GBL Opening Day Recap & Week 1 Power Rankings

The sun was shining, the smell of spring was in the air, and the wind was gusting.  The players have been waiting all year to step in front of blue and white lawn chair to take their cuts. The lines were being re-painted, the foul poles were put in place, and the GBL flag flew high. April 26th was the first day for Griffle Ball and the action did not disappoint. After a few tightly contested games and one lopsided affair, the Week 1 Power Rankings have been decided.

6. Bird Gang 0-2
After forfeiting their first two games of the season, the Bird Gang have dropped to number 6 in Week 1.

5. Lightning 2-0
Even though the standings state the Lightning are in first place, the forfeit wins hurt their Power Ranking. Without playing a game, it is hard to determine whether they should be higher on the list.

4. Nighttime Ninjas 1-1
With an impressive Game 1 win against the Taka Drivers, Game 2 was not so pretty. Their win shows the league how good they can be, and their loss shows that they still have much to prove.

3. Taka Drivers 1-1
After an impressive loss to the up and coming Nighttime Ninjas, the Taka Drivers showed their muscle in Game 2. They scored 18 runs in 3 innings and the mercy rule was used to end the Ninjas suffering.

2. Stallionaire 1-1
After going toe-to-toe in Game 1 with the 3-time defending champs, the Stallionaires took down the juggernaut Gashouse in Game 2. It took an heroic performance from Nate Bryan to finally end Gashouse's 30 plus game regular season winning streak.

1. Gashouse Gorillas 1-1
Even though they finally lost a game in the regular season, it took extra innings for them to finally lose. Barring any setbacks, they are still the team to beat this season.

Opening Day Game Recaps

Taka Drivers v. Nighttime Ninjas Game 1 - After the Taka Drivers took a 3-0 lead in the top of the 2nd, the Ninjas answered right back in the same inning with 5 of their own. In his GBL debut, Mark Miecznikowski hit two home runs in the same inning but, it was not enough. After Kubacki's 3 solid innings, A.J. Fletcher and Ethan Arvay shut the door on the comeback. Mike Kubacki Jr. reached base in all five at-bats to get the ball rolling for his team, and his team came through to help the Ninjas get their first win.

Taka Drivers v. Nighttime Ninjas Game 2 - Still looking for their first win, the Taka Drivers needed a spark. That spark became Jackson Buzea. After missing the first game, "Buzz" drove in 8 RBI and went 6-9 in his first game with his new team. Ryan Voges and Mark Miecznikowski went a combined 7-11 with 9 RBI. Ethan Arvay and A.J. Fletcher struggled in 3 innings pitched giving up a total of 14 earned runs. The Nighttime Ninjas had no answer for the Taka Drivers.

Stallionaires v. Gashouse Gorillas Game 1 - In a rematch of last year's GBL World Series, these two teams came ready to play. Jim Tucker took a no-hitter into the 5th inning, while John Reyna only gave up 2 earned runs in three innings. The wind and cold weather may have been a problem. Most balls that would have been hits or home runs literally stopped in mid-air and became easy outs. If it wasn't for Jim Tucker's big 2 RBI hit in the 3rd, this game may have lasted as long as Game 2. 

Stallionaires v. Gashouse Gorillas Game 2 - The nightcap may live down as one of the greatest GBL games of all-time. The players were cold, the wind was gusting, and each team would not budge. Matt Kuna of the Stallionaires and Ryan Galiher of the Gorillas were basically untouchable. Even when Nate Bryan and Jeremy Ratajczyk came in for relief, each team could not manufacture any offense. There were plenty of opportunities for each team but, neither capitalized until Nate Bryan in the top of the 9th. With one on and one out, Nate Bryan smacked a 2-run bomb into right. The game was almost over but, Gashouse had other plans. Gashouse loaded the bases in the bottom half of the 9th. Already a hero, Nate Bryan needed be to perfect. He pitched himself into a jam but, came through with clutch pitching and a bit of his Gold Hands. 

It was an exciting opening day in the GBL. The champs finally lost, a new franchise showed it can hang with the big boys, and some games didn't even happen. The weather played a factor in a few games but, that did not stop the players. Next week's games look just as exciting and Week 1 is in the books. Will the champs falter again? Will Bird Gang show up? Can the Nighttime Ninjas find some pitching? Was the Taka Drivers' first win a fluke? Can the Stallionaire build momentum? Will the Lightning get to play? We will find out this season. Welcome to Griffle Ball.

Week 2

3 PM - Nighttime Ninjas (1-1) v. Lightning (2-0)

4 PM - Nighttime Ninjas (1-1) v. Lightning (2-0)

5 PM - Bird Gang (0-2) v. Stallionaires (1-1)

6 PM - Bird Gang (0-2) v. Stallionaires (1-1)

7 PM - Gashouse Gorillas (1-1) v. Taka Drivers (1-1)

8 PM - Gashouse Gorillas (1-1) v. Taka Drivers (1-1)