OPENING NIGHT!

INTRO

Welcome to a true game report.  No poking fun at people in this edition.

There's nothing quite like opening night.  The sounds of bat on ball; balls hitting gloves; encouragement and cat calls shouted from team mates.  Welcome back!

The game, as per normal, featured the finalists last years championship game.  Bo and Rod were looking for revenge against Steve and Paul's Beer Bros.

Well that's probably not entirely true.  It was as all games should be in our league and most are.  It was full of fun, cheering, good plays and good hits from both sides.  If there was a bad call, no one noticed or commented.

The Game

The game started with the captain Niederhuber plating a run in the top of the first on a Jamie Allen double.  The one nothing lead didn't last too long however as opposing captain Steve Ross scored the Beer Bros. first run of the year to tie things up in the home half on the 1st.  After a fly out, Mark Doyle, Jerry Wallace, Dave Fleming, Martin Ranby and Rob McCarron all had successive hits to score Doyle and and Wallace.

In the top of the second Jon Hardy led off with all-hustle infield hit.  Jon was followed by back to back rookie batter, Laurie Plante and Dave Miller.  Both delivered with hits scoring Hardy.  That would be all the scoring for the Brew Jays this inning, but they had managed to tie the game at three.

The Beer Bros. would bounce right back.  A ground out to first base to start things off didn't slow them down.  Dave McKendrick and his frosted tips would single and score as would rookie Mike Sheehan as would Steph Kapp.  The key blow in the inning was a bases clearing hit to the gap by captain Paul Piellusch. 

After two complete it was 6-3 Beer Bros.  Despite the runs, there was some fine defense on both sides.

The Brew Jays counted one in the 3rd inning.  Bob McCullough led off with a single but was forced at second on a Jamie Allen hit.  Jamie would go to 3rd on the strength of a hit by Steve Johnston, the 3rd Brew Jays rookie to contribute in this game.  Jamie would eventually score on Hardy's second hit in as many innings.

The Beer Bros. went quietly, 3 up 3 down in their half of the 3rd.  It was the only quick inning for either team on the night.

With the score now 6-4 for the Beer Bros., the Brew Jays were poised to jump back into it in the 4th.  With one out the Brew Jays sub singled with was followed by a Tim Osmond single.  The sub (me) would score on Niederhuber's hit and Osmond would score two batters later on Allen's 3rd hit of the night.  Tie game!

It was 6-6 heading to the bottom of the fourth when the Beer Bros. exploded for 4 runs.  Again Piellusch was in the middle of it, scoring one and driving in two.  Sheehan, Kapp, Ross and Piellusch all counted in the 4th to make the game 10-6. 

The game had a back and forth feel, but from this point on it was only forth.  The Brew Jays wouldn't score another run.  They had 5 batters come up in each of 5th, 6th and 7th innings but couldn't seem to get that one luck break or big hit to pull back into the game.  Probably the biggest story for the Brew Jays, outside of three successful rookie debuts, was the night of Jon Hardy.  He had a very active night learning to play 1st base and I have to say it was amazing how quickly shook off mistakes and picked things up.  He was stronger as the game went on.  And he topped it off with a 4/4 night.  Very nice. 

For the Beer Bros., They would score 3 more in the 5th with Fleming, Ranby and McCarron plating and they'd push across one more in the 6th on the strength of Doyle's second run. 

The final of this game was 14-6. 

With the win, the Beer Bros. become the first team in the history of our league to be the 'custodians' of the Beer Cup.  Whoever holds this at the end of the year wins the trophy (still settling on designs) being donated by the Grisslies, and beer tickets (12) for the banquet.  So "theoretically", if the Beer Bros. were to run the table and go 22-0 on the season, they will win the cup.  However, next Tuesday against the Hot Tub Woody's, the Beer Bros. will attempt to be the 1st team to successfully defend the Beer Cup.  We'll be watching that game with interest. 

Captains Paul Piellusch and Steve Ross with Grisslie rep Doug Dwyer (VP of Player Personnel)

Picture Courtesy of Lisa Piellusch (WEBSITE)

The shirt seen in the picture was signed and dated on the front shortly afterward.  It will be passed on to the next winners to do likewise OR the Beer Bros. will sign again.  We hope to award the shirt in a display to the victorious team at the end of the year. 

Great night for both teams guys, welcome back!