The one we lost...

 Quarterfinal - In which Storm is eliminated

Storm started out pretty well. They managed to put up four runs in each of the second and third innings and trailed 10-9 going into the fourth. Hanet helped Storm out with a few errors and Storm got some well-timed hits, and scored sic to lead 15-10 going into the final three innings. In the top of the sixth, Hanet took full advantage of a ball lost in the sun, and scored seven runs to take the lead. Storm then promptly forgot how to hit and put up a goose egg in the sixth. Hanet got a couple home runs in the top of the seventh to go up three. Storm looked like they had a decent chance to come back based on the spot in the order, but they had run of steam. This was how the season ended, not with a bang, but a whimper.

Notable Boxscores:

Duran - 3 for 4, HR, 3 RBI

Lance - 3 for 4, 2 runs, RBI

Bob - 3 for 3, 2 runs

Brad - 3 for 3, 3 RBI

The one we won

Roundrobin Game 4 - In which Storm wins a game they’re not sure they should have

The playoffs didn’t turn out quite the way it might have been expected to, but the A’s and Storm were still playing for the top seed in the final game of the round robin. There was some discussion before the game about whether or not they should win, because that would put them in line with Hanet, the team that beat them quite easily the day before. Storm had handled the Falcons fairly easily in the first game of the round robin, but anything can happen on any day. Storm decided to just play and see what happened.

Storm started slowly, scoring just two runs in the first three innings, but they erupted in the fourth for six runs. Jeff was feeling a little like a leadoff hitter again, since Craig kept ending innings, and he led off the sixth with a single. Nine consecutive runners would reach base after that and Storm scored six runs without recording a single out. If only they were able to score that easily every inning. They had brought the score to within one run after four innings.

They could not find that magic again in the fifth, but they also managed to keep the A’s off the board in the fifth, so they went into the sixth trailing by one run. Jeff, leading off again (way to go Craig), singled to start the inning. Storm put together a few more hits, and then Duran launched a three run home run to cap off an eight run inning. Storm was now ahead by seven. That lead would be safe. Right?

Wrong. Storm coughed up seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. It almost seemed like Storm wasn’t sure they wanted to win.

Going into the top of the seventh, George requested that Craig hit a solo home run. Craig responded by saying not a chance. Then promptly launched the ball over the fence. At least he wasn’t the last out of the inning again. Storm would add a couple more runs, which was good, because the A’s got one back. But it wasn’t enough. Storm held on to win 19-17. They were now set up for their rematch against Hanet.

Notable Boxscores:

Rene - 4 for 4 3 RBI, 2 runs

Duran - 3 for 4, HR, 3 RBI

Jeff - 4 for 4, 4 runs

Al - 4 for 4, 3 runs

Kevin - 4 for 4, 2 runs, 2 RBI

Bob - 3 for 4, 3 RBI

Brad - 3 for 4, 3 RBI, 2 runs

 

Storm storms back

 Round Robin Game 3 - In which Storm gives up the lead in the seventh inning so they could have the dramatic experience of coming back with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Storm and Broadway played a tight back and forth game. Storm had the edge for most of the game leading 3-2 after the first, 4-2 after the second, 9-7 after the third, 11-9 after the fourth. 14-11 after the fifth and still 14-11 after the sixth. Then Broadway exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh to take their first lead since the top of the third. Up 18-14, they retired the first two batters for outs. Rene then stepped up to the plate and worked the count full before watching ball four fall inches from the plate after sailing miles into the sky. Duran, Lance, and Joey all followed with singles. Joey was the tying run at first base. They pitched Craig carefully, and he walked, moving the tying run to second. Al then doubled, and Joey scored, tying the game. With runners on second and third and Jeff up, Broadway elected to intentionally walk Jeff, creating a force play at every base hoping to hold on to the tie. Dave then came up and, full of rage from two earlier calls from the umpire, smacked the ball over every fielder’s head, clearing the bases and giving Storm the win. All the damage was done with two outs. Two out walks always come back to haunt you.

Notable Boxscores:

Rene - 3 for 3, 4 runs, 3 RBI, HR, triple, 2 out walk to extend the game!

Duran - 4 for 4, 4 runs, RBI

Lance - 4 for 4, 2 runs, 2 RBI

Dave - 3 for 4, 4 RBI (game winning hit!)

Cycle Watch: 

Rene missed the double

Storm Slumps

Round robin Game 2 - In which Storm forgets how to hit and Hanet plays excellent defense.

After leading the league in runs and scoring 24 runs in their first game, Storm simply forgot how to hit. That’s not entirely true. Hanet made some nice plays. But: 

Storm’s leadoff hitter didn’t bat a second time until the 4th inning.

Storm didn’t get a runner past first until the fifth inning.

Storm was in danger of being shut out until Duran hit a 3 run homer in the bottom of the 7th inning.

It was far too little, far too late.

Kudos to Hanet on their incredible defense.

Notable boxscores:

Duran - HR, 3 RBI

Cycle watch: nobody even batted four times, so nobody had a shot!

 

Storm Starts Strong

 Round Robin Game 1 - In which two VERY unlikely home runs are hit.

Storm started strong in game 1. The defense kept the Falcons off the board in the top of the first, and the bats came alive in the bottom. Jeff led off with a single. Duran flew out and Craig got some help from some sloppy defense. Joey, Bob, and Al all singled. Then Brad came up and smacked a three run home run over the fence. Yes, you read that right. Brad hit his first home run since.... Well, statleaders is down and nobody can actually remember when Brad last hit a home run.

The second was more of the same as Storm held the Falcons to two runs, and then batted through the lineup for six runs with Craig knocking in half of them with a three run blast. 

The script flipped in the third. Joey was perched under a fly ball in short left, until he realized he wasn’t under it, and the ball bounced off his glove. The Falcons took advantage this rare miscue and scored six. Storm couldn’t manage any, and all of a sudden it was 11-8 and a tight game.

Storm blanked the Falcons in the fourth, and then had a very strange inning offensively. With runners on first and second, Al hit a hard ground ball. He sauntered to first and stopped until the throw went home, at which point he went to second. Bob, being as aggressive as ever, rounded third, and when he saw the ball bounce away from the catcher, ran home. He took the pitcher and third baseman with him and beat the throw to the plate. At this moment, Al decided he could sneak into third, since there wasn’t anyone covering. One of the many Falcons surrounding home plate saw this, and threw the ball to the short stop who was now attempting to cover third. But the ball got away from them and went to the outfield. Al then sauntered home. This play was so confusing to our scorekeeper that she circled 1B, 2B, 3B, and HR and then eventually wrote a large question mark beside the whole thing. After the dust settled, Storm got five more hits and three more runs for a mercy inning. 

The fifth and sixth inning were fairly uneventful and Storm went into the final frame leading 20-8. In the seventh, however, Storm decided to get generous. After six innings of solid baseball, Storm decided to bobble a few. This led to the Falcons putting up nine runs. They only pulled to within three, so it was never THAT close, but it was close enough to invoke the annoying rule that the home team has to bat if they aren’t winning by seven. It makes you think the league should remove runs for and run differential from time breaking procedures to avoid this type of situation.

Notable Boxscores:

Craig - 5 for 5, HR, triple, 5 RBI, 5 runs 

Joey - 4 for 5, 3 runs, 2 RBI

Al 4 for 5, 7 RBI, 3 runs, single turned inside the park home run via three base error

Brad - 3 for 5, HR, 3 RBI

Jeff - 4 for 5, 2 runs, RBI

Kevin 3 for 4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, run

Dave - 4 for 4

Cycle Watch: Craig missed the double

In other news….

Storm Award Vote - In which Brad votes for himself and STILL wins most sportsmanlike player

Storm award voting is much like AGT or an American election. In the MVP race, Duran’s heart wrenching story of recovering from a heart attack and then leading the team in eight different offensive categories pulled at the heartstrings of his teammates, and he won the MVP award.

There were calls for a recount after Brad won the MSP award, and then jokingly mentioned how he had voted for himself, or rather his nom de plume, but it called into question the integrity of the vote.