MCSN: July 26, 2008

Back in action

Week 7 Recap

Fri, Aug 1, 2008

A lot can happen in a month: a national holiday and monsoon weather chased players away from Clarendon Park for several weeks. MCSN play resumed Saturday, for the first time since June 28th, and players found the field soggy and littered with pairs. Two teams remain undefeated, two teams picked up their first wins, two teams considered changing managers, and two teams played twice.

The Emoticons (5-0) continued their sideline sweep, winning against the Barn Burners 12-8 in the early slot. Both teams seemed equally matched until the bottom of the 4th when the Emoticons cracked their bats to the tune of a 6-run chorus. Despite Barn Burners’ defensive efforts, including Judith Djuogouo's grab of a screaming line drive in right field, the Emoticons made a lot of offensive noise. Dynamic duo Andy Andrade and Andy Tisler contributed inside-the-park homeruns, and Michael Thate sent one over the fence. The power couples of Bettencourts, Halpins, and Hales contributed 12 hits, and everyone on the team reached base at least once.

The Barn Burners then played a rain-makeup game against the Eagles, who welcomed several members of the Emoticons onto their sparse bench as substitutes.

“We were pitted against the newest Moody expansion team…the Emoteagles…[and they beat us again],” said Barn Burners’ Manger Pat Brown.

Although the final score was X to X, Brown wasn’t disappointed with his second loss or the Eagles' first win. In fact, he is hoping for expansion too.

“I pity the team who may ever have to play the Burnicons,” says Brown.

This week, the Barn Burners meet Fire and Ice. With names like that, sparks are sure to fly, but on which side of the scoreboard? Too soon to tell.

The Moody Blues also remained undefeated Saturday, improving their record to 5-0 and shutting down the Carter Administration 9-8.

“We came into the game with a lot of confidence since we hadn't lost in over a month,” said Carter Administration assistant to the manager Bill Van Tuinen.

That confidence showed early, as several Carter Administration players both figuratively and literally stepped to the plate: Melissa Lopez continued to sling strikes from the pitching mound and Ben Preyss made his mark offensively.

“Big Ben Preyss launched one over left field and had a dazed Steve Borgstrom pulling leaves and bird feathers out of his hair all morning long,” boasted manager Chris Carter.

The score was close late in the 7th inning, and both dugouts buzzed with anticipation for the hard-fought win. The final Moody Blues batter, Adrienne Anderson, hit a ground ball into the infield and forced the Carter Administration to make a faltered play at home, which allowed the Moody Blues to score the game-winning run.

“My heart went out to them…we were lucky to come out on top,” said Moody Blues manager Ali Stolzenbach. “I could probably take that team a lot further, but I’m a Moody Blue through and through.”

Management adjustments may be in one team’s future, speculates Van Tuinen.

“I could probably take [the Carter Administration] team a lot further.”

- Ali Stolzenbach on Chris Carter's managerial skills

“Coach Carter is heading to Europe for 3 weeks on his Audacity of the Weak Dollar tour, so we’ll have to keep things rolling on this side of the Atlantic until he returns for our playoff run. I view it as on opportunity [for me] to implement some of the changes I’ve been thinking about, like winning more games.”

Watch out opposing teams, some of those changes may include violence. A collision at home plate had many women fleeing (or hobbling) from the field.

“I tried to set the tone early by giving Susan Dover a leg-whip at home plate,” confessed Van Tuinen. “It’s just a reminder that if you're standing in the way of a Carter Administration victory, be prepared to receive a small bruise.”

Of her sustained injuries, Dover commented, “I am healing pretty well. The doctors encouraged me to ice my leg to keep the swelling down. However, the cleat marks seem to be imbedded…”

Luckily, the 10 a.m. game was injury free. Fire and Ice met the Eagles for their regular season game. (If you’re counting, this was the Eagle’s second game Saturday.) Fire and Ice manager Mat Smith went in with high expectations.

“It was kind of hard getting back into the ‘swing’ of things,” said Smith. “But this game was extremely important for us.”

In the 2nd half of their double header, the Eagles fell to Fire and Ice 12-8. Fire and Ice put several runs on the board early in the 1st and prevented the Eagles from scoring after the 3rd. Late in the 5th, second baseman Jill Tuinier faced off against an ominous, opposing lineup. The Eagles threatened to score with one of the league’s best hitters, Tim Kurtz, on deck. Tuinier easily caught a pop-up to shut down batter Mike Fiorini, send Kurtz back to the bench, and push Fire and Ice into the winner’s bracket.

Rounding out the biggest day of MCSN softball play yet, the Living Stones turned water to wine and squeezed out their first victory against the undermanned Calvary 10-2.

Scoring 3 runs early in the 1st inning got the Living Stones off to a confident start, and many players stated that being ahead helped them reach further than they thought possible. Pastor Steve Mason had 2 triples and 1 home run, Brad Hansen knocked out several key hits, and John Fraats somersaulted his way across the outfield to complete a tough catch.

When asked about her winning strategy, Living Stones player Anne Marie Misovich stated, “We had 11 players and they had 8, so we paid attention to the fact that there wasn’t really anyone covering home plate.”

Well played Misovich. Well played.

The Calvary's Brian Pace, subbing for the absent Rob Tong as manager, said his team was not only short on players but also short on people who knew how to keep score. It actually worked out pretty well, though. With only two runs scored by the team, not much scorekeeping needed to be done. "That was my plan all along...keep it simple," said Pace.

This week’s matches include the Calvary at the Moody Blues (8 a.m.), the Barn Burners at Fire and Ice (9 a.m.), the Emoticons at the Carter Administration (10 a.m.), and the Living Stones at the Eagles (11 a.m.). Stay tuned!