Last year, in our third game, on a Wednesday, in front of an injured Jamie Moyer, against the Cannons, MBC orchestrated a 9-8 walk off win against the Cannons.
This year, in our third game, on a Wednesday, while a recovered Jamie Moyer pitched VICTORIOUSLY, against the Cannons, MBC orchestrated a 3-2 walk off win against the Cannons.
What a game.
It was a pitchers dual for four innings. Andrew Helean and his worthy opponent had each given up just one hit through four innings. In the fifth Andrew gave up two seeing eye doubles (if there is such a thing, but on the first double Robbie Dunbar almost made a fabulous catch, missing by inches; and on the second double we all held our breath as a speedy Nick Danger* raced across the outfield, dove, and we did not know he did not get it until the dust settled). A final hit scored the Cannons second run and put MBC in come back mode.
And what a come back. In the sixth with two outs, Stuart Fairchild singled sharply. With a two-two count on Quinn Burcham, Stuart took off for second and moved to third on the catcher's overthrow. The rattled pitcher then walked Quinn. Robbie (Mr. Extra-Base-Hit) Dunbar then doubled into the right center gap to score Stuart, but that was all MBC would get.
In the seventh Keenan Heller worked a one out walk. Adam Hinthorne hit a high bouncer to second, and after Keenan danced in front of the second baseman you could almost hear Dave Niehaus'es call of "My oh my, everybody is safe". Nick Danger* then blasted a screaming (opposite field) line drive down the left field line to score Keenan from second and a speedy Adam all the way from first.
Andrew Helean threw five strong innings, striking out six and walking only one. Nick Sarrassota* followed him with two innings of one hit ball and four strikeouts.
* Both Nicks mentioned in the above story, and an additional Jack Soulpatch (who other than playing adequately at shortstop did not really do anything worth writing about in this story, but may someday) are currently in the Witness Protection Program and use of their real names could put the three players in jeopardy.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
MBC Rolls Over Another Titan Team
For the second day in a row MBC faced a team named the Titans and once again came out victorious. MBC received great pitching and threw up two big innings to put the game away.
Stuart Fairchild was outstanding in his five innings of work. Stuart struck out seven, walked no Titans and gave up just two hits and one unearned run. Nick Reeves closed the game out with no hits and struck out two batters.
Offensively Adam Hintorne (two hits) started the ball rolling with a big double. After an infield hit by Nick Reeves and a passed ball, Stuart Fairchild drove them both home with one of his two hits.
Michell Smith (playing for his old team to help fill the roster) started the crazy third inning with one of his two hits. An error by their shortstop was followed by consecutive hits by Nick Reeves, Dylan Vchulek and the ever steady Stuart Fairchild. A Robby Dunbar double ended the scoring and MBC went up 7-0 and eventually won 7-1.
Stuart Fairchild was outstanding in his five innings of work. Stuart struck out seven, walked no Titans and gave up just two hits and one unearned run. Nick Reeves closed the game out with no hits and struck out two batters.
Offensively Adam Hintorne (two hits) started the ball rolling with a big double. After an infield hit by Nick Reeves and a passed ball, Stuart Fairchild drove them both home with one of his two hits.
Michell Smith (playing for his old team to help fill the roster) started the crazy third inning with one of his two hits. An error by their shortstop was followed by consecutive hits by Nick Reeves, Dylan Vchulek and the ever steady Stuart Fairchild. A Robby Dunbar double ended the scoring and MBC went up 7-0 and eventually won 7-1.
15's Lead the Way in Home Opener
The MBC 16's opened their season against the FCA Titans short rostered players and had to call up three players from the 15 year old team. What a great idea. The 15's lead the way in both hitting and pitching to secure a victory for the home team. From our 15's we received a 5-6 night with 4 RBI and five innings of solid pitching.
Robbie Dunbar Jr. started on the mound and was unhittable in his two innings. Partly due to his velocity but mostly due to his location. Robbie walked five, and struck out four in his two innings of no hit ball.
To dial in strikes, Coach Cougan resorted to Duncan McCombs who threw five outstanding innings giving up two measly hits, walking none and striking out six Titans. Duncan breezed through his five innings with solid defense and offensive support.
Quinn Burcham got the ball rolling by hitting a smash the the third baseman could not handle. After the shortstop botched Robbie Dunbar Jr.'s smash, both scored on Tai Huff's single. Duncan McCombs then hit a clutch two out single to score Tai, gaining the lead just before coming on to pitch; thus game over.
MBC played add on in the fifth when Trent Schulte lead off with the first of his two hits. Robbie then hit a massive triple and scored on Tai's second hit of the night.
In the sixth, Duncan scorched his third hit of the night to lead things off. After a single by Adam Hintorne and a beaning of Nick Reeves, Trent singled again to score two. After a beaning of Stuart Fairchild, a walk to the mighty Robbie Dunbar Jr. plated the last run of the night.
MBC displayed heretofore rare flashes of leather on the night. David Becker made a dandy backhand grab of a hot smash early in the game and Tai Huff, playing second base for the first time made two outstanding diving plays.
All in all, the team (including its new additions) looked and played great in the home opener.
Robbie Dunbar Jr. started on the mound and was unhittable in his two innings. Partly due to his velocity but mostly due to his location. Robbie walked five, and struck out four in his two innings of no hit ball.
To dial in strikes, Coach Cougan resorted to Duncan McCombs who threw five outstanding innings giving up two measly hits, walking none and striking out six Titans. Duncan breezed through his five innings with solid defense and offensive support.
Quinn Burcham got the ball rolling by hitting a smash the the third baseman could not handle. After the shortstop botched Robbie Dunbar Jr.'s smash, both scored on Tai Huff's single. Duncan McCombs then hit a clutch two out single to score Tai, gaining the lead just before coming on to pitch; thus game over.
MBC played add on in the fifth when Trent Schulte lead off with the first of his two hits. Robbie then hit a massive triple and scored on Tai's second hit of the night.
In the sixth, Duncan scorched his third hit of the night to lead things off. After a single by Adam Hintorne and a beaning of Nick Reeves, Trent singled again to score two. After a beaning of Stuart Fairchild, a walk to the mighty Robbie Dunbar Jr. plated the last run of the night.
MBC displayed heretofore rare flashes of leather on the night. David Becker made a dandy backhand grab of a hot smash early in the game and Tai Huff, playing second base for the first time made two outstanding diving plays.
All in all, the team (including its new additions) looked and played great in the home opener.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Opening Night
Due to contractual obligations with the network Friday's game will be an 8:00 start. Please get there early for the pregame festivities.
This will be a tough opener. MBC starts the season with three stars on the bench; Keenan Heller - hangnail; Tino Peleti - skin rash and Everyday Russell Madche - bad hair cut. Keenan expects his personal manicurist to cure the hangnail by early next week, but Tino's skin rash and Russell's bad hair could linger late into the season.
Four other highly touted players will most likely be unavailable for the early season as they play for their respective countries in the World Cup Tournament. Stuart Fairchild may be unavailable for some time as his team Sierra Pedalgo looks to go deep into the tournament. Two of our three Nicks; Salle and Safka along with Jack Murphy are trying their best to keep O'Man in the tournament.
To replace these players on the rosters MBC has made one permanent roster move adding Andrew Helean as a full time member of the team. Andrew has played for the Wellsley School of Special Needs with Adam Hinthorne and David Becker. In addition, for tonight's game three young upcoming stars from Bill Olson's Travelling Carnival will make an appearance, Trent Shulte, Duncan McCombs and Blake Swanson.
On Saturday Spencer Hogger and Mitchell Smith have opted to come out of retirement to play one last game, and perhaps will be sweet talked into more.
This will be a tough opener. MBC starts the season with three stars on the bench; Keenan Heller - hangnail; Tino Peleti - skin rash and Everyday Russell Madche - bad hair cut. Keenan expects his personal manicurist to cure the hangnail by early next week, but Tino's skin rash and Russell's bad hair could linger late into the season.
Four other highly touted players will most likely be unavailable for the early season as they play for their respective countries in the World Cup Tournament. Stuart Fairchild may be unavailable for some time as his team Sierra Pedalgo looks to go deep into the tournament. Two of our three Nicks; Salle and Safka along with Jack Murphy are trying their best to keep O'Man in the tournament.
To replace these players on the rosters MBC has made one permanent roster move adding Andrew Helean as a full time member of the team. Andrew has played for the Wellsley School of Special Needs with Adam Hinthorne and David Becker. In addition, for tonight's game three young upcoming stars from Bill Olson's Travelling Carnival will make an appearance, Trent Shulte, Duncan McCombs and Blake Swanson.
On Saturday Spencer Hogger and Mitchell Smith have opted to come out of retirement to play one last game, and perhaps will be sweet talked into more.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Bad News, Perhaps
Me and Tony Esposito, Tony leaned on me hard to join the team
Statue of Bobby Hull, from his glory days
My cousin John, his friend Ron, BOBBY "FRICKING" HULL, cousin Joe and MeI won't know for sure for a week of so but there is a better than average chance that I will not be able to coach the boys this season.
As you may know, I flew to Chicago last weekend to see the Blackhawks play, but really it was a tryout. And I thought the tryout went rather well. The team captain Jon Toews and a defense-man Steve Montador joined me for a bit and we passed the puck around. What made me think the tryout went well is that the Hawks pulled out all the stops and had me meet with two hall of famers, Bobby Hull and Tony Esposito during the first intermission.
They wanted me so bad they let me bring my cousins in from Indianapolis, John and Joe Cougan.
So... if I sign, and if the Blackhawks made a Stanley Cup run I will most likely be unavailable to coach the team this spring and early summer.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Inspiration
Sometimes life gets hard. Things do not go your way. All roads seem to be going uphill. You think unfairness abounds.
We all feel this way sometimes. Life is picking on us. We seem to not have the energy to fight back.
Years ago I learned a valuable lesson. I worked near a place that hired disabled workers. These workers had various disabilities. After one horrible day at work, which had culminated a horrible week at work I was headed home and I drove by the bus stop that these workers congregated at waiting for the bus to take them home. And I noticed that each of them had the biggest grin on their face. They ALL seemed happy. Of course I had seen them before and as I reflected on it, they always looked so happy.
These were people that had either incurred or were born with issues that hampered their bodies, minds and senses. THEY had it rough, not me and yet they were dealing with life's issues waaaay better than I was. It made me ashamed to be feeling sorry for myself knowing that my obstacles were imaginary.
Remember the following photo next time you have a bad game, strike out or are worrying about recovering from a minor ACL tear. You still got it pretty good, you control your destiny and there ain't nothin' in front of you that hard work cannot cure!
We all feel this way sometimes. Life is picking on us. We seem to not have the energy to fight back.
Years ago I learned a valuable lesson. I worked near a place that hired disabled workers. These workers had various disabilities. After one horrible day at work, which had culminated a horrible week at work I was headed home and I drove by the bus stop that these workers congregated at waiting for the bus to take them home. And I noticed that each of them had the biggest grin on their face. They ALL seemed happy. Of course I had seen them before and as I reflected on it, they always looked so happy.
These were people that had either incurred or were born with issues that hampered their bodies, minds and senses. THEY had it rough, not me and yet they were dealing with life's issues waaaay better than I was. It made me ashamed to be feeling sorry for myself knowing that my obstacles were imaginary.
Remember the following photo next time you have a bad game, strike out or are worrying about recovering from a minor ACL tear. You still got it pretty good, you control your destiny and there ain't nothin' in front of you that hard work cannot cure!
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