Tag Archives: 5/1/12

Fish Sticks Stave Off Downtown Bobby Brown, Survive Scare in 11-10 Win

3 May
Joey and the Fish Sticks came close to squandering another big lead against Bobby Brown and their rally caps

Joey and the Fish Sticks came close to squandering another big lead against Bobby Brown and their rally caps

One game after blowing a late six run lead to the Caucasians, the Fish Sticks came dangerously close to suffering another come-from-behind victory to Bobby Brown in the nightcap. After leading 7-0 through three innings, the Sticks gave up 10 runs in the final three innings, narrowly escaping with an 11-10 win.

The home squad, Downtown Bobby Brown, started Brad, who hoped to follow Gaurav’s electric performance in their first game of the season. The first batter he faced, Joey, led off the game with a triple, and after one batter the Sticks had a base runner 13 strides from the plate. The next batter, Ivan, flew out to the mound, holding Joey at third. But Brad couldn’t get out of the inning, as Vassallo roped a one-out double, scoring Joey and putting the Sticks up 1-0. Brad minimized the damage, retiring Dinger to end the inning.

Vassallo doubled off Brad in the first to drive in the games first run, and finished the game with 5 RBI

Vassallo doubled off Brad in the first to drive in the games first run, and finished the game with 5 RBI

The Fish Sticks sent Joey to the mound in his first appearance of the season, fresh off a 2011 campaign when he went 8-3 with a 3.28 ERA and had 3 victories in the Sticks postseason run. He got off to a good start, as Helal and Gaurav grounded out to Vassallo in left for a scoreless bottom of the first.

The Sticks got to work in the top of the second, and immediately added to their lead. Blose singled to lead off, and Joey followed with a single putting runners on the corners. Ivan then singled, scoring Blose and pushing the score to 2-0. The next batter, Vassallo, hit the fourth consecutive single for the Sticks, scoring Joey and increasing the lead to three. With runners on first and second, Brad got the first out of the inning, getting Dinger to groundout to left. But the rally continued, as Blose reached base safely for the second time in the inning, hitting a two-run double that scored Ivan and Vassallo, making the score 5-0. With Blose on second, Brad got out of the inning, as Joey grounded out to left, stranding the runner.

After flying out in his first at-bat, Ivan hit five consecutive singles, scoring two runs and driving in two

After flying out in his first at-bat, Ivan hit five consecutive singles, scoring two runs and driving in two

Down five runs early, Downtown struggled to get their offense going. Mark led off the bottom of the second with a single, but Joey retired the next two batters, Brad and Holly, consecutively to end the inning without giving up a run.

Ivan started the top of the third with a single, but Brad avoided another disastrous inning. Vassallo and Dinger were sent down in order, and the score remained 5-0 through two and a half innings.

Joey continued to roll in the bottom of the third. Helal flew out to Ivan in right, and Gaurav grounded out to left for the first and second outs of the inning.

Brad got into a deeper hole in the top of the fourth. Blose led off the inning with a solo blast to right-center field, extending the Sticks lead to six runs. Joey followed with a triple, his second of the contest, and scored when the next batter, Ivan, singled. The Sticks were up 7-0 with no outs and a runner on first. The Sticks couldn’t push the lead further though, as Vassallo and Dinger were retired, stranding a runner at first and ending the inning.

Blose hit a home run in the fourth, and led the Sticks going 4 for 5 with 3 RBI

Blose hit a home run in the fourth, and led the Sticks going 4 for 5 with 3 RBI

The deficit was seven runs heading into the bottom of the fourth, but Bobby Brown finally got to Joey and the Sticks defense. Mark flew out to the mound for the first out of the inning, and Brad followed with a one-out single. Holly moved Brad to second with a single of her own, and the next batter, Helal, destroyed a pitch to left-center field, his second three-run homer of the week, getting Downtown on the scoreboard. With the score 7-3, the rally ended there, as Gaurav flew out to Joey at the mound for the second out.

Helal hit two bombs against the Sticks and helped spark the Bobby Brown comeback attempt

Helal hit two bombs against the Sticks and helped spark the Bobby Brown comeback attempt

Downtown Bobby Brown made a call to the bullpen heading into the top of the fifth. Bobby replaced Brad, who had been hit hard, with Gaurav, who had two innings of eligibility left. The change didn’t pay off, as the Sticks quickly made up for the three runs they gave up in the fourth. Blose singled, and scored from first when Joey followed with a deep single. The next batter, Ivan, singled, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Vassallo came to the plate and hit a three-run homer to left-center, making the score 11-3. After giving up four quick runs, Gaurav settled and retired Dinger and Blose consecutively, ending the inning.

The Sticks put it to Brad, as he gave up 7 runs on 11 hits in 4 innings

The Sticks put it to Brad, as he gave up 7 runs on 11 hits in 4 innings

Despite being down 8 runs, Downtown continued to rally in the bottom of the fifth. Mark led off with a single, and moved to second on a Brad groundout to Vassallo in left. With one out, Holly doubled, scoring Mark and cutting the deficit to 11-4. The next batter, Helal, who took Joey deep in his previous at-bat, promptly crushed another blast out of the wiffle diamond. His two-run shot cut the Sticks lead to only five runs. After a good start, Joey was struggling on the mound, and things got ugly quick. Gaurav stepped to the plate and followed Helal’s home run with a solo shot, making back-to-back homers, making the score 11-7 with one out in the fifth. Following the four run explosion, Joey pulled himself from the game and the Sticks sent their closer, Blose, in to clean up the mess. Blose ended the Downtown rally, getting Mark to fly out to Vassallo in left, but Bobby was back in the game after their second big inning.

Holly went 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored and an RBI for DBB

Holly went 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored and an RBI for DBB

Their 8 run lead had been cut to 4, but the Sticks couldn’t make up for lost runs as they did in the previous inning. Gaurav returned to form, getting Joey to ground out, and following an Ivan single, retired Vassallo for the second out of the inning.

As the sun set and darkness settled in, Bobby Brown came into the bottom of the sixth down four. Blose retired Brad, who flew out to center, for the first out of the inning, and it looked as if the comeback bid would come to an end. But the Sticks, who struggled in the field in their first game, started to look shaky again. Blose gave up a single to Holly with one out, and Helal followed with a double, putting runners on second and third with one out. The next batter, Gaurav, singled with the help of Fish Sticks’ fielding errors, driving in Holly and Helal moving the score to 11-9. With Gaurav on first, Mark hit a lazy fly ball that wasn’t caught for a single, and Bobby Brown had the tying run on first with one out. The next batter, Brad, hit a double, again due to fielding errors, which scored Gaurav, and it was a one run game. Mark couldn’t score from first, but moved to third on the play. The tying run was on third, the winning run was on second, and Holly came to the plate with one out. After a long at-bat, Holly hit a towering fly ball to center field. Despite making numerous fielding errors in the inning, the Sticks made a play, as Joey got under the ball for the second out of the inning, ending the game and the miraculous comeback attempt by Bobby Brown. The Sticks held on to win 11-10, but almost let their second consecutive big lead slide.

W: Joey (1-0)
L: Brad (0-1)

Box Score

Game Notes:
– This game featured the first use of relief pitchers in the 2012 season
– By the time the game had finished, the sun was completely set and darkness was becoming a factor.
– Every player in the game reached base safely, except Dinger of the Fish Sticks

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Ham Slams Quiet Caucasians to Earn Franchise’s First Win

3 May
Quinn held the Caucasians to only 1 run on 8 hits in a complete game win

Quinn held the Caucasians to only 1 run on 8 hits in a complete game win

For the second consecutive game the Ham Slams managed to score only 2 runs, but the two were enough as Quinn held the Caucasian offense to only 1 run in a 2-1 victory. After scoring 9 runs, 7 unanswered, against the Fish Sticks in their first game, the Caucasians struggled on offense with only 3 base runners advancing beyond first base. The Ham Slams weren’t much better offensively, but a late rally put them ahead for the win.

The Slams started Quinn on the mound in his first EWL pitching appearance. He looked comfortable, retiring Guthrie and Morrison in the top of the first without allowing a hit.

The Caucasians started new acquisition Ron, who went 4-7 in 2011 but had one of the league’s lowest ERAs (3.20) and WHIPs (1.38) and plenty of experience on the hill. He rolled through the first, as TJ and Quinn each grounded out.

Quinn got himself in a jam in the top of the second when he gave up a leadoff single to Pat, followed by another single by Les to put runners on first and second with no outs. But he escaped unscathed when Ron flew out to the mound and Quinn doubled up Pat to end the inning.

It looked as if Ron was about to have some trouble in the bottom of the second when he gave up a leadoff double to Anthony, and Evan followed with a single. Anthony couldn’t advance beyond second on the play but there were runners on first and second with no outs. But like Quinn in the top half of the inning, Ron got out of the inning unblemished when Charlie grounded out to Pat in right who doubled-off Anthony trying to advance to third, ending the inning.

The Ham Slams were solid in the field, led by Anthony in center who had 8 putouts in week 1

The Ham Slams were solid in the field, led by Anthony in center who had 8 putouts in week 1

Scoreless through two innings, the Caucasians looked to break the tie in the top of the third. Quinn retired Guthrie to start the inning, but Morrison and Pat each hit singles with one out putting runners on the corners for Les. But Quinn buckled down and fanned Les to end the inning, stranding two more Caucasians.

TJ flew out to the mound to begin the bottom of the third, and Quinn looked to help himself out with a one-out double. But Ron held the runner at second, getting Anthony to fly out to Morrison in deep left field for the second out of the inning.

Ron couldn’t help his own cause in the top of the fourth, as he led off by flying out to Anthony in center. Guthrie followed with his first hit of the game, a double, putting the lead run in scoring position. But Quinn stranded yet another Caucasian, getting Morrison to fly out to the mound, ending the inning.

Ron made quick work of the Slams in the bottom of the fourth, retiring Evan and Charlie in order.

Still scoreless, Pat flew out to center for the first out of the top of the fifth. With one down, Les blasted a shot into the tree, and raced into third with a triple. The Caucasians finally broke through, as Ron singled, driving in Les for the first run of the game, making the score 1-0. Guthrie followed with a single, pushing Ron to third, and it looked as if the Caucasians would rally with one out. But Quinn got Morrison to groundout to left, ending the inning and leaving two more Caucasians on base.

In the top of the fifth, Les tripled and scored on a Ron single to put the Caucasians up 1-0

In the top of the fifth, Les tripled and scored on a Ron single to put the Caucasians up 1-0

Down 1-0, the Ham Slams responded in the bottom of the fifth, starting with TJ who led off the inning with a single. Quinn flew out to center for the first out of the inning, and TJ couldn’t advance past first. Anthony followed with a one-out double, putting the tying and go-ahead run in scoring position with one out. The next batter, Evan, delivered a one-out single as TJ and Anthony raced around to score, and the Ham Slams had their first lead as a team in the EWL. Ron retired the next batter, Charlie, to end the inning, but the Caucasians would head into the final frame down a run to the upstart Ham Slams.

Evan's two-run single in the bottom of the fifth gave the Ham Slams a 2-1 lead

Evan’s two-run single in the bottom of the fifth gave the Ham Slams a 2-1 lead

Quinn stayed in the game to close the deal, and started the top of the sixth by getting Pat to ground out to left field. Down to their final out, Les, who scored the Caucasians only run in the game, went down swinging for the second time in the game. Quinn closed the door on the Ham Slams first franchise win, a 2-1 victory of the Caucasians.

W: Quinn (1-0)
L: Ron (0-1)

Box Score

Game Notes:
– Quinn pitched the complete game for the victory, scattering 7 hits in 6 innings with 2 strikeouts.
– Ron pitched well for the Caucasians, allowing only six hits in five innings in a complete game loss.
– This game featured two double plays which occurred in consecutive innings.
– Les tied a single-game record for strikeouts with 2.

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Gaurav Dominant on Mound as Downtown Bobby Brown Beats Ham Slams 4-2

3 May
Gaurav Mowed Through the Ham Slams En Route to a 4-2 Victory

Gaurav Mowed Through the Ham Slams En Route to a 4-2 Victory

The Ham Slams were welcomed to the EWL opening day by Downtown Bobby Brown, who rode Gaurav’s arm and free agent acquisition Helal’s bat to a 4-2 victory.

Downtown Bobby Brown, formerly Pumice on Slow!, struggled in 2011, winning only 3 games before being swept by the Caucasians in the first round of the playoffs. With a new team name and some new faces, they looked to turn a new page in the 2012 EWL season.

The Ham Slams, new to the EWL, prepare for their first game in franchise history

The Ham Slams, new to the EWL, prepare for their first game in franchise history

The Ham Slams, the EWL’s newest franchise, are the league’s youngest team but also carry the most expansive roster with at least 7 players. They showed promise in their first game, but fell short as a reinvigorated Bobby Brown kept their bats in check.

The Slams put Alec on the mound to throw their first pitch in franchise history, and he instantly developed a signature pitch. His pitching motion involves stopping his arm completely prior to releasing the ball, and it helped him get off on the right foot in the first inning. He retired Helal and Gaurav in order for a scoreless first.

Gaurav, the staff ace from 2011, started for Downtown. He looked to be in midseason form, as the Slams struggled to make solid contact. The Slams first two batters, Anthony and Adam, each flew out to Gaurav at the mound and the game was tied 0-0 through one.

Alec got Mark for the first out in the top of the second, but then Downtown started a rally. Brad singled, and moved to second when his wife, Holly, followed with a single of her own. With two runners on and one out, Helal crushed a pitch to deep center field for a three-run blast, breaking the scoreless tie and putting Bobby Brown ahead 3-0. Alec minimized the damage, retiring Gaurav for the second out of the inning.

Helal's first career hit was a three-run bomb that put Downtown Bobby Brown ahead 3-0 early

Helal’s first career hit was a three-run bomb that put Downtown Bobby Brown ahead 3-0 early

Gaurav continued to roll in the bottom half of the second. After retiring Evan himself, Alec singled for the first hit in Ham Slams franchise history. But Gaurav stranded him at first, getting Quinn to fly out to the mound. Gaurav personally retired the first four Ham Slams.

Alec settled down in the top of the third, as he retired the Lentz brothers, Mark and Brad, in order.

The Slams couldn’t crack into Bobby Brown’s lead in the bottom of the third. Gaurav got Anthony to groundout to Brad in left, followed by Adam grounding out to the pitcher’s mound.

Up 3-0, Downtown Bobby Brown added an insurance run in the top of the fourth. Holly singled for her second consecutive at-bat and moved to second when Helal grounded out to center. With one out and a runner in scoring position, Gaurav helped himself by driving in Holly with a single, making the score 4-0. It looked like Alec dug himself a hole when Mark followed with a single, pushing Gaurav to second, and then Brad singled, loading the bases with one out. Holly came to the plate 2 for 2, but couldn’t capitalize on the bases loaded opportunity, when Anthony caught a foul ball in deep right field to end the inning.

The Slams continued to struggle at the plate in the bottom of the fourth. Evan and Alec were both retired by Brad in left field, and Gaurav had allowed only one hit through four.

Downtown didn’t add to their lead in the top of the fifth, as Helal and Gaurav were retired in order.

After a shaky start on the mound, Alec settled down allowing only 1 run over the final 4.5 innings

After a shaky start on the mound, Alec settled down allowing only 1 run over the final 4.5 innings

The Ham Slams finally manufactured some offense in the bottom of the fifth, cutting into the four run deficit. TJ led off the inning with a single, and scored from first when Anthony followed with an RBI triple. Adam kept the rally going, when he drove in Anthony with a single, and the Slams had cut the score to 4-2 with no outs. Evan came to the plate with a runner at first, but Gaurav continued to shine. He completed a double play, retiring Evan and Adam, ending the inning and the threat.

Anthony's triple in the bottom of the fifth put the Slams on the board for the first time

Anthony’s triple in the bottom of the fifth put the Slams on the board for the first time

Mark started the top of the sixth with a single, but Alec held the Downtown lead at 2 runs, retiring Brad and Holly and stranding the runner at first.

Down two runs, Alec led off the bottom of the sixth by grounding out to center field. The Slams turned to the bench, inserting Charlie in as a pinch hitter. He doubled in his first career at bat, putting a runner in scoring position with one out. But the Slams couldn’t plate a run, as Gaurav retired Anthony, giving Downtown Bobby Brown the 4-2 victory.

W: Gaurav (1-0)
L: Alec (0-1)

Box Score

Game Notes:
– Alec threw the first pitch and recorded the first hit in Ham Slams franchise history, which TJ scored the first run and Anthony delivered the first RBI
– Helal’s 3-run homer in the second was the only long ball in the game
– Gaurav pitched the complete game victory for Bobby Brown, allowing only 5 hits in 6 innings while recording 7 putouts

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Caucasians Storm Back to Topple Fish Sticks 9-8 in Season Opener

3 May
The Caucasians, led by Morrison's three homers, stunned the Fish Sticks in a 9-8 victory

The Caucasians, led by Morrison’s three homers, stunned the Fish Sticks in a 9-8 victory

Despite trailing 8-2 midway through their season opener, the Caucasian exacted a bit of revenge on the Fish Sticks, coming from behind to win a rematch of last year’s Wiffle Series.

The Fish Sticks claimed the 2011 Wiffle Series Championship by defeating the favored Caucasians in an epic 6 game series that ended on a walk-off home run in extra innings. The teams looked very similar coming into the 2012 season; the entire 2011 All-EWL team returned for the Sticks (Blose, Joey) and Caucasians (Morrison, Guthrie). There were also some changes to both rosters. The Sticks new addition, Ivan Maldonado, became the first free agent to ever player for the squad. The Caucasians also added some free agents, 2011 Manager of the Year Ron, whose franchise 4 out of 5 Dentists are not competing in 2012, and Pat Auth, a rookie to the EWL.

Things looked the same, however, when the first pitch of the 2012 season was thrown. 2011 Pitch King Guthrie started on the mound for the Caucasians, hoping to have a season similar to his 2011 campaign when he went 7-1 with a 2.22 ERA. He faced Vassallo, who was last seen torching the Caucasians with clutch hits during the Wiffle Series. Guthrie got off to a good start, retiring Vassallo and Blose in order in the top of the first inning.

Guthrie delivers to Vassallo in the EWL season opener

Guthrie delivers to Vassallo in the EWL season opener

The Sticks started Dinger, their ace, who also started well by sending down the Caucasians first two batters, Les and 2011 MVP runner-up Morrison.

With no score through one inning, the Sticks got out their bats in the top of the second. Rookie Ivan, in his first career at-bat, doubled for the first hit of the 2012 season. Joey followed with a double which scored Ivan and put the Sticks ahead 1-0. Dinger followed by grounding out to Morrison in left field, moving Joey to third. With one out, Vassallo crushed a bomb to left-center, giving the Sticks a 3-0 lead. As they did three times in the 2011 postseason, Blose followed Vassallo’s homer with one of his own, making back-to-back jacks and extending the Sticks big inning to 4-0. Guthrie, struggling to end the inning, gave up a single to Ivan, his second hit of the inning, and Joey followed with another single putting two runners on for Dinger. But he couldn’t extend the Sticks rally, as Guthrie stranded two runners and ended the big top of the second.

Blose followed Vassallo's blast with one of his own to make back-to-back homers for the Fish Sticks in the second

Blose followed Vassallo’s blast with one of his own to make back-to-back homers for the Fish Sticks in the second

Dinger continued to pitch well in the bottom of the second, retiring Ron and Guthrie in order and protecting the Sticks four run lead.

Guthrie settled down in the top of the third, as Blose and Vassallo each grounded out to Morrison for a scoreless inning.

Down four, the Caucasians finally got on the board in the bottom of the third. Dinger retired Pat to start the inning, but then got into trouble. Les crunched a pitch over the right center field fence, the first Caucasian hit of the day, ending the shutout bid. Down three, the Caucasians cut the lead in half when Morrison followed with a solo blast, making the score 4-2 with one out. Ronnie flew out to Dinger at the mound for the second out, but the Caucasians were on the board.

Les put the Caucasians on the board with a solo homer in the fourth

Les put the Caucasians on the board with a solo homer in the fourth

The Fish Sticks didn’t wait long to respond. Ivan led off the inning with a single, his third hit of the day, and Joey followed with his third consecutive hit, a single. With runners on the corners, Dinger made up for the runs he yielded on the mound, knocking his first homer of the year, a three-run bomb to right field. Guthrie retired Vassallo for the first out of the top of the fourth, but the Stick’s weren’t finished yet. Blose hit a line drive to right center field, and a series of fielding and throwing errors led to the first inside-the-park home run of the 2012 season, as Blose put the Sticks ahead 8-2. Guthrie finally retired Ivan, fanning him for the second out of the inning.

Dinger helped his own cause with a 3-run bomb off Guthrie

Dinger helped his own cause with a 3-run bomb off Guthrie

Down six runs, the Caucasians rallied in the bottom of the fourth. After getting to Dinger the previous inning, their bats continued to produce as Guthrie atoned for the runs he gave up with a solo homer, his first hit of the season. Dinger retired Pat the for the first out of the inning, but the Caucasians followed with some one-out magic. Les singled, and Morrison followed with a monster two-run home run, his second in as many at-bats, cutting the score to 8-5. The comeback would continue, as Ron got his first hit of the season, a solo shot, making back-to-back homers and moving the score to 8-6. Guthrie followed with his second hit of the inning, a single, but Dinger ended the rally by getting Pat to ground out to Vassallo in left.

The Sticks lead had been cut to two runs, and Joey led off the top of the fifth with a single. But Guthrie would strand him there, as Dinger and Vassallo were retired in order.

Les went down swinging after a rare bunt attempt

Les went down swinging after a rare bunt attempt

Dinger picked up his first punch-out of the season to start the bottom of the fifth, as Les went down swinging for the first out of the inning. But the Caucasians were relentless and Morrison was feeling it. With one out, he hit a homerun for the third consecutive time, and it was a one-run game. The Sticks, who jumped out to a commanding lead, appeared to be flustered. A series of fielding errors led to Ron and Guthrie reaching base safely, and with one out, Pat came to the plate with two runners in scoring position. The go-ahead run was on second, and Pat plated him, knocking a two-run single and giving the Caucasians their first lead of the season, 9-8. Dinger stopped the damage there, retiring Les for the second time in the inning, but the Sticks would trail heading into the final frame.

Pat's 2-run single put the Caucasians ahead for good

Pat’s 2-run single put the Caucasians ahead for good

Despite giving up eight runs in his season debut, Guthrie stayed on the mound to close things out for the Caucasians. The Sticks would need one run to extend the game with Blose and Ivan due up. Guthrie got Blose to fly out to deep left for the first out of the inning. Down to their last at-bat, Ivan hit a deep fly ball the opposite way, but Morrison got under it to record the fly ball out, ending the game.

The Caucasians took advantage of costly fielding errors by the Fish Sticks to string together seven unanswered runs to win the first game of the 2012 EWL season, 9-8.

W: Guthrie (1-0)

L: Dinger (0-1)

Box Score

Game Notes:

– The Caucasians tied a single-game team record for home runs with 6.

– Morrison led the Caucasians on offense, going 3 for 4 with three home runs and five RBI.

– Every player in the game reached base safely at least once.

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