The Ducks trailed 9-2 heading into the sixth, but rallied for four runs in the inning then South Oakland of the North Side had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the 7th, but after a K, an RBI groundout and another K, the Ducks lost and Kenny Powers effectively clinched the 2 seed, unless the Black Sox lose out, and the Ducks win their last two games.
Full recap by Kenny F_ing Powers sometime Sunday.
We will see them again.
Thanks to all the fans, of both teams, who showed up. We will need more of that, especially in the playoffs. I really thought there was going to be a fight. We may have eclipsed the Sox as the team with the most obnoxious fans. That is a good thing.
Commish, the field ump was texting during the game.
The playoff loss last year was crushing a 9 run loss to the Black Sox.
The way things are shaping up, we will play this team again in the playoffs [barring an upset by the Gray Bats (3-19)] Tonight’s game will all-but dictate which team gets a game off and which team has to throw one of their top two pitchers the day before the potential 2nd round match-up.
The PGH NABA old-timers remember a team from the early days in Ambridge that drank off hangovers in the first inning, smoked in the dugout, cursed, fought, agitated, and won. That team was the Ducks in when you could still win in this league with a bunch of alcoholic ex-Legion players.
The Ducks filled the “Man I Hate Playing this F-ing Team full of shit talking assholes” niche before the Black Sox existed. Kenny Powers basically modeled his franchise after the Ducks.
Baseball is ripe with history, even a league like ours something about the game lends itself to narrative and historical significance like a Philip Roth novel. Pittsburgh NABA Pastoral.
One idea that was tossed around in a Phoenix hotel room scene reminiscent of a Led Zeppelin escapade, was to merge the teams in ’06.
I guess we would have been the Black Dux.
Obviously that didn’t happen, our catcher at the time said, “We’d win, but f__k that, man…I’m a Duck,”
Ben Hartraft was a beast, he, like many other Ducks greats, blew out his arm.
When a bunch of guys you never heard of, but were pretty sick ball players, left for parts unknown, and the Red Scare Years enveloped South Oakland.
Even in the worst of times the Black Sox game was the one you got up for. We’ve really been chasing the Black Sox since 2004, the first time they eliminated us from the playoffs.
We have the chance to beat one of the best pitchers our league has ever seen. A kid who has a 19K game to his credit, and has thrown a no-hitter this season.
One run separates The Ducks and Black Sox in two games this season, 1/2 game in the standings.
Now we have a chance to take two of three from this team for the first time in a long time – possibly ever, and move ahead of Kenny Powers in the standings.
Tonight the ghosts of Black Sox games past hover with the smell of spilled beer and cigarette smoke above the concrete grand stand at Moore Park.
Well, as another season winds down, things are tight at the top of the division – Ducks and Black Sox battling it out for a pitcher-saving, injury-nurturing, frenzy-building bye.There is little I can say that you don’t already know.You’ve beaten this team; you’ve lost to this team.The chances are that if you’re reading this, you’ve probably never met me, but believe me, I too have beaten the BSox, I’ve lost to the BSox, I know how both feel.I’ve stolen five bases in one game against this team, had two Kenny “Powers” Rayl bombs hit off of me in one game, made catches I didn’t know I could, knocked in go-ahead runs, K’d with runners in scoring position then thrown my batting gloves into the woods at Moore Park.
I hope to God they still have that kid’s Dad as a “coach,” the guy that drinks Coronas (with the lime) while coaching third base with a Swisher Sweet dangling from his mouth. If you don’t know who I’m talking about, you should be able to picture a douche like that associated with them. One of the top five pleasures of my life has been eavesdropping on the tongue-lashing he gave the BSox after Matt Swetz pitched the game of his life to beat their asses 2-1.
I can think of perhaps five Ducks who had their only career hits off the Black Sox.
When they brought in that double-A Blue Jays kid like a week before the playoffs (probably no enforced roster deadline in ’05, but I mean, what the shit?) I wanted to face him just so I could get a hit off a kid who was a pro pitcher weeks before, and simultaneously break Kenny’s heart.I finally did get to face him the next year and I’m pretty sure that even with his talent he’s the only Black Sock I ever saw not care while he was on the field.I ripped him.
That same year I’d pitched against them to open the season and beat them for six innings before an unfortunate seventh that ended in a Ducks devastator.I believe if we had won that game, we’d have won the championship; instead we only won six games.
Black Sox games matter more than other games.
This is a team the Quack Pack have played for championships, but also in meaningless matchups.As long as I was a Duck there was never any difference.This is a team named for the worst scandal in the history of the game.If no one is bleeding by the end, you might as well have stayed home.
The importance of this weekend’s game speaks for itself.
Kenny on his jetski
Here are some random Darren Daulton links i found while searching for a sweet highlight montage that inexplicably doesn’t exist on youtube. (someone find us some Daulton footage!, i’ll give you a dollar that you can then give to TC to pay the umpires.)
Daulton at his Kansas Hall of Fame induction.
Get Dutch to appear at your corporate function or party: Dutch link 1 performance enhancement: link 2
It’s one thing to dominate a game, and the Ducks did not dominate on Monday, it is another thing completely to go out when you don’t have your best stuff, when you’re stiff and sore, and undermanned – nursing a bayonet wound from the last battle with the Confederacy, and win anyway. There’s something i find more gratifying about it.
Fletcher didn’t have his best stuff, but he still held the Rebels to one run. He battled.
Dr. Jones had to shuffle the lineup with two of our best hitters,
SS, Frank Castle (above, ) and inf. Ryan Novak, mia,
and CF, Mars visiting friends in FLA Kirk Gibson played a phenomenal game at short, and with Watson up the middle made all the plays. We got clutch hits and despite some odd base running occurrences, and some good defense by a much improved Fightin’ Reb’s team, The Ducks prevailed. Our best hitter is mired in a slump, but he found a way to help the team win with his defense, throwing out three Rebels, two at third, one at second, and called a great game behind the plate. Wojton made a great catch in the gap.
I don’t have the book – things will be a bit jumbled, here. For the most part, this is not a friendly rivalry, and it got more heated today.
It’s not likely we will see this team in the playoffs, and its unlikely they will exist next season, but it was fun while it lasted. They have some talent on that team, and their nickname has really been the inspiration for this blog.
Most of those guys hate the shit out of the Ducks, and really wanted that game last night, which makes the win even sweeter.
Thanks to the fans for Quacking for us last night.
***
The early innings went quickly, Chris Feathers, put up a typical, Feathers-esque gutsy performance on the mound, and kept the Ducks scoreless for two innings, while Fletch worked out of trouble in the first two innings. With one out and a runner on first in the top of the second, a diving attempt at what the Ducks left fielder thought was foul territory hit off his ten year old glove and went out of play, putting runners on second and third.
J. Smith threw out Davis at second, Kirk helped him with his helmet because he is a good sport. More yelling and blaming the umps from The South.
In the bottom of the third Wojton walked to lead off the inning and Gwin doubled to left center. Jefferson Davis was on his horse,
A perfect relay throw cut down Wojton at home, Gwin advanced to third.
after Kirk flew out to the fence, the Captain stepped into the box.
double to left. he’s on fire.
1-1.
In the top of the fourth, the Rebels tried to mount a counter attack.
shame on a Rebel Some guy hit a shot to right center, but Wojton was there
Another guy got thrown out at third, and there was a growing undercurrent of nastiness brewing, it was tangible. The Rebels started to get frustrated.
In the bottom half of the inning, Watson led off with a single, then Homa hit a blistering shot to left that was dropped by the Rebels outfielder, Watson was thrown out at second on a play he appeared to beat the throw, but whatever.
(remember that time you argued with the ump and he changed his mind?- didn’t think so)
Homa was on first with one out, Depo hit a monster shot to right, that got through the Rebels right fielder, guest thirdbase coach Garrett Moore sent Homa, the relay was off-line and Homa slid in safely.
Depo tried to take second, not happening.
Coby was hit by a pitch before Feathers recorded a K to end the inning.
2-1 Ducks through 4
but we had 3 consecutive players reach base and only got one run, how would we respond?
Fletcher struck out the Rebels 3-4-5 hitters in order in the top of the fifth
In the bottom of the 5th, Gwin was hbp, Kirk was thrown at and wound up with a walk, then once again
Captain singles to center. Gwin scores
3-1 Ducks.
The frustration continued to mount in the Rebels dugout, as they continued to not score runs.
robbed on a questionable strike 3 last night.
The Ducks added an insurance run in the bottom of the 6th on an rbi ground out by Gwin. Kirk was thrown at again.
You don’t want to know what phase 3 is.
The Rebels had a soldier on first in the top of the seventh, and had two hard hit outs before Fletcher enticed a ground out to end the game.
Now we have the Black Sox and their ace in a show down for the two-seed.
Great Scott…That’s Heavy We have to travel to the lion’s den that is Moore Park. All we can ask for is the opportunity and we’ve earned it. 1 run separates the Ducks and the Black Sox in our two games this season. one half game separates us in the standings.
Back to the future with Kenny Powers and Co. this Saturday
The South Oakland Ducks of the North Side improve to 14-7 with the win
Fletcher (7-2) cg, 5ish hits 7 or so K’s 1ER – he even struck out a guy on a strike 3 in the dirt that bounced back to him and then threw him out at first.
Guthrie 2-4, 2b 2rbi Depo 1-1 hbp, rbi Gwin 2-3, 2b, hbp, rbi J.Smith: three runners thrown out stealing.
Jefferson Davis- caught stealing, not happy, first time i’ve ever seen that happen. This was also the first time I’ve ever seen Tremmel K twice in a game, he’s still a beast.
Things almost got out of hand. Kirk was thrown at twice.
The umps missed calls both ways.
we just officially clinched the 3 seed for us and the Sox, now we have the biggest game of the season against the Black Sox this Saturday. Slavicek’s arm “is fine” and he is “pumped for the game”
If you don’t want the chance to hit a guy who can exceed 88 mph, there’s always miniature golf.
Do you like Huey Lewis and the News?
South Oakland of the North Side took the season series from the Rebels for the second year in a row.
Ducks (13-7) vs. Rebels (7-10) 9pm Spring View Field
BP 6pm-7:30 at Pitt
***
The South Oakland Ducks of the North Side were helped by fellow bird team, the Imperial Owlz, who swept teh brookline Bullies in their double header yesterday.
Kenny Powers saw his team fall to 14-6 The Ducks are 13-7 after sweeping their season series with the Fightin’ Gray Bats in a 5-2 victory which the Ducks played without their starting middle infielders, their starting centerfielder, and Chris Wojton.
Wojton will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Rebels.
The Ducks can roll three lines of SS, 2B combinations that are as good as any this team has ever seen.
We are built like a hockey team.
So, tonight’s game is key, a win moves South Oakland of the North Side one half game behind the Black Sox, setting up a showdown for 2nd place at Moore Park on Saturday.
TANGENT{
For the lady Warrior
The Bulldogs beat the Warriors 3-2 yesterday to take second in the Campbell Conference and lay claim to a .500 record. why ?
BACK}
But the task at hand is not one that can be taken lightly.
We’ve ended a four game slide, and now we return home for the rubber match against the Rebels.
The Rebels have improved greatly since our last meeting, they have added armies from Missouri, northern Virginia, and Kansas.
The will attack at sundown and it will take every once of our mettle and every drop of courage to defeat this proud group of southerners.
Some of us may not return from battle tonight, but we must fight gallantly. Death will look us square in the eye he will knock on our doorstep and try to take our women children, and livestock. They wish to burn down our houses and destroy our wagons. We will once again be undermanned, weary from the summer-long war that has lead us once again, to the precipice of a first round bye and a chance to redeem early season defeats at the hands of the enemy.
***
It’s not often a blog can agitate a team enough for them to have their mysite news admin revoked.
Let’s get it done tonight, and get a winning streak started.
South Oakland Ducks Baseball 