MCSN: June 20th

Feeling Saltier

Week 2 Recap

Wed, June 20, 2007

Bill Van Tuinen leads
the league in
home runs After the first two games of the season, Salt is leading the pack, although it's not defending champ Rock Salt.

Instead, it's Saltier. The team (2-0), led by Bill Van Tuinen, has cruised to two relatively easy victories over two solid teams in Crossroads and the YMYF Mustard Seeds.

"After splitting up last year's championship Salt team, I had some real concerns about how we'd start this season because we have a lot of new players on the team," Van Tuinen acknowledged. "But, we've had some real breakout performances from people like Sam Baturoni, who has emerged as the Roger Clemens of the MCSN, and Steve Mason is playing like he's in his early 40s again. I don't know what that guy is taking but I hope Geritol is not a banned substance in this league."

Saltier's play has sparked talk of an undefeated season.

"Yeah, we definitely talk about it and its a goal, but we're taking it one week at a time," said Van Tuinen. "I just hope our young players don't get too excited. Anyone can dominate this league in June, but it's September that really counts."

In Focus Classic manager Anne Marie Misovich isn't so sure. "Too early to tell," she said. "I haven't seen all the teams yet but I'm going to keep an eye on the Defenders...."

The YMYF Defenders (1-0-1) are technically still undefeated although no longer perfect after tying Covenant (0-0-1) last week.

Defenders' pitcher Steve Adie downplayed his team's play. "It's not about winning," he said. "It's about getting together and enjoying the summer weather with friends and family from Moody Church. These are the good times you remember all year around. I still remember the pitch Chris Carter took me deep to left field last year. If I could only have that one back."

In Focus Classic (0-1-1), who led Covenant 11-7 in the 7th inning before settling for an 11-11 tie, fell to Rock Salt (1-1) in Week 2.

"We tied with Covenant and so did the Defenders a week later," said Anne Marie. "So in my opinion, we're off to a good start."

The YMYF Mustard Seeds (1-1) had a sweet-and-sour game against the In Focus Cowboys (0-2). The Seeds pounded out a league-high 28 hits en route to a 17-1 drubbing of the Cowboys. But the Seeds lost manager Joshua Hall for roughly 4 weeks with a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

"Actually, I believe I did it last season on that play where I threw Anthony Halpin out at home from right field," said Seeds manager Joshua Hall. "My arm was really never the same after that, but I played through the pain. [Then] during the first inning this past Saturday, I felt something pop when returning a ball to the infield. I continued on until my at-bat at the end of the 2nd inning when my shoulder gave out on me during the swing."

“Get ready to pee in a cup, boys.”

- Commish Rob Tong on the flurry of home runs

This week, the Seeds play Classic at 8 AM, followed by the Defenders at Crossroads, Rock Salt at the Cowboys, and undefeated Saltier at Covenant.

"Covenant will be the next team to feel our wrath. And since they are newly married, I think they will be having another new experience this Saturday...a loss," warned Van Tuinen.

Van Tuinen can back his talk; he leads the league in home runs (3) so far. Eleven others have hit one home run, and three of those (the YMYF Defenders' Steve Portokalis and Steve Adie, and In Focus Classic's David Cho) have gone yard, compared to only two players all of last year (Covenant's Chris Carter and reigning league MVP Michael Thate of Crossroads).

All the homer activity has led to BALCO allegations swirling around Saltier superstar, Bill Van Tuinen, as he has jumped out to an early home run lead this year. Thate remembers rubbing an innominate cream on Van Tuinen’s shoulders during the off-season. "Don’t quote me," says Thate, "but his head has demonstrably doubled in size from last season."

"The league is considering random drug testing in light of the rash of fence-clearing home runs," said league commissioner Rob Tong. "Get ready to pee in a cup, boys."

Meanwhile, Saltier veteran Steve Mason is being held in Geneva on charges of mixing church and plate relations. Reverend Mason reportedly gave a homily on his "home run" that was really a dropped fly ball and a four-base error. Mason was unavailable for comment.