Early Fireworks Fizzle as Storm Shut Down Expos for Narrow Win

The Expos started the game strong with a pair of walks, followed by a double and Brad’s league-leading 22nd home run. Four batters into the game and the Expos had four runs. Storm responded well with four of their own capped off by a three-run dinger by Bob.

The Expos kept the pressure on Storm in the second with a five run second that featured a pair of home runs by Taylor and Ty as well as a home run out (that is allegedly by the home run outs league leader, but statisticians are still checking on that!). Storm dropped a big fat goose egg in the second and trailed 9-4 going into the 3rd.

The 3rd and 4th saw a shift in power, as the Expos were only able to put up a single in each inning, and Storm threw some crooked numbers on the board. They scored four runs in the 3rd on some small ball with four singles, a double, and a pair of sacrifice flies. Then in the 4th they scored five runs on a bunch of singles and a triple by Duran. That put Storm up 13-11.

Then the tide of the game shifted again and…nobody scored for the rest of the game. Not only was there no scoring in the final two and a half innings, but only 16 batters came to the plate. That’s only one more than the minimum 15. Not sure if everyone was just tired at the end of a doubleheader, but those final frames flew by and the game was over at 10:38 allowing time for an extra beer before people went home.

Standout Performances

1. Bob

• Stats: 3-for-3, 1 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI
• Impact: He provided the most power in the lineup, hitting the game's only home run and leading all players with 3 runs scored and 3 RBIs.

2. Joey

• Stats: 2-for-2, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB
• Impact: He reached base safely in every plate appearance, finishing with a perfect 1.000 Batting Average and a massive 1.667 Slugging Percentage.

3. Lance

• Stats: 2-for-3, Single, 2B, 2 RBI
• Impact: He came through with a critical extra-base hit, driving in 2 runs to maximize his team's offensive output.

Line Score

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Final
The Expos	4	5	1	1	0	0	0	11
Storm	4	0	4	5	0	0	X	13

 

Heartbreak at First: Triple Play Holds Off Furious Storm Comeback in 33-Run Thriller

Storm played a heartbreaking game against Triple Play Friday night. Brad struggled to find the strike zone through the first couple of innings, and there was a lot of traffic on the bases for Triple Play, but Storm was able to cause a traffic jam and minimize the damage, giving up only four runs in the two innings. Storm managed three in the first and trailed 4-3 after two innings.

Both offenses struggled through the middle frames as pitching and defense took centre stage. Storm scored one each in the third and fourth, and Triple Play got one in the third and put up a goose egg in the fourth. It was 5-5 heading into the open innings. Triple Play scored two in the top of the fourth, but Storm answered by doubling them up and took a 9-7 lead.

The last two innings started to look like a different game. An untimely bounce extended the top of the sixth and a three-run home run gave Triple Play the lead. Storm was unable to respond and trailed by one going into the final inning. Then the monkey started clanging his cymbals as circus music could be heard in the distance. A number of plays that Storm routinely makes didn’t get made, a questionable call at first base, and some timely hitting from Triple Play led to a massive seven run inning. Triple Play scored more runs in that inning than they had in the previous four innings to take a commanding eight run lead.

There was still some thunder in Storm’s bats, though, and they would not go quiet into that good night. A couple of hits set the table for Duran to feast on a Triple Play pitch and he knocked it out of the park, cutting the lead down to five. Now time was as much Storm’s adversary as the scoreboard. As the minutes ticked down Storm got two more singles followed by two outs. Down to their last out and with five minutes left on the clock, Sam tripled plating two more. Lance got on and as time was running out so was the umpire’s patience with the game as Shawn was called out on a very close play at first base to end the game, leaving Storm a single run short of a comeback. That was how the game ended. Not with a bang, but a whimper.

Standout Performances

• 1. Duran (OPS: 2.750)
  • The Impact: He was unequivocally the game's MVP.
  • The Stats: Went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles, 1 home run, 5 RBIs, and 3 runs scored. He accounted for nearly a third of the team's total runs batted in.
• 2. Tony (OPS: 2.500)
  • The Impact: Provided critical, high-damage protection in the batting order.
  • The Stats: Went 3-for-4 with 1 single, 1 double, 1 home run, 3 RBIs, and 1 run scored.
• 3. Rene (OPS: 2.000)
  • The Impact: Excellent table-setter out of the leadoff spot to kickstart the offense.
  • The Stats: Went 3-for-4 with 2 singles, 1 triple, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored.

Line Score

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Final
Triple Play	1	3	1	0	2	3	7	17
Storm	3	0	1	1	4	0	7	16

 

Storm Offense and Jeff's return to the mound Hold Off Heat Comeback

After losing back to back games on Sunday, Storm was eager to get back in the win column. The team had been playing shorthanded for a number of games recently and now they were armed with a plethora of players ready to face the Heat. But the Heat burned them early on. Brad was on fire hitting the corners of the board, but the Hanet Heat were also hitting the ball in just the right places. Add that to some questionable defense and the Heat put up four in the top of the first.

Storm knew that four runs would not win a game, and might not even win an inning, and they set out to light an offensive fire of their own. After back to back singles to start the game, Joey launched a three run home run putting the Storm right back in it. Storm would add another and tie the game.

The second inning went a lot more smoothly. After a lead-off single by Alex, Storm went around the horn for their first doubleplay of the evening and it was a quick three up three down inning. Lance commented how Brad was able to find the plate tonight. The comment might have been a little premature, and most things that are premature don’t end well (or end too early???). Storm bats stayed hot in the second and they put up six runs capped off by a monstrous grand slam that only actually counted for two runs by Tony. Storm led 10-4. 

Now back to that comment Lance made earlier about Brad being able to find the plate. Well…. let’s just say that the third inning started with four consecutive walks and Brad pulling himself. The pitching change led to three consecutive fielder’s choices and Hanet were held to only three runs. Storm still led 10-7 when they came up in the bottom of the third, but were only able to muster up a single run to extend their lead to 11-7. 

In the fourth Jeff stepped onto the mound after returning from the 30 Day IL. A combination of knee injury and family vacation had kept him off the diamond for a month. With the help of Storm’s second double play of the game, Storm set Hanet down in order. It was a feat they would match in the 5th as well. Storm scored three in the fourth, an inning which ended because Tony launched a massive home run out. Storm’s bats would then go silent as they were unable to score any runs in the 5th or 6th innings. Would their lead be enough, or would Hanet get hot and stage a comeback?

In the 6th, Hanet scored a run to shorten the lead. The 7th inning saw some suspense as Hanet’s first two batters would get on and then score, but Storm closed the doors and held on to a 15-10 victory getting them back in the win column.

Notable Performances:

Tony wilded his bat like a caveman wields a club clobbering everything in sight.  Unfortunately, his performance was hindered by mercy and home run rules, but it was impressive nonetheless.

Joey was 2 for 3 with a HR and 4 RBI

Duran and Renee were each frustrated with their hitting, but they both went 3 for 4 and had multiple RBIs. Their off days are other players’ good days.

Line Score

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R
Hanet Heat	4	0	3	0	0	1	2	10
Storm	4	6	1	3	0	1	X	15