Grounds Crew Takes On Weather, Loses

The weather was damp and the right-handed batters box was travesty, but the league opened June with a gusto. These recaps now have 200% more writers than before!

Pitches split a baserunner, sweep the series

ALISON RUTH, Sons of Pitches

Johnny hits a grand slam while the 68er’s pitch clocks at 105 mph. Commissioner Dan texts an MLB scout as Brian and Spencer mentally prepare for another grueling inning.

Sons of Pitches 17 || 68ers 11

What a fantastic day for wiffle ball! The morning got off to a bit of a late start, but we were still able to squeeze in two games with a lot of great plays. To open the scoring, a 68er hit a line drive to deep left center, which glanced off the outfielder's hand and hopped over the fence for a home run! Despite having slid backward after such a great hit (seriously, what were the chances?!), the Sons of Pitches were able to come back a few innings later and even up the score. Johnny hit a home run, driving in two runners and helping propel the Sons of Pitches to victory.

Sons of Pitches 12 || 68ers 6

In a dramatic turn of events, both teams were reduced to three players each in the second game, so a few substitutions had to be made. Deputy Jeremy, who had arrived early to watch us play, graciously subbed in as a runner for both teams. Although it was shortened to only three innings, fabulous defense was played by all and both teams hit several long singles reaching the outfield fence. Some fantastic pitching by Johnny and Spencer helped secure two victories for their team!

The Sons of Pitches are looking forward to being joined next week by new player Jonathan and his friend Mike. Welcome!

Nothing but Cannonballs: Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles held scoreless

PRESTON SAHABU, Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles

"Defense" by Su, Sanford, Meager et. al. A dramatic impressionist work, both in the painting technique and the represented form of "fielding".

Cannonball Coming 16 || Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles 0

While a zero on the scoreboard has traditionally been called a “goose egg”, the pitching staff of Cannonball Coming seems determined to change it to “cannonball”. Patrick Meagher came out firing in this one, with five of his first six outs coming via the strikeout. As it turns out, his first six outs would be his only six outs -- Meagher would be lifted for closer Scott Lewis in the 3rd, as Cannonball’s offense had provided enough for an early mercy rule. After a short rally to keep the game alive, the Chickens went down swinging.

On the other side of the rubber, Matt Pearson embraced a new game plan by pitching to contact and drawing in the defense. Though it did not work out for his squad in this game due to some bad BABIP luck, Matt showed off a deeper arsenal and improved control in this outing, with the defense remaining spirited behind him. He also landed the first eephus strike of the season, to everyone’s delight.

Matt giddily preparing his eephus. Also, showing optimism about Chicken 'n' Wiffles chances going forward.

Cannonball Coming 2 || Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles 0

Last season, Grant Costa was third on the pitching depth chart and got touched up a few times when he was called from the pen. Despite this, former teammate Zac Harris saw a lot of promise in the fresh arm, looking past the rust and rain to see the talented hurler beneath. In this game, that hurler emerged. Grant racked up 14 strikeouts over 6 strong innings against the potent Cannonball offense, pounding the zone with authority while earning flailing defensive swings. Watching him work from the middle infield was a treat, with the nervous Cannonballs scraping only 2 hits off him.

Unfortunately for Grant, he was going up against an equally strong starter, Paul Rogers. While the Chickens were able to get some baserunners against him early on, Mr. Rogers would knuckle down and regulate his neighborhood, getting all 18 of his outs via the strikeout. The pitchers duel was a scoreless tie in the bottom of the 5th.

Grant’s control drifted as he issued 3 walks to lead off the inning. Bases loaded with no outs and the game on the line, Grant came back to strike out the next batter, looking like he might work his way out of it, but then Scott Lewis stepped up and stroked a long single to take a 2-run lead. Grant would escape without further damage, but Paul struck out the side in the 6th, snuffing out any chance at a comeback.

Even though they couldn’t pull out the win, Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles showed signs of offensive life against a strong pitcher, and discovered a strong pitcher of their own. Though the early going has been brutal for them, dropping their first six decisions, there’s still plenty of wiffleball to be played. Don’t count Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles out of the wild card mix.

Washout Washed Out in a Washout

DAN RISH, West Coast Washout

RBI Steaks 11 || West Coast Washout 1

With Riley Brindle and Dan Rish on the mound, runs were expected to be at a premium -- even with intermittent light rain falling.  That made Steaks first inning RBIs by Jimmy Froio and Riley Brindle very valuable. A third run was tacked on in the second, and after a one-two-three inning for the top of the Washout lineup in the third, the 3-0 tally was looking possibly insurmountable.  Steven McGinley made it doubly so with a 3-run moonshot in the 4th, and the Steaks rolled on. Despite a fifth inning RBI single by Washout newcomer Jeremy Salvo, the Washout were mercied in the fifth.

RBI Steaks 14 || West Coast Washout 0

Through four innings, Max Melendez delivered a gem, holding the RBI Steak's potent offense to 2 runs.  Nick Winn scattered the hits and walks he allowed, and stayed out of serious trouble. So it stood in the fifth, 2-0, when the wheels fell off.  It started with a walk -- as it does -- and a few batters later a walk made the score 3-0. Then 4-0. Then up to 6-0 before the first out was recorded.  Eventually going to the pen and Conor Roberson, the 2-0 game was gone, replaced by a 14-0 victory. Riley Brindle finished 3-4 for the victors, while Austin Cudworth led the losers at 2-3.

Walks, Haze Split Series Short on Innings, Long on Time

DAN RISH, Commissioner

WWFB 12 || Purple Haze 9

Walks with Four Balls lived up to their name in Game 1, allowing fifteen of the them to the Haze.  Greg Nyssen was not hit hard by the Haze, however, allowing only four hits. The story was the opposite for the Haze -- many hits, but fewer walks.  The combination made this game one of the sloooooowest of the season. WWFB battled back from a 7-1 deficit, thanks to three RBI by Gideon Manahan in a 6-run third inning, including a home run.  Both Nathan Aebi and Josh Herrero singled in the bottom half to regain a 9-7 lead. Then, in the top of the final frame, controversy struck. Walks got the lead back on an RBI walk by Otto Par. Then, Manahan hit a ball deep to left, giving Nyssen a chance to score from third.  In a bang-bang play, Nyssen touched the plate as Aebi's gem of a throw from third base bounced into the zone. The run was counted in a rochambeau decision which was not without its dissenters. However, the insurance turned out not to be needed, as Nyssen struck out the side and provided a clean frame for a 12-9 lead.

Purple Haze 13 || WWFB 7

Purple Haze again jumped out to a big lead, with a Josh Herrero grand slam capping off a 9-run first inning against Otto Par.  In the bottom, the Haze gave three back, as some canny baserunning by Greg Nyssen induced a bad throw in the field of play, turning a single into a Little League home run. Par retired the side in the second without damage thanks to an inning-ending double play by the short-handed Walks' defense.  The gap was narrowed to 9-7 after two. Impending sunset and a dead iPad factored into the decision to end the game after three. Purple Haze padded their lead with 4 more runs, and then Nathan Aebi shut the door to give the Haze their first win in the franchise's first season.