Author: mightyeskimo

Ducks Lose. 5-1

2014 South Oakland Ducks, pittsburgh NABA, South Oakland Ducks Baseball

The Monsters (3-0) scored a run in the first on a misplayed fly ball, three unearned runs in the second, and another in the third. Monongahela lead 5-0 forever. They threw some sidearm guy and the ump had a huge zone, benefitting both pitchers. It felt like the Monsters had runners on base all game. They didn’t exactly ‘mash’ but a couple of them hit doubles and they had a consistent lineup.

Mostly they put it in play and we kicked it around. None of their errors cost them runs. Not our best night. I look forward to playing them again.

Twice the Ducks (3-1) had runners on second and third with one out, and couldn’t get a key hit. With one out in the third, Mike Brandt was hit by a pitch then Garrett Moore had a sweet double to left center, but was doubled off on Casale’s line out to right, ending the threat. South Oakland scored a run in the sixth on a Casale walk and stolen base followed by two ground outs.

I like that team, because their coach already entered the score in the website. Probably took him less than a minute. What happened in the Lions/Titans doubleheader on the 13th? No one knows because the scores haven’t been entered, and so we don’t know the standings. Great.

South Oakland plays next on Sunday night against the Wolfpack, 8:30pm at John Herb Field.

quack.

Game Day 4: Ducks vs. Monsters

2014 South Oakland Ducks, Gameday

South Oakland Ducks of the North Side (3-0)

vs.

Monongahela Monsters (2-0)

8pm

Springview field

Blog posts will get better as we build rivalries, and someone else start writing them.

South Oakland looks to remain unbeaten and extend its winning streak to four tonight against the second place Monsters.

SONY DSC

The Monsters beat the Warriors 7-1, and the Senators 11-1.

It should be an even matchup.

I hope they have awesome glow-in-the-dark unis like this:

Monsters

May be women’s softball jerseys. Even better.

These kids took down the most haunting monster of my childhood.

stephen-kings-it-04

Bad News for the Monsters.

Kirk Gibson’s Number Retired

2014 South Oakland Ducks

Infielder Andrew McCray’s number 21 will be retired this season. Until someone decides they really, really want 21, or Andrew decides to return.

The Ducks were without a shortstop from 2005 to late in the ’07 season when McCray came aboard. It was embarrassing how bad we used to lose in those seasons when we wore red and had no shortstop. We always had a serviceable lineup, decent pitching and solid hitting, with a few really good players, but no shortstop. McCray changed that and helped spark our rise to respectability. Since then, shortstop has been a position of strength.

The left-handed hitting McCray played from 07 to ’10. He hit bombs on a bad leg.

Shades of Kirk Gibson.

***

Retired numbers, 9, 10,13 and 17 are in play this season, but I made sure the players wearing those numbers this year would represent them well. TC’s number came down because he is playing again. I take this kind of shit just seriously enough, I think.

quack.

 

Around the League

2014 South Oakland Ducks

In Double A news, there’s some disparity. The Bulldogs crushed the Rebels 21-3, Cranberry beat the Devils 12-3 and the Black Sox beat the Eagles 13-1. The Devils, Eagles and Rebels were the three best Single A teams last year.

The question in the off season was, essentially, whether to have that disparity come in the Single A division, or the Double A division. It sucks losing by 18 runs. However, without the better Single A teams from last year moving up, Carrick and Cranberry and West End would’ve had to play a ton of games against the Bulldogs, Cherokee, Day Toyota and a resurgent Black Sox team. So we voted to have the top teams in Single A move up.

I abstained from the vote.

Our move down was done to stabilize  the franchise, and to move the team’s emphasis from winning to playing time. We aren’t blowing teams out by 18. Once we play all the teams in our division, we’ll have an idea of where we stand.

Ideally, the league goes to three divisions next year. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out over the course of the season.

quack.

 

 

Ducks Win 8-2

2014 South Oakland Ducks

Ducks 8

Senators 2

When I googled “communion pants,” this was the best image that showed up

communion pants

Weird.

@Duckpond2014

#communionpants

Jason Fetter pitched a complete game for the win, allowing 0 earned runs 5 hits, striking out 8.

South Oakland scored a run in the first inning on a single, sac bunt, WP/throwing error. The Ducks stranded the bases loaded in the second. The score remained 1-0 until  the 4th inning when RBI collector Matt Swetz drove in 2 with an almost-triple in which he hit a ball to the left center gap, stumbled around first advanced to second and then moved to third on a throwing error.

In the fifth, South Oakland scored five runs and put it out of reach. Brian Strom drove in 2 with a double to left. later in the inning, DJ Dover tripled in two more runs, and scored on Sorosky’s RBI ground out.

The Senators scored 2 unearned runs. one in the bottom of the fifth, and one in the seventh. If we can cut down on errors we will be tough to beat.

giant ducks

Some other things:

I entered our stats, but the league site isn’t calculating ABs correctly. We’re hitting well, but we don’t have 3 guys hitting 1.000.

If we ever have all 19 players show up at once, I’m going to have a heart attack. It’s hard enough getting 14 guys in to a game and spread out the playing time in a way that allows us to still win games. I forgot how much of a pain in the ass that is.

How have managers not entered scores for games that happened weeks ago? It takes literally 30 seconds.

South Oakland next plays on Wednesday, 8pm at Springview Field.

Here’s an awesome Easter pic for everyone.

Peep Guillotine

quackquackquack

 

Game Day 3: Ducks at Senators

2014 South Oakland Ducks, Gameday

South Oakland Ducks of the North Side (2-0)

at

Senators (0-2)

12pm

Pie Traynor Field

South Oakland has won two straight and looks to remain undefeated in the season’s early going.

The Senators didn’t do very well last year. Better than the House, but still bad. Allowing 186 runs in 24 games, stalling bills with filibusters, and taking kickbacks from lobbyists.

senator

I prefer Radek Bonk

bonk

Bad News for the Senators.

Ben Hartranft’s Clean Game at First Base Leads Ducks to 6-4 Victory

2014 South Oakland Ducks, Ducks win, NABA, pittsburgh NABA, South Oakland Ducks Baseball

South Oakland improved to 2-0 on the season with a 6-4 win over North America.

The Ducks scored 3 in the bottom of the first. Casale and Gwin Singled to start the game putting runners on first and third with no outs. Casale scored on a double steal. Culp singled in Gwin, and advanced to third when Swetz singled to right. Ben Hartranft scored Culp with a sac fly to center.

The Lions scored an unearned run in the top of the second. Ben Hartranft threw out a guy at the plate.

The Lions ran into some outs. Runners on first and second, there was a past ball and only the runner on first tried to advance and the Ducks got an out on a 2-5-4 putout.

With a runner on second in the third, a ground ball to the left side resulted in a 5-6 putout.

After taking a 4-3 lead in the fifth after a dropped fly ball by the Ducks, North America had runners on first and third with 2 outs  and tried to get in a rundown between first and second to allow the runner on third to score but it didn’t work.

Some guy tried to stretch a single and was thrown out at second.

North America threw two good pitchers, and the starter settled in after a rough first innings. South Oakland trailed 4-3 going into the bottom of the fifth.

Faust singled to start the fifth, and took second on a past ball. After a pair of strikeouts, Gwin walked. Then the Lions pitcher went from the windup for some reason, allowing Gwin and Faust to advance. Ciccone drove in 2 with a single to right. Then Culp chased their starter with a double off the wall in right center.

The Lions would only reach base once in the sixth and seventh. Ciccone struck out their 2-hitter to end the game.

Some stats:

  • TC Jones: 2IP, 2H 3BB, 2R, 0ER, 2K
  • Culp: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, R
  • Ciccone (W) 2-for-3, 2RBI, R, 5IP, 3H, 2BB, 4K, 2R 0ER
  • Faust: 1-for-3, R, SB
  • Hartranft: 0-1, sac fly, HBP
  • Swetz, 2-for-3
  • Gwin: 1-for-2, BB, 2SB, 2R

Notes:

  • North America will be tough this season. I can see them and the Wolfpack getting into a fight over which is the more dominant land mammal.
  • That win felt good.
  • Where are these 3 pitchers I drafted?
  • Moore made a sweet catch in right n in which he pinned a ball of his chest. the bruise is spectacular.
  • Faust had his first hit as a Duck since 2006.
  • This is South Oakland’s first 2-0 start since 2009. I think. We’ve won games and everyone has played in every game. We still haven’t had our full compliment of players yet.
  • It’s a real good atmosphere in our dugout.
  • Gotta love how their pitcher bitched out their shortstop in the first inning for missing a tag, then went from the windup with guys on first and second in a one-run game in the fifth.
  • So much kitty litter. There’s probably a Lion joke there
  • WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

South Oakland plays next on Saturday at 12pm up at Pie Traynor. Might be scrambling for guys over Easter Weekend.

Follow us on twitter @duckpond2014

quack, quack.

 

 

Game Day 2: Ducks vs Lions

2014 South Oakland Ducks, Gameday, NABA, pittsburgh NABA, South Oakland Ducks Baseball

South Oakland Ducks of the North Side

vs. 

North American Lions

8pm

Springview Field

South Oakland opens at home tonight against the North American Lions. After a 9-4 win over the Wolfpack, the Ducks look to start a winning streak in what will probably be wet conditions.

Follow Michael Brandt @Duckpond2014 for in-game updates while you watch the Pens.

The Lions finished 14-9 last year. I have no idea what to expect, but I love how they claim a whole continent. It’s North America’s first game so we’ll probably face their ace.

Dr. Jones will get some innings on the mound tonight.

about-indiana-jones-4

Bad News for the Lions

 

Ducks Win. 9-4

2014 South Oakland Ducks, Ducks win, NABA, pittsburgh NABA, South Oakland Ducks Baseball

South Oakland won it’s first game of the season defeating the West View Wolfpack 9-5.

Tony Casale went 4-for-4. Brandon Culp went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI. Matt Swetz hit a sweet double over some kid’s head. Jason Fetter pitched four innings allowing 1 earned run. Brian Strom allowed 1 run over three strong relief innings. Ducks pitchers combined to strike out nine wolfpacks, nine wolves? nine wolfpack? Whatever. I think West View only had four hits, depending how loose their book is.

We made fewer mistakes than they did, and looked pretty good all things considered. We’re going to score a lot of runs this season.

West View is a basically the old Matadors/Sharks. I don’t know how they scammed their way into that 8:30 John Herb time slot.

 

The game ended on a dropped third strike with the bases loaded. After the strike out,  the Ducks catcher, Anthony Ciccone, picked up the ball and stepped on the plate, to end the game, but  the Wolfpack batter ran to first for some reason and tried to run over our first baseman. Nice.

South Oakland plays next on Wednesday, 8pm at Springview Field.

Mike Brandt is going to live tweet the first few inning of the game before he leaves for work. I’m expecting great things. Also, we’ll have our uniforms.

Quack.