. Mechanic • El Campo
Office: 1905 West Loop El Campo Branch
CONCEALED HANDGUN
PUBLIC INVITATION
of El Campo
Mid Coast Medical Clinic Is Proud To Announce Cardiology Services provided by Toussaint Smith, M.D. F.A.C.C. (Cardiologist)
Appointments available on Thursday Afternoons with Dr. Smith at Mid Coast Medical Clinic, 305 Sandy Corner Road (Adjacent to El Campo Memorial Hospital )
For Appointments
281-491-6808
(Be sure and ask for an appointment in the El Campo Office) Toussaint Smith MD is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned his MD from Boston University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed his internship and residency programs at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School in Boston. He also completed his cardiology fellowship at the Brigham and Women's Hospital. During his final year of cardiology training, he completed a fellowship in heart failure and transplantation. Dr. Smith is board certified in cardiovascular diseases, nuclear cardiology, adult echocardiography as well as cardiac computed tomography. He is fully trained in general cardiology and has special training in non-invasive imaging and cardiac failure. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Smith is a member of the Texas Medical Association and Travis County Medical Society. He lives in Sugar Land with his wife Jacqui and their four children.
Sugar Land Office Location: Sugar Land Cardiology Associates; 3527 Town Center Blvd., South Sugar Land, TX 77479
Mid Coast Medical Clinic 305 Sandy Corner Road , El Campo