New Lenox, IL - It's been a couple of weeks since High Voltage took the field after a bye last week and a loss to the Brew Jays on May 16th. The visiting High Voltage came back to the surface of Mars attempting a regular season series sweep against Beggars, who had revenge on their minds. The Volts knocked the rust off early scoring four runs in the top half of the first inning with a newly tailored lineup featuring D. Jamaica leading off and El Capitan' batting in the seventh slot. It took all of three pitches for Jamaica to secure a leadoff walk. Koz followed with a single to set up Stapes three run homer to put the good guys ahead 3-0 after three batters. Sutes followed with a solo home run (insert sad trombone music here) to put the Volts up 4-0 four batters into the game. The defense held Beggars to just two runs in the bottom half of the second inning on just one hit and three Ryno issued base on balls. Things kept chugging along with each team scoring a run in the second inning and the Volts holding a 5-3 lead into the third. HV scored four runs featuring a two RBI Miguel Pratl triple and RBI hits by Cap'n Jack and Arik With An A to lead 9-3 after holding down the pie boys in their at bat. Things reversed a bit in the fourth inning when the Volts went 1-2-3 and Beggars plated nine runs during an error-filled defensive comedy show with HV now trailing 12-9 heading into the fifth inning. HV scored two runs on Sutes second homerun of the evening but could muster no more offensive punch while allowing five more Beggar runs in the bottom half of the inning to trail 17-11 going into what would be the final and more improbable innings you will ever see. Jeff led off the inning with a rocket down the right field line that flew over and to the left of the right fielder for a standup inside the park homer. Ken and Foster followed with singles to set up Jamaica and Koz for RBI singles of there own to narrow the score to 17-14. With one out, Sutor, Zlogar, and Pratl each got RBI hits to tie the game at 17 all. Cap'n Jack came up and hit the second inside the park homerun of the inning with a Little League Special that featured more mishandles than airport luggage staff during a holiday weekend. Volts now led the game 20-17 but were not finished yet. With two out, Jeff started another rally with a base hit followed by a single from Ken to bring Ryno up to the plate for his heroics. Ryno proceeded to hit what you can call a More Little League Special with the defense providing all the needed bungling elements for Foster to barrel around the bases for the third team inside the park homerun of the inning. Volts led 23-17 going into the bottom of the sixth inning and held Beggars (2-4) to two runs to complete the thrilling 23-19 comeback victory to sweep the regular season series and leave with a record of 4-1. Next weeks game is another 6:30PM venture as High Voltage (4-1) faces White Horse (1-5) for the first time this season.
Noteables:
Fines - Gonna start out with the unpleasantries. Fines for strikeouts and solo homeruns are now two dollars. Ken unearthed a new fine $2 for doggin' it down the line. Thanks to Ken for offering $10 but two will suffice. A home run out is going to cost you $3. Thanks to Mrs. Koz for picking up Sutes fine from two weeks ago for whiffing on a charged ground ball.....completely whiffing. Here's the latest totals, if you paid and the accountant did not see, say something.
Dylan - $1
Koz - $1 Paid
Stapes - $2
Sutor - $2
Zlogar - $2 Paid 3, so you have one in the bank.
Pratl - $2
Jack - $5 (1 on 5/30, 2 on 5/16, 1 on 5/9 and 1 LATE FEE)
Jeff - $4 (1 on 5/30, 2 on 5/9 and 1 LATE FEE)
Ken $3
Foster $4 (1 on 5/30, 2 on 5/9, and 1 LATE FEE)
Time and Temp - The first victory of the evening was Thee Cap'n Jack getting to the third base dugout before the scoundrels' from Beggars had a chance. Thank you to long-time Weather Channel staffer Tim Cannelloni for the game time temperature.
Got All Night - The night did not end for Gazette reporters after saying goodbye to the Ken crew. We stayed long enough to endure a disinterested Ivy League take on the disinterested Brew Jays with a resulting 18-18 tie. Ivy would go on to lose the nightcap to the first place Alcoballic's. Alcoballic's only loss of the season came a week earlier when pounded by..............Ivy League.
Standings - High Voltage has destiny in their own hands after the Brew Jays tie with Ivy League. The Volts are a 1/2 game out with a game in hand with Alcoballic's leading the league with a 5-1 record. HV has a crucial double-header on June 13th when the boys of summer take on both Alcoballic's and Brew Jays with the 7:30/8:30PM matchups. That first game will pair the highest scoring offense against the league's stingiest defense.
Meet the New Boss - The Gazette is in beta tests with the Sharpie 0.7 S-Gel pen. If this thing proves itself to not leak, we have a serious contender for exclusive pen of the Gazette.
Reigning Champion - The Bic 0.7 Gelocity. Don't care of it is blue or black, this pen never leaks!
Out With The Old - With no sleeves, this affable guy is Manny Noguns but with sleeves, he's just an ordinary guy. Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Manny Caca.
Voyeurs' - What the hell are those two ladies sitting on the bench in the background looking at?
Somewhat Related - What is the deal with the brown cover up with the black pants? Yuck! Ry, you had two weeks to do the laundry and wear the nice new High Voltage jersey. What happened?
Overheard - Stapes had a busy day on and off the field. In the 1st inning after a Sutes solo homerun, the first baseman proclaimed; "That's five". Two batters later after Pratl struck out looking, Stapes quipped; "That's ten". After that inning and before taking the field, Stapes said to his brother; "Can you get my glove Tom" and was promptly ignored. That's when beat reporter Stretch DaTruth stepped in and picked up the glove while saying to Stapes; "Do you want it tonight?".
Crimes Against Baseball - Twofer Tuesday. First offense was Ken in the 2nd inning hitting a comebacker to the mound of which the loveable third baseman stopped running, only to see the pitcher bobble the ball, then start running for a step or two while the pitcher recovered and threw him out. Not sure if we heard this correctly but Ken briefly retired (again) and self-policed his own fine for not running at $10.
The second occurrence was in the 4th inning when #25 on Beggars, Susay, stood on third with one out and started trotting home on a deep line drive to left field, which was caught, and then trotted back to the base. He stood there for the rest of the inning as a batter later, the last out was made. The run could have cost the team the game, and it is arguable that it hurt the momentum of the nine run 4th inning.
Home Alone - Saw this in Rancho Cucamonga, CA last week. Apparently, this is the car that Snakes was driving before Johnny filled him up with lead.
- The question was asked; "What adult at this age puts the name Coach on the back of his softball jersey?". Well, it's Coach Niner from Alcoballic's. Oddly enough, there is another guy running around the Tuesday league with this name (Coach) on the back of his jersey, none other thank Marone from Ivy League. That brown cover up is not looking so bad now Ry in comparison.
The Toy Cannon - Koz uncorked a throw late in the game from right center field to Ken on the fly and on the bag as the elder statesman did not have to move a muscle to make the catch and stare at the runner who did not dare to move. All of the High Voltage outfielders showed very good arms throughout the night by holding runners to singles and/or keeping them from tagging up.
Crowd - A nice crowd was on hand Tuesday evening to enjoy the 88 degree game time temperature, and the High Voltage win. Kathy made her first appearance of the season, although we did not ask which house she left from to get to the game.
Loud Crowd - The Live Wires make some noise in celebration of the team's late inning heroics. There is nothing worse for the opposing team than hearing the hooting and hollering of the women of High Voltage.
Dukie - If the ball were not so prominent as being low and two feet inside, thus having Koz step away from the offering early, I'd say he looks like he has to take a shizz. Interestingly enough, everyone in this picture is wearing sunglasses.
Better Half - Mackie Whispers is seen here in the top of the 6th to provide some secret baseball knowledge to Sutes. The advice worked out perfectly as Sutes singled and scored in the inning on the way to the Volts furious rally to defeat Beggars.
No I In TEAM - Every High Voltage player got a base hit and scored in last night's game. All but one player had an RBI. The team ran out of home runs with no outs in the 5th inning but added three more dingers of the inside the park variety in the sixth inning. There has likely never been three inside the park homeruns in a season, or five seasons for that matter, let alone in the same inning. Fun stuff watching the other team play the calliope music and melt down defensively while High Voltage players run the bases like a jailbreak.
Couple of Observations - 1) The Alcoballic's
were bitching about the fact that they had to play a 7:30/9:30 doubleheader. Point taken as Ken had brought this topic up earlier in the evening. 2) Hats off to the park district dude for coming over to Alcoballic's captain to clarify the score (much after the fact) to make sure that he had it accurately recorded in the books. If anyone can get the location of a faucet and hose, the next step is to water down the infield before the games.
WASR - The Gazette has some loyal followers in the neighborhood as they loved the Wins Above Carboard Cutout so much that they offered Wins Above Scarecrow Replacement as a measuring stick. Not sure if any of you noticed this stout fixture deep in the right field corner, but you better keep an eye on making him an offer.
CHIPs - Arguably one of the worst television shows you could ever see. This show featured California Highway Patrolman, Ponch and John, on their motorcycles combing the highways of Los Angeles County. The crash scenes filmed at 5 miles per hour are so comical, it might be worth a look if you are having troubles sleeping. This picture taken in San Bernardino County, Ca is the real California Highway Patrol local office. Long way to get to the payoff here; "why is there a pay phone in front of the entrance?". Who has seen a payphone in the last 20 years? Are you going to make a quick call on your way of being dragged in by CHIPs to your cell? Is this the CHIPs phone to place illegal wagers?
Piss On Beggars - Piss on Beggars!!!
Comments
Post a Comment