2009 Night Game

Veto League Baseball returns on to Modern Woodman Park on Monday, August 16, for the annual night game.

Around 22 players will suit up in orange and navy to play under the lights, many for the first time in their lives.  With over a hundred friends and family in attendance, the 2010 night game promises to bring lasting memories for years to come.

Anthony Reese, 2008 Rookie of the Year recipient, will captain his team against Tony Zier, 2008’s runner-up Rookie of the Year.

Remember to bring canned goods, as the VLB donates all non-perishable proceeds to the River Bend Food Bank.  In the last two years, Veto League donated over 800 pounds of food to be distributed locally to those in need.  The night game is Veto League’s one and only fundraiser of the year, so concessions of hot dogs, chips, desserts, and drinks will be sold.  All proceeds from food sales go toward the league’s funding for new baseball equipment.  This year, Veto League was able to purchase a collapsible L-screen and also provide discounts on a newer style baseball jersey.  Veto League will also be raffling off prizes from local establishment.  The fee for a raffle ticket?  Just one canned good.

Veto League Baseball was founded in 1998 my then Moline High School student Matt Veto.  In what he calls his “greatest personal achievement”, Veto’s league has allowed over 350 men and women to play the game of baseball, providing fun, competition, and a little exercise, for no monetary cost to the player.  This year, VL has played 36 games amongst 71 different faces. 

Play continues this weekend, as divisional playoffs begin.  In the Saukie Division, the Talons clash against the Playaz while in the Blackhawk Division, the All-Stars battle the Goonies.

story by Josh Paul

Talons 10, Juce Boxes 3 (7)

Scott Ellefritz had one thing on his mind as he arrived to Douglas Park on Sunday afternoon, win and in.  However, Ellefritz was not so inclined to discuss his post season attitude.  In a pregame press confrence, Ellefritz was asked what his rotation would be against the Playaz in the Saukie Divisional Playoff Series.  Ellefritz replied, “Playoffs?! Don’t talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? Playoffs?! I’m just hoping we can win a game, another game!”

The Juice Boxes (2-8) visited the Talons (5-6) on Sunday’s game one contest, and the Talons prevailed 10-3 in seven innings, backed by solid defense and cruical hitting.  Scott Ellefritz’s squad will be meeting the Playaz, who wrapped up home field advantage on Saturday in the Saukie Division.

 The Talons chalked up 16 hits in the seven innings, doubling the Juice Box’s numbers.  Josh Paul led the charge with a 3-3 day with two runs scored and two RBI.  Rookie John “Cino” Rasso belted his first career VL homerun, a shot to the alley (literally) behind the left centerfield fence.  He added a team high three RBI in the contest.

 Runs were scarce yet again for the Juice Boxes, who have already been shut out and one runned in their innaugural season.  No hitter tallied more than two hits in the game.  Interim manager Jeff Kilgard has been frustrated.  He could be heard from the dug out several times mumbling, “Oh, jeez!!”

 After the game, Coach Ellefritz’s players doused him with a large jug of water.  He will start a best-of-five series against the Playaz, tenatively starting the weekend of July 31 – August 1.

Juice Boxes 14, Meteors 2 (7)

Shortly after their losing performance against the Talons, the Juice Boxes let off some steam at the hands of the Meteors in game two on Sunday.

The Meteors (2-9) and Juice Boxes (3-8) came into the game with the worst records in baseball, both having already been eliminated from playoff contention.  Matt Veto captained his Meteors and appeared to have a solid team, however, this time it was the Meteors that got doubled up in hits, as the Juice Boxes reached base 24 times to the Meteors’ 11. 

The ‘Boxes were led by Dan Tomlin’s 3-for-4 day at the plate and three RBI.  Anthony Reese also collected three hits, doubling twice.  Every member of the Juice Boxes with the exception of one hitter collected at least two hits and drove in one.  

The Juice Boxes have one game left this season, hosting the Goonies this weekend.  The Meteors face the Playaz as the last game of the season in a flip game.  With four regular season games left, play will continue this weekend at Douglas Park.

Story by Josh Paul

The expansion team Juice Boxes got a squirtin of a hurtin after the Goonies prevailed against the Talons on Sunday.

The Juice Boxes, founded by captain/general manager Ian Smith, have been the first team officially eliminated from playoff contention following an interleague matchup between the Talons at Goonies.  Smith was fired several weeks ago by VLB Vice President Josh Paul following what Paul only described as “lackluster mentoring”.  The Goonies (7-3), found themselves a 6-4 winner in the 9-inning contest.  After a failed season, the Juice Boxes appear to be destined for the dreaded MSLB (minors sandbox league baseball).

The Talons (4-5) found themselves up 4-1 going into the bottom of the 6th inning.  Captain Scott Ellefritz’s team got their offense from two unlikely heros, rookies Aaron Remley and Scottie’s own father, Steve.  Remly supplied a 4-for-5 day with a double, triple, and two runs scored.  Remley was knocked in both times by lefty Steve Ellefritz, who went a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate.

The Goonies scored one run in the bottom of the 6th, then took over in the bottom of the 7th, plating three times and taking a 6 to 4 lead.  The Goonies were led by two rookies of their own, Rafe Thrasher and Josh Adams.  They combined for a 8-for-10 day.  Thrasher scored three runs and Adams drove in two.  However, it was Thrasher’s glove that was the highlight of this contest, as he looked more like a gazelle in the outfield than a Veto League centerfielder.  Thrasher robbed at least two would be doubles with his cat-like quickness.

The Goonies shut down the Talons through the final four frames to seal the win.  The Goonies will move on to the playoffs for the second consecutive year, as they will square off against the All-Stars, captained by Tony Zier.  The Goonies are just a 1/2 game behind the All-Stars for home field advantage in the playoffs.  In the Saukie Division, the Talons are just one win away from sealing their own playoff spot and keeping the Meteors out of the playoffs for the second consecutive year.  The Talons won the Veto League World Series in 2009 after beating the Gremlins in fives games during the best-of-seven series.

Due to unpredictable field conditions at Veto League’s “other” field, Ridgewood, the players have decided to make Douglas Park the official ballpark of Veto League Baseball.  Expect the remainder of 2010’s games to be played there, unless otherwise informed.  Ridgewood Field has been a satisfying ballpark the last 2.5 seasons, being  a reliable field with the grass usually mowed and other teams rarey playing there.  However, the field does not drain water well, and 2010 has been especially brutal in that category.  Players arrived at Ridgewood on July 10 to find the infield mostly dry with the exception of a large puddle behind home plate.  Also, players found tire tracks in the infield dirt, appearing as if reckless ATVers decided to mark the field as their own.

Douglas Park will begin hosting Veto League as the official park beginning Sunday, July 11.

Ryan Barton, one of Veto League Baseball’s all-time greats, suffered the most serious injury in the league’s 13-year existence this past weekend.

In a rainy Saturday afternoon, Barton was set to lead off the bottom of the 3rd inning for the home team Playaz.  Before batting, there was some discussion about postponing the game after 2.5 innings due to the pouring rain.  However, the majority favored playing 5 innings to make the game official.  Barton, the league leader in doubles (12) led off the inning with a booming rocket to the left-center gap.  Due to slick base paths, Barton wasn’t able to run at full speed.  Rookie left fielder Nick Larson lasered a strong throw to second base.  Barton awkwardly slid left foot first into the bag and narrowly beat out the throw, however, his left ankle got caught on the side of second base.  With no where for his weight to go as his foot was stuck on the bag, all Barton’s momentum was shifted to his ankle.  Barton suffered a serious injury and was escorted off the field, suspending the rain soaked game.

Bob Zerull and Josh Paul assisted Barton to the Trinity Hospital ER.  After x-rays were taken, the Doctor told Barton he had broken his ankle in three different places.  Emergency surgery was completed and Barton’s fate was determined by the doctor that he would have to take 6 to 8 weeks of recovery before putting weight back on his ankle.  Barton was placed on the 60-day disabled list retroactive to Saturday, June 12.  This leaves Barton with a questionable return by late August, when Veto League will host another night game at Modern Woodman Park.

Barton said he has had problems with his left ankle in the past, spraining it multiple times, however, this is the worst that’s ever happened to it.  “It felt like my foot dislocated from my leg.  The pain was terrible,” said Barton.

Barton is in the top 10 all-time Veto League ranks for games played, hits, doubles, triples, homers, runs scored, and RBI.  This season he was leading the league in doubles, triples, homers, and batting average (.679).  His batting average was on pace to break the single season record, set by Andy Moeller in 2006 at .649. Barton captained the Gremlins at the 2009 Modern Woodman Park Veto League All-Star Game.  Barton is survived by wife, Melissa, and 4-month old son, Jacob.

Josh Paul

12 years.  333 players.  Hundreds of games.  And not one shutout — until this weekend.

The All-Stars went on the road this week to square off against the struggling Juice Boxes.  It’s a game that 13 players will never forget.  A game that goes down in the record books as the first ever Veto League Baseball shutout.

The All-Stars (4-1) got on the board quick with a run in the first inning.  The Juice Boxes (0-4), led by sub-captain Josh Smith, got off to a very slow start against the defensive iron curtain of captain Tony Zier’s team.  Smith, the 2006 Rookie of the Year, was unable to motivate his team under the sweltering hot sun at Ridgewood Park.  With a runner on second in the sixth inning, Tom DeBroeck lined a shot that appeared destined for the fence in left field.  The ball found itself caught in the web of Smith’s glove, as he was able to make a running stab at it.  However, Smith fell down on the catch and his foot got caught up on the fence.  Ryan Barton was easily able to tag from second to third, but made the turn toward home and scored before Smith was able to untangle himself from the chain link.

Down by two runs in the bottom of the 7th and faced with going into record books as the first team to not score a single run in a Veto League game, the Juice Boxes made it interesting.  With one out remaining, the bags were loaded with Juice Boxes as VLB Nick Larson stepped up to home plate.  A single breaks up the shutout and potentially ties the game.  On a two strike count, Larson took a good hack at a juicy pitch, but was unable to make contact.  The book was closed on the first ever shutout.

Smith’s top three in the lineup combined for 1-12 and his team as a whole scraped just five hits and no extra base knocks.  The All-Stars were led by Dan Tomlin’s three-hit game and Barton’s two doubles, both of whom scored the only runs in the game.

When asked what it felt like to be the captain of the first ever Veto League team to be shut out, despite having the likes of Anthony Reese, Bob Zerull, and Scott Ellefritz on his squad, Smith replied, “It’s like getting a Juice Box without a straw.”

The game also shatters the previous record low of seven combined runs in a 7-inning game and also broke the mark for fewest hits in a game for a single team.

Dust off gloves, polish up bats, and dig up a pair of cleats.  That’s what 26 players did for this weekend’s Veto League Opener.

Despite the late notice of Veto League’s start to the 2010 campaign, plenty of friendly faces arrived at Ridgewood field on April 17-18 to play three games.  After much sunburn later, the VLB completed all three contests, each of which came down to the final inning.

Saturday, April 17: All-Stars 14, Goonies 13 (7); Talons 27, Playaz 23 (9)

Put an * by this one.

Rookie captain Tony Zier’s self proclaimed “Meggan’s All-Stars” wore away the Goonies after plating a run with two outs in the bottom of the 7th to escape with the victory.  With one out and runners on 2nd and 3rd in the bottom of the 6th, a routine pop fly was hit to the catcher.  After recording the out, the catcher made an errant throw to the pitcher.  After doing so, Tim DeBroeck scored from third base and, after a throwing error, brother Tom DeBroeck followed behind him.  After some confusion, the play was let stand.  The next batter flied out to end the inning. 

The Goonies (0-1) were led by Scott Ellefritz’s three-hit day and four RBI.  They made a charge late, tying the game up in the top half of the 7th, but Zier’s team narrowly escaped after veteran Jeff Kilgard singled home the winning run.

All-Stars (1-0) were led by Anthony Reese’s four hits and Tom DeBroeck’s five RBI.  The All-Stars featured a family affair, as father Len DeBroeck batted in the order behind sons Tom and Tim.  Brothers Brian and Ian Smith also found themselves batting in the 6- and 7-spots. 

Game 2 featured another classic between new captain Reese and the 2009 World Series Champion Talons. 

Captain Ellefritz, who batted 6-for-7 with 6 RBI, had his team hitting on all cylinders to start the contest, scoring 15 runs through the 4th inning.  The Talons (1-0)took an 8-run lead into the bottom of the 7th.  With just three outs to go, Reese found himself in unfamiliar territory as his QC Playaz of Rock Island (0-1) faced three outs before losing in their debut.  Reese huddled his Playaz and encouraged his teammates with five words: Go Big or Go Home.  The Playaz did just that, as Reese led the charge with a two-run homer to left field.  That was followed up by homeruns from Tom DeBrock and Josh Paul.  The first back-to-back-to-back homeruns in Veto League’s history at Ridgewood Field.  The Playaz managed to plate four more runs to tie the game.  With the bases loaded and one out, the Playaz were unable to score the winning run.  The Talons answered with three in the extra frame and were matched by the Playaz, sending a 7-inning game to the ninth.  After a sun blistering day, the Talons put the game out of reach with four more runs.  The Playaz were unable to initiate a third comeback, giving the Talons the win.

Rookie Charles “Chuck” Noyd provided a flurry of offense with five hits and two doubles for the Talons.  The Playaz were led by Tom DeBroeck’s three homeruns and Reese’s two.  The duo combined for 12 hits, nine runs, and 11 RBI.

Sunday, April 18: Playaz 12, Meteors 11

Veto League Baseball drew a near record crowd for this regular season game.

A tally of 15 fans took time out of their day to watch a well played game between the Playaz (1-1) and Meteors (0-1).  Said one attendee about the game, “This was…something.”

This game was close the entire way, as no team led by more than 2 runs in the 9-inning game.  It was the Playaz, though, who scored last to win the one-run game.  The Meteors, captained by Jeff Kilgard, played a defensively sound game, but it was the bats of Dan Tomlin and Chuck Noyd that proved the difference, as each recorded seven hits.

With one out in the bottom of the 9th, Coach Reese elected to walk heavy-hitter Bob Zerull, moving the tying run, Steve Roberts, from first to second.  Josh Paul stepped up and hit a routine grounder to the shortstop for a force at 2nd base.  With the tying run 90 feet away, Kelly Sullivan grounded to third to end the game, giving the Playaz their first win in fanchise history.

On April 12, 15 of Veto League’s most dedicated met to discuss the upcoming season.  Included in the discussion were uniform alterations, the decision on opening day, selection of captains, and a minute rule change.  Opening day has been set for the weekend of April 17-18 at 11:45am, with players meeting at Ridgewood.  Double headers are probable for both days.  Veto League usually begins their campaign the first weekend of May.  However, due to high demand and a great ‘09 turnout, commissioner Matt Veto, in an attempt to increase ticket sales and fan attendance, moved the schedule up two weeks.  “I strongly feel that Veto League Baseball has made a significant impact in each of our lives today.  And if I can spread that magical aura of playing on a field for two extra weeks, I’m all for it,” said Veto.

At the winter meetings, players voted to transition from the older style plan t-shirt jersey to a newer innovative “wick-away” material.  Cost per shirt is estimated to rise $2 from the previous VLB uniform.  It was also voted to incorporate a new style of hat, also with a more comfortable mesh material and raised lettering.  New jerseys and hats will be available for purchase in upcoming weeks.  To offset the cost, the Veto League has decided to offer a discount on shirts for the first two weeks of the season, selling the wick-away shirts with name and number on the back for $10, instead of the estimated $14 regular cost.  Cost of the hat is yet to be determined, but is estimated at $22.

Players took a vote and decided to alter the intentional walk rule that was incorporated into Veto League a few seasons ago.  With the rule tweak, captains are allowed two walks per game (down from three a year ago), however, are allowed no intentional passes if 25 or more players show up to play ball.

Last September, Veto League Baseball — or “The VLB” — collected 323 pounds of food for the River Bend Foodbank during the league’s first ever night game under the lights of Modern Woodmen Park. On Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, the most organized pick-up baseball league around will again reward its most consistent regular-season players with a night game on the home field of the Quad Cities River Bandits. And The VLB will again collect food for the River Bend Foodbank. The VLB aims to greatly exceed last season’s food collection totals.

Admission is free, but those attending are asked to bring a non-perishable food item, and in return, will receive a free raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes that will be drawn throughout the nine-inning, sandlot-style baseball contest. Festivities (starting lineups, national anthem, on-field group photos, etc.) will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a first pitch slated for 7 p.m.

The VLB was organized in 1998 by Moline native and Quad-Cities resident Matt Veto with the intention of catering to the less-experienced baseball enthusiast. It’s for folks that didn’t start on their high school baseball team — or perhaps never even played past Little League — but love the game of baseball and refuse to accept softball as the only post-18-year-old option. In 10 seasons, over 320 different players of varying age and skill levels have played in the league. The majority of Monday night’s 26-man roster consists of players with deep roots in the Quad-Cities metro area and players that are 23 years old or older.

To ensure the comfort and enjoyment of players of all skill levels, pitches are thrown at batting-practice speed from behind a protective L-screen. There are no called balls or strikes and we do not suit up a catcher, but place a ninth fielder in foul ground behind the plate to cover home and chase after foul balls. The rest of the game is baseball as you know it.

Staff will be on hand to collect information from visitors new to the league who may wish to play next season. It is free to play in The VLB during the regular season, which runs from May to September. For more information, visit www.thevlb.com or contact The VLB organizer Matt Veto at vetoleague@yahoo.com.

Minor League lights will shine on sandlot ballplayers for a second season.

Veto League Baseball will again play its annual night game under the bright bulbs of Modern Woodmen Park — home to the Single-A Quad Cities River Bandits. The sandlot league, in its 11th year, will play its fifth night game in history, this chapter to play out on Monday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m.

In the case of rain, Aug. 31 has been secured as a rain date.

And for the second season the VLB will be playing to collect non-perishable food items to donate to the River Bend Foodbank, which helps to service the nutritional needs of those battling hunger in the Quad-Cities area and 22 surrounding counties. In difficult economic times, the management of the River Bend Foodbank says they are in great need of donations.

Please invite family and friends to watch us play, and please ask them to bring a non-perishable food item, or two, or more, in exchange for a raffle ticket. Raffles will take place each half inning.

The night-game roster will be filled by invitation, with 24 players receiving an invite based on the number of regular season games played. For ease of setting the roster and creating the programs, invites will be sent out after the Aug. 16 contests. Games played after that date will not count toward night-game participation.

Players who earn a night-game invite are asked to obtain a VLB jersey and contribute a donation to cover the cost of the lights and field rental. Please see Josh Paul to complete these transactions. We are, of course, very thankful to the River Bandits for allowing us to play this contest in such a venue.

Night-game participants are also asked to wear long pants and a hat, though the hat does not have to be a VLB hat. Those, however, can also be obtained through Josh Paul.

Howard Zimmerle, the VLB director of special events, will be creating a roster of volunteers to fill certain game-night positions — including concessionaires, a grillmaster and greeters. Ideally I wish those VLB members that do not make the cut fill these roles. Otherwise, friends and family have been gracious with their time.

Jason Nunn, director of promotions, will be acquiring prize donations. If you have helpful leads, please see Nunn. Those who donate may have their name, slogan and other brief information read during their prize draw.

Jeff Kilgard, concessions manager, will be collecting food donations and concession area materials, such as coolers, tables, etc. Please considering purchasing a pack of hot dogs and buns. Condiment, beverage and baked goods donations are also greatly appreciated. Concession funds go back to the league for equipment purchases.

If there are any ideas, or questions, please contact Matt Veto.

Thank you for making this the most successful season in VLB history.