Storm stumbles (completely falls on it’s a**) against Broadway

Broadway helped Storm out by beating the A’s in the first game of the double-header. Then Broadway turned around and helped the A’s right back by slaughtering Storm in the 2^nd game of the evening. It turns out, Broadway was actually trying to help themselves.

The game started off seeming like it was going to be a another tightly contested game between Broadway and Storm. It was 6-5 for Storm going into the bottom of the 3^rd. And then the floodgates opened.

The inning started with a hard ground ball that got through 3^rd. Then Broadway kept hitting balls that Storm players usually catch, but tonight, couldn’t. What looked like it might be a tragedy, turned very quickly into a comedy of errors as even throws to cut-off men would bounce off of both middle infielders and roll into the infield. It was so bad, that a Broadway player asked if a ground ball to short had actually turned into an out on a force play at 2^nd. The inning played out as if someone had snuck onto Storm’s bench and sprayed all of Storm players’ gloves with ball repellant. It was so bad, that Storm gave up more runs in that single inning than they had in 21 games. 21 times Storm gave up 12 runs or fewer in the game. They gave up 12 runs in that inning.

This brings Storm’s record against Broadway and the A’s to 1-5-1. They’ll either need to correct that in the playoffs or need some help if they’re going to manage the threepeat.

Notable Boxscores:

Al – 4/4, 4RBI

Brad 4/4, 2RBI

Streak Watch:

Duran’s extra base hit streak came to an end at 39 games.

HR's:  None

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	2	0	3	2	2	3	x	12
Broadway	3	3	12	5	2	0	x	25

Storm cools Coulas’s bats

Storm had a slow start to the game on Wednesday. It was another game that they were hitting like they were facing major league pitching. Storm managed only one run in each of the first two innings. The defense, however, was so strong that two runs in two innings was enough as Coulas scored none.

In the top of the 3^rd, Coulas remembered that it was slo-pitch, not major league baseball and they put 3 runs on the board to take the league. This seemed to knock Storm out of their stupor, and they responded with a 6 run inning thank to a grand slam by Joey and a two-run single by Dave.  Had now scored more in their half of the inning than the two teams had scored combined up until that point.

Coulas would not be held down, though, and they managed a five run inning that tied the game at 8.  Storm would take the lead back in the bottom half of the inning with three runs, and they never looked back from there allowing just one more run the rest of the game.

Offensive highlights:

• Joey hit a grand slam.
• Dave hit a two-run single.
•  Duran developed the patience of a private detective on a stakeout waiting for that insurance claimant to take out his five iron, and walked on his first two at-bats without swinging the bat. He then tripled to extend his historic extra base hit streak.
• Al had another solid night with three hits and 3 RBI

Defensive highlights:

• The defensive play was solid all around. Kenny made a nice catch in right.
• Dave made a great stab at first and got an out before throwing an errant ball to second.
• Brian made the same play, but actually made the throw to second to complete the double play.
• Brad made a nice play and shovel pass to Joey for a double-play in the seventh inning.
• All around Storm made all of the plays that they should have, and some that they shouldn’t have.

HR's: Joey

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Coulas	0	0	3	5	1	0	0	9
Storm	1	1	6	3	3	3	x	17

Storm solid on both sides of the ball

Storm hit very well and played solid defense to defeat Brew Crew 37-0. Storm started going station to station in the 3^rd inning, but the hits kept finding holes. Defensively, Storm was solid. Mike made a great catch in right, and every play that should have been made was made as Storm shutout Brew Crew. Brew Crew only had multiple runners on in the last inning, and never got a runner past 2^nd.



HR's: Joey, Duran

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Brew Crew	0	0	0	0	0	x	x	0
Storm	2	9	8	9	10	x	x	38

Storm good enough

The A’s had just finished defeating Broadway as Storm was getting ready for their game against Coulas, which meant that Storm would have to win to stay a game and a half behind. Coulas had defeated Storm earlier in the season, so Storm knew it would not be a walk in the park.

Storm got a pair of runs in the top of the first, and in the bottom of the first, Coulas got their first two runners on. This could have been a breakout inning, but the play of the game came on the next batter. A hard line drive was hit and Dave made a diving grab at first for the first out. Storm then held on and Coulas didn’t score a run in the inning.

Stom’s defense would be good for most of the game (especially Greg in right field), which was good, because the batting was not. Aside from a pair of home runs from Joey, Storm had trouble scoring in the first six innings. After six, the score was a too-close-for-comfort 6-5.

In the top of the seventh, Storm finally remembered how to hit.  Bob walked, then Duran smacked a two-run homer. Joey then walked, and Storm used a courtesy runner for him since he was hobbled by a hamstring injury. This turned out to be a very effective use of a courtesy runner, as the next batter grounded to third, but the courtesy runner was able to go quickly enough to put pressure on the defense and force a bobble on the play at 2^nd. Storm put up five more hits and scored four more runs that inning to increase their lead to 12-5.

The extended lead was a good thing, as the defense started to break down in the bottom of the 7^th. Coulas was able to get three runs in to make the score 12-8 before Storm was finally able to close the door.

Streak Watch:

Bob came in to the game with a 100 game hit streak. He walked twice in his first four plate appearances, hit a fielder’s choice and a fly ball out to the fence. His 2^nd walk of the game actually came to lead of the 7^th inning. With a hit streak on the line, he did what was best for the team and took a walk in what would likely be his last plate appearance. Luckily for him, Storm bats got hot. He watched as Storm batted right back around to the top of the order. Jeff came up with two outs, fully aware of the hit streak, and feeling a lot of pressure to get Bob to the plate again, and was able to deliver a single. Bob, ever the dramatic one, in a plate appearance he could not have expected to get, worked the count full before hitting a single to centre and keeping his hit streak alive.

HR's: Joey (2), Duran

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

Storm in tight against Surge

Surge stormed ahead in this one putting up 5 runs in the top of the first inning, Bob took things into his own hands and started the bottom of the inning off with a solo homerun, but then after eight other Storm players combined for 4 runs and 2 outs Bob is at the plate again with two on base and he parks one to deep right centre. Most people in the park can't believe what they witnessed, Bob took a full step back and hit it like a check swing, but there she goes. The illusive 2 Home runs in the same inning! End result at the end of one inning, Storm was ahead 8 to 5.

The second inning had Surge hitting two home runs scoring 5 runs, while the Storm put up a donut. The third had Surge put up their own donut, then in the bottom of the inning Storm sent twelve to the plate and scored 7 more runs and took the lead 15 to 10. The fourth had Surge hitting  another homerun, and making this game tighter as after four innings it was a 16 to 13 lead for the Storm.

The fifth inning was a strong one for Surge as the belted out two more home runs to go +2, and scored 9 runs in the process to take a 22 to 16 lead. However the Storm bats came thundering back sending 14 to the plate, and scoring 10 runs without hitting another Home run, so after 5 the Storm had the lead back leading 26 to 22.

The sixth inning was a defensive gem for the Storm as Surge did not get any runs thanks to the fact that they were up 2 HR's, as Surge hit a homerun out that didn't count except for an out. Storm scored two in the bottom of that inning.

Bringing up the 7th inning Surge needed seven runs to take the lead and did push across 2 runs but time was not on their side and sadly the game was called by the ump as it was 9:25pm. End result Storm took this hard fought victory 28 - 22.

HR's: Bob (2) Both in the same Inning

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Surge	5	5	0	3	9	0	x	22
Storm	8	0	7	1	10	2	x	28

Storm strong against Sports Illustrated

The top of the order demonstrated what a top of the order should do. The Storm’s first three batters went a perfect 13/13 with two walks and 15 runs scored against Sports Illustrated. The rest of the order hit well as well, and Storm sailed to a 27-13 victory. Storm also demonstrated some very good defense against a very good hitting Sports Illustrated and take the back half of the doubleheader 27 - 12.

Notable Boxscores:

Duran – 5/5, 5 runs, 6 RBI

Jeff – 5/5, 5 runs, RBI

Bob – 3/3, 2 walks, 5 runs, 4 RBI

Joey – 2/3, 6RBI, 3 runs

Al – 4/4, 3 RBI

Lance – 4/4, 3 RBI, 2 runs

Streak watch: Bob got a hit in his 99^th consecutive game. No pressure next game Bob!

HR's: Joey

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
SI Play	0	0	4	5	2	1	x	12
Storm	3	8	4	7	5	x	x	27