Last week of the season and playoff preview MEGA EDITION! (Jamaican Air Horn Sounds in the background)
B North
Swingers 24 - Bulldogs 8
Swingers 24 - Doc's Irish Pub 8
Ball Busters 18 - One Hit Wonders 11
Wire2Wire 18 - Dark Horse 9
Swingers 24 - Bulldogs 8
Swingers 24 - Doc's Irish Pub 8
Ball Busters 18 - One Hit Wonders 11
Wire2Wire 18 - Dark Horse 9
Game 1: Bulldogs v Swingers
The Bulldogs showed up for the game but their bats stayed in bed until the 3rd inning when singles plate Mike Suda to get the boys on the board. Mr. Suda would do more damage in the 5th as he tattooed a tater to double their scoring output. In the 6th inning a good ol fashioned bat-around scored 6 runs on walks, a triple from upstanding citizen Anthony Bates and a homer from Big Jon Pennington. The most Bullish player of the early morning was Mike Suda who went 3 for 4 with a homer, 3 runs scored and 2 RBI.
The Swingers got scoring early and often today and they plate their first two runs on back to back doubles from Brian Close and Dion Greene. They would add 5 more in the 3rd on singles and a Brian Hoover three bagger. 7 runs is way cooler than 5 so thats what the Swingers did in the 5th inning as singles from most of the order plate a bunch. Feeling themselves the Swingers dropped a ten spot in the 6th to ice the game as every batter who came up scored. The rally was highlighted by two run homers from Matt Bachman and Matt Close. The Sweetest Swinger was Brian Close as he went 3 for 3 in this one to lead the way.
Game 2: Swingers v Docs
The Swingers were feeling themselves today. They began the onslaught with 2 runs in the first on singles and followed that up with 7 runs in the 3rd on another Matt Bachman bomb. They would add 6 in the 4th as well with Mr. Bachman (hes elevated from Matt to Mr. - a title given to those hitting it like a grown a** man) launching another homer. In the 5th they would continue to smash the ball to the tune of 9 more runs highlighted by Mr. Bachman’s 3rd dinger of the game and a two run shot from Matt “the bat” Close. The Swinger of the game was easily Mr. Bachman, as he torched Docs for 3 HRs going 4 for 4 in this one.
Docs got scoring going early in this one as they would plate a run in the 1st off a Dylan Brooks double to take an early lead. They would follow that up with a 6 spot in the 2nd via walks and singles to expand their lead. Unfortunately, the would not be able to muster much else in this one except for a run via Brett Keszczyk crushing a triple in scoring in the 4th. The Irishman of the day was his bro, Josh Keszczyk who went 3 for 3 with a walk to reach base every time at bat!
Game 3: One Hit Wonders v Ball Busters
The Wonder boys got their scoring started in the 2nd inning as they plate 5 runs on walks, singles and an Andy Springer triple. Singles would continue to do a large part of the damage as they plate another in the 3rd and the 4th by those means. In the 5th they would break out for 4 huge runs as Big Rob Gisondi scorched a triple scoring two. Big Rob was the most wonderful player in this one as he went 4 for 4 with a triple, 4 RBI and a run scored.
The Ball Busters got scoring going early in this one as they are able to plate 3 in the first on walks and singles and another run in the 2nd on 2 hits. They would explode in the 3rd plating 6 by way of triples from Mike Marchini and Andrew Frangeli and a homer from Jay Stein broke the game open. Keeping the whooping stick warm, the boys smoked home 8 more runs in the 3rd on a ton of hits including a double from Stein and a triple from Ken Stein. The biggest busta’ was Jay Stein in this one who decided to walk instead of completing the cycle, ending 3 for 3 with a single, double and triple.
Game 4: Wire 2 Wire v Dark Horse
Wire 2 Wire got going early as Ben Vitelli smacked a solo homer in the top of the first. They would add 3 to their total in the 2nd by way of a double from preppy Sean Butrica and a homer from super sub JD Hammer. The podcasters would continue to score every inning as they added 7 more over the next 3 innings on singles and fielder’s choices. They would explode once again in the 7th for 7 more runs as el capitan’, the head honcho, the top dog, the Warrington Warmonger, Geno smoked a 3 run homer. The podcaster of the day was Sean “Preppy” Butrica who slapped his way to a 4 for 5 outing with 2 doubles.
Paul Ferruzzi got out finally in the 1st but the Dark Horse crew picked him up scoring 3 runs on a Nick Mariani double. They would add another run in the 2nd as leadoff man Dave Ketterlinus smacked a triple. In the 5th the Dark Horse gang would explode for 5 runs on singles and a double from sweet swinging Ryan Schock. Unfortunately that would be all they can muster in this one. The purest bred dark horse was Mr. Schock, who went 3 for 4 with a double and 3 RBI to lead the way.
PLAYOFF PREVIEW:
Final Standings (my best guess- not official)
1 seed: Ball Busters - The newcomers to B North hammered the ball all season. Their high powered offense, led by the Parker brothers, smashed the competition to the tune of nearly 16 runs a game. They will look to win 1 and get in next Sunday as they await the winner of the 9 am game.
2 seed: Wire 2 Wire: the cagey veterans and defending champs did enough to earn the 2 seed as they finished 5 and 3. Mean Gene and his podcasting crew have the pedigree to win it all as they look to battle for a hoodie. Sweet Swinger Tom Signore made a play for MVP of the league this season, hitting over 600 with 6 homers and 22 RBI.
3 seed: One Hit Wonders- Balance is the key for the veteran OHW squad. They had 5 players score over 10 runs and knock in at least 10 RBI. El Capitan’ Jack Stepnowski will try to rally the boys to return to former glory winning another B North title. They have been close for a bunch of seasons in a row and seem poised to make another deep run.
4 seed: The Swingers - A late surge propels the boys in black to the 4 seed after they swept a huge double header in week 8. Dale Hoover and Dion Greene were monsters in the middle of the order, both batting over 600 and leading the team in RBI. Leader Ben Razzi will look to lead the young bucks to their first B North title this season.
5 seed: Docs Irish Pub- the Doctor is IN. The Irish Pub goers slide into the 5 seed at 3-4-1 and will take on the pesky Swingers at 9 am. Dylan Brooks was a one man wrecking crew this season as he led the team in extra base hits, runs and RBI. If he get support in the top of the order, watch out for Docs sneaking up on people and ending up in the semi-finals.
6 seed: Dark Horse - Sometimes ties DO help everyone as Dark Horse sneaks into the playoffs with a 2-5-1 record. There is not a more dangerous 6 seed in all of SBA as they have not only championship pedigree but one of the hottest hitters in any league this season in Paul Ferruzzi. If he can capture magic along with the rest of the top of the lineup, they have the potential not only to win a game, but to win the whole darn thing!
Unfortunately not everyone made the dance as the Bulldogs are stuck on the outside looking in. They had a season which saw a lot of things work against them but always have a strong lineup when it comes together. The trio of Mike Suda, Paul Burtis and John Hogan is always lethal and keeps them in every game. I am excited to see them come back hungry in the summer.