Windy City Softball: League News
Sunday, November 22Sunday, November 15th - GAME NOTES
In one of the biggest upsets ever in the history of Windy City Softball, the Fugitives somehow stole a win from the Battalion with 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to complete an improbable comeback. After the Battalion toyed around with the Fugitives by spotting them a 4 – 1 lead for most of the game they decided to finally score some runs and put up 5 in the top of the 6th for what should have been the winning runs. The Battalion wanted to keep it close and exciting but didn’t take the Fugitives comeback chances seriously. They mistakenly believed they could score at will so they laughed off the Fugitives meager leads. As Andy Walsh stated, “I can’t believe we actually lost? I’m embarrassed for myself, my family, and my teammates!” There were not many noteworthy contributions from the Battalion but we would like to point out a few performances; Brian went 2 for 3 with 2 runs and a double, Vince went 3 for 3 with a double and 3 rbi, Justen went 2 for 2 with a run, and John kept hitting by going 2 for 2 with a run. We look forward to facing the Fugitives again in the playoffs and we are willing to double the bet to 4 pitchers of beer (the good stuff, not the cheap stuff that the Fugitives drink)!
Battalion 25 6
Fugitives 7
GAME NOTES submitted by Geoff (Battalion 25)
Sunday, November 22
Sunday, November 15th - GAME NOTES
Sears got the first three on and brought them in with hits and RBI groundouts. Blues would go quietly in the first two with two strikeouts. Sears would answer with three innings of pretty close to 1-2-3. A series of singles put Blues back in the game in the third. Sears would get those two back in the sixth, but Blues would come right back with two of their own. Those two would have tied it but for some great relay throws an inning earlier that nailed a Bros at the plate trying for the home run. Likewise a throw from deep right field on a line to third nabbed another overly aggressive Blues base-runner. Sears would tack on some insurance (all after two out), but they wouldnt be needed, as Blues would get one on but strand him.
Sears 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 - 8
B.Bros 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 - 4
Game Notes submitted by Don (Sears Power)
Thursday, November 12
Sunday, November 8th - GAME NOTES
Sears threatened but could not score in the first, so Hi Fi jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. Sears would tie it in the second with aggressive base-running and a two-out single. Sears would extend that lead, batting around in the third, but Hi Fi would come back with two three-run innings, one occurring after two were out. These innings included triples from Dave Monahan and Ed (forget last name -- former captain). Sears added a run to tie it at 7. Sears would again rely on aggressive base-running to take a three-run lead, and their defense shut down Hi Fi the rest of the way, including one inning in which Hi Fi had 2nd and 3rd with no out and could not score.
Sears 0 1 5 1 0 3 1 - 11
Hi Fi 1 0 3 3 0 0 0 - 7
Game Notes submitted by Don Bardwell (Sears Power)
Monday, October 19
Sunday, October 18th - GAME NOTES
Battalion 25 came out swinging, driving the first five balls straight back up the middle. Combine that with six different people dropping balls on the Sears side, and 25 tallied 10 runs in the first two innings. Sears kept chipping away, but they could never seem to mount the big rally. I would estimate that the pitcher had about 8 assists on the day. But Sears defense tightened up, and 25 posted four zeroes on the scoreboard and never really threatened. Power now trailed only by three, thanks in part to a Ryan Suffern home run. Bbut the top of Batt's order again came through for them, and they put up two very important insurance runs in the top of the 7th. Like last week, Sears rallied late, sending all ten players to the plate in the bottom half. However, they would come up a little short, leaving the tying and go-ahead runners on base.
Batt 25 6 4 0 0 0 0 2 - 12
Sears 2 0 2 1 2 0 4 - 11
Game summary submitted by Don (Sears Power).
Sunday, October 18th - GAME NOTES:
Battalion 25 was able to hold on for a win after taking a 10-2 lead after 2 innings against Sears Power 12-11. Sears Power had a strong comeback and scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th but fell one run short. The Battalion was missing some key players and had others in unfamiliar positions but generated enough offense and defense to win. Even though some strong individual performances will be pointed out it was a true team win with everyone contributing on both offense and defense. From our 10 players every player got on base at least once, 6 players scored, and 8 players drove in at least 1 run. Brian led the way going 4 for 4 with 3 runs and an rbi, Geoff went 3 for 4 with 3 runs and 2 rbi, John went 3 for 4 with 2 runs and an rbi, Jason went 3 for 4 with a double and 2 rbi (and the distinction of being thrown out twice at the plate, which is pretty rare), Chris went 2 for 4 with 2 runs, a double, and an rbi, Lisa went 2 for 4 with a run and an rbi and Tara and Mike both went 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Game summary submitted by Geoff (Battalion 25).
Saturday, October 17
Sunday, October 11th - GAME NOTES
Sunday, October 11th - GAME NOTES from Battalion 25:
Sunday, October 11th - GAME NOTES from Fat Penguins:
Sears manufactured a couple of runs in the first off several hits and a defensive miscue or two, and they added another in the second with Joe Roddey's lead-off home run. Then they pretty much went in order for three innings as even hard-hit liners up the middle were stopped or smacked down by an octopus-like Fugitives pitcher. On the other side, Fugitives were kept in check until they threatened in the third, but Sears escaped with the bases loaded. The next inning they would get a couple back thanks in part to a single to center played into a home run.
Sears would get an important run in the fifth after the first two batters made out, thanks to Justin Grizzoffi's key single, but a lead-off walk to the Fugitives would have them respond in kind in the bottom half. Hits from the bottom part of Sears order would lead to another two runs in the sixth, but Fugitives exploded in the bottom half with four runs to take their first lead heading into the bottom half -- thanks in large part to key singles from their two ladies.
Jen Sokolov hustled out a single to start the seventh, and altho the Fug's pitcher was clearly avoiding pitching to Sears Joe Roddey after his earlier home run, he managed to reach out and lash a triple to right to tie up the game. After a walk, Justin Grizzoffi found himself in an 0-2 hole, but managed to pound out an RBI grounder. A Joe Canale single would drive in a much-desired insurance run, but he would get picked off first to end the inning.
Fugitives got the first two runners on, but an ill-advised throw to third on the second hit to right paid off as the runner over-ran the bag and was tagged out for the first out. Sears would get another out without the runner on second advancing, and ended the game with a shoe-string catch by Canale in center, providing him a bit of redemption for his earlier base-running gaffe.
Overall a great game with some nifty double plays on both sides and some clutch two-out hits.
Sears 2 1 0 0 1 2 3 - 9
Fug's 0 0 0 2 1 4 0 - 7
Sunday, October 4th - GAME NOTES:
Doors swung out to a quick 6-0 lead after turning a double play and batting around the order. Sears responded in the second to bring it to one. After a Swinging home run, Sears was down 9-5 after three. Joe Roddey's home run brought Power back to within a run, and then their defense clamped down, not allowing another Doors run the rest of the way. But they didnt stop hitting, resulting in another win by a wide margin after several innings of back and forth close game.
Sears 0 5 0 3 4 8 4 - 24
Doors 6 2 1 0 0 0 0 - 9
Monday, October 5
Sunday, October 4th - GAME NOTES
Sunday, October 4th - GAME NOTES from Don Bardwell (coach of Sears Power):
Doors swung out to a quick 6-0 lead after turning a double play and batting around the order. Sears responded in the second to bring it to one. After a Swinging home run, Sears was down 9-5 after three. Joe Roddey's home run brought Power back to within a run, and then their defense clamped down, not allowing another Doors run the rest of the way. But they didnt stop hitting, resulting in another win by a wide margin after several innings of back and forth close game.
Sears 0 5 0 3 4 8 4 - 24
Doors 6 2 1 0 0 0 0 - 9
____________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, October 4th - GAME NOTES from Geoff Szot (Battalion 25)
Battalion 25 – 12
High Fidelity – 8
(Battalion 25 record = 1-3)
Battalion 25 gets its first win of the season in a close game against High Fidelity. After Hi-Fi took a 7-2 lead in the top of the 5th, Battalion stormed back with 10 runs in the next 2 innings to win. Battalion 25 played some really good infield defense with plenty of force outs at second and third base. Jared and John also made some nice catches in the outfield while Shannon caught the last out in RF. On offense the team was led by Geoff’s homer, triple, and 6 rbi’s, Josh’s 2rbi’s and 2 hits, Sean’s 2 runs and rbi, Vince’s 2 hits, 2 runs, and rbi, Tara’s hit, run, and rbi, and Kelsey’s hit, run, and rbi. It was a great team effort celebrated with post game drinks with the first round on Andy!
Here are the summaries from our past games:
Sunday, 9/27 (Battalion 25 – 10, Dark Knights – 12) (Battalion 25 record = 0-3)
Battalion 25 tried their best to come back in the top of the 6th and the top of the 7th after the Dark Knights scored 3 runs in each of the first 4 innings losing 12 to 10. We were able to pull within 2 with 3 runs in the top of the 6th but fell short after loading the bases with no outs in the top of the 7th but getting no runs after a big double play by the Dark Knights to end the game. After some shaky defense in the early innings the Battalion settled down and got some good defensive plays from Mike in RF and Tara at 1B. Christine, who could barely run after hurting herself running 15 miles earlier in the day as she trains for a marathon, came through with 2 big hits and 2 runs. The rest of the offense was led by John who went 4 for 4 with 2 runs and an rbi, Greg 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 2 rbi, Brian 2 for 4 including a triple, 1 run and 3 rbi, Vince 2 for 4 with a run and 2 rbi, Geoff 2 for 4 with an rbi, Sean 2 for 4 with an rbi, Tara 1 for 4, Mike 2 for 4 with a run, and Stephanie 1 for 3 with a run and a walk.
Sunday, 9/20 (Battalion 25 – 11, Swinging Doors – 16) (Battalion 25 record = 0-2)
Battalion 25 and Swinging Doors had an offensive battle won by Swinging Doors 16-11. Alyssa led the way for the Battalion with a 4 for 4 batting performance with 1 run and 1 rbi. Andy was 3 for 4 with a run, John was 3 for 4 with 2 runs and an rbi, Geoff was 2 for 4 with 2 runs, Josh was 2 for 4 with a double, 1 run and 2 rbi’s, Greg was 3 for 4 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 rbi, Sean was welcomed back to the lineup going 2 for 4 with 1 run and 3 rbi, and Tara was 2 for 4 with a double, 1 run, and 2 rbi.
Sunday, 9/13 (Battalion 25 – 3, Griswolds – 5) (Battalion 25 record = 0-1)
Battalion 25 loses a close, defensive battle against Griswolds 5-3. Greg pitched a great game for Battalion, the defense was sharp all around, and the offense was led by John who was 2 for 2 with 2 run and 1 walk, Brian 1 for 3 with a run and an rbi, Jared with 2 hits and an rbi, and Josh with 2 hits including a triple and 1 run. Andy, Greg, Vince, and Lisa also had one hit each.