Offensive Output:  11 hits; 2 each for Jim, Andy F., Chris and Surya

But ... : A stunning 12 men left on base

The Steak Is Alive:  Another successful sacrifice

Oddest Evening:  Travis reached base safely all four times up -- without the benefit of a hit or a walk

Best Fielding Effort:  A few stretches by Surya at first that had to hurt; Smergs dive at the ball in left field

Way To Step Up:  Solid game behind the plate for Matt L.

Best Hosts:  All four Cannon Valley League teams we have played this season

Way to Keep the K's down:  Only 5 in 41 plate appearances

Lights Out Pitching:  By Chris, with 8 innings of 3 hit, 2 run ball. If time hadn't expired, he could have pitched another 8 innings

Clutch Hit of the Game:  Jake with a big single in the 6th to tie the game

The Streak:  Still alive, but doesn't increase because Jake legged out the only attempted sacrifice bunt for a hit

Fielding!:  Several contenders, but Andy F. takes home the prize for his inspired effort at shortstop

Best and Worst:  EP gets kudos for building a great field (but could you raise the height of the net behind home plate - every foul ball seems to leave the park and end up under water)

Style Award:  Rob's pants

Best team effort:  15 Bombers on time and ready for a 5:30pm weekday start

Best Strategic Planning:  Matt L. coaching first in the 7th where he could pinch run for Blake by moving three inches and switching places

Saddest Sight:  Jake twisting that #$%^& ankle after reaching first in the 8th

Nice Addition to the Bombers' Arsenal:  Chris' pick-off move

Biggest Play of the Game:  The 4-6-3 double play in the eighth to keep the game tied

To Be Continued ?:  Maybe

Most Impressive Performance Overall:  Dave's nine inning complete game victory, striking out five and only walking three

Most Impressive Offensive Performance:  Thomas' four hits and four RBI's

Defensive Notables:  Smergs domination of left field; Thomas' nailing both runners who attempted to steal; Jim throwing out a runner at third from right field; Andy's game ending running catch of a pop fly deep behind third

Favorite Line Heard During The Game:  (by a Lakeville player following a screaming line drive hit into their dugout that scattered their players - "I just pooped myself!")

Gutsiest Performance:  Three strikeouts in the 8th inning by Dave

Most Impressive Almost:  Andy C's 350 foot linedrive, caught at the base of the fence (to go along with a single and two walks)

Hardest Hit Balls Right At Someone:  Matt C. to second and Blake to center

Still On A Run:  Now 12 consecutive successful sacrifice bunts

Good To See:  Robbie back in the dugout, soon to be back on the field

Things A Coach Appreciates:  Grant warming up during at least three different innings and being ready to enter the game at a moment's notice

Best Post-Game Host:  Buffalo Wild Wings

The Way To Play Small Ball:  Travis' single, sacrifice and three walks, leading to two runs scored and an RBI

Best Performance (on an otherwise forgettable evening):  Andy F's pitching - 3 earned runs in 3 innings (with 1 walk) against a hitting machine

Welcome Back:  Phil

Most Unusual Defensive Play:  Jim on a 4-unassisted play at first

Way to Leave It All on the Field:  see above

Worst Bad Habit Returns:  Letting the most hittable pitches go by for called strikes

Pleasant Fielding Surprise:  Thomas at third base

Continued Slick Play in the Field:  Andy F at short and Surya at first

Impressive to Watch (even if it's killing you):  Minnetonka's professional approach to hitting (everything is a level, linedrive swing, as opposed to some of the other big hitting teams who uppercut, unsuccessfully trying to reach the fence)

The Streak Continues:  Now 9 consecutive successful sacrifice bunts

Standing Ovation:  For Dave's exceptional 1 run, 2 hit complete game on the mound against tough Riverview competition

We Was Robbed:  Excellent diving catches by two diferent Hopkins outfielders against two different Andys

Put Me In Coach:  Jason's versatility, playing his third different position in three consecutive games

Most Welcome Sight On The Field:  Andy C's return to the line-up in hitting form

Best Fielding Plays:  Great catches by Jason and Travis, and those rubber-man stretches by Surya

Starngest Stat:  Andy F. continuing his bizzarely outsized OBP compared to his batting average

Most Auspicious Beginning:  The near miss of Smergs playing the game half naked

The First Game of Many:  Zero errors

Strange But True:  Jim's odd propensity for getting on base without the ball leaving the infield

Best Rehab News:  The answer to Joe's arm problems

MVP:  Dave.  No question.

Best Hit:  Chris' line drive homerun to left against the wind

Best Play in the Field:  Andy F's snare deep in the hole and laser throw to first, combined with Surya's stretch to nail the runner

Best Tough Plays Made to Look Easy:  Jake in centerfield.  Period.

Best "Leave It All on the Field" Play:  Jim's diving attempt in right, periously close to the fence

Best Execution of What We Practiced:  Surya's  toss to Chris for the 3-1 putout

Baseball Truism:  "It's the errors and walks that kill you"

Guttsiest Play of the Day:  Jason behind the plate for a high quality six innings

Continuation of Coach's Favorite Steak:  Now seven consecutive successfully executed sacrifice bunts

Best Basic Baseball:  Chris saving a run by properly backing up home plate

Most Unfortunate Poetic Justice:  The stunningly fine play by NWS's third baseman to rob Andy F. of a base hit shortly after Andy did the same thing to NWS

Lesson for the Day:  Twinkle toes at first leads to bad things

Newly Created Umpire Rule:  Can't ask for time out if you are in the batter's box

Good News:  Only one error again (soon to be none)

MVP for the Day:  It's unanimous - Chris

Best Hit:  Blake's 340 foot crushed line drive double

Best At-Bat:  Surya's fouling off a series of excellent pitches until drawing a walk

Way To Leave It All on the Field:  Smergs diving near-miss in the outfield

Favorite Precision Play:  Grant's second try

Most Impressive Stat on the Line:  Jake's team-leading .400 batting average

Most Cheerful Sight:  Seeing Jeremy at the game (go green team!)

Most Frustrating Circumstance:  Playing the State champs without our 3, 4 and 5 hitters in the line-up

Grant's Finest Moment:  Stranding 6 runners on base with Park's best hitter at the plate

Best Continuing Streak:  Successful sacrifice bunts

Coach's Glimmer of Hope Stat:  Only one error

Most Beautiful Object On The Field:  Coach Divish when he is mad about being given the most beautiful object on the field award for his lovely coaching helmet

Best Hit of the Game:  Chris' double to right

Best Almost Hit of the Game:  Andy F's shot in the gap

Best Fielding Play of the Game:  Matt L's tag at the plate

Best Fielding Play Aided by the Fielding Gods:  Travis' double play

Most Beautiful Object On the Field:  Coach Divish in his batting helmet

Most Welcome Sight:  Jake's return to centerfield

Saddest Stat Combination:  Holding the other team to 7 hits but giving up 10 runs

Best Season Stat on the Line Tonight:  Matt C's .500 OBP

What Made Old Coach Happiest:  Three consecutive successful bunts followed by an infield hit

Best Quote (hold-over from the last game):  Smergs upon catching a line drive to left - "I'm glad that I'm so slow, otherwise I would have run right by that one."

For field locations, go to www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=saintpaul.  Once you open the website, click the tab on the left labeled "field locator."