Coaches
Notes: Game day tid-bits and details
not shown in the box score!!
June 30, 2001 – Cubs vs. Rolling Prairie
Dodgers
A
lot of familiar faces on the Dodgers as their “All Star” team put on a
defensive clinic. The Cubbies did an
excellent job out of the gate as we jumped out to score 7 runs on 9 batters in
the top of the first. We then took
their best and held them to 6 in the bottom the first. BUT…that was it for the Cub’s offense!! Hard to believe but the usually potent Cub’s
offense was held scoreless for the next 5 innings!! And of course when it rains it pours as our defense allowed them
to grind out another 4 runs in the second, then 2 in the 3rd, and a
whopping 8 in the 4th!! Final
score 20-7 in favor of the Dodgers. In
one of the few highlights of the game Pat G. came through as the 9th
batter in the 1st again with a homerun when we needed it most. Game ball goes to Pat for providing the
bright spot on a rather dismal day.
June 23, 2001 – Cubs vs. Fish Lake
Astros
A
good solid effort by the Cubbies as we sent 9 batters to the plate in the 5 of
the 6 innings in a 31-12 vcitory for the Cubbies. Everyone had an excellent day at the plate as 13 of 14 had at
least one RBI. Alex, Jordan and Patrick G. had 4 a piece. Things were better field wise as we had
gotten rid of the “Fish Lake” behind 2nd base that had been there
the week before!! But we had to
scramble to find a referee. Thanks to
Mr. Nelson who made his debut behind the plate on short notice. Cory again showed his newfound power with 2
homeruns and a triple. Patrick G went 4
for 4 with 4 triples!! Game ball went
to Taalor Corley as he had a good day fielding, went 3 for 3 hitting and added
3 RBI’s.
June 16, 2001 – Cubs vs. Fish Lake
Gators
Barely
a nights rest and more field work!! A
large puddle behind second threatened the game but a coaches meeting resulted in
the formation of the “ground rule mud puddle double” rule!! HAHA
It was agreed the “most” of the field we used was in good shape and it
would be a shame to waste such a beautiful day!! So the Cubbies took full advantage of the day and scored 8 in the
top of the first including a 9th batter home run on Pat Gorecki’s
first hit after a 2 week absence (welcome back Pat!!) Cub’s shut them down in the first, allowed 4 in the second, and
then shut them out again in the 3rd
and 4th for a 23-4 lead at the middle of the 5th
!! 13 of 14 players had RBI’s on the
day as just about everyone crossed the plate at some point in the game. Aaron Schoof (to the best of recollection)
got to touch them all and went 2 for 2 off the pitch!! Everybody is really showing improvement and
the score show’s it!! We lost to this
team last year and really “put the wood” to them today….as Alex got the nod for
the game ball after having a single, 2 doubles and a triple!! It’s back to Fish Lake again next
Saturday….let’s hope we don’t need the “puddle double” rule again!! HAHA
GREAT JOB CUBBIES!!
June 15, 2001 – Cubs vs. Westville
Bombers
FINALLY!!! After rescheduling this game 3 times we got
it in!! And it wasn’t easy… After a morning rain we spent almost 4 hours
getting the field ready and started on time!!
A rare occurrence as we were home team for only the second (and final
time) this year!! Of course it took us
awhile to adjust as we aren’t used to the idea of “fielding” first!! After allowing 4 runs in the top of the
first though, the Cub’s answered with 5 of their own and never looked
back!! Defense stiffened as we held
them scoreless the next 3 innings. And
the offense got in swing with 4 in the 2nd, 6 in the 3rd,
and 5 in the 5th. Probably
the surprise of the game was a fly ball caught by the pitcher. The surprise was that it was hit by Cory
K!! Sadly this marks the first at bat
this season that Cary didn’t get on base!!
Offensively Alex, Jimmy, Taalor, and Charlie all had 3 RBI’s a
piece. Game ball went to Zach Robbin’s
in recognition of his vast improvement and a good effort at the plate!! Everyone rushed home to get their uniforms
washed as we have another game in about 12 hours at Fish Lake!!
June 9, 2001 – Cubs vs. Kingsford Hts.
#2
After
a long lay off, the Cubbies started off slow scoring 2 in the top of the first
and allowing 1. But they quickly shook
off the rust and got things going in the second as they scored 8 on 9 batters
and then proceeded to hold them scoreless for the rest of the game. Taylor C had a home run in the first. Paul G showed his power with 2 doubles and a
triple. And in a rare showing of power
hitting, Cory K almost went for the cycle with a single, 2 doubles and a triple
to go with 5 RBIs on the day. That was
enough to earn Cory the game ball. No
time to rest now as we play again Tuesday in a rain make-up game at Door
Village against the Westville Bombers.
This is the stretch where the Cubbies can pack their bags as we play the
rest of our games on the road until the final game of the season!!
In a rare Thursday
game probably the biggest surprise was the fact we even were able to
play!!! With several day’s of
threatening weather, a looming forecast and reports of hale less than 10 miles
away….the clouds parted and the sun shined (we must be living right!!). The Cub’s were not going to be caught
sleeping again!! They sent 9 batters to
the plate and scored 8!! In a rarity
the likes that I have never seen, Pat. Gorecki hit a GRAND SLAM as the 9th
batter. It was our first homer of the
season and the first grand slam I have ever seen in tee ball. Then the stingy defense allowed only 1 run
in the Cobra’s first at bat and then proceeded to hold them scoreless the next
2 innings!! So after 3 innings the
Cubbies were up 15-1 and rolling. We
had numerous standouts both offensively and defensively. Pat G.,
Jordan Schoof, and Alex Wood all had 6 RBI’s on the night. In the second
inning, I think Cory single handedly got all 3 outs on defense!!?? In addition to the threatening weather, Pat
G. got a fat lip before the game on a loose ball, Aaron S. forgot his glove and the Cobras were a little slow
getting there. So for starting out on
such shaky ground the team showed incredible focus and took care of
business!! Great job guy’s TAKE THE WHOLE WEEKEND OFF!! HAHA!!!!!
Next up…The WV Bombers on Saturday June 2 at Door Village.
May 19, 2001 – Cub’s vs. Kingsbury Sting:
We got things
started off pretty good as we sent 7 batters to the plate and scored 2 runs in
the top of the first. But on defense we
seemed to be napping a bit as we took the field and allowed them 7 runs on 9
batters with only 1 out on a caught pop-fly.
The good news is once we got back off our heals from that inning we held
them to just 7 runs over the next 4 innings.
So if we come out playing like ourselves (i.e. throw out the first
inning!?) ….it’s a much better ball
game. Of the “veterans” Taalor and Cory
seemed to anchor the defense as Pat G. had 2 triples and an RBI on
offense. Again the “newbies” are
showing signs of greatness as Austin showed off his wheels getting 2 hits on 2
attempts. Amazing how the shortest guy
on the team can generate that much speed out of those little legs!! At the opposite end of the speed scale,
Aaron Schoof used brute power to drive one through the infield and beat it out
to first base. Probably doesn’t sound
like much until you consider that he FELL DOWN ….GOT UP…AND STILL BEAT THE
THROW TO FIRST!! All things
considered, I think we played a good
game. Certainly not our best, but we
will continue to improve and if I was to guess…I think we will probably get
another shot at this team sometime in the tournament?! Not much time too lick our wounds though as
we try to rebound against the Kingsbury Cobras Thursday in a 4:30
match-up.
May 12, 2001 – Cub’s vs. Rolling Prairie Tigers:
I had worried about
numerous items as the weeks of practice went by, but I seldom worried about our
offense. The Cub’s showed why as we
sent 9 batters to the plate in not only the first inning but also the 2nd,
3rd, 4th and 6th innings also!! Our defense shined with spectacular
performances from Cory Kraus, Taalor Corley, Charlie Creighton and many
others. With everyone playing so well,
it was tough to separate one guy to receive the game ball!! But Mark Nelson’s catch at left center field
jumped out as the play of the day.!!
Congratulations Mark?? Our 3
first year guys combined for 5 RBI’s, with that kind of production out of our
youngest players you gotta feel good!!
And congratulations to our entire team as I heard several compliments
about our good manners and sportsmanship today. Others could see first hand what I am talking about when I refer
to the Cubbies as “a great bunch of kids”.
Good ball players….GREAT KIDS!!
Of course everyone knows that the “real” test comes next week when the
Cubbies take on the defending champ Kingsbury Sting. The Sting return a lot of guys from a very tough club. Our guy’s have our work cut out for them,
but we are more than capable of beating ANYBODY!! Let’s go Cubbies!!