NWLA Post Regional Article: John's Jottings

A much better, more in depth article should have been written by now from Joe Cronin but it isn't, so you get the next best thing. Here are some misc. thoughts from yours truly, John Cronin, manager of the SFWL Loons:

• When we first arrived at Sky Hill Park in Eagan, MN, I was in awe of the environment. I had no idea what this would look like. It looked better than I thought. 
• Shortly after arriving and registering, the Brew City Wiffle guys brought out the keg and mini grill and started grilling brats. Great job fitting right into the Milwaukee stereotype!
• Our first game against the MNWA was rough. Shed Field legend and 2 time Cy Young Howard Cronin had a hard time adjusting from 40 feet pitching distance at home to a 47 feet distance here. The MNWA could've swung at a lot of those balls that just missed the K zone. You know you could've put those balls in play. Sorry, I feel obligated to say that just because other guys on the Loons squad thought that. Good game though MNWA, we won't lose by 17 next year.
• Game 2 vs. BCW. The Keg Crushers are a fun group of guys. Without them we would not have qualified for Nationals. Thanks guys and I'm not going to rip you for anything because your cool.
• Game 3 vs. TBW. We got lucky when they put their #4 pitcher against us (Derek Linderman). Just saying, but we are one of 5 leagues to score 6 or more runs against them in NWLA Tournament history.  It was a very fun game until they got scared and brought in Chris Harley to shut us down to end the game. Thanks for keeping it close guys. Very classy group of guys that we wish well in Ohio. I won't even bring up the obvious story from this game involving a certain batter not being able to hit a slow curve.
• Game 4 vs HRL. Most fun game of the day. Sarah Cronin got the first hit in NWLA history by a woman. A lot of offense in this game. Our last inning in which we clinched our ticket to Nationals was the most exciting wiffleball memory outside of Shed Field. I don't care what kind of moves the HRL made to "gift us a national's trip". As far as I'm concerned we made it fair and square.
• Take a look at our batting stats. We are in in the top half for any major stat category (Avg., Runs, Hits, HR, etc.). Our offense was fine. Anyone out their hating on us, just remember we are a rookie league missing some of our top players. 
• Pitching was a struggle, that is as in-depth as I would like to go.
• Overall, it was a fun day to out faces to all the names I have seen on forums and league websites. 
• I thought we played excellent in our first NWLA appearance. As far as the decision not to go to nationals, we would have been missing 2 members from our regionals team. We would have had a very small lineup with little to no pitching. Other team members wanted to get some "ringers" to add to our lineup, but I wanted this to be a true Shed Field team, not a team of guys who just want to go to Ohio to play wiffleball. 
• Thank you NWLA and we will be back next year. 
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• Change the age rule.
• Thanks!