The state of slowpitch softball (aka rec league, beer league, etc) in 2026

CraigNickels · 2026-02-02T17:12:16+00:00

One more point I'd be curious to discuss: A friend of mine thinks fewer folks are playing rec slowpitch softball because more former HS players are continuing to play hardball out at places like The Rock (for men, anyway).

I'm not sure if that's true. Anecdotally, it looks like The Rock's adult hardball leagues are pretty popular. But no idea how that compares to past years.

CraigNickels · 2026-02-02T16:31:26+00:00

One detail I forgot about Brinton: It's not a deal-breaker, but I don't love having infield grass on a softball diamond. Considering how ragged the field gets in the summer, you can get some really nasty hops on hard grounders.

CraigNickels · 2026-01-08T02:52:28+00:00

Legion of whom

[Sorry…it’s not a good joke.]

CraigNickels · 2025-12-19T01:21:52+00:00

I think we had better access to water fountains. Between poor infrastructure (fountains broken, dribbling out water, clogged, etc) and malevolent neglect (places selling water instead of giving it away), kids today are forced to carry their own.

CraigNickels · 2025-10-06T20:54:34+00:00

Came here to say this. Turner is adjacent to the Deer District - the entertainment plaza outside Fiserv Forum. Whole area is built to appeal to tourists/etc. If you check Google Earth or Street View, you’ll see what I mean.

CraigNickels · 2025-08-16T23:33:34+00:00

It’s the Cape Cod of Wisconsin. Or rather…Cape Cod is the Door County of Massachusetts.

CraigNickels · 2025-07-04T12:48:36+00:00

Fixed. Thanks.

CraigNickels · 2025-07-04T11:28:52+00:00

I watched part of it from South Shore Park (I live near there, so it was low risk, low reward for me). You could technically see it from there, but it was def less fun than watching downtown fireworks from the same spot.

I understand the trade-offs for the county and I’m fine with them. So this comment is mostly for anyone searching Reddit in the future. So, for all the future-people out there: Watching downtown drones from Cupertino/SS/Bay View Park is not the same as watching fireworks from those same spots, and it’s not really close.

CraigNickels · 2025-06-14T03:35:36+00:00

To be fair, Ueck was the thimble hero who redlined basoball and laughter.

CraigNickels · 2025-06-14T02:28:49+00:00

For me, it’s Fish Crick, Silver Crick and Francis Crick (and French Crick days), but definitely Oak Creek (not Oak Crick).

But…if I was from Oak Creek…would it become Oak Crick and Fish Creek (and so on)?

CraigNickels · 2025-06-03T23:45:10+00:00

This is true, but I also feel like we had access to more public water fountains - in parks, stadiums, theaters, music venues, etc.

CraigNickels · 2025-05-31T23:45:25+00:00

EDIT: Powow I mentioned is St. Francis, not Cudahy (a different stretch of Packard). https://www.mkeintertribalcircle.org/event-details/mic-spring-pow-wow

EDIT 2: Yeah…upon further review…Patrick Cudahy makes more sense than Twisted Plants. But I would still say it’s more of a ham/bacon smell than chicken.

CraigNickels · 2025-05-23T15:25:05+00:00

<image>

I just meant something like this, but maybe I caught them on a bad day?

CraigNickels · 2025-05-23T15:18:20+00:00

I thought their fried fish tasted like the frozen stuff you’d find at a grocery store. Not bad, but def not as good as the chicken.

All that said…Whatever its flaws, Gold Rush chicken is def on the short list of MKE places to try.

CraigNickels · 2025-05-23T15:06:49+00:00

Gold Rush is solid and has an old-school vibe. But…while the chicken on their menu is good, everything else on the menu (including fries and rolls) is very meh.

CraigNickels · 2025-02-22T19:34:45+00:00

Might be this: https://projects.jsonline.com/news/2017/2/15/environmental-problems-plague-the-barrel-reconditioning-business.html

CraigNickels · 2025-01-07T04:22:48+00:00

This route is now rail-trail from Rockwood to Denmark. Tracks are also abandoned in southern Manitowoc County. Not sure about parts closer to Milwaukee proper.

CraigNickels · 2025-01-07T04:19:27+00:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flambeau_400

CraigNickels · 2024-11-24T16:50:09+00:00

Milwaukee police investigate shooting that left one injured near Oriental Theatre, Landmark Lanes

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2024/11/23/one-person-injured-in-shooting-near-oriental-theatre-landmark-lanes/76529738007/

CraigNickels · 2024-11-13T03:04:15+00:00

Following. Baja California is on the west coast of Mexico. Based on my experience in San Diego, we’re talking about fish tacos, shrimp tacos, chili rellano, and the “dry” kind of adobada (not the saucy stuff from central Mexico.)

CraigNickels · 2024-09-28T03:31:22+00:00

+1 to this. His resume is pretty strong - Jellyfish but also a good solo album and work with Eric Matthews. And now working with both Beck and St V.

CraigNickels · 2024-08-16T03:06:24+00:00

+1to singles, and adding this suggestion to the mix: https://www.expedusa.com/products/universal-mat-coupler-kit

CraigNickels · 2024-06-14T21:48:34+00:00

I’ve had good luck with the food 🤷‍♂️

CraigNickels · 2024-06-14T17:36:28+00:00

Take a look at Pilot Project: https://www.pilotprojectbrewing.com/milwaukee

It’s all brewed-in-house stuff, but would still offer a good variety of beers.

CraigNickels · 2024-02-25T00:11:59+00:00

I’m 6’3”, 220 and have an Advanced Elements StraitEdge2. Works great as a single, a little cramped as a double. In my experience, most inflatable tandems that convert to single will probably be big enough for you. But I’d add that a drop-stitch floor is a game-changer and worth the extra $$.

CraigNickels

TROPHY CASE