The games this week did not have as much flair as the past but, Week 8 proved to be one of the most crucial. With one team sweeping in every series, the GBL playoffs have become clearer than ever. It is just a matter of time before one team stands above them all and raises a championship banner.
WEEK 8 POWER RANKINGS
6. Lightning 4-10 (#6 Last Week)
After not being able to play in last week's games, most would not have known if they actually did play this week. In two games versus the Gashouse Gorillas, the Lightning did not manage to score a single run. Their pitching did keep the games within striking distance but, without an offense they were no match for Gashouse. They are going to have to win every game for the rest of the season if they want to be in the playoffs.
5. Bird Gang 5-11 (#5 Last Week)
It seemed like the Bird Gang were destined to find a way back into the playoff race but, awaiting them was the first place Nighttime Ninjas. They were in control for only about an inning on Sunday. Then their pitching fell apart and gave up nineteen runs in two games. Although not eliminated yet from contention, the Bird Gang need a ton of help.
4. Stallionaires 7-7 (#2 Last Week)
The Stallionaires offense struggled once again to score runs and it cost them both games this week. They have been phenomenal on the mound this season but, when they step up to the lawn chair things go a bit different. The Stallionaires scored two runs in two games but, only lost each game by one run. The GBL has seen what the Stallionaires can do on offense when they are scoring runs. They just need to be more consistent.
3. Gashouse Gorillas 9-7 (#4 Last Week)
After falling below .500 for a brief time, the Gashouse Gorillas have been nearly unstoppable since. They have won the past four out of five games and now sit tied for second. Even without the dominant Jim Tucker this week, Ryan Galiher and Jeremy Ratajczyk filled his shoes on the mound. They combined to allow zero runs, and demoralized their opponent by the end of the second game, One win next week may clinch another playoff berth for the defending three time champions.
2. Taka Drivers 9-7 (#3 Last Week)
In Week 8, the Taka Drivers accomplished a feat they have not been able to achieve all season. They were able to sweep the Stallionaires with a dose of their own medicine. The Taka Drivers received great pitching from Mark Miecznikowski and Chris Bartley. With Ryan Voges shut down until the playoffs, the Taka Drivers showed the GBL that they are possibly the most complete team. They will be a tough out come playoff time
1. Nighttime Ninjas 12-4 (#1 Last Week)
The Nighttime Ninjas are the first team in 2015 to secure a playoff bid. They showed the Bird Gang that no lead is safe. After going down early in the first game, the Ninjas answered back in the same inning to reclaim the lead. Kubacki, Arvay, and Krucek powered their way to two wins. They scored nineteen runs and hit ten home runs on their way to victory. With two more wins, the Nighttime Ninjas, can clinch first place.
WEEK 8 RECAP
Taka Drivers v. Stallionaires Game 1
THE JANKE CAGE - A possible playoff match-up between the Taka Drivers and Stallionaires did not disappoint. After a double in the first by Jackson Buzea, Chris Bartley followed by driving him in with a double of his own. The Taka Drivers took an early 1-0 off Stallionaires starter Matt Kuna. It would be the only run Kuna would allow in three innings. The Taka Drivers starter, Mark Miecznikowski, pitched just as well. He only allowed one run to score in his three innings of work. The Stallionaires finally broke through in the third. With the bases loaded, David Konopasek singled and drove in the Stallionaires first run of the game. Entering the fourth inning, the score was tied 1-1 and, each team sent in their relief. After Konopasek threw a scoreless fourth, his teammate started the bottom half of the inning off with a bang. Matt Kuna launched a pitch from Buzea and gave the Stallionaires a 2-1 lead heading into the last inning. The top of the fifth started well for the Taka Drivers and, they capitalized on some mistakes in the field. With men on second and third, Chris Bartley singled in the tying run. The next batter could have been the last out for the Stallionaires heading into the fifth tied at 2 but, a costly error scored another run for the Taka Drivers. The Taka Drivers took a 3-2 lead heading into the last half of the fifth. Buzea shut down any chance of a comeback by striking out the side and the Taka Drivers were able to hang on to win the first game.
FINAL - TAKA DRIVERS 3 STALLIONAIRES 2
Taka Drivers v. Stallionaires Game 2
THE JANKE CAGE - Pitching dominated Game 1 between the Taka Drivers and the Stallionaires and the same can be said for Game 2. Neither team was able to put any runners in scoring position until the third inning. Chirs Bartley was masterful on the mound only allowing one hit in three plus innings of work. His counterpart, David Konopasek, went out for out with Bartley and, only allowed two hits. With both pitchers working quickly, the game seemed over before it even started. The only run that scored came in the top of third. Chris Bartley helped his own cause and, smashed a solo home run to lead off the third. The Taka Drivers took a 1-0 lead and never looked back. The Stallionaires were able to get their first hit of the game in the fourth via a double by David Konopasek but, were not able to drive him in to tie the game. Jackson Buzea pitched one and half innings to pick up the save and, the Taka Drivers completed their first sweep of the season.
FINAL - TAKA DRIVERS 1 STALLIONAIRES 0
Gashouse Gorillas v. Lightning Game 1
THE JANKE CAGE - After nearing falling out of the league, the Lightning, needed to come back strong. They did the exact opposite. The Gashouse Gorillas took the lead in the top of the first via a Jeremy Ratajczyk home run and, they never looked back. The Lightning were only able to muster one hit the entire game. They were unable to figure out starter, Ryan Galiher, and reliever, Jeremy Ratajczyk. While the Lightning struggled, the Gashouse Gorillas dominated every aspect of the game. Even though one run was enough to beat the Lightning, Gashouse did not let the foot off the gas pedal. In the top of the fourth, Galiher smashed a two run homer to give the Gorillas a 3-0 lead. Then in the fifth, Gashouse scored two more to end any chance the Lightning had of a comeback. Ratajczyk came in relief for Galiher and in recent weeks, Rat has gotten himself into a couple of jams, This week he struck out three, did not allow a hit, and held the Lightning scoreless to end the game.
FINAL - GASHOUSE GORILLAS 5 LIGHTNING 0
Gashouse Gorillas v. Lightning Game 2
THE JANKE CAGE - The Lightning and Gashouse Gorillas used to have a intensely competitive rivalry. The times sure have changed. The Gashouse Gorillas jumped on top of their opponent early in the first. With the bases loaded, Ryan Galiher, drew a base on balls from starter Derek Revis. The Gashouse Gorillas took an early 1-0 lead and piled on a few more in the second. Revis loaded the bases once again and, Gashouse delivered. Jeremy Ratajczyk walked and brought in one run and Ryan Galiher singled to bring in another. Heading into the fourth, the Lightning found themselves down 3-0 and without a hit. Their misery did not stop there. The Lightning allowed a run to score in the fourth via a fielding error. Revis did break through for the Lightning in the fourth by getting the teams first hit of the game. The Gashouse Gorillas scored nine runs in two games but, they only needed one in each to sweep the Lightning.
FINAL - GASHOUSE GORILLAS 4 LIGHTNING 0
Bird Gang v. Nighttime Ninjas Game 1
GRIFFLE GROUNDS - The Bird Gang have been playing well in recent weeks but, they ran into a buzz-saw in form of the Nighttime Ninjas. The Ninjas set the tone in the first inning. Sammy Krucek hit a home run off Bird Gang starter Zach Duvnjak to give his team a 1-0 lead. The Ninjas did run into a bit of trouble in the second. After the first two hitters reached base, Nick Trauscht hit one into the grass to take a 3-1 lead. The Bird Gang increased their lead to 6-1 after Duvnjak hit his first career GBL home run. The Ninjas flipped the script in the bottom of the second going back-to-back-to-back. With the bases loaded and one run already in, Mike Kubacki Jr. hit a grand slam to tie the score at six. Then, Ethan Arvay and Sammy Krucek clobbered solo home runs of their own. Krucek came in for relief in the third and held the Bird Gang scoreless. Then, he helped his cause with another solo home run in the bottom half of the inning. Down 9-6, the Bird Gang didn't go down without a fight. They loaded the bases in the fourth but, could not score. They were able to score one in the fifth via a Trauscht solo home but, came up just short.
FINAL - NIGHTTIME NINJAS 9 BIRD GANG 7
Bird Gang v. Nighttime Ninjas Game 2
GRIFFLE GROUNDS - By dropping the first game, the Bird Gang desperately needed a win. The Nighttime Ninjas were just too much to handle. The Ninjas loaded the bases in the first and Krucek drew a walk to score the games first run. Then, Ethan Arvay singled to bring in another to go up 2-0. Arvay dominated on the mound striking out six and only allowing one run. They added two more in the second. Krucek and Arvay hit two solo home runs to give the Ninjas a early four run lead. Nick Trauscht lead off the third with a solo home run and cut the lead to 3. In the fourth, the Bird Gang loaded the bases and were only able to scrape across one run on a Trauscht single. Later in the inning, the Ninjas blew the game wide open. Mike Kubacki Jr. singled in one to start the merry-go-round. Then, Arvay and Krucek went back-to-back to go up 9-2. Shortly after that, Krucek hit his third home run later in the inning. The Bird Gang had one more chance, down eight, and searching for answers. The Ninjas held them scoreless in the fifth to en-route to a commanding sweep.
FINAL - NIGHTTIME NINJAS 10 BIRD GANG 2
WEEK 8 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
HITTER OF THE WEEK - Sammy Krucek - 7/11 6 HR 9 RBI 3 BB
PITCHER OF THE WEEK - The Gashouse Gorillas. Ryan Galiher - 2-0 6 IP 0 ER 2 HA 5 K 2 BB. Jeremy Ratajczyk - 2 SAVES 4 IP 0 ER 0 HA 4 K 4 BB
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK - Chris Bartley - 4/8 1 HR 3 RBI 1 BB. 1-0 3 IP 0 ER 1 HA 3 K 0 BB
STANDINGS
- Nighttime Ninjas 12 - 4
- Gashouse Gorillas 9 - 7
- Taka Drivers 9 - 7
- Stallionaires 7 - 7
- Bird Gang 5 - 11
- Lightning 4 - 10
WEEK 9 (JULY 26TH)
(STARTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
3 PM - The Janke Cage - Bird Gang (Baker) v. Gashouse Gorillas (Tucker)
4 PM - The Janke Cage - Bird Gang (Duvnjak) v. Gashouse Gorillas (Galiher)
5 PM - The Janke Cage - Nighttime Ninjas (Kubacki Jr,) v. Stallionaires (Konopasek)
6 PM - The Janke Cage - Nighttime Ninjas (Arvay) v. Stallionaires (Kuna)
7 PM - Griffle Grounds - Lightning (A, Felde) v. Taka Drivers (Miecznikowski)
8 PM - Griffle Grounds - Lightning (C. Felde) v. Taka Drivers (Bartley)
FOR ALL NWLA NEWS TUNE IN LATER TODAY! OR WEDNESDAY!
WIFFLE OUT!
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