In 1998, Veto League Baseball was born on the Rock Island diamond known as Saukie Field. The VLB made this their home field for the next eight seasons up until the move to Veterans Field in Moline. Each year, the league hosts a return to the iconic field called "Saukie Days". The anticipated wait is finally here this week.
Saukie Field is known for a short left field porch. It's the spot Josh Lawhorn set a VLB single-game record with six homeruns in 1999. It's where behemoth Bob Zerull launched 36 dingers in 28 games played. Also where Ashley Engstrom set a never-again-will-be-broken record for RBI in a game (16). And finally, where the most combined runs in a single game was a whopping 69. It's also where foul and homeruns balls go to die - as beyond the fence, the entire left-center to left foul area is surrounded by woods. It's the reason the foul ball limit (known as the Carlson Rule) was implemented.
This Tuesday (5:30 pm) and Saturday (11:30 am) will be the annual "Saukie Days". Tuesday's contest will both be featuring the Goonies v. the Spartans in flip-flop home/away matchups. There is a chance Saturday's game will be rescheduled to Sunday due to the Bix. Keep an eye on the Veto League Baseball Facebook group for updates.
The league played its first weekday game in about ten years last Tuesday at Jefferson in Davenport. Nineteen players showed up for the double-header. The league plans to continue Tuesday evening games beginning at 5:30. Also, the majority of the remainder of the season is set to be played at Jefferson.
In other league news, the Blackhawk Division is winding up to be the tightest divisional race in league history. The Gems (Mitch Dietrich) and Cannons (Alex Miller) are tied atop at 3-4 while the Cannons (Andrew Collins) are just a half game back at 3-5. Each captain is slated to manage 12 regular-season games. In the Saukie Division, the Goonies (Josh Paul) have nearly already secured a playoff berth at 6-0 while the Spartans (Brent Lafrenz) are a comfortable 4-2 and the Kekambas (Adlonis Hopkins) have the worst record in the league at 2-6.
Saukie Field is known for a short left field porch. It's the spot Josh Lawhorn set a VLB single-game record with six homeruns in 1999. It's where behemoth Bob Zerull launched 36 dingers in 28 games played. Also where Ashley Engstrom set a never-again-will-be-broken record for RBI in a game (16). And finally, where the most combined runs in a single game was a whopping 69. It's also where foul and homeruns balls go to die - as beyond the fence, the entire left-center to left foul area is surrounded by woods. It's the reason the foul ball limit (known as the Carlson Rule) was implemented.
This Tuesday (5:30 pm) and Saturday (11:30 am) will be the annual "Saukie Days". Tuesday's contest will both be featuring the Goonies v. the Spartans in flip-flop home/away matchups. There is a chance Saturday's game will be rescheduled to Sunday due to the Bix. Keep an eye on the Veto League Baseball Facebook group for updates.
The league played its first weekday game in about ten years last Tuesday at Jefferson in Davenport. Nineteen players showed up for the double-header. The league plans to continue Tuesday evening games beginning at 5:30. Also, the majority of the remainder of the season is set to be played at Jefferson.
In other league news, the Blackhawk Division is winding up to be the tightest divisional race in league history. The Gems (Mitch Dietrich) and Cannons (Alex Miller) are tied atop at 3-4 while the Cannons (Andrew Collins) are just a half game back at 3-5. Each captain is slated to manage 12 regular-season games. In the Saukie Division, the Goonies (Josh Paul) have nearly already secured a playoff berth at 6-0 while the Spartans (Brent Lafrenz) are a comfortable 4-2 and the Kekambas (Adlonis Hopkins) have the worst record in the league at 2-6.
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