The South Oakland Ducks of the North Side take on Elliott in a series that once again has the top two teams from the Monongahela division represented. We were 0-3 this season against these guys and could have won all 3. Our bats need to heat up again to keep this going and we have practice tomorrow 7pm at Springview to do it.
In a battle of formidable foes, two of the premier pitchers in the NABA faced off at Joe Graff a.k.a. Volunteer Field. I have been playing baseball for a long time and this is one of the best games I have ever been apart of. The Ducks of old would be proud as we committed 0, that’s right 0 errors. Not even Berdine could Faff it up. Tish was a master on the mound against a great Hurricane lineup and our offense picked up where it left off and gave him a huge early cushion against a very good pitcher.
The top of the first went smoothly, Tish didn’t allow a baserunner until the 5th. The Ducks faced off against Rafalski throwing from the top of Mt. Everest and kept up the hot bats, scoring 4 of the first 5 to come to the plate and 6 overall in the bottom of the first. Lipp lined a ball in the hole to lead it off, advancing to second on T.J.’s single up the middle, and ending up at third after a botched ball by the Hurricane’s third baseman. I guessed right and started early to send a fastball to the left centerfield fence to score two and end up on second.
After watching this video I sent Gwin the following text…
July 25, 2011 12:46 PM I think we we win 2-0 berdine hits a bomb with flip on
With Flip on third, Berdine demolished a 1-0 slider over the high right centerfield at Volunteer into the trees, I got a chub. The feathered ones of South Oakland didn’t stop there. With two outs Ben “Benedict” Gwin rifled a single into right followed by Kenny Cool and then Tim Lipp’s second single of the inning, finally scoring on a Raflaski walk to Zarewicz.
Ben Gwin’s Senior Yearbook Photo
Ducks 6 Hurricanes 0
The second inning only saw three batters a side, but in the third the Ducks broke through for our 7th and final run. I hit the ball harder for an out to start off this inning than I did for my double in the first so I can’t be too upset, and only Fletch saw that the throw was offline and my lack of hustle cost us a baserunner… I owe him laps. Baumgartel and Berdine stayed hot with singles and Gwin wore a 90 mph fastball on the right shoulder to load the bases with 2 outs. Kenny Cool worked a fast ball count and swung early, sending a spinner out in front of the mound, Rafalski bobbled, fondled, and juggled the ball for a hustle E-1 and another Duck run.
Ducks 7 Hurricanes 0
The rest of the game was dominated by pitching and Duck defense. The only runner to reach second was Rafalski after a two out double, and one of the Hurricane’s 4 baserunners was thrown out at second on a strike em’ out, throw em’ out double play in the 6th. The last out was recorded as Holloway grounded out to Tish and the Ducks shutout the Hurricanes for the third time this season.
Some important facts about the Ducks this season.
-We shutout teams 12 times this season
-Elliot is second with 7
-We have outscored our opponents 22-0 in our two playoff games
-With 45 posts last time I checked, the last post was the most popular I have ever seen and it was a blurry playoff bracket and large Duck penis reference.
The Bulldogs beat us 14-1 and tore Whalen’s leg open in the first game of the year, they have outscored us 14-2. Pitching will be key, defense will be imperative, offense will be crucial. If South Oakland plays the way they have in the last two games, we won’t need a game 3. The bark of the Bulldogs vs. the quack of the Ducks this Saturday, venue and time TBA. Rob Cool is still gay.
Rain is dominating the Pittsburgh NABA through two weeks of play, but it looks like we might actually play tomorrow.
Bullet Points.
YODA will show up at a bulldogs game and get into a fight with Trojan and/or Trojan’s “partner.”
The Militia will finish the regular season ahead of the Black Sox for the first time since they were the Rebels.
Clearly, the Sharks based their team name off West Side Story
The Bulldogs will finally win a playoff game/series…
in the 28+ league.
Elliot will lose to the Black Sox in the playoffs when that guy who yells ‘Kenny Powers’ climbs the fence at Moore Park and knee-drops Elliot’s Ace in the 3rd inning, sparking a rally and a controversial win for Brookline when, after a two hour delay for the paramedics to cart the guy off the field and half the lights go out and the game is decided in a beer shot-gunning contest in the parking lot.
Then the Sox lose to the Ducks in the semis.
Anthony DeFilippo for MVP – believe it.
I don’t think there were league awards awarded last season. And where’s our trophy. It belongs in Guthrie’s living room until someone dethrones us.
We should move to a title belt.
Militia vs. the Fightin’s wil be heated. The Canes have more heated intra-division rivalries than anyone.
Rumor has it the Militia made a run at Rafalski in the off season.
Halloway is not pleased.
The big question is will the Ducks repeat.
We’re taking applications for Ducks Manager for the 2012 Season.
Pitching for the first time since he lost to Guthrie and the Ducks in the 2010 Championship, Pete Chalfin tossed a perfect game against the Express Thursday night at Moore Park.
Brookline wins 6-0, and move to 1-0 in the Patrick Division.
Kenny Powers is pumped.
The Express did not reach first base Thursday.
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The Defending Champion South Oakland Ducks hare set to open the season against the Eagles on Wed, April 27, 9pm at Springview Field.
Attention golfers and drinkers…..
The 2010 Ducks/Bulldogs end of season golf outing has been scheduled:
WHEN: Sunday, September 19th at 1pm
WHERE: Lakevue North Golf Course – 591 Pittsburgh Road – Butler, PA 16002-7659
GOLF: 18 Hole Scramble-style golf outing 4-Person groups
COST: $65/player or $260/group: includes greens fees, beer, prizes, hotdogs at the turn and a buffet-style dinner after the round
RESERVATIONS: To make reservations please contact Brian Strom at (412) 576-8877 or strom_80@hotmail.com
– Please try to arrange your own foursome. If you need additional golfers to complete a foursome please let me know ASAP. – Checks should be made payable to the Pittsburgh NABA and must be received by Friday, September 10th. Any payment after that date will need to be cleared by Lakevue North and entrance is not guaranteed. – This outing is open to anyone but space is limited.
OTHER DETAILS: – Lakevue North will provide one 1/4 barrel of beer for the outing. Each cart is welcome to carry one six-pack of beer that may be brought in or purchased from the course.
– Check-In will be at 12:45pm at Lakevue North under the pavilion. Tee times will be staggered in ten-minute start times from 1:30pm till approx. 2:30pm. Accommodations can be made if a certain start time is desired.
– Additional ideas and donations for door-prizes are needed. Please contact Brian Strom if you can help out with anything.
– All checks will be deposited into the League Account on Friday, September 10th during normal banking hours.
– Prizes will be awarded for the Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin competitions. All other prizes will be raffled during the post-round buffet.
– The 2010 Bulldogs/Ducks Golf outing is intended to serve as a fund-raising event for both teams in the Pittsburgh NABA and the PBL.
Lakevue North Golf Course has been very generous in allowing us to hold the event at this location. Please respect the course and everyone in attendance during this event.
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In other news, 2010 Ducks team awards will be posted along with a season recap from Captain America in the near future.
I’m waiting for the recap to announce the awards, I think that works, right?
I’m all about delegating work at this point. anyone who wants to write anything of any length about the season feel free to email me and I’ll post it or if you want me to invite you to gain login acess to blog strait on the site that would be great.
note: one of the top searches this week was “homemade weapons. “
In a testament to how far the Pittsburgh NABA has come in eight seasons, Kenny Powers, one of the leagues original super stars has signed a deal with K-Swiss.
South Oakland Ducks Baseball 