This is going to be kind of quick and kind of dirty this week. I've had a very difficult time with my "lack of service" provider over the passed couple of days. I had to go in to work for 6:30 this morning just to be able to get this out on the companies internet access (as opposed to the 'companies time'). But I'm rushed. I spell bad enough when I have time.
The fact that there is pretty much a BLOG a day this week means a lot of early mornings at this rate. Okay, enough complaining. For now anyway.
Oh, people have asked for reviews from the weekend. There are some things I want to hit on. My team and co-captain and specifically the "Daves" for completely burning me. There will be no rebutal, just and "I'm not worthy" bow in their general direction. The Candy birthday, Piero's second walk off shot of the season, our (Grisslie) resignation and new pick up from the waiting list, the All Star game .... I will have something to say about all these things, but later in the week or maybe next week.
The Stiffs came into this game with a less than spectacular 5-7-1 record. But its a funny season for standings so far. Despite the record, the right combination of wins and losses this week could see them jump into a tie for 5th overall. The Stiffs have been pleasantly surprised by their new comer Tom Ball who is off to .818 start in the league and plays with character and a smile. He's followed closely by Steve Lahey (AS)(R) at .780; Andy Gee (AS) .762; John Barlow .761, and Jason Chiovitti (R) .750. Barlow is also 2 off the lead for runs scored.
To be honest, I had no idea what to expect with this one and that had more to do with both teams having players worn out from the weekend of fun at the HTKP tournament. Gee, Lahey, Fry and Peters all played a ton of games on various teams including subbing. Others too, but those ones stood out.
Any Malaise that was presumed was quickly dispatched in the top of the 1st inning as Al Fry did what Al Fry does. A lead of singel, moved to third on a Peters double and subsequently scoring on Keith Beechey's RBI fielders choice. Mark Bickford would also hit into a fielders choice to drive in a run and the Dodge was quickly up 2 nothing. However, buried in the two runs was a statistical point of interest. All three outs in the inning were made at second base. All three balls in play that resulted in the outs were hit to Lahey who threw to Cal Steeves covering the bag. That happens from time to time.
The Stiffs weren't so stiff from their weekend of fun. Tom Ball tripled to deep left to start the game and Andy Gee drove him in with a sharp single up the middle. That was followed by an RBI single by Cal. Lahey then doubled off the chain link sending Cal to 3rd and Scoring Andy. The score was 2-2 with no one out and runners at 2nd and 3rd. The next batter, Jason Chiovitti hit a ball on the infield that ended up with with two Stiffs runners at 3rd base. After a breif run down, Cal was thrown out at the plate. The Stiffs would take the lead on a Ken Doan single.
The Dodge 2nd inning was a brief one. Ed McDowell led off with a single and would by forced at second by Tom. Tom would be forced at second by Al Nicholl. Wayne Bickford would single putting runners at 1st and 2nd. Al Fry would force out Wayne at 2nd.
So far in the game the Rounders had made 6 outs. All of them at second base. Lahey had touched the ball in 6 of the outs, Steeves on 5 of them.
The Stiffs wouldn't score in their half of the inning but that half inning was high lighted by a fantastic defensive play by Henry Lukassen. With Gord Robertson up, he hit a rocket down the line. Henry did well just to stab it as it was an absolute reflex play. But before you had time to say "this might be close", Henry fired a laser to 1st base getting Gord by approximately "I'm not out of the batters box yet". Honestly, the throw was so good that jaws dropped. Definitley my play of the night.
Dodge came up in the 3rd inning and reclaimed the lead. Peters would slingle as would Beechey. Peters would score on Mark Bickfords second RBI of the night, this time a single to left. Adrain Barry (AKA: Maurice) would drive in 2 runs with his single. 5-3 Dodge.
Tom Ball was the 9th out of the game for the Stiffs overall. Why that is notable is its the 1st out of the game that didn't involve Lahey or Steeves.
The Stiffs would tie the game as their inning started with singles by Gee and Steeves. Lahey would move the runners on a sac-fly and they would score on an RBI fielders choice by Chiovitti and RBI single by John Barlow.
Dodge City didn't like hitting much in even numbered innings on this night. The 4th was quick and quiet. A ground out and a line out before Fry (AKA: Idaho) single. He was erased on a Peters (AKA: Chachi Arcola) single. Oh, just so we don't lose track here....the first out was Steeves to first, the second Lahey to first and the third Lahey to Steeves. So far the middle infield were involved in 11/12 outs.
From here on, the Stiffs would pull away scoring in each of the last two innings and not needing the 7th. Dodge couldn't get anything going until their were 2 out in each inning and it was just too tough to string 4 or more two out hits together. And that's mostly because of the Stiffs middle infield.
Lahey and Steeves were ridiculous. Consider that there are 21 outs in a game. Dodge only flew out twice. That's kind of what you want, ground balls, line drives, don't put a lot of air under it and give the fielders a chance to make a play. of the remaining 19 outs 1 came on an Andy Gee pretzel making strike out and the other on a botched throw from left field that sailed over the cut off man and rolled to 1st base where it was thrown home for the out. The other 17 outs were Steeves and Lahey.
Make the final 11-7.
Things I learned
- You might want to avoid the middle of the diamond against the Stiffs.
- Anyone who thought Al Fry would have a post all star game hangover can let that thought go. 4/4 with a run scored and shoestring catch on the dead run off of what should have been a Cal Steeves hit.
- Mark Bickford was 4/4 for Dodge as well, but he had two of the hits with 2 strikes on him from Andy Gee. That's no small accomplishment. And they weren't cheapies either.
- Tom Ball (R) continues to impress with his bat, glove and good nature. Fits right in!
- Well with all my going on about Steeves and Lahey, I bet you're thinking I'm going to pick one of them, huh? Nah, that would be too easy. Instead I'm going with Andy Gee. Keeping Dodge City to seven runs ain't that easy, they're a pretty good hitting club. A lot of the play that the middle infield got has to do with Andy's pitching. He'll let you hit the ball, but he wants you hitting his pitch for the most part. And at the plate Andy was 5/5 with an RBI and 3 runs scored. Easy pick, well done Andy.
- The Dodge City Rounders had a few candidates for player of the game including Al and Adrian who had great nights at the plate. However, I'm going to take Mark Bickford in this one. Not to be mean to anyone else, but he was the only player who could seem to do anything with two outs. He was 4/4 but came up with two outs 3 times. In the first inning he drove in a run on a 2 out RBI single. In the 3rd he drove in a run on a one out RBI single and in the 5th he drove 2 on a two out RBI double. His last at bat was with 2 out and nobody on. He reached then too.
Things to check out:
Check out the Donini Three Stars of the game here ==> STARS
Check out the Dislocated Joints game notes from DTBB & Terry Doucet ==> JOINTS
Check out the Tap Master's game notes from Jason Bowers ==> Tapped Out
Check out the Hurtin' Units BLOG from Jimmer ==> Hannibal Lecter
The League's Official Website ==> League
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