Commish to Investigate Potential Gambling Scandal in MBC Win Over Dow

Quinn looking nervous at post game news conference answering questions about his outing

MBC's Saturday's win over Dow was tainted by speculation that big time gamblers had influenced the outcome of the game. MBC won the game 7-4, but talk was buzzing through talk radio that perhaps a member of MBC's pitching staff was shaving points.

Nick Salle was impressive throwing four innings cruising to a 7-0 margin. Nick yielded just two hits and struck out two. He was followed by Quinn Burcham who suspiciously yielded three runs on five walks, no hits involved. Immediately after the game talk was flying about whether Quinn had tanked his performance for big money coming from Vegas.

Commenting after the game Quinn said "talk of point shaving is way out of line. I knew we could win, and would win easily. What you have to understand is that I had sat out the first four innings and had not gotten any at-bats. I was worried that we would eight run this team prior to me getting a chance to swing it". And swing it he did. In his only at bat, Quinn belted a tremendous shot to center for a double.

MBC started hard and early again leading the game off with singles by Nick Salle, Alex Mitchhell, Tino Peleti and Stuart Fairchild. With one run in and the bases loaded, Mitchell Smith, Nick Reeves and David Becker all singled to make the score 5-0 MBC.

MBC played limited add on. The third inning started by Adam Hithorne walking. Mitchell Smith single him to second and he scored on Spencer Hogger's single. In the fifth Tino started thing off by being hit (after going 6-6 in his last six at bats). Russell Madche singled him to third and he scored on Ethan Clements ground out.

After Quinn made the score interesting with his suspicious outing, Russell Madche came on to put out the fire. Ever day Russell made quick work of the Dow team with no hit relief for the rest of the game.

Get Back on Bellevue

Last year in our final tournament the Bellevue Squad beat us 2-1 in the championship, and they have "gloated" over this for a year. On Friday night we finally got the chance to play them again, and it was a different story with MBC winning 13-5.

It was an impressive display, a close, hard fought back and forth game, and then it appeared Bellevue ran a bit short on pitching. At that point MBC cruised to victory.

Ethan Clements pitched great on three days rest, going three innings yielding four runs and striking out two. He had some trouble in one inning with drizzling rain. Rain seems to follow Ethan to the mound lately. Tino relieved him for and inning and two thirds and was unhittable, yielding just one hit, one run - BUT walking five. In a bases loaded jam in the sixth, Russell Madche came in and threw a magic double play ball and let the air out of the Bellevue squad.

Offensively it was Tino's night. Tino hit an RBI single in the first, and later scored on Ethan's single. Tino doubled home two in the second and hit a solo home run in the fifth and a two run homer in the sixth. That counted as a 4 - 4 night with five RBI and three runs scored.

Of course Tino had help, Ethan stayed hot with a 2-3 night with 2 RBI, Nick Reeves had two hits and Spencer Hogger, Stuart Fairchild, Quinn Burcham, Adam Hinthorne and Nick Salle added hits.

Fantastic Finish Against Mercer Island

A fire was finally lit under the overworked and overplayed MBC team last night. Playing their seventh game in seven days, MBC had to travel to Mercer Island to finish a game that was in a week long rain-delay.

The good news was MBC had a 4-2 lead and the bases loaded with only one out, the bad news was - this good fortune did not last long.

MBC was retired via two at bats to start the game and give Mercer Island a lift. That lift carried over to their half of the third as they surprised Stuart Fairchild and the groggy MBC defense with five runs to take a three run lead.

MBC tried valiantly to get some offense going as Stuart settled down and began mowing his way through the Mercer Island line-up. It wasn't until the sixth that MBC got on the board.

Quinn Burcham walked to lead things off and Spencer Hogger followed with a hit. Coach Cougan then nearly exploded in his third base coaching box when Mercer Island picked off Bubba Galush (see 14 year old write ups AND 13 year old write-ups) who had been sent in to pinch run for Quinn. After calm was restored, Ethan Clements singled and Nick Reeves walked to load the bases. A walk to Nick Salle, and a beaning of Mitchell Smith plated two runs but that was all MBC would get in the Bubba Galush shortened inning.

Down one run in the seventh MBC went to work again. David Becker reached first on a poor play by their shortstop, but was forced out at second on Stuart's ground ball to short. The good news was a hustling Stuart did avoid the double play. Stuart then stole second setting up Spencer Hogger for his Mookie Wilson moment. With two out and little hope to spare, Spencer squibbed a ball just out of the reach of the pitcher and a charging third baseman tried to make a bare handed grab and throw to first. His throw went off the first baseman and a hard running Stuart scored all the way from second to tie the game.

Spencer then stole second and all hope turned to Ethan who squared one up and drove it over the left fielder's head for a double to give MBC the lead. He was followed by Nick Reeve's double into the gap in right center for the much needed insurance run.

MBC then held their breath as Stuart went out and retired the Islander's to secure the win.

MBC Loses to Vipers

I hope to be able to write about this soon

Another Unearned Disaster, That We Earned!

As if that headline makes any sense! I guess you have to see it to understand it. Make no mistake, we are a very good team. Only a very good team could lose 10-5 to the high flying Shockers. The Shockers are a very good team, but from what I saw last night, and from what I have seen all season; we can play with anyone in this league, when we show up to play.

Last night was a tough one. We crushed some balls very well, but they either went right to Shockers, or the Shockers made Willie Mays like catches (sorry Quinn) in center field. Routine plays that we make all the time, we bumbled, but that is not, nor will not be the norm. The distressing thing I keep seeing, is when we are making mistakes, some of us still feel that we can magically make miracle throws to overcome damage that is already done. This is when the game really smacks you down.

The Shocker jumped out early, building on our mistakes and limiting us to just three hits. That was the story. We still hit the ball very well, but some nights the hits are just not there. That will even out over the year. Our defense was spotty, but that was just one night, that will not keep this team down.

I remain optimistic that this team will get to the play-offs and that Hartman Park in Redmond was built for this team - Great things are a coming - Stay pumped - Stay ready!

Quinn and Riley Shut Down Bandits

MBC played great on Monday night under the lights beating the Bandits 10-2. The game featured MBC's third contest against the pitcher they nick named "the Beast" as 13 year olds. He was a fierce as ever on the mound, but too much pitching over two years had taken its toll on his arm and he could only go two innings.

Meanwhile, Quinn Burcham was un-hittable last night, really. The Bandits had just one hit, a muffed bunt. This no-hitter flirtation was hard to notice. Quinn was so un-hittable that he walked or beaned 7 hitters in his three innings, but good defense and throwing strikes when needed kept the Bandits at bay.

Riley Duffy started out un-hittable as well throwing to both sides of the body to the first few batters he faced, but settled in nicely and threw three innings of no hit relief walking only one.

Our rusty/dusty unused gloves were finally produced last night. Two great catches in the outfield by Nick Salle and Stuart Fairchild. Nick raced deep into the darkness to run down a would be extra base hit, and Stuart made a wonderful recovery on a ball he could not pick up early to race back and stymie a Bandit rally. The play of the night belonged to Nick Reeves who back handed a sharp shot waaaay up the middle and threw immediately to a stretching Ethan Clements with a pirouette throw.

MBC started quickly against the fireball throwing Beast. Walks to Keenan Heller and Spencer Hogger set the stage for Stuart "Mr. Reliable" Fairchild's RBI single. Spencer then scored from third on Ethan's tough ground out.

Keenan stroked a two out single in the second to get things going. After a walk to Spencer, Tino Peleti clutched up with a two out single up the middle to score Keenan and chase the Beast from the game.

The hard throwing Beast was replaced by a dazzling knuckle ball pitcher that baffled the MBC hitters until Nick Salle launched an 0-2 knuckle ball into the trees in right for a big home run. Keenan followed with his second hit of the night and scored on Quinn's single.

MBC played add on in the fifth when Adam Hinthorne singled and scored on Nick Salle's second hit of the night.

In the sixth, MBC put the game away. A tiring knuckle ball pitcher walked Stuart and Quinn to start things off and their shortstop then booted a potential double play ball. That proved fatal as Nick Reeves walked to plate a run, Adam and Riley drove in runs with infield grounders and Nick Salle pounded out his third hit to give MBC a walk-off eight run mercy ending.

Life Long Friends

Above Tino and former MBC standout Campy Queen
Below, Nick Reeves and Keenan, not sure which is which


One of the best things that I have received from baseball is the lifelong friends that one makes during one's playing days. For me, it seems my closest and dearest friends are those that I played ball with over the years.

Old timers on this team may remember Coach Bishop. We met 36 years ago in the locker room at Seattle University. I, seeing Mark in baseball gear, introduced myself to Mark and began years of hearing the minutia of his life. I caught him for three years, and then a few summers after eligibility was up in the local semi-pro leagues. What a wonderful blessing to still work and see someone everyday who has a photographic memory of each and every game you played years ago.

It has also been a special treat for me this year to coach the son of a former teammate. Bill, "Billy" to me, or "Mr. X" or just "X" as he was dubbed years ago by us older wise cracking upper class men during his impressive freshman debut into college baseball.

I am lucky to have sources, deep within the rosters of old team mate parents on this club, who have pictures from the vault of these young player's early careers.

What I want to pass onto you guys for this summer is this, sometime during a game, or practice, as you are hanging in the dugout, take a good look at your teammates. Drink in the moment, pause and see your fellow teammates. Remember the moment, treasure the moment. Bond with these guys because someday, whether you stay in constant touch or simply come across one of these guys thirty years from now, remember how much fun you had together playing baseball

Bent But Not Broken

Magnolia bent Sunday at South Kitsap, but did not break. Not our best game, but MBC showed enough signs of life, defense and sticks to overcome what could have been disaster.

MBC jumped out to a 5-0 lead early against the Wolfpack only to see the lead slip through their gloves and arms. At the end of five innings MBC had given the Wolfpack five unearned runs to tie the score.

MBC used their quick start offense to get on the board early. A lead-off walk to Nick Salle was followed by a single from Spencer Hogger, a booming double by Tino Peleti and a single from Stuart Fairchild. Ethan Clements drove Tino home with hard shot to first and Nick Reeves completed the inning with a line drive single. In the second inning Spencer Hogger singled home Alex Mitchell to give MBC the 5-0 lead.

Through acts that nobody wants to hear repeated MBC found themselves tied 5-5 after five.

Ethan and Nick Reeves led off the sixth with walks as the Wolfpack decided it was time to return some of those free runs. Adam Hinthorne singled home Ethan, another run scored on a wild pitch and a third run came home as the Wolfpack's second baseman decided to throw home from a rather deep position in the infield.

MBC added one more run in the seventh after Tino doubled again and scored on a "soft single" to right by Nick Reeves.

Nick Salle battled nine Wolfpack hitters and eight fielders for three plus innings yielding just three hits to the Wolfpack and limiting his fielders to just four unearned runs. Russell Madche pitched the last four, holding the Wolfpack to just two hits and our defense to one unearned run, a remarkable job by both pitchers.

Tough Luck On Two Out Hits Sinks MBC

MBC lost to the league leading FOC Bears last night 4-1. The Bears scored two runs in the first and two runs in the sixth with a pair of two out hits. MBC scored one run in the fourth and missed a couple chances for runs by not getting two out hits. A close heartbreaking game.

Stuart Fairchild pitched as good as it gets. Five innings, five hits and seven strikeouts. He was in command all night and just missed wiggling out of a first inning jam.

Russell Madche pitched a strong sixth, but was victimized by a soft six-hole single that plated two runs.

MBC had chances. In the first they did get a two out single from Ethan Clements, but a strong throw from the Bear's left fielder caught Spencer Hogger at the plate. Ethan did get an RBI in the fourth as he drove in Spencer for real when the shortstop could not make a play on his hard grounder. MBC proceeded to strand runners on second and third in the inning giving away a strong chance to tie or take the lead. MBC threatened again in the sixth, but could not score against a strong left hander that went the distance for the Bears.

Stuart Fairchild had two hits, Mitchell Smith, Quin Burcham, Russell Madche and Riley Duffy each had one.

Bulldogs Dog MBC with Unearned Runs

Well, we have flirted with bad defense and walks before and got away with it, last night against a good hitting Bulldog team we were not as lucky. Seven UNEARNED RUNS in a 8-7 loss, ouch.

It was not like the Bulldogs were not trying to give us the game. They matched us head to head in the walk department, seven per team. They begged us to end it early, but we refused. After four innings we held a 7-1 lead, two runs from going home.

But reminiscent of last years Kirkland Merchant disappointment, we let a team stay with us, and we let their number nine hitter become a hero with a two out, two run single in the bottom of the seventh.

One of the things I like about baseball is that you are never out of a game. No matter what the deficit, the other team still has to get three outs to end the game. Well we saw the bad side of this great game of baseball and hopefully learned more tonight that we will all year.

The Bulldogs held our big bats at bay for the most part. Tino Peleti, Mitchel Smith each had hits and Riley Duffy and Adam Hintorne both had two hits. Adam "wee man" belted a huge double and had two RBI.

MBC Hitters Continue to Roll

MBC beat the Born to Play team 15-4 on Sunday morning in Sumner. As on Friday night MBC came out hot and scored an amazing 11 runs in the first inning putting the game out of reach early.

Russell Madche was the recipient of the wonderful support and proceeded to cruise his way through four innings on the mound. Riley Duffy finished them off with a nice fifth inning and the boys were free for the day.

Mitchell Smith started the game off innocently enough with a routine ground ball to short. As a sign of a team in some distress, their shortstop booted the play, and it was all down hill for them after that. Alex Mitchell laced a single to right, and then the hit parade started. Stuart Fairchild, Quin Burcham, Nick Reeves and Adam Hinthorne followed with singles, Russell walked and Riley Duffy, Nick Salle, Mitchell Smith, Alex Mithchell, Stuart and Quinn followed with hits, Stuart's being a booming double.

When the dust had settled MBC had recorded eleven hits, Alex, Stuart and Quinn had each had a two hit inning and MBC had the win in their back pocket. Quinn and Stuart finished the day with three hits each, and the Mitchell twins, Alex and Smitty each had two hits.

That aside, the highlight of the day was the use of MBC's secret weapon against roster erosion, thirteen year old Cole Burcham. Cole played three error less innings at first and scorched a single in his only at bat. His success made coach Cougan wish that Robbie "Smeagle" Salle had suited up for the game.

MBC Finally Bests Seattle Select Black

Three years in the making and MBC finally beats SS Black 11-5. MBC relied on good pitching, good defense and great hitting.

MBC jumped out early and hard in the first inning. Nick Salle led off with his first hit (of the inning!) and was followed by a bunt single from Alex Mitchell. After a rare Tino Peleti strike out, Stuart Fairchild (who else) singled hard to load the bases. Quin Burcham hit a hard smash into the hole between short and third that was gloved by the SS Black third baseman, but the force of the shot spun him a bit and his throw to second was wide of the mark. Ethan Clements, Nick Reeves, David Becker and Keenan Heller all followed with RBI singles bringing Nick Salle to the plate again for another single. Before Seattle Select Black knew what hit them, they were down eight runs.

In the second, Tino led off with a single and Stuart was walked. Quin Burcham then hit a towering drive to deep right center for a double to score them both. Nick Reeves singled, but hit it too hard to score Quin who has been voted most likely to be thrown out at home by Baseball America. A nice double play on Adam Hinthorne's rocket to short ended scoring hopes for the inning.

Tino had three hits on the night, both Nick's, Keenan and Quin had two hits.

Stuart Fairchild kept SS Black at bay for three innings, pounding the strike zone and keeping the game moving. Ethan Clements relieved in the fourth and threw on hit ball the rest of the way fanning five.

Another Ugly Win

My apologies to Stevie Wonder, but these amusing lyrics have been running through my brain to the tune of "Living for the City". It is a wonderful song off his Innervisions album, a must have.

Our team was formed way back in August
The way we play sometimes leaves me in disgust
JP and I give lots of good instruction
Trying our best to keep you from destruction
Winning just enough, but not enough to be pretty.

Our games drag on, sometimes with upteen errors
Our pitchers try, but lately can’t hit corners
Were hitting so well, we get so many doubles
But we better get better soon, or we’ll be facing troubles
Winning just enough, but not enough to be pretty

Another night where all I can say is "a win is a win". What should have been an easy night, and truly ended up as one, got complicated mid game. Maybe it was the strike zone, maybe it was the weather, but we drifted mid game and let a weak sister team get close. Luckily we (again) had the bats to bail us out.

That seems to be the big plus for this team. Boy I would hate to pitch to us. I am proud to say there is no break in our line-up, no time where the opposing pitcher can relax. We hit from top to bottom, and so far it seems to be a different guy going off each game.

Last night it was Stuart being Stuart, again. A dream night for him - 4 for 4, two doubles and a triple. A home run away from the cycle, and if Mag 1 had a fence, he may have had that.

MBC scored five runs in the first. Mitchell Smith led off with a screaming line drive, that if it had been two feet to the right or left of the left fielder it could have been a triple, but it was our first out. Ethan Clements then singled, followed by a single by Tino Peleti. Stuart then hit his first double to score two, and after they beaned Quinn Burcham, Nick Reeves and Riley Duffy made them pay with back to back hits.

The Wave pitcher led off the fourth by beaning Mitchell and Ethan setting the stage for a rare single from Stuart to score David Becker who was running for Mitchell. The game turned even uglier on this play. David was going to score easily, was slowing down and picking his way around the catcher who suddenly decided to bowl David over to prevent him from scoring. A malicious play which resulted in his ejection. Nick Reeves then delivered another single to score Ethan.

In the fifth, MBC decided to end the game early. Newly acquired Keenan Heller led off by reaching on a error and hits by Russell Madche and Nick Salle loaded the bases. Mitchell Smith drove in a run with a single, Ethan drove in a run via an infield out and Stuart lowered the boom with a triple. Two more errors later the Wave had imploded to surrender enough runs to end the game.

Just a final passing note on the play by the Wave catcher. It was a totally unprovoked malicious, macho move that I feel the need to strongly convey will not be tolerated by our team. A word to MBC players - you would face more than an umpire ejection should any of you display this kind of behavior. I like us to play tough, I like to see hard nosed effort, but keep your actions clean. That kind of behavior has NO place in baseball.

Fond Memories of Kirkland and our First Seven Error Game

What a game. To quote Dickens "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." I seem to remember last year's efforts in Kirkland, and maybe it is something in the dirt, or air, or general surroundings, but we seem to hit the ball like crazy there, but play some sub-standard defense; remember last year's "snow-man in July" eight run inning debacle? But a win is a win, ain't it?

MBC won a barn burner 16-14. We had 18 hits, received 7 walks and gave up 7 hits, 6 walks and made 7 errors. But some of those errors were pretty tough chances, you know hanging onto a can of corn fly ball, and the other team made us both make a catch AND a throw, all on the same play! And if we were not having a difficult enough time with these challenges, some of us decided to run in front of our fellow team mates to add just a bit more of a degree of difficulty to the play. You would have thought John Peterson* was pitching for us, it was a circus out there!

The good news, our pitchers gritted it out and made pitches when they had to. We played an error less seventh and we mashed the ball like we never have before.

Mitchell Smith was unconcious at the plate, 4 for 5 with three doubles and 4 RBI. Tino is BACK!, 2 for 2 with 3RBI. Stuart was just being Stuart, 2 for 3 with two doubles. Quinn Burcham was huge with a 4 for 5 night, a double and 4 RBI AND he kept his streak of being thrown out at home alive with a gallant slowdown in the third. Russel Madche had a big night 2 for 3 with an RBI.

This game see sawed (mostly the wrong way) all night. We spotted them six runs, roared back with four, gave them one more, roared back with three, traded four run innings, and one run innings and finally scored three in the top of the seventh to grab the lead. Tino drove in the tying run and Quinn drove in the go ahead and the insurance.

A glazed eyed Stuart Fairchild, finally given a lead, staggered out for the seventh and taking no chances with his D, fanned two of three hitters and watched with great interest as Quin made a fantastic catch on a routine ball to right.



* John Peterson, a former pitcher to who we gave about 65% defensive support to in his one suffering year as a pitcher for MBC.