Storm Splits

Game 1 - In Which Storm Returns to Form

After a disappointing start to the season against the A’s, Storm looked much more like the team they’ve been in the past in the first game of the doubleheader. The defense was crisper, and the pitching was fantastic, as Storm allowed only one run in the first four innings, and eight runs in the whole game. 

Many Storm players returned to form at the plate as well. Joey hit two home runs and drove in five. Jeff, Lance, Brad, and Brian all had three hits. Craig, who was smacking home runs on the first night, had a productive first game of this doubleheader. He recorded five hits including a solo home run.

Storm also welcomed two players who played their first games of the season. They both looked like they were playing in midseason form, not playing their first games in 667 days. Dave was brilliant on defense, making beautiful backhand plays at both first and second, and making a nice stretch to pick a throw from third out of the dirt. Rene was swinging the bat like he’s been in training the entire layoff. He hit a home run on his first swing of the season. He hit a second home run later in the game. He also made a beautiful running catch on a foul ball. This was a little costly as he came up limping, but he hit his second home run after the play, so it didn’t affect his offense.

The game wasn’t perfect for Storm. The home run out derby officially started as Bob knocked a solo home run out. Al was apparently reminiscing about the days he had his bike, and was dreaming of riding around lakes when strike three bounced off the centre front of the mat. 

Overall, Storm looked like the team that has had so much success over the past few years.

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	3	1	6	0	8	1	2	21
Hanet	0	0	1	0	4	2	1	8

Game 2 - In Which Storm Decides it’s Easier to Use the Mercy Rule than Actually get Three Outs

The headline pretty much says it all. Storm looked like a different team than in the first game. Balls bounced off people, went through people. Strange events started happening early. In the bottom of the first, Joey was flummoxed by the new pitcher for Hanet and let two pitches bounce off the mat. Then he took an incredibly awkward swing, chopping the ball into the ground foul on the first base side for his first strike out of the season.

Craig made a nice play picking up a ground ball in the outfield and gunning out a runner at second. He made a great attempt on another play. A ball was hit high and hard into the gap between Craig and Bob. Craig closed the gap quickly. TOO quickly. He ended up overrunning the ball slightly and reaching back over his head to try to catch the ball. The ball just missed his glove and his momentum took him to the ground. Instead of running after the ball, he put his head down in the grass and stayed there. Rumour has it, he started weeping into the ground, but this writer was too far away to verify this claim. 

Bob was a triple short of the cycle, but he only got to bat three times. Joey left him stranded in the on deck circle to end the game. Craig was also a triple short of the cycle, and he also only got to bat three times. He would have batted after Bob. But he didn’t. Because the game ended. 

Storm is going to need to find a way to maintain their stamina through both games of doubleheaders as they proceed in the season!

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Hanet	4	6	6	6	5	x	x	27
Storm	6	4	2	4	0	x	x	15