South Oakland (0-2-1) trailed 5-0 going into the bottom of the sixth, but rallied for 3 runs, allowed one in the top of the seventh, before scoring another run in the seventh and falling just short.
The game ended on a bases loaded fielder’s choice.
Once again a bad inning – two infield hits, a ball that bounced over our shortstop and a misplayed ball in the outfield allowed the Bulldogs (2-0-1) to get out to an insurmountable lead.
They made fewer mistakes.
It feels like we’re coming together though. We battled, and we still haven’t fielded a full team yet.
Up next for South Oakland of the North Side, a doubleheader against the Michigan Militia this Sunday 10:30 AM, on the turf, at Woodland Hills High.
South Oakland looks for their first win tonight in a rematch of saturday’s 4-4 tie.
The Ducks still have players who haven’t met one another, and figure to play the opening weeks of the season with the goal of getting everyone playing time, and figuring out our most effective lineup before divisional play begins in May.
When Ken Cool gets back in town, he will give the Ducks a welcomed boost at the top of the lineup, as the team has only scored 5 runs in two games.
No idea who’s pitching tonight or what the lineup will look like, but it will be good to be back at the Duck pond, and get a win on our home field.
hopefully our gang-neutral color scheme will benefit us. To this affect, i’d recommend the bulldogs go with their black hats.
For some reason i have this rambo pic saved in my ‘ducks blog images’ file.
After an opening day shutout of the South Side Eagles, the Shaler Rebels have dropped two straight to fall to 1-2 on the season, good for fifth place in the A division, but only 1.5 games behind the first place Titans, who I think are also from the Shaler area.
We’re still awaiting word on who or what the Rebels are rebelling from.
Expect a bloodbath when Shaler takes on the Senators Wednesday night.
We still remember the help the Eagles gave us early last year, but South Oakland’s pick to win the A division is the Warriors depending on Craig Boley’s status.
Looks like rain tomorrow, but be ready to play until we hear otherwise.
Vinny will be ready
I like the composition of the Ducks this year a lot. The nothing-to-lose attitude is refreshing. Everyone is just excited to be playing again, or at all. Everyone’s hustling, and no one’s bitching about anything.
That could change if we don’t start winning some games, but it’s early, and the wins will come—that will be the result of the aforementioned approach.
I know coaching the last two years, the immense pressure to please everyone is what ultimately led to a lot of unhappiness and stress that seemed ridiculous to have over adult league baseball. I think there’s a misunderstanding about playing hard and demanding a good effort from yourself and your teammates, that it has to come along with some sort of fucked up intensity and shit talking that makes it all not fun, that it’s only worth winning if you can take credit.
With this team, this season the more fun it is the more we will win, not the other way around as I feel it was at times during the last two seasons.
That said, I hate losing more than anyone. And our goal this year, with the talent we have, is to win a championship.
Who the fuck knows, I’m just looking forward to walking into Moore Park in mid May, fearing for my life, questioning human kind while a fight in the stands breaks out, and hitting singles over the second baseman’s head. Stuff like that is why i love this league and being a Duck.
RIP Levon Helm.
TC Jones might have to come out of retirement to pitch Saturday.
Elliot pitcher, Stu Barnes carried a no hitter through 6 and 1/3 innings, and went 2 for 3 with a double and a triple to lead defending champion Elliot (1-0) past South Oakland (0-1) Wednesday night.
The game was scoreless through three, and then a few balls that should have been caught weren’t and Elliot scored 7 runs.
Jesse Ferko and Chris Roth had hits for the Ducks. Roth drove in the Ducks only run in the top of the seventh on an infield single.
We’ll round into form by divisional play, if not sooner.
Despite the loss, spirits remain high in South Oakland as the team looks to rebound against the Bulldogs Saturday morning.
We’re in a division with the Cherokee, Black Sox, and Cranberry.
I’m pretty sure only the top tree in each division make the playoffs.
I’m not sure if it’s based solely on division record, or if it’s overall record or what.
Barring the inevitable rain, we will play the bulldogs twice and then a double header against the Militia to round out five games in the first eleven days of the season.
The South Oakland Ducks of the North Side will rol out a roster featuring the top players from the 2007 team, and members of the Fightin’ Ra 2009 League Champion Hurricanes.
Everyone is excited to get the season started. It will be the Ducks 10th.
Realignment was discussed last league meeting, no clue how that panned out.
Big time rivalry with the cherokee. Bring your smallpox-infested blankets to that one.
Godspeed flip, berdine and tish, etc.
I put the over/under on how long that team lasts at 1.5 seasons.
And there’s a new rebels team apparently, who we will not play as they are in the A division.
After a rough start to the offseason and a few months of uncertainty, South Oakland management has rallied to put together what will be a competitive team for 2012.
Projected line up:
Dave Lewandowski CF
Ken Cool 3b
James Fago P/C
Matt Stahl 1b
Chris Roth Rf
Kirk Gibson SS
Brett Pusateri 2b
Ben Hartranft C/DH
Mark Guthrie P/OF
Ben Gwin OF
Management is still in negotiations with Tony Casale, Mike Watson and Hartranft’s rotator cuff. Hopefully all three are ready to contribute this summer.
James Fago is our manager this season, and he’s in the best shape of his life.
Get in touch with him (or me, if you must) if you plan on playing this season. As always, roster spots go to returning Ducks before we fill in the gaps with Dominican League players Rob Cool knows through some ex-AAU coach, who used to play DII ball in Eastern Ohio, and sells sneakers out of the back of a truck at Waynesburg away games.
We owe the league our first $500 in the next few weeks, and Nike is sending people to my home trying to shake me down for the money we didn’t raise to cover our unis last year.
Jim Teyssier pitched a complete game shutout, striking out 9, while allowing just 3 hits and walking 2.
South Oakland scored its first run with two out in the bottom of the second, on three straight singels by Baumgartel, Smith and Gwin.
The Bulldogs left two men on base in the top of the third and would not threaten again.
In the bottom of the fourth, Fago walked, and pinch runner Tim Lipp stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error; he scored on Nick Berdine’s rbi single to left.
The Ducks will face Elliot in the finals on Saturday time and place to be determined.
South Oakland Ducks Baseball 