Storm Crushes Bone Crushers

Storm maximized their potential through the first four innings of Wednesdays game scoring a staggering 24 runs in four innings. Our statisticians are digging through the scoresheets as we speak, but we are fairly certain it has never happened before. Of course, after scoring the maximum six runs in each of the first four innings, Storm scored none in the fifth, and only one in the six, but the first 24 were more than enough to hold on to the win.

Highlights/Lowlights: Sam showed up in the shortest shorts you’ll see on a diamond. His legs were nearly as white as the shorts and the glare was blinding. This may have accounted for some of Coulas’s struggles hitting. The boy who harnessed the light was blinding the batters from the outfield.  

Storm found new ways to minimize home runs. Usually Storm just witnesses selfish solo home runs, but in this game, Storm hit multiple home runs with runners on base where only one run counted because Storm had reached the maximum number of runs per inning.

Storm had such a large lead going into the final inning, the outfielders moved into the infield and the infielders moved to the outfield except for Brian, who held tightly to first base, and Jeff who moved to pitcher because Al claimed he was exhausted from all the pitches he had thrown. Either Jeff was jealous because the only ball hit to third in the game was hit in the inning Ken was playing third, or he really didn’t trust the outfielder’s in the infield, but he ended up making all three outs. The first was a grounder to Brian, who scooped it and tossed it to Jeff covering first. The next two batters hit ground balls to Jeff who threw to Brian, effectively keeping the outfielders from handling any balls. 

Overall, it was a solid game on both sides of the ball. Storm now gets a nice long rest before their next game.

 Storm    25  -   Coulas 3

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

Storm Triple their Way to Victory

Storm started rough against Triple Play. The TP boys put up a triple in the first and held Storm to a single leading 3-1 after the first frame. TP doubled their output in the second, scoring a max six and making it look like it was going to be a long night. Storm was not to be dismayed, though, and they wiped away some of TP’s lead in the bottom half of the second scoring five. The inning started with a McTriple from MacDougall, and a rare single from General Mills, but the following two batters got out and it looked like it was going to be another short inning for Storm. Jeff managed to keep the inning alive, sneaking a ground ball past third, scoring Mills. Duran walked and Joey tripled (it was really nice for Storm to Triple so much against triple play) clearing the bases. Storm put up five to keep themselves in the game.

Triple Play, loving the number three scored three again in the third. Storm only managed two runs, and Triple play extended their lead to four. No lead is safe, though, and in the fourth, Storm held Triple Play to one run and then scored five of their own powered by a two run homer by Joey. Suddenly it was tied heading into the open innings.

Storm blanked Triple Play in the fifth. Duran started the fifth with, you guessed it, a triple, and Storm scored two to take the lead. The lead would be short lived, however, as Triple Play would score, you guessed it, three runs in the top of the sixth. Storm trailed by one in the bottom of the sixth with time ticking.

Storm’s fortunes did not look good as two of the first three batters got out. With the tying run on third, Jeff stepped up to the plate. He had been struggling through the entire doubleheader, and when he fouled off a pitch for strike two, Storm was down to their last strike, unsure if there would be enough time for another inning. The pitch came in, possibly short, but Jeff wasn’t taking the risk and he lined the ball over the pitcher’s head into centre field to tie the game. Duran then stepped up to the plate and watched a 3-1 plate hit the board, bringing Storm to their final strike for the second batter in a row. Duran worked the walk and then Joey singled, scoring the go ahead run. Now if the game reverted, Storm would win. But the game wasn’t going to revert because it would never make it to the next inning. After being down to their last strike twice, Storm had a two out rally that worked its way all the way through the lineup scoring 9 runs with two outs and running out the clock for a 24-16 victory.

Storm    24  -   Triple Play 16

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Triple Play	3	6	3	1	0	3	x	16
Storm	1	5	2	5	2	9	x	24

 

Storm winds blow Isotopes Aside

It was a blustery evening as the Storm took on the Isotopes, although at times it seemed  the teams were battling the wind as much as each other. At first, Storm thought they had the game well in hand. They blanked the Isotopes in the top of the first and then put up a max 6 in the bottom of the first. The Isotopes pitcher was struggling to throw strikes with the wind pushing the ball everywhere, and issued three walks. Storm capitalised with some well timed hits.

Storm was feeling generous and gave those six runs right back in the top of the second. Mills could have ended the inning with a catch, but missed the ball. He then knelt down instead of turning and chasing the ball. He apparently had hurt his knee, but he’s so fast him crawling after the ball would have been faster than anyone else running after it. He also ran for a sort of inside the park home run later, so we don’t feel bad mentioning this three run gaffe here. Storm forgot how to hit and put up a zero in the bottom half of the inning. The positive energy from the first inning was neutralised by the negative energy of the second and the score was even after 2.

The Isotopes scored four runs in the top of the third. Storm  scored a couple, but still trailed 10-8.

Storm returned to form in the fourth. They held the Isotopes to a single run and then remembered how to hit. Duran led off with a double that was followed by four consecutive singles. A fielder’s choice and sac fly later and Storm had a 13-11 lead. 

The Isotopes tied the game in the top of the fifth, and Storm squeaked one run across to carry a 14-13 lead into the sixth. The Isotopes scored two to take the lead going into the bottom. Storm started well as Mills got his revenge. He hit what should have been a single, ended up being scored a triple, but actually resulted in him scoring on his own hit. Those two runs gave the Storm the lead, but they weren’t done yet. There was a little more thunder in their bats, and Duran launched a two run home run that put Storm up five. More importantly, Storm batted long enough that the game ended after six innings.

Storm    18  -   Isotopes 15

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Isotopes	0	6	4	1	0	2	2	15
Storm	6	0	2	5	1	4	x	18

Solo Power strikes again

Storm got more great pitching and solid defence as they beat Greenthumb 19-8 in just over an hour.

Storm scored two in the top of the first. Duran and Joey hit back to back triples, Craig (wait, who?) hit a double and Storm scored two in the first frame. Storm opened up the floodgates in the second, scoring six runs while recording only one out (way to go, Joey). Storm scored two more in the third as Rene got in on the triples. 

In the fourth, Storm ran into some familiar trouble. Jeff, being moved up to leadoff, went to his head, and he launched his first home run of the season. Unfortunately, he was leading off the inning, so this was another Han Solo home run for Storm. Not to be outdone, Duran launched another solo home run on the very next pitch. Sam later hit a home run out (there was a runner on for his home run attempt). Storm still scored five. They added four late runs and won 19-8. 

It was mostly a good day, but there were some interesting moments. Probably the most interesting was a confusing running play with Mills trying to score from second when Sam had already stopped at third. There were many things going on in this play. Sam running like a 62 year instead of a 26 year old is definitely part of the problem. Joey, coaching third base having no faith in his son’s speed (probably because he runs like a 62 year old) is also part of the problem. Mills either thinking everyone is as fast as him, or just not paying any attention to what’s going on is also part of the problem. He didn’t realise Sam had stopped until he was almost at third. 

Rene also started directing traffic and rearranging Storm’s defence. In one inning this meant Mills ended up at third. A line drive went right by him. Being able to cover half the outfield in under two seconds doesn’t matter at the hot corner. 

Less humorous was Craig taking a massive swing and then falling over in the batter’s box clutching his back. Hopefully he’s okay or he might not be allowed to come play again.

Storm    19  -   Greenthumb 8

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Greenthumb	0	0	1	0	4	3	0	8
Storm	2	6	2	5	0	4	x	19