Week 8: Split against that stupid Fontana's Bar

After pulling off a win in a Game 1 2-0 nail biter, the Empty Pitchers settled for a split against Fontana's Bar, losing Game 2 by a run, despite having a healthy turnout, and a balanced enough attack to post 9 runs.

Richie had a superb game at third, making several key outs and delivering a couple of key hits in Game 2 and using his speed to keep the scoring pace up. Brendan and Greg continued a disturbing trend of over-the-fence outs, which I now see as a bit of a pattern (unfortunately two weeks too late) as I finally get the stats current. With the playoff match ups already set, perhaps the biggest news to come out of the game is David and Damian (both 3-5 on the day) maintaining a lead over Greg (4-6) for the 2013 batting title...with playoffs stats having historically been kept separate from the regular-season stats, it may be too late for Greg to make up that ground.

Game 15 Box Score
10/27/2013
TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  FINAL
FB     0  0  1  5  2  2  0  10
EP     0  1  4  0  3  0  1  9

PLAYER    AB  R  H  RBI  BB  AVG 'On the Day'
David P    4  1  2   1   0  .739 (3-5)
Julie C    4  1  0   2  w,s .313 (1-3,wlk,sac)
Brendan SS 4  1  3   1   0  .536 (2-6)
Alicia RCF 4  2  0   1   0  .292 (3-6)
Greg CF    3  0  2   3   0  .703 (4-6)
Tara RF    3  0  1   0   0  .276 (1-7)
Pete LF    3  0  1   0   0  .433 (3-5)
Nicole EH  3  0  0   0   0  .258 (1-6)
Damian 1B  3  0  1   1   0  .778 (3-5)
Katie 2B   3  0  2   0   0  .189 (0-6)
Richie 3B  3  2  2   0   0  .455 (3-5,walk)
Brian EH   2  1  2   0   0  .450 (3-5)
  Sam      2  1  2   0   0  .500 (3-5)

2B - Alicia (1), David (5), Greg (10), Katie (1),
Sam (6); OTF - Brendan (4), Greg(3)

Game 14 Box Score
10/27/2013
TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  FINAL
EP     0  0  1  0  0  0  1  2
FB     0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0

PLAYER    AB  R  H  RBI  BB 
Brendan CF 2  1  1   0   0  
  Damian   2  0  1   0   0  
Tara 2B    4  0  0   0   0  
Greg P     3  0  2   1   0  
Katie RF   3  0  0   0   0 
Sam SS     3  0  2   0   0  
Alicia RCF 2  0  0   0   0  
  Julie    1  0  0   0   0  
Pete LF    2  0  1   0   0  
  David    1  1  1   0   0  
Nicole C   3  0  1   0   0  
Richie 3B  2  0  1   1   1  
Brian 1B   3  0  1   0   0

2B - Brendan (4), David (4), Greg (9), Sam (5);
3B - Greg (1)

Pitchers Open Season with a Split

The Pitchers eased into their 2011 season, splitting a doubleheader with Fontana's Bar -- winning Game 1 by an extra-inning score of 3-2, and suffering a loss in Game 2 by the same score.

An uncharacteristically strong EP defense and adjusting to a new ump's strike zone was the name of Game 1 for the Pitchers. A Damian-to-David strike mowed down a Fontana's runner in the third, and an inning-ending double play two innings later got the Pitchers out of a jam, with right fielder Alicia quickly getting a squib down the line back into second base, and relay man Felix making a perfect throw to David at the plate to mow down a runner attempting to score. David then didn't hesitate in whipping the ball down to Sam at third, where a tag was applied in time to Fontana's greedy hitter.

The Pitchers got on the board in the bottom of the first, thanks to a lead-off triple from Sam and an RBI single from Damian. Fontana's managed to scrape together an answering run of their own in the fourth, and the teams remained locked in a 1-1 tie going into the bottom of the 8th. Making his Empty Pitchers debut, Matt capped a 3-for-3 game with a lead-off double and was able to come home with the winning run when fleet-of-cleat Felix induced an errant throw to second on his game-winning single.

Alex B. came on in early relief in Game 2 and found himself smack dab in a pitcher's duel for the ages. After a pair of inherited runners scored, the Pitchers D held up, with rookies Mina and Alex recording key outs, John providing his usual steady hands at short and Damian diving face-first into the weeds for a heart-stopping catch, using the knee-high ground cover to the team's advantage.

Buddies Alex K. and Damian scored the game's only runs for the Pitchers, when the team was finally able to string together hits from Damian, John and a shot from Nicole that redeemed the ladies (at that point, a combined 0-17 on the day). Unfortunately, tough-luck hits dropped in in the bottom of the 7th and Fontana's recorded their first-ever win against the Pitchers, who were left to console themselves with suspect "buckets" of beer at Jeremy's. We'll have to wait until the playoffs to take our revenge.

Fashion Plate of the Game: Congratulations to Julie, whose green-white EP throwback paired with a khaki Miller Lite hat from her drinking collection caused an early-season sensation in the dugout.

Next Game: We take on newbie (I think) Team Kaitlin this Saturday, Sept. 17. Plan your Coleman Oval arrival for noontime.

Week 1: Pitchers vs. Fontana's Bar

Game 2 Box Score
9/11/2011
TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  FINAL
EP     0  0  2  0  0  0  0  2
FB     2  0  0  0  0  0  0  3

PLAYER    AB  R  H  RBI  BB  AVG 'On the Day'
John SS    3  0  2   1   1  .667 (2-3, walk)
Nicole EH  3  0  2   1   0  .500 (2-4)
Sam 3B     3  0  1   0   0  .400 (2-5)
Lisa C     3  0  1   0   0  .200 (1-5)
Alex B P   3  0  1   0   0  .200 (1-5)
Julie RF   3  0  1   0   0  .200 (1-5)
Brian EH   3  0  0   0   0  .000 (0-4)
Mina 2B    3  0  0   0   0  .000 (0-5)
David LF   1  0  0   0   0  .333 (1-3)
 Felix     1  0  1   0   0  .500 (2-4)
Alicia 1B  1  0  0   0   1  .000 (0-3, walk)
 Stacey    1  0  0   0   0  .000 (0-3, walk)
Alex K RCF 2  1  0   0   0  .000 (0-3)
Matt CF    1  1  1   0   0 1.000 (4-4)
 Damian    1  0  0   0   0  .500 (2-4)

2B - Alex B (1); OTF - David (1)

Game 1 Box Score
9/11/2011
TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  FINAL
FB     0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  1
EP     1  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  2

PLAYER    AB  R  H  RBI  BB 
Sam 3B     2  1  1   0   0
 John      1  0  0   0   0
Stacey 1B  3  0  0   0   1
Damian LF  3  0  2   1   0
Alicia RF  3  0  0   0   0
Matt CF    3  1  3   0   0
Mina 2B    2  0  0   0   0
 Nicole    1  0  0   0   0
Felix SS   3  0  1   1   0
Julie C    2  0  0   0   0
David P    2  0  1   0   0
Lisa EH    2  0  0   0   0
Alex K RCF 1  0  0   0   0
 Brian     1  0  0   0   0
Alex B EH  2  0  0   0   0
2B - Felix (1), Matt (1,2); 3B - Sam (1)

Pitchers Mostly Business in Early Rounds

The Pitchers are through the opening rounds of the playoffs and looking ahead to a third-round matchup against Ruben's Angels, and, a potential championship matchup against the winner of Sub & Heroes versus the Dragons.

A well-balanced offensive attack from the Pitchers in Round 1 resulted in an easy 7-2 win over the Remainders. Much to the consternation of their opponent's tight-jeans bedecked, hipster pitcher, the Pitchers showed incredible discipline at the plate, refusing to chase any garbage he tossed their way.

From top-to-bottom of the lineup, every Pitcher reached base and the run scoring was scattered throughout the order. After banking two runs in the first, the Pitchers broke the game open with a four-run second, featuring hits from Sam, Lisa, Matt, John, Alicia and Greg. In fact, two-out hits were the source of all the Pitchers' run production over the course of Game 1.

Greg pitched outstanding in his second career start, walking none, going above and beyond in taking the ball through the early innings of Round 2, proving himself as clutch a big-game Pitcher as ever.

Round 2 saw the Pitchers take a 4-1 win from Fontana's Bar. Late-arrival/malcontent David took the mound in the third inning of the game -- promptly messing with management's head by walking the first batter he faced (a girl! who would go on to score Fontana's only run!) -- but soon put aside any discord over last weekend's post-game spread to focus on extending his personal-best unbeaten pitching streak. Luckily, David Being David resulted in another W for the Pitchers.

In spite of all the pre-game scouting on the part of Fontana's, the bar team didn't have any answer to perfect offensive AND defensive games from the left side of the infield: John (4-4, run scored) and Alex (3-for-3, RBI). The Pitchers scored all of their runs in the third -- on hits from John, Alicia, Greg, Alex and Stacey -- and held on tight defensively to secure the win.



Next game: Be at the field for 11:15 a.m. this Saturday. If we win, we've got a break and then play again in the 2:30 p.m. championship. Either way, plan on Jeremy's afterward...

Playoffs: Rounds 1 & 2

Round 2 Box Score - Fontana's Bar
11/6/2010

TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7   FINAL
FB     0  1  0  0  0  0  0   1
EP     0  0  4  0  0  0  X   4

PLAYER    AB  R  H  RBI  BB  AVG* 'On the Day'
John SS    4  1  4   0   0  .857  (6-7)
Alicia 2B  4  1  2   0   0  .500  (3-6, walk) 
Greg P     3  1  2   1   0  .667  (4-6) 
  David    2  0  0   0   0  .000  (0-2)
Nicole RF  2  0  0   0   1  .000  (0-5, walk) 
  Lisa     1  0  0   0   0  .250  (1-4)
Alex 3B    3  1  3   1   0  .667  (4-6)
Stacey 1B  3  0  1   1   0  .333  (2-6)
Felix CF   2  0  0   0   0  .400  (2-5)
  Sam      1  0  0   0   0  .500  (2-4)
Rachel C   3  0  1   1   0  .600  (3-5, walk)
Matt RCF   2  0  0   0   0  .250  (1-4)
Brian LF   3  0  0   0   0  .200  (1-5)

2B - Greg (2,3)

Round 1 Box Score - Remainders
11/6/2010

TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7   FINAL
RE     0  0  2  0  0  0  0   2
EP     2  4  1  0  0  0  X   7
PLAYER    AB  R  H  RBI  BB 
John SS    3  1  2   1   0
Alicia EH  3  1  1   1   1    
Greg P     3  0  2   1   0   
Nicole 2B  3  0  0   0   0   
Alex 3B    3  0  1   1   0
Stacey 1B  3  1  1   1   0 
Felix CF   3  1  2   0   1 
Rachel RF  3  0  2   1   0
Sam LF     3  1  2   0   0
Lisa C     3  0  1   0   1
Matt RCF   2  1  1   1   0
Brian EH   2  1  1   0   0   

2B - Felix (1), Greg (1), John (1), Sam (1)
* Playoff stats separate from regular season

Week 1: Pitchers vs. Fontana's Bar

Game 2 Box Score
9/11/2010

TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7   FINAL
FB     0  0  0  1  0  0  2   2
EP     0  5  1  0  0  0  X   6

PLAYER    AB  R  H  RBI  BB   AVG 'On the Day'
Damian P   4  1  1   0   0   .167  (1-6)
Julie 2B   3  0  0   0   1   .167  (1-6,walk)
Greg RCF   4  1  4   2   0  1.000  (6-6)
Stacey 1B  3  0  2   0   0   .333  (2-6)
Alex 3B    3  0  2   1   0   .833  (5-6) 
Alicia C   3  0  0   0   0   .286  (2-7)
Brian LF   3  1  1   0   0   .500  (3-6)
Nicole RF  3  1  1   0   0   .167  (1-6)
John LCF   2  0  1   1   0   .600  (3-5)
David EH   1  1  1   0   0  1.000  (5-5)
Lisa EH    3  0  2   2   0   .500  (3-6)
Sam SS     3  0  1   0   0   .500  (3-6)
Felix EH   3  1  1   0   0   .500  (3-6)

2B - Greg (2), David (1)

Game 1 Box Score
9/11/2010

TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7   FINAL
EP     0  1  0  0  5  1  1   8
FB     1  1  0  0  2  2  0   6
PLAYER    AB  R  H  RBI  BB   AVG
Felix SS   3  1  2   2   1   .667
Stacey 1B  3  0  0   1   0   .000 
David P    4  1  4   1   0  1.000
Alicia 2B  4  1  2   1   0   .500
Greg LF    2  2  2   0   0  1.000   
Damian CF  2  0  0   0   0   .000
Lisa C     3  0  1   1   0   .333
Alex 3B    3  1  3   2   0  1.000
Nicole RF  3  0  0   0   0   .000
Sam RCF    3  0  2   0   0   .667
Julie EH   3  1  1   0   0   .333
John LCF   3  2  2   1   0   .667
Brian EH   3  0  2   0   0   .667
2B - Felix (1) Greg (1); 3B - Greg (1)
OTF - Sam (1)