Tough Loss in Championship Game

As predicted by many the tournament Championship came down to Bellevue vs. Magnolia. Many predicted a high scoring game, which most likely would have favored Magnolia, but the game was a defensive duel and was won 2-1 by Bellevue in the bottom of the seventh.

Tino Peliti pitched well for four innings, allowing just four hits and striking out three. Jake Hawken was effective as well in his three innings, allowing three hits and striking out four. They each yielded a run, and the Mag boys could only match one of those runs.

Down 1-0 in the seventh Mitchell Smith was plunked by a pitch. Speedy Mitchell stole second and was bunted to third by Nick Reeves. The Bellevue bunch wanted no part of Tino Peleti and took their chances with Stuart Fairchild, who clutched up and delivered a sacrifice fly.

Magnolia was held to just four hits, delivered by David Becker, Nick Reeves, Spencer Hogger and John Peterson.

John Peterson was named MBC's tournament MVP. John earned this honor by winning two games on the mound, and batting .750 (6-8) with a double and home run.

Revenge on the Merchants

Our second game of the season, fresh of a superb win over the O'Brien Bunch. Walking tall and proud, we stumbled and had one of most disappointing games of the season. We suffered from a surprise walk off defeat to the Kirkland Merchants. We had a chance of facing them in the 4th of July tournament, but did not. We faced them today and proudly I can write that we defeated them soundly, 7-1.

Nick Reeves mowed for four innings, and could have gone all the way but the tournament rules forbade that, four inning max. Chris Luttinen came in and shut them down the rest of the way.

The lone Merchant run was controversial, and cost Coach Cougan his front row seat. With a runner on slow rolling ground ball was hit to third. After the throw to first (runner safe) the runner tried to move third and was gunned down by Spencer Hogger, the umpire at home called him out. The other umpire (if one could call him that) never saw the play, but remained at first. The Merchants argued the call and asked the home plate umpire to get the base umpire's opinion. But the first base umpire only had an opinion on the play at first (the only play he saw) and replied "safe" and the home plate umpire changed to his call. No amount of sophisticated debate by a (fuming, ranting, spitting mad) Coach Cougan could get the home plate umpire to understand that his partner was answering the wrong question. And I guess the home plate umpire could not seem to understand the base umpire repeatedly saying he did not see the play at third.

Coach Cougan then watched the rest of the game from far away in left field.

Offensively Stuart Fairchild, Nick Reeves, Spencer Hogger and Chris Luttinen all had two hit games. Mitchell Smith, Campbell Queen and John Peterson also added hits.

Complete and Total Admiration

Above; Old, Older, Oldest

I am old.  I am old by the standards that I developed as a youngster.  Waaay old.  At age 14 I made up my mind that I did not want to EVER be 45.  Seriously.  Those were the 60's and we were not supposed to trust anyone over 30, I was pretty sure the revolution WAS going to happen and I for one never wanted to get old.

My parents were old, and in those days; and with my eyes THEY were old.  I never EVER saw my old man in shorts, NEVER saw him move fast, I mean NEVER.  If he had to walk briskly he had to have his hand over his pocket to keep his change from jingling.

In those days Jack LaLane was considered a bona fide FREAK because he believed in exercise.  

And as a boy I had Robin Roberts' baseball card.  Even back then I thought, wow this guy is old, this guy has been around; how does he get anyone OUT?

Maybe you think this way about Jamie Moyer.  If you listen to the press and media, all you hear about is how old Jamie is.  How he gets hitters out with smoke and mirrors.  How he cannot last, how he MUST be living on borrowed time.

Here is my take.  I have always thought this and after today EVEN I came away MORE impressed than ever, but I am old.

Yeah, he only throws 83 or 84 tops.  In the days with closers throwing 99 this sounds like easy pickings.  

Only 83 84.  Well let me tell you, that is plenty fast.  It ain't that bad; most mortals cannot touch it, and even guys like Ted Williams have to concentrate to hit it.  Especially when it is located, especially when it moves.

I have known Jamie for six years now.  I was a former catcher.  I caught guys that were pretty damn good.  Mark Bishop was pretty damn good.  A big winner in college and Mark pitched well into his late 30's for the Seattle Studs Semi Pro team.  Mark was a thinker, a competitor and a scrapper.  I caught Wyatt Tonkin who threw absolute gas and got a cup of coffee with the Braves in the early 80's.  I caught Floyd Bannister, Kennedy High School super star, ASU premier pitcher, and number 1 draft pick of  1976 and Mariner stand out.

I caught Jamie today and he WOWED me.  He hit spots.  HE HIT SPOTS.  He hit spots in long toss. He hit spots from the mound. He made it move in.  He made it move out. He made it  move down.  And he made it move to his spots.  And each time HE CALLED HIS SHOT.  

I have always been a fan, I mean how can I not be, but today I FOUND OUT WHY he still gets big leaguers out.  

COMPLETE AND TOTAL ADMIRATION 

MBC Edges Woodinville to Win Tournament Pool

MBC beat Woodinville 7-6 to advance as Pool B's number one seed.  A trio of Spencer Hogger, Mitchell Smith and John Peterson combined for the win, with John gaining his second win of the day!

And what a day it was for John Peterson, 2-2 with a double in game #1, pitched four two hit six strikeout innings in game #1 and was the star of game two as well.  John was 2-2 in game #2 with a two run home run and RBI single, both with two outs.  He had better eat the same thing for breakfast tomorrow!

Stuart Fairchild, who has spent the entire season bouncing balls off of fences FINALLY got one to travel over the fence with a mammoth blast to left center.  Jake Hawken smacked a triple to right, but came up lame running the bases, he is now listed as day to day.

Magnolia Voted Best 14 Year Old Team in Olympia Area

Last week MBC 14's beat the Capital City Halo's and this week they man handled the South Sound All-Stars.  If we all moved down there we would be kings!

MBC made quick work of it besting South Sound 11-1.  John Peterson was dazzling, but suffered from Coach "Should Know Better" Bishop's comment that John was perfect through two innings.  He ended the game with six K's and allowed only two hits.

John was part of the story offensively as well, both he and Tino Peleti were 2-2, John with a big RBI double and Tino with a grand slam home run.

Stuart Fairchild doubled to the wall as well, and both Campbell Queen and David Becker added hits.

FYI

A quick look at the Koufax standings show us at 10-10 and out of the play-offs. Just so you guys know, I took a look at the other division and noticed that the top two teams in that division are the Stealheads and the Moon Valley team. Life is full of would'a, should'a, could'a's, but I am pretty sure we would have run away with the Cascade Division and be in place to be the team to beat in that tourney.

But I also want to add, I talked some with the Stealhead coach and he confirmed that there were teams in that division that they beat just by showing up, that he had some regrets that his team did not face the level of competition that he would have liked.

So, you got that going for you.

Take a Look at These Averages!

Some highlights from the Tourney


Tino .714, 2 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 5RBI
Start .353, 2 2B 10 RBI
John .500, 5 RBI
Nick .429
Jake .455, 3 2B
David & Mitchell both .412
Keenan .333, 2B, 5 RBI
Campbell .308, 2B 4 RBI

And this is not official but Mitchell Smith was named Pitcher of the Tourney and will be featured on next year's T-shirt (assuming he can come to financial terms with the Kirkland Merchants)