Sound pitching too much for Horners

July 15, 2009

………………………………….1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9…..R…H…E

Phundamentally Sound….0..0..1..1..2..0..0..3..5….12..14…2

Team Around the Horn….2..2..0..0..0..0..1..0..1…..6…14…4

When Phundamentally Sound starter Jonny Szczesniak gave up 4 unanswered runs in the first 2 innings, it seemed like Team Around the Horn was going to be in control for the long haul.  The most beautiful yet dangerous elemental truth of baseball shined through:  it is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.

P. Sound overcame 2 Horner double plays in the third and fourth inning to mount an improbable comeback on some late offense.  In the third inning Kurt Hunte’s looper to left was robbed by shortstop Scott Solomon, who fell on to his back on the play.  Pete Pendleton tagged from third after his single only to be gunned at the plate by the versitile newcomer.  In the 4th, Team Around the Horn also turned the traditional 6-4-3 double play to put the kibosh down on a swelling rally.

Szczesniak gave way to long man Mark Stehle during a 4-4 tie after six strong innings where he stuck out six and walked four.  Stehle gave up one earned run over three innings to earn the win.  Justin Stuhltrager went 8 1/3 for Team Around the Horn, his cruise control fell off during the 8th and 9th when the P. Sound were able to string their hits together and the fatigued defense began to let up.  Did player/coach Stuhltrager leave himself in too long? History will be the judge.

Dave Smith contributed two hits and reached base four times (not including a disputed called 3rd strike in the bottom of the 6th with two on) in the losing effort.  Pitchers Justin Stuhltrager(3K, 5BB) and Scott Solomon (got the last 2 outs in the 9th) looked pretty sharp for the most part.

There ended up being some offensive standouts for the winning P. Sound:  Mark Stehle (3hits, 2RBI, 2runs), Joshua Grace (3 doubles, 2RBI, 3runs), and newcomer Randy Ribay (3hits, 2 runs) all were raking.  Ribay’s season as player coach of the Circle of Hope softball team in Camden, NJ recently ended freeing him up to tear it up in center field and at the plate.

There were a lot of people who wanted to play and couldn’t get in this time.  Interest is at an all-time high, our league organizers are trying to find ways to maintain a high level of play with the people who have been playing together for three years while maintaining open spots for other friends and hopefuls.  Thanks for all the good attitudes and patience as we figure it out.

If you are dying to play baseball and haven’t been able to play on Wed for whatever reason, you can contact Kurt Hunte about a Saturday game…occaisonally Andrew Jones will organize a Sunday afternoon ball game as well.

Notes:  Phundamentally Sound leadoff man, short stop, pitcher, and deejay Michael Fichman left the game in the 9th with an injured thumb.  Hopefully he is straightened out by next week…Derek Schauer is scheduled to start on the mound next week for TAtH…Jesse Engaard is rumored to be extending his Maine Oddyssey for another month…Kenny Steif & Dann Pudish should be returning to duty on 7/22…

attn:  0,016

Weiss returns with 4hits, Team Around the Horn triumphs

July 8 game 1
…………..1  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9…R ..H E
Ph. S….. 0 1 2 0 3 0 4 0  … 10 14 2
TAtH…. 0 0 0 0 3 9 7 x  … 19 20 3

Team Around the Horn brought some bats with them. Mike Weiss came home with a bang (4-4, walk, 2 runs, 2SB) and Justin Stuhltrager (4-5, 2runs, SB + 8inning complete game with 6K’s for the win) stood out and Phundamentally Sound starter Jonny Szczesniak was outlasted. He began the game with 4 shutout innings until TAtH got something going in the 5th and then fell apart in the 6th.

There was a lot of hype, and a lot of people watching with anticipation as the game got going at 6pm. We decided to stop it after 8innings during the 6th inning because we wanted to make sure there was fair time for game 2.
Phundamentally Sound were led by Kurt Hunte (3hits) and Kenny Steif (4RBI). The defense looked great for most of the game, but had a couple shaky innings that proved fatal. Philip Craig came in to pitch late in the game, but Team Around the Horn rallied.

Team Around the Horn battery Weiss & Stuhltrager

Between the defense of John Paetch, the ability to put together a few big innings, and the arm of Stuhltrager (he can deal, boy!) Team Around the Horn walked away with game 1.

Attn: 0,026

Big bats in the 9th Sound Sweet As Ever

It was every child’s dream situation.  Bottom of the 9th, 2 out, bases loaded, tie game, full count.  Jonny Szczesniak later said that his knees were shaking as he awaited the Derek Schauer payoff pitch.  The ball sailed towards the plate as time slowed, just before Szczesniak raked it to deep center field for a walk-off hit to fulfill an incredible game.

It was another glorious outing for both teams, great chemistry and steller defense.  Both starting pitchers were hard to solve, J Grace striking out twelve Around the Horners over eight innings.  It was the bats that came up late in the game.  In the top of the 9th Team Around the Horn tied it up after stringing together some singles against Phundamentally Sound’s closer Jonny Szczesniak.  After the blown save, it was Szczesniak who would have the last word.

An all-around great game, much fun was had.  The lead changed hands five times and rally caps were a plenty.  Kris Eden took some good photos (we’ll see them in the Flickr group later this week).

Highlights for Team Around the Horn would be the pitching of starter Justin Stuhltrager, the offense (3 hits, 3 SB) of leadoff man Dann Pudish, and the leather of left John Paetsch & James P.  Phundamentally Sound had steller defense by shortstop Michael Fichman, the rookie debut of catcher Buddy Szczesniak, and the bottom of the 9th catalyst 2out triple by OF Kurt Hunte.

With two out, Hunte launched a 350′ fly ball to left field in which he would settle for nothing less than a triple.  Next Mark drew a walk to put runners at the corners.  After discussing an intentional walk to Phundamentally Sound’s cleanup hitter Joshua Grace, the first pitch from Schauer hit him just North of the elbow to load the bases for Szczesniak-who answered destiny’s call.

Next week looks to be a ton of fun.  Mike Weiss will even be making an appearance.  More photographers.  Perhaps concessions are not too distant in the future for spectators.  Great game to all and good luck next week!

Attendence:  0,006

june 24 writeup forthcoming

i posted teh stats from last Wednesday.  It was a great game, no doubt.

I had a few photos that also are in the flickr group.

Safe to say it was the best game of the year.  The rumor is that Kris Eden is bringing a good camera next week, and we have squads forming already!

broken down backstop Dave Smith keepin it real

DUSKY NIGHTS OF BASEBALL WORTH REMEMBERING

Weekly games in June have brought improved defense and dominating pitching, setting clutch hitting and keen batsmanship at a premium.  Every Wednesday, spring rainfall always seemed to let up in time to lace up the cleats.
With seams spinning and maple bursting, each player had their cracks at unraveling the mystery of hitting.    Some found hits in the deep grass of the infield; more found an out waiting for them at first.  Many balls took a ride to the outfield, and a few found space to roll along the fence, but one man saw it fit to put a couple over and onto the tracks beyond.
Runners showed no fear in taking leads and taking bases on their mission home, but some infielders took offense to the thievery and rarely hesitated to act on the own behalf, flashing their arms and applying the leather whenever necessary.  Accurate throws and quick turns also produced several twin killings, twice to end a game.

Many new faces called up from obscurity earned their place on and off the field, hustling out ground balls and lacing line drives.  Thankfully, there were very few injurues and none appearing serious, despite players being more than happy to put their bodies on the line blocking a ball in the dirt, snaring ropes or diving into base.

Box scores are being tabulated and will be published as soon as possible.  If anyone would like to help with media coverage of these games and those to come, please leave your info in the comments.

Swine Flu Finds Cure For Team Round-the-Horn

May 20th, 2009 – Philadelphia

Derek Schauer (0-1) made Swine Flu sick with frustration through six innings with a steady erray of off-speed pitches and a crisp fastball before giving up the lead in the seventh.  With his pitch count nearing 150 and his strikeout total at 7, he gave way to Craig Hendrix (0-0), a recent addition to the pen, who was unable to keep the game within reach for Team Round-the-Horn, giving up nine walks and eight runs in two innings of work.

What was developing into a tight, see-saw battle became a lopsided victory as Michael Fichman(0-0) and Mark B. (1-0) combined to hold Team Round-the-Horn to six runs through eight, before mop-up pitcher Dann Pudish. gave up five runs in the ninth to make the final score 15-11.

After reportedly causing a multi-vehicle accident last week with his eye-catching fastball and formidable mustache combo, starting pitcher Michael Fichman created all kinds of chaos for Team Round-the-Horn this week with his changing arm angles and biting breaking ball.  After allowing an unearned run in the first, the next inning he allowed opposing pitcher Derek Schauer to steal two bases, leading to a first and third with one out.  But he worked his way out of the jam by striking out the next two batters.  In fact, his only earned run surrendered was from a sac fly off the bat of shortstop Jesse Engaard that plated second baseman Taylor L., after he had swiped third with no outs, giving Team Round-the-Horn the 2-1 lead, not allowing Fitch a chance for his first win.

That lead held with solid pitching from both starters through the fourth and fifth innings until Swine Flu fought back to take the lead in the sixth with a two-run, two-out rally topped off with RBI hits from Dan P. and John Balzarini.  But Team Round-the-Horn responded with an inning of their own, sparked by a lead-off double by Craig Hendrix.  The Balz man eeked out a single and Mike Whithers drew a walk to load the bases.  Jesse Engaard and Kenny Steif promptly followed through with two singles to plate four, regaining the lead and making it look like Round-the-Horn might pull out its second victory of the season.

But Swine Flu had plans for their own outbreak.  Mike Weiss lead off the top of the seventh with a single, then Matt Chapin drew a walk.  After striking out Chris Puchalskylooking, Michael Fitch connected for a triple and Swine Flu had four of their own after singles by Mark B. and Dann Pudish taking the lead for good, 7-6.  In the top of the eighth, Kurt Hunte greeted Craig Hendrix with a smash single that perhaps provoked a parade of walks that ended only after another big hit from Kurt Hunte that plated the sixth and seventh runs of the inning.

Swine Flu tacked on another run in the 9th when Fitch turned a walk into a run with two stolen bases and a throwing error on the catcher, capping off the offensive explosion of 12 runs in the final three frames.  In the bottom of the ninth, Dan P. finished the game only after allowing the entire bottom half of the order to reach base and score. With men at first and third and the lead trimmed to four, Swine Flu turned a beautiful 6-4-3 double play to end the game, preventing Jesse Engaard from coming to the plate as the possible tying run.  Attn: 0,011

May 13 hooliganism

Jesse Engaard stood on third base representing the first run of the game with one out in the top of the first while Swine Flu’s Michael Fitch pitched to Craig Hendrix, when the driver of a 2001 BMW 7-series luxury sedan lost control at high speeds around the corner of 49th street behind home plate and wrecked on three parked cars. Side-swiped up onto the curb was pitcher Michael Fitch’s Honda Civic. A fourth car owned by Mike Weiss was hit by the momentum of the last car struck by the BMW with the decorative license plate airbrushed in pink with the name “Tink”.

Luckily no one was seriously injured except possibly the driver of the Bimmer who may have struck his head on the windshield before hobbling out of the car and making a break for it. Several baseball players from all teams, including some stragglers from the Woodland Giants Baseball Club, gave chase but were eluded by a quickly recovering teen with sneakers on.

Tow truck sharks and police looked on as a light scrimmage was assembled between disheartened players and a few members of the crowd. Yet another game interrupted, preserving a one win lead for Team Round the Horn in the standings, although many would have certainly traded a win tonight to avoid the drama of “Tink’s Lost Bimmer” and the subsequent “Pixie On the Loose”.

Notable plays of the “swing-till-you-hit” scrimmage were a double by Andrew Jones to the right field gap and a towering home run to dead center field by Derek —-. Special thanks to Philadelphia Men’s Baseball League for finding compromise after being presented with the Wednesday night permit at Kenny Jones Field by Mike Weiss and Justin Stuhltrager. The clubs agreed to allow unscheduled play until 8:00PM, when Swine Flu and Team Round the Horn quickly took to the field and began play. The Woodland Giants were able to get in only a few innings before suspending play on this night.

5/8/09 in a nutshell

Swine Flu was finally able to get to Justin Stuhltrager, but rain spoiled their run for the first victory of the season. Michael Fitch pitched 3 strong shutout innings limiting Team Round-the-Horn to a few scattered hits. Josh Grace sat the game out with a severe sprain after X-rays proved negative. Attn: 0,003

Team Around the Horn Outlasts Swine Flu

Thurs, April 30

Is there a doctor in the hosue?  Justin Stuhltrager had all it took to keep Swine Flu in check, and from mounting a late comeback in a lopsided Team Around the Horn victory 18-11 (7innings).

Justin pitched the complete game while Swine Flu pitchers had location problems all night.  It was a lot of fun to get out there finally after several rainouts.  Better baseball to come.

This game was decided early, when in the bottom of the first, Swine Flu player/coach Joshua Grace went down with an ankle injury after a collision with the speedy Jesse Engaard.

Highlights: Team Around the Horn’s Jesse’s D-a 7th inning amazing grab to silence a late rally.  Justin “the Gentleman” Stultrager kept the ball near the plate the whole night.

Swine Flu’s Ant Mazzotta drag bunted the first pitch of the season for a bang-bang single.   Jonny Sez crushed a late-game 3run inside-the-park homerun that rolled to the left field fence.

Box score, and cumulative stats to come.

W: Justin Stultrager (1-0)

L:  Jonny Szczesniak (0-1)

HR:  Jonny Sez (1)