Master Batters Walk Off The Scrappers

New Lenox, IL - The weather was steamy tonight for the 8:30 PM start pitting the Master Batters against The Scrappers, who had won the first match 21-6 earlier in the year.  After a relative close start that featured both teams battling back and forth, MB followed a six run 3rd inning with an eight run barrage to pull safely in front.  The game ended when Zlogar "singled" to push the 17th run across the plate to put the game to a merciful ending 17-7.  Every member of MB recorded a base hit tonight.  Ryan Foster got the start tonight when Uncle Gary jarred his back wrestling a tree.  Ryno pushed his record to 2-0 for the season and MB moved their overall record to 5-4, which is good enough to put them in a fourth place tie with tonight's opponent.  The last game of the regular season is next week at 6:30PM against Hammered.  

Catch the replay of tonight's game Here

 

Notables:

Hole In One - Ken finally threw a warmup ball in the dugout on the first try after taking infield grounders in the top half of the 1st inning.

Starting Battery - Tonight's 1st inning battery featured the latest two featured players, Ryan and Arik.

That's a Crock - The umpire told Zoot Suit that he had to wear shoes to be on the field to coach.  Suits was wearing sandals as seen to the left.

Alfred Hitchcock II -  Koz with yet another save of a baby bird.  Pictured earlier this week, the MB outfielder cut a batting practice session short to save this baby bird.  Way to go Koz!

Way(s) To Go - Six subscribers to the team YouTube channel.  The Gazette is responsible for 4 of the 6 subscribers.  Thanks for the support team.

Fancy Footwork - Whitehouse recorded a force out in the 2nd inning on a play that he didn't touch the bag in his first effort NOR the second effort.  

Coconuts - On a fouled third strike 20 feet past the left field chalk, the Schoenhofen boys thought that it was a good idea to chase the ball down, which almost ended in a head-on collision.

Curse Lifted - In his last at bat of the evening, Arik notched his 70th lifetime hit with MB.  Put the Michael Jordan photo away please.

That Really Is a Crock - Suits found someone on the team with Crocs, which apparently are a shoe in the eyes of the umpire.

Cancel The Retirement Party - After intentionally walking Koz to pitch to Ken with the winning run on 2nd base, Ken declared that he would retire if he did not deliver a hit.

The Kid's Are Alright - The nest where Koz placed the baby bird.

Walk On - Zlogar was tonight's hero with the team's second walkoff win of the year.  40% of this year's wins are walk-offs.

Player Profile

                   Ryan Foster

This week’s profile is on Lincoln-Way Central alum Ryan Foster.  Ryno debuted for the Master Batters in the Summer of 2016 and has been a full time member ever since.  Heading into this season, Ryno is 4^th on the MB all-time hit list. Not to be outdone, he is also number one on the MB all-time arm sleeve owner list.  We sat down at Bulldog Ale House to catch up to the affable outfielder.

Gazette: How did you originally get the call to play with MB?

Ryno: I got the call to play with MB in 2016 as a sub and in the following summer I got a full time spot and been with the team since.

Gazette: You’ve pitched for MB quite a bit.  What is your favorite position to play?

Ryno: I love to play the outfield but pitching is probably my favorite position to play.

Gazette: How many arm sleeves do you own?

Ryno: I own about 12 sleeves but have lost about half of them over the years.

Gazette: Which one has the most meaning to you?

Ryno: My white sleeve is my favorite sleeve, I've had that sleeve since high-school.

Gazette: What is the purpose (your purpose)  for wearing the arm sleeve?

Ryno: The purpose is if you play good, better look good doing it.

Gazette: What is your best memory of playing with the Master Batters?

Ryno: My favorite memory has to be getting my first call to the mound and winning my first game I ever pitched for MB. I still pitch to this day whether or not Gary can play or not.

Gazette: What goals have you set for softball……short-term?  Long-term?

Ryno: My short term goal is to try and win a chip this year and long term to retire as a MB.

Gazette: We see you toting the clipboard around quite a bit during the year.  Who taught you how to keep score at a baseball game?

Ryno: I learned how to keep score from my Freshman Baseball Coach, Coach Ward.

Gazette: With your history of coaching football and affinity for the clipboard, do you have any aspirations of coaching baseball or a softball team one day?

Ryno: I'd love to be a travel baseball coach for when I have kids definitely and I am still looking for High school football coaching job. If I have, girls I'd love to Coach softball as well.

Gazette: Gazette received a report that you were a person of interest at your brother Brad’s wedding.  Can you tell us the story?

Ryno: No comment

Gazette: We’ve all had our fair share of coach Ken baseball moments.  You are literally his next door  neighbor.  Do you have a funny “Neighbor” Ken story you can share?

Ryno: My favorite stories of Ken are when I'm in the back yard and I can hear Ken screaming in his backyard about people burning leaves or yelling at his kids. Everyone loves Ken

Gazette: Last week’s game was rained out.  How did you spend your evening last Tuesday?

Ryno: Well since it was raining for almost for a week straight I just stayed in watching the White Sox lose every game and watch some NBA games.