BS Summer '08 Game 2 Recap

On a dimly lit field, on a cold and hard Chicago night, the Bomb Squad met Phil & Lou for Game 2 of this young softball season.  The Bomb Squad was in immediate trouble when many of their players were either unable or unwilling to play, and barely arrived with the minimum amount of 8 players needed to play (5 guys and 3 girls, thanx kid for having the rules on lockdown).  Signed to a contract, was former DePaul Hayes-Healey legend, Ben Ricter, to play first base and provide the team with much needed speed.  With every measure exhausted, and every call made, the Bomb Squad took the field with the mindset of winning and having fun.

 

Almost immediately the Bomb Squad looked in trouble as the other team came with 7 guys and more in vans on the way and only 2 women, despite needing at least three.  The Bomb Squad, unfazed, asked to play on and match skills undeterred by the fact that techinically the other team had already forfeited.  A 6-0 deficit after the top half of the inning looked like maybe this wouldn't be the Squad's night.  The inning was highlighted by a long drive that clipped the Squad's superstar Outfielder, theKID, on his throwing hand causing it to swell and throb and severly impairing his playing ability, and that was the first play of the game.  Doctors warned that kid that his career could be in jeopardy, but theKID responded, "Damn that, a clown does not give up.  Especially one wearing a SURVIVOR BUFF...I am playing, just cut it off."  TheKID was then told his hand only needed ice and not a total amputation.

 

The Bomb squad unfazed scored its first run off of a double by leadoff hitter iz3y!, and a run scoring single by KG.  The rest of the game turned quite considerably in the Squad's favor and they used great defenisive play and outstanding pitching from the Colombian Wizard, Johnner Londono.  A patient eye all night by the entire batting order put many runners and provided many run scoring opportunities as iz3y! enjoyed his highest RBI (runs batted in) night of the season.  The Squad cruised to a 14-11 victory and toward a very impressive season.

 

In the 5 inning with the P&L looking to rally, ED 'the SAMURAI' Lopez made an impressive stab of a hard hit grounder and calmy flipped the ball to his brother for an important out and death blow to the rally.  The final inning just highlighted what was pretty evident throughout the game, that the Bomb Squad was going to win this game with defense and pitching, and they did just that. 

 

GAME NOTES: the Squad played without a full time second baseman.  Johnner became the only Colombian pitcher to win his first two games.  theKID will have an MRI and a juggling test today to determine the severity of the injury.  OK, maybe not an MRI as we don't even have everyone's fees in yet. NO homeruns were HOT in this game.  We literally called everyone we knew. The list included:

• College roomates
• friends
• siblings who don't even know how to play the game
• various people who were all moving on the same night
• people who were too cold
• ex boyfriend/girlfriends
• Radio personality Lawrence Holmes of the SCORE 670 who couldn't broadcast this game due to technical difficulties

BS Summer '08 Game 2 Awards

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Benjamin 'BEN-BEN' Ricter - Saved our ass from forfeit despite being called 40 min before game time and needing a ride from Lincoln Park. Played an very impressive first base and showed off the wheels that made him a DePaul and Wisconsin legend.

BIG STICK of the GAME: iz3y! - Double, Double, Double, Double....using Sarah's 'wondergirl' bat iz3y! enjoyed a his greatest game offensively. In the field, he played Shortstop and Second base, and even almost killed his brother at third with a throw.

Monk AWARD: Amy Hancock - Absolutely stunning patience at the plate drawing countless walks that would later score. Also, provided guidance for Johnner as they teamed up to provide a great pitching performance.

Play of the GAME: Ed 'theSPACEMAN' Lopez - stabbed a hot scorcher to third, then cooly flipped the ball to second for an important rally killing out. Also, reached base and scored using his wheels. His Mongolian Pillow Fighting misses him badly, but we are ecstatic he chose to play with us.

Professional Players of the GAME: Sarah 'SASHA' Schabowski & Johnner 'theCALENO' Londono - Sarah continues to be a true professional at the plate hitting the ball hard and talking that timely walk. Also, handled a very difficult RF which was barely visible due to the poor lighting. Next game, she might need a flashlight to navigate the situation. Johnner brought his usual professionalism to the game. He was all over the field covering bases as necessary and pitching another outstanding game. He also almost pulled off another swinging bunt, and showed great patience at the plate.

GUTTY PERFORMANCEAWARD!: Richard 'theKID' Wojcik - what can u say about a guy who plays with balls with one hand....oh wait....
Seriously, what a gutty performance. The team thought that ball hit his head, which we were comfortable with, since he had the Survivor buff to protect him, but tragically it was his throwing hand. Where most people would have left the game or seeked medical attention, theKID dug in and drove the ball a mile, and played steller defense. Unfortunately, tales of his strength reached other teams in the league and the outfielders were playing so far away they disappeared from view. Still, it inspired the rest of us to go out and battle. GUTTY!

Gamer of the Game Award: Kathy 'KG' Gennuso - She hit a rocket to left, then never slowed down as she zeroed in on second base. An outstanding throw from the LeftFielder would have gunned her down if not for an perfectly executed slide that tore up her leg. Later it would be revealed that she had no intention of ever sliding all year, but after seeing theKID gut out the game, she had no choice but to follow suit and give up some skin for the greater good.

BS Summer '08 Game 2 Quotes

"so we have a enough players and we can play u guys if u want, I don't think we should both forfeit" - other team despite only having guys and two butch looking girls who were suspect!

"no, WE CAN START THE GAME WITH 8!" -theKID as he produced the rules from his Survivor Buff...a quick glance revealed he other supplies under there!

"ED COVER THIRD...ED COVER THIRD" -iz3y!...ed still forgot to cover third! hahaha...still made a great play

"ITS NOT THE BAT IT'S MY HAND...LOOK AT IT..IT IS HUGE....DAMN IT!" -theKID, anger after making an out after driving a ball 250 feet using pink bat that was caught. surprisingly no ice was under his buff...but he did have a bowie knife. Other items to be revealed...see below.

"we didn't come here to play tiddlywinks" -iz3y!, terrible phrase i picked up in vegas. I will mail back soon.

"I need like a cooler of beers to be ready to pitch" - Johnner, after 4 hours of warming up at Union Park (official bar of the Bomb Squad)

BS Summer '08 Game 1 Recap

Excellent first game team.  I really liked how we were able to overcome half our team showing up 5 min before the start of the game and come through for 31 runs.  Yeah, we were playing softball, where the greates athletes in the world PLAY!. 

We had first at bats and really showed the other teams in the league what they were in for.  I strolled to the plate with a $250 bat made of space age polymer synthetics and took a walk.  Kathy then stepped in and promptly crushed the ball. The kid stepped in next and ended all speculation about his late night Survivor watching by launching a missile to the furthest reaches of the 'ghetto'.  From there our lineup was off and running, ending with 3 runs and an intimidating message sent. 

John 'theKEG' London, then toed the rubber and shook off early wildness to dominate the weak hitting lineup he faced.  Featuring a nasty splitter and fastball he kept the other team off balanced and petrified. 

"I just went out there and wanted to represent the Bomb Squad and Yankee nation and battle and be a competitor" Johnner said through his interpreter.  [Actual quote: "I opened up a can of whoop ass on them!...WHOOP ASS...yeah...opened up a can of Whoop ASS..WHOOOOOP ASS!]  After quick first inning, the team posted another 4 runs in the bottom of the second, to lead 7-0 and the domination was just beginning as the final score read 31-6. 

The game ended with the ump taking us off the field to let the other team hit, but they weakly succumbed to awesome glory.

The game featured 5 home runs, multiple doubles, a triple, swaying arms while running, and the long since forgotten Babe Ruth running style brought you by the Player of the game John 'theKEG' London!

BS Summer '08 Game 1 Awards

Player of the game: John 'theKEG' London: did he hit well?... no. Field well?...not really. Did he pitch well? You damn right he did. Staring down batters and displaying filthy underhand 5 mph fastballs he pitched a fine game. Do you get a player of the game award for that...HELL NO! You get it for executing a bunt, while swinging as hard u possibly can and for re-introducing the long forgotten Babe Ruth running style!

BOMB SQUAD POWER PLAYER(s): iz3y!, KG, theKID, Alex: the top four in the order produced enough juice to power the city for the next week. 5 homeruns (iz3y-2, thekid-2, alex-1) multiple doubles, a triple and countless hard hit balls proved too much offense to overcome. Highlights included two ridiculously deep drives by theKID, KG consistently abusing the LF, and Alex hitting so well his mentor in Atlanta smiled!

Silent Assassins: Sarah, Malisse: Shaking off rough spring trainings they showed up determined to make their mark on the game. The did just that with some well hit balls and aggressive running. Sarah breaking up a double play and forever intimidating the other teams second baseman. Malisse displayed grit and determination that made her famous in colombia as a child prodigy before being whisked away and raised by shaolin monks.

Good VIBES award: Amy Hancock: I have never experienced the level of enthusiasm or energy that Amy brought to the field. Playing wherever needed, her energy was infectious. Thanks for manning the hot corner!

Most improved players: Ed 'theFENCER' Lopez, Luis 'theCONTINENTAL' Ugaz: These two never even picked up a ball before yesterday. Ed has dedicated his life to obscure sports like Brazilian Cave Diving, Barefoot Jenga, Naked Dodgeball, Fencing, etc....but yesterday he still displayed the speed and JAGER BOMBING that made him an Austrian Concrete Ball Making Champion! Luis on the other hand comes from a long line of football playing physicists. Giving up his dream to play in the physics world cup to play with us was hard, but he did it. Showing Jaguar-esque speed and agility, Luis dazzled the crowd and won over many underage female supporters.

New Nickname: Malisse 'lil MALA' Haarl. Does it sound like a gangbanger name...well yeah. But when u have luis and malisse hitting back to back it gets confusing. Besides yelling LUUUUUUU....almost sounds like the precusor to LOOOOSSSERRR!!! or BOOOOOOO----URNS!!! or as tricia calls him LOUISE! so lil MALA...welcome to the squad.

BS Summer '08 Game 1 Quotes

"I am not doing this shot for me, I am doing it for the team!" Malisse 'lil MALA' Haarl

"I am serious....score!" -iz3y!

"Wait...really...oh shit" - Alex

"where u guys at?" - iz3y!

"getting the check we will be right there" -johnner

30min later.....

"where u at?" -iz3y!

"Getting the check!" -johnner

"I should have just stood at third for the cycle!" - theKID!