GBL Week 9 Recap and Power Rankings

After nine weeks, only one out of the six teams have been eliminated from playoff contention. Home-field advantage throughout the playoffs has not been decided either. The Gashouse Gorillas and Nighttime Ninjas will square off next week to decided the top seed. Even the Lightning find themselves still in the mix but, they have to play the exact team four straight games. And it happens to be the team that they are chasing, the Stallionaires. If the Lightning can win every game they can sneak in to the playoffs and pretty much shock the world (Mainly Northwest Indiana). Week 9 was also record breaking, as Ethan Arvay broke the GBL's consecutive games hit streak. Also, Jackson Buzea has a chance to break the single season batting average record next week. Needless to say, it will be an interesting final week of the regular season.

WEEK 9 POWER RANKINGS

6. Bird Gang 5-13 (#5 Last Week)

After forfeiting two games in Week 1, the Bird Gang forfeited the games in Week 9 as well. They were not technically eliminated until after the losses. They just could not get anyone to the field. They have been competitive all season but, four losses via forfeit has been their downfall. Therefore, they drop a spot in the power rankings and they drop out of playoff contention. 

5. Lightning 4-12 (#6 Last Week)

The Lightning were extremely close to stealing a game from their opponent this week. Andrew Felde almost saved the day but, the Taka Drivers were able to take care of business. The Lightning lost both games but, they still find themselves with a long shot at making the playoffs. All they have to do is beat the Stallionaires four straight times. Good Luck with that. 

4. Stallionaires 8-8 (#4 Last Week)

As the temperature heats up, the Stallionaires offense has become more dangerous. They struggled early in the year with scoring but, that seems to be a thing of the past. They still rank 5th in runs scored and batting average. That all may change as their opponent next week has the worst ERA in Griffleball and they will be ready to go come playoff time. 

3. Gashouse Gorillas 11-7 (#3 Last Week)

The Gashouse Gorillas celebrated another routine playoff appearance by not even taking the field. They were awarded two wins via forfeit. The Gorillas are also catching fire at the right time. They are 6-1 since losing four games in a row and they still have a chance at the number one overall seed in the playoffs. They must beat the Nighttime Ninjas twice and they have to outscore them by 15 or more runs to sit atop the GBL once again. 

2. Taka Drivers 11-7 (#2 Last Week)

Before the season, nobody was sure what to expect from the Taka Drivers. Now the GBL knows. The Taka Drivers do not make mistakes, they can hit, and everyone can pitch. Even with a desperate Lightning squad, the Taka Drivers showed them what it takes to make it to the GBL Playoffs. They have secure their first ever playoff appearance in their inaugural season. But knowing this team, they are not done yet. 

1. Nighttime Ninjas 13-5 (#1 Last Week)

Even though they received a beating in one of their two games this week, the Ninjas were able to bounce back. They are one win away from clinching home field advantage throughout the playoffs but, their is a familiar foe standing in their way. The Gashouse Gorillas. Even if the Ninjas lose both games, they still may end of the number one seed due to runs scored against their opponents. 

WEEK 9 RECAP

Bird Gang v. Gashouse Gorillas Game 1 and 2

Gashouse Gorillas win both games versus the Bird Gang via forfeit. The forfeits eliminate the Bird Gang from making the playoffs. The wins also give the Gashouse Gorillas a chance to become the number one seed. 

Nighttime Ninjas v. Stallionaires Game 1

THE JANKE CAGE - It looked like your typical Stallionaire game for the first inning, then the Stallionaires' bats caught fire. After Sammy Krucek started the scoring with a solo home run in the first, the Stallionaires loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning. Mike Kubacki Jr. found himself in some trouble but, was able to escape. He did not escape the bottom of the second. The Ninjas had a 1-0 lead heading into the second and they would not regain the lead for the duration of the game. Matt Kuna started the second with a solo shot to tie the game at 1. Then the merry-go-round started. Tied at 1, the Stallioanires loaded the bases. Then, Nate Bryan tripled off the fence to clear the bases to make it 4-1. Kuna singled after that to make it 5-1. He added another RBI single to make it 6-1 and Nate tripled to increase their lead to 8-1. Kubacki ended the bleeding by getting Kuna to ground out but, the damage was done. In the top of the third, Ethan Arvay doubled in one to cut the lead to 8-2 but, they did not have a chance to score again. In the bottom of the third, the Stallionaires picked up right where they left off. With men on first and second, Kuna doubled to score one and doubled in his next at-bat to score two more. With the score being 11-2, the Stallionaires could end the game with one more run. With Nate Bryan batting and the runner on third, Nate sent one back to the mound. Kubacki was unable to field the ball cleanly leading to the winning run to score.

FINAL - Stallionaires 12 Nighttime Ninjas 2

Nighttime Ninjas v. Stallionaires Game 2

THE JANKE CAGE - After scoring 12 runs in the first game, the Stallionaires may have wished they would have saved some for the next one. Without Ethan Arvay on the mound, the task would be up to Mike Kubacki Jr. and Sammy Krucek to stifle the Stallionaire bats. And they did just that. After a scoreless first, the Ninjas got things started in the next inning. The Ninjas loaded the bases against opposing pitcher Nate Bryan and were able to strike. With zero outs, Kubacki single in the games first run to make it 1-0 Ninjas. With the threat still looming, Bryan was able to pitch out of the jam and keep the Ninjas at one. Arvay belted one over the fence in the top of the third to make it 2-0. With a 2-0 lead and Krucek having to come out of the game, it was up to Kubacki to shut the door. In the bottom of the fourth, the pressure began to build for the Ninjas. The Stallionaires loaded the bases and Bryan singled to cut the deficit to 2-1. But Kubacki pitched himself out of what could have been a disastrous inning. With a 2-1 lead, Kubacki had a chance to redeem himself on the mound and record his first save of the season. He did just that. Kubacki got the Stallionaires in back-to-back groundouts to end the game and inch the Ninjas one step closer to home-field advantage.

FINAL - Nighttime Ninjas 2 Stallionaires 1

Lightning v. Taka Drivers Game 1

THE JANKE CAGE - The Taka Drivers are one of the best teams in the GBL but, they had a bit of trouble with the Lightning. Earlier in the season, these two teams split and it nearly happened again on Sunday ("almost"). The Lightning have been the worst hitting team in the GBL, hitting under .300 as a team. They did not do much to help those numbers. The scoring got started in the third. The Taka Drivers has men on first and second with one out then Jackson Buzea stepped to the plate. Buzz smacked a pitch from Andrew Felde off the fence to score both runs and give the Taka Drivers a 2-0 lead. It appeared to be all the Taka Drivers needed to win the game. Especially since Mark Miecznikowski was flirting with perfection through four innings. With the perfect game on the line in the top of the fifth, Mez seemed to be locked in. With newly acquired Shawn Siokis at the plate, the Lightning were able to break through. Siokis drew a walk to end Mez's perfect game but, the no-hitter was still intact until the next batter. With a man on first and down by two, Andrew Felde had a chance to tie the game at 2. And that is what he did. Felde sent a high fly ball that carried over the center field wall to tie the game at 2. After being dominated all game, the Lightning clawed back but, this was no story book ending. With the score tied at 2, the first batted in the bottom of the fifth ended all hope. Jackson Buzea did not wait long, as hit smashed a solo home run to give the Taka Drivers a walk off victory.

FINAL - Taka Drivers 3 Lightning 2

Lightning v. Taka Drivers Game 2

THE JANKE CAGE - With the Lightning already down one game, they really needed a victory in Game 2 but, the Taka Drivers were just too much to handle. After a good start from Andrew Felde in Game 1, he could not find the strike zone in Game 2. The Taka Drivers started fast and did not let their foot off the pedal. With the bases loaded, Ryan Voges walked to score the games first run. Then, Jackson Buzea singled to make it 2-0. The next batter, Chris Bartley, doubled to make it 4-0 and immediatley after that, Mark Miecznikowski, single to increase their lead to five. That is when it seemed Felde had given up. He began to lob the wiffle ball over the plate, hoping the Taka Drivers would hit into the second out of the inning. The strategy did not work as Voges single in another run to make it 6-0. Then, Bartley walked in another, with the bases loaded, to increase their lead to seven. Already down 7-0, the Lightning would cut the deficit to five after a Derek Revis triple. The Taka Drivers increased their lead to 8-2 after walking in yet another run. With the game pretty much in hand, Felde came to bat in the top of the fourth. With Voges playing in the field, Felde and Voges had themselves a couple of words (when I mean a couple, I mean both of them were talking trash the entire at-bat). It gave the game some excitement but, the Taka Drivers were able to let their play do the talking. The Taka Drivers would end up winning the game and completed the sweep of the Lightning. 

FINAL - Taka Drivers 8 Lightning 2

WEEK 9 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

HITTER OF THE WEEK - Jackson Buzea - 4 Hits 6 AB 1 HR (Walk-off) 5 RBI 3 BB 0 K

PITCHER OF THE WEEK - Matt Kuna - 1-0 5 IP 7 Hits Allowed 2 ER 1 BB 2 K

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK - Mark Miecznikowski - 0-0 4 IP 1 Hit Allowed 2 ER 1 BB 3 K (Nearly threw a perfect game and no-hitter) (Hitting) 3 Hits 7 AB 0 HR 1 RBI 1 BB 1 K

STANDINGS

1. Nighttime Ninjas - 13 - 5 (Could be 1, 2, or 3 seed)
2. Gashouse Gorillas - 11 - 7 (Could be 1, 2, or 3 seed)
3. Taka Drivers - 11 - 7 (Could be 2 or 3 seed)
4. Stallionaires - 8 - 8 (Could be 4 seed)
5. Bird Gang - 5 - 13 (Eliminated)
6. Lightning 4 - 12 (Could be 4 seed)

WEEK 10

(STARTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

3 PM - The Janke Cage - Taka Drivers (Miecznikowski) v. Bird Gang (Baker)

4 PM - The Janke Cage - Taka Drivers (Bartley) v. Bird Gang (Duvnjak)

5 PM - The Janke Cage - Stallionaires (Kuna) v. Lightning (A. Felde)

6 PM - The Janke Cage - Stallionaires (Bryan) v. Lightning (C. Felde)

7 PM - Griffle Grounds - Nighttime Ninjas (Kubacki Jr.) v. Gashouse Gorillas (Tucker)

8 PM - Griffle Grounds - Nighttime Ninjas (Krucek) v. Gashouse Gorillas (Galiher) 

WIFFLE OUT!