Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Griffleball Power Rankings Article Week Seven

On a humid day at the end of June, the GBL may have said its final goodbyes to the Janke Cage. In case you did not hear, it appears the town of Highland will be replacing the tennis courts with a skateboard park. With the construction closing in on the JC, the Taka Drivers and Bird Gang decided to take their series to the Griffle Grounds (since the court was vacant). It did not take long either team to feel the heat of the upcoming battle. With Taka on a four game skid and the Bird Gang taking the court for the first time in two weeks, the intensity of the game was felt league wide. It seemed the Taka Drivers had control of not only the game, but the entire series. They were ultimately doomed by two swings. The first came from Cole Felde in the bottom of the fifth. Down 2-0, Cole crushed a change-up (lob?) from Ryan Voges to send the game into extras. In extras, Andrew Felde smoked a line drive under the tree in left that barely cleared the fence to give the Bird Gang a 3-2 victory. It was the Taka Drivers fifth straight loss, but they flipped a switch immediately in game two. Already up 2-0, Jackson Buzea doubled the lead with his seventh home run of the season to make it 4-0. Taka would add a few more to split the series with the Bird Gang with a 6-2 win. With the first two teams pretty much a shoe in to make the playoffs, Sunday Night Griffleball presented the best team this season versus the best regular season team last year. After coming off a three game sweep of Taka, the Gashouse Gorillas were flying high and were pumped for some wiffle ball. On the other hand, the Nighttime Ninjas were battling to remain in playoff contention. Through four innings of game one, the Gashouse Gorillas had dominated the Ninjas. Heading into the fifth, the Ninjas trailed 8-0 and they made life extremely difficult for Gashouse to shut the door. The Ninjas scored five runs to cut the lead to 8-5 and put the pressure on reliever Jeremy Ratajczyk. Eventually, the commissioner settled in to secure the win, but the Ninjas carried their momentum into game two. Mike Kubacki Jr. pitched lights out on the mound and shut down the Gashouse Gorillas league leading offense to zero runs. In the first inning of game two, Sammy Krucek belted a three run homer to give his Ninjas a 3-0 lead and they would never look back. The Nighttime Ninjas did something that no other GBL team has done all season and shut-out the Gashouse Gorillas en route to a 6-0 win. At the end of the day, the top three teams (Gashouse, Taka, Bird Gang) are still in control of their own destinies. While, the Nighttime Ninjas made the last spot a bit more interesting by tying the Stallionaires for the final playoff spot. Heading into a much needed by-week for some teams, the last spot in the playoffs could come down to the final week. It should be a fantastic final few months for the GBL.

Scoreboard

6/26/16 - Bird Gang 3 Taka Drivers 2 (W-Cole Felde L-Jackson Buzea)
Deciding Moment - Down 2-0 in the bottom of the 5th, Cole Felde tied the game at two with a two run homer off Ryan Voges. His brother, Andrew, won the game with a walk off home run in the seventh.

6/26/16 - Taka Drivers 6 Bird Gang 2 (W-Ryan Voges L-Cole Felde)
Deciding Moment - With the lead cut to 4-2, Ryan Voges came in for starter Chris Bartley in the 3rd to retire two straight batters and stop any momentum the Bird Gang have gained.

6/26/16 - Gashouse Gorillas 8 Nighttime Ninjas 5 (W-Jim Tucker L-Sammy Krucek)
Deciding Moment - Ryan Galiher's two three run home runs put the game nearly out of reach. Without the second bomb, the outcome could have been different. 

6/26/16 - Nighttime Ninjas 6 Gashouse Gorillas 0 (W-Mike Kubacki Jr. L-Ryan Galiher)
Deciding Moment - Mike Kubacki Jr. shut down the Gashouse Gorillas prolific offense and never allowed more then one base runner per inning in three innings of work.

STANDINGS
  1. Gashouse Gorillas  11-3
  2. Bird Gang                9-5
  3. Taka Drivers            8-6
  4. Stallionaires             4-8
  5. Nighttime Ninjas     4-8
  6. Ducks on the Pond  2-8
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

HITTER OF THE WEEK
Sammy Krucek
8 Hits 14 At-Bats 2 HR 9 RBI

PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Mike Kubacki Jr.
5 IP 1-0 2 HA 0 ER 1 SO 1 BB

POWER RANKINGS

1. Gashouse Gorillas 11-3 (Last Week #1)

The Gashouse Gorillas looked unbeatable for three innings of their series against the Ninjas. They continue to beat teams with their bats and behind the arm of Jim Tucker. They were shut-out for the the first time this season, but do not expect their offense to go seven consecutive innings without scoring for the rest of the year. The four time defending champions are too good for another stretch like that to happen again. 


2. Bird Gang 9-5 (Last Week #2)

The Bird Gang were nearly doomed to be swept by the Taka Drivers, but the Felde brothers would not let that happen. Powered behind two home runs from Andrew and Cole, the Bird Gang found a way to win the first game against Taka in extra innings. Their pitching will continue to keep them in games and it could be a strong asset come playoff time.

3. Taka Drivers 8-6 (Last Week #3)

After dropping five straight decisions, the Taka Drivers stomped on the brakes to end their skid. They took the second game in the series from the Bird Gang and could have easily swept them if it wasn't for some timely heroics. Anyone on their team can do anything when needed and that makes them one of the most dangerous teams heading into the back half of the season.

4. Nighttime Ninjas 4-8 (Last Week #6)

The Ninjas were able to upset the Gashouse Gorillas in game two with good pitching and good defense. This is exactly what this team needed after a 1-8 stretch after sweeping the Ducks to start the year. If they can play like they did in game two for the rest of the year, they could sneak into the playoffs.

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

After a few postponements due to scheduling conflicts, the Stallionaires will play for the first time in 28 days on July 10th (Unless make-up games are scheduled). This could either be a blessing or curse depending on how they respond in the coming weeks. The Stallionaires biggest concern is scoring runs and maybe new signing, Cody Smith, could bring some offense along with his arm. 

6. Ducks on the Pond 2-8 (Last Week #5)

The Ducks on the Pond have found a way to beat both teams who represented the GBL in the 2015 World Series. The Ducks will also be going through a long time without playing any competitive wiffle ball (same amount of time as the Stallionaires). They have showed some promise but their 0-7 start could come back to haunt them by years end.

WIFFLE OUT!!!







Saturday, June 25, 2016

Inside the GBL Episode Ten: Taka/Gashouse Review, NWLA Roster, Week Seven Preview


https://archive.org/details/InsideTheGBL2016EpisodeTen

This week T.Walk discusses what happened in the much anticipated Taka Drivers and Gashouse Gorillas Series. He also goes over and previews the Griffleball Fat Cats. Finally, he takes a look at what is to come in Week Seven.

Friday, June 24, 2016

GBL Fat Cats Roster Profile

The 2016 NWLA Tournament is just weeks away and the Griffleball League is ready to reveal their squad who will travel to Ohio, the GBL Fat Cats. This will be the GBL's 5th year at the tournament, and they are getting closer to the title every year. Will this be the year they reach the top of the wiffleball world? In case you missed the video reveal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDlJMNYvSU0), here is a more in-depth look at the roster.

JEREMY RATAJCZYK - #47
NWLA Experience: 5th Year
GBL Team: GasHouse Gorillas
Age: 26
Bats: L
Throws: R
Jeremy is the commissioner of the GBL and the captain of the Fat Cats. A career .393 hitter in NWLA Tournament play, Jeremy has made a name for himself in Ohio over the years. He had a down year last year in Ohio with just a .241 average and only 1 home run, but you can expect Jeremy to come back with a chip on his shoulder in 2016. He proved at this year's Regional that he is ready to bounce back by posting an OPS over 1.000. As always, Jeremy will be a staple in the middle of the GBL's lineup and will be relied upon to drive in runs throughout the tournament.

 RYAN GALIHER - #18
NWLA Experience: 2nd Year
GBL Team: GasHouse Gorillas
Age: 25
Bats: S
Throws: R
In his first ever NWLA Tournament last year, Ryan led the GBL with a .310 batting average. Ryan has the rare combination of speed and power. There might not be a faster player from home to first in the tournament; and although he only hit 2 home runs in 57 plate appearances last year in NWLA Tournament play, the GBL feels as if Ryan is ready to tap into his power in Ohio this year.

 JACKSON BUZEA - #5
NWLA Experience: 1st Year
GBL Team: Taka Drivers
Age: 25
Bats: R
Throws: R
Jackson has built up a reputation over the past few years as one of the "toughest outs" in the GBL. He won the GBL batting title in 2015, and will certainly be in the running again this year. Jackson made his NWLA debut at this year's Regional, and he did it all for the GBL. His OPS of 1.294 is unheard of for an NWLA rookie, and his pitching was no slouch either. He got the start against HWL and threw a complete game, 2-hitter for the victory. Jackson showed at Regionals that he deserves a spot at the top of the Fat Cats batting order in Ohio.

 RYAN VOGES - #25

NWLA Experience: 1st Year
GBL Team: Taka Drivers
Age: 24
Bats: R
Throws: R
Ryan joined the GBL in 2015 and took the league by storm, earning himself the Rookie of the Year award and establishing himself as one of the league's best pitchers. Ryan will head to Ohio with no NWLA Tournament experience, but the Fat Cats aren't worried. Ryan has one of the liveliest arms in the GBL, and the Fat Cats expect him to compete for a spot in the team's starting rotation at the tournament. Ryan is also one of the best fielders in the GBL, so he will see a lot of time in the outfield in Ohio.

 KYLE LIDSTER - #7
NWLA Experience: 4th Year
GBL Team: Taka Drivers
Age: 25
Bats: L
Throws: R
Although the GBL struggled at the NWLA Tournament in 2014, Kyle Lidster's performance was one of the story lines of the tournament. He allowed just 1 run in 16 and 2/3 innings pitched and it was unearned. Kyle walked just 4 batters out of the 61 he faced in Ohio, a ratio that is not easy to achieve. After a year off in 2015, he will return to Ohio this year as the GBL's ace pitcher.

 ANDREW FELDE - #34
NWLA Experience: 2nd Year
GBL Team: Bird Gang
Age: 20
Bats: R
Throws: R
Andrew is the youngest member of the Fat Cats and also the youngest player in the GBL. Andrew has already had some memorable games in what has been a brief NWLA career thus far. In 2015 at Nationals, he threw a complete game shutout with 10 strikeouts against SRL in pool play. This year at Regionals, he knocked off the 2-time defending champions, WSEM, with a complete game, 1-hitter. Andrew is expected to compete for a spot in the Fat Cats starting rotation in Ohio.

 NATE BRYAN - #15
NWLA Experience: 4th Year
GBL Team: Stallionaires
Age: 27
Bats: R
Throws: R
Nate has made a name for himself as one of the best fielders at the NWLA Tournament. You will be challenged to find a player who covers more ground in the outfield than Nate. Offensively, Nate has provided a lot of big hits over the years; but none bigger than his grand slam against the #1 seed SWBL in the 2nd round of double-elimination last year. Nate will once again be stationed in the heart of the GBL lineup in Ohio.
MATT KUNA - #9
NWLA Experience: 3rd Year
GBL Team: Stallionaires
Age: 27
Bats: R
Throws: R
Arguably the best pitcher in GBL history, Matt had to fill the void left by Kyle Lidster as the GBL's ace pitcher last year at the NWLA Tournament and he certainly answered the bell. Matt got the call in the 2nd game of double-elim play against the heavily-favored, offensive juggernaut SWBL and threw a complete game, 2-hitter with 15 strikeouts. Matt struck out more than half of the batters he faced in the 2015 tournament and walked less than 10% of them. Matt's role on the Fat Cats pitching staff in Ohio this year is unknown at the moment, but you can guarantee that he will be asked to get big outs in big games.

NWLA Griffleball National Roster

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Griffleball Power Rankings and POTW Week Six

It has been over two weeks since the GBL had its last full slate of games scheduled and week six was no different. Since that is the case, week six will look back on the last two Sundays. Therefore, the Power Rankings will include the series between the Ducks on the Pond and Stallionaires and also the Taka Drivers and Gashouse Gorillas. Both matchups were vital to the playoff race and had an extra amount of pressure and tension during each contest. Two weeks ago, the Stallionaires and Ducks battled to see who would begin to command the last playoff spot. The series included how patience can win games in the GBL. The Stallionaires took the lead in the first game via a walk and never looked back. They ended up winning that game 7-0. Then, the Ducks flipped the script and also walked their way to a 2-0 win. In the end, the series ended in a split and both teams are still very much alive heading into the last few weeks. On the other hand, the Taka Drivers and Gashouse Gorillas started their series deadlocked atop the Griffleball standings. With the highly anticipated Sunday Night games, the Gashouse Gorillas proved (once again) that the four time defending champs are still on top. There were three total decisions scheduled, with one being the "Lights Out" suspended game. Not only did Gashouse hold on to secure that game, they won the next two (Game One 6-4 and Game Two 4-3). The Taka Drivers fought tooth and nail until the final out of each contest but, just did not have enough. They now sit in third behind the Bird Gang, who they will play in week seven. Even without two full weeks of games, there has been some movement in the standings. Each game will become more important as the season dwindles to its conclusion.

Scoreboard

6/12/16 - Stallionaires 7 Ducks on the Pond 2 (W-Reyna, L-Brilmyer)
Deciding Moment - Aaron Ross' first career home run gave the Stallionaires an insurmountable 7-0 lead in the top of the third.  

6/12/16 - Ducks on the Pond 2 Stallionaires 0 (W-Siokos, L-Reyna, S-Brilmyer)
Deciding Moment - Shawn Siokos pitched three shutout innings and struck out five and scored the game's first run by a base on balls.

6/19/16 - Gashouse Gorillas 6 Taka Drivers 4 (W-Ratajczyk, L -Bartley, S-Tucker)
Deciding Moment - After the lights went out in week one, Jim Tucker stepped in to save the day by striking out the next two batters to shut down the comeback. 

6/19/16 - Gashouse Gorillas 6 Taka Drivers 4 (W-Tucker, L-Voges, S-Galiher)
Deciding Moment - After the Gashouse lead was cut from 6-0 to 6-4, Ryan Galiher took over with the game winning run at the plate. He retired the next two batters to avoid a Gahouse collapse. 

6/19/16 - Gashouse Gorillas 4 Taka Drivers 3 (W-Ratajczyk, L-Buzea)
Deciding Moment - Down 3-0 in the top of the third, Jim Tucker hit a three run homer to tie the game at three. Then, Ratajczyk hit a solo home run in extras to break the tie. 

STANDINGS
  1. Gashouse Gorillas  10-2
  2. Bird Gang                8-4
  3. Taka Drivers            7-5
  4. Stallionaires             4-8
  5. Nighttime Ninjas     3-7
  6. Ducks on the Pond  2-8
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Hitter of the Week  
Jackson Buzea
5 Hits 13 At-Bats 1 HR 3 RBI (Extended Hit Streak to 25 Games; GBL Record)
Pitcher of the Week
Jim Tucker 
1-0 1/1 Saves 4 IP 8 SO 1 HA
Rookie of the Week
Shawn Siokos 
1-0 5 IP 6 SO 3 HA

POWER RANKINGS


1. Gashouse Gorillas 10-2 (Last Week #3)

The Gashouse Gorillas righted the ship by sweeping one of the best teams in the GBL. They have the league's best offense and arguably the best pitcher in Griffleball. If the playoffs started today, they would be 7-1 against the teams below them. 
2. Bird Gang 8-4 (Last Week #2)

The Bird Gang still boast a four game winning streak heading into a crucial showdown against Taka. They have not played a game in two weeks and their ace (A. Felde) just pitched in the NWLA regional. This could hurt the momentum they gained heading into Week Seven.

3. Taka Drivers 7-5 (Last Week #1)

The Taka Drivers were swept for the first time since they joined the league this week. In every game they lost, Taka could have won each game if they caught the right break. Don't expect them to keep losing, their pitching staff should get them out of this slump.

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

The Stallionaires are the hardest team to judge week to week. They always find ways to win games at the very last moment. Their biggest concern is their offense. The Stallionaires are last in the GBL in average and they have struck out a league worst 66 times.

5. Ducks on the Pond 2-8 (Last Week #5)

The Ducks started the 2016 campaign 0-7 but, have won two of their last three. They keep finding ways to get on base with their second best .508 team on base percentage. Their biggest hole is their lack of pitching as they have given up 54 earned runs in 44 innings.

6. Nighttime Ninjas 3-7 (Last Week #6)

The Nighttime Ninjas were able to secure the top spot in the playoffs in 2015. This year, they are fighting to just make it into the big dance. They have the league's worst team ERA at 7.56 and their MVP has only played two games.


WIFFLE OUT!





Friday, June 17, 2016

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Inside the GBL Episode 8: Week Five Recap and NWLA Regional Preview

This week on Inside the GBL, Tyler Walk recaps Week Five, previews the make-up games between the Ducks on the Pond and Stallionaires, picks his Mid-season Award Winners, and previews Saturday's NWLA Regional.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Griffleball Power Rankings and POTW Week Five

The GBL is now halfway through season seven and it has become clear which teams are going to make a championship push. The Gashouse Gorillas, Taka Drivers, and Bird Gang are all vying for the top three spots in the league. Even with some of the top tier teams dropping a game in week five (Taka and Gashouse), there is no doubt who the best squads are in the league. On the other hand, two playoff teams from last season continue to struggle. The Nighttime Ninjas are 1-7 since sweeping the Ducks on opening day. That is all without MVP, Ethan Arvay, who has been a non-factor this season. The Stallionaires are not the same team they were last season. Every week they start two rookies, who continue to adjust to some of the league's better pitching. The expansion team, Ducks on the Pond, broke through for their first win but, their slow start may hurt them in the long run. It should be a interesting second half of the season.
Usually wiffle ball is a pitcher's games but, Week Five included an explosion of offense. The GBL hit thirty home runs in week five and each series had a team score more then ten runs in at least one game. The Gashouse Gorillas found themselves in the middle of a slug-fest with the Ducks on the Pond. In doing so, the Ducks were able to secure their first Griffleball win against the four time defending champions (go figure). The Bird Gang offense finally found the form they had a few times last season. They scored twenty-nine runs in a sweep of the Nighttime Ninjas. In the Sunday Night Griffleball showcase, the Taka Drivers steamrolled their way to an easy game one victory against the Stallionaires. It appeared that Taka would sweep but, they wasted a masterful performance by their starter. Ryan Voges pitched over six innings of no-hit wiffle ball but, they lost due to no run support. In a week full of upsets and offense, the Power Rankings will reflect what took place on the Griffle Grounds and at the Janke Cage.

WEEK FIVE POWER RANKINGS
1. Taka Drivers 7-2 (Last Week #2)

The Taka Drivers continue to keep show the GBL that they are a team with few flaws. Their loss in week five was a bit fluky mainly because of how they lost. When a pitcher throws six plus innings of no-hit wiffle ball, chances are you are going to win. They have a great pitching rotation and everyone can eat a few innings. The Taka Drivers are on the top of their game every week and each box score will prove their consistency.

2. Bird Gang 8-4 (Last Week #3)

It was just a matter of time before the Bird Gang offense would come to life. They scored 29 runs in week five and have won four straight games (including Memorial Day). Their pitching continues to be one of the league's best. With a full squad, they can compete with anyone in the league. They could struggle to score runs against top tier arms but, for now they are one of the hottest teams in the GBL.



3. Gashouse Gorillas 7-2 (Last Week #1)

The Gashouse Gorillas are going nuts at the plate in 2016. They lead the league in every offensive category and don't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. They did have a major letdown this week by dropping a game to the Ducks (who were win-less). Without their best starter, the Gashouse Gorillas pitching staff can be vulnerable. After a disappointing loss, expect them to be ready for a rare three game set against Taka when play resumes.

4. Stallionaires 3-7 (Last Week #5)

The Stallionaires always find a way to win. All of their wins have came in the last inning and always have a chance they steal a game. Their patience paid off against Taka this week in a game they had no business winning. Their rookies are starting to get on base more often and it could translate into runs at some point. Their biggest concern is at the plate and one guy can't keep doing all the heavy lifting.


5. Ducks on the Pond 1-7 (Last Week #6)

The Ducks on the Pond showed the GBL that they aren't the same team as they were in week one. They clobbered the defending champs pitching and mercy ruled them in game two of the series. The Ducks are starting to show some potential that they might have for the second half of the season. Do not count them out quite yet. They may take a few games in the coming weeks and could find themselves in playoff contention by years end.


6. Nighttime Ninjas 3-7 (Last Week #4)

The Nighttime Ninjas have one of the GBL's best offenses but, their pitching keeps costing them games. The Ninjas are 1-7 since opening week and have not looked like the same team that had the best record last season. Their pitching staff has the worst ERA in the GBL and have put them in a bad spot to start the season. If they don't turn it around soon, they may be on the outside looking in.

WEEK FIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

HITTER OF THE WEEK

Brian Brilmyer

.545 AVG 6/11 3 HR 10 RBI 6 BB

PITCHERS OF THE WEEK

Andrew Felde (LEFT)

2-0 8 IP 7 K 3 ER 7 HA 3 BB

Ryan Voges (RIGHT)

0-1 7 IP 12 K 3 ER 2 HA 7 BB (Threw 6 No-Hit Innings)

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Shawn Siokos

.500 AVG 6/12 2 HR 5 RBI (Hit 1st and 2nd Career Home Runs)



WIFFLE OUT!















Saturday, June 4, 2016

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Griffleball Memorial Day Recap and Game Videos

Bird Gang (4-4) at Stallionaires (2-4) Games One and Two

GRIFFLE GROUNDS - For the first time ever, the GBL took the field on Memorial Day and both games came down to the wire. Ultimately, the match-up between the Bird Gang and Stallionaires was decided by two swings. With that said, there was only a total of five runs scored in the two game series. Each team struggled to score and pitching became of the focal point of the day. The other big moment of the series was the return/debut of Nate Bryan, one of the GBL's greatest. His return was immediately felt on defense due to his ability to chase down anything hit at the Griffle Grounds. Even with reinforcements, the Bird Gang pitching staff was too much for the Stallionaires. 
The action got started in the first, for both teams, and not much happened after that inning. The Bird Gang started the little bit of scoring that occurred. After Stallionaire starter, Josh Ross, walked a pair, Andrew Felde made him pay. Felde crushed one into the deep left field corner for a three run dinger. After that at-bat, Ross and the pitching staff settled in and only allowed two hits for the rest of the game. Down 3-0, the Stallionaires would answer in the bottom half of the first. With his first at-bat in 2016, Nate Bryan set the tone by hitting a single. Teammates Matt Kuna and Aaron Ross would also single to load the bases. The Stallionaires got the first three batters to reach base against Felde, who is having a terrific season at the bump. The next batter, Josh Ross, would fight his way down in the count to draw a walk and score a run. The inning could have been much worse for Felde but, he was then able to get the next two batters to end the inning. After one inning, Bird Gang led 3-1 and it looked like the GBL was in for some fireworks. The league received the complete opposite, Neither team would score again, and the Stallionaires had a few opportunities in the late innings. With Felde out of the game, the Stallionaires had to face Matt Zurawski, who has had his ups and downs on the mound. The Stallionaires found themselves with the game winning run at home plate in the fourth and fifth inning but, just hit the ball right at the Bird Gang defense. In the end, the Bird Gang held on in game one because of one swing and they would do the exact same in the next contest. 
Already down a game, the Stallionaires needed to find a way to secure a split. They gave themselves plenty of chances to do so but ended up not capitalizing. The Stallionaires loaded the bases in the first and second inning. Once again, Felde weaseled his way out of another bases loaded inning, not once but twice. Then in the third, he helped his own cause. Felde hit a solo home run off starter Nate Bryan to give his team a 1-0 lead. It was the first hit Bryan gave up all game and it was the only run he surrendered. The Stallionaires would load the bases again in the fourth against Zurawski. They would once again leave them all stranded. In total the Stallionaires left twelve runners on base in game two and it felt like that they would score at least one to tie. That wasn't the case and the Bird Gang held on to sweep the Stallionaires on the GBL's first Memorial Day nightcap. 

GAME 1
FINAL Bird Gang 3 Stallionaires 1
W - Andrew Felde (3-1)
L - Josh Ross (0-2)
S - Matt Zurawski (1)

GAME 2
FINAL Bird Gang 1 Stallionaires 0
W - Andrew Felde (4-1)
L - Nate Bryan (0-1)
S - Matt Zurawski (2)