Storm brews up victory

Storm played strong on both sides of the ball. The lineup was producing from the beginning to the end of the game, and the defense was solid. Storm defeated the Brew Crew 24-6.

If there is one area of improvement for Storm, however, it seems the team is struggling with the home run rule this year. The addition of two power hitters to a lineup that already featured a number of hitters who could hit it out of the park means that there just aren’t enough home runs to go around. Add to that the fact that some people are just selfish, and continually hit solo shots, you end up with a situation like last night. Storm hit five home runs that only accounted for three runs. Yes, you read that right. Storm had as many home run outs as they produced runs with home runs.

The first home run came from Jeff. It counted and wasn’t a complete waste as there was a runner on base. Still, a two-run shot isn’t as much bang for your buck as you could get. Things got worse, though, as Joey, leading off an inning, absolutely clobbered the ball over the right field fence hitting the track and bouncing sky high into the soccer field. He claims he didn’t hit it that hard, but witnesses heard the grunt and saw the effort it took. All for a solo home run.

That’s bad enough, but what happened next was even worse. Rene, Mr. I like solo shots and home run outs, came up and got a two for. He hit a SOLO HOME RUN OUT. Two things you’re not supposed to do all in one swing.

Not to be outdone, however, Lance came up and said, “anything you can do I can do better,” to Rene, and Lance launched a towering shot over the centre field fence. For those of you keeping tack at home, that’s three consecutive home runs, producing one run and two outs.

Al showed everyone how it’s done and hit a nice line drive single double after that, but as Craig stepped up to the plate everyone pretty much figured Storm was about to make every out in the inning with home run outs. Craig tried not to do it, and gave a half-hearted swing, but since he’s made of 99.7% muscle he still hit it to the fence. But not over. It was a long fly ball out that avoided the triple home run out inning, but still didn’t feel very good.

In the 4^th, Storm was able to avoid any home run outs, but in the 5^th Duran launched a home run over the centre-field fence. By this point, Craig was so flabbergasted, that in his next at bat he barely even check swung and hit a soft-liner to the pitcher.

Many of Storm’s team switched to Kevin’s bat, affectionately named tingy/tinky/tinky winky? It’s the #2 ranked aluminum bat and it gave some of Storm hitters exactly what they needed: warning track power. This seemed to help tone down the home run outs, and there were some nice line drive singles along the way. Of course, Kevin came up with a nice little business scheme, and after his bat started working for some people, he announced he was charging $1 for every hit with his bat. He might be trying to save up to buy a new bat. Although, if Storm keeps playing +2 in the home run category, Kevin might be able to earn enough money to put his kid through college.

The real irony is Brew Crew eventually hit a home run, and when Storm was finally able to hit another home run… they didn’t.

HR's: Jeff, Joey
HR Outs: Rene, Duran, Lance

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	3	5	1	0	6	5	4	24
Brew Crew	1	0	0	4	0	1	0	6

Falcons fly into Storm…get grounded

Storm and Falcons had both played tight games in the first game of the double-header, so it would be interesting to see which team still had enough gas in the tank to get through the second game.

Storm seemed to still be warmed up from the first game and started strong. Joey and Lance both launched home runs. The inning was running along smoothly, but Bob either couldn’t count to two, or couldn’t control his strength as he launched a home run out. Storm added two in the 2^nd. Joey led off the 3^rd with a solo home run, which was selfish and had some repercussions later in the inning as Bob hit ANOTHER HOME RUN OUT! There were two runners on, though, so had Joey been able to control himself, Bob would have had a three run shot. Instead he had his 3^rd home run out of the season. He has certainly not been setting a good example for the new guys, who have both hit their share of home run outs (though Craig seems to have gotten that under control). Joey hit his 3^rd home run of the game in the 5^th, as Storm would go on to a 14-12 victory.

HR's: Lance, Joey (3)

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Falcons	0	0	4	5	0	2	1	12
Storm	6	2	2	0	2	2	x	14

Storm-Broadway classic

Storm and Broadway have played a lot of close games, and have had a few blowouts each way. Last night’s game was a classic game between the two powerhouse teams.

Storm tried to start strong. Back to back doubles started the game, but nothing much came after and Storm was held to only one run. Then, in the top of the 2^nd, Broadway bats came to life and they scored 6 runs. Storm chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the 2^nd getting 3 back.

There’s been something magical about the 3^rd inning for Storm this season. Storm took the lead with a six-run inning capped of by Craig’s three-run home run.

Just when it seemed Storm was going to take control, though, those Broadway started putting on a show in the top of the 4^th, scoring eight runs batting through the entire lineup. Storm was unable to answer in the 4^th, but after limiting Broadway to a single run in the top of the 5^th, Storm got some wind behind their sails. After Jeff led off with a single, Duran knocked a two-run home run. Five more consecutive hits followed, and Storm scored five to take a 16-15 lead. Storm then added three in the bottom of the 6^th to take a 19-15 lead.

With only 10 minutes left before time would run out, it seemed like Storm was safe, but you’re never safe against Broadway bats. Broadway scored four before being put down and Storm needed to score or bat long enough for time to run out and the game to revert to the previous inning.

Jeff was sent over to coach first and be a courtesy runner for the first player to reach base. Lance took offense and said, “I don’t need a courtesy runner; I’m not even going to need to run,” as he launched the ball over the centre field fence. A dramatic walk-off home run to end a fantastic game between teams with a storied history.

HR's: Duran, Craig, Bob, Lance

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Broadway	0	6	0	8	1	0	4	19
Storm	1	3	6	1	5	3	1	20

Rebels default to the Storm

Rebels couldn't get enough players to come out and play on the first nice day/night of the season. Unfortunate!

Storm bats full of thunder

Storm didn’t wait until the 3^rd inning to start scoring against Coulas. They put up four in the 1^st inning to jump out to a 4-2 lead. It was, however, the 3^rd inning when Storm exploded for 12 runs. They put up another 11 in the 5^th en route to a 32-14 victory.

With that many runs scored, there are a lot of offensive highlights:

Craig is really starting to fit in. He had a number of offensive highlights on his own. He hit for the cycle and scored 4 runs and got 8 RBI.

Not to be too outdone by his son-in-law, Al hit a grand slam and drove in 5.

Bob also had a 5 RBI night.

Lance hit a 2 run shot in the 1^st.

Rene hit a home run, but it was a home run out. Actually, it was a solo home run out, so it looks like he’s trying to take the barbecue tongs back from Craig.

What might be the strangest statistic of all, Storm scored 32 runs and Joey didn’t get a single RBI.

Kudos to Coulas who had a nice late game rally scoring 10 runs in the final two innings including two grand slams. It’s not that often that a team hits two grand slams and loses by 18 runs.

HR's: Craig, AL, Lance (HR Out's: Bob, Rene)

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Coulas	2	0	2	0	5	5	x	14
Storm	4	2	12	3	11	x	x	32