TPG believes in T.E.A.M.…...TPG vs FXF

T -  Together 

E -  Everyone

A - Achieves

M - More

As one of TPG's Co-mangers this year one thing that I've learned is that softball is a TEAM game.  If you believe in your team and play together to have fun then no matter what the outcome is …YOU ARE A WINNER!  That is what TPG has always tried to preach and promote and nothing exemplified that more than this game in which we played as a T.E.A.M.

Due to a schedule switch from a Monday game to a Tuesday game TPG headed into today's match up against rival FXF without one co-manager and key starters who represent the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th hitters in our potent lineup and for any team that is something really hard to overcome. …. AND Not only that, TPG was in jeopardy of not having enough players to field a team ……  but no worries T.E.A.M TPG knew that they had the deepest and most talented team in the league and that even without the starters, the rest of the team would just have to step up and answer the call.

As game time approached Co-Managers Simon "4Ever" Yeung and Princess "of the Phillipines" Salvacion arrived at the field at 5:29pm just in time for the first pitch of the game.  With their arrival TPG now had a full starting team of 10 players.   

The first 2 innings was a very tight defensive game for both teams as TPG and FXF had runners in scoring positions but both failed to score a run.  Then came the top of the 3rd Inning when TPG's bats woke up……with the Bases Loaded and one out, Rookie SS, Chris "It's about GaaaaD Damnnmm time"Gutierrez came to bat and hit a bases clearing triple that scored the first 3 runs of the game.  Chris wasn't done yet as he added 2 more RBIS later to add to his total of 5 RBIS for the game.  The rest of the T.E.A.M contributed to the effort as Andreas "Maybe he really is a super athlete" Karales (2-2, 2B, 2BB, 2 runs), Stephen "I don't know how to read a subway map so that's why I was late" Dargo (2-2, 1 RBI) and Hernan "The Italian Stallion" Graziano (2-2, 2BB, 2 Runs) kept the offense moving.   

T.E.A.M TPG played solid Defense the rest of the way with Key plays from LCF -Omar "Da Stache" Bustamante, 3B- Frank "Maybe he was a Tank in his heyday" Lew and as always solid pitching from Hernan "The Italian Stallion" Graziano.

Game ball goes to......... T.E.A.M TPG with all around solid efforts from a shorthanded group and more importantly playing as ONE.  In the end TPG extends its winning streak to 3……TPG wins 6-2.  On to the next game.

TPG Toughness ...….TPG vs HH

Anytime someone puts on a TPG uniform we like to think that player will epitomize the toughness that we look for as one of our players.  We don't back down from any trash talking and we def don't get intimidated by anyone on the field.  That's how we play the game……….Now you may think that is easy to say when your LCF is the size of a mountain or when your 6'-10" short stop casts a shadow longer than the empire state building but today no one exhuberated that toughness more than Rookie 2nd Baseman, Chelsea "Crying is for the weak" Cheng.   Now the image below may be too violent for kids so parental advisory beware……

In the top of the 1st inning, an HH player lines a sharp and hard hit ground ball that went spiraling towards 2nd base and on a bad bounce struck our 2nd baseman in the left eye/nose causing her to see STARS not named Taylor Swift.  Medical staff, Derrick "The Mouth"Blocker rushed onto the field to check up on her…... Chelsea was still standing but had to leave the game for that top first inning for medical attention.   HH scored 3 runs in the top of the first.  

TPG responded in the bottom of the 1st inning with 6 straight hits lead by LCF, Danny "I do look like Mike Trout" Etkin (3-3, 2B, 3B, 3 Runs, 2 RBIs).  But what was the true highlight of the inning was Chelsea returning to bat, nose bruised and all and of course against medical staff, Derrick's advise to sit, Chelsea responded with a sac RBI, which contributed to a 6 run 1st inning.   

The second inning started with back to back walks which was the beginning of another offensive onslaught lead by SS, Ed "The Skyscraper" Ballast who hit a bases clearing double (2-3, 2B, 2 Runs, 5 RBIs) which contributed to 5 more TPG runs.  The TPG offense was hitting its stride for the first two innings as the all around team contribution hit 13 of 19 with 2 BB and 11 Runs.  

Game ball goes to who else?  Chelsea for embodying the toughness TPG represents and for not giving up….oh and Danny and Ed also had a good game…..if you think going for a combined 5-6 with 5 runs and 7 RBIs is good?

Final Score TPG 12-7 in 4-1/2" innings due to expiring time.  Hats off to the entire team for a well played game.  

So it begins.........TPG vs GS/A+1

Coming into the SLAM 2015 Season, TPG softball came in with a different feel....  With Legendary TPG Manager, Josh Ginsburg retiring to the west coast for sun, fun and…..Golf, the TPG Softball Team was now under a new look 3 Co-Manager system in which Princess, Simon and Derrick each took on different roles to work as a cohesive unit to lead the charge in the new season.   With 12 rookies on the roster, the TPG management core had to re-create the team chemistry it once had last year mixing the veterans with the new guys (and gals). 

I wouldn’t necessarily call it a bad 1^st  game but TPG Opening day  didn’t go so well as the new managers tried to figure out how to place the new team into the right roles.  Looking back at Game 1…..it was a learning experience for the managers from Derrick “the Mouth” Blocker trying to figure out how to do the score card to Princess “the hardest woman to pitch to in the game” Salvacion and Simon “Not the Kung Fu Panda” Yeung trying to manage the new line up. 

Heading into Game 2 against undefeated GS/A+1 (1-0)…..TPG could not go 0-2 to start the season with the schedule only getting tougher.  It wasn’t looking good before the game as a few starters were unable to make the game due to other commitments so the Rookies had to step up and show the league what they got and that’s exactly what they did!  Leading the attack was Rookie 3^rd baseman and lead off hitter, Steve “THE GREEK FREAK” Aspitois who went 3-4 with his first HR of the season.  The veterans also did its job as well with Norman “THE BEST AUSSIE IN THE GAME RIGHT NOW” Ha (4-4, 2B, 1 RBI, 2 Runs) and Andreas “The Self proclaimed Super Athlete” Karales (4-4, 2B, 2RBI, 2Runs) were just picking their spots.  Solid and key defensive plays by Rookie SS, Chris “Mr. Wonders“ Gutierrez and LCF, Eladio “ AY MARIO ” Victoria that only allowed 3 runs.  The game featured many key plays from other rookies as Chase” The MACK TRUCK” Hodge stepped up to the plate with 2 outs in the 5^th inning with a hustling slide into first base to beat out a close play to keep the inning alive which lead to 6 runs and Rookie Kathy “I don’t own a” Kia advancing the winning run into scoring position in the bottom of the 6^th.  Great team contributions all around……

Game ball goes to starting Pitcher Hernan “The Italian Stallion” Graziano who struck out 4 in 6 innings and who also contributed to the offensive attack with solid hitting (3-3, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI and 3 runs). 

Final Score TPG in a 14-3 Mercy Victory.  Hats off to the team for a great game!