Dr. Jones hit in the game winning run with a blistering shot to Joe Walsh in the bottom of the sixth. Mark Guthrie pitched 6 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. Nick Homa recorded the save. Kirk Gibson, 1-3 RBI who had the other rbi?
The South Oakland Ducks of the North Side are 9-3 at the halfway mark.
Ducks vs. Eagles 3pm Pie Traynor Field Batting Practice 12:30-1:30pm Pitt IM field
Don Henley is no joke
The Eagles have surrendered to the Confederacy twice already this season, unbelievable. The Rebels were probably able to sweep the Gray Bats in a double header yesterday based entirely on the Eagles not forcing them to use pitching earlier in the week or last week or whenever. “Ladies and Gentlemen, your 1-10 Gray Bats.”
Don Henley and company played the Black Sox yesterday, South Oakland today, and the Owlz tomorrow, before playing the Black Sox again on Wednesday.
What a stretch. Even if they wind up losing all four of those games they will still have a better record than the Gray Bats who are seven games behind the Ducks.
We’ve got to keep winning to keep pace with Kenny Powers and the Owlz. All of the sudden Jefferson Davis has led his troops to four straight wins. A loss by the Ducks would put us even in the loss column with the Rebels
To the rest of the Ducks blog staff, don’t stop jobbing the Gray Bats, while I keep the Blues posts updated. ***
This weekend we put aside our petty differences.
Memorial Day, 4th of July, whatever. Either way the Confederacy does not recognize these holidays…
In my search for a score book I cam across a game from a couple years back, a Ducks game featuring Rob Swanger, Jeremy Barchie and mysefl.
Swanger was 3-4 with 2 doubles and a triple, 5 rbi. Barchie was 2-3 with 2 rbi, pitched 5 innings allowing o earned and beaning two batters I probably kept score and padded my stats with a 3-4 performance. (all singles to right field – no doubt) the game was a 15-4 Ducks victory, and was the last time Barchie, Swanger and Gwin played for the same team.
This weekend we don the powder blues along with the latest installment of the Pittsburgh Blues.
It was a batte of Shakespearean proportions as Mantis (1-0) won his pitching debut for the South Oakland Ducks of the North Side (7-3), out-dueling NABA great, starting pitcher Dan “Dr. Venkman” Morgan (1-1) of the Bulldogs (3-4), to help the Ducks earn a hard-fought 4-2 victory over their foils in the Campbells Conference.
Ducks fans are invited to dress up like their favorite Duck. I recomend Goldberg. *** The Bulldogs are invited to join the Ducks for drinks after the game at that bar we pass on the way up to the field. The one with the bars over the windows, and the plywood door. Don’t wear red. ***
Last year’s Bulldogs, Ducks game was more nerve-wracking than the two years you spent dating a girl with Borderline Personality Disorder. (She seemed so normal.)
The Ducks lost 5-4 on a walk off double in a game that was conveniently moved up 3 hours, forcing Capatain America and Keeper of the Helmets, Les is More, to get stuck in Maryland or something en route to what they thought was a 9pm game.
(Why is this guy always lurking around the Bulldogs team facility?)
Tonight’s match-up expects to be more of the same, with fewer walk off doubles by the Bulldogs.
Dr. Jones returns tonight, after an exciting weekend of adventure that actually was set to “JON” Bon Jovi music.
Why not add another player?
Roster-Limit City.
Kelly Leek’s most recent role in Watchmen.
Sub-plots: Ghostbusters Dr. Venkman was perfect against the Confederacy this season. Last season I claimed Strom was “not a pitcher”. He proceeded to earn the win in the game against us a couple days later. (good call, dick)
It took a little longer than desired, but the South Oakland Ducks returned to their winning ways Sunday, topping the Matadors 4-2.
The Ducks didn’t waste any time getting a run on the board as catcher Chris Dowling plated Tony Casale (who reached on a fielder’s choice after a failed sacrifice) thanks to an error by the shortstop in the top of the first inning.
Adam Smith worked through the first inning fairly easily, aided by a nice double play turned by Casale and Dickey. Smith did run into some trouble in the bottom of the second; walking a few batters, hitting one dude, and then allowing a single which squeaked through the middle of the infield, scoring two Matadors. Smith quickly regained his composure though, as he started off a 1-2-3 double play, before getting the third out.
The Ducks entered the third inning trailing 2-1 but turned the ship around due to some timely hitting. Dowling whacked an RBI single down the left field line, followed by a bloop single by preseason MVP Jesse Smith scoring another Duck. The Ducks would then add a fourth run in the fourth after Rick “Flailin’” Whalen cracked a ball into right field, plating a run and ending up at third with a possible triple (although I call it a double with an error).
After throwing four very solid innings, Smith was pulled by interim manager Mark Guthrie and replaced by Tyler. Tyler ended up pitching quite well in his Ducks debut, going the final three innings, allowing no runs. Matadors’ pitcher Corey Yokel went the whole game, only allowing four runs, but ended up with the loss as his team failed to score outside the second inning.
Bullet Points:
-Adam Smith is 3-1 this season. He went four innings, allowing only two runs and was arguably at his best during his last two innings. -Both teams had to lug equipment across North Park thanks to a mean cop who had the road next to Pie Traynor shut down. What a nutty day in the park. -We had two umpires today. They got there on time and actually seemed to give a damn, nice. Not to mention, there failed to be any glaringly bad calls today. -Each team rolled quite a few double plays today, leading to a quick game, which was just shy of two hours. -Mark Guthrie is 1-1 as Ducks manager. -Dickey now has the Ducks most theatric catch of the year.
Before we knew it, it was the bottom of the 5th and the Ducks trailed 6-1.”Ray” Finkle made a diving catch in right. South Oakland Rallied to close the gap to 6-5, in the top of the 5th. John Tremmel went yard. Chris Feathers doubled in some guy, it was 8-5. Dan Stell recorded a two inning save, stole a couple bases and singled. Gwin popped-out to end the game.
We’re at a crossroads here, this will either be a blip on the radar screen as we establish ourselves as an elite team, or we will dick around and be just over .500, and lose to the Gray Bats in the playoffs.
Secret Weapon vs. the Matadors.
Go Ducks.
I’ll give a dollar to the first person to name the author of the quote in the title without using the internet as a resource.
Ducks vs Rebels 8 am John Herb Field. Everyone will be well-rested no doubt. No Dr. Jones, Captain America is running the show. Gies is in charge of the helmets. Bring money if you still owe me, or the league.
Its funny that LarryZ voted for the crew of Perry and company at the winter meetings. So did the ducks, and every other team present. There was another option on the table… but we went with perry by a 11-0 manager vote. The suggestion of one ump was never brought up, but it is a welcome topic for next year. As for this year, we have a contract with Perry… if you know of another association willing to send one ump to every game for $50, email pittnaba@yahoo.com
As for scheduling? Talk to your managers. they had the schedule a week before it was released to the public, and were welcome to make any changes themselves. Very few did. Agreed upon league No play dates? Memorial Day Weekend and fourth of July. Hence, the long layoff for most teams in may. As for teams starting later? The Owlz and Matadors could not have physically fielded a team, the majority (not 2-5 players), were still in college. I tried making them last year, and they each forfieted games.
There was a proposition to split them into a separate division… but it was tabled by the managers without even being brought to vote. Them starting later, and having more doubleheaders and 4 games in a three day span seemed liek the only fair comprimise. They could not have fielded teams.
Divisions/Realignment? I’ll take the heat on that. I forgot to put it to a vote after the draft. I will say that the Top teams in the Monogahela have appeared to improve thier teams significantly, while most other teams have made more modest improvements. However, the current configuration was established to maintain some existing rivalies (Warriors/Oilers/Bulldogs & Ducks/Black Sox/Rebels), and try to minimize travel for most teams. That is difficult since there are three guys responsible for getting all the permits (Cool=Findlay, Finkel=Gateway, Graff=everything else)!
The managers make the final decision on everything that happens before the season starts. During the season I make decisions based on what I think is best for the league. I’m not always going to make everyone happy, but I’m trying to do what’s fair and in the best interests of the league.
In short, I spend hours of time trying to make the league run smoothly, with very few offers of assistance. We would not have a league presently if I was not securing umpires, and getting the field permits that I have. I don’t think its perfect, but its the best I can do with the time and resources I have. Want change? Simply talk to your managers, show up at winter meeting where they decide these things… or better yet, offer to help! I’m all for improving the league any way we can!
-“Commish”
A special “thank you” to Gala, Gwin, Strom, Martin, Shukla, Boley, Finkel, Cool, and all managers… all of whom have assisted the league in some form this year. Your time and effort is appreciated.
As always, Don Henley is on the money. We’d probably be forced to vote the same way again on the umpires. I just wish they would hold up their end of the contract.
The “Bluez” are going to be unreal this Labor Day.
South Oakland Ducks Baseball 