Norms sleepwalk, then cakewalk into first place

5/17/06 (Eagan) - The Norms swept their way into first place with a pair of w's over a winless team and a previously unbeaten team in a doubleheader played at Lexington Diffley fields. The winless team proved to be a more difficult and worthy opponent in Game 1.

The fireworks in Game 1 came early. The Norms put up 4 runs in each of the first two innings and then coasted to a 9-5 victory over a pesky Celts Bar team. It was the kind of ho hum effort that could land the boys in hot water if they run into the wrong team on the wrong night. Newcomer but old school Norm Kurt Clark doubled, tripled and drove in 4 runs in his 2006 debut. Brent Anderson went 2-2 and knocked in two runs. Kelly Knutsen went the distance on the mound foru the Norms and was impressive, giving 4 of the Celts 5 runs in the 5th inning.

Game 2 was close, for an inning. The younger, cockier, trash talking Gabriel Financial club jumped out to a 5-0 lead after 1/2 an inning. They got NO MORE! The Norms went medieval on the Gabes and didnt let up. They responded with 6 runs in the home half of the first and followed it up with another 6 in the second, 5 in the third, and finished it off with and 8 spot in the 4th for an impressive, message sending 25-5 victory that vaulted them into sole posession of first place in the Wednesday night Red league. "By the third inning, they werent talking no more" said an exhuberant Donny Willis after the game. Jeff Johnson had a bolder opinion "We really took it to them and I believe sent a strong message that the Norms are the class of the Wednesday night league - dont ever mess with the NORMs, man". The Norms racked up 31 hits in the four short innings. TJ Albrecht, Mike Daughton, Mike Johnson, and Kelly Knutsen each went 4-4 in the second game. Jeff Johnson and Derek Willis (2 triples and an inside the park HR) had 4 RBI each. Mike Johnson, Daughton, Knutsen and Todd Schneiderhan drove in 3 runs each. Schneiderhan smoked a mammoth two run home run over the centerfield fence and onto Lexington Ave. Mookie Anderson shut the mouthy Gabes out after the first inning and gained the win. "This is what its all about, but I guarantee when we play those guys again, they'll remember this, it wont be this easy next time".

The Norms (4-0-1) return to action on Wednesday, May 24th with a single game against a very good Lemaster Restoration (3-2) team. Gametime is at 6pm at Northview Field #7.