USA softball team to make return

Springfield included in 2008 Olympic tune-up tour; state baseball tournament will be at Meador Park. The return of Team USA comes as a stop on its "Bound 4 Beijing" tour — a 46-city swing that will ready it for the 2008 Olympics in China — which lands at the Meador Softball Complex on July 18.

The 2008 version includes such recognizable names as pitchers Jennie Finch and Lisa Fernandez. Tickets will go on sale March 3 at the Park Board office, 1923 N. Weller.
Team USA will again compete against a regional all-star team comprised of former Missouri State players and others from area programs.

Be sure and read the last paragraph...

ST. LOUIS -- Albert Pujols is willing to forgive, but he clearly hasn't forgotten.

On Monday, Pujols made his first extensive public comments since his name was falsely reported to be contained within former Sen. George Mitchell's report on illegal performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.

"I don't have to prove myself," he said. "Since 2001, I've been proving myself with the numbers. I've been proving myself every year. How much better can I get? Only God knows how much better [I can] get. But do I need to cheat in this game to get better? This is nothing for me.

"Baseball is just a hobby, man. God has blessed me. And I fear God too much for me to do a stupid thing. I fear him. If I do some stupid things to help me out, to hit .400 or three-something or hit 30 home runs, he's going to take that away from me. So why not be the natural guy like I've been since I was in the Minor Leagues? To cheat in this game, that's not right."

DON'T MISS PUJOLS AND THE REDBIRDS!

The Springfield Cardinals are excited to announce that individual tickets for the 2008 season will go on sale Wednesday, March 5th at 9am. Tickets for all 70 regular season games at Hammons Field will be available, in addition to both exhibition games against the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as the 2008 Texas League All-Star Game presented by Great Southern.

To make the purchasing process convenient and fan-friendly to all Cardinals’ fans, tickets can be purchased one of two ways; by calling (417) 863-2143 or by logging on to www.springfieldcardinals.com.

A limited amount of chair-back tickets, along with general admission tickets (grass and standing-room) will be available for the exhibition games on March 28th and 29th, as the St. Louis Cardinals make their first visit to Hammons Field since the Inaugural Season of 2005.

Don’t wait for individual tickets to go on sale and risk not getting to see Albert Pujols and the gang…become a Springfield Cardinals Season Ticket Holder! Season Ticket Packages begin at just $99 for a Quarter Season Ticket Package. To become a Springfield Cardinals Season Ticket Holder, call (417) 863-2143 or for more information, log on to www.springfieldcardinals.com. We hope to see you at Hammons Field very soon. Go Cards and Get Your RED On!

Hustle is off to an early start

Show-Me Hustle is off to a 1-0 start in a five week series of Wiffle Ball. Thanks to a lot of good team pitching and fielding and a 2 run homer by Isaac, We won 2-1. We have next week off to celebrate Thanksgiving. Be there Nov. 29th.

St. Louis Cardinals Return to Hammons Field

October 30, 2007 - The Springfield Cardinals and St. Louis Cardinals are thrilled to announce the return of the St. Louis Cardinals to Hammons Field. The St. Louis Cardinals will take on their Double-A affiliate, the Springfield Cardinals, in a pair of games at Hammons Field on Friday, March 28th at 7:10pm and Saturday, March 29th at 1:10pm.

The return of the St. Louis Cardinals to Hammons Field marks their second-ever visit to Springfield and first since Springfield’s inaugural season of 2005.

“We’re ecstatic about another Cardinals versus Cardinals event at Hammons Field”, said Vice President / General Manager Matt Gifford. “We have the best fans in minor league baseball and it’s great that the St. Louis Cardinals are rewarding them for their great support. It’s going to be just as memorable this time around.”

The only way to guarantee a ticket for the Cards vs Cards series is by becoming a Springfield Cardinals Season Ticket Holder. Full Season, Half Season and Quarter Season Ticket packages are now on sale. Current Season Ticket Holders will be receiving information in the mail within the next week.

Individual game tickets for the St. Louis / Springfield series will go on sale at a date yet to be determined.

Fund Raiser for Show-Me Hustle

We raised $90 for the team. Thanks to those that bought food and helped support the team.

2007 Stats
33-23-2
Hustle / Opponents
434 runs scored / 333 runs allowed
.342 batting avg. / .286 batting avg.

364 hits / 313 hits
67 doubles / 38 doubles
18 triples / 9 triples
8 inside park HR / 3 inside park HR
1 over the fence HR / 1 over the fence HR
1065 at bats / 1093 at bats
448 stolen bases / 325 stolen bases

13 caught stealing / 20 caught stealing

263 K / 264 K

260 W / 223 W
4 Shut Outs

Hustle only shut out once
139 errors

37 double plays
.886 fielding %

.464 slugging %
.486 OB%

Some seens from the 2007 WS

12th Place in 2007 World Series

Show-Me Hustle took 12th place out of 24 teams in their very first World Series appearance in Kansas City last week. Some of the other teams coaches were over heard saying their goal "was to just make it to the Championship Bracket each year". Hustle achieved this in their first year.

GREAT JOB HUSTLE. Get ready 2008, here comes the Hustle.

Hustle finishes 2007 World Series 2-3

Hustle lost Thursday morning 4-3 to complete their first trip to a World Series.

Make up your own caption for this...

Leave it in the comment section. Remember, the boys are reading this, so be nice.

Having fun in KC as well as playing baseball

Some warm up practice in KC on Memorial Day Weekend

Thanks to Michelle Petry for the pictures.

Great Job Hustle !!

3-0 against AA teams, 0-2 against AAA teams. Finished the tournament 3-2 and took home 2nd place. Watch out KC, here we come.

A-1 Electric All-Star Pitching Award

#10 Adam Barton
Pitching the 1st game of Joplin's NIT tourn. He struck out the last 6 of the 10 batters he faced in the game, while allowing just 1 run, to seal the deal.
Great job Adam.

Bank Midwest Web Gem's The Week

#34 Brady Petry
Diving catch for an out on 3rd, then from his knees, throws behind the runner at 1st for an amazing Double Play!
Way to go Brady.
#21 Cody Brewer
Playing right field, he saved 2 runs from scoring by diving for a ball that was way over his head to record the out and end the inning.
Way to go Code Blue.
#24 Buddy Mills
Catching a Blistered line drive at 1st, he was able to throw behind the runner on 2nd to turn the Double Play!
Way to go Buddy.

Scenes from the weekend in Joplin...

!! GREAT JOB HUSTLE !!

1st place
2007 JSA NIT Baseball Tournament
April 21-22

Pre-View of the banner...

Thanks again to all of our sponsors and personal donations...

Beatty Electric All-Star Pitching Awards

#5 Hunter Dame
No Hit / Shutout
With 5 Strikeouts
#45 Cody Brewer
No Hitter
With 6 Strikeouts