Hi everyone we actually got the game in. Let’s back track a couple of weeks to the last time we played which was the week of the 4th of July. Here are the quick recaps from those games on July 2:
First up was Team Stu vs. Team Fogel:
Team Solomon remains unbeaten in the second half after a thrilling 24-17 win over Team Fogel on Field 3.
It was an eventful start to the game: Stu took a hard comebacker to the ankle during a rough first inning on the mound, then hit a home run in the bottom half to help put his team up 6-5. Jeremy Fogel answered back with a shot of his own over the fence in the second before we regained the lead at 9-8.
Jeremy Dock set the tone defensively going airborne for the first out of the game on a well hit ball to right field, and Steven Shapiro held things down with strong play in left.
Fun note from the book: sub Adam Cronstein added an ultra-rare two-RBI bunt double for Team Solomon.
We plated 6 runs in the third but the Fighting Fogel’s rallied right back – Jeremy’s second homer helped tie it up at 15, and they briefly took the lead at 17-16. Captain Stu ultimately scored the go-ahead run, then crushed another HR (this one prophesied by Jimmy Lefton) for insurance in the sixth – our third 6-run inning of the game. Clutch defense and pitching prevailed late as we held on for the win.
Offensive shout outs to Be”jammin” Charlton 3-4 and Matt “Mr. Government” Brodof going 4-5 scoring 4 times.
Also, a big Happy Birthday (on July 3rd as I am writing this) to Eli Gould and my Mom, Julie Solomon.
Next Team Groh CRUSHED Team Brafman 19-1
Ken for the winners:
Pete Soltesz doubled in two and came around to score to put Groh up 3-0 after 1. In the 2nd Tyler Stansbury tripled in Jon Ruben and Danny Meisterman and then scored on a Dee Harris SF to make it 6-0. Brafman scored 1 in the top of the 3rd and were led by Mike Rothstein and Yitzi Creeger, who both went 2-2 but Team Groh put the ball just out of reach and had a bunch of singles en route to a 9-run 3rd and added 4 more in the 4th inning to cap the scoring. Tyler, Dee, Pete, Chris Van Holle , and Jon all had 3 hits in the win.
Team Wolf vs. Team Wagner
Wes for the winners:
This week, Team Wolf pulled out a come-from-behind win vs Team Wagner. After a slow start by Team Wolf, Wagner pulled out to a 7-3 lead after 4 innings. Finally, the bats came alive, and Team Wolf tied the game 7-7 in the bottom of the 5th. Wagner quickly rebounded with 4 in top 6, making the game 11-7. Team Wolf wasn’t done, and put together a 6-run rally in the bottom of the 6th inning, pushing the score to 13-11. Howie continued his resurgence with a 1-2-3 7th inning to nail down the win.
Overall, a well-played contest turned into a see-saw game with momentum swings galore. Team Wolf came out on top to move to 2-1 in the second half.
Finally Team Simons took on Team Grefer
It was hot and muggy as team Simons took the field first against team Grefer. Team Simons allowed 11 runs to score in the first two innings of the game and were down 11-3. It looked bleak, it looked dire, it looked like team Simons was going to get a whipping for the ages. Then, a huddle was called at the top of the 3rd inning and an agreed upon defensive formation was revealed bordering on bush league psych-out stuff. Team Simons kicked, scratched, and clawed their way back to a 3-run game, all the while, holding team Grefer scoreless. It was the bottom of the 7th and pitching Guru Mark Weisser kept the game close with an 11-8 score favoring team Grefer. Suddenly the hit parade came and did not stop until David Wertheim delivered the knockout, walk off blow winning the game 12-11 on a deep drive to right.
And now for this week:
On Field 1, Team Groh vs Simons
Marc For the Winners:
In what can only be described as a pitchers duel, team Groh locked horns with team Simons for 7 innings. The defense for both teams played an excellent game, but team Simons was able to hold a 4-3 edge going into the 9th inning. With a runner on first and Stansbury coming to the plate with two outs, team Simons decided to intentionally walk him and Sam Castellini hit a rocket to left that was caught on the run by Scott Friend sealing a second straight victory for team Simons.
On Field 2, Wolf Vs. AJ
An amazing win for the Goons last night as we took out Team Wolf 14-4 in 5 innings. It felt like it had been forever (3 weeks) since we played last, and the team responded well with consistent offense and stout defense.
The biggest standouts in the game were Ian Segall who had a triple, two doubles and 4 RBIs, and Eric Cronstein, our super sub of the game who had two triples and a double with 4 RBIs as well. As I said above though, we had great team defense all over the field which was the main contributor to the victory.
We will look to keep it rolling next week against Team Wagner.
On Field 3 it was Team Fogel vs. Grefer
Keith for Fogel
Keith Kombrinck here reporting on Team Fogel win #5 with an 11 – 8 victory over Team Grefer.
They Do It With Mirrors. Not an Agatha Christie book, but Team Fogel exploits.
Besides having too many players who look like yours truly – ectomorphs, Team Fogel defeated another team of players who look like softball players, big guys.
Team Fogel plated two in the first on a two-out drive to left center by Josh Rosen. Jamie Kurtzer then held Grefer’s hitters in check in the bottom of the inning. Then the “big inning” occurred for Team Fogel. Hits by Nick O’Brien and Brad Gallop preceded a smash by Norm Frankel over the left fielder’s head. Jamie, Keith and Landon Krantz singled, and Jeremy drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly. Team Fogel then led 7 to 1. Team Grefer came roaring back with singles by Kyle Grefer, Landon Hawkins, Oren Shmoel and a drive by Ryan Silverman.
In the middle innings, Team Fogel managed to plate a few more runs despite some outstanding catches by Silverman in left-center and Grefer in right-center. At that point, this reporter believed that we were losing 11 to 8 because the score flag that was nearer to our bench read 8 and the one that read 11 was the color of our opponent’s shirts. I was then surprised to learn in the last inning that we were up 11 to 8. So much for this reporter’s astute observations!
I did note that the Fogel infield of Krantz, O’Brien, and Gallop made enough good plays to seal the win – all lean players!
Finally on field 4 it was Team Stu vs. Team Wagner:
Team Solomon kept its momentum going with a 22-13 win Wednesday on Field 4. The Brad-less Team Wagner made it close over the first few innings before the boys in baby blue pulled away in the second half.
Stuart “Little” Solomon got things started with a home run, his fourth this year and third in the last two games, to tie it up at 2-2 in the bottom of the first. Everybody in our lineup reached base safely, with 10 out of 11 guys scoring at least one run.
Dan “Glover” McGrath made his long-awaited return to the diamond and was a vacuum in his rehab assignment at first base. He also finished 3-3 at the plate with a fielder’s choice and 4 runs, losing 0 USD to his patented “Pop Up Jar.”
Fielding continues to be a calling card for Team Solomon, making great reads and relays for clutch defensive stops all season long. Alex “Winter” Kraus completed two more putouts at home plate to add to his impressive campaign behind the dish.
Team Solomon looks to make it five wins a row next week on Field 1 against Team Groh while Wagner visits Goldhoff on Field 3.
League Notes:
Happy birthday to the following:
Commish Adam
Brandon “Big Bad” Wolf
Eric “Jeter” Goldstein
Riley “the Big Man” Able
Joel “The Wrath of” Kahn
Danny Meisterman
Jacob “Dentist to the stars” Stadiem
And last but not least Danny Gilbert
Mazel Tov to Jeremy Fogel for getting engaged.
A sad week for any of us born before 1980.
First Theo Huxtable, then Ozzy and today “The Hulkster” Hulk Hogan. I was a HUGE wrestling fan and while I always liked Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair more, I sure enjoyed watching him over the years. A testament to him is that he was the best good guy and bad guy of all time. Since I know 90% of you don’t care, I won’t post any Youtube clips but two of my favorites are when Andre The Giant challenges him at WM 3 (the famous Pipers Pit) and then when he joins and creates the NWO in the mid 90’s. The fans’ reaction to him turning into a bad guy is worth your time. (The announcers should have gotten an Emmy for their over-reaction as well)
I have no clue if the Reds should be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. I just know they are a 500 team that is wasting ALL of the pitching and Elly who are all on rookie contracts. That to me is the most frustrating part of this front office.
It’s not often that I agree with the Bengals on anything when it comes to money but I have to say I agree with the Bengals stance on both Hendrickson and Stewart (especially Trey). How many of us can sign a contract (go back and look at his smiling face) then when you don’t like it can demand a new contract with one year left on your deal. If he was 27 and not 30, I’d be 100% on board with the Bengals over paying him but he isn’t, is awful against the run and will be 31 when the season ends. Play out your deal or except a shorter term extension then go out and make HUGE bucks somewhere else next season. I just feel bad for Taylor and Joey B who have to constantly answer for questions they are not a part of.
A pre-emptive thank you to Mr. Mike Creemer and Anne Goldstein from the J for taking out a couple of kids including my daughter Maya to the Maccabi games in Tucson. Bring home a winner for Team Cincinnati. And if you all have kids that want to play in the next couple of years let them know. Over 800 kids will be competing and it sure sounds like an amazing week!
Reminder that Jewish Night is coming up at FCC. Go on the J Website to buy tickets.
Finally, Roger is selling both the Star Wars Reds and the Race Car Reds bobblehead on his web site. The fact that the Reds had to create those because they have no other player that anyone would want is a pretty big red flag on the talent on the team. I still wish they would do random scrub bobbleheads. Who won’t want a Jose Peraza or Buck Farmer bobblehead
Keep the rain away I haven’t played in a month! See you all on Wednesday.