With a summer championship added to the trophy room of the Beavers it was off to Fenton for some summer/fall softball. Last week the Beavers had to forfeit two games at Fenton while they made their play for the Clayton Summer Championship. While there is an outside chance that Fenton will allow the games to be made up at the end of the season, we have to live with the fact that the Beavers are most likely 0-2 going into the season.
The Beavers were up against the Long Shots for the first games since finishing 2nd in last year's fall season.
There was a last-minute raid on the active roster as Sabo called at 5pm to say that his sitter was not available and he could not make the games. Then Belle called about 30 minutes later to say that he would be running late due to a sick kid. With Tanner already out due to night court, the Beavers were down to 10 men on roster. The biggest hit was to the IF defense. Sabo has become a cornerstone to the D anchoring 3B, some shuffling was needed.
Santo has recently taken some shots off his body at 3B and admitted that he was a little "gun shy" and would rather play OF. Kid, though side-stepping many a grounder at Clayton said he was ready to play the IF in Fenton. After playing an inning on the IF, it was clear that the Fenton IF was worse than Clayton was. None-the-less, Kid took 3B, Dupper at Short and Rake at 2B. As it turned out, the left side of the IF was fine, it was Rake at 2B that was the gaping wound for this game.
Beavers started off with some early hits. Rake led off with a single and Santo did the same. Kid reached on a E that allowed Rake to score. Mobilly then singled in both Santo and Kid. It was quickly 3-0 Beavers.
PT was able to hang a scoreless frame in the first, but in the 2nd the first of Rake's errors led to a run. Beavers led 3-1 after 2.
The 3rd inning started with the top of the order again. This time Rake and Santo both got out, then came the damage. Kid singled, Mobilly singled and Dupper singled in Kid. Deuce then reached on an E to score Mobilly. 5-1 Beavers. That was just the beginning though. In the 4th, after another scoreless frame by PT, Gee and PT singled to start the inning. Rake singled as well to load the bases. Santo moved everyone up one base with a single and Mobilly singled in 2 more. Dupper followed that with a single of his own before Deuce found the gap in right center and used his speed to round the bases for an inside-the-park homerun. Beavers were up 12-1.
The Long Shots were able to add one run in the 4th and 2 more in the 5th after another E by Rake at 2B. It was a rough day for Rake, where he never could completely commit to a one-hopper or slow roller. It was 12-4 going into the 6th. Beavers kept adding to their lead in the top of the 6th. Santo led off with a single and Kid doubled him to third. With Mobilly at bat, Gee acting as the 3B coach, told Santo to "not score on a single". He was, of course, joking as he saw Dupper on deck and wanted to pad Dup's SAC stats. Mobilly lifted a deep fly to left and Santo was not running home. However, Kid expected him to easily score so he was bearing down on third...still occupied by Santo.
The entire dugout was screaming at Santo to tag and score for the SAC fly and Santo finally took off for home. The shortstop was surprised to see that he had a chance at the lead run threw to the plate where Santo narrowly snuck his foot onto home before being tagged. Dupper followed that mayhem with a single to score Kid. Beavers were up to 14 runs.
Long Shots were only able to chase in one more run, and the Beavers started their "first game" of the Fenton season with a 14-5 win.
Beaver of the game goes to Mobilly for this impressive hitting line: 3-3, 2runs, 5RBI, 1SAC
The tide quickly turned in the 2nd game. As the visitors the Long Shots jumped out to a 6 run lead. They consistently hit the ball up the middle for singles and their cleanup hitter drove one over the fence. Beavers responded with a couple of their own on a single-double-single by Santo-Kid-Mobilly. The Long Shots kept their hitting revival in the 2nd inning with 3 more runs. This time aided quite a bit by shotty defense by Belle and Rake.
Beavers kept chipping away one by one over the middle innings. Kid doubled in Deuce in the 3rd, Rake reached via an error in the 4th to score Dupper and Kid driving in Jimmy-D with a single in the 5th. Going into the 6th it was 11-5 Long Shots. Beavers had a chance to put up some important runs as Dupper led off by reaching on a E. Big John later found his swing and launched a HR. Belle followed that with a single, but was stranded. It was now 11-7.
Unfortunately that was how the game would end. Beavers could not come back from the hitting and E's early in the game and ended up with the split for the week.
Beavers play again next week at 6:30 & 7:30 against last year foes, the Nationals. Games to be played on field #2 this week (the first time for the Beavers).
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Beaver Times 2010 - Edition XI
The playoffs entered week two. The Beavers had reached the semi-finals with a 13-3 dismantling of the 5th place Sportsman's Park. Now they were face to face with the 1st place, 14-2, Golden Sombreros. The Beavers had not met the Sombreros since this exact game a year earlier. The Beavers were victorious in that match and took the 2009 season series 2-0-1. Without facing the Sombreros this year, it was anyone's guess as to what the Beavers were up against.
The Sombreros must have been trying out a new pitcher for the playoffs as he walked the hard-to-walk-except-Sabo-&-Big-John lineup of the Beavers. That is, he walked the first 4 Beavers. Another record, I am sure. Dupper drew the first RBI via the walk then up came Tanner who launched a triple to right center to clear the bases. The Beavers were off to a hot start. But it didn't stop there. Deuce then walked and Big John singled home Tanner. Santo singled home Deuce and PT hit his 4th consecutive SAC fly. Jimmy-D grounded out to score Santo and after the Beavers had batted around, 8 runs had scored.
The Sombreros answered with only one on their own after an error by Rake on a routine slow roller to second. Both teams were kept quiet for the 2nd and 3rd innings and then the Beavers started tacking on runs in the 4th. Jimmy-D led off with a single, Rake walked Sabo singled to load the bases. Mobilly singled in two and Dupper, in typical fashion, hit a SAC fly to score the 3rd run of the inning. It was 11-1 after 3.5 innings. In the bottom of the 4th the Sombreros were able to scratch out one run to keep the mercy run at bay...temporarily.
The 5th started with a single by Big John. Santo singled him to 3rd and Jimmy-D drove in the 12th run.
This was all the Beavers needed as the Sombreros were out of...queso...and fell to the Beavers 12-2. Beavers were on to play in the finals after about an hour layoff.
Beaver of the game goes to Tanner with his 1st inning triple to open up the game.
While the Beavers sat around and drank the 2 vs. 3 game was taking place to decide who was going to the Championship to play the Beavers. Bi-State Meat was playing Dogs In a Bathtub. It was a tight game, but the Meat prevailed and the finals were set.
Beavers were visitors and went down with merely a whimper in the first. That was echoed by the Meat. In the 2nd Tanner led off with a single and was scored on a singled by Big John. Beavers were on their way to a Championship.
Beavers came out of the gates hard in the 3rd with singles by PT, Jimmy-D, Sabo, Kid, Dupper and another triple by Tanner. 5 runs in all for the inning. Beavers were up 6-0. Meat responded with one sole run in their half. The Meat then chipped away a little more in the 4th with one more run and it was 6-2 going into the 5th inning of the Championship game.
It was time to separate the men from the boys. The Beavers had been scraping for runs most of the 2nd half of the season. The worm had turned so far in the playoffs. It was about to do so in the finals. Jimmy-D led off with a walk and Rake singled. Sabo and Kid also singled and scored Jimmy-D. Dupper his yet another SAC fly (I am not making this up) and Tanner hit a double to score 2 more. Mobilly then struck out swinging...it was a thing of beauty...except for the fact he missed the ball. Big John picked up where Tanner left off and singled in 2 more. Santo singled and Deuce finally found his stroke and laced a triple to right center score 2 more. PT singled in Deuce for a grand total of 8 more runs.
The game was all but out of hand. Beavers have been known to cough up big leads and the bottom of the 5th looked ominous. But after 3 runs had scored, the D tightened up and got off the field. Over the last two innings the Beavers were able to hold on while the Meat scored just once more. Beavers win the Championship 14-6!
Beaver of the game again goes to Tanner for a 3-4 game and missing the cycle by the Homer. This 2-fer in awards is sure to go to his head, so expect an o-fer to follow.
Beavers win their first championship in almost 2 years. Fall season starts up next week as the Beavers take their show back to Fenton where they finished in 2nd place last year.
The Sombreros must have been trying out a new pitcher for the playoffs as he walked the hard-to-walk-except-Sabo-&-Big-John lineup of the Beavers. That is, he walked the first 4 Beavers. Another record, I am sure. Dupper drew the first RBI via the walk then up came Tanner who launched a triple to right center to clear the bases. The Beavers were off to a hot start. But it didn't stop there. Deuce then walked and Big John singled home Tanner. Santo singled home Deuce and PT hit his 4th consecutive SAC fly. Jimmy-D grounded out to score Santo and after the Beavers had batted around, 8 runs had scored.
The Sombreros answered with only one on their own after an error by Rake on a routine slow roller to second. Both teams were kept quiet for the 2nd and 3rd innings and then the Beavers started tacking on runs in the 4th. Jimmy-D led off with a single, Rake walked Sabo singled to load the bases. Mobilly singled in two and Dupper, in typical fashion, hit a SAC fly to score the 3rd run of the inning. It was 11-1 after 3.5 innings. In the bottom of the 4th the Sombreros were able to scratch out one run to keep the mercy run at bay...temporarily.
The 5th started with a single by Big John. Santo singled him to 3rd and Jimmy-D drove in the 12th run.
This was all the Beavers needed as the Sombreros were out of...queso...and fell to the Beavers 12-2. Beavers were on to play in the finals after about an hour layoff.
Beaver of the game goes to Tanner with his 1st inning triple to open up the game.
While the Beavers sat around and drank the 2 vs. 3 game was taking place to decide who was going to the Championship to play the Beavers. Bi-State Meat was playing Dogs In a Bathtub. It was a tight game, but the Meat prevailed and the finals were set.
Beavers were visitors and went down with merely a whimper in the first. That was echoed by the Meat. In the 2nd Tanner led off with a single and was scored on a singled by Big John. Beavers were on their way to a Championship.
Beavers came out of the gates hard in the 3rd with singles by PT, Jimmy-D, Sabo, Kid, Dupper and another triple by Tanner. 5 runs in all for the inning. Beavers were up 6-0. Meat responded with one sole run in their half. The Meat then chipped away a little more in the 4th with one more run and it was 6-2 going into the 5th inning of the Championship game.
It was time to separate the men from the boys. The Beavers had been scraping for runs most of the 2nd half of the season. The worm had turned so far in the playoffs. It was about to do so in the finals. Jimmy-D led off with a walk and Rake singled. Sabo and Kid also singled and scored Jimmy-D. Dupper his yet another SAC fly (I am not making this up) and Tanner hit a double to score 2 more. Mobilly then struck out swinging...it was a thing of beauty...except for the fact he missed the ball. Big John picked up where Tanner left off and singled in 2 more. Santo singled and Deuce finally found his stroke and laced a triple to right center score 2 more. PT singled in Deuce for a grand total of 8 more runs.
The game was all but out of hand. Beavers have been known to cough up big leads and the bottom of the 5th looked ominous. But after 3 runs had scored, the D tightened up and got off the field. Over the last two innings the Beavers were able to hold on while the Meat scored just once more. Beavers win the Championship 14-6!
Beaver of the game again goes to Tanner for a 3-4 game and missing the cycle by the Homer. This 2-fer in awards is sure to go to his head, so expect an o-fer to follow.
Beavers win their first championship in almost 2 years. Fall season starts up next week as the Beavers take their show back to Fenton where they finished in 2nd place last year.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Beaver Times 2010 - Edition X
The playoffs are underway. The lineup was posted pre-game, but due to some late arrivals, there were some last minute changes to the order. Deuce, who was also on beer duty, was waiting for everyone to show up at field #6. I'm not sure why he didn't think anything was weird when no other Beavers were at the field at 5-10 before game time. We tracked him down with a few minutes to spare and he made the trek over to the correct field, but not in time to lead off. Gee was needing a little extra time as well (as is shown here), so he was not in the field to start the game as expected.
Beavers took the field first and quickly took care of the visiting Sportsman's Park top of the order. Highlight of the inning was the big lefty grounding one to Big John (filling in at 1B), Vajohnna snapped at it, fielded in cleanly and was even able to get to the bag for the out.
Rake slid into the leadoff spot while the team awaited Deuce and the beer rations for the night. A lead off single was flared to right. Sabo hit into a FC, Kid singled him to 3rd. Up stepped Dupper. Dupper lifted a flyball to left center for a SAC fly (1). One-nothing, Beavers.
In the top of the 2nd PT must have been throwing some nasty stuff. He was able to record 2 strikeouts - looking - back to back. Sportsman's Park, still scoreless.
Beavers rallied in the 2nd. Big John walked Santo singled, Belle singled to load the bases. Gee singled in one run, Deuce hit a SAC fly (2) to score another and move Belle to 3rd. PT then hit a SAC fly (3) to score the 3rd run of the inning. Beavers up 4-0.
In the top of the third Sportsman's Park capitalized on some shotty defense on the infield. Between Kid not getting down on the ball, and Rake coming up to early on a grounder, runners were in scoring position. Kid is still blaming his fear of another black eye on why he does not get in front of grounders anymore. However, this has nothing to do with his lack of flexibility as the ball went under his outstretched arm (to his side). The damage was limited to 1 run.
The Beavers were up to their same shenanigans in the 3rd. Sabo walked, Kid crushed a double down the rightfield hill, setting the table for Dupper. Another SAC fly (4). Beavers regained their 4-run lead.
Throughout the game Misty was acting as documentarian and snapping photos of all of the Beavers at the plate and some doing other things. All the pictures can be viewed on Rake's Picasa album. A player on Sportsman's Park asked her why she was only taking photos of the Beavers. She had them sold on the documentary angle. I guess that is what you can call the Beaver Times. Back to the action.
In the 4th the Beavers struck again. Belle and Gee led off with singles. PT stepped up with a runner on 3rd and lifted a SAC fly (5). Jimmy-D then launched a deep fly to left, catching the left fielder (and most of the Beavers) off-guard. Jimmy-D easily had a double, but was wanting more. He tried to stretch the hit into a triple and was thrown out at third. May I recommend a slide next time, Jimmy? After a lesson or two from the "Gee School of Sliding" you may have made it in there safe and kept the rally going. Beavers up 7-1.
Rake led off the 5th with a smash to center. The left center fielder chased it down to rob Rake of a hit (and his best hit ball in weeks). Sabo picked up the slack and singled, Kid singled him to 3rd...all set up for Dupper, again. This time, instead of lifting a SAC fly he topped the ball and drove it into the ground to the left side of the infield. Kid was retired at 2nd on the force, Dupper legged out the throw to 1st to save an out and grab the RBI. 8-1 Beavs.
In the 6th Sportsman's Park started hitting. There were moments when it looked like the Beavers might come unraveled. Though they had scored in every inning, the 7-run lead did not feel all that safe. We have seen games go bad before. PT's pitching and some improved defense held Sportsman's Park to 2 more runs. It was 8-3 going into the bottom of the 6th.
This game just had a good feeling about it from the get-go. Beavers were light, having fun, not thinking too much about the outcome. The bats were alive and they kept hitting in the 6th. Big John, Santo, Belle, Gee all singled to start the 6th. Deuce then walked in a run as well. PT was up for the 3rd time with a runner on 3rd. So far, he had no official AB. He was 0-0 with 2 SAC. Again, PT lifted one to left. Another SAC fly (6). Jimmy-D, working on a nice night at the plate himself, did the same for another SAC fly (7). Rake then lined a ball at the 3B that was too hot to handle, but not far enough to score Deuce (though you should be running on contact with 2 outs, but I digress). Sabo then stepped up and lined a single up the middle to score Deuce and end the game with a 10-run mercy rule. Beavers win 13-3.
It was an odd stat night all the way around. 5 Beavers did not record an out (not counting SAC). Four Beavers were credited with only 1 official AB and 1 beaver had 0. Three Beavers went 3-3. The most interesting stat is this. Eight of the thirteen runs the Beavers scored, did so on an out; 7 SAC plus one FC. So while the timely hits may not have been there, manufacturing runs definitely was happening.
After the game, and shortly after we ran out of beer the Beavers decided to make a run for championship of Shaw Park vs. playing next week at Fenton. Rainouts have caused the two leagues to overlap and the 6:15 game at Shaw and the 6:30 game at Fenton are conflicting. Maybe, Fenton will give us another Bye, I doubt it though.
Beavers play the semi-finals at 6:15 next Wed, then if/when they win Championship is at 8:30.
Beaver of the game is difficult to narrow down. With 5 "perfectos", three of which are of the 3-3 variety and one of the 0-0 variety the choice is difficult. Though I hate to do it this way, the award needs to be shared this week.
Kid 3-3, 2B
Belle 3-3, 3runs, RBI (raised his avg over 50 pts
Gee 3-3, 2runs, RBI
PT 0-0, 3SAC, 3RBI, 3 Strikeouts pitching (should have been a 4th, but another bad call by the ump on a foul robbed him)
Bravo Beavers!
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| From Beaverball |
Beavers took the field first and quickly took care of the visiting Sportsman's Park top of the order. Highlight of the inning was the big lefty grounding one to Big John (filling in at 1B), Vajohnna snapped at it, fielded in cleanly and was even able to get to the bag for the out.
Rake slid into the leadoff spot while the team awaited Deuce and the beer rations for the night. A lead off single was flared to right. Sabo hit into a FC, Kid singled him to 3rd. Up stepped Dupper. Dupper lifted a flyball to left center for a SAC fly (1). One-nothing, Beavers.
In the top of the 2nd PT must have been throwing some nasty stuff. He was able to record 2 strikeouts - looking - back to back. Sportsman's Park, still scoreless.
Beavers rallied in the 2nd. Big John walked Santo singled, Belle singled to load the bases. Gee singled in one run, Deuce hit a SAC fly (2) to score another and move Belle to 3rd. PT then hit a SAC fly (3) to score the 3rd run of the inning. Beavers up 4-0.
In the top of the third Sportsman's Park capitalized on some shotty defense on the infield. Between Kid not getting down on the ball, and Rake coming up to early on a grounder, runners were in scoring position. Kid is still blaming his fear of another black eye on why he does not get in front of grounders anymore. However, this has nothing to do with his lack of flexibility as the ball went under his outstretched arm (to his side). The damage was limited to 1 run.
The Beavers were up to their same shenanigans in the 3rd. Sabo walked, Kid crushed a double down the rightfield hill, setting the table for Dupper. Another SAC fly (4). Beavers regained their 4-run lead.
Throughout the game Misty was acting as documentarian and snapping photos of all of the Beavers at the plate and some doing other things. All the pictures can be viewed on Rake's Picasa album. A player on Sportsman's Park asked her why she was only taking photos of the Beavers. She had them sold on the documentary angle. I guess that is what you can call the Beaver Times. Back to the action.
In the 4th the Beavers struck again. Belle and Gee led off with singles. PT stepped up with a runner on 3rd and lifted a SAC fly (5). Jimmy-D then launched a deep fly to left, catching the left fielder (and most of the Beavers) off-guard. Jimmy-D easily had a double, but was wanting more. He tried to stretch the hit into a triple and was thrown out at third. May I recommend a slide next time, Jimmy? After a lesson or two from the "Gee School of Sliding" you may have made it in there safe and kept the rally going. Beavers up 7-1.
Rake led off the 5th with a smash to center. The left center fielder chased it down to rob Rake of a hit (and his best hit ball in weeks). Sabo picked up the slack and singled, Kid singled him to 3rd...all set up for Dupper, again. This time, instead of lifting a SAC fly he topped the ball and drove it into the ground to the left side of the infield. Kid was retired at 2nd on the force, Dupper legged out the throw to 1st to save an out and grab the RBI. 8-1 Beavs.
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| From Beaverball |
In the 6th Sportsman's Park started hitting. There were moments when it looked like the Beavers might come unraveled. Though they had scored in every inning, the 7-run lead did not feel all that safe. We have seen games go bad before. PT's pitching and some improved defense held Sportsman's Park to 2 more runs. It was 8-3 going into the bottom of the 6th.
This game just had a good feeling about it from the get-go. Beavers were light, having fun, not thinking too much about the outcome. The bats were alive and they kept hitting in the 6th. Big John, Santo, Belle, Gee all singled to start the 6th. Deuce then walked in a run as well. PT was up for the 3rd time with a runner on 3rd. So far, he had no official AB. He was 0-0 with 2 SAC. Again, PT lifted one to left. Another SAC fly (6). Jimmy-D, working on a nice night at the plate himself, did the same for another SAC fly (7). Rake then lined a ball at the 3B that was too hot to handle, but not far enough to score Deuce (though you should be running on contact with 2 outs, but I digress). Sabo then stepped up and lined a single up the middle to score Deuce and end the game with a 10-run mercy rule. Beavers win 13-3.
It was an odd stat night all the way around. 5 Beavers did not record an out (not counting SAC). Four Beavers were credited with only 1 official AB and 1 beaver had 0. Three Beavers went 3-3. The most interesting stat is this. Eight of the thirteen runs the Beavers scored, did so on an out; 7 SAC plus one FC. So while the timely hits may not have been there, manufacturing runs definitely was happening.
After the game, and shortly after we ran out of beer the Beavers decided to make a run for championship of Shaw Park vs. playing next week at Fenton. Rainouts have caused the two leagues to overlap and the 6:15 game at Shaw and the 6:30 game at Fenton are conflicting. Maybe, Fenton will give us another Bye, I doubt it though.
Beavers play the semi-finals at 6:15 next Wed, then if/when they win Championship is at 8:30.
Beaver of the game is difficult to narrow down. With 5 "perfectos", three of which are of the 3-3 variety and one of the 0-0 variety the choice is difficult. Though I hate to do it this way, the award needs to be shared this week.
Kid 3-3, 2B
Belle 3-3, 3runs, RBI (raised his avg over 50 pts
Gee 3-3, 2runs, RBI
PT 0-0, 3SAC, 3RBI, 3 Strikeouts pitching (should have been a 4th, but another bad call by the ump on a foul robbed him)
Bravo Beavers!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Summer Playoff Lineup - Game 1
In true Birdland Blog form, here is the lineup for tonight's Beavers game against Sportsman's Park - 8pm Field #2 Shaw Park.
AVG/RUNS/RBI
1. Deuce (lc) .395/14/11
2. Sabo (3b) .644/31/19
3. Kid (ss) .588/17/22
4. Dupper (lf).439/13/11
5. Mobilly .533/12/17
6. Big John .462/9/12
7. Santo (rf).532/14/12
8. Belle (rc) .314/7/7
9. Gee (1b) .489/14/7
10. PT (p) .483/8/5
11. Rake (2b) .469/10/18
12. Jimmy-D (c).349/9/11
AVG/RUNS/RBI
1. Deuce (lc) .395/14/11
2. Sabo (3b) .644/31/19
3. Kid (ss) .588/17/22
4. Dupper (lf).439/13/11
5. Mobilly .533/12/17
6. Big John .462/9/12
7. Santo (rf).532/14/12
8. Belle (rc) .314/7/7
9. Gee (1b) .489/14/7
10. PT (p) .483/8/5
11. Rake (2b) .469/10/18
12. Jimmy-D (c).349/9/11
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