With an even 6-6 record the Beavers limped into the playoffs. Luckily, all 4 teams make the playoffs, so it was more a matter of seeding, not IF.
Game one paired us with the Gap Finders. This was our opponent week one of fall, as well as week 4. Our record against these guys was 2-2 (shocking), but as we all know, the playoffs are a new season.
I was called out for the coin flip to determine home team. As the coin spun in the air, I called tails and nailed it. Beavers were to be home team.
The Gap Finders found few gaps in the first and the Beavers held them to 0 runs. There weren't many games this year where that happened in the first inning. Off to a good start. The Beavers came up in the bottom of the first, this time though, it was completely different. To welcome each Beaver to the plate was walk-up music. Some chosen by the individual hitter, some chosen by their teammates. Belle led off to the '70s song Ring My Bell. The umpire was laughing and amazed that we had actually gone through with the music. Maybe that is how Belle walked, doesn't matter, Belle on first. Jake hit second and the theme to Karate Kid escorted him to the plate. He felt the rush and drilled a ball over the left field fence. Theme music working!
Kid walked to the plate with Kid Rock screaming, he doubled. Big John then slowly walked to the plate as the song with the same name played from the bench. Big John, not knowing what his song was going to be could not contain himself and promptly got out. Dupper was next, Mama Said Knock You Out blared, Dupper singled. Sabo then walked to the dish with his Mr. Jones (Counting Crows). Not really sure the significance of this song, but he chose it, and it worked for him this AB - triple. Sonoma edited his song, Down with the Sickness, down to a brief 14 seconds. Almost long enough for his walk to the plate. He lifted a Sac fly to score Sabo. Two outs and Mobilly came to the plate. Since he was not in favor of this activity (music, not softball), we chose for him. Make 'em Say Uhh was chosen for him as he is known for his grunts when hits. It didn't work for him this time. Three outs, but 5 runs scored.
In the second the Gap Finders scored three runs of their own. Beavers led 5-3 for the bottom of the second and the remainder of the walk-up tunes. Santo came to the plate with a little John Fogerty and Centerfield - one out. Rake had to incorporate Beavers somehow, so Wynona's Big Brown Beaver by Primus played while he hit, he was able to reach on an error. P.T. chose 99 Problems but the Bitch Ain't One and used that negativity for good as he singled. The last hitter in the line up was Jimmy-D. Because of his scruffy look at times he has been called Jimmy-C (Christ) and to honor that he chose Personal Jesus. He hit a ball to short. Never would we have expected the SS to try for the play at home, but he did and he threw a perfect strike to the catcher to nail Rake at the dish. Belle then singled in PT for lone run in the inning. 6-3 Beavers.
The third was uneventful for both teams, 1-2-3 each.
Gap Finders added 2 in the 4th and the Beavers came up big again to answer them. 5 hits in a row, including HR by Sonoma and Rake plated 5 runs. Then two outs at the bottom of the order, then the top of the lineup had three straight hits to score another 2 runs. A 7 run outburst. Beavers were up 13-5.
The Gap Finders at this point were done. It was just a matter of time until they were 10-runned. That finally happened in the bottom of the 6th when Big John singled in Jake for the 16th run. Beavers win 16-6 and move on to the Championship game.
Beaver of the game goes to Sabo as he went 3-3 and missed the cycle by only the HR.
For the championship game it was back to the team Robinson, our opponent from the week prior. The Beavers were feeling good and rolled over the lineup from where it ended in the last game. This meant that Dupper was leading off.
Beavers came out as visitors and came out swinging. 5 runs scored in the top of the inning highlighted by a huge homerun by P.T. PT was also pitching well, allowing no runs in the 1st and only 2 in the second. Kid hit a solo shot in the 2nd, Beavers were up 6-2 after 2. In the third the Beavers added another 2 runs; Mobilly and Santo both driving one in.
Then the wheels fell off. Rake grounded a ball to short and the runner was out at second and on the play at first Rake collided with the first baseman who was in the basepath and hit the ground hard. Safe at first, but with a very sore leg. Rake took the brunt of the collision and paid the price. With the leg stiffening up, Big John took rightfield in the bottom half of the inning.
Needless to say, the ball found him, a couple of times. Compound two misplays with many well hit balls in front of and over the outfield the Beavers allowed 12 runs to score. An 8-2 lead was now an 8 - 14 deficit. That was it for the Beavers. Just like the air was sucked out of the Cardinals for the first round of the playoffs, so was it for the Beavers in the last two innings. managing one lone single by Jake the Beavers came in second place with a 19-8 loss.
Beaver of the game has to go to PT for his grand slam. No one saw that coming. It was huge at the time.
So there it is sports fans. Another Beaver season in the books. Beavers ended up 7-7 in the fall league. Some great competition and for the most part, great teams to match up against. There is some talk about getting the team back on the field in November (no, that is not a typo). Fenton offers a wood bat league for 5 weeks. It would be a first for the Beavers to participate in something like that. Stay tuned.
Otherwise, this off season I owe you all information on the annual winter warm up as well as many "Meet The Beavers" entries. I'll try to keep this going over the long 6 months until we start up next season. There has to be something to talk about...
Rake...out
beaverball.blogspot.com
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Beaver Times 2009 Edition 16
My apologies for being so late on this recap. Since I am about 3 weeks out from the games my memory is going to be fuzzy. We played team Robinson (I think I have called each opponent Robinson this season, but this time I am sure). As Gee marked in the score book, they were "Bitches" we were "Cream". We'll just refer to them as Bitches from here on out.
Bitches were visitor in the first game and came out to the tune of 3 runs. Like they did the first time we played them, they were hitters. Beavers had an answer though. The top of the order not only got on base, but also scored. Big John K'd but that did not keep "Cream" from scoring two of our own. The second inning was much quieter, Bitches added one then the Cream stranded runners at first and second and got goose-egged. Bitches kept their scoring streak alive in the 3rd with another 3-spot. Cream was ready to make a game of it however.
Jimmy-D made the first out, Belle then got out for the second...then came the two-out rally: Jake walked, Kid hit a dinger, Big John made contact this time for a single, Sabo singled, Mobile singled, Dup doubled, Sonoma launched one into the trees, Santo reached via an error, Gee singled him in. 8 runs! Beavers (sorry, Cream) were up 10 - 7. In the 4th Bitches tied up the score at 10 before Cream came to the dish again.
Keith led this inning off with a hit, Jimmy-D forgot to swing but reached on ball four, Belle singled, Jake hit a HR, Sabo tripled, Mobile singled and Dup singled. Another 5 runs. A 5-run lead heading into the 5th. The 5th was relatively quiet. Bitches added one run and the Cream answered.
The wheels began to fall off the Cream-mobile in the 6th as Bitches scored 6 runs. The demoralized Creamcicles plated no one even while batting the top of the order. In the top of the 7th the Bitches chased another 3 runners around the bases. They had a 21-16 lead with the Cream due up in the bottom of the 7th.
Sabo led off the inning with a single, Mobilly doubled him to 3rd. Dupper then doubled both of them in (21-18). Sonoma reached on an error, Santo singled Dupper in (21-19). Gee then hit a Sac fly to score Sonoma (21-20) with 1 out. Rake was up and lifted a fly ball to rightfield. It did not slice enough and was caught for the 2nd out. Keith was then walked intentionally to bring up Jimmy-D.
Strike two was called with Jimmy's bat on his shoulder. Then came the next pitch. [Jimmy-D has a history of making some clutch hits over his career. I can think of a couple of occasions at Webster where Jimmy-D drove in the winning run in the last game of the season]. The two strike pitch was thrown and Jimmy-D started moving back in the batter's box. It was a high and deep pitch. Jimmy seemed to have a good eye on it. Then it dropped to the ground without a swing. And it dropped on the carpet for strike three. The game was over. Runners stranded on 1st and third. Beavers lost 21-20.
Beaver of the game goes to Dupper as he went 3-4 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI.
Game two started in a few short minutes after the upsetting loss. Beavers were visitors this time and came out swinging. Highlights in the first inning were Kid's 2-run homer and a three run shot for Sonoma. The Beavers scored 6 runs and were dedicated to not losing both. However, Bitches offense and Cream's defense thought otherwise. 4 runs in the bottom assured us that this was going to be a tight game after all.
Cream came up ready for more in the 2nd. Gee doubled, Rake singled, Keith singled (Jimmy hit into a DP), Belle singled, Jake singled, Kid reached on a fielder's choice where no one was retired, Big John walked, Sabo doubled, Mobilly doubled, Dupper singled Sonoma hit his second HR of the game (3rd of the night), Santo singled, Gee doubled (again). It was an impressive offensive inning that totaled 10 more runs. Keith shut them down quickly and without a run scoring, the Cream did the same. Then back came the Bitches. Bringing on 7 runs of their own. After 3 long innings the score was Cream 16, Bitches 11.
From this point on, it was all Cream. We allowed only one more run and scored another 6 of our own. Trying to make up for the demoralizing loss in game one the Cream had won by 10 in the second game 22-12.
Beaver of the game goes to Sonoma with his 2 HR and 6 RBI.
The next games to be played would be the playoffs. Beavers ended the season at 6-6. Very even league. Anyone can beat anyone on any given Wed night. The playoffs were going to be quite even and up for grabs.
Bitches were visitor in the first game and came out to the tune of 3 runs. Like they did the first time we played them, they were hitters. Beavers had an answer though. The top of the order not only got on base, but also scored. Big John K'd but that did not keep "Cream" from scoring two of our own. The second inning was much quieter, Bitches added one then the Cream stranded runners at first and second and got goose-egged. Bitches kept their scoring streak alive in the 3rd with another 3-spot. Cream was ready to make a game of it however.
Jimmy-D made the first out, Belle then got out for the second...then came the two-out rally: Jake walked, Kid hit a dinger, Big John made contact this time for a single, Sabo singled, Mobile singled, Dup doubled, Sonoma launched one into the trees, Santo reached via an error, Gee singled him in. 8 runs! Beavers (sorry, Cream) were up 10 - 7. In the 4th Bitches tied up the score at 10 before Cream came to the dish again.
Keith led this inning off with a hit, Jimmy-D forgot to swing but reached on ball four, Belle singled, Jake hit a HR, Sabo tripled, Mobile singled and Dup singled. Another 5 runs. A 5-run lead heading into the 5th. The 5th was relatively quiet. Bitches added one run and the Cream answered.
The wheels began to fall off the Cream-mobile in the 6th as Bitches scored 6 runs. The demoralized Creamcicles plated no one even while batting the top of the order. In the top of the 7th the Bitches chased another 3 runners around the bases. They had a 21-16 lead with the Cream due up in the bottom of the 7th.
Sabo led off the inning with a single, Mobilly doubled him to 3rd. Dupper then doubled both of them in (21-18). Sonoma reached on an error, Santo singled Dupper in (21-19). Gee then hit a Sac fly to score Sonoma (21-20) with 1 out. Rake was up and lifted a fly ball to rightfield. It did not slice enough and was caught for the 2nd out. Keith was then walked intentionally to bring up Jimmy-D.
Strike two was called with Jimmy's bat on his shoulder. Then came the next pitch. [Jimmy-D has a history of making some clutch hits over his career. I can think of a couple of occasions at Webster where Jimmy-D drove in the winning run in the last game of the season]. The two strike pitch was thrown and Jimmy-D started moving back in the batter's box. It was a high and deep pitch. Jimmy seemed to have a good eye on it. Then it dropped to the ground without a swing. And it dropped on the carpet for strike three. The game was over. Runners stranded on 1st and third. Beavers lost 21-20.
Beaver of the game goes to Dupper as he went 3-4 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI.
Game two started in a few short minutes after the upsetting loss. Beavers were visitors this time and came out swinging. Highlights in the first inning were Kid's 2-run homer and a three run shot for Sonoma. The Beavers scored 6 runs and were dedicated to not losing both. However, Bitches offense and Cream's defense thought otherwise. 4 runs in the bottom assured us that this was going to be a tight game after all.
Cream came up ready for more in the 2nd. Gee doubled, Rake singled, Keith singled (Jimmy hit into a DP), Belle singled, Jake singled, Kid reached on a fielder's choice where no one was retired, Big John walked, Sabo doubled, Mobilly doubled, Dupper singled Sonoma hit his second HR of the game (3rd of the night), Santo singled, Gee doubled (again). It was an impressive offensive inning that totaled 10 more runs. Keith shut them down quickly and without a run scoring, the Cream did the same. Then back came the Bitches. Bringing on 7 runs of their own. After 3 long innings the score was Cream 16, Bitches 11.
From this point on, it was all Cream. We allowed only one more run and scored another 6 of our own. Trying to make up for the demoralizing loss in game one the Cream had won by 10 in the second game 22-12.
Beaver of the game goes to Sonoma with his 2 HR and 6 RBI.
The next games to be played would be the playoffs. Beavers ended the season at 6-6. Very even league. Anyone can beat anyone on any given Wed night. The playoffs were going to be quite even and up for grabs.
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