Not much to report, other than the Gray Bats are still going to lose in grand fashion when they take on the Ghostbusters this Saturday at 9am, at Pie Traynor Field. It figures to be a pitchers deul, as the cold weather will will most likely have more of an effect on the batters.
How about that postponed World Series game tonight? The PIttsburgh NABA Fall ball season is on pace to out-last the MLB season.
I haven’t heard the original version of this song in its entirety, apparently it is rather popular.
Bats Head Coach Larry Zalewski has invited Ben Sorosky to pitch against the Avalon Ghostbusters of the North Hills this Saturday. Rumor has it BJ Rankin will start, and Sorosky will pitch in relief. Rankin will rue the day he was taken from the Ghostbusters roster in an attempt to make the Fall Ball season more competitive.
…I miss you BJ…
I digress.
Zalewski is clearly terrified of the potent Ghostbusters’ offense.
Avalon Head Coach Ben Gwin believes in his players, who have been on the Ghostbusters’ roster since day one, last week’s guest appearance by Rob Swanger not withstanding. (Swanger did file the necessary paperwork with the league for what it’s worth) Starting pitcher Dr.Venkman will get the job done. Schwartz and Egon Spangler wait in relief if necessary.
For the Bat’s bulletin board: They only have three guys who can hit anyway. WOOO-HOOO!
*** Coby, I know you’ve been waiting for this one for a long time
(the 2008 Orange Crush, top row left to right: Brian Strom, Mark (Wino) Wittmer, Christian Necheff, Mark Guthrie; Front row: that kid they have at short who hits doubles, Joe Graff–seriously, Rob Logan, Patrick Piscuini. Not pictured: Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, that kid who plays center and hits doubles, Harry Yeakel)
Mid-season acquisition, Eric “Winston” Lee (far left), is fired up for the playoffs
The Orange Crush have dominated this fall season thanks in large part to the enormous fake breasts of their corner infielders, Joe Graff’s scappy catching and astronomical OBP, lights out performances by Ducks/Blues pitchers Christian Necheff and Mark Guthrie, havoc-wreaking plate appearances by the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, and the Earl Weaver-esque head coaching of Brian Strom. They have coasted to a first round bye and a spot in the championship game.
The Ghostbusters can not afford to look past the Gray Bats, who have an Ace of their own in BJ Rankin, and may call on the services of trade deadline addition, pitcher, Ben Sorosky for the Wild Card round of the playoffs, should Alex Warren’s ankle remain swollen, and if Rankin’s arm is not in good shape.
Time to talk about myself in the third person for a bit… Ghostbusters’ manager Ben Gwin’s approach for regular season has been to bat 12 players and prioritize playing time over winning. During the playoffs, he will bat nine or ten players and put the best defensive team on the field, every one who shows up will play, but the priority will be on advancing to the finals and eventually defeating the Crush.
O.C. catcher/first baseman Harry Yeakel. (sp.)
Dr. Dan “Venkman” Morgan will start on the hill for the Ghostbusters in the Wild Card playoff.
Pittsburgh NABA legend, and Pitt Greensburg Ace, Ben Sorosky made his pitching debut for the Gray Bats, but Alex Schwartz rose to the challenge, matching Sorosky for six innings, and earning a hard fought win for the Ghostbusters in a classic pitchers duel.
After Sorosky struck out seven of the first ten ghostbusters he faced, the Ghostbuster took the lead in the top of the fourth, Tony Casale walked, and stole second and third, after a failed squeeze attempt, Ben Gwin, who struck out in is first at bat against Sorosky, hit a towering fly ball to right field which was just deep enough to score Casale to give the Ghostbusters a 1-0 lead.
The Ghostbusters led 1-0 on the strength of only one hit, until the Bats used their heightened sonar-like hearing to plate one run in the bottom of the fifth. The Bats loaded the bases on a single an error and a walk, and got a hit form their first baseman, #13, to tie the game at 1.
Schwartz worked out of the bases loaded no-outs jam with only one unearned run. Rob Swanger robbed Sorosky of a potential go ahead RBI with a diving catch in center.
In the top of the sixth, Vinny Gala led off with a double, Gwin reached on an error after grounding a first pitch change up right at the third baseman, Gala moved to third and Gwin stole second, on the next pitch. Adam Smith walked to load the bases, and Alex Schwartz recorded his first game winning RBI of the season on a bases loaded walk, 2-1 Ghostbusters.
The bases remained loaded, with Gwin on third base, and Sorosky working from the windup.
Giwn stole home on the first pitch to put the Ghostbusters ahead 3-1
Schwartz retired the Bats in order in the bottom of the sixth. In the top of the seventh, Joe Graff walked stole second, and scored on Rob Swangers ground out to deep shortstop. To put the Ghostbusters ahead 4-1.
Dr. Dan “Venkman” Morgan shut down the Bats in the bottom of the seventh to record the save.
The Ghostbusters (4-4) face the Bats (3-5) in a rematch in the first round of the playoffs this Saturday at 9am at Pie Traynor field, the losing team will play the O.C. in an exhibition game at 11:30, the winning team will advance to play the Orange Crush in the Championship November 1st at 9am.
Vinny Gala was 1-2 with a double and scored the winning run.
Rob Swanger was 1-3 with an RBI in his first appearance in a Ghostbusters uniform
A big Ghostbusters’ thank you to Joe Graff for filling in for absent catchers, The Key Master and, Eric P. Graff threw out a runner at 3rd, and scored a key insurance run for the Ghostbusters
Gwin was 0-2, with 1K, 1RBI, 2 SB and 1 run.
Schwartz had the game winning RBI and pitched a gem, 6 IP, 6k, 5h 3BB
Venkman had his first save of the season and has been the most reliable pitcher, on a tremendous Ghostbusters staff, he also got out of the way when I stole home.
Using the fall season to work on your swing makes it imperative to find other ways to contribute, to hit a flair into right to get a run across and to hustle out a grounder to third and steal home when I was over-matched at the plate is as satisfying as going 3-3.
I was over-matched Sorosky, good game, and that was a sick behind the back play on that grounder up the middle, absolutely sick. See you this weekend?
I’m trapped, waiting for the UPS guy to arrive with my BWP order between 10:30 and 2pm. I’m sitting in my 3rd floor office neurotically peeking out the window every 45 seconds, terrified I will not hear the buzzer, as I suspect happened yesterday on the first delivery attempt..(gets up and looks out the window) — nope not the UPS guy. Anyway, How ’bout them Red Sox?
I don’t claim to be a Boston supporter, in fact I’d like to see Tampa Bay win the ALCS, but I do have a contingent of Boston fans who are friends, guys who have cheered for Boston since the late 80’s-early 90’2 when they were bad, and I am happy for them when the Red Sox win. I’d enjoy a seven game series.
My sister, who was at game five (I asked her to wear Ducks apparel to the game, as she managed to score seats behind home plate and may have been on camera) lives in Marlboro Massachusetts and has happily taken on the Red Sox as her favorite baseball team, while retaining her loyalty to the Penguins and Steelers) which I think is fine since the Pirates have not tried to win since Wade Boggs was still a Sock. The Pirates front office doesn’t seem concerned with the team’s fans, or filling our city’s beautiful stadium with a team that can either win now, or is filled with young talent that is fast, exciting and could perhaps contend in the future their fans so I see no reason why adopting a relevant baseball team to cheer for should be frowned upon, as long as its not the Yankees. Hopefully some of the guys the Buccos received in the Bay/Nady/Marte trades respectively pan out and there is some legitimate reason for hope among the Pirates dwindling fan base. Plus living in the greater Boston area, life is much more pleasent when the local spots affiliates are winning, so when the Boston teams win, my sister’s quality of life improves, and that is something I am in favor of.
Oh, and the Phillies won, beating the Dodgers in five games. I’m a Manny supporter. he was something like 8-9 with runners in scoring position in the NLCS. He used to sleep in the batting cages overnight, wake up and hit outside sliders for hours. The hard work is evident in his production. He’ll be a Yankee.
Ghostbusters(3-4) vs. Gray Bats (2-4): Saturday 11:30 am, Pie Traynor Field. probable starters: Schwartz vs. Sorosky The winner of this game will secure home-field advantage for next week’s first-round playoff game. The O.C. (5-2) has clinched a first round bye, heading into their regular season finale.
* * *
Number nine is coming down from the rafters this Saturday, with Garrett Moore’s spot in the outfield vacated due to Moore’s shoulder injury and his current quest for Nirvana, his spot will be temporarily filled by former Ducks outfielder, Rob Swanger, who looks forward to the challenge of facing Bats ringer Ben Sorosky.
Text message from South Oakland Ducks’ head coach TC “Buttermaker” Jones, received by Ducks’ blogger and founder Ben Gwin– “Christian [Necheff] wants to be a Duck!”
If this holds true the rest of the league is Ducked next season.
Potential rotation listed in chronological order of hopefully heartfelt commitment.
Homa Barchie Necheff Sorosky–c’mon, Benny it will be grand.
Bullpen Guthrie A.Smith TC.Jones {Shwartz??}
This is in addition to the Ducks’ acquisition of infielders Tony Casale and Mike Watson–both are sick.
Domination.
Bring on the Owlz
Rumor has it the Black Sox may have another off-shoot next year, and radical realignment is expected.
The Ghostbusters Ace Dr. Dan “Venkman” Morgan will take on the Crush and new Duck Christian Necheff tomorrow during the second game of the double header.
Game one vs. the Gray bats will be a coin flip (maybe literally) between A. Schwartz and A. Smith to see who gets the start. the other will follow in relief.
I’d better post this before i forget the game entirely…
Highlights of the Ghostbusters first defeat of the Gray Bats
The Ghostbusters avenged an early season 6-5 defeat at the hands of the Gray Bats in grand fashion. Dr. Dan “Venkman” Morgan pitched a complete game shutout, and was the beneficiary of timely hitting and solid defense behind him, as the Avalon Ghostbusters beat the Gray Bats 10-0 in five innings, though the game unofficially ended in a 13-2 victory after seven innings.
Morgan: “You better bring your A-Game this week ‘Bats”
Morgan worked out of trouble in the first inning, stranding Bats on second and third, and would later entice his Bulldogs rotation mate, Bats SS, BJ Rankin to ground into an inning ending double play. Morgan stopped a rally before it could start; picking-off an absent minded Gray Bat who had his head down after reaching on an infield hit in the third.
The Ghostbusters started the game with O.C. players Joe Graff, and Patrick in the corner outfield spots. Patrick and Graff added speed to the bottom of the lineup, and Patrick would score th Ghostbusters first run of the game on a stolen base and an error. The 1-0 lead was all Avalon would need on that day, but they would add 9 insurance runs. The offense finally came alive.
Watson and Casale each had two hits. And anchored strong infield play behind Venkman.
Gwin broke his one-for-the fall slump with a single and an RBI.
Vinny Gala ripped a two RBI single to left after refusing to take first base when plate umpire, awarded him first base on an apparent hit-by-pitch.
In the third inning, Garrett Moore finally arrived with Alex Schwartz.
Scwartz promptly drove in 2 runs with an RBI single.
Moore would go 1-2 and reach on an error after long night of busting ghosts, casued him to over- sleep.
The Ghostbusters are now 2-3 with a chance to get over .500 for the first time this season with the impending sweep of this week’s double header.
Why is that one guy on the Gray Bats so angry all the time? the second baseman/Right fielder, relax. Someone needs to destroy him if they get the chance to break up a double play, then maybe he will have something to scowl and cry about.
BJ’s fiance and Joe Graff are both jealous after Rankin made me his woman in the first game, I went 0-5 with 4k’s in a guest appearance for the OC, causing me to question my existence.
This week the Ghostbusters will probably get 4 innings of Rankin (above right, with “friend and teammate” Joe Graff ) and three innings of Alex Warren for the first game of the doubleheader.
Why was Warren left in that game for seven innings? He’s a competitor and a good pitcher, but at he must have thrown around 150 pitches, too many for a fall league game, especially the last two innings that didn’t even count.
Watson pitched a scoreless phantom sixth innin, and Casale allowed two runs in the unofficial seventh inning
the game ended on a sweet play by Adam Smith, who played a solid, aggressive game at 3rd base after being inexplicably pushed into outfield duty for most of the season.
Eric P. had solid game behind the plate, and after moving to the outfield, threw out a runner at second base in the seventh.
We need bats.
The Ghostbusters won despite playing without Adalino, The Keymaster, who is 5 for 9 on the season.
Christian Necheff (sp.) pitched a complete game for the Orange Crush, allowing two unearned runs over seven innings, striking out upwards of 8 Ghostbusters to earn the win for the O.C.
(Orange Crush Team Photo)
Ghostbusters starter Alex Schwartz was the tough luck loser, allowing two runs, none earned, in three innings of work.
Tony Casale hit a two out triple in the first inning, but was stranded on third, when Vinny Gala hit a line drive right at someone– the Ghostbusters M.O. for the first four games of the fall ball season.
In the bottom of the first, the Crush had runners on first and second with one out when a potential inning ending double play ball turned into a two run error.
The Ghostbusters had the bases loaded in the bottom of the second but Necheff got the RingMaster strikeout and worked out of the jam when Ben Gwin Grounded out to O.C. second baseman, Joe Graff to end the inning.
Joe Graff, second baseman for the Blues, Bulldogs, and now the Crush, had an uncharacteristically rough game in the field. His mind was clearly somewhere else. perhaps still thinking about how torturous it was to have to play against life partner BJ Rankin in the first game of the double header.
The Ghostbusters defense kept them in the game, turning four double plays. Adam Smith pitched two scoreless innings for the Ghostbusters. In the bottom of the fifth Joe Graff tried to steal third base, Ghostbusters catcher, Garrett Moore, had other ideas.
Graff was thrown out at third, for the second out of a 1-2-5 double play. Strike ’em out throw ’em out. This was Garret Moore’s best inning as a catcher. Joe was more distraught then when he heard BJ was getting married, to a woman no less.
No photoshop needed. They are a deadly double play combo.
The Crush would add another unearned run in the sixth, off relief pitcher Mark Kuhns. Trialling 3-0 in the bottom of the seventh the Ghostbusters rallied. With one out; Vinny Gala and Eric P. singled, then Shwartz walked to load the bases. Ron Kuhns drove in a run with an RBI force out, and Mark Kuhns followed with a single.
The stage was set
The Ringmaster, who entered the game with an .800 average, came to bat with tw outs and runners on second and third, trailing 3-2, but Necheff finished the game with a strike out, and the Ghostbusters fell to 1-3 with the loss.
Dr. Dan “Venkman” Morgan will get the start this Saturday against the Gray Bats.
I’ve never been on a team that hit so many triples (3; Gala, Lee/Winston, and Casale) turned so many double plays, and still had a 1-3 record.
The Ghostbusters (1-4) have lost two games by one run.
These things have a way of leveling out, the pendulum will swing the Ghostbusters way again.
I’m 1-for-the fall, this must change. I looked at my spring stats to remind myself I can hit and drive in runs. Here are the Ducks 2008: Stats
Our middle infield is the best the fall league has seen this year.
South Oakland Duck Adam Smith is pitching as well as I’ve seen him pitch in a while.
Vinny is the best all-around first basemen in the Pittsburgh NABA.
The atmosphere has been great so far.
Watch out for the Ducks this spring…Team of Destiny ’09.
South Oakland Ducks Baseball 