Storm Stays Strong - Sweeps Hanet

Game 1 - In which Storm scores 10 runs in the sixth inning to come from behind to win.

Storm started strong with a five run first inning. Duran and Rene each hit two run homers and Storm carried a 5-3 lead into the second. Storm almost kept that lead, but with two outs a dropped ball opened the door for Hanet to score six two run outs, including two two-run homers. Storm managed three in the bottom of the 2nd to pull within one.

The third so no scoring for either team. Hanet added four more runs in the top of the fourth and extended their lead to 13-8. A pitching change followed for Storm, and Mike put up a zero in the top of the 5th. This allowed Storm to put up four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Craig led off with a Han solo home run, followed by a pair of doubles by Rene and Bob. The bottom of the order came up with timely hits and Storm trailed by just one at the end of the fifth.

The sixth inning saw Hanet extend their lead to five as they put up a four spot. The bottom of the sixth is when Storm bats came to life. Joey and Bob each hit two-run homers to bring Storm to within one run. Storm then strung together seven hits, including a three-run blast by Duran, and Storm put up 10 runs to take a 22-17 lead. 

Storm blanked Hanet in the top of the seventh.

Defensive highlights (or not so highlights)

A pop fly with lots of backspin kicked off the heel of Brad’s glove. The runner was slow, so Brad had time to throw the runner out, but the ball kicked off the heel of Brian’s glove. Brad quipped that the play involved two heels, and that was the people involved not the glove. The following batter hit a ground ball to third. This kicked off the heel of Rene’s glove, and bounced up between his legs. Rene reached between his legs, found three balls, pulled out the right one and recorded the final out.

Notable Boxscores:

Duran - 5 for 5, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 runs

Joey - 4 for 5, HR, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 2 doubles

Rene - 4 for 4, HR, 4 RBI, 3 runs, 3 doubles

Bob - 4 for 4, HR, 2 doubles, 3 runs, 2 RBI

Cycle Watch: Joey missed the triple

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Hanet	3	6	0	4	0	4	0	17
Storm	3	3	3	0	3	10	x	22

Game 2 - In which Storm scores in every inning on way to sweeping the doubleheader

Storm scored in every inning and spread the wealth out across the lineup. The game was close across the first four innings. Hanet jumped out to a 5-3 lead in the first. Storm put up five in the second starting with a leadoff single by Kevin that set the table for the inning. Storm held Hanet to 3 in the second and after two it was 8-8.

The top of the third saw Storm put up another five spot. The rally was again kicked off by a single from Kevin, and was capped off by back to back home runs by Duran and Joey. For those keeping track, this means Joey selfishly smashed a solo home run. The inning came to a screeching halt, however, when Kraig struck out. With one strike, Kraig took a massive swing and completely missed as the ball hit off the mat. He then exclaimed, “Oh my god.” He assured the bench that it wouldn’t happen again. But it did. On the very next pitch. Kraig swung so hard that players on the Storm bench were nearly knocked over by the wind, but no Kontact was made, and Kraig slouched back to the bench. Kraig had a lot of success during the doubleheader, but he also had some interesting at bats. Earlier in the evening he had taken a mighty swing that missed the ball, but made contact on the follow through after the ball had hit the mat. It’s not cricket, Craig!

Anyway, back to the game. Hanet scored three in the fourth and Storm took a 14-11 lead into the fifth inning. The game wasn’t the primary focus for some players. Rene was very interested in the qualifying heat for Andre DeGrasse. He watched the false start and waited for the race to the point where he didn’t even go on deck because he was trying to watch the race. Alas, the break was too long and Rene went out to hit. He singled, and then the race started. Both the qualifying heat for De Grasse, and the race where Bob chased Rene around the bases. Rene had left his phone in Mike’s hands, and Mike and Jeff were trying to watch the qualifying heat, but when Bob’s hit skipped past the Hanet outfielder, a much more interesting race was transpiring right in front of them. Rene running on a bad hip, limped around the bases as Bob charged in behind him. Rene was waved home, and a few feet behind him, Bob was waved home. The ball had come in to second base and the throw came home. Thankfully, Rene crossed the line first in a photo finish with Bob just before the ball reached the plate. When Rene returned to the dugout he asked what had happened in the race. The bench responded that he nearly got lapped by Bob. Rene said, “I might the qualifier.” Mike and Jeff looked at each other and shrugged realizing neither had paid attention to the race because they were too distracted by the game in front of them. (Editorial note: De Grasse qualified in third). Storm would not relinquish the lead again, and would add six more runs in the seventh to cement their lead.

Notable Boxscores:

Kraig - STRIKEOUT, 4 for 5, HR, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 2B

Duran - 4 for 5, 2 home runs, 5 RBI, 4 runs

Joey - 4 for 5, 4 runs, 2 RBI

Bob - 4 for 5, inside the park home run, 3 RBI, 2 runs

Kevin - 4 for 5, 4 runs, two rallies started

Mike - 4 for 5, 5 RBI

Cycle Watch: After missing the triple multiple times this season, Duran hit the triple this game., But he couldn’t get the double. Instead he hit two home runs.

Kraig missed the triple. Instead he got the striKeout.

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	3	5	5	1	5	1	6	26
Hanet	5	3	0	3	2	3	2	18