As the rain began to fall harder than a mother's slap to the back of a small child's head in the seventh and final inning of Monday nights ESSC Rec League game the two teams that had taken to the field knew that there could only be one winner. The defending champion Moose Hammers felt good about their chances knowing that their MVP slugger was coming to the plate but the Monarchs knew that despite a jittery defense they would prevail. The Monarchs held a five run lead heading into the seventh and when the Moose Hammers responded with and RBI single and a 3 run HR the Monarchs knew it was now or never. The Moose Hammer followed the HR with a single and with man on and a crack of the bat the game was over.
When the dust had settled the final out rested in the glove of 3B Simon "Mr. Baseball" Chan and the Monarchs had defeated the defending Rec B champion Moose Hammers by a final score of 23-22.
The victory was not without difficulty for the 3-0 Monarchs. The team has yet to field a full squad still missing the services of rookie holdouts Steve Shaw and Kristen Pookay and it appears that management and the rookies will not be able to come together on a contract for this season and utility fielder Jeff Beaton has yet to report to the team despite rumors that he would be making his Monarchs debut tonight. On the positive side OF/1B Chris Dew made his debut for the Monarchs tonight helping them offensively with his bat and also defensively in the field.
The team did have most of its player out for the game against the Moose Hammers only missing OF Adam Dingle who has been placed to the 7 day DL with what the team is calling a vaginal sprain. Although their has been quiet rumblings that he may have commitments elsewhere and may be traded off the team. Also missing from tonight's line-up was 3B Russell Loga. The team was devasted to learn that the son of former 'Bop-a-Wop' all-star Veneranda Espostito, daughter of NHL hall-of-fame goalie Tony Esposito, was traded to an unnamed Edmonton men's league soccer team for a yet-to-be determined player.
Returning to the line-up against the Moose Hammers was defensive stalwart SS Amanda Sturies. After an enduring week of physiotherapy Sturies was able to return to the line-up. Her presence in the middle infield was a much needed addition to the team and was crucial to securing the win.
The injury that both Sturies and OF D.J. Robinson suffered against the Short Stops last week made its way back through the line-up when R Leslie Hierath went down in the first and Robinson and Sturies both tweaked the injury that is know simply known as "Monarch Thigh". All three saw limited action tonight but were seen leaving the field with a hobble. Hierath was effected the most by the injury having 2B Erin Melanson pinch run for her throughout the game.
The victory was important for the Monarchs not only because it kept them at a perfect 3-0 but because the young Monarchs were able to make the adjustments necessary to defeat the Moose Hammers. After numerous innings of trying to smash HR and failing, with the exception of 1B/OF Travis Dingle(2), CF Travis Bouchard (1), the team converted to playing small ball settling with loopers and liners into the shallow outfield. The change in the offensive gameplan was enough to eek out a one run victory. The team could have used a HR from big hitting 3B Chan but perhaps the asian phenom was more of a flash-in-the-pan.
The Monarchs are not just a slick offensive juggernaut but are developing a mean streak. This week it was Simon "Double Thesis" Chan getting into a verbal debate against "25 years of umpiring". In the fifth inning "Old Man Rules" removed himself from third base to argue a call against Chan. After a five minute face-to-face debate Chan saved the Monarchs an out with his masterful use of the 'double thesis' defense and "Mr. You Can't Use That Fastball Bat, What Are We Playing Soccer?" was forced to return to the field of play tail between his legs.
Next week the Monarchs face the Mud Hens @ Grand Trunk #1. The game is of special significance as the Monarchs are expected to debut their next generation Athletic Knit jerseys.
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2 comments:
I played like garbage last night, my appologies team. And to the writer of this blog, you forgot about the absence of Alicia. Jerk.
Sorry that I wasn't there last night, but unless you were having a contest to see who could shoot liquid diarrhea the furthest into the outfield, then regrettably, I don't think I would have been much help.
That being said, I am more than well-rested and look to once again take control of the outfield as the Dingle Trifecta finally meets in a ESSC match.
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