Hot Air Balloons and a Rooster

Like that small red rash on you upper “inner” thigh that just won’t go away it is I Scoops Jockovitch your intrepid writer and athletic supporter who has once again been asked (forced) into the indentured servitude of using two fingers and a thumb to bring pleasure to the masses…and I may just do some typing as well.

Once again Team Tangerine bravely strapped on their spiked boots and large leather mittens to partake in yet another thrilling match of a game that always smells of the unique combination of A535 and wasted potential.

Hoping to lull the Storm into a bidding war Team Re/Max was putting the final touches on staging their dugout with fresh cut flowers and the aroma of baked cookies!

In the top of the first it seemed that Re/Max’s pitches looked like giant red, white and blue hot air balloon floating serenely over home plank to Team Agent Orange as they matched runs with that nights roster by putting a 9 on the board.

Like an  embarrassed adolescent walking to the front of the class in track pants, controversy unexpectedly arose in the bottom of the inning as the undermanned "league leaders" requested a catcher so that the outfield would remain filled with pylons.

Team re/Max was not “ Sold” on the idea but they quickly did an “Appraisal” and “Assessed the Value” of the transaction and the “Dual Agency” of the “Offer” before accepting the “ Closing costs”  though not without  an “Adjustable rate” of sarcasm.

The first inning came to a close with  Team Up, Up and Away making a slightly under market value counter offer of 3 runs in their half of the inning.

Stephanie Cliffords ( NSFW Google) favourite team delivered a goose egg in the 2nd whilst those Masters of the Adjustable Rate gave one run a small yet well appointed semi detached home.

Which brings us to the time in our chronicle where we discuss poultry.

Young-ish Storm star and Magic Mike stunt double Big D has been having a rough go lately flashing the leather. With some bad hops in the infield and off the tip ( not in the good way) of the glove balls dropping lately in the outfield, it seems that the time has come to remove the curse that has obviously been placed upon him.

And as any astute and well-learned baseball aficionado knows, the only way to get rid of a curse on a glove is to sacrifice a live rooster.

So if anyone in the league would like to offer their cock to Duran…wait…what? that didn’t come out right… Lets move on.

Top of the third brought 4 runs in for Team Daniels highlighted by a triple from Bob “ the Excel-erator” Peppler. 

The opposition seemed to be at a “ Crossroads” ( see what I did there) in there half of the inning. They scored 1, which was good. But their own player made a highlight catch behind the plate to get on out, which was bad.

The third inning was also the debut of a new player to the Storm. Playing 3rd base was a young, hip, backwards cap wearing fellow that looked a lot like veteran player Michael “ Wait un-“ Tyl (your father gets home!) but this player was full of MIKE-A-TUDE!!!

In the top o’ the fourth the Storm struck and burst the Re/Max balloon by scoring 11 with all 9 roster players getting at least 1 hit in the inning.

The Asking price was too high for the team named after a Britney Spears movie ( Love you Brit, Brit!) and the white flag was flown.

Final score 24-5

With this victory the only team that can wipe Doritos on their jerseys and no one will notice claims another season Championship!

Please fans join me, along with all the other players in the league by yawning and stating “ Let's see what you do in the playoffs!”

Your biggest athletic supporter

Scoops Jockovitch

Notable Boxscores:  

Duran – 5/5, HR, 5 runs, 3 RBI      

Bob – 4/5, Triple, HR, 3 RBI, 4 runs,

Al – 5/5, Double, 2 RBI, 2 runs 

Joey – 4/5, 2 doubles, Triple, 4 RBI, 2 runs

Lance – 3/4, 2 Doubles, 3 runs, 2 RBI

Brad – 3/4, 2 runs, 2 RBI

Mike – 2/4, two doubles, 2 RBI, 2 runs

Greg – 3/4, Double, 3 runs, 3 RBI

Brian - 2/4 RBI, 1 run

HR's: Bob, Duran

HR Outs: None

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	9	0	4	11	x	x	x	24
ReMax	3	1	1	0	x	x	x	5

Storm back on track over Remax

Storm started well against Re/Max. After holding Re/Max to a single run in the top of the first, the team jumped out offensively and hit for a team cycle in the first inning. Al’s two-run blast capped off the five-run inning.

Storm kept rolling in the second. After Kenny led-off with a triple, Bob smacked a two-run home run and was astonished that it actually counted. He is now -2 on the home runs vs. home run outs this year and hopes to get in the black before the end of the season!

Storm’s offense sputtered in the 3^rd and 4^th, and Storm was only able to get one run total in those two innings. This allowed Re/Max to get right back in the game as they had a strong top of the 5^th. They scored four runs making the score 9-6.

In the bottom of the 4^th, however, Storm blew the game wide open. Storm batted through the order and a bit. Lance hit half of the cycle in one inning (the only half he would get) and Storm scored eight runs to take a 17-6 lead. They would add three more in the 6^th and go on to win 20-9.

Notable Boxscores:

Bob: 4/5, HR, 6 RBI, 3 runs

Jeff: 4/5, 2 triples, double, 3 runs, 3 RBI

Joey: 5/5, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 2 runs

Lance: 3/4, 2 runs, RBI

Kevin: 3/4, 2 runs

Mike: 3/4, 2 runs, RBI

Al: 2/4, HR, 4 RBI

Cycle Watch:

Bob missed the triple.

Jeff missed the home run.

HR's: Bob, AL

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Remax	1	0	0	1	4	0	3	9
Storm	5	3	1	0	8	3	x	20

Storm starts slow, finishes strong

The orange on the fancy new jerseys Brad chose for the team wasn’t the only orange on Storm last night. The rust on the infield defense was clearly visible. A number of balls got through infielders that normally would have been played. It got so bad that Brad quipped from the bench that the other team’s strategy was to, “hit it straight at ‘em.” Of course, when Brad stepped out to play 2^nd base, the baseball gods/karma got him back, because the first ball went straight through his legs.

                After three innings, Storm was down 5-1. In the 5^th inning, Storm remembered how to play baseball on both sides of the ball. Brad made a great play running back, losing the ball, and then throwing his glove up and having the ball land in it. Then everyone else seemed to remember how to play defense. Storm did not give up a run after the 4^th inning.

                The bats woke up as well as Storm put up 4 in the 4^th and 10 in the 5^th including a three run homer by Joey.

The New Guys

  The new guys are pretty good, but they need to learn the ropes. They BOTH hit solo home runs. In a league with a home run rule, that’s not productive. The issue was exacerbated later in the game as Duran hit a three-run home run OUT. This is not unusual, but is frustrating coming later in an inning that saw a solo shot. Craig was a triple short of the cycle and Rene hit for extra bases every at bat, so they might have potential. 

HR's: Joey, Rene, & Craig

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	0	1	0	4	10	2	0	17
Remax	0	1	4	2	0	0	0	7

Storm solid against Re/Max

Storm was solid on both sides of the ball on the way to a victory against Re/Max.

The game looked like it might be close. In the top of the first inning, Jeff and bob singled, and then Duran launched a three-run home run to put Storm up 3-0. Storm would load the bases, but would be unable to score any more runs. In the bottom of the 1^st, Storm put Re/Max down in order.

In the top of the 2^nd, Storm exploded. It was a massive inning highlighted by Mike’s two run shot off the top of the left field fence. When Jeff came up for the 2^nd time in the inning, one of Re/Max’s outfielders opined, “They’re going through the order for the 3^rd time and we’ve had three batters.” Storm was base to base by the third inning, and many batters were using Kevin’s bat, “Tingy”, to help work it in for playoff readiness.

HR's: Duran, Mike

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	3	11	8	9	x	x	x	31
ReMax	0	2	0	0	x	x	x	2

Storm over ReMax

The game started off well for Storm, with 3 quick outs in the field.  The bats started off with a triple by Kenny, Sac fly by Bob, triple by Duran and sac fly by Al.

The second inning started off with a Remax lone run.  Storm bats would match that...and then beat it by a lot.  3 quick singles, a sac fly and a couple more singles set up Al's Grand Salami over left field.  Lance immediately started it back up again and Dave, Greg, Brian, Kenny, Bob all got on in a row to load the bases once more.  Duran deposited a pitch over right center for the innings second Grand Slam which knocked the Remax pitcher out of the game.

It should be noted that with Hans Solo missing in action the home runs have become a lot more productive.

Remax was held to 4 runs over the next 6 innings while holding storm to 4 runs of their own.

Defensive Highlights:
Al pitched a great game while knocking in 6 RBI.  Jeremy for Remax made some highlight reel plays at shortstop.  Greg made a great catch in right field in self preservation.

Offensive Highlights:
Brian 5/5, 2B,
Al 4/4, HR, 6 RBI
Duran 4/5, 2B, 3B, HR, 5 RBI, Hit for the cycle
Greg 3/5, 3 RBI

HR's: AL, Duran

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
ReMax	0	1	0	2	0	0	1	4
Storm	2	14	0	0	0	4	x	20

Storm defeats Remax in war of attrition

 Re/Max gave Storm a scare as they played far better than their 2-15 record would imply. They hit well right off the bat and scored six in the top of the 1^st. Storm could only muster three runs in reply, two of which came off a homer by Joey.

Storm tightened up the defense in the 2^nd. Well, Bob made some nice plays in the outfield and it was three up three down. Storm then put up 7 in the bottom half of the frame. Joey hit his 2^nd home run in as many innings.

After taking the lead in the bottom of the 2^nd, Storm gave it right back in the top of the 3^rd as Re/Max scored a whopping 9 runs to take the lead. They gave Storm a home run back, which ended up working against them, because in the bottom of the 3^rd, Storm would score 9 runs of their own capped off by a grand slam by Jeff that was predicted by Lance as he went to the plate. Storm was up 19-15, and this time they wouldn’t cough it up. Re/Max managed 2 runs in the top of the 4^th , but Storm answered with 7, and in the final frame Re/Max scored none and Storm added 4 more.

Re/Max played a solid game and was winning halfway through the 3^rd. They look like a team that could pull things together in time for the playoffs and steal a seed or send a top team home early.

Notable Boxscores:

Joey – 5 for 6, 2 HR, 5 runs, 8RBI

Kenny – 5 for 5, 3 runs, 4 RBI

Duran – 5 for 5, 5 runs, 5 RBI

Al – 4 for 4, 4 runs, 3 RBI,

Bob - 4 for 6, 4 runs, 2 RBI

Jeff – 3 for 4, Grand Slam, 4 RBI, 4 runs,

Lance’s boxscore was also pretty notable. He had possibly the best 2 for 6 game you could have. He smoked one down the third base line that was caught, hit a hard line drive caught by the left fielder, hit a home run out, and hit a sharp line drive that was caught by a diving left centre fielder. He could have easily gone 6 for 6.

Cycle Watch:

Joey missed the triple, though he hit 2 home runs and two doubles.

Duran missed the HR.

Jeff missed the triple.

1^st and 3^rd out watch:

Twice in the game Storm players managed the infamous first and third out. Lance did it in the 3^rd, (though his second out was a home run out), and Greg did it in the 4^th.

Scoring Note:

If any of the stats for this game are incorrect, it is due to the fact that so much was missing from the score sheet. Four RBIs were missing, two ENTIRE AT BATS were not recorded and had to be figured out later due to the fact that certain people couldn’t have batted if others had not, and three people mysteriously reached base with no anecdotal evidence of how they got there. 

HR's: Joey (2), Jeff

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Remax	6	0	9	2	0	x	x	17
Storm	3	7	9	7	4	x	x	30