Bird Gang (2-2) at Ducks on the Pond (0-2) Game One
JANKE CAGE - No matter how they get the job done, the Bird Gang keep finding ways to win. They always find themselves in close contests and the first game against the Ducks on the Pond was no exception. The Bird Gang had Andrew Felde on the mound attempting to keep his scoreless pitching streak alive. Not only did he keep his streak alive, he even extended it into next week. On the other hand, the Ducks on the Pond had multiple chances to steal this game away from the Bird Gang but failed to accomplish their goal. The action started in the second inning when the Bird Gang loaded the bases. They loaded the bases in the first but were unable to plate a run but they were able to strike in the second. Matt Zurawski singled to give his team the early 1-0 lead and the lead would hold until the fourth. The Ducks tied the game in the fourth with a Brian Brilmyer home run. It had seemed the the Ducks would take the momentum and win their first GBL game but erratic pitching causes them to fold. In the top of the fifth, the Bird Gang loaded the bases for the third time in the game and Felde walked in a run to take the lead, 2-1. With the hopes of the first GBL win dwindling, Shawn Siokis singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth. This gave Zack Duvnjak and Brilmyer a chance to win the game on one swing. This may have cause them to over swing a bit because they both went down on strikes to end the game. While the Ducks showed promise, it was the Bird Gang finding another way to win.
JANKE CAGE - After squeaking by in the first game, the Bird Gang received some help from the wind in game two. They did not receive that fortunate event until late in the game and it looked like the Ducks could have another chance to steal a victory. The Bird Gang jumped out to another early lead thanks in part to Felde. Once again, he shut down his opponent on the bump, pitching three more scoreless innings. Also in the second inning, he tripled in the game's first run to give the Bird Gang a 1-0 advantage. In the following innings, the Ducks were able to get a runner on base each inning but were unable to score until it was too late. In the top of the fourth, the wind began to blow out of the cage. The Bird Gang took advantage. Matt Zurawski started the slug-fest with a two run bomb off the green pole in right-field. Then, Andrew Felde would hit a solo home run, a two run home run, and a three run home run in the same inning. This gave the Bird Gang a nearly insurmountable 9-0 lead. The Ducks on the Pond would answer with a Brian Brilmyer solo shot in the bottom half of the fourth but, it was too late. The Bird Gang would walk away with a two game sweep of the Ducks and improve to 4-2 on the season with a showdown with the champs next week.
JANKE CAGE - Both these teams have met in the last two GBL World Series and they could not be any further apart this season. While the Gashouse Gorillas still look like the champs, the Stallionaires are trending downward. Gashouse scored in every inning and enforced their will on the inexperience of the Stallionaires. It also did not help the the reigning Cy Young, Jim Tucker, was on the mound. Tucker also started the scoring barrage with a two run homer in the first to give Gashouse a 2-0 lead. Then, he followed it up with a RBI single in the second to make it 3-0. After that, his next at-bat in the the third, he crushed another home run. At that point the Gashouse Gorillas were up 4-0 but, the Stallionaires fought back before the score became out of hand. Matt Kuna added a home run of his own to cut the lead in half going into the fourth. While Kuna finished the game four for six, his rookie teammates, Aaron and Josh Ross, went a combined zero for ten. The brothers did walk a few times during the contest but, the combination of Tucker and Jeremy Ratajczyk will always stifle newcomers to the GBL. Ratajczyk joined the party in the fourth with a three run home run making the score 7-2. In the top of fifth, Ratjczyk caught fire. He had a RBI single, a two run home run, and another three run home run. By the end of the top of the fifth, Gashouse lead 13-2. The Gashouse Gorillas hit their way to a game one victory and it certainly carried over into the next contest.
JANKE CAGE - After playing a full contest in the first game, the Gashouse Gorillas would only need two innings to complete a resounding sweep of their rival. They carried their hot bats into the first inning of the second game. It was almost like the NBA Jam version on "He's on Fire" for the Gashouse Gorillas. The scorekeeper (yours truly) had trouble keeping up with the score. At a certain point every at-bat only took one pitch to score a run. Jim Tucker started the scoring with a bases loaded RBI single. Then, Jeremy Ratjczyk triple to clear the bases and make the score 4-0. After a few more reached base, Ratajczyk hit another home run to increase the lead to 7-0. Then, he tripled in another to make it 8-0. Tucker added a RBI single and two run home run later in the inning. By the end of the top of the first, the score was 11-0. The Stallionaires legitimately had no answer for the bats of Gashouse. After one inning the score remained the same, then Gashouse came to bat in the second. They would have just as much success in the second as they did in the first. The on-onslaught recommenced with back to back home runs from Rat and Tuck to make the score 14-0. Gashouse would add five more runs before the Stallionaires were able to record two outs. Going into the bottom of the second, Gashouse lead 19-0. The 15 run mercy rule came into play and the Stallionaires would need five runs to extend the game another inning. That already seemed improbable and Gashouse would keep the score intact to finish their sweep.
JANKE CAGE - The Taka Drivers came into week three's nightcap with a little bit of extra juice. After a small hiatus from the GBL, Kyle Lidster made his return for his new team. Lidster got the nod on the bump for Taka and it looked like he never left. On the other hand, the Taka offense exploded and they handled the Nighttime Ninjas in the first game. Without Ethan Arvay and Sammy Krucek the Ninjas offense struggled all night. The Ninjas were only able to muster one hit and seemed out of rhythm in all facets of the game. After a scoreless first, the Taka Drivers started to manufacture runs in the second. Chris Bartley walked with the bases loaded to give Taka a 1-0 lead. The next batter, Lidster, doubled in two which increased the score to 3-0. With the bases loaded, Bartley doubled to plate two more to increase the Taka lead to 5-0. At this point, Lidster had the Ninjas hitters looking foolish and did not need much more support to notch his first win since 2013. He would help his own cause in the fourth with a bases loaded triple. Ryan Voges would add two bases loaded singles and Bartley would add one of his own to make the score 11-0. Already down eleven, the Ninjas tried to extend the game by walking a few times but, they could not buy a hit if they wanted to all night. The Taka Drivers would easily take game one.
JANKE CAGE - No matter how they get the job done, the Bird Gang keep finding ways to win. They always find themselves in close contests and the first game against the Ducks on the Pond was no exception. The Bird Gang had Andrew Felde on the mound attempting to keep his scoreless pitching streak alive. Not only did he keep his streak alive, he even extended it into next week. On the other hand, the Ducks on the Pond had multiple chances to steal this game away from the Bird Gang but failed to accomplish their goal. The action started in the second inning when the Bird Gang loaded the bases. They loaded the bases in the first but were unable to plate a run but they were able to strike in the second. Matt Zurawski singled to give his team the early 1-0 lead and the lead would hold until the fourth. The Ducks tied the game in the fourth with a Brian Brilmyer home run. It had seemed the the Ducks would take the momentum and win their first GBL game but erratic pitching causes them to fold. In the top of the fifth, the Bird Gang loaded the bases for the third time in the game and Felde walked in a run to take the lead, 2-1. With the hopes of the first GBL win dwindling, Shawn Siokis singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth. This gave Zack Duvnjak and Brilmyer a chance to win the game on one swing. This may have cause them to over swing a bit because they both went down on strikes to end the game. While the Ducks showed promise, it was the Bird Gang finding another way to win.
FINAL Bird Gang 2 Ducks on the Pond 1
W - Matt Zurawski (1-1)
L - Brian Brilmyer (0-1)
Bird Gang (3-2) at Ducks on the Pond (0-3) Game Two
JANKE CAGE - After squeaking by in the first game, the Bird Gang received some help from the wind in game two. They did not receive that fortunate event until late in the game and it looked like the Ducks could have another chance to steal a victory. The Bird Gang jumped out to another early lead thanks in part to Felde. Once again, he shut down his opponent on the bump, pitching three more scoreless innings. Also in the second inning, he tripled in the game's first run to give the Bird Gang a 1-0 advantage. In the following innings, the Ducks were able to get a runner on base each inning but were unable to score until it was too late. In the top of the fourth, the wind began to blow out of the cage. The Bird Gang took advantage. Matt Zurawski started the slug-fest with a two run bomb off the green pole in right-field. Then, Andrew Felde would hit a solo home run, a two run home run, and a three run home run in the same inning. This gave the Bird Gang a nearly insurmountable 9-0 lead. The Ducks on the Pond would answer with a Brian Brilmyer solo shot in the bottom half of the fourth but, it was too late. The Bird Gang would walk away with a two game sweep of the Ducks and improve to 4-2 on the season with a showdown with the champs next week.
FINAL Bird Gang 9 Ducks on the Pond 1
W - Andrew Felde (2-0)
L - Shawn Siokis (0-2)
Gashouse Gorillas (2-1) at Stallionaires (1-1)
JANKE CAGE - Both these teams have met in the last two GBL World Series and they could not be any further apart this season. While the Gashouse Gorillas still look like the champs, the Stallionaires are trending downward. Gashouse scored in every inning and enforced their will on the inexperience of the Stallionaires. It also did not help the the reigning Cy Young, Jim Tucker, was on the mound. Tucker also started the scoring barrage with a two run homer in the first to give Gashouse a 2-0 lead. Then, he followed it up with a RBI single in the second to make it 3-0. After that, his next at-bat in the the third, he crushed another home run. At that point the Gashouse Gorillas were up 4-0 but, the Stallionaires fought back before the score became out of hand. Matt Kuna added a home run of his own to cut the lead in half going into the fourth. While Kuna finished the game four for six, his rookie teammates, Aaron and Josh Ross, went a combined zero for ten. The brothers did walk a few times during the contest but, the combination of Tucker and Jeremy Ratajczyk will always stifle newcomers to the GBL. Ratajczyk joined the party in the fourth with a three run home run making the score 7-2. In the top of fifth, Ratjczyk caught fire. He had a RBI single, a two run home run, and another three run home run. By the end of the top of the fifth, Gashouse lead 13-2. The Gashouse Gorillas hit their way to a game one victory and it certainly carried over into the next contest.
FINAL - Gashouse Gorillas 13 Stallionaires 0
W - Jim Tucker (1-0)
L - Aaron Ross (0-2)
Gashouse Gorillas (3-1) at Stallionaires (1-2)
JANKE CAGE - After playing a full contest in the first game, the Gashouse Gorillas would only need two innings to complete a resounding sweep of their rival. They carried their hot bats into the first inning of the second game. It was almost like the NBA Jam version on "He's on Fire" for the Gashouse Gorillas. The scorekeeper (yours truly) had trouble keeping up with the score. At a certain point every at-bat only took one pitch to score a run. Jim Tucker started the scoring with a bases loaded RBI single. Then, Jeremy Ratjczyk triple to clear the bases and make the score 4-0. After a few more reached base, Ratajczyk hit another home run to increase the lead to 7-0. Then, he tripled in another to make it 8-0. Tucker added a RBI single and two run home run later in the inning. By the end of the top of the first, the score was 11-0. The Stallionaires legitimately had no answer for the bats of Gashouse. After one inning the score remained the same, then Gashouse came to bat in the second. They would have just as much success in the second as they did in the first. The on-onslaught recommenced with back to back home runs from Rat and Tuck to make the score 14-0. Gashouse would add five more runs before the Stallionaires were able to record two outs. Going into the bottom of the second, Gashouse lead 19-0. The 15 run mercy rule came into play and the Stallionaires would need five runs to extend the game another inning. That already seemed improbable and Gashouse would keep the score intact to finish their sweep.
FINAL/2 Gashouse Gorillas 19 Stallionaires 0
W - Jim Tucker (2-0)
L - Aaron Ross (0-3)
Taka Drivers (2-1) at Nighttime Ninjas (2-2)
JANKE CAGE - The Taka Drivers came into week three's nightcap with a little bit of extra juice. After a small hiatus from the GBL, Kyle Lidster made his return for his new team. Lidster got the nod on the bump for Taka and it looked like he never left. On the other hand, the Taka offense exploded and they handled the Nighttime Ninjas in the first game. Without Ethan Arvay and Sammy Krucek the Ninjas offense struggled all night. The Ninjas were only able to muster one hit and seemed out of rhythm in all facets of the game. After a scoreless first, the Taka Drivers started to manufacture runs in the second. Chris Bartley walked with the bases loaded to give Taka a 1-0 lead. The next batter, Lidster, doubled in two which increased the score to 3-0. With the bases loaded, Bartley doubled to plate two more to increase the Taka lead to 5-0. At this point, Lidster had the Ninjas hitters looking foolish and did not need much more support to notch his first win since 2013. He would help his own cause in the fourth with a bases loaded triple. Ryan Voges would add two bases loaded singles and Bartley would add one of his own to make the score 11-0. Already down eleven, the Ninjas tried to extend the game by walking a few times but, they could not buy a hit if they wanted to all night. The Taka Drivers would easily take game one.
FINAL/4 Taka Drivers 11 Nighttime Ninjas 0
W - Kyle Lidster (1-0)
L - Derek Revis (0-2)
Taka Drivers (3-1) at Nighttime Ninjas (2-3)
GRIFFLE GROUNDS - Apparently one mercy rule win was not enough for the Taka Drivers. They picked up right where they left off in the second game to complete a sweep of the Nighttime Ninjas. While the Taka Drivers could not be stopped, the Ninjas were only able to, once again, muster one hit. This would be the third time the Taka Drivers have mercy ruled the Ninjas in two seasons. This game, Taka did not wait until the second to start the beating. After a bases loaded walk by starter Mike Kubacki Jr, Jackson Buzea cleared the bases with a triple to give Taka a 4-0 lead. They would add one more in the first via a Ryan Voges double to increase the score to 5-0. With they way the Ninjas were hitting, that would be all Taka needed. On the mound, Buzea shut down the Ninjas and continued his stellar season on the rubber (well asphalt but I think everyone understands that). After scoring again in the second by the means of a dropped fly-ball, Taka lead 6-0 entering the third. In the third inning, the Taka Drivers scored in a uncommon method for their squad. As a team, Taka hit their third, fourth, and fifth home runs of the season. Ryan Voges led off the the third with a solo shot, Kyle Lidster would hit a two run homer, and Buzea would have a solo home run of his own. Entering the bottom of the third, the Nighttime Ninjas trailed 10-0. With the way Buzea was dealing on the mound even one run would have been a tiny victory but, the Taka Drivers were just too much to handle. Even down a player (Miecznikowski), the Taka Drivers easily swept the Ninjas to stay in first place and continue their amazing season.
FINAL/3 Taka Driver 3 Nighttime Ninjas 0
W - Jackson Buzea (2-0)
L - Mike Kubacki Jr. (1-2)
WEEK FOUR
- 3 PM and 4 PM - Taka Drivers (4-1) at Ducks on the Pond (0-4)
- 5 PM and 6 PM - Nighttime Ninjas (2-4) at Stallionaires (1-3)
WIFFLE OUT!
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