New Lenox, IL - On International Jersey Night, High Voltage looked to get back on the winning track against week 1 opponent Sons of Pitches. The game started out a bit slow as if the boys took a collective team nap prior to the start of the 9:30 matchup. Sons jumped to a quick three run lead in the top of the 1st inning on a walk, hit, and Mad Dog McGraw homerun but the Volts came back with two of their own in a much different fashion. After a Koz double and Stapes RBI single, the Sons pitcher walked three consecutive batters to force in a run and Arik With An A RBI. With the Volts chasing 3-2 after an inning, the Sons went scoreless in the next inning while the hometown heroes pushed three runs across on RBI's by Koz, Zlogar, and Pratl to take a 5-3 lead after 2 innings. The good times continued into the third inning as Sons went scoreless again and the Volts began to distance themselves from their pesty rival. High Voltage scored seven runs in the bottom of the third on the strength of a Sutes three-run homerun to lead 12-3 heading into the 4th inning. Sons added one run in their half of the 4th on a solo homerun and the Volts needed to score seven to close things out in a four inning route, and they did just that. Ken started the rally with a sharp single to left, Ryno singled on a pitch two feet short of the plate that struck more dirt than ball. Rumor has it that the ball was misplayed by the Sons defender from all of the dirt Ry kicked up which caused a smoke screen. Jack walked to load the bases and Koz delivered a two RBI double followed by a two RBI Stapes triple. The fun continued with Sutes second homerun of the evening, this one a two-run shot. With one out, Pratl settled things by hitting a solo homerun to make the score 19-4 and end the game in less than four innings completed. The win pushed the Volts record to 7-2 and the loss kept Sons of Pitches winless on the year with one week remaining to play. The Volts stayed a half game in back of the Brew Jays who can wrap up regular season first place and a bye in week one of the playoffs with a win next week against White Horse. High Voltage plays their regular season finale on 6/27 against Ivy League at 6:30PM on in a "winner takes second place" match. In other action last night Beggars 14 Alcoballic's 11, Brew Jays 17 - Beggars 6, and Ivy League 19 - White Horse 4.
Noteables:
Home Sweet Home - Congratulations to Kathy and Ken on the purchase of their brand new residence. The couple have been sprucing up the new abode with finishing touches of chipped paint, warped siding, and relic roof tiles. You can see the lovely 1st floor curtains hanging mostly outside the window. All of the boards are in place on the west side of the house to block the late evening sun. With the weather being so dry, the back lawn is in mid-season splendor resembling the surface of the Lions Den infield.
Standings & Scenarios - With one week remaining, Brew Jays hold a narrow edge over High Voltage for regular season honors. The Jays face White Horse in their final matchup while the Volts take on last year's playoff nemesis Ivy League. With the way the playoffs are structured, it is a lock that the 1st place team will play either Alcoballic's or Beggars in a second round matchup, which would spell trouble for the Brew Jays as they traditionally struggle in their first playoff game. If the Volts win the Ivy League game next week, their first round opponent would be Sons of Pitches while Ivy would take on White Horse. If Ivy wins next week against the Volts, the matchups would by Ivy vs Sons and Volts vs WH. Either way, the Volts and Ivy are on a collision course to meet once again in the playoffs for the honors of playing in the championship game.
Monday Blues - The Monday team got blown out but the fans won the day. Our fans usually show up in better numbers than opposing fans, and the tradition holds for Monday's too. This past week, the attendance score ended up being Our Fans 1 - Their Fans 0. Thank you Lauren for representing the troops!
International Jersey Day - As you may know, the Volts all wore different jerseys to Tuesday night's game that represented a mix of apparel acquired over the years. Looking out at Sons of Pitches, it seemed like the league put out a message for all to participate in Jersey-rama but that was not the case. Sons are a new team and new team means no official uniform. Sons literally institute a come as you are policy and don't have two players with matching anything. Comforting to know that "wear a different jersey" was a Volts thing and not a collaborative weird league idea.
Coyotes - The Daily Double take a pose with Coach Ken and Al on throwback night. We didn't win many games but we won the Fun. The fun still continues. It was pointed out by Mrs. Gazette that Jeff and Tori should have been in this picture as they were two integral parts of the Coyote squad that played on the swings, in the dirt, got sunburned and bored during the travel baseball days. Cheers to you Jeff and Tori!
Eye In the Sky - So who is on the other end of this camera? Here's the plan..........come in from the woods so that you are not spotted.....white spray paint over the lens.........drive up the digger.........remove milk crates from home plate area.........pack with clay, dirt, and sand..........leave! Got it, let's do it between Summer and Fall session.
Lady On the Bench - O.K. kids, time to click on the pic and blow it up a bit. It was pointed out to staff photographer Eileen Tripod that there was a woman sitting on the far bench enjoying the night air. Nothing wrong with that. This distracted us and was a bit puzzling for a little while but we'll get to the bottom of this normal but interesting scene. Thanks Deb for the caper.
NO WAY!!! - Thanks to the Live Wires for pointing out that Cap'n Jack plagiarized the name High Voltage. The jersey wore by a Sons of Pitches player is clearly north of 20 years old. Nice going Jack. Did you steal Gnaturals too?
Speaking of Live Wires - Don't try to rack your brain on coming up with a logical math equation that makes sense with these numbers. There is symmetry in that all of the names begin with S. As always girls, thanks for classing up the place.
The Cup - Yeah. So, apparently Jack won a fantasy hockey league and was presented a proper trophy for his wares. The cup was presented by Stapes to Jack last night, and the captain hoisted it and provided the ceremonial kiss. Jack is planning to take this a step farther by sharing the cup with family, friends, and the community of New Lenox. After the family each "enjoy a day with the cup" the first stop is the office of Randall Matazewski where we have a ruse to present the cup in his dental complex BUT we are really there on a mission to steal the "one that got away", the 2004 New Lenox Rebels in-house 9-10 year-old championship trophy.
Trophy II - As expected, the trophy got a safe ride home. Seen here all buckled up and cozy in the front passenger seat. Lauren apparently made it home ok although we are not sure how she got home. When asked about the trophy early this morning, Lauren had no comment.
From A to Z - We'll go through a pictorial view of what the boys wore last evening with a recap on their evening.
Arik With An A - 1 for 2 with a walk and 2 RBI. Arik had a catch in the first inning and pretty much kept his mouth, and himself, out of trouble. Arik is quietly having one of his best seasons at the plate.
- 1 for 3 with a run scored. Ry only walked one batter and improved his season record to 7-2 on the hill. Ryno currently leads the team in unpaid fines.
Jack - Back in the leadoff spot last night, the Cap'n went 1 for 2 with 2 walks and 3 runs scored while recording 4 defensive putouts. The Cap gratuitously slid unnecessarily for the umpteenth time but the dude is a master at getting a uniform clean. Slide on brother!
Jason - In one of the top two most ridiculous jerseys on display last night, Stapes went 4 for 4 with 4 RBI and 4 runs scored. Stapes recorded 2 putouts at first base.
Jeff - 1 for 3 in last night's game with a fielding assist in the 2nd inning. A quiet evening for the quite 2nd baseman.
Ken - 1 for 2 with a walk and 2 runs scored. The team could have put a construction cone at third base as no balls were hit that way. Ken was voted as the Person Most Likely to be Mic'd Up in Game. More on that later Kenny............
Koz - 4 for 4 on the evening with 5 RBI and 4 runs scored and 3 putouts defensively. Koz has sacrificed power since being slotted in the two hole but has delivered in that role. Kozleton had a stupid night going 8 for 8 with 9 RBI and 8 runs scored.
Pratl - 2 for 3 with a walk, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored and a HR. Mike had one putout and belted the game ending solo homerun to get the crowd out of the Lions Den early, of which we thank you.
Sutes - 3 for 4 with 5 RBI, 2 runs scored, and 2 HR. Sutes was the only other player beside Ken to not see any action in the field. Matt was also voted Least Likely to be Mic'd Up for a Game. Sorry Matt, the girl with the Mic seems to have gotten the last word in on the subject.
Zlogar - What can I say, I'm a sucker for The Waterboy. Best jersey of the night as Z went 1 for 2 with 2 walks, 1 RBI and 1 run scored. Z made a circus catch in the 4th inning by navigating past a bat, doing a tight rope along the fence, catching the ball, and then entering the dugout as momentum carried him that way, all while avoiding contact.
Laurie and Scoots - We did not get prior authorization from The Boss to post this picture but we assure you, you look great. The lovely couple attend nearly every game but go unnoticed with their posh box seats behind home plate.
- Free sky show last night as the crescent moon hangs low over the western horizon with Venus (other dot to the left) riding along side. That Balderman really knows how to put on a show. Although some on the team are grumbling about their yellow lawns during the watering restrictions. Get over it Pratl.
Go Home - It is assumed that Beggars Pizza is the sponsor of Tuesday night staple Beggars Pizza. Most teams would be at their sponsor to spend money in their establishment in exchange for paying the league fee. Not this team. They leer around the field in back of the batting cage and have to be cropped out of photos. They also hang out in the most obvious spot to law enforcement, the parking lot. Still one of the best pizza's in the region but take a pass on the softball team.
Trophy-gate - Jack, you've got some explaining to do.
Lady NOT On the Bench - We said that we would get to the bottom of this so here goes. This is where we've seen this woman before! Earlier in the game while taking jersey shots, she appears on the field side of the fence. Sure hope she's a family member of Sons of Pitches. Awfully aggressive seating plan for sure. Interesting that the only two players she's there for are Arik and Pratl. Hmmmmmmmmmm.
Fines - Thank you to Arik, Pratl, Jeff and Zlogar for paying up last night. Outstanding fines....Koz and Dylan 1, Sutor 4, and Foster 7.
Fines incurred 6/20:
Sutor - Popout to RF in 1st
Pratl - Popout to LF in 3rd
Jeff - Popout to SS in 3rd
Foster - Popout to LC in 2nd and RC in 3rd. Ken wants to fine you $5 for swinging at a pitch 2 feet in front of home plate in your last at-bat. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say that you were being sporting with such a large lead.
Total Owed:
Koz - 1
Dylan - 1
Pratl -1
Jeff - 1
Sutor - 5
Foster - 9
Again, if you paid and the accountant missed it, speak up on the team chat and the fines will be stricken.
Comments
Post a Comment