Yesterday, I went down with my big sis and her fiancee down to this izakaya in Gardena called Azuma. I ate this big combination plate of teriyaki and tempura. The decor and look of this is consistent, I would think, with those in Japan. There are a lot of izakayas down in Gardena. It is a strong testament to the Japanese-America community there. I literally went through the kitchen to get to my seat. Brilliant.
I learned something about the aura of the Bedlam today. It does not favor me over my other family members, nor vice versa. It favors itself over everyone, with everyone. Last week, I was given the epithet of family scapegoat after misplacing my wallet. This weekend, my father misplaced his car keys. As I acknowledged the Bedlam at work, I sympathized.
I don't believe anyone would want to misplace his or her car keys. No way. Well, to be safe, at least order two or three backup copies, and store them in a place that is safe, deep in your family vault. Problem solved. And if you need to buy another, since you are using one in reserve, you can. Very unfortunate for Dad.
I've never been to Dagwoods. This is a sandwich/fast food chain down in Quebec. I'm hearing those commercials about the food there while listening to the Habs. When I go to Montreal for a visit, I wil make it a priority to check it out and have a bite to eat. With some poutine, I might add. But only if they get Stanley Cup #25. And if they don't, well, I may still go...but there are no guarantees.
As of this blog post time, it's Game 6 of the series between the Canadiens and Boston Bruins, and the Bruins are leading 5-4. The next game at the Bell Centre could be the last one.
Meanwhile, down in Northridge and Santa Barbara, the Dirtbags and 49er softball clubs are back to and continuing their winning ways. 16-2 and 9-2 hurtsplosions by the Bags (where was this the past few days pre-Pepperdine 10-0 washout?) combined with 8-6 and 5-2 wins over the Gaucho softball teams made things mighty nice today for the folks.
Showing posts with label long beach state softball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label long beach state softball. Show all posts
Quick hits, 4/12/2008
Some quick hits from today's action...
Men's volleyball
BoBA...is in heaven. Long Beach State FINALLY, FINALLY defeats Northridge, sweeping them, 3-0, at the Matadome. That's the way to find forgiveness from me. Now it's time to regroup, and get ready to host the MPSF Final Four on April 24 and 26. You know how the Montreal Canadiens are starting their 16 to 25 campaign? Well, we are preparing for a 4 to 2 Campaign. 4 straight match victories clinches our second NC. Will the Masters be up for the challenge? Find out in 12 days.
Softball
This time it was Bridgette Pagano playing the role of goat for our teams. We were up 3-0, and Cal Poly storms right back in the second game to win 4-3. Of course, Brooke Turner pulled her weight in the first one, a 3-1 decision. Can she clinch the series tomorrow? Find out at the 49er Softball Complex.
Women's tennis
And Pacific is swept 7-0 on Senior Day, and Stephanie Bengson gets Number 72. Let's see if our hoodoo against Fresno can be broken in a few days time.
Baseball
Holy smokes. UCI felled, 5-1. The Bags aren't throwing the towel just yet, which is not a bad thing. The series concludes at 2:30 at the Blair.
Men's volleyballBoBA...is in heaven. Long Beach State FINALLY, FINALLY defeats Northridge, sweeping them, 3-0, at the Matadome. That's the way to find forgiveness from me. Now it's time to regroup, and get ready to host the MPSF Final Four on April 24 and 26. You know how the Montreal Canadiens are starting their 16 to 25 campaign? Well, we are preparing for a 4 to 2 Campaign. 4 straight match victories clinches our second NC. Will the Masters be up for the challenge? Find out in 12 days.
Softball
This time it was Bridgette Pagano playing the role of goat for our teams. We were up 3-0, and Cal Poly storms right back in the second game to win 4-3. Of course, Brooke Turner pulled her weight in the first one, a 3-1 decision. Can she clinch the series tomorrow? Find out at the 49er Softball Complex.
Women's tennis
And Pacific is swept 7-0 on Senior Day, and Stephanie Bengson gets Number 72. Let's see if our hoodoo against Fresno can be broken in a few days time.
Baseball
Holy smokes. UCI felled, 5-1. The Bags aren't throwing the towel just yet, which is not a bad thing. The series concludes at 2:30 at the Blair.
Another mixed weekend, more so inept than successful
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The weekend did not start auspiciously well for my guys. The men's volleyball team played like the chokers they were against Northridge and Penn State last night. We were leading UC Irvine by two games, and then, in a collapse that made the Berlin Wall's fall look diminutive, we let the Anteaters rally in five. How pathetic. And I thought our chances of defending our surfboard were going to get better. At this point, we are down two games to one against UCLA. Could we get a rally going against these guys in the same fashion the Zots dealt us? One can only hope.
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But this wasn't the only team to have a weekend from hell.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us have a moment of silence for the sudden, and horrifically unexpected passing of Long Beach State's baseball mojo, which, like so many brave souls that did not leave this ugly, yet beautiful [sic] world in vain, died honorably on the fields of Northern California. The body will be cremated, and the ashes will be sent to the University of California at Berkeley. Date for the possible resurrection has yet to be strenuously determined.
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Meanwhile, the softball team keeps its mojo alive. UC Davis was swept in a doubleheader today, by the scores of 1-0 and 8-3. Brooke Turner pitched a gem of a shutout, while Bridgette Pagano held her ground in the second game.
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A funny thing happened on the way back home, after I got back from doing some palleting and shredding of old documents down at the SPJA office in Anaheim (which was refurbished very well, looking like an actual office, decked with anime volumes for the staff to watch). On the OCTA Route 50, this old guy gets into a heated argument with the bus driver, and all the passengers were wondering why this scrooge was holding us up. Finally, we took another bus heading the same way, and the old geezer was arrested.
And I thought I had issues with some of my drivers. They now pale in comparison to this one.
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As of this blog, the Galaxy choked in their season opener to the Colorado Rapids, the Bruin men's basketball team returns to the Final Four (thankfully without the likes of Florida and Ohio State), and the Angels complete their preseason tour with a rout of the San Diego Padres. I suppose in retrospect, it wasn't a bad day; after all, I was able to do something that I haven't done in a long time: take a photo of the daruma head from Anime Expo. This was something that was gnawing and gnashing at me since last year's convention. I am proud to say that I finally got this out of the way. Hallelujah. This, along with the verbal confrontation, made my day in more ways than one.
On Mini Eggs, a job well done in Gardena and a few Beach teams rising
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Once per year, I like to take the Easter weekend to snack on Cadbury Mini Eggs. They are these little pieces of chocolate encased in a sugar shell. I first ate these many years back, after watching a commercial featuring those little crunchy, yet rich, fruits of the bunny. Since then, I have made it an Easter tradition to gorge on one bag of these Mini Eggs. I eat them for breakfast, with some King's Hawaiian rolls, or as a snack that won't hold you down and never give you up. At this time of the year, it is all the rage.
I am elated after knowing my scores on the GRE Verbal and Quantitative sections. I got a 450 on the Verbal and a 610 on the Quantitative. Both scores meet or exceed the expectations set by the program that I am applying for, the Graduate Program in Sport Management. They needed at least a 450 on both sections. What makes this really special is that I didn't have any training on this exam, save for a practice exam and a little GRE review book that I took from Kaplan. When I saw my score, I pumped my fist. The cameras saw me, but they knew that I achieved my target score.
Also, I was relieved to see my baseball, softball, and men's volleyball teams get some big victories this weekend. This is the type of consistency and performance I will be expecting from them the rest of this year.
A very funny day
Today was sort of a funny day for me. On the first try, I solved the Solitaire puzzle. And then my Chipotle free burrito coupon mysteriously regenerated. And on the bus from the men's volleyball match between Long Beach City and Orange Coast, I was the only passenger.
But I learned an answer to one question. How do you rebound from giving a winless team their first win of the season at your house? Simple. You give an undefeated team their first defeat of the season at your house.
With that, here's a pop quiz to put it all in perspective.
You're Kim Sowder. The night before the game with Florida, you make a decision regarding who you want to start in the circle. Bridgette Pagano was money in the first game against St. John's, but Brooke Turner couldn't get any help from the rest of your lineup in the second game. What do you do?
A. Start Bridgette in hopes that she can get it done against the high-flying Gators.
B. Start Turner, but let the players have fun, because you expect the Gators to bring out the mercy rule.
C. Start Turner, and keep in mind of her ability to rebound, as well as her ability to win big games (i.e. San Diego, Hawaii).
If you chose C, that's what the real Kim Sowder did. This was the first time I saw a match go to the ISF tiebreaker rule. ISF is the International Softball Federation, and the rule dictates that to start the 10th inning, a runner will be on second. Turner was fantastic, striking out 16, and in the tiebreaker inning, they got the winning run home, and then-undefeated, #5-ranked Florida, fell to Long Beach State, 2-1.
That's TWO sports our women have the upper hand on against UF. And that's the first time I flung my shirt into the air at that complex. This is going to bring monster confidence as they head to Vegas for a tourney there this weekend. And in that game, my Chipotle free burrito coupon regenerated. Actually, I won a new won after winning my first scavenger hunt at the Softball Complex. Mystery solved.
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I went over and said hello to some of the new guys on the Long Beach City College men's volleyball team. I like #6 on the squad, Casey Bennett from Redondo Beach. He has a very good arm, and nice power to boot. Interesting thing about the gym the Viking play in (which has been renovated with new bleachers and a new surface, to go with repainted walls (the banners have been relocated, too, so that you know why the men have historically performed better than the women; obviously it's the reverse, if not same success on both sides, at Long Beach State). And the roof is so close, that balls tend to hit onto the roof, and when you are trying to set and spike, you mess up because the digs are too high. It's a bit crazier than the Walter Pyramid, because some of the more impossible digs are possible here. It's a smaller facility, and the court looks smaller. You get to do a bit more, given the lack of space. At the Pyramid, you can see where the ball is going. You would have to set like Hercules to make it touch the roof there.
There are some other good players there on this year's edition, including: Chuck Chamberlain, Antwain Aguillard, Dane Mulligan, Joe Strotman, Casey Landel, Bojan Vucicevic, Tyler Jenkins, Justin Flake, Brandon Anaya, Dan Saldana, and Tyler Mullen.
We ended up sweeping Orange Coast in three.
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On the bus back home, I found out that I was the only passenger aboard. No one else got on, no one else got off. It's like I was riding an taxi disguised as a bus. That probably is the first time I've gone through that on Long Beach Transit.
Thus, it's been a funny day. But then again, my mood is where I want to be when tomorrow comes.
But I learned an answer to one question. How do you rebound from giving a winless team their first win of the season at your house? Simple. You give an undefeated team their first defeat of the season at your house.
With that, here's a pop quiz to put it all in perspective.
You're Kim Sowder. The night before the game with Florida, you make a decision regarding who you want to start in the circle. Bridgette Pagano was money in the first game against St. John's, but Brooke Turner couldn't get any help from the rest of your lineup in the second game. What do you do?
A. Start Bridgette in hopes that she can get it done against the high-flying Gators.
B. Start Turner, but let the players have fun, because you expect the Gators to bring out the mercy rule.
C. Start Turner, and keep in mind of her ability to rebound, as well as her ability to win big games (i.e. San Diego, Hawaii).
If you chose C, that's what the real Kim Sowder did. This was the first time I saw a match go to the ISF tiebreaker rule. ISF is the International Softball Federation, and the rule dictates that to start the 10th inning, a runner will be on second. Turner was fantastic, striking out 16, and in the tiebreaker inning, they got the winning run home, and then-undefeated, #5-ranked Florida, fell to Long Beach State, 2-1.
That's TWO sports our women have the upper hand on against UF. And that's the first time I flung my shirt into the air at that complex. This is going to bring monster confidence as they head to Vegas for a tourney there this weekend. And in that game, my Chipotle free burrito coupon regenerated. Actually, I won a new won after winning my first scavenger hunt at the Softball Complex. Mystery solved.
---
I went over and said hello to some of the new guys on the Long Beach City College men's volleyball team. I like #6 on the squad, Casey Bennett from Redondo Beach. He has a very good arm, and nice power to boot. Interesting thing about the gym the Viking play in (which has been renovated with new bleachers and a new surface, to go with repainted walls (the banners have been relocated, too, so that you know why the men have historically performed better than the women; obviously it's the reverse, if not same success on both sides, at Long Beach State). And the roof is so close, that balls tend to hit onto the roof, and when you are trying to set and spike, you mess up because the digs are too high. It's a bit crazier than the Walter Pyramid, because some of the more impossible digs are possible here. It's a smaller facility, and the court looks smaller. You get to do a bit more, given the lack of space. At the Pyramid, you can see where the ball is going. You would have to set like Hercules to make it touch the roof there.
There are some other good players there on this year's edition, including: Chuck Chamberlain, Antwain Aguillard, Dane Mulligan, Joe Strotman, Casey Landel, Bojan Vucicevic, Tyler Jenkins, Justin Flake, Brandon Anaya, Dan Saldana, and Tyler Mullen.
We ended up sweeping Orange Coast in three.
---
On the bus back home, I found out that I was the only passenger aboard. No one else got on, no one else got off. It's like I was riding an taxi disguised as a bus. That probably is the first time I've gone through that on Long Beach Transit.
Thus, it's been a funny day. But then again, my mood is where I want to be when tomorrow comes.
It was a good day.
I love Ice Cube. I like his for a number of his songs he wrote with N.W.A., specifically the surreal "Straight Outta Compton," as well as Bop Gun, featuring Parliament Funkadelic legend George Clinton. I still love his dreads. But one song that sticks out today is that song, "It Was A Good Day." One of the lines of the song has "The Lakers Beat The Supersonics." And truth be told, that's what the Lakers did today, and, in the process, ending days of frustration with a clinched playoff berth, snapping a losing streak on the side.
But that wasn't the only good thing that happened. It was the other good outcomes that has April 15, 2007 as one of my better days of the year to have experienced.
1. I predicted Sebastien Bourdais to win the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, and lo and behold, he did so, fending off challenge from a certain Aussie named Will Power. Lampoon that, Grunion buffs, Fancy Lash, Father MacKenzie and you ilk.
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2. I predicted that there would be no hope for Cal State Northridge's baseball team, and the Dirtbags swept them, winning 7-2. In addition, those grumpy Staff Pro old farts left me alone. Wise move, you able-bodied Leisure World pensioners. Oddly enough, I went on a bus full of senior citizens when heading off to pick up lunch at the In-N-Out in Marina Pacifica.
3. I went to the softball game against Fullerton. It was the rubber match. Some Bobby Sox kids told me to be quiet, but I told them, "Kids, you're here to have fun. Make some noise and enjoy the game." One even asked me, "Do you go to all the events." I said, "Kid, I've been to over 70 so far in all sports, save cross-country and golf, this season, and I'm not done yet." Bridgette Pagano was able to atone for her demise yesterday, and the 49ers took the series, winning 5-1. And I was able to pick up my lunch without missing the bus. And I got a sweet game program and media guide.
4. The Dodgers won on Jackie Robinson day, 9-3. And the Angels were spared further humiliation from Boston thanks to snow. Odd that in the middle of April, there is still snow in the Northeast. That thing may not be over when June comes up there if it holds up!
5. FC Dallas gets theirs, after making Joe Cannon look like a rec league keeper, via a 3-0 drubbing by Red Bull New York and Bruce Arena.
6. The Anaheim Ducks get a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild, putting them on the ropes for Super Tuesday at the XCel Energy Center in the Twin Cities.
7. Michael Ballack sent Chelsea to the promised land in the FA Cup semifinal, giving the Blues a 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers in extra time. The stage is set for a world-famous football clash in a world-famous stadium. Manchester United vs. Chelsea. The 2007 FA Cup Final presented by E.ON at Wembley Stadium. May 19, 2007. Will you be there?
(Hint: I won't.)
It's funny to know that those two could be meeting again at Athens in the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final if Chelsea downs Liverpool and Man United disposes of AC Milan. Never mind that these two are in a race for the Premiership Crown. That Man United (owned by Malcolm Glazer, managed by Sir Alex Ferguson) vs. Chelsea (owned by Chukotka head honcho Roman Abromovich, managed by Jose Mourinho) for ya.
8. The Matildas rolled over Chinese Taipei, 10-0. It's clear that the matches against the Chollima concubines from North Korea will determine who in their group will be heading off to Athens.
On softball and how it turned to more than just a playground game
I always thought of softball as one of those playground games. I first saw a softball pitch when I was a young kid, walking around Admiral Kidd Park. That park was just a few minutes from my house. I saw how the field looked like. The infield was made of dirt and clay, while the outfield was grass. I thought at first that this was another example of a baseball field, until I found out that it was for a different game altogether.
Softball was an offshoot of baseball. The ball was larger, and pitches were thrown underhand. Further, there were three varieties of the game: slow-pitch, which has a very big ball, a deeper field, and no gloves needed, fast-pitch, which has a yellow ball, and was defensive oriented, and modified-pitch, which was somewhere in between the former two.
My university’s softball team played the fast-pitch variety. It’s an NCAA rule to have it be this way, and it probably is the most challenging of the three types. So I was watching the ladies take on Cal State Northridge for a three game series in two days. The first day was a doubleheader. They lost the first game, and I screamed at the ladies to wake up and get the job done. They would win the second game thanks to the heroics of one Kelly Cross. Brigitte Pagano, the pitcher who lost the first game, came right back to atone for her transgressions by winning the deciding rubber match on Sunday. On that day, one of the softball boosters gave me a shirt. On Sunday, the day of that third game, a group of kids from Los Altos Bobby Sox came over to watch. It’s a good thing they weren’t disappointed.
I suppose softball is one of those games that makes you feel like a little kid again.
Fast forward a week, and now in between watching Oral Roberts taking on the Dirtbags, the volleyball team of men finishing their home campaign against Hawaii, catching up on my IS 380 homework and blogging and drawing, I am watching the softball team take on Cal State Fullerton.
I told Ryan Kobane of the Long Beach Union Weekly that my work’s not done yet, and with the Dirtbags hogging the April dates, it’s set to be that way. We did win our last game. Could we be turning the ship around and prove that our last win against the Zot scum wasn’t a fluke?
I leave it to the schmucks who call the Blair home to figure out the answer.
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