Storm settles after 2nd; storms by Falcons

 Things didn’t start so well for Storm. They scored a few in the bottom of the first, but then in the top of the second the Falcons started to soar. It seemed like every hit was finding a gap. In what felt like an eternity, the Falcons scored 12 runs. Storm could have gotten discouraged and allowed the Falcons to fly by them, but they settled down and responded with a resounding 13 run bottom of the 2^nd.  At this point, it was questionable whether a legal game would be played before time ran out if each team kept hitting the way they were. Brad threatened Al with being pulled, and Al took it to heart putting up zeroes in the next few innings, and Storm continued to chip away (with two 9 run innings) to win 35-16.

The game featured a number of notable individual achievements.

1)      Joey needed the team to get one more round of at-bats because he was a triple short of hitting for the cycle TWICE IN ONE GAME. That’s right. Joey hit 2 HRs, 2 doubles, 2 singles and a triple. Seven hits is a great day, but that’s just nuts. This is also the second time Joey has recorded seven hits against the Falcons!

2)      Speaking of seven hits, Kenny was one at bat short of being able to go 7 for 7. Brian ended the game (like many other innings) leaving Kenny stranded on-deck as the only Storm player to only get six at bats. Seven hits in a game is hard to come by (only been done four times – Jeff, Duran, and Joey twice), and Kenny will have to wait.

3)      Speaking of six hits, Brad and Bob both also recorded six hits in their seven at bats. Brad seemed to be relishing his new role as leadoff man, as he started the game with a triple, and ended up a double short of the cycle.

4)      Jeff and Lance recorded five hits each. They also almost hit each other as Jeff wanted to go for a double, but realised that Lance was tagging in case the fielder caught it, and they nearly collided at first base.

Storm is ready to enjoy the “mid-season” tournament this weekend.

HR's: Joey (2), Brad, Al, Brian

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Falcons	0	12	0	0	0	3	1	16
Storm	3	13	0	9	9	1	x	35

Solid Defense, Timely Hitting, and Close Calls lead to Storm Victory

For the 2^nd time in as many games, Storm played a one-run game. This time, however, Storm came out on top.

Storm started slowly. Storm was unable to score any runs in the first two innings. Thankfully, the defense was solid, and they held Hanet to only two runs across the first two innings. Then, in the 3^rd, Storm started to roll scoring eight runs including a three-run homer by Bob and a two-run blast by Lance. These well-timed hits helped Storm to jump out to an 8-2 lead. In the bottom of the 3^rd, Hanet responded quickly scoring three.

The bottom of the order started things again for Storm with back-to-back doubles in the 4^th. Storm was able to put up 3 more runs and take an 11-5 lead. Storm bats stopped bringing the thunder in the 5^th and 6^th. In the bottom of the 5^th ,  Hanet scored 4 bringing the score to 11-9 and the bottom of the 6^th made it 11-10.

In the top of the 7^th, Jeff, who had been held hitless so far in the game led off with a solo home run. It bounced off the left field foul pole, then, unfortunately off the Hanet left fielder’s head. He would be okay and the game would resume. Storm would be unable to add any more runs, and would carry a two-run lead into the bottom of the 7^th.

Hanet started things off well with a couple of hits. They scored a run to bring the score to within one, but a couple of groundball fielder’s choices ended the game.

Storm played solid defense throughout the game, and got three timely home runs. They also got three close plays called in their favour. A force play at 3^rd and a tag play at 3^rd were both close and could have gone either way. They both went to Storm. There was also a line-drive to LCF that Bob dove and “caught”. There was some discrepancy about whether the ball was caught or trapped, and this time the call was a catch.

Sometimes things go your way, and on this day, things went well for Storm.

HR's: Lance, Bob, Jeff

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	0	0	8	3	0	0	1	12
Hanet	2	0	3	0	4	1	1	11

Storm 7 – Broadway 2 – Shawn 6

Last night’s game between Storm and Broadway was for an early first place league lead. The game started off looking like it as going to be an offensive affair. Storm started strong with four runs in the first powered mostly by Joey’s three-run home run.

Broadway responded in the bottom of the 1^st as Shawn hit a three-run home run. Storm led 4-3 going in to the 2^nd inning. Storm struggled to produce runs (or even base runners) for the rest of the game. After being shut out in the top of the 2^nd, Storm nealy returned the favour in the bottom of the 2^nd. After the first two batters were out, the 3^rd batter in the inning hit a soft ground ball to second that was bobbled. This turned out to be the defining moment in the game as the next two batters singled and Shawn hit his 2^nd three-run home run in as many innings. Jeff had tried to keep the pitch outside, but missed his spot and watched as the ball hit nearly the identical spot on the track way over the right field fence.

After that the offense on both teams ran a little dry. Broadway would only score one more run the rest of the game. Storm would chip away until the top of the 7^th. With the bottom two batters starting things off with singles, and Kenny walking, Storm looked to be in good shape to take the lead with Duran, Bob, and Lance coming up. Duran grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored a run, bringing Storm to within one. Bob flew out but advanced both runners. With the tying run on 3^rd and the go-ahead-run on 2^nd Lance stepped up to the plate. Lance is a very patient hitter, and took the first two pitches for balls. The thought of Lance walking to load the bases with Joey, who had already hit two home runs in the game coming up was enticing. But Brad’s pitch was one that Lance couldn’t pass up. He swung and skied the ball high in the air to deep…infield. The game ended.

It was a very exciting game. Both teams played excellent defense. Both teams had solid pitching. The game clocked in at under an hour.

HR's: Joey(2)

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	4	0	1	0	0	1	1	7
Broadway	3	4	0	0	0	1	x	8

Storm Defeats Surge

Surge was short players and had a limping substitute first baseman as they took on Storm. Storm had solid pitching and defense, and hit pretty well and consistently to be able to defeat Surge.

Storm was providing a catcher and they, as a team, seem to relish the opportunity to get their own players out. On this night it was Duran, who proved white men can jump, as he climbed the ladder, to make a great catch on a foul tip from Mike for an out.

Bob had the offensive highlight for the night. In the first game of the season Bob was a home run short of the cycle. This was made more ironic by the fact that he hit a home run; it just didn’t count because Duran had selfishly hit a solo home run earlier in the game.  On this night, however, Bob hit his home run on his first at bat to make sure he got it in there. George tried to stifle Bob’s attempt by making a great play on him in the 3^rd inning, but Bob was able to hit a double in his final at bat completing the cycle.

HR's: Bob

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	5	0	4	3	7	1	x	20
Surge	0	0	0	1	0	0	x	1

Storm Powers Past Falcons

For some reason, the Falcons had the two time defending League champion Storm at fourth in the league power rankings heading into the game last night. This served as motivation for some Storm members.

Duran decided to show just how much power he had by leading off the game with a home run. This might not be the best use of power, and it certainly hurt Bob later as he hit a home run out with runners on base, but it certainly was a game starting statement.

The game itself was quite exciting. The teams traded home runs and runs throughout the game. Leads changed multiple times and it came down to the final inning. With runners on 2^nd and 3^rd, The Falcons elected to walk Duran to load the bases to create a force at home. Bob hit a hard line drive through the infield and Storm won.

There were lots of feats of power in this game. Joey hit a cycle by the fourth inning. Yes, that’s right. He batted four times in four innings and hit the cycle. Baseball historians are currently combing through professional and amateur annals to see if this feat has ever been accomplished before.

Duran, the triples specialist was oddly a triple short of the cycle, but still collected a 5 hit night. Brad also had a 5 hit night.

Storm seems to be back on a roll. Eight days off now for those who are suffering from any ailments before they face off against Surge next week.

Have a great long weekend everyone!

HR's: Joey, Duran

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Falcons	4	2	6	2	6	0	2	22
Storm	3	5	5	6	3	0	1	23

Storm returns to form

After a disappointing loss to the A’s Sunday, Storm returned to form (sort of) against the Rebels.

Storm scored only 8 runs against the A’s but scored 8 runs or more in multiple innings against the Rebels. It was a combination of decent hitting, and generous defense by the Rebels that allowed Storm to bat around.

Defensively, Storm was good, but not as solid as they could have been. With the wide margin in score, the few mistakes didn’t matter, but in a closer game some of those plays could have made a difference.

After three games in four nights, Storm has a week off before playing the Falcons. 

HR's: Joey

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	5	8	3	9	1	6	x	32
Rebels	3	0	6	2	3	0	x	14