Watch the animation video put together my Jamo to commemorate our championship!
Monday, October 21, 2013
Blizzard - B Division Champions Animation
Watch the animation video put together my Jamo to commemorate our championship!
Monday, September 2, 2013
Finals versus Atlanta Genesis
The Blizzard watched while Atlanta came back from TWELVE RUNS DOWN in the last 2 innings to beat Twin Cities in Extra Innings. INSANE COMEBACK. the only good news is that Atlanta would be very tired after that emotional 90 minute game in the heat.
The Blizzard's infield defense was ON POINT versus the Genesis. After the first batter got a hit, they turned a 4-6-3 double play, and got out of the inning with no runs. The Blizzard scored one run in the bottom of the 1st inning, with two singles and two sacrifice flys.
But Atlanta would turn up the heat, scoring FIVE in the 2nd inning, aided by a 2-run homer. However, the Blizzard turned another double play in this inning, 4-6-3. This can really demoralize a team.
Still, the Blizz were down 5-1, but scored SEVEN TIMES in the 2nd to take an 8-5 lead. The bottom half of the order (Ed/Dan/Manny/Chris) all got singles with a sac fly from Dro mixed in. Then came up the big guns at the top of the order! Wilford - single. Gedman - single. Rick V - fly out. Ryan D. Well Ryan D did what he did all tournament, namely hitting CLUTCH home runs when we need them most. BOOM! 3 run shot by Ryan, and the Blizzard take an 8-5 lead. 7 singles and a homer!
In the third, the Genesis mustered 1 run, but was AGAIN stymied by a double play. There was a SHOT up the middle that Manny managed to get his glove on to redirect...Paul fielded the ball, flipped to Dro who threw on to 1B for the inning-ending double play. The crowd went WILD with this great play! A ball ticketed for a single turned into two outs, thanks to Manny slowing the ball down.
The Blizzard got 3 more runs in the 3rd.
One fun play...
After a single by Danny, Dro hits a single to RF. As the throw goes to third base to try and get Danny going 1st to 3rd, Sandro tries to advance to 2nd. But the throw is CUT OFF! PICKLE!!!! Sandro calmly tells Danny "you gotta score here!!" while he wastes time in the rundown. Sandro managed to dance back and forth like M.C. Hammer, drawing 4 throws. After the fourth throw, Sandro turns and RUNS INTO A DEFENSIVE PLAYER. During practice the prior week, Sandro preached this strategy to his team while they were practicing rundowns. Basically "find somebody to run into, and it is OBSTRUCTION on the defense". This is baseball rundown 101. Who knew that Dro would actually get to use this strategy in a game! Oh, and Danny scored!! Once again, the crowd goes wild with this crazy play in Boston's favor.
In the fourth ATL and Boston traded runs (Boston scored on a double by Buck and single by Danny), and the Blizzard were still ahead, now 12-6. During this inning, Manny was having some more control issues -- and for the second time in the tournament, he PULLED HIMSELF from the game. This time, he did it with a 2-0 count on the batter! What a great and unselfish teammate!!! Oh, and one last thing -- the 4th inning ended with the FOURTH double play, this time 1-6-3! BOO YEAH!
In the 5th, the Genesis hit their second 2-run homer, but that was all they would get. The Blizzard got both runs back though! The inning did not start well, with a lead off strike out by Dro (foul out) and then a ground out to the pitcher by Chris B. up by only 4 and with two outs, scoring no runs would really pump up Atlanta. But the top of the order would NOT HAVE IT! Jon W - single, followed by a MAMMOTH two-run home run by Paul G. We see your two-run homer, and match it!!!!
The Genesis would not score again while the Blizzard tacked on 1 in the 6th.
In the final inning, the first batter lined out to Chris Burke (nice play!) At this point, we hear that catcher Buck Bachman started to really sense that a championship was at hand...and began to cry at home plate. After playing for 28 years, Buck was overcome with the emotion of finally winning his first championship, and these were tears of ELATION and JOY! The next batter flies out to RF. two outs. There is now a puddle of tears behind home plate! ;-)
Final batter. Ground ball to Timmy at the mound! Flip to Ed Banks! Just like the Red Sox in 2004, the final out goes 1-3! The Blizzard wins!!!
Hitting Stars:
Jon W 3-4, 4 runs, 1 RBI
Paul G 4-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI
Ryan D 2-3, 2 runs, 4 RBI
Buck B 3-4, 1 run
Danny L 3-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
Chris B 2-3, 1 run, 2 RBI
Manny R 1-2, 1 run
The Blizzard's infield defense was ON POINT versus the Genesis. After the first batter got a hit, they turned a 4-6-3 double play, and got out of the inning with no runs. The Blizzard scored one run in the bottom of the 1st inning, with two singles and two sacrifice flys.
But Atlanta would turn up the heat, scoring FIVE in the 2nd inning, aided by a 2-run homer. However, the Blizzard turned another double play in this inning, 4-6-3. This can really demoralize a team.
Still, the Blizz were down 5-1, but scored SEVEN TIMES in the 2nd to take an 8-5 lead. The bottom half of the order (Ed/Dan/Manny/Chris) all got singles with a sac fly from Dro mixed in. Then came up the big guns at the top of the order! Wilford - single. Gedman - single. Rick V - fly out. Ryan D. Well Ryan D did what he did all tournament, namely hitting CLUTCH home runs when we need them most. BOOM! 3 run shot by Ryan, and the Blizzard take an 8-5 lead. 7 singles and a homer!
In the third, the Genesis mustered 1 run, but was AGAIN stymied by a double play. There was a SHOT up the middle that Manny managed to get his glove on to redirect...Paul fielded the ball, flipped to Dro who threw on to 1B for the inning-ending double play. The crowd went WILD with this great play! A ball ticketed for a single turned into two outs, thanks to Manny slowing the ball down.
The Blizzard got 3 more runs in the 3rd.
One fun play...
After a single by Danny, Dro hits a single to RF. As the throw goes to third base to try and get Danny going 1st to 3rd, Sandro tries to advance to 2nd. But the throw is CUT OFF! PICKLE!!!! Sandro calmly tells Danny "you gotta score here!!" while he wastes time in the rundown. Sandro managed to dance back and forth like M.C. Hammer, drawing 4 throws. After the fourth throw, Sandro turns and RUNS INTO A DEFENSIVE PLAYER. During practice the prior week, Sandro preached this strategy to his team while they were practicing rundowns. Basically "find somebody to run into, and it is OBSTRUCTION on the defense". This is baseball rundown 101. Who knew that Dro would actually get to use this strategy in a game! Oh, and Danny scored!! Once again, the crowd goes wild with this crazy play in Boston's favor.
In the fourth ATL and Boston traded runs (Boston scored on a double by Buck and single by Danny), and the Blizzard were still ahead, now 12-6. During this inning, Manny was having some more control issues -- and for the second time in the tournament, he PULLED HIMSELF from the game. This time, he did it with a 2-0 count on the batter! What a great and unselfish teammate!!! Oh, and one last thing -- the 4th inning ended with the FOURTH double play, this time 1-6-3! BOO YEAH!
In the 5th, the Genesis hit their second 2-run homer, but that was all they would get. The Blizzard got both runs back though! The inning did not start well, with a lead off strike out by Dro (foul out) and then a ground out to the pitcher by Chris B. up by only 4 and with two outs, scoring no runs would really pump up Atlanta. But the top of the order would NOT HAVE IT! Jon W - single, followed by a MAMMOTH two-run home run by Paul G. We see your two-run homer, and match it!!!!
The Genesis would not score again while the Blizzard tacked on 1 in the 6th.
In the final inning, the first batter lined out to Chris Burke (nice play!) At this point, we hear that catcher Buck Bachman started to really sense that a championship was at hand...and began to cry at home plate. After playing for 28 years, Buck was overcome with the emotion of finally winning his first championship, and these were tears of ELATION and JOY! The next batter flies out to RF. two outs. There is now a puddle of tears behind home plate! ;-)
Final batter. Ground ball to Timmy at the mound! Flip to Ed Banks! Just like the Red Sox in 2004, the final out goes 1-3! The Blizzard wins!!!
Hitting Stars:
Jon W 3-4, 4 runs, 1 RBI
Paul G 4-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI
Ryan D 2-3, 2 runs, 4 RBI
Buck B 3-4, 1 run
Danny L 3-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
Chris B 2-3, 1 run, 2 RBI
Manny R 1-2, 1 run
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Semi finals versus twin cities frostbite
BLIZZ really came out hitting...and watching!! The Twin Cities pitcher was clearly nervous and having trouble with the wind. Meanwhile, the Blizzard used their signature patience at the plate to draw EIGHT walks in the first 3 innings. That goes a long way when you are ALSO hitting great!
and were up 14-0 after 3 innings, aided by an 11-run 3rd! The Frostbite cut it to 14-5 in their half of the 3rd inning. While this seemed like a mammoth lead, we knew that the Frostbite had come from 10 and 8 runs down in two other games during the tournament, so we needed to keep scoring. AND WE DID!
4 more in the 4th, 2 more in the 5th while Twin Cities could only muster 1 more.
20-6 final.
We are in the finals baby!
We face the winner of two teams that we knocked into the losers bracket. .. Atlanta Genesis or Twin Cities Frostbite...
Hitting Stars:
Jon W 2-3, 3 runs, 3 RBI
Paul G 3-3, 3 runs, 3 RBI
Rick V 2-2, 3 runs, 1 RBI
Ryan D 2-3, 2 runs, 6 RBI. (He had a 3-run homer)
Bob B 1-1, 1 run
Dan L 4-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
Sandro 2-3, 3 runs, 2 RBI
Chris B 2-3, 1 run, 1 RBI
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Tournament Games 2/3/4 write-ups
Tourney Game 2 - vs. Fort Lauderdale Metz
This was an INCREDIBLE GAME. We went in to TWO extra innings. SO exciting...
FLM scored 3 to start the game, and the Blizzard answered with 1 on a triple by Rick V (and he scored on a throwing error on the same play). In 2nd, FTM did not score but the Blizzard got 2 runs to tie the game 3-3.
FTM started to pour it on, with 4 in the 3rd and 4th innings. To his credit Manny Rebello, sensing that the FTM team had a good read on his pitches and acknowledging that he was having trouble with the wind, pulled himself in favor of Tim Yaeger. From that point forward, the FTM team got 0/1/0/3 runs! GOOD CALL MANNY - way to be an unselfish teammate!
The blizzard did score 2 and 3 runs in the 3rd and 4th, keeping the game close. it was 11-7 after 4. down 12-7 in the final inning (the 6th inning due to time limit), this is where it got crazy!!
Here is how the craziness went down...
* Sandro - single
* Chris B - single
* Jon W - out
* Gedman - single (Sandro Scores. now 3 run defect)
* Rick V - grounder. double play ball. they botch it and get only ONE out.
--- down 3 with 2 outs. last inning --
* Ryan D - First Pitch - MOON SHOT HOME RUN TO CENTER FIELD. 330 feet at least!!! BOOM-SHAKA-LAKA!!!!
#iloveryan
But then no more runs. we are tied and head in to Extra Innings. Both teams come up empty in the 7th. Now we go to a SECOND extra inning. (International tie breaker rule - you start with a man on 2nd base)
* Jon W - single (Chris Burke Scores)
* Paul G - single (John scores on error by right fielder)
* Rick V - single (Paul Scores)
* Ryan D - Fly out
-- at this point, we are tied with a runner on 2nd base. They elect to walk Buck Bachman to face Chris Overlie. You see, Chris (who had not been playing much in this tourney. after all, he is a rookie and this is his first ever B level tournament) came down with a SEVERE case of the "Chuck Knoblachs" ---- where he could not throw accurately any more. No physical ailment - just a mental block. Chris had pinch run TWICE for Ed Banks and was therefore required to stay in the game. The FTM team watched in the 8th inning as Chris could not throw the ball back to the pitcher's mound from his catching position multiple times. They figured -- "this guy can't play, lets walk Buck to face him".
On the 3rd pitch of the at-bat, Chris lines a single to right-center-field, and Rick V comes around to score! GAME OVER! Insane. Chris Overlie, who had been relegated to role-player, had his number called and he DELIVERED THE GAME WINNING HIT. Insane. ReDonkulous. WTF???!!!??
This was also the first game in which the Blizzard did not make an error, while FTM made FIVE. Defense wins!!!
Hitting Stars:
* Paul G 2-5, 3 RBI
* Ryan D 3-5, 3 RBI
* Chris O 1-1 1 game-winning RBI!!!
* Dan L 2-4
* Bob B 1-1
* Sandro 2-4
* Chris B 2-3, 2 RBI
* Ed Banks 2-4
* Many Rebello 1-1, 1 RBI
* Tim Yaeger 1-2
Tourney Game 3 versus Twin Cities Taboo
Tourney Game 4 versus Atlanta Genesis
This was an INCREDIBLE GAME. We went in to TWO extra innings. SO exciting...
FLM scored 3 to start the game, and the Blizzard answered with 1 on a triple by Rick V (and he scored on a throwing error on the same play). In 2nd, FTM did not score but the Blizzard got 2 runs to tie the game 3-3.
FTM started to pour it on, with 4 in the 3rd and 4th innings. To his credit Manny Rebello, sensing that the FTM team had a good read on his pitches and acknowledging that he was having trouble with the wind, pulled himself in favor of Tim Yaeger. From that point forward, the FTM team got 0/1/0/3 runs! GOOD CALL MANNY - way to be an unselfish teammate!
The blizzard did score 2 and 3 runs in the 3rd and 4th, keeping the game close. it was 11-7 after 4. down 12-7 in the final inning (the 6th inning due to time limit), this is where it got crazy!!
Here is how the craziness went down...
* Sandro - single
* Chris B - single
* Jon W - out
* Gedman - single (Sandro Scores. now 3 run defect)
* Rick V - grounder. double play ball. they botch it and get only ONE out.
--- down 3 with 2 outs. last inning --
* Ryan D - First Pitch - MOON SHOT HOME RUN TO CENTER FIELD. 330 feet at least!!! BOOM-SHAKA-LAKA!!!!
#iloveryan
But then no more runs. we are tied and head in to Extra Innings. Both teams come up empty in the 7th. Now we go to a SECOND extra inning. (International tie breaker rule - you start with a man on 2nd base)
* Jon W - single (Chris Burke Scores)
* Paul G - single (John scores on error by right fielder)
* Rick V - single (Paul Scores)
* Ryan D - Fly out
-- at this point, we are tied with a runner on 2nd base. They elect to walk Buck Bachman to face Chris Overlie. You see, Chris (who had not been playing much in this tourney. after all, he is a rookie and this is his first ever B level tournament) came down with a SEVERE case of the "Chuck Knoblachs" ---- where he could not throw accurately any more. No physical ailment - just a mental block. Chris had pinch run TWICE for Ed Banks and was therefore required to stay in the game. The FTM team watched in the 8th inning as Chris could not throw the ball back to the pitcher's mound from his catching position multiple times. They figured -- "this guy can't play, lets walk Buck to face him".
WRONG!
On the 3rd pitch of the at-bat, Chris lines a single to right-center-field, and Rick V comes around to score! GAME OVER! Insane. Chris Overlie, who had been relegated to role-player, had his number called and he DELIVERED THE GAME WINNING HIT. Insane. ReDonkulous. WTF???!!!??
This was also the first game in which the Blizzard did not make an error, while FTM made FIVE. Defense wins!!!
Hitting Stars:
* Paul G 2-5, 3 RBI
* Ryan D 3-5, 3 RBI
* Chris O 1-1 1 game-winning RBI!!!
* Dan L 2-4
* Bob B 1-1
* Sandro 2-4
* Chris B 2-3, 2 RBI
* Ed Banks 2-4
* Many Rebello 1-1, 1 RBI
* Tim Yaeger 1-2
Tourney Game 3 versus Twin Cities Taboo
We have a glitch with our computerized scorebook. So I can not recreate this one without the help of the paper scorebook. But it was a 16-12 win by the Blizzard. Twin Cities had the lead twice in the game (2nd and 4th innings), but the Blizzard kept fighting back and scoring runs -- and managed YET ANOTHER come-from-behind win. These guys don't make it easy on themselves. Tim Yaeger pitched this game and did a respectable job.
One interesting "dro moment" play had a runner thrown out at 3rd base, but then called SAFE by the home plate umpire. He rules that Sandro "obstructed the runner".
You see...wha' ha' happened' was that the batter hit a single. The throw goes to home, but the runner from 2nd base scored easily. Next, the throw comes BACK to 2nd base (from the catcher) to get the batter trying to take 2nd base..and he slides in safely. the ball, having hit the runner, trickles out to short RF. At this point, Sandro is straddling the runner (the Twin Cities catcher) who is laying on the ground.
-- flashback --
the inning prior, Sandro slides in to home on a very close play, and the ball trickles away from the catcher. the catcher (who had previously given Sandro some "lip" about about not taking the bat back to the dugout from the previous hitter ) was now straddling Sandro (who had slid under him) while Chris Burke and Tim Yaeger were still on the base paths. Much to the catcher's chagrin, Sandro STANDS UP and basically now had the catcher on his back like they are about to play CHICKEN in a pool. of course, the catcher has NO CHANCE to get the ball while Sandro is tossing him around like a Bull at a Rodeo, and Chris Burke scores and Timmy advances to 3rd base! lololol
-- back to real time --
So now, in a twist of fate, the catcher is lying on the ground at 2nd base UNDER DRO. Sandro chooses not to move and stands over him while Paul retrieves the ball. The runner finally gets away from Sandro to run to 3rd base, and is thrown OUT. But the umpire rules that Sandro obstructed the runner and therefore he was SAFE. (the 2nd base umpire was FURIOUS at the HOME PLATE UMPIRE for making this call, since he was 5 feet from Sandro at the time and saw NO obstruction).
But alas, the play is not appealable. However the 2nd base umpire was overheard chastising the home plate umpire later for stepping outside of his bounds to make the call. I believe that he was getting back at me for the Pony Ride I gave the catcher in the prior inning! <blush>
Why does this crap always happen to me???!!!?? ;-)
Hitting Stars will be updated tomorrow when I get the book.
Tourney Game 4 versus Atlanta Genesis
For this game, the Blizzard had a 3 hour wait...and had to drive 35 minutes to another city to play!! Very very odd indeed.
This was basically a low scoring game until the Blizzard's last at-bat. The Blizzard was not getting runs in bunches, but rather, scored with a lot of Sacrifice Flys and "fielders choices". We got 2 in the first, and 1 in the 3rd...but Atlanta tied it up, aided by an INSANELY LONG HOEM RUN by their cleanup hitter. The ball actually WENT INTO ANOTHER FIELD. It probably traveled 360 feet. WOW!
The Blizzard got 1 back to take a 4-3 lead after four innings. After holding Atlanta to 0 in the 5th, The Bliz got 2 more to take a 6-3 lead. Atlanta got 1 in the 6th to make it 6-4, but then the Blizzard Exploded for 5 runs in the 6th to make it 11-4.
Atlanta went out quietly in their last at-bat and the Blizz emerged victorious -- but the score is not indicative of how tight the game actually was.
Manny pitched fantastic, and the blizzard played timely defense (despite 3 errors -- which cost only 1 run). The Blizzard turned two double plays.
Hitting Stars
* Jon W 4-4, 1 RBI
* Paul G 2-4, 2 RBI
* Rick V 2-3, 3 RBI
* Ryan D 2-4, 2 RBI
* Buck B 2-3, 1 RBI
Tourney game 4 vs Atlanta Genesis
The blizzard won the game by 11-4 score!!
We pay again Saturday. NO GAMES FRIDAY! Our opponent is currently undetermined.
Tourney game 3 versus Twin Cities Taboo
Bliz win! THEEEEEEEEEEEE BLIZZ WIN!
I am too elated and exhausted to write details right now. But we won 16-12.
At this point we are guaranteed 5th place.
We pay again at 5:30 (on another complex 25 minutes from here) versus Atlanta Genesis. If we win we are guaranteed HARDWARE and third place! We would also have Friday off... which would be huge for us.!
Tourney game 2 Vs Fort Laud Metz
Bliz win...in 2 extra innings. 16-15. 3 run, 2 out walk off home run by Ryan in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game.
Down by three runs in the 9th inning Blizzard win with a walk off hit by Chris overlie.
BOOM!
next up... Twin Cities Taboo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)