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.

Near Perfect Night for Baseball

Way back in March of '09 Stuart Fairchild threw five perfect innings against the RIPS club on a cold Saturday night. It was his first start since having some arm issues. It absolutely killed me to take him out of the game, but it was March, it was cold, and he had only recently been cleard to pitch since experiencing some arm pain. I took him out and told him he would have other chances.

Last night in the dugout, I sat there hoping that this was that time. And after the hit (and I am glad it was solid) I exhaled and thought, there will be other chances.

Stuart pitched wonderful in his first start back from his varsity play-off run. He came back at a time when we needed pitching and he got us through a tough game. Four shut out innings, two hits and five strike-outs, wow that was Mariner Starter Material!

Mr Everday Madche came in and blanked them in the fifth, and MBC got home early with a quick and fun 9-0 win.

Offensively this team is hitting from top to bottom, and the middle of Nick Reeves, Adam "wee man" Hinthorne and David Becker has been the glue that makes both ends work. The team scored in every inning.

Mitchell Smith led of by being plunked; again, and stole second, third and scored on a past ball. A virtual free run.

In the second, Adam led off with a hit and after a walk to Alex Mitchell both runners scored on a big blast by Nick Salle.

The third was our big inning. The Baden pitcher plunked Spencer Hogger and Stuart to start the inning and after two outs Quinn Burcham doubled them home. Nick, Adam and David then added consecutive hits and MBC had two more runs, all with two out.

Nick Salle led off the fourth with a single and after another single by Mitchell Smith he came home on Spencer's sac fly.

The last run came after Ethan Clements was plunked (remember when these guys all jumped out of the way of the ball like little girls?, well they have all toughened up). Two more batters were walked and Riley Duffy came through with a clutch RBI single.

Steelheads, The Story of the One that Got Away

MBC let a game slip away on Sunday morning losing 10-6 to the Steelheads. Key defensive lapses, tough breaks on base running and lack of getting THE hit when we needed it led to the downfall.

Nick Reeves pitched well, mixing his speeds and for the most part hitting his spots. A giant miscue on a bunt in the second inning started the bad ju-ju against MBC and we never recovered. After that, their balls seemed to find holes and ours just did not.

Tino came in and did his best on short rest but again fell victim of hits that found holes. Quinn Burcham pitched a clean sixth inning, but it was too little, too late; damage was done.

MBC pounded out ten hits but could not seem to put them in the proper order and allowed the Steelheads to slip away. Spencer "wheres the weight room" Hogger again displayed warning track power with another big double. Tino's bat started to warm up with a couple of big hits and Adam "our answer to Ichiro" pounded out three hits. Nick Reeves and David Becker stayed hot with hits and Riley Duffy got his ball rolling with a solid drive to right. Ethan Clements added a pinch hit single as well.

MBC Climbs All Over the Senators

Unlike Friday nights quick start, MBC started slow on Saturday and proceeded to climb all over the Senators at Auburn Mountainview High School.

MBC scored first in the second. Ethan Clements was plunked, was moved to second on an error and scored on Adam Hinthorne's single.

The Senators scored three in the third to jump on top, but MBC responded in the fouth to take control for good. Nick Reeves led off with a single, and scored on Adam Hinthorne's single after stealing second. A walk to David Becker and more base stealing put runners on second and third and Russell Madche hit a sacrifice fly. Nick Salle scored a run with an infield out and Mitchell Smith tallied the final run with a two-out clutch RBI single.

MBC played add on later in the game. In the sixth with two on and two out, Spencer Hogger belted a ball off the top of the wall in left to score two. In the seventh, David Becker added more with a another two-out RBI hit.

Nick Salle pitched well for four innings fanning five Senators. He was relieved by Russell "everygame" Madche who came in to blank the Senators for the last three innings.

Great defense was on display by MBC all day. Mitchell Smith started the competition in the first inning with an amazing diving catch on a routine fly ball to center. Tino Peleti made a gallant dive to almost catch a sinking line drive. Spencer Hogger made two outstanding plays at short. The best play of the game was made by Quinn Burcham running full speed into the corner in left to nab a would be double.

MBC Makes Quick Work of Bombers

MBC took care of business early against the Bombers on Friday night. They jumped out for six runs in the first and cruised to a stress free 7-1 victory.

Ethan Clements dominated for three innings allowing just one hit and striking out two. Tino Peleti went the last four innings also allowing just one hit and striking out seven. The Bombers scored only when Tino lost his edge momentarily beaning two Bombers and walking another. A mishandled bunt in between did not help his cause.

Offensively MBC came out swinging. Mitchell smith lead off with a walk, the Bombers then erred on a potential double play ball which proved fatal to their cause. Spencer Hogger then boomed a double followed by singles from Quin Burcham and Nick Reeves. David Becker then boomed another double. David scored on Russell Madche single.

Later in the game Tino Peleti walked and after gradually moving to third, scored on Quin Burcham's sacrifice fly.