Thursday, June 30, 2022

Storm stabilizes in late innings to defeat Isotopes

Storm’s nucleus was a little unstable as they started their game against the Isotopes. The first batter hit a line drive back to Jeff on the pitcher’s mound. He caught it. Then  dropped it. Then picked it up and threw it to Brian, who caught it. Then dropped it. It’s like they were handling radioactive material. And their instability caused an explosion of six runs for the Isotopes.

Storm’s instability continued when they came to the plate. Mills led off with a strikeout. Storm has used a few different leadoff hitters this year. All good hitters who seem to struggle in the leadoff spot. You generally want your leadoff hitters to lead the team in categories kike OBP, AVG. runs scored, or at least walks. The leadoff spot does not lead in any of those. But it is tied for the lead in strikeouts. Someone jokingly said we should call it the K off spot.

Storm managed to settle down in the second inning defensively and offensively. The protons aligned and the neutrons settled in as Storm and Isotopes scored opposite numbers to the first and the score was tied 8-8 after two. Storm batted through the order to score the max six.

In the 3rd Storm gave five runs back and had to come back again. They were unable to do it until the bottom of the sixth when they scored five. Storm’s pitching and defence settled in, and Storm did not give up any runs through the final three boxes on the periodic table, enabling them to hold on to 18-15 victory. 

The Isotopes caused quite a reaction in their first game against Storm, but Storm stayed stable and held on to win, even if nobody could hold on to that first hit of the game. 

Check out the new Podcast of the game as reported by;

Scoops Jockovitch and or Chip Merriweather


Notable Numbers on the Periodic Table:
Lance - 5 for 5, 2 RBI
Duran - 4 for 5, 4 RBI, 2 runs
Bob - 4 for 5, 3 runs, RBI
Adam - 3 for 4, 3 RBI, 2 runs

Boxscore

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Total

Isotopes

6

2

5

2

0

0

0

15

Storm

2

6

2

0

3

5

X

18

Monday, June 27, 2022

Stellar Defence in win over Hanet

 Duran led off the game by turning a single into a double. He wanted to create as much separation between him and Mills. It was a wasted effort. Mills knocked the next pitch out of the park. Storm would score another and take a 3-0. That wouldn’t last, though, as Hanet scored three right back. 

In the second, Mills launched another home run. This one a three run blast. He was really showing off for the fan in the stands! Storm would hold Hanet to two runs and take a lead into the 3rd inning. Storm’s defence really took over from the 3rd to the 5th, not allowing any runs and with six consecutive outs being recorded at first base. In one inning, Joey made all the outs. Nobody taught him to be a good boy and share in the sandbox! Storm put up seven more runs through these frames and took a 13-5 lead into the sixth. After adding two more runs, the sixth ended with an unfortunate incident. George made a fantastic catch on a ball hit right back to him on the pitcher's mound, but it was clear that he was hurt on the play. The batter being Al, Storm’s pitcher, it was clearly not intentional, but emotions run high and Hanet has a lot of family on the team and the temperature was rising both in the physical and metaphorical atmosphere. Cooler heads prevailed and the game was able to finish without  any incident. 

Storm held on to win 15-7.

Check out the new Podcast of the game as reported by;

Scoops Jockovitch and Chip Merriweather




Boxscore

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Total

Storm

3

3

2

3

2

2

0

15

Hanet

3

2

0

0

0

1

1

7




Stome edge out win over A's

 Brad jokingly called Jeff “batting practice” before the game started. Then Jeff lived up to the name and pitched four solo home runs in the first inning, two for outs. The next three innings would be a cat and mouse game between Jeff and the A's batter as Jeff tried to throw home runs and they tried desperately to keep it in the park. 

In the 2nd, George hit a screaming liner at Adam’s head. Adam recovered from his near death experience to make a play on Doug's grounder. 

In the third, Storm got the A’s to hit another home run out. They also started a new defensive strategy. Jeff deflected a ball to Brad who threw to first to record the out on the good ol 143 out at first.

In the fourth, Storm continued their defensive strategy of deflecting balls as Lance knocked one down that was picked up by Jeff who gunned it to first. Jeff finished his day much like he started it, with a home run that went for an out.

Storm hit well in the fourth through sixth innings and ran the bases aggressively. Most importantly, they kept the ball in the park. 

In the 5th,  Al took a page out of Jeff's book and ended the inning with a home run out. It was bizarro baseball as every time the A’s hit a deep fly ball it was Storm players cheering for the ball to get out. 

Storm took a 13-9 lead into the seventh inning, but the A’s do not go gentle into any good night, particularly not a humid night, so they scored three and got the tying run to second base with their number 3 batter up. Cam launched one in the air, but it stayed in the park and fell right into Mills’ waiting glove. Storm held on to win 13-12. 

Check out the new Podcast of the game as reported by;

Scoops Jockovitch and Chip Merriweather



Boxscore

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Total

A’s

2

0

3

3

0

1

3

12

Storm

4

2

3

4

0

0

x

13


Saturday, June 25, 2022

Storm Expos(es) some defensive weaknesses

Storm had some solid hitting and took advantage of some misplays by the Expos to win 22-4.

The WMSPL is in an expansion era after covid shrunk the league. One of the expansion teams is the Expos. This version of the Expos is having a season much like the expansion Montreal Expos did in 1969. They have struggled in the standings so far, and those struggles continued against Storm.

Storm stormed out of the gate in the first inning. Storm scored six runs on some excellent hitting and some lacklustre defence. Joey hit a three run triple, and Bob drove in two on a single where the Expos were slow to get the ball back in. The Expos didn’t record an out until the second inning, when Brian graciously grounded out like the gentleman he is. Storm still scored six in the inning. Duran drove a two run home run. Mills turned an inside the park home run into a triple claiming, “I thought it was gone.” He still scored as Storm singled their way to their second mercy inning.

The Expos plugged the holes in their defence in the third and managed to keep Storm off the board. But Storm returned with another mercy inning in the 4th. Embarrassed by his earlier running faux pas, Mills turned a single into a triple on a ball misplayed in short right centre field. Ken and Lance followed with doubles and Jeff and Brian would end the inning with doubles of their own to reach the max six. The defensive highlight of the game came from the Expos in the 4th. Joey hit a hard line drive to left field and their left fielder made a fantastic running catch extending his arm and then somersaulting after the play. As an expansion team, they are clearly unfamiliar with the former president rule where you’re supposed to drop everything Joey hits.

In the 5th, the Expos pitcher bared down deep within and started Duran with a couple of tough pitches that Duran fouled off. With two strikes, Duran didn’t even think about shortening up his swing. No, he swung so hard some of the Storm’s players’ hats flew off in the dugout. If he had squared the ball up, people would still be looking for it. Unfortunately, he fouled it off for a strikeout. Mills and Ken went down as well as the Expos recorded their first three up three down inning.

Just when it seemed that the Expos were tightening up, their defence sprung a few more leaks. In the 6th inning Storm started to go base to base, but the Expos seemed to want to give them the bases they weren’t taking. On a two out fly ball in the infield, the ball somehow managed to hit the ground even though the third baseman and shortstop were standing beside each other directly under it. Storm added four more that inning.

Defensively, Storm had another solid game. Mills, Duran, and Craig all made good outfield catches. Brian made a very solid play after a line drive hit him and fell to the ground. He tagged the runner then stepped on the base for a double play to end the inning. Jeff tracked a ball perfectly into foul ground from the pitcher’s mound and had the ball fall nicely into his glove. Instead of catching it, though, he volleyed it out for a foul ball. He must have been going for the strikeout, but instantly regretted it when the batter sent a screaming line drive back at his head. He caught the ball, but it wasn’t just dirt from the infield that was soiling his pants after that play.

The Expos did have a few sparks on offence. Larry Walker launched a deep fly ball into the trees over the right field fence. Unfortunately, it was foul. They had the bases loaded, but  couldn’t get a run across. They did finally make some noise when Vladimir Guerrero Sr. launched a three run home run well over the left field fence. The Expos can take solace in the fact that, though they did not win the game, they scored more runs against Storm than the Falcons did the last time they played. 

Notable Boxscores:

Lance - 4 for 4, 4 runs, 2 RBI

Kevin - 4 for 4, 3 RBI, 2 runs

Jeff - 4 for 4, 3 runs, 3 doubles, 2 RBI

Craig - 3 for 3, 3 RBI

Duran - 3 for 5, HR, 4 RBI, STRIKEOUT

Joey - 3 for 4, 3 runs, 3 RBI


Boxscore

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Total

Storm

6

6

0

6

0

4

x

22

Expos

0

0

1

3

0

0

x

4


Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Storm nearly wiped by TP

 Scoops Jockovitch here, your intrepid sports reporter returning after some much needed off-season de-tox and de-worming ( need to reach my hyphen quota)

Happy Summer Solstice Day everyone! Hopefully, all of your virginal goat sacrifices to the pagan gods went smoothly!

This was the first time that the Stormies had faced the newly formed Triple Play. A team formed out of the merge of other teams ( Think Voltron with cleats and high socks).
It was with a short bench (10) that our Hommes d'Orange took to the diamond. It did not start well.

With our new lead-off man delayed by what we assume was hair preparation, a veteran hitter was promoted to lead off and subsequently sent a monster shot to the catcher, to be quickly followed but a farther, yet similar outcome pop up.

Luckily, the heart of the order all scored,  highlighted with a  HR by our very own un-retired Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. ( but you can call him Al).

Unfortunately, TP wiped away the Storms lead by scoring a handful of their own to take a 5-4 lead.
The Players Cubed kept the Storm off the sheet in the 2nd with a 1,2,3 inning and then added on a pair of their own to take a 3 run lead ( CONSPIRACY ALERT! - Triple Play- 3 run lead…coincidence? I think not!!)

The game, like my honeymoon included some unintentional physical contact. On a short dying quail hit to left, veteran SS Joseph J Pilkey ranged out for the catch only to meet knee to hip with rookie outfielder Adam “ Hit you so hard the spots you will see will be “ White. Both players went down but Adam graciously helped the old man up.

Adam “ no relation to Walter, so stop asking him for Meth” White  also seemed to take his frustrations out on second base, but redeemed himself well with a cat like snag behind the plate.

Ze Sturm tied the score at lucky 7’s in the 3rd by scoring 3 against 3 Play ( CONSPIRACY ALERT! - 3 runs scored in the 3rd inning against Triple Play…coincidence? I think not!!)

Once again TP swiped a handful off the roll to score 5 and take the lead again.

Top of 4, the bats starting connecting for the Orangemen as the bottom of the order all got on, capped off by a base on balls by the wiley lead-off man ,which set the table for the Marathon Man himself to stop up to the deli counter and order a Grand Salami. Scoring 6 in there half the Storm once again took the lead and luckily kept the the Players Cubed at bay to hold a tenuous 13-12 lead going onto the open 5th.

The bottom of the Pylons short bench once again got on base in preparation for a 3 run HR that can only be attributed to a certain player being juiced, and by juiced I mean Prune.  To be quickly followed by a deep shot over the fence by everyone's favorite backward hatted SS. The storm score a 6 in the 6 ( Insert your own Conspiracy theory here).

The Triple Players struck back to tie the game @ 18 going into the last inning.
If there had been any fans I’m sure the edges of their seats would have been occupied.

The 7th Started with a blast to the RF fence by “ He’s faster than Tom Brady” but you can call me Al. Which spurred the Storm to score 4 in the top of the inning.
Would they be able to keep the heard hitting TP  from leaving a stain on the Storm winning streak? Would this leave a skid mark on the schedule?

Well fans, I can say that the 3Players came close and scored 2 but our lads shut the door defensively  to keep the TP from wiping away a Storm victory.

Make the final 22-20

Notable Boxscores:
Everyone!

Check out the new Podcast of the game as reported by;

Scoops Jockovitch




Boxscore

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Total

Triple Play

5

2

5

0

4

2

2

20

Storm

4

0

3

6

0

5

4

22