GAME OF THE WEEK (Week 8)

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Every game has its own unique flavour to it.   I've kind of given up trying to predict what that will be in advance and just let it unfold.  However; it never hurts to do a little preliminary work....

The Hot Tub Woody's come into this week sitting alone in 5th place, 3 1/4 games back of the lead.  However, every one's GBL (games back of leaders) is tenuous at this point to say the least.  The Woody's, despite their 5-4-1 record are closer to 15th place than they are to 1st. Such is the parity of the league.  The Dog Catchers who have two games in hand on their opposition have a 3-5-1 record and are nestled into a tie for 10th, only a single game back of the Hot Tub Woody's.

The Woody's come into this game led by the great play of Chuck Cragg (.758, 14) and Craig Davies (.714, 7).  They had just celebrated the much bally-hooed return of Doug DeLand to the line up, only to lose Captain Jeff Dancey to broken collar bone last week.

Meanwhile the Dog Catchers have some crazy offensive weapons.  Phil Glecoff (.903, 19), Don Curran (.824, 11), Captain Larry Turner (.810, 6), Ingo Bartens (.742, 6), Cal Russel (.714, 12) and Don Swabuk (.710, 5) are all over the .700 mark and off to great starts!

Overall, the Dog Catchers are 5th in the league in hitting while the Hot Tub Woody's sit in 11th slot.  In addition to straight averages, the runs scored would seem to point out a difference in the two clubs.  The Dog Catchers are averaging 14.5 runs scored per game, while the Woody's are 9.90 per game.  On the defensive side of the ledger, the Hot Tub Woody's hold a slim advantage of 11.9 runs allowed per game to the Dog Catchers 13.  It would seem that this game should be another one decided in the 7th inning.  (while no one will believe this, I actually wrote that on the weekend....go figure). 

The pitching match-up of Jonkman Vs. Hipkin promised to be a good, with two experienced hurlers who can snuff out rallies and minimized damage against good hitters.  

The game started pretty much exactly how you would want if you were a member of the Hot Tub Woody's.  Stike would single to start things off and move to second a Chris Larkin hit through the right side.  Stike would score on Chuck Cragg's double and Larkin would coast into third.  Both Larkin and Cragg would score on Steve Brooks' 2 run single.  A quick 3 spot for the Woody's. 

The Dog Catchers didn't look like much was happening in their half of the inning.  A quick ground out to second and strike out from Jonkman and there was no one on and two out.  The Bob Pearce singled.  That was immediately followed by an RBI triple from All-Star Phil Glecoff.  Phil would be stranded on third, but the Dog Catchers were on the board trailing 3-1. 

The Woody's went back to work.  All-Star Ed Hopkins led off with a texas leaguer over short.  Ed was still anchored to 1st after a strike out and pop foul out.  Then Bill Jonkman singled infield.  That was followed by an RBI single from Stike and a two run single from Larkin.  Count 3 more for the Woody's and a 6-1 lead.  The Dog Catchers would send 4 men to the plate and not advance beyond first base in their half of the inning. 

It was early but it was starting to look like this could tip into the easy win category for the Hot Tub Woody's.  In the visitors half of the 3rd the Woody's send 5 men to the plate but ultimately stranded Brad Moye at 3rd.  Nothing to count.  The Dog Catchers shut down the Hot Tub Woody's for the first time in this game and needed to take advantage of that on offense. 

Captain Randy Hipkin started the inning off by pounding a ball to the wall in left.  When the dust cleared he was standing on third with a lead off triple.  He was immediately cashed in on a Paul Hargreaves RBI single.  Paul would be erased on a Cal Russel fielders choice.  However the Dog Catchers would load the bases on singles from Vince Basachhi and Bob Pearce.  With the bases loaded, one run in and one out, the Dog Catchers would get their second run of the inning on a Phil Glecoff sac fly.  They would count another on a Don Curran single and another on an Ingo Bartens single.  Jim MacDonald would hit a two run double for the Dog Catchers 5th and 6th runs of the inning.  But they weren't quite done.  Don Swabuk strode to the plate and singled to cash in the 7th run of the inning.  They started the inning trailing 6-1 and left with an 8-6 lead. 

The Woody's were seemingly shell shocked by the big Dog Catcher's inning.  They went very quickly and very quietly in the 4th - three up, three down.  The Dog Catchers managed to send five to the plate in the bottom of the inning, but the inning ended with a line out to short with runners at second and third. 

The Hot Tub Woody's 5th wasn't much better than the 4th.  The sent 4 to the plate but no one made it past 1st base.  For the Dog Catchers, the were 3 up 3 down with a ground out to short and two lazy fly balls. 

Trailing by 2, the Woody's 6th began with a Brad Moye single.  After a series of force plays, the Woody's would run out of outs not getting Moye beyond second base. 

Needing a little insurance, the Dog Catchers got a 1 out single out of Jim MacDonald.  Don Swabuk would push him along to second with a single of his own.  Craig Escott would force Jim at 3rd, but the Dog Catches would still have runners at 1st and 2nd, now with 2 out.  Randy Hipken patiently waited out a 3-2 walk to load the bases, bringing Paul Hargreaves to the plate with the bases loaded and two out.  Paul was already 2/2 on the night with an RBI, but he wouldn't get a chance to swing on this at bat.  Paul had an RBI walk on 4 pitches to bring in the insurance run.  Jonkman would bounce right back to get a strikeout for the final out of the inning. 

Trailing 10-7, the Woody's need some good fortune.  They got it.  Craig Davies led off with a single.  Bill Jonkman followed with a side winding spinner that bounced away from second base for another single.  Two on and nobody out and the top of the order coming up.  Stike bounced into a fielders choice which changed the scene to 1 out and two on.  Chris Larkin singled sharply, but too sharply to score a run. 

 

The bases were loaded, down 3 and Chuck Cragg up.  Chuck it a ball to left of the chain link fence.  When it hit the fence it seemed to hit the support pole and go careening toward centre field.  That extra bit of time to get to the ball was the difference between a game tying 3 run triple and a lead taking grand slam.  Chuck crossed the plate just ahead of the throw....Woody's 10; Dog Catchers 9. 

Now needing one to tie, the Dog Catchers lead off man Vince Basachhi would triple.  He would score immediately on Bob Pearce's single.  They would later get base hits from Don Curran and Ingo Bartens in the inning, but the game would end on a routine fly ball to left. 

Make the final Dog Catchers 10; Hot Tub Woody's 10.   

NOTABLES

• You better be prepared to be involved in a well pitched game when you're playing either of these teams.  Randy and Bill were both on tonight. 
• Randy Hipken was 3/3 with a run scored
• Don Swabuk was 3/3 with a run and an RBI.
• Paul Hargreaves was 3/3 with 2 RBI.
• Stike had 3 runs scored out of the lead off spot in the order. 
• Out of 14 half innings, 7 didn't have a run scored.  10 of the 14 half innings saw one run or less scored.
• Despite a pretty good defensive game overall, the infield at Keogh is getting really hard to play.  Its a matter of time before those crazy bounce to short and second cost someone teeth.  

Players of the Game
For the Dog Catchers:   Well, I was leaning toward Paul to be perfectly honest....but upon further review, I don't think you can select anyone other than Randy Hipkin.  First he pitched a great game and fielded his position excellently.  Second, he tripled and scored to start off the Dog Catchers 7 run third inning.  Add that to a 3/3 for night and you have your player of the game.  Well done Randy!

For the Hot Tub Woody's:  Well, this doesn't take a lot of thought.  Chuck fought that lousy infield and won more often than not.  He drove in their 1st run of the night and their 7th and their 8th and their 9th and their 10th.  A lead taking 7th inning grand slam is a no brainer isn't it?  Overall, 3/4, 2 runs scored and 5 RBI.  Now that's a nice night!