Late Rally Falls Short as Light Go Out, Again

Oh the never ending issue of lights at Mag #1. Next year we will fund raise for a BIG generator and some electrical hook-up to override the city.

MBC started slow last night against the Eastlake Tigers falling behind 7-0 before any offensive spark. With two out in the third Chris Luttinen and John Peterson singled and after Mitchell Smith was plunked in the back the bases were loaded. Nick Reeves singled home a run and things were looking great with Tino Peleti coming up. But just like the poem Tino was done in ala Casey and there was no joy in MBCville.

MBC added another run in the fourth when Stuart Fairchild was plunked and Jake Hawken walked setting the table for Spencer Hogger. Spencer singled in Stuart, but as is happening too often lately MBC allowed the Tiger pitcher to wiggle off the hook.

The Tigers took a commanding 11-2 lead in their half of the fifth and MBC came to bat in the bottom of the inning needing two runs to avoid the mercy rule (something we were doing to other teams with high frequency not too long ago). John Peterson lead off with his second hit of the night and after two quick outs things looked grim for MBC with some faint hope for some magic from Tino's bat.

Tino proceeded to blast a ball way way out of Magnolia's field. Tino knocked a blast that went over the right center field fence, estimated by some after the game as at least 375 feet. That woke the team up and with two outs and they rallied for two more runs. A double by Stuart, a walk to Campbell Queen and a single by Jake Hawken accounting for the action.

MBC brought the score back to a respectable 11-6 before the lights went out ending the game early.

Hope is high for the future after this game. The offense seems to be coming back and low on pitching this team discovered that David Becker and Spencer Hogger have been under utilized as pitchers.

Things look good for this team as they head into a series of post season consolation tournaments.

Out, but Hopefully Not Down

Nobody loves you when your down and out. Well we are most likely out of the play offs, but I truly hope nobody is too down. Yes we are all competitive and that is why we play the game and that is why it hurts to lose. We all want to win but lets put it in perspective.

Remember that we ALL took a deep breath in the fall when we decided to elect for the tougher league. I still contend it was the right choice. The quality of play we have experienced in this league is better than we would have seen in the other. We saw better pitching, we faced better hitters and the games were tougher. Don't forget we had a very strong run earlier in the year. If we are looking for excuses I think that our Memorial Day break, combined with a stretch of bad weather kept us off the field too long and perhaps our edge was dulled.

In addition I think we had one other factor that perhaps hurt us more than we let on. We have faced more scheduling factors this year. I think the school year factor of some boys in High School, some not fractured our early ability to function as a cohesive team. I also think LIFE, and by that I mean the all encompassing pulls and strains of the mid-teen athlete impacted us more that we realize.

It is too late to combat these issues at this juncture of the season. At this point I hope we can still keep our heads up and scrap as hard as we can against our remaining opponents and I hope we can look to our 4th of July tourney as a chance for some competitive satisfaction. But as we look towards next year I hope we all can sit back, think about commitment to a cause and look deep into our souls and discover where baseball fits into our priorities.

Loss to Rock Creek Ends MBC's Play Off Hopes

Well you might just say that MBC left their play off hopes on base against Rock Creek. Or you could say their chances were picked-off. Either way you spell it MBC did not get the job done against another team vying for the play-offs.

MBC loaded the bases for the first three innings against Rock Creek and came away with just two runs eventually losing 7 - 3. It was not a pretty site. MBC mixed in but five hits and was given ten walks. Leaving the bases loaded three times and having two (three if you count a bad call by the ump) baserunners picked off was not a recipe for success.

Tino pitched well for three innings and Jake Hawken threw three dominate innings but the story of the day was that Rock Creek's balls found holes and our did not. MBC lined out three times.

Quiet Bats Dim Play Off Hopes

The MBC 14's had a bunch of air taken out of their balloon on Friday night. In a stretch where all games are big, MBC came up short again offensively. The Seattle Bomber's Navy beat them 11-4 to put a giant damper on any play off hopes.

John Peterson started for MBC and it just did not have his good stuff. He battled gallantly for two innings but the strike zone was his enemy and timely hits by pesky Bomber hitters was his down fall.

Nick Reeves relieved and finished throwing four innings. Nick too battled gallantly but was victimized by by seeing eye hits and a minor defensive let down.

MBC's offense sputtered all night trying to get into gear. It wasn't the number of hits but the timing of hits that hurt this team. MBC rattled off 10 hits including a massive triple by Tino Peleti, but they could not get the hits when needed to score enough runs to topple the Bombers.

Facing a run shorted game in the fifth MBC did rally enough to make the Bombers nervous. After a Nick Reeves hit and a walk to John Peterson the Bombers recorded two outs. Always reliable Stuart Fairchild doubled them home. Spencer Hogger scored Stuart with a single and then scored MBC's final run on Tino Peleti's second hit of the game.

Play-off News / Play-off Hopes

Soon we will know. THIS WEEKEND IS HUGE.

Here are the facts, as interpreted by me:

I think these six teams are IN:

Greensox - 2 losses
RIPS Blue - 1 loss
O'Brien - 4 losses
Sting - 3 losses
Stars - 4 losses
SS Black - 6 losses

These five teams are trying for two spots:

WAVE - 7 losses four games to play RIPS Blue is one of them
WOLFPAC - 10 losses - Bellevue and Bombers Blue to play
BEARS - 5 losses BUT 9 games to play in just a week, including OB, RIPS BLUE, SS Black, MBC
US - 8 losses, six games to go, and I think we need to win 6 of them to get in
ROCK CREEK - 8 losses, but 8 games, including OB and MBC
RIPS GOLD - 9 losses, 6 games to go including Sockeyes and Burnstead

I am a realist, pitching right now is kind of low, but if we save our pitching for tonight, tomorrow and the Bears game and do what we can against the Tigers and the Greensox I think 10 losses will get us in.

I think the Wave will sneak in but I do think the Wolfpack will lose one more game, am thinking Rock Creek will lose at least two more (we will have tiebreaker if we beat them) and Gold should lose at least 2 of six games as well.

We need to take care of business tonight and tomorrow and beat the Bears on 7/6 at home. If things come together like they should I think we have a chance to play a win it and get in it game on the last game of the season.......just like last year!

Bob Foster aka Fob Boster aka Fred Flintstone

I moved to Seattle in September 1969 from Memphis TN and immediately started at Cascade Jr High. My mother and I lived in a tiny little house on 116th in White Center. It was about the size of our storage shed. Bob lived just up the hill on 114th in a house twice as big, but he had seven brothers and two sisters. We walked to school everyday back then. I walked right by Bob's house which was named Fosterville on the way to school everyday.

For three weeks in September, based purely on timing, I would be either three steps ahead of Bob or he would be three steps ahead of me. We both walked the same route and we were both in the same home room. And we sat next to each other.

Three weeks and neither of us indicated that we were aware that the other existed.

We both went out for the Jr. High football team. Bob made right tackle, I made right guard.

Three weeks!

Well, we eventually talked and have been best friends ever since. The picture above is from my wedding ceremony to Peggy. In attendance were Peggy, an old friend of Peggy's and me and Bob.

Bob played baseball as well. Bob was the catcher for the local baseball team prior to my moving to town. I did not know this until his father told me that ten years or so ago. I replaced Bob as the local catcher and Bob learned to play first base. Bob batted behind me all through youth leagues and high school. Bob could rake. He held Evergreen High School's record for RBI's for years after graduation. We last played together for a semi pro team my freshman year of college. Bob did not go to college and was soon swept up into the working life.

Sometimes I reflect on our friendship and wonder how we lasted so long. We probably had eight full on fist-fights over the years and they were typical of our first fight.

About two weeks after actually talking to each other and being friends we apparently started to get on each others nerves. Words were said and we both were going down the litany of why the other guy was the dumber guy (both of us conceding we were each fairly stupid). I went too far and remarked on the fact that he wore the same damn pair of pants everyday (way below the belt because both of us were so poor that in fact I wore the same pants everyday). Bob denied this and made the ludicrous statement that "No, these aren't the same pants, I have three pairs just like them." Well I guess when I looked down at the grease spot on his knee and looked back at him he realized what my next comment would be and it was on!

Each time it came to blows, the air cleared, we understood each other a little better and I think deep down we learned something about ourselves. There was something special to have a true friend that you could be real stupid with, make horrible mistakes and yet respect them enough to forgive them and yourself for actions that are part of growing up. And learning how to forgive yourself is probably the most important aspect of growing up.

MBC Sees the Light with Walk-Off Win

MBC 14's won their second straight game in their run for the play-off's beating the CVAC Gators 7-6 in front of a packed house on Saturday night. It was a wonderful night, the stands were full of not only parents but community members out for their evening strolls. It was good to see such a crowd.

Stuart Fairchild agreed to start with the forewarning that he was not at his best. He battled hard for two innings and did what he could to limit the Gators to just four runs. His teammates behind him 100% gave him good defense which included Keenan Heller taking a hot ground ball off his forehead while trying to make a play.

Tino Peleti led off the second with a scorching single that eluded the Gator right fielder enabling Tino to take third. After a walk to Stuart and a pop up out, Spencer Hogger drove Tino in with a ground ball to short. With two out and one run in ,the offense did not quit. Mitchell Smith singled in Stuart and then scored on a towering double by Jimmy Sheldrup.

In the third MBC took the lead. After two quick outs Ben Thomson singled and Tino doubled. With runners on second and third Stuart Fairchild laced a single to score them both.

The Gators took advantage of the MBC pitching staff's mid game wildness to take the lead in the fourth. But after those two runs the Big Guy, Jake Hawken found his groove and mowed for the rest of the evening, recording seven strikeouts over four innings.

Now it remained to be seen whether MBC could come back from a one run deficit over their remaining six outs.

The crowd looked with key anticipation to the MBC sixth. The solid trio of Ben Thomson, Tino Peleti and Stuart Fairchild were due up and these three guys have spelled trouble with a capital T all year to opposing pitchers. The crowd was stunned when the tiring Gator pitcher retired them in order.

In the bottom of the seventh the team the team came out for their final attempt. In the middle of Jake Hawken's at bat a light came on (literally*) and Jake spanked a ball deep into the left field gap for a lead off double. After a walk to Spencer Hogger, Mitchell Smith singled to load the bases. Jimmy Sheldrup hit a funny bouncing grounder to third that caused their reliable third baseman to miss his mark on the throw home and the MBC team had tied the game. With the bases still loaded the Gators managed to get a force at home on the next batter bringing up MR. Walk Off himself, Campbell Queen. Campbell drove a 3-1 fastball deep over the head of the Gator left fielder to end the game and start the pizza eating frenzy.


* Midway through Jake's at bat a concerned citizen noticed that a bank of lights near home plate were in the off position. This safety minded citizen turn the switch on and the rest in MBC history.

Nothing Like a Big Win to Bring Happiness to MBC

Ahhhhh, the sweet smell of success. Boy it seems like a long time since everything went well and it sure did on a beautiful Friday night in Woodinville.

For starters (no-pun intended) our starting pitcher simply mowed through the Bombers offense. John Peterson threw a complete game win allowing just four hits and striking out four. He got in a little trouble in the first with two outs, but pitched out of it and never looked back. A surprised John had superb defense behind him. The outfielders chased down ball after ball and the infield was water tight. Keenan Heller highlighted the night by nabbing a ball up the middle and spinning Jeter-like to throw the runner out at first. MBC played error less ball! It can happen.

After a being blanked in the first inning, MBC came out swinging and scored in every inning. Stuart Fairchild led off the second with a booming double to the wall. Tino Peleti then ATE UP the first baseman with a scorching ground ball the bounced at least ten feet off his glove. Cambell Queen hit a deep flyball to score Stuart and then John Peterson boomed another shot into the left field gap.

Once the floodgates were open it was goodnight Irene for the Bombers. David Becker had two hits, Mitchell Smith, Nick Reeves, Spencer Hogger and Jimmy Sheldrup all had big hits. Chris Luttinen also boomed a huge double into the right center gap for the third double of the game for MBC.

Seattle Stars Stomp on MBC 7-0

Maybe the focus was too much on the defense, maybe the Stars pitcher was too dominant, but whatever the reason MBC lost big to the Seattle Stars at home to continue their skid.

Tino pitched well against this hot hitting team. And the team made good plays behind him. But three big hits led to three big runs in three of his four innings as he tried to keep us close. Nick Reeves followed and did his best to keep us close. Keeping the ball down he seemed to have found an answer and it was not until the defense finally caved that the Stars had the big inning to put the game away.

The real story of the game was MBC getting shut out. MBC threatened in the first (their only inning with multiple hits) with Ben Thomson leading off with a single. Ben was nipped at the plate by a strong rely and bam-bam play while trying to score on Tino Peleti's booming double.

For the rest of the game it was all quiet with the exception of David Becker, Cambell Queen and Stuart Fairchild's singles.

The Wolf is at the Door

One expression of bad things in this world is the description of the wolf at the door. That aptly describes the mood and the condition of this MBC 14 year old team. Shoddy defense has plagued these boys all season and the occasional strong pitching performance and torrid hitting has done its best to overcome these errors. But Saturday in Port Orchard the team could not overcome their worst performance ever losing 8 to 5 while giving up six unearned runs. The team, as a group, decided to add dropping flyballs and errant throws to the mix.

Mitchell Smith and Spencer Hogger had two hit games and Ben Thompson, Nick Reeves, Tino Peleti, Campbell Queen, and Jake Hawken each joined the hit parade. But there was simply nothing the offense could do to overcome the freebies handed out by the offense.

Sub-Par Effort Good Enough for a Purple Win

Our bad defense continued against the Seattle Select Purple team but MBC 14 rallied with just enough offense to win 10-5.

Poor John Peterson got the start and worked four innings allowing just one hit and striking out three. Shoddy defense behind him led to two runs. Chris Luttinin relieved and came in to pitch to a shoe box strike zone and promptly gave up three runs before Nick Reeves could come in to complete the game.

Offensively MBC scored two in the first and three in the third. In the first Nick Reeves singled and was driven in by Stuart Fairchild's single. Stuart took third on Jake Hawken's single and scored via the double steal deal when Jake stole second. In the third the Purple team got sloppy committing two errors which combined with singles by Tino Peleti, Jake Hawken and Spencer Hogger led to our three runs.

As mentioned above, shoddy defense and a disappearing strike zone allowed the Purple team to tie the game in the fifth. In the MBC fifth, Mitchell Smith led off with a walk, stole second and was moved to third on Jimmy Sheldrup's ground out. He looked to be stranded at third with two out until Keenan Heller drove a full count pitch over the left fielder's head to give MBC the lead for good.

Sunday 1:15 Game RAINOUT

AAAAARGGGG

Mirror Mirror On the Wall

Every now and then each of us has to take a good look in the mirror. Just like when we are in a game we need to take a look at the scoreboard. Feedback is necessary. Outside sources like a scoreboard are helpful, but there is no greater feedback than what one gets from a mirror.

Last night we were to have a game. It would have been our first organized baseball experience in about a week. Rain cancelled the game, but the ability to practice was still there. And I am pretty sure that the email cancelling the game indicated that a practice was still in the cards. And four boys showed up for practice and I can only hope that this was matched by four boys somewhere on an island. In the month of JUNE.

I am a goal driven person. I believe that goal setting is the best way to get to where you want to go. It is great to have goals, but goals are meaningless unless we take the time to assess how we are progressing towards the goal. That is what scoreboards are for, that is why feedback is important, that is why we have mirrors.

Sometimes you have to look in the mirror and ask yourself ...... am I getting to where I want to be?

My high school coach posted this poem EVERY YEAR.

The Man In The Glass
Anonymous

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass.
The fellow whose verdict counts most in you life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum
And think you’re a wonderful guy.
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

He’s the fellow to please-never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear to the end.
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.