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A Walk In The Ball Park

Well, Captains, there it is!  That's the 2012 TFTSA regular season all wrapped up.  104 ballgames over 15 weeks, complete.  It was a great year with lots of close games and fun competition.  Hope everyone enjoyed their regular season.  

Attached please find the final standings update of the year.  There were four standings ties to break, but all the tie-breaking is now done and the standings are final.  

And now the playoffs.  As you know, the top 8 teams in the standings have qualified to participate in our Championship Tournament, and the 8 remaining teams will participate in our Tier-Two Tournament, all on Saturday, September 15.  I'm working on all the details, so please stand by and I'll have it all out to you early next week.

Meanwhile, I still have a few diamonds available for next week if anyone else would like to reserve one for a pre-playoff practice or if you want to arrange an exhibition game.  First come, first served.  Please let me know, thanks.

All the best, everyone,

Thanks,

Howard

UNDEFEATED!

Game in a sentence:

The DangerCats capped off their undefeated regular season in style, with power bats and timely defense en route to a 25-14 (or something?) win over perennial challengers The Big League Chews. 

Shaking the usual tendency to start slow, the 'Cats opened the game with a flurry of hits and runs and never looked back. Aggressive base running, line drives to the gap and the occasional mega-bomb to the outfield (thanks Mike) kept Big League on their heels every top-half of the inning. While their hitters showed prowess throughout the game, steady DangerD all over the field minimized the damage and allowed the 'Cats to maintain a run cushion throughout the game. The ladies in particular hit the ball well, with hard hit shots up the middle and between infielders ensuring a steady diet of lady-baserunners. Hustle down the baseline didn't hurt, either.

Here are some gifs of y'all up to bat. Apologies to Edwards who is not shown here due to me hitting record at the wrong time while videoing.

Notable highLIGHT: We played the game under the lights!

It's Not That Sirius

It was another gorgeous late summer evening as the 'Cats took the field against the Wild Cards of SXM Radio. Not to be intimidated by the undefeated record of their opponents, the Wild Cards brought a spirited cheering section (read: two 8 year-olds) who conveniently started their chants as DangerCat batters were in the middle of their swing. Good thing this isn't golf.

After some small ball generated a couple of runs (triple, sac fly, triple, single) in the top half of the first, SXM came up and hit the ball hard, quickly racking up 4 runs to take the lead going into the second inning. True to our slow starting form, however, the good guys promptly mercied two of the next three innings while playing soul-crushing shut down defense to break the spirit of the Wild Cards and their eight year-olds. This game was effectively over after 4 innings, and literally over after 6, as the Wild Cards called uncle. Full credit where it's due, though: they were a fun bunch who laughed and joked the whole game, despite the lopsided score. Kudos, SXM.

Some honourable mentions: Amazing defensive work by Jenn and Wexler at second base, snagging a hot grounder and a looping pop up, respectively. They both hit the ball hard and got on base several times. Pugsley was on fire at the plate, hammering the ball several times including a bullet line drive that was destined to crack my sternum on the mound. Luckily, I pulled a full Neo (complete with keanu Reeves-esque flailing arms) to avoid the rocket up the middle. Other good defensive plays included a double play by Brendan, snaring a line drive then one-hopping it to first which was scooped by Terp to end the inning. Terp, playing SS for an inning, also leaped to snare a hot liner that was destined for the gap.

I think pretty much every dude but me hit a home run, with the possible exception of Prime (though I seem to remember him crushing one in the fifth or sixth and, as we were up by a few, taking his time around the bases for a triple... or something). Binstock recovered from an early fly-out to smash one over the head of their center fielder, followed quickly by Mike who followed suit to right to mercy in the second. We then had a three HR inning in the fourth, started off by Edwards who sliced a line drive that carried way out for a solo shot. Brendan then crushed one to the gap in left, turning on the afterburners to fly around the bases. Dave then showed a little of the Terpstra of yesteryear, blasting a bomb to straightaway centre over the heads of their outfielders who, finally, had moved back. Not far enough, obviously. 

Great game, 'Cats. A few of us will be getting together in Christie Pits to hit/field some balls and drink some beers on holiday Monday afternoon. Come by and take a few swings. Our next game is on Wednesday at Riverdale West (the wet one) against the formidable Big League Chews. Let's get the win and cap off an unreal season at a pub afterward.

Week 13 Standings

Week 12 Standings

Standings Week 11

Hey Cats,

Stay tuned for info about our rain out make up date. In the meantime, here are this week's standings:

Our next game is Tuesday August 14th at Fairmount. Have a great weekend!