Month: July 2008

Monongahela Division All Starz Win 7-1,

pittsburgh NABA, South Oakland Ducks Baseball

The “Z” in Owlz may be unnecessary, but those kids can hit. James Fago of the Owlz homered twice driving in three runs, and his coach and teammate Rob Cool added a two-run home run as the Monongahela Division dominated Allegheny in the Pittsburgh NABA All-star game.

Ducks Pitcher Nich Homa recorded the win, pitching two scoreless innings, striking out three.

The Allegheny Division took the lead early when the guy on the Oilers singled home a runner from third. However, Craig Boley tried to score from second, and was thrown out at the plate by right fielder John Tremmel. Ducks catcher Jesse Smith made a nice pick, and a diving tag on the airborne Boley to end the threat.
Then the Mononghela Division scored seven straight runs over the next five innings.
Florian and Goldie of the Black Sox had two hits apiece, I have a hard time telling them apart, but they hit doubles, and drove in runs.

Bullet Points

  • The Monongahela Division pitching was too much for the Alleghenies. After Alex Warren allowed a first inning run, Ben Sororsky, Homa, Jeremy Barchie, Brian Headley, and James Fago combined to allow just three hits over six shutout innings.
  • The Allegheny team turned a smooth double play early in the game, and the short stop from the Hurricanes made a nice diving stop up the middle to kill a rally in the third.
  • Brian Strom of the Bulldogs hit a ball over my head, and was thrown out at third by Dan Stell. Just like we planned it.
  • The Bulldogs own me when I’m in the outfield.
  • Strom and Vinny Gala both had hits for the Allegheny Division.
  • I did not get a plate appearance, and missed a catchable ball.
  • It was pointed out to me before the game by a member of the OwlZzz that the Ducks’ team batting average is poor, inferring that is why our team loses more than it wins. He proceeded to go 0-2, (with an RBI ground out) but after the game he was allegedly contacted by Billy Beane and offered a front office job, where he can better put to use his prodigious gift of statistical analysis.

There will probably be a nice, tidy write-up of this game on the league site in the next couple of days, also the Owlz will probably have a bright yellow blog on their team page. There is no way Fago isn’t the MVP.

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This was written without referencing the score book, and with little regard to accuracy. In fact, this is by far the worst write-up I’ve ever done.

Despite being deprived of a chance to hit, and having played a nondescript to below average game (I was on deck when the last out was made in the bottom of the sixth) it was a good time, and I am glad I had the chance to be a part of it.

After seven innings in the cramped Spring View Dugouts, I now feel much closer to all of the Ducks’ division rivals whom I have hatefully and maliciously libeled in this blog, which apparently is read by some of you. Thanks for reading.

Thank you to all the fans who showed up to watch our game. Special thanks to the pom-pom wielding ladies in the Ducks cheering section who serenaded me with a rousing “quack” chant as I jogged out to coach third base, where I proceeded to spit tobacco juice all over myself. Classy.

2008 Monongahela Division All Stars
(Absent: Mark Guthrie, P, Ducks)

Go Ducks.

Pittsburgh NABA All Star Game: Players to Watch

pittsburgh NABA

I’d like to thank Joe Graff for putting this together, and for all his hard work over the first half of the season.
The first three years of the Pittsburgh NABA we had the All Star game at the end of the season, and attendance by both players and spectators was poor. Last year we drew a nice sized crowd, it was a great atmosphere.

Matadors’ Ron Tiedeman (below) will manage the Allegheny Division. The Matadors (8-5) have gone on a nice run after struggling with early season injuries

Vinny Gala, and Brian Strom (below) will represent the Bulldogs, along with pitcher Dan Morgan.

Kenny Rayl, (below) of the Black Sox will manage the Monongahela Division.

The Allegheny appears to be the weaker of the two divisions, but don’t tell that to Warriors founder and the Allegheny Divisions’ starting catcher Craig Boley, who has helped lead the Warriors to the top of their division at the season’s half way point.
Boley sounds off on his all star selection and the Warriors’ dominance.

Joining Boley in the mid-summer classic are fellow Warriors Jason Lesher and Steve Heckman.(below)

They received some good news this past month.

The Ducks are represented by starting catcher, Jesse Smith and pitcher Nick Homa (below), along with utility player, Ben Gwin.

Joining the Ducks on the Monongahela Roster:

CF, Dan Stell, leader of the Rebels(below).
Following him into battle will be the last two League MVP’s John Tremmel, and Jesse Jones
The Black Sox are strong up the middle, they are represented by CF, Jason Goldie and Pitcher Alex Warren and SS Ron Florian (pictured below discussing strategy)

The OwlZZ are dominating in the early going, Faygo and Sloan bring wisdom, and the ability to kill rodents to the Monongahela Division squad.
The Eagles are represented by Guitarists Glen Fry and Joe Walsh.


I expect a high scoring affair. This year’s game features a host of players with whom I am unfamiliar, and last year’s lop-sided win by the Monongahela Division should have the Allegheny side looking for redemption. I know Fago, former Duck, Jeremy Barchie, and Homa can dominate on the mound, and the Black Sox and OwlZz are two of the best hitting teams I’ve seen.
And of course the Monongahela Division has the Ducks on their side.


Pete Rose is a chump.
Let’s stay injury free tonight.

More Rain, All Star Game

pittsburgh NABA, South Oakland Ducks Baseball

The Ducks (5-8-1) swim into the All Star break on the heels of two consecutive rain-outs.
Games at Hand
The Rakers (8-8) hold the final playoff spot. South Oakland trails by 1.5 games with two games remaining against the Rakers, and two games at hand.
The Ducks next game is a hair of the dog affair at 8am Saturday, July 5th against the Oilers.
Then South Oakland will take on the division leading OwlZZ (10-2) at 3pm, Sunday at the Findlay Sports Plex before returning home to play the Black Sox (10-3), 9pm Monday night at Spring View.

Ducks 2008 All Stars
Jesse Smith-starting catcher (somebody get this kid a jersey)
Nick Homa-pitcher
Mark Guthrie-pitcher
Ben Gwin-1B/OF

There will be a full recap on the All Star game.
Come support the Ducks’ All Stars, 8:30pm at Spring View Field.

Go Ducks.