tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13340853916536096322023-11-16T05:16:47.499-08:00VBC SoftblogMuuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-10212364142868844512012-06-08T16:08:00.000-07:002012-06-08T16:08:41.505-07:00Unicorns slay Dragons for second season victory<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Since their first win of the year, the Unicorns of the Apocalypse have been involved in many fierce encounters with a variety of foes.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">*This is the final part of a 3-day blog series that catches fans up with the Unicorns' progress over the last few weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><u><b>Foe #3</b>: Dragons</u></span></div>
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Three Mondays ago, the Unicorns of the Apocalypse took the field not knowing what to expect from their opponents, the Dragons. Dubbed "The Series of Mythical Beasts" or "Battle of Mythical Creatures" by non-believers, the Unicorns were in for their most gruesome battle yet.</div>
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The series didn't start out so well, as the Unicorns saw their leadoff man, and one of their best hitters, strike out, their two-hole hitter fly out, and then, following a single, saw the final out made on a fielder's choice. After the first was over, though, the Unicorns polished off their horns and charged, scoring nine runs highlighted by a grand slam by Magi-Carp and a solo shot by Greaver. They didn't stop in the third either, as Ryan Cahill blasted his own homerun and the bottom of the batting order, lead by returning VBC Softball elite Romeo Villanueva, all got on base so that the top of the order could bring them all home. For two consecutive innings, the batting order had been cycled through once.</div>
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Every 'corn was merciless over those innings, but the Dragons were not going to go down without launching their own huge balls of fire. When the smoke cleared, the Dragons outlasted the Unicorns and won 19 to 17.</div>
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Enraged, the Unicorns took the field again only to use their trump card: nuclear fusion. Picking up right where they left off, the Unicorns scored four in the first. The Dragons responded with scoring four of their own to tie it, but in the end the radiation was just too much for them to stand--the Unicorns stood victorious for the second time this season, besting their foes 12 to 7.</div>
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The series was easily the greatest series played in the history of the Unicorns of the Apocalypse. Sometimes their enemies are clearly in the wrong league, but the Dragons, a foe truly worthy of tying with the Unicorns, showed that they, too, belong in Virginia Beach's Duffer league.</div>
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Wins: 2</div>
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Ties: 1</div>
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Losses: Who cares!? We've won 2 and tied 1! Neigh!</div>
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<b><u>Team Leaders</u></b></div>
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<b>Males</b></div>
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<u>AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS</u>: Magi-Carp and Cahill sit neck-and-neck for best overall player. If not for a rough second game, Cahill might have come out on top.</div>
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AVG: Magi-Carp - .769; Cahill - .765</div>
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SLG: Magi-Carp - 1.769</div>
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As for On-base Plus Slugging, three players are over the 2.000 mark.</div>
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OPS: Magi-Carp - 2.538 (13 PAs); Cahill - 2.266 (19 PAs); Greaver - 2.016 (24 PAs)</div>
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<u>RBI</u>: After having monster games, the numbers shot up. Magi-Carp leads with 14, followed by Greaver at 13, Cahill at 9, and B-Weave at 8. B-Weave's number is notably impressive as he is more limited than the others in RBI opportunities due to his role as the lead-off man combined with the low average OBP of the bottom of the order.</div>
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<b>Females</b></div>
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<u>AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS</u>: As promised the race is tight. Lanah Stafford (23 PAs) continues to lead, sporting a .591/.609/.636/1.245 line. Meanwhile, Joanna Niles (16 PAs), after batting .571 against the Dragons, improved her line to .533/.500/.533/1.033, sneaking above Edge (14 PAs) in the AVG column and tying her OBP.</div>
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<u>RBI</u>: Stafford raises up to 7 and Edge, after knocking in 3 against the Dragons, ties Kendra Stencell at 4.</div>
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<b>Team</b></div>
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<u>BB</u>: The Unicorns have always been a "see-ball-hit-ball" kind of team--that is to say, they only take walks when necessary because they enjoy hitting. The males especially fall into that category, as the only ones who have taken a base on balls so far this season are Greaver, Cahill, Villanueva, and Joey Sanchez (one each). However, two females, Katie Wirth and Mel "D-Dom" Domenico, have worked the count four times each.</div>
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Go Unicorns!</div>
</div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-64167883593688498862012-06-07T18:59:00.000-07:002012-06-07T19:06:04.128-07:00Unicorns do not eat Chinese<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Since their first win of the year, the Unicorns of the Apocalypse have been involved in many fierce encounters with a variety of foes.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">*This is part 2 of a 3-day blog series that catches fans up with the Unicorns' progress over the last few weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u><b>Foe #2</b>: P.F. Chang's Warriors</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Many players on the Unicorns of the Apocalypse, when in their human form, love Chinese food. When in their Unicorn form, they can eat Chinese food, but they cannot, however, eat Asian Fusion food. In fact, they choke on it pretty hard. Though VBC Softball has faced P.F. Chang's Warriors many times in the past, both as the Unicorns and as The Legion of Fistpumping Turtles, they always seem to come out winless (e.g., <a href="http://vbcsoftblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/unicorns-walk-in-xn-runs-proceed-to.html" target="_blank">last year</a>). This year was no different. "Must be some kind of allergy," coach Greg Weaver explained, "and I know a thing or two about allergies."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Due to the absence of many of the Unicorns (likely due to their fear of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q25nUY3iEE&feature=fvsr" target="_blank">many things fusion</a>), the first game was open to the slaughter rule. Luckily, though, long-time colleague of a couple 'corns, Scherry McCartney, showed up to play first base and thus canceled said rule in the second game, making the teams play the required five innings and therefore extending the torture of being utterly ripped apart. McCartney, who brought with her two whom would cheer, would go 0-2 with a walk and a run in the series. Mentionable highlights of the second game include homeruns by the Weaver brothers, but ultimately, though they batted an MLB-excellent 14 for 31 (.452), they could not string together their hits to counteract the potent offense of the Warriors.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Team Leaders</u> (week of May 14th)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Males</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS</u>: With Cahill and Magi-Carp unavailable and practically untouchable, it's more fair to mention the next couple in the running. Rookie Josh Fisher comes out on top with .727/.667/1.182/1.848, leading all the categories except SLG, in which the Weaver brothers are tied with 1.235.</span></span><br />
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<u style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">RBI</u><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">: The Weaver brothers are neck-and-neck, Greaver having 7 and B-Weave having 6.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Females</b></span></span><br>
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS</u>: Lanah Stafford continues her reign, and with an XBH she improves her line to .750/.750/.813/1.563</span></span>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>RBI</u>: Stafford bolted ahead of Kendra Stancell and now boasts 6, tying with B-Weave and showing no signs of stopping.</span></span></div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-73343938778664152802012-06-06T19:54:00.003-07:002012-06-06T20:00:20.668-07:00Unicorns hold on to CobrasSince their first win of the year, the Unicorns of the Apocalypse have been involved in many fierce encounters with a variety of foes.<br />
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*This is part 1 of a 3-day blog series that catches fans up with the Unicorns' progress over the last few weeks.<br />
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><u><b>Foe #1: </b>Busch Cobras</u></span></div>
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The Unicorn can be both the most fragile of creatures and the fiercest of creatures. Typically, the Unicorns of the Apocalypse, while inherently having a nature that can effectively end the world at any given moment, start out a two-game series as the former and end with the latter. Example: Coming off of a 12-run win, the Unicorns mustered a total of two hits in the first two innings this, their next game, and came out with only four runs. Their M.O., apparently, is to lead teams in to make them think they are just fragile little 'corns (thus the allowance of 11 runs in the first inning and VBC Softball veteran Joanna Niles suffering a strained oblique while in the field in the bottom of the 1st) until they unleash their nuclear power, as evidenced by their 5-run first inning in the second game. Reigning MVPs Kevin "Magi-Carp" Carpenter and Elisabeth Edge returned to add to the fallout, allowing the Unicorns to spit out the venom that caused their first loss and ending their match with the Cobras in a draw.<br />
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Wins: 1<br />
Losses: 2<br />
Ties: 1<br />
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Go, Unicorns!<br />
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<b style="text-decoration: underline;">Team Leaders</b> (week of May 7th)<br />
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<b>Males</b><br />
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Magi-Carp spared no time in chasing his territory after collecting two doubles and a homerun in his first two games. Looks like there will be a battle of the MVPs this year!<br />
.818/.750/1.545/2.295 (12 plate appearances)<br />
.667/.667/1.500/2.167 (6 plate appearances)<br />
1: Ryan Cahill (Spring '11 MVP)<br />
2: Kevin Carpenter (Fall '11 MVP)<br />
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Meanwhile, rookie Joey Sanchez draws a rare male walk, allowing him to top the OBP stat at .800.<br />
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Magi-Carp, again, wastes no time and tops the chart with 6 RBIs, beating out Greg "Greaver" Weaver, Paxton O'Toole, and Cahill's tie for 5 each. Bobby "B-Weave" Weaver closely trails with 4.<br />
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<b>Females</b><br />
<b>AVG/OBP/SLG</b><br />
Lanah Stafford continues her impressive season by leading the women with .750s straight across the board. Edge has a way to go, but starts out well with straight .571s.<br />
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<b>RBI</b><br />
Rookie Kendra Stancell may not be hitting as well Stafford, but she knows how to put balls in play when she needs to. They tie at 4 RBIs a piece.Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-31631925951214363282012-05-03T20:19:00.000-07:002012-05-04T06:10:15.429-07:00The Rapture is finally upon us--Unicorns WIN!!!A little before 9pm on Monday night, high above field #1 at Red Mill Park, clouds parted and a vision appeared.<br />
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Yes, you're seeing that correctly. Jesus himself reappeared atop a majestic Unicorn. Though our jerseys may show a midnight black 'corn cackle-neighing in the foreground of an atomic blast, this unicorn was a sure sign of The Rapture--the apocalypse of all apocalypses. And it could only have come as a result of the most unlikely turn of events.</div>
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Read carefully, True Believers: The Unicorns won.</div>
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And not only did they win once, their potent offense kept the other team on their toes for the other game.</div>
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After two games, the Unicorns have a team slash line of .563/.571/.875. That's an OPS of 1.446, which is higher than the OPS record-holding, steroid-infused '04 Barry Bonds. Just a little food for thought, Co-ed Duffer Division 4! Our 7 doubles, 5 triples, and 1 homerun... we're comin' to getcha BEFORE The Rapture does!</div>
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Now-veteran pitcher Bobby Weaver paved the way for the offense to take control. Aside from unanimously winning the Gold Glove award of the evening, putting away shot after shot that went straight to the mound, B-Weave held his opponent, Scared Hitless, to just 12 hits, 4 walks, and 7 earned runs over six innings of work. His first-pitch strike/slider one-two punch combo also K'd six batters, fooling one in particular three times.</div>
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The batter'corns mixed mammoth slugging with smart fundamentals. Four of the males--Bobby Weaver, Greg Weaver, Ryan Cahill, and Josh Fisher--ended the two games with SLGs over 1.000, and the other two, Paxton O'Toole and Joey Sanchez, delivered clutch hits, granting them 4 and 3 RBIs respectively. Cahill and O'Toole even docked a couple of sacrifice flies during the games, which is something rarely beheld by the Curse (read: a group of apocalyptic unicorns).</div>
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The ladies really stepped up in the second game, as well. Joanna Niles was the only hitter in the first, going 2 for 3 with an RBI, but in the next hour, most all of the girls hit. Most notably, Lanah Stafford went 3 for 3 and Melissa Di Domenico went 2 for 2. Leslie Paxton collected the females' first XBH with a double in the second inning.</div>
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<b>Recap</b></div>
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Game #1: Unicorns of the Apocalypse - 9; Scared Hitless - 12</div>
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Game #2: Scared Hitless - 7; Unicorns of the Apocalypse - 12</div>
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<u><b>Team Leaders</b></u></div>
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<b>Males</b></div>
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<u>AVG/OBP/SLG</u>: Despite having collected a double, two triples, and a homerun, Greg "Greaver" Weaver's 1.714 SLG was edged out by former Unicorn MVP Ryan Cahill. Furthermore, Cahill, after going 5 for 5 with a sacrifice fly, topped rookie Josh Fisher's .833 AVG and tied his OBP. His final line of the night was 1.000/.833/1.800, allowing him to start the season with an OPS of 2.633, which nears the combined top OPS's of Babe Ruth and Ted Williams.</div>
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<u>RBI</u>: Greaver and O'Toole, with 4 each, are trailed by Cahill and Sanchez, with each having 3 of their own.</div>
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<b>Females</b></div>
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<u>AVG/OBP/SLG</u>: Melissa D-Dom[enico], after walking twice over the course of the night, demonstrated her ability to beat out grounders, topping the women with a .667/.800/.667 line.</div>
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<u>RBI</u>: Lanah Stafford kept the run ball rolling in her plate appearances, earning her first RBI with a fielder's choice out in the first game and two RBI's on singles in the second. Rookie second-baseman Kendra Stancell follows her with two.</div>
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Until next time, live long and prosper... while you still can!!!!</div>
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<i>*Photos/vision reproduction courtesy of the power of Leslie Paxton, per usual</i></div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-6666054947293882422011-10-17T18:52:00.000-07:002011-10-17T20:18:18.468-07:00Unicorns' Inaugural Year Ends with Low Runs but High Spirits<div class="MsoNormal"> “We didn’t expect this season to be easy, but we sure didn’t expect <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> record,” Skipper Greg Weaver commented after the Unicorns fell in their last two games to end the season 0-14. “Then again, it’s not a surprising outcome, us being VBC and all. That’s just how we roll.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"> It was baffling to the Unicorns that the game went as poorly as it did, though. Essentially, the Carroll Truckers were just hitting it exactly where the Unicorns weren’t—there weren’t an usual number of errors made. Yet, somehow, the Unicorns lost the first game 28-2, and lost the second game (y=|X|+28)-1, where Y is a number greater than the Truckers’ run total in the first game and X is an unknown variable approaching infinite. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The dreaded base-on-balls wasn’t even a harsh factor in the games. B-Weave posted only five walks in the first game. That number was his second best all season. But, he gave up 28 hits. While that total is cringe-inducing, the second game was even worse—so much so, in fact, that the run total gave the skipper temporary memory loss while he was in the field, resulting in a lack of any records of MagiCarp’s pitching. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">To put the strangeness in perspective, the Truckers, the team that placed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">third</i>, outhit the second-place team at a ratio of 2.5 to 1. The numbers were closer to the first-place team: 19 for the first game and 27 for the second versus 28 and z=|X|, where z has an error margin of approximately 5. The first-place team in the division was the one that was made up of Krakens. In short, the games were simply unbelievable. Interviewing the Unicorns led to the following possible explanations:<br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><div style="text-indent: 48px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">“The Yetis that VBC used as their first mascots made the evening cold, thus explaining how all of the balls hit into the outfield fell short of the positioned players.” – The Skipper</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">“Venus was in retrograde. [Also,] Unicorns are incapable of being ‘walked.’ They are seduced by neon orbs.” – Leslie Paxton</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">“… and Larry [Strait]’s birthday magic died the week before and took all of the Unicorn magic with it.” – Also the Skipper</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">“From my perspective, having not been at a single game this season, I give this moderately testable hypothesis. I now turn to the infamous Chewbacca defense. Chewbacca is from Kyshyyyk, but he lives on Endor. That does not make sense. Now, why would an 8 foot tall wookie want to live on a planet with 2 foot tall Ewoks. That does not make sense. Now, you may be asking yourself, what does this have to do with these stats. nothing, it has nothing to do with these stats, but it does offer an example of something else that does not make sense. Now, on to the hypothesis. These "truckers" may have had some help in the field; not by performance enhancing drugs, but by Angels, yes Angels, strategically placed in the outfield. I interviewed Danny Glover who stated that he has seen these angels hanging out on baseball and softball fields and they strangely look like Christopher Lloyd. According to Mr. Glover, the angels cannot help in the final game, so while they had helped this team gain an extraordinary batting average. They were unable to capitalize in the final game. Now, look at the pretty monkey.” – Former Unicorn Matt Portner (he probably didn’t understand what had happened and/or was drugged when he responded to interviewers)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Everyone might be delusional about how much skill factored into their problems, but that’s how the cookie crumbles.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Aside from being batted around in their final games, the Unicorns also suffered an injury. No one could report the instance of the injury better than the injured. Catcher D-Dom recalled the situation at a press conference:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">“[Trying] to follow the ball getting tossed around the field, [I] noticed a very eager player from the opposing team racing from 3rd base to home plate. The pitcher, honing in on [that player’s] trickeries, quickly throws the ball in my direction. Astonished by the fact that I actually managed to catch the ball, I quickly snapped out of my utopia and moved swiftly to tag out Mr. Evil.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">It all happened in a matter of seconds. There was a brief moment in which I've convinced myself I blacked out, but could still feel the crack that severed my bone in two. I remember looking at him and thinking, ‘Sweet Jesus, he's coming at me at a pace quicker than expected...’ [right before] his larger-than-normal shoulder came rushing into my glove and sent me into physical suffering.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">D-Dom, in making her first play at the plate, effectively broke her finger. After two rounds of x-ray tests, the need for surgery was ruled out so as long as she kept up with her new cast and regularly-scheduled x-ray appointments. “My x-ray parties have been going great,” she recently confirmed. “The doctor is very pleased about the progress of my traumatic experience.” It will be six weeks until she is able to meet fully the “challenges” of “[opening] cans, brushing [her] teeth, [and] climbing mountains… But the most loathsome of all are the limitations this has put on my texting abilities."<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> While D-Dom was put on the 60-day DL, Mary Hasan, catcher for the Unicorns in the spring, filled in her spot from the DH position that evening. Thankfully, she could still walk the next day after having not done that for months.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><o:p> </o:p> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The Unicorns’ fall season was much like D-Dom’s injury: there were some plays made at some difficult teams, but as they were turning around to beat them, they just wound up broken. But, all is not lost. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">A number of Unicorns have expressed interest in fall and winter training to get ready for the spring. Even in her battered state, D-Dom remains optimistic: “All the same, I look forward to another great Apocalypse with the Unicorns and can’t wait for next season.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Stayed tuned for the seasonal wrap-up next post.</div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-24615013719703679312011-10-03T12:48:00.000-07:002011-10-03T13:06:51.105-07:00Mosquitoes Abound, Malaria Stifles Unicorns<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VSCqs2KZianIicCFxi-heO0vLlA-jbtgPE3Rfn3a-TzrzCcadplgTu5ycJsC2gO2OFLiWdwd_F_AbrzDao9e7lix4RNlExljnGSvPdJQuNIxDS9Odx-5XhdQpVg3mqmC1WOkqv2eWQ3o/s1600/294785_240209762694136_174762279238885_636486_1622391140_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VSCqs2KZianIicCFxi-heO0vLlA-jbtgPE3Rfn3a-TzrzCcadplgTu5ycJsC2gO2OFLiWdwd_F_AbrzDao9e7lix4RNlExljnGSvPdJQuNIxDS9Odx-5XhdQpVg3mqmC1WOkqv2eWQ3o/s320/294785_240209762694136_174762279238885_636486_1622391140_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Greg "Greaver" Weaver starts his stride...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table> Last Monday was VBC Softball veteran Larry Strait's birthday and last day before going back to Iraq, and he was determined to play as hard as he could to max out his stats and try to get his first win with any VBC team he has been on. According to him, he has always been mysteriously absent the days that VBCers have won games.<br />
<div> The game didn't start off well. The first inning retired the Unicorns in order, and the second inning had ended with only a single by "Hard 'A'" Lanah Stafford. Meanwhile, the Unicorns' foes, the LC Stars, drew an uncharacteristic eight walks off of Bobby Weaver and drove in nine runs. Then, for a moment, Unicorn magic happened.</div><div><a name='more'></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufXaMGPFCUzDkUIfvbMg716Qmt2V9H1h43KxqtxIzQfZd-b0eQsNPDMvFxHHU5nV-Tjk9Du3PCOds-FH5oNUIv_RjxuDGHokDVR1chPzALQT0UyIBxbKNpkaVhUKKNNVAp3pBWMeV_EG6/s1600/293985_240209976027448_174762279238885_636490_2024189212_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufXaMGPFCUzDkUIfvbMg716Qmt2V9H1h43KxqtxIzQfZd-b0eQsNPDMvFxHHU5nV-Tjk9Du3PCOds-FH5oNUIv_RjxuDGHokDVR1chPzALQT0UyIBxbKNpkaVhUKKNNVAp3pBWMeV_EG6/s320/293985_240209976027448_174762279238885_636490_2024189212_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>... Larry Strait swings...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div> Strait entered the batter's box and started the inning with a leadoff double. Sub and former Unicorn Alaina Coletti flied out straight to third, but the Unicorns rallied and knocked around eight more hits, including a three-run homer by Greg Weaver and a triple by Strait when he returned to the plate. Suddenly, the score was 8-9 and the Unicorns were down by one. After that, the malaria, in all of its malevolent intent, set in. </div><div> Princess Anne Athletic Complex's Red fields are inconveniently placed. Two of the fields face the parking lot. The other two, the ones that the Duffer league teams play on, face either a swamp or a bog in which mosquitos run rampant. These mosquitos then burst from their homes in swarms to suck the life out of anyone they choose--and Unicorns' blood is very tempting.</div><div> Some may recall this quote, spoken by the centaur Firenze to Harry Potter in <i>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</i>:</div><blockquote>"... it is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn. Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenceless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips."</blockquote><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZq5S783rFe62kqnrw0WfDcsyN2FAAKpvy-EK8l47sMnAYMYw_Y7fsx2lHluX4ALyDfLeU-EiQMqLdoAcB4PkQjaTjaFG_khxmodB9avSLIrDFiM2vvmrKvje9Y1901_irjVNYi9sR8EM/s1600/317473_240209906027455_174762279238885_636489_1375440892_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZq5S783rFe62kqnrw0WfDcsyN2FAAKpvy-EK8l47sMnAYMYw_Y7fsx2lHluX4ALyDfLeU-EiQMqLdoAcB4PkQjaTjaFG_khxmodB9avSLIrDFiM2vvmrKvje9Y1901_irjVNYi9sR8EM/s320/317473_240209906027455_174762279238885_636489_1375440892_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>... and Kevin Carpenter creams the ball.<br />
Three pictures, three people, ONE TEAM.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>One may wonder way, in this case, why mosquitoes would dare suck the blood of the Unicorns. The writer can offer two possible explanations: a) these Unicorns are of the apocalypse and thus their blood has the reverse effect; and b) MOSQUITOES DON'T CARE THEY SUCK WHAT THEY WANT.<br />
In any case, the blood was sucked, and the malaria spread. Coletti was frozen in RF and at the plate, her mind on her ravaged legs; Greaver had to pull his pants down over his magical high socks as the mosquitos were piercing the fabric. The first game ended 17-9 and the second game ended 19-2. The Unicorns were stricken with the itching and some of their worst pitching this year. Everything was disastrous.<br />
<br />
A post-game exchange via Facebook:<br />
<br />
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><div class="actorDescription actorName" data-ft="{"type":2}" style="font-weight: bold; padding-bottom: 3px;"><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=737989046" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=737989046" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Leslie Paxton</a></div><span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" data-ft="{"type":3}">If I seem erratic, it's probably the post-softball-game-malaria-fev<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>er. Not sure I've ever seen that many mosquitos colonizing in one place.</span></h6><form action="http://www.facebook.com/ajax/ufi/modify.php" class="live_10150381888324047_131325686911214 commentable_item autoexpand_mode" data-live="{"seq":20000788}" method="post" rel="async" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="uiStreamFooter" style="color: #999999;"><span class="UIActionLinks UIActionLinks_bottom" data-ft="{"type":"20"}" style="color: #999999;"><button class="like_link stat_elem as_link" data-ft="{"type":23}" name="unlike" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #6d84b4; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: auto;" title="Stop liking this item" type="submit"><span class="default_message" style="display: inline;">Unlike</span></button> · <label class="uiLinkButton comment_link" style="color: #6b84b4; cursor: pointer; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: text-top;" title="Leave a comment"><input data-ft="{"type":24}" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #6b84b4; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" type="button" value="Comment" /></label> · </span><span class="uiStreamSource" data-ft="{"type":26}" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150381888324047&id=737989046" style="color: #999999; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><abbr data-date="Tue, 27 Sep 2011 06:07:25 -0700" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial;" title="Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 9:07am">September 27 at 9:07am</abbr></a></span> · <a class="uiTooltip uiStreamPrivacy fbStreamPrivacy" href="http://www.facebook.com/#" style="color: #6d84b4; cursor: pointer; position: relative; text-decoration: none;"><i class="lock img sp_4q1nzd sx_e068f9" style="background-image: url(http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v1/yx/r/J_LQULOAmHu.png); background-position: -338px -83px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; bottom: -2px; display: inline-block; height: 10px; margin-bottom: -5px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;"><u style="position: absolute; top: -9999999px;">Privacy:</u></i></a></span><br />
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<div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content" data-ft="{"type":33}" style="display: table-cell; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: top; width: 10000px;"><a class="actorName" data-ft="{"type":35}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1517054" href="http://www.facebook.com/g.dreamweaver" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Gregory Weaver</a> <span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">... well, "like" may not be the right word.</span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg" style="color: grey; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-top: 2px;"><abbr data-date="Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:15:58 -0700" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial;" title="Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 3:15pm">September 27 at 3:15pm</abbr> · <span class="comment_like_19997575 fsm fwn fcg" data-ft="{"type":36}" style="color: grey; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><button class="stat_elem as_link cmnt_like_link" name="like_comment_id[19997575]" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: auto;" title="Like this comment" type="submit" value="19997575"><span class="default_message" style="display: inline;">Like</span></button></span></div></div></div></li>
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<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg" style="color: grey; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-top: 2px;"><abbr data-date="Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:38:54 -0700" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial;" title="Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 3:38pm">September 27 at 3:38pm</abbr> · <span class="comment_like_19998081 fsm fwn fcg" data-ft="{"type":36}" style="color: grey; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><button class="stat_elem as_link cmnt_like_link" name="like_comment_id[19998081]" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: auto;" title="Like this comment" type="submit" value="19998081"><span class="default_message" style="display: inline;">Like</span></button></span></div></div></div></li>
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<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg" style="color: grey; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-top: 2px;"><abbr data-date="Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:59:54 -0700" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial;" title="Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 5:59pm">September 27 at 5:59pm</abbr> · <span class="comment_like_20000788 fsm fwn fcg" data-ft="{"type":36}" style="color: grey; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><button class="stat_elem as_link cmnt_like_link" name="like_comment_id[20000788]" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: auto;" title="Like this comment" type="submit" value="20000788"><span class="default_message" style="display: inline;">Like</span></button></span></div></div></div></li>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u>Team Leaders, Week of 9/26/11</u></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Males</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>AVG/OBP/SLG</u>: After going 4 for 5 with two doubles, MagiCarp buffs up his lead, batting a .714/.739/1.143 for the season. Strait did not catch him, but it's worth noting that his extra-base hits pushed him up to a .591/.591/1.045.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>RBI</u>: Greaver's homerun put him back in a race with MagiCarp, but he still has only 10 against MagiCarp's 12.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>Hot/Cold Streaks</u>: Along with the other, mentioned hot bats in the LC Stars series, Romeo Villanueva (.300/.364/.300) went 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBIs. Being a man of the islands, he likely was not affected by the mosquito onslaught. Greaver's pasty exterior, however, couldn't hide the Filipino within, and his stats have lowered to a career low .435/.439/.739.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Females</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>AVG/OBP/SLG</u>: Edge seems to have no competition for the female batting title at this point. Her slash line reads .481/.533/.481.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>RBI</u>: Stafford owns the ladies with her 4 RBIs. She also leads them in extra-base hits, having scored two doubles thus far. Rachel Matteo trails her with one of her own, but no other female is hitting for power at this time. Thing could surely change in the last game!</div><br />
<br />
<b><u>Game Preview for 10/3/11</u></b><br />
Tonight, spring Unicorn Mary Hasan rejoins her curse in place of Rianna Hoffman as the Unicorns of the Apocalypse play their last game of the season against the Carroll Truckers at 8:45 on Princess Anne Athletic Complex, Field Red #3. As mentioned in the <a href="http://vbcsoftblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/unicorns-must-muster-mental-muscularity.html">season preview post</a>, VBC Softball has played this team in the past, though records of the performances are not currently available. Currently, Carroll Truckers are 7-5 and place third in the league. Can the Unicorns come from behind to seal a win this season?<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u><br />
</u></b>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-23455773163702627252011-10-03T09:27:00.000-07:002011-10-03T12:51:27.287-07:00Unicorns, Writers Black Out<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXihjXgX-a8JURA1OLl9LBg27kVHeoqZnRoQuVvDS5ZBqbG78bf8G9ngO0c41xZJses5xWrx0HLUOHT4nQxKkjDab_r0w6Y30_YUlVkZ9bC5pOfJwspwu1YTlt06-84-2tM2ClC4JirIGh/s1600/krakken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXihjXgX-a8JURA1OLl9LBg27kVHeoqZnRoQuVvDS5ZBqbG78bf8G9ngO0c41xZJses5xWrx0HLUOHT4nQxKkjDab_r0w6Y30_YUlVkZ9bC5pOfJwspwu1YTlt06-84-2tM2ClC4JirIGh/s400/krakken.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Unicorns were hurt so much by the powers of the<br />
Kraken that it continued to ail them a week later.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table> All of the feel-good from the stellar "all-girl-and-Romeo" defense was put to rest two Mondays ago as the Unicorns raced the number two lead in the division, the Renegades.<br />
<br />
<b>Game 1</b><br />
<u>Top of the 1st</u>: F1, 6-3, F7. <br />
<u>Mid 1st</u>: "Wait, we already batted?" -<i> Anonymous, heard from the dugout</i><br />
<u>Bottom 1st</u>: First four batters score.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><u>Top 2nd</u>: Greaver scores on RBI single by Larry Strait. Unicorns 1, Renegades 4. Not bad.<br />
<u>Bottom 2nd</u>: Four out of the first five batters score. Bad.<br />
<br />
<u>Top 3rd</u>: 1-2-3 with 2 strikeouts. "Closest strike out of a side I'd ever seen in slow pitch softball," -<i> The Skipper</i><br />
<u>Bottom 3rd</u>: Three of the first four batters score. Better than last inning.<br />
<br />
<u>Top 4th</u>: Greaver bats in Edge on a fielder's choice. 2-11. It's been worse.<br />
<u>Bottom 4th</u>: Nine of the first ten score. I wrote that out so that it would hide the numbers.<br />
<br />
The game ends. Everyone blacks out.<br />
<br />
<b>Game 2</b><br />
All of the Unicorns are blacked out except for Strait, who scores the only run on a huge solo shot homerun. It's impressive that the 'corns only managed to strike out three times (one less than the game prior). The Renegades win 27-1. The details? The writers blacked out, too. The combined forces of a lingering Kraken and a band of Renegades was plenty to do everyone in. 'Nuff said.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Team Leaders, Week of 9/19</u></b><br />
<b>Males</b><br />
<u>AVG/OBP/SLG</u>: Two singles was all MagiCarp needed to rob the top spot. His slash line is a monstrous .688/.722/1.125. Those numbers top last year's best AVG/OBP (Nicholas "Hot Wheels" Wasilewski's .600/.684) and are contending for Ryan Cahill's peak of 1.258 SLG.<br />
<br />
<u>HR</u>: All of the power-hitting males have now collected homeruns this season with Strait's blast in the second game against the Renegades. Their respective SLG: Greaver - .722; B-Weave - .947; Strait - 1.000; MagiCarp - 1.125.<br />
<br />
<b>Females</b><br />
<u>AVG/OBP/SLG</u>: Despite hitting purely singles throughout the season, Edge went 3 for 4 against the Renegades and comes out ahead in everything with .409/.480/.409.Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-44050186856912225502011-09-26T11:52:00.000-07:002011-09-26T12:37:42.973-07:00Mythical Kraken Robs Hits, Unicorns Come Out Alive<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i>“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” – Nietzsche</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i>“But more importantly we didn’t get killed.” – Nietzsche’s Unicorn</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGRoqKLvjkSIbbAkRh5CXGpMhdBCLtZOub4NqTAqVlIa_ZHz_hDloEAW_0_Bsyepp-Z71bNQIOkILC-mbw-TNyfpVMnbYLMapfY5sbgaM65qVdCUmWLG_6ne482bQZFua7TfpCyDc1qCe/s1600/Dad_Werewolves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGRoqKLvjkSIbbAkRh5CXGpMhdBCLtZOub4NqTAqVlIa_ZHz_hDloEAW_0_Bsyepp-Z71bNQIOkILC-mbw-TNyfpVMnbYLMapfY5sbgaM65qVdCUmWLG_6ne482bQZFua7TfpCyDc1qCe/s320/Dad_Werewolves.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bob "Dad" Weaver played with the two<br />
original VBC Softball teams, the Yetis<br />
and the Werewolves. He returned to action<br />
with the Unicorns on September 12th. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> The Unicorns took the field against the EVW Highwaymen at Princess Anne Field Red #2 at 6:45pm one girl short and spirits waning. Only nine Unicorns were available at the start of the game, the 12-run rule was in effect, and they were against the team tied for first in the division. The end result: two decently-played games.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Prior the games, there were deliberations on how changes should be made to the lineups and to the fielding positions. LF Larry Strait likes to call the outcome the “all-girl infield”—an idea meant to bolster our outfield, especially in games against teams that place high in the division. There were two key moves: moving Romeo Villanueva from RC to 1B and solidifying Rachel Matteo at SS.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Villanueva has been getting better in the outfield game-by-game. When positioned well, he makes excellent snags and is consistently a solid groundball fielder. However, the RC position seemed to be a position better fit for someone who could cover more ground. Not only does the fielder have to have the ability to quickly chase down balls that may go over his or her head or get down well in front, s/he also has to back up the player in RF. Villanueva now, when in the lineup, takes place of Nicholas Wasilewski, the fastest player on the team, at 1B. This positioning inherently breaks the tag “all-girl” (as does the pitcher position), but the name continues to stick.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Matteo proved her glove worthy of an infield position during the games versus Rewire. During that series, she played 3B and made many good stops. To incorporate her in the infield with other solely-infield players such as Rianna Hoffman and Elisabeth Edge, Greg Weaver, who had been playing SS since the spring, was moved into the outfield. Matteo’s proof of worthiness for the position was capped when she turned a season-first double-play in the second game.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> With the new defense, the Unicorns and pitcher Bobby Weaver held the first-place team to 13 runs in the first game and 9 in the second, the team’s two lowest earned-run totals of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Unfortunately, the EVW Highwaymen would not take lightly to our defense. To counter it, they summoned the Silencer of Seamen, Terror of the Tides, the Un-doer of the Unborn: the Cankerous Kraken. In the first game, he was involved in 9 of the 12 outs; in the second, 7 of 21. He stood 6’7”. Limbs seemed to spout from every orifice of his being, all of them fortified with gloves. He was a monster at limiting runs through his inconceivable range and quickness of arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Other members of the Highwaymen revealed themselves to be giant squid as well, as it seemed that 80% of the males were over six-feet tall. These squid lowered significantly the batting averages of the Unicorns—the team went .253/.331/.273 in the series. If one created a line using the lowest numbers of all of the other series combined, it would read .401/.451/.533. If one created a line using the lowest numbers of all of the series in franchise history, it would read .355/.403/.475. Ouch.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Notes</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">- VBC Softball welcomed back veteran Bob Weaver, father of B-Weave and Greaver, as he made his first appearance as a Unicorn, filling in for Greaver, who was dealing with a jammed thumb, in the second game. He went 0 for 2 batting, but posted a perfect fielding percentage at 1B, getting 5 batters out.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">- B-Weave and Kevin MagiCarpenter continued to impress while pitching, making their way out of the candidacy for this season’s Sigh Young award. B-Weave lowered his WHIP to 4.63 and struck three out while MagiCarp lowered his own WHIP to 4.50 and struck out four.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Team Leaders, Week of 8/12<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Males<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: 10pt;">AVG/OBP/SLG</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt;">: B-Weave (AVG leader; .647/.684/1.000) and MagiCarp (OBP/SLG leader; .643/.688/1.143) continue to battle for the top spot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: 10pt;">RBI</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt;">: Carpenter continues his dominance, moving up to 11 for the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Females<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: 10pt;">AVG/OBP/SLG</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt;">: The squids caught everyone’s balls, and the ladies are no exceptions. Edge holds the AVG (.333), “Real Time” Rianna Hoffman holds the OBP (.438), and Matteo holds the SLG (.385).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: 10pt;">RBI</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt;">: Lanah Stafford pulls out on top with 3.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-68773735234635517642011-09-08T12:12:00.000-07:002011-09-08T18:12:56.182-07:00After Sixth Straight Loss, Unicorns Attempt Reform<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ofCR8tzZYDlL1rsZ5UxACacEG_YGU6bfcCYID3hC0luV-kIBO0pmWkMYT1u8MPTkSokCAegl-6FDeJf89rMJYw0vXqN1oUQMigBJtkJEoQDXtOO7NykMxet59gGv2d0Z2WgFtTVpQafw/s1600/Rewire+Softball+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ofCR8tzZYDlL1rsZ5UxACacEG_YGU6bfcCYID3hC0luV-kIBO0pmWkMYT1u8MPTkSokCAegl-6FDeJf89rMJYw0vXqN1oUQMigBJtkJEoQDXtOO7NykMxet59gGv2d0Z2WgFtTVpQafw/s400/Rewire+Softball+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Incredible Hulkicorn attempts to smash Rewire.<br />
Notice that they're all still smiling.</i><br />
<i>(edit: Leslie Paxton proclaims that Hulkicorn is in fact ready to</i><br />
<i>"slake his thirst" upon Rewire)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The good news:</b> The Unicorns are noting and fixing their problems.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The bad news: </b>They didn't do it in time to face a team with a losing record that was once just as bad as theirs is.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> Kevin Carpenter, known to two as MagiCarp, took the mound for the first time last week. The week prior, he told Coach Weaver that he was a little bashful about pitching in a game since the last time he pitched (which was for a different team) he was told that he was a terrible pitcher. His feeling on the matter led Weaver to start Rianna Hoffman that week, but after those games, Weaver could not afford not to play Carpenter against Rewire.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> The result: six innings, a 4.17 ERA, and a WHIP of 4.17--the second best start of the season. Carpenter was able to successfully locate and pitch to contact most of the time, and when contact wasn't made, he struck out more than he walked. Only five walks were issued--a season high--and eight strikeouts were recorded--a franchise high. In one game, he was able to compete with some of the best performances by Hoffman at her prime last season.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"></div><a name='more'></a> In addition to the excellent pitching, MagiCarp went 4 for 5 and wound up completing <a href="mailto:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitting_for_the_cycle">the cycle</a> over two games. His onslaught could not be stopped. "There is no other explanation for MagiCarp's performance aside from the one that is based on him channeling the strength of the Incredible Hulkicorn," Weaver stated, "because when the time limit on the Hulkicorn's summoning ran out, he dissipated, and so did Kevin's powers."<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> MagiCarp dwindled down to just Kevin Carpenter in the final inning of the second game when he walked seven. Six came into score, hoisting Rewire up 20-8 (a rather low number considering their combined game slash line of .581/.594/.724) after going 15-4 in the first game. Bobby Weaver came off of first for the switch, but the game had already been called for time.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> After the game, Assistant Coach B-Weave started discussing with Greaver how the team might be to be more efficient in the field and in the batter's box. Much talk of switching both fielding positions and the order of the lineup arose, but they have reported nothing concrete to this date. B-Weave hosted a practice over the weekend and tested out a few options. "Everyone did fairly well," he explained. "How that transfers into a less-relaxed game situation, though, we won't be able to tell until it happens."<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> Next week, the Unicorns face the surging EVW Highwaymen (5-1) in a chance to test out their new plans.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><b><u>Team Leaders</u></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><b>Males<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>AVG/OBP/SLG</u>: Nick Wasilewski (now .500/.538/.583 after an uncharacteristic outing) lost his reign to B-Weave, who now has an impressive slash line of .692/.714/1.154. One would assume that he remains the top slugger, too, but no longer: after a triple and a homerun in game one and a double in game two, Kevin Carpenter edges out B-Weave with a SLG of 1.300. The batting title is still anyone's game, with four Unicorns having an AVG of or above .600 and four having a SLG of .850 or greater.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>RBI</u>: After his amazing night, Carpenter outruns (batted in) Greaver, pulling out 10 total over Greaver's 6.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><b>Females<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>AVG/OBP/SLG</u>: She went 3 for 5 last week and continues to sit at the top spot in the first two stats: Elisabeth "The" Edge is now hitting .429/.500/.429. Rachel Matteo finally scores the females another double, and, due to her higher AVG, bumps Lanah Stafford from the top slugging spot. Matteo is batting .400/.400/.500 and looks to be The Edge's top contender this season if Rianna Hoffman can't bounce back.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>RBI</u>: All of the females now have at least one RBI notched for the season. Stafford, Matteo, and Leslie Paxton have two while The Edge, Hoffman, and D-Dom have one.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>SUB</u>: A special thanks to Joanna Niles for subbing for Rianna Hoffman. Niles went 1 for 5 with a run.<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-86708617274157341842011-08-28T19:24:00.000-07:002011-08-28T19:24:45.823-07:00Game Preview for 8/29/11<div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Unicorns of the Apocalypse vs. REWIRE</u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Princess Anne Athletic Complex Field Red #2</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>8:45-10:45pm</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBCHXu1XrMWpcx1L_OUE2Ci4KZdnXmyonoBblOoB_ZbtJEzN39zoo98W6zeHRdnMubnoUl9RP2BOrPh84VDUKN5AlFT1tjEGPMwvefnNZhJOwWmuTj0WrUsRyjxiE5g2rDh1IbplBh95W/s1600/Leslie%2527corn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBCHXu1XrMWpcx1L_OUE2Ci4KZdnXmyonoBblOoB_ZbtJEzN39zoo98W6zeHRdnMubnoUl9RP2BOrPh84VDUKN5AlFT1tjEGPMwvefnNZhJOwWmuTj0WrUsRyjxiE5g2rDh1IbplBh95W/s320/Leslie%2527corn.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leslie Paxton and her horn. The silver<br />
coming down from her scalp is pure<br />
silvery magic (not a strap).</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b>Between the disasters of yestergames and now, two significant things happened. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> One: the Incredible Hulkicorn (see last post) ripped through the earth. It continues to make its way to Virginia Beach, smashing everyone and everything in its path (yes, that includes Hurricane Irene), and plans to secure the field for us prior to tomorrow night. Word is that if we lose to REWIRE he will proceed to eat them and smash their souls.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Two: RF Leslie Paxton's birthday was on Thursday. She decided to channel the magic of unicorns everywhere and forged the horn that you see growing out from her skull. Some of those in attendance at her soiree also showed to have horns bursting out of their brains into the warm evening air, including Greg Weaver, Lanah Stafford, and a bunch of others that were just affected by the might of that magic.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Hulkicorn making REWIRE quiver in fear of certain consequences and channeling birthday'corn magic should allow for the Unicorns to procure victory tomorrow night. REWIRE is the only other team in the division with an 0-4 record, so defeating them twice could bring the Unicorns up quite a bit in the division depending on how the other teams play.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Kevin Carpenter will make his premiere start on the mound at 8:45.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<u><b>Around the League</b></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Series Results 8/22</u></div><div style="text-align: left;">LC Stars beat REWIRE (2-0)</div><div style="text-align: left;">EVW Highwaymen tie That's What She Said (1-1 ea.)</div><div style="text-align: left;">P.F. Chang's Warriors beat Unicorns of the Apocalypse (2-0)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Carroll Truckers tie Renegards (1-1 ea.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Standings</u>:</div><div style="text-align: left;">1. P.F. Chang's Warriors (4-0)</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. That's What She Said (3-1)</div><div style="text-align: left;">-. Renegades (3-1)</div><div style="text-align: left;">-. EVW Highwaymen (3-1)</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. LC Stars (2-2)</div><div style="text-align: left;">4. Carroll Truckers (1-3)</div><div style="text-align: left;">5. Unicorns of the Apocalypse (0-4)</div><div style="text-align: left;">-. REWIRE (0-4)</div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-71217598872651381612011-08-24T20:42:00.000-07:002011-08-25T08:39:14.573-07:00Unicorns Walk in X^n Runs, Proceed to Summon Earthquake<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>The moral of the story, as one Unicorn put it on Monday night, is to never take the lead in the first. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">In three out of four games played thus far, the Unicorns have taken the lead in said inning, only to lose it later on. On this particular Monday night, Coach Greg Weaver sent Rianna “Real Time” Hoffman out to the mound to pitch her first game since mid-July, where she had a relatively mediocre outing against a tough team, ZDUB Softball. He thought the mental rest over the break and the Unicorns’ first two games would be sufficient time to get Hoffman back closer to her mid-spring form despite Hoffman not being able to warm up for very long between her arrival and the bottom of the first. “She was only able to throw a few pitches to me before she went out there. They looked good and I was confident she’d settle in, but it just wasn't working tonight,” he said in a post-game interview.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><a name='more'></a>Real Time wound up walking eight, allowing eleven hits, and bringing in nineteen runs, giving her an ERA of 95.00. Weaver pulled her out for Bobby Weaver before the second, but the damage was already done. Fans on the internet sharply criticized Greaver for not putting B-Weave in earlier, and also were upset at the fact that he knows Hoffman has lesser results when pitching to anyone other than Lanah Stafford.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“I don’t know what they’d have me do,” he exasperatingly responded later to the criticisms. “[Mel] D-Dom[enico] has no prior experience at second base where Lanah has. Plus, lest they forget, Real Time is named Real Time for a reason. She usually has a rough first inning and then pitches great most of the rest of the game. Among other things.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Greaver is also adamant about keeping a pitching rotation going this season instead of having one pitcher play every game, which is another reason he was hesitant to put in B-Weave. Players like Hoffman and B-Weave play excellent in other defensive positions; limiting them to the mound just makes them tired from week to week (especially after a rough outing) and does not tap into their other potential. An example of the former came in the top of the fourth in second game, when B-Weave started giving up walk after walk after having pitched enough innings to make an excellent complete game.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Larry Strait, making his first appearance as a Unicorn, came in to relieve B-Weave without having any prior pitching experience. He threw as if he were in a fast-pitch league, but his location smoothed out well enough over time to finish the last innings. Strait is confirmed to be a possible choice in the rotation in the future.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Not everything was disastrous on Monday. The fall Unicorns produced nine runs over two games, proving that their bats are remaining consistent thus far. Some bats are even heating up; Greaver hit a three-run blast in the second game, which was followed up by a solo shot by B-Weave, and Elisabeth Edge returned to form as she went 2 for 3 with two walks in the series. Rookie Leslie Paxton also hit 2 for 4 after going hitless in her first game the week prior.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">In fact, the males on the team are batting an impressive .550/.584/.755 in the first four games. B-Weave and Nicholas Wasilewski are keeping their numbers intact while Greaver is at a better point this year and the newest Unicorns are starting strongly. Most impressive is Romeo Villanueva, who is going 5 for 9 with an average of .566 AVG.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">All in all, if the pitching finds itself, if the veterans keep getting hits, and if the rookies fall into place as the coach imagines they will, the Unicorns will be a formidable adversary in the coming weeks.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">In other news, birthed from the abyss that was created by their 26-5 and 25-4 losses was a beast of inexplicable power. He rose from the ashes of the Unicorns’ defeat some 147 miles away in Mineral, VA, and proceeded to smash and shake the earth with an anger so ferocious… a rage so radically resplendent… that he caused an earthquake that was felt from New York to Georgia, knocking over lawn chairs and shaking books from their shelves. A reporter managed to take a photo and send it over the internet before imploding.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_VqlkRUwiLfZPGcmT1W0h5z4xHBNz5aLa4oJK-N1_IpbCFSiRGpiHLlUL4lfLntOmn1BB-DJ9tl-YEIUCOsDNgh4d_rPTBedonx9AKDmQFb3gosEp-QUQat4VSoHUsRNB8W6A7C-xVJa/s1600/hulkicorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_VqlkRUwiLfZPGcmT1W0h5z4xHBNz5aLa4oJK-N1_IpbCFSiRGpiHLlUL4lfLntOmn1BB-DJ9tl-YEIUCOsDNgh4d_rPTBedonx9AKDmQFb3gosEp-QUQat4VSoHUsRNB8W6A7C-xVJa/s640/hulkicorn.jpg" width="525" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"INCREDIBLE HULKICORN! SMASHER OF DOVES AND SPAM!"<br />
- RF Leslie Paxton</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE AN ANGERED APOCALYPTIC UNICORN, REWIRE (a “non-denominational church full of good people I used to work with at the movie theater” – Villanueva). CONSIDER YOURSELVES WARNED.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Team Leaders<o:p></o:p></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Males<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>AVG/OBP/SLG</u>: Nick Wasilewski (.667/.700/.778) once again infiltrates the leaders and climbs to the top. B-Weave continues to lead in SLG after his homer in the last game (.600/.636/1.100).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>RBI</u>: Greaver and Kevin Carpenter are still tied, moving from two each last week to five each this.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Females</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>AVG/OBP/SLG</u>: As mentioned earlier, Edge (.333/.455/.333) found her stride and once again leads in all categories. “Real Time” Hoffman ties her OBP and Lanah Stafford for SLG (still sporting the only female extra-base hit). If Leslie Paxton (.286 across the board) keeps hitting like she’s been, Edge and Real Time will have to step it up to retain their titles.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>BB</u>: Real Time likes to take cuts and get on base through her batting abilities, but she has taken three walks this year already.</div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-49191700177538663772011-08-21T21:54:00.000-07:002011-08-22T07:59:22.452-07:00Game Preview for 8/22/11<div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Unicorns of the Apocalypse @P.F. Chang's Warriors</u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Princess Anne Athletic Complex Field Red #3</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>6:45-8:45pm</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"> After last week's valiant efforts to defeat That's What She Said went fruitless, the Unicorns take on P.F. Chang's Warriors for a doubleheader Monday night. The Warriors are currently 2-0, beating Carroll Truckers last week. However, as seen in a previous post, the spring's P.F. Chang's team went 0-14, so there is a solid chance that the Unicorns could pull out a win. Expect the season debuts of the acclaimed Larry Strait and Nathan Anderson.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Lineup is TBD.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Last Week's Team Leaders<o:p></o:p></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Males<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>AVG/OBP/SLG</u><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">: </b>Coach Greg Weaver leads the team with .800s across the board. Greaver is bested only in SLG at the moment with his brother Bobby Weaver unsurprisingly besting him at 1.000. B-Weaver continues to be reliable at getting extra-base hits, landing two last Monday night.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><u>RBI</u>: Greaver, B-Weaver, and Kevin Carpenter are tied for first with two each.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Pitching:</u> B-Weaver posted an average 4.30 WHIP and 13.50 ERA in his two starts. That’s essentially half the WHIP and ERA he posted in his second (better) outing last season; not to mention, those numbers place fifth in WHIP and sixth in ERA out of the Unicorns’ lifetime seventeen team games. Not a bad return to the mound—the rest seemed to do him well.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Females<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>AVG/OBP/SLG</u>: Mel Di Domenico has the top spot right now with .500s, but because she’s only 1 for 2, Rianna Hoffman gets the early honors, sporting a .400/.571/.400. Lanah Stafford, the only female with a double last night, ties her in SLG.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>K</u>: Though some of the calls Monday were really dicey, the only female not to have struck out yet is D-Dom.</div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-27749215646418335442011-08-18T12:47:00.000-07:002011-08-18T16:32:05.950-07:00Despite First-Inning Magic, Unicorns Gracefully Lose Season Opener<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCyv5vU5PNnNHBtdeRF2BfVYa_rGMxPOb4A9jQ11WzJVntvJrBoJuN965CwFqIE1Q-dZrnEwRfwWCH1PUHRkQDuglgRdR8OTlnHpZYOqGPF8JUssBfs7Oj4l_sJ0U47qphT0LozgE_2QZ/s1600/Burrito+Unicorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCyv5vU5PNnNHBtdeRF2BfVYa_rGMxPOb4A9jQ11WzJVntvJrBoJuN965CwFqIE1Q-dZrnEwRfwWCH1PUHRkQDuglgRdR8OTlnHpZYOqGPF8JUssBfs7Oj4l_sJ0U47qphT0LozgE_2QZ/s400/Burrito+Unicorn.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If the Unicorns of the Apocalypse were as magical as, <br />
saaaay, this here burrito unicorn, Monday night <br />
may have ended differently.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"> It was probably one of VBC Softball’s most glorious innings in the last year and a half. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> After having lost to That’s What She Said all three times in the first part of 2011 (3-12, 4-15, 5-11), the Unicorns fielded a two-hit, two-walk first inning that saw <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">two</i> runs cross the plate. The Unicorns responded with a monster seven-hit, one-walk inning that saw <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">seven</i> cross the plate. To put that in perspective, in only four out of fifteen games last season did the Unicorns score seven or more runs. The Unicorns were ecstatic and continued playing well defensively, with Romeo Villanueva taking one knee to make a crucial catch in left-center and rookie Kevin Carpenter diving low to make his own web gem in left.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><a name='more'></a> But, the celebration was short-lived. It was as if That’s What She Said snapped into it, realizing that a five-run deficit in the first inning is not something for which is made-up easily. They did it, though, allowing only one hit in the next two innings while they scored four more over the top of the next three, quickly tying the game 7-7.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"> Now in the bottom of the fourth, Unicorns were at the top of their order and were looking to repeat what they had done at the beginning of the game. All they could muster, however, was an RBI single by Gregory Weaver—but that was enough to get them ahead.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Confident that their defense could hold their opponents, the first batter was quickly retired. Bobby Weaver was pitching well so far, only having walked six batters, most of which were females that had hard-to-read strike zones. Mike, number 55 on TWSS, had been walked once before, though, and, knowing that he could walk again, played Weaver into giving him yet another base-on-balls. By the grace of the rules of rec softball, 55 had a free ride to second and the next, female batter took her free base. With one out and two on, the next batter drove in 55. The female was caught on the basepaths and TWSS suffered an automatic out due to an insufficient number of females, thus the inning was closed. The damage was done, though, and the game was once again tied.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> The frazzled Unicorns failed to produce in their next two chances while TWSS knocked in five more in the top of the sixth after a leadoff homerun. The final score was 13-8, TWSS.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Beaten after such a great start, the Unicorns moved onto their second game, hoping to tap into the hellfire that is suggested by their name and even out their loss. That’s What She Said’s defense bulked up even more, though, and the second loss came at 14-4.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Whether That’s What She Said’s offense plus the Unicorns’ errors or TWSS’s stellar defense was a greater factor in the Unicorns’ losses is debatable, but the latter was something that every ‘corn was gawking at even after the games were over. Their shortstop made many excellent plays and liners hit down the third base line were snagged, as well Two even more devastating factors came from their pitching change and the outfield: the pitcher threw with an incredible backspin and their female center-fielder, though small, made huge athletic grabs that robbed B-Weaver and Kevin Carpenter of would-be doubles. (she also got walked constantly, making her a nemesis of Weaver, whom accused her of having a "ball magnet in her robot arm"). The Unicorns are now 0-5 lifetime against TWSS.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;"><u>Game 1</u> – <span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ω</span>: 3, TWSS: 12; .440/.440/.600 (AVG/OBP/SLG)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;"><u>Game 2</u> – <span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ω</span>: 4, TWSS: 15; .565/.565/.652<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;"><u>Game 3</u> – <span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ω</span>: 5, TWSS: 11; .318/.423/.455<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;"><u>Game 3</u> – <span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ω</span>: 7, TWSS: 13; .433/.500/.500<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;"><u>Game 4</u> – <span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ω</span>: 4, TWSS: 14; .435/.435/.565</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> According to the official standing chart, the Unicorns are posted on top of all of the other 0-2 teams, and TWSS is first out of all of the 2-0 teams. So, instead of “last place,” one could say that they’re either in fifth place or second place when speaking of their accolades to friends.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><u><br />
</u></div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-43907376824008775332011-08-14T18:50:00.000-07:002011-08-14T20:05:05.839-07:00Game Preview for 8/15/11<div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Unicorns of the Apocalypse vs. That's What She Said</u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Princess Anne Athletic Complex Field Red #3</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>6:45-8:45pm</b><br />
<b><br />
</b></div> The Unicorns will pick up right where they left off last season to face once again That's What She Said. In the spring, the Unicorns batted .443/.473/.571 total versus their pitching, producing their second-best batting average against a single team of said season. Players not known for their power--such as Mary Hasan, Joanna Niles, and Romeo Villanueva--thrived in games against them while some of their top producers--Ryan Cahill, Bobby Weaver, and Prucha--found it hard to produce their usual team-leading numbers despite Cahill and Weaver hitting a home run each off of their pitchers. Unless they need to swing for the fences, maybe the best strategy will be to rely on infield singles and shallow drops in the outfield tomorrow night.<br />
Bobby Weaver will take the mound first for the season opener, followed by Kevin Carpenter in game two.<br />
<br />
<i>Breaking News: </i>Kat Bolick has resigned onto VBC Softball to be a Unicorn. Kat played RF with The Legion of Fistpumping Turtles last season.<br />
<i>Update: </i>A message to the team sent by co-captain Bobby Weaver 11pm revealed that "Kat has sobered up and re-retired." Apparently, festivities at this weekend's birthday party for Unicorns Romeo Villanueva and Matt Portner made her get a little too ambitious. Bolick fans may be able to see her again either in the stands or in an as-needed sub situation later this season.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>Projected Lineups:</b><br />
<u>Game 1</u><br />
<ol><li>Bobby Weaver - P</li>
<li>Rianna Hoffman - 2B</li>
<li>Larry Strait - LF</li>
<li>Elisabeth Edge - 3B</li>
<li>Gregory Weaver - SS</li>
<li>Rachel Matteo - RC</li>
<li>Nicholas Wasilewski - 1B</li>
<li>Lanah Stafford - C</li>
<li>Kevin Carpenter - DH</li>
<li>Melissa Di Domenico - DH</li>
<li>Romeo Villanueva - LC</li>
<li>Leslie Paxton - RF</li>
</ol><div><u>Game 2</u></div><div><ol><li>Nicholas Wasilewski - 1B</li>
<li>Rianna Hoffman - DH</li>
<li>Bobby Weaver - LF</li>
<li>Elisabeth Edge - 2B</li>
<li>Larry Strait - DH</li>
<li>Rachel Matteo - 3B</li>
<li>Gregory Weaver - SS</li>
<li>Lanah Stafford - RC</li>
<li>Kevin Carpenter - P</li>
<li>Melissa Di Domenico - C</li>
<li>Romeo Villanueva - LC</li>
<li>Leslie Paxton - RF</li>
</ol><div><br />
Off-season sign Nathan Anderson will be unable to make it to the opening day games, but will assuredly make his awaited debut as a member of the team next week.</div></div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXRj_WK8Dllli0TAejOttIXfW3PVG7RpWMn8pJP7Qe1CwnP8xpGwllY56EGyHYEC7dhcu_VuzDzBW-yVMsvZbqYh_q7nNelIMJNqd-_sE-myCU64Ntg7P4Eb8b-tpMD_RXIQ_UfSda2O7/s1600/Nick%2527s+Hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXRj_WK8Dllli0TAejOttIXfW3PVG7RpWMn8pJP7Qe1CwnP8xpGwllY56EGyHYEC7dhcu_VuzDzBW-yVMsvZbqYh_q7nNelIMJNqd-_sE-myCU64Ntg7P4Eb8b-tpMD_RXIQ_UfSda2O7/s320/Nick%2527s+Hand.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Half of 1B Nicholas Wasilewski's hand after his intense <br />
first batting practice since the last game of spring.<br />
The other half of his hand was reportedly worse.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
</div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-48734581022864632662011-08-11T07:52:00.000-07:002011-08-11T08:22:30.179-07:00Unicorns Must Muster Mental Muscularity, Face Former Foes in Fall<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmtzljcS7E-_KxlRmPb0Ignfjw55yTMtHOcn0dB-b0sqT6RAGVwZggbHoYp04OwfTQiTf3GkL_XZHrC4UL1SkdY5eNjuIhct1ehOf4G3-d7v_vpS0bfhqvVvf_0wJmvge-uPyDhDEVWbk/s1600/IMG_4288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmtzljcS7E-_KxlRmPb0Ignfjw55yTMtHOcn0dB-b0sqT6RAGVwZggbHoYp04OwfTQiTf3GkL_XZHrC4UL1SkdY5eNjuIhct1ehOf4G3-d7v_vpS0bfhqvVvf_0wJmvge-uPyDhDEVWbk/s320/IMG_4288.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Coach Greg Weaver prepares for the fall<br />
season mentally by getting really close<br />
to a live polar bear at the San Diego Zoo.<br />
Only glass separated him from the </i><br />
<i>man-and-carrot-eating beast.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"> With less than a week away from the first game, officials finally released the Virginia Beach Coed Duffer League Softball schedule for the fall.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> The Unicorns will be facing seven different teams in doubleheaders this season as opposed to the spring, in which they faced five different teams three times. “Makes the game different,” says coach Greg Weaver, “Instead of being able to get a feel for a team the first time with a doubleheader and having a month or more to plan a little for your next bout, you have to learn to get that feel in the first game. If we lose our first game, our only chance at revenge is in the second; if we win our first game… well, we’ll take that win.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"> The game is indeed different. In this league, the teams of VBC Softball have seen two types of schedules. The first is the small-division type, where the team will face a different opponent each week until they have played everyone in the division. Following that, the team rematches every team for one more game each. That type was what the schedule was in the spring. The second schedule type is adjusted for larger divisions, which is what the Unicorns face this fall. The team will play each opponent in its division twice, both of the games falling in the same evening.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> The difference in the types calls for a different style of mental play. Whereas the Unicorns may have thought that they would improve over the course of the season to win one later, they are barred from that way of thinking now. Improving over the course of the season and locking in your team’s dominance over another team at the end is not an option. Now, one may say that the second game—the last game each night—now determines who is the better team for the whole season.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><a name='more'></a> Weaver has to get his team prepared to make a mental switch. Instead of focusing on beating rival teams, the Unicorns have to focus on winning the division. “That’s not an easy change to make, especially when you look at the history of VBC in general. When you’re telling members of a franchise that has yet to win over three games in a season that you have to go for the division and not just team dominance, it makes winning seem a little further away. We have to think about clenching our spot in the division in the last few games, not just being number one out of two team-by-team.”<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> One interesting thing about the fall season is that the Unicorns’ division is comprised of a good number of teams that VBC Softball franchises have faced in the past. In fact, their first game of the season will be against former opponent That’s What She Said. The Unicorns recently went .443/.473/.571 against them over the course of a season. Other teams that VBC Softball has played before include P.F. Chang’s and Carroll Truckers, though records of past VBC players’ performances against them are not available.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Fall 2011 Opponents (in order of play):</b><br />
<br />
<ol><li><u>That’s What She Said</u> – We have said enough about that which she said.</li>
<li><u>P.F. Chang’s Warriors</u> – If this is the same team that VBC Softball played in the past, then the Unicorns definitely have a shot at winning. Last season the P.F. Chang’s team (called only “P.F. Chang’s”—guess they thought it would be a good idea to spruce up their name to something a little more fierce rather than keep one that reminded their opponents of lettuce wraps) played in Coed Duffer Division 21 and went 0-14.</li>
<li><u>REWIRE</u> – Information unknown. Name is in caps, so intensity is presumed.</li>
<li><u>EVW Highwaymen</u> – Played last season in Coed Duffer Division 35 and went 11-5, which was second in their division. Might be the team to beat this fall (aside from the Unicorns, of course).</li>
<li><u>Renegades</u> – Played last season in Coed C Division 19 and went 1-14.</li>
<li><u>LC Stars</u> – If the first hit on Google is correct in whom it is that the Unicorns are playing, then things are looking up.</li>
<li><u>Carroll Truckers</u> – Weaver reported that he remembers feeling initially intimidated by the team being comprised of truckers, but then thinks that they were not as intimidating on the field as their name might suggest.</li>
</ol></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
All games will be held on Princess Anne Athletic Complex fields Red #2 or Red #3. The season opener will be at 6:45pm on Red #3.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">YAH! Giddyap, Unicorns!!</div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-13193392598678591482011-08-02T20:53:00.000-07:002011-08-03T10:32:29.164-07:00Unicorns Come and Go as the Season of Death Beckons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZm64pzNocOmJUORRXPaboUOKxe_MtE8OgaBd2KdYQFCzHp8lAgJoWJCle9hNRa256VM5dlPpv-IYBT50oEYXVNM5ZPLTucJIPX54MmhCuzr5-CefA-NvjBtvqQeY3vydi0jwwF-fypiS6/s1600/Tres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZm64pzNocOmJUORRXPaboUOKxe_MtE8OgaBd2KdYQFCzHp8lAgJoWJCle9hNRa256VM5dlPpv-IYBT50oEYXVNM5ZPLTucJIPX54MmhCuzr5-CefA-NvjBtvqQeY3vydi0jwwF-fypiS6/s320/Tres.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Fans that come out to the first game of the season might initially look at the team as one might look at a toad born in the Chernobyl zone—as something horribly deformed, yet strangely familiar. And in the midst of the apocalypse and fall, that could be just what the harbingers of death on the softball diamond need to decimate their opponents. With veterans of VBC Softball setting off to do other things this fall, some new Unicorns will take the field—a few with familiar faces.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6 Out</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">1. <u>Matt Portner</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> - This isn’t the first fall that Portner will miss due to school.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Hopefully, it’ll be his last, but grad school isn’t a kind mistress.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">He told Greg Weaver that he might be available as a late-game sub if needed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">2. <u>Prucha</u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> - </span>After having a career season, Prucha is deciding to revel in his high stats and take a breather this fall. He also might be available as an as-needed sub.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph">3. <u>Ryan Cahill</u> - School almost kept Cahill down last fall, but while one can avoid that trap once, s/he is more vulnerable the second time around, apparently. The Unicorns will surely miss the skills and the good nature of their MVP.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph">4. <u>Joanna Niles</u> - Like boyfriend like girlfriend, Niles will also be out for school, even after studying for an extended period of time this summer in France.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph">5. <u>Alaina Coletti</u> - She had a whole post written about her since she was the first to announce that she would not return next season. Read that!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph">6. <u>Mary Hasan</u> - Hasan announced that she will take a break from fall ball. She asked the coach not to kill her—lucky for her, her fate was favorable due to the skipper finding an apt replacement and her opting to stay on the team mailing list.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6 In<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">1. <u>Larry Strait</u> - Undoubtedly the most anticipated return of the fall season, Strait will return from Baghdad in August and rejoin the team. Strait has been a prime player for VBC Softball since its inception as the Yetis, and will likely be the person to beat for the fall MVP award.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">2. <u>Kevin Carpenter</u> - Carpenter debuted with the Unicorns during their final game this season. Check out Bobby Weaver’s write-up for more info.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">3. <u>Rachel Matteo</u> -The Unicorns excitedly pulled up their number one female prospect from the minors for the fall after she (also excitedly) agreed to come up.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">4. <u>Nathan Anderson</u> - The first half of a package deal that included the below prospect, Anderson brought his best to the Unicorns’ sub-heavy game this year, going 1 for 1 with a run.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">5. <u>Mel Di Domenico</u> -The second half of said package, Di Domenico also joined the Unicorns for the same game, showing presence as catcher and eagerness at the plate.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1QWrsSy_y8ZA081Wh2h7w6xiRP7_AO_4UUQ-ocdbkePEk-6sogsgs5rBG5pHWR3Z6Zl-HPxnOygrz4Sql2OllP7vb5rF_G11lfHbMN1CF-BYFbkP5n4cMjjrjMy6-FpQQ71egFv4e4-Y/s1600/Unicorn+of+the+Archpocalypse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1QWrsSy_y8ZA081Wh2h7w6xiRP7_AO_4UUQ-ocdbkePEk-6sogsgs5rBG5pHWR3Z6Zl-HPxnOygrz4Sql2OllP7vb5rF_G11lfHbMN1CF-BYFbkP5n4cMjjrjMy6-FpQQ71egFv4e4-Y/s1600/Unicorn+of+the+Archpocalypse.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Unicorn of the Archpocalypse</i><br />
<i>by Leslie Paxton</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">6. <u>Leslie Paxton</u> - Paxton technically stems from the minor league pool that’s comprised of Virginia Arts Festival employees even though she is not actually employed by them. Megan DiPaolo, Alaina Coletti, and Mary Hasan before her, Lanah Stafford with her, Paxton has a lot of passion to match. Judging by this picture that is circulating the Internet that she apparently constructed, one might say that she is more than ready.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Your Unicorns of the Fallpocalypse:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Males</u></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gregory Weaver</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bobby Weaver</div><div style="text-align: center;">Romeo Villanueva</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nicholas Wasilewski</div><div style="text-align: center;">Larry Strait</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nathan Anderson</div><div style="text-align: center;">Kevin Carpenter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Females</u></div><div style="text-align: center;">Elisabeth Edge</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rianna Hoffman*</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lanah Stafford</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rachel Matteo</div><div style="text-align: center;">Melissa Di Domenico</div><div style="text-align: center;">Leslie Paxton</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Potential Subs</u></div><div style="text-align: center;">Matt Portner</div><div style="text-align: center;">Prucha</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dave Longfellow**</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sarah Redfield</div><div style="text-align: center;">Jen Doo</div><div style="text-align: center;">Christine Foust**</div> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Editor’s Note: Fans should note that Rianna Schweitzer’s last name has changed. Has she a fresh name for a fresh team?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">**Editor’s Note: Have yet to be informed.</span></i></div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-69568024426693875862011-07-31T20:36:00.000-07:002011-08-01T16:18:51.259-07:00Spring 2011 Superlatives Part 2<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><b>Sarah Redfield (CF/2B):<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>Team Sister</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> Everyone enjoys the fact that Sarah comes out to hang with us during our games, regardless if she gets the chance to play or not. She’s good at giving tips, cheering us, and quietly heckling the other teams while keeping score well. Thanks!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>Divided Loyalties</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> Unfortunately, Sarah is on another softball team, and while we would never play her team, the question may arise of who she would root for in the situation that we would in fact play them in a scrimmage. Hmmmmmmm...!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><b>Rianna Schweitzer (P/1B):</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>Sisyphus Award</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> A solid position player, Rianna has the unfortunate job of being our pitcher out of necessity. Though her ERA climbed rather steadily after reaching its lowest point during her own midway point, she kept on pushing that rock up the hill through the last game of the season. Your efforts were much appreciated, Rianna!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>Most Likely to Call a Play that Makes No Sense</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> Ever heard of Lady’s Choice? ‘Cause apparently, after she calls Lanah up for a meeting on the mound, that’s what Rianna’s throwing. Either that or a BL. Or something.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><b>Lanah Stafford (C/RF):<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>Most Spirited<o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> As far as I can tell, if you’re on the team, Lanah thinks you are awesome. Lanah is ready to hang out with you and roast pork butts and drink beer and play rock band... or practice throwing and catching and batting. In short, Lanah enjoys every aspect of softball, be it the social side or the athletic side. Not only is this fun for the team, but it’s fun for our competitors since she playfully (but fiercely) heckles them on a regular basis while calling crazy plays with Rianna. So, really, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i> are the awesome one, Lanah.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>Best Target</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> Something happens when Lanah isn’t behind the plate, and that something is that there is an explosion in Rianna’s brain that makes her unable to throw strikes like we know she can. Maybe it really is the fact that she calls the right plays—you know, even in MLB, behind every great pitcher there is a great catcher.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><b>Romeo Villanueva (CF):<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>Legging It Out</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> I often yell at people to run through first even if they’re out—but not this guy. Romeo always gives his 100% to get to base whenever he hits the ball, be it in a spot where he is in the clear or where he’s in danger. Despite his injury, Romeo was very steady this season, and with him in the habit of jogging, I suspect that he will be even better at getting on in the fall.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>Play Hard or Go Home</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><b> </b>Romeo has the tendency to give every single thing he does his all, whether it be legging it out, throwing from the outfield, or successfully blocking grounders. He gives so much, in fact, that he has eaten dirt for plays more than anyone else on the team. We’ve seen him stretch for pop flies to catch and tumble. We’ve seen him run into Alaina. We’ve seen him attempt to fly to second base to avoid getting tagged but then remember that humans can’t fly only to tumble to the earth. And each time, this man got up and walked it off.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><b>Nicholas Wasilewski (1B/CF):<br />
</b><u>Rookie of the Year Ninja Award</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> It may be a little cliché to give Nick a ninja award, but let’s consider the facts. This is Nick’s first season playing for VBC Softball and he wound up batting a .600 with an OBP of .684, topping the rest of the team. He may not hit the ball hard (his SLG sits just a bit above his AVG at .667), but for what he lacks for in power at the moment he makes up for in speed, having beat out almost every infield hit he’s made, blooper or nay. He also shows a lot of potential at first base, considering his great ability to stretch to catch [my] wild throws.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>Most Likely to Shed Blood</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> To our advantage, the infielders of our foes fear Nick because when they see him running at them at full speed, they, I imagine, feel like they’re going to get killed. This helps us because it makes the people who gets Nick’s ball feel the need to get rid it at a faster speed; plus, the basemen are then both scared of the speed of Nick and the speed of the ball, making them miss often, which means an extra-base dash for him.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> To their advantage, Nick does things like sliding into first and diving to get balls that may not need such attention in the outfield while wearing shorts, which makes him bloody himself. We can just continue to hope that he doesn’t get hurt in the process; though, it’s more likely that he’ll fall over from running too much than from diving and breaking his leg in turn.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><b>Bobby Weaver (UTIL):<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>Utility Man<o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> Bobby can play any position well, which is why he’s listed on the roster as “UTIL.” He started off pitching for us this season and basically played where others did not for the rest of the season, mostly landing him either at SS, 3B, or planted in LF. The best part is that he’s an asset at all of these positions due to his knowledge of how to play them and his catching and throwing skills. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> Lastly, if you’re counting DH as a position, he’s well-versed in that, as well, being the only one to give Ryan a run for his money as king slugger. His SLG was fortified by his nine doubles and three homeruns, making it rise to 1.029 (fun fact: the next highest was .762).<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>He Whose Ankles are Happiest That He Isn’t Pitching</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> Lest you forgot, Bobby’s ankles got whopped last year by being targets for hard-hit softballs, making them unhappy. Now look at them!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Gregory Weaver (SS/3B):<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Ye Whose Strike Zone is Impossible to Judge</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> I joked about getting walked by every team, but it was almost true. Aside from That’s What She Said, every team walked me, throwing my six walks to the top of the charts and putting my .630 OBP at a solid second.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Overly-Ambitious Base Coach<o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"> I not only lead Romeo to his flight of doom at second base, but I feel like I could have garnered the reputation for being overly-ambitious when people are rounding third. The lesson is, if I’m telling you to go and the rest of the team is telling you to hold up, you might not want to listen to me.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><br />
</u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Most Likely to Put His Girlfriend on the Roster<o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"> I swear she’ll play a game one of these days!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><br />
</u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>To the Entire Unicorns Pitching Staff:<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>The Sigh Young Award<b> <o:p></o:p></b></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b> </b>I would have given out a Cy Young Award for the season, but… it’s hard to give one out when the base-on-balls—the “bane of our pitching staff,” as Bobby put it so well in the blog—makes us struggle so much. Our WHIP is a staggering 5.94, allowing for an ERA of 19.15. Unfortunate still is that for every two batters that get a hit we walk over one batter. When we average only about 6.46 runs per game, these numbers look even worse. Let’s sigh young as a franchise and look to improve our numbers next season!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Thanks again to both the Unicorns of the Apocalypse and our fans! </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Keep looking here for more posts and join us at our games in August!</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BcEH7ivYnf7HpirrJVOF2R1GBBJorPT6dGlKKjmrYChl2Yuh528LdHi2zVUQBP6X0cZYvS7aDOdnTS22lKOSa9JgRSGSLj7vmEOepD0bMyIC5HX7rJjZKnMLYO9VY0IUutXlbNrlXadi/s1600/Team+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BcEH7ivYnf7HpirrJVOF2R1GBBJorPT6dGlKKjmrYChl2Yuh528LdHi2zVUQBP6X0cZYvS7aDOdnTS22lKOSa9JgRSGSLj7vmEOepD0bMyIC5HX7rJjZKnMLYO9VY0IUutXlbNrlXadi/s640/Team+Photo.jpg" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>From left to right, back to front: Mary Hasan, Romeo Villanueva, Matt Portner,<br />
Nick Wasilewski, Ryan Cahill, Lanah Stafford, Alaina Coletti, Elisabeth Edge,</i><br />
<i>Bobby Weaver, Joanna Niles, Rianna Schweitzer. Also in the photo<br />
is an irate-looking Irena Hasan, who doesn't seem to like the sun glare.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-54039090630180964242011-07-28T20:17:00.000-07:002011-07-28T20:33:22.328-07:00Spring 2011 Superlatives Part I<div class="MsoNormal">Now that the spring season has come to an end and all of the stats have been accumulated, I would like to take the time to thank each player of this last VBC Softball team. I really appreciated the effort and commitment that everyone put into the team in the last fifteen games. Certainly, because of everyone’s great attitudes and spirit, playing softball with you all is one of the highlights of my week every week. The energy and fun that we produce certainly outweighs any sense of winning or losing, which is why I look forward to returning season after season with you all. Now, without any further ado, to show my appreciation, I would like to award every core player with two superlatives each:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
(in alphabetical order)<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ryan Cahill (LF):<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Most Valuable Player (MVP)<o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">This was practically a no-brainer. Ryan slugged a monstrous 1.258 and kept his average at .548 with 31 at-bats. Almost every third hit he got was a home run, and then the second third was full of his other extra-base hits. Whoa! That explains his 16 RBIs. Did I mention he also arguably has the best glove and arm on the team? If you can count on anyone to make a play at the plate happen, whether he's in outfield or not, it's this guy. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Like I said, practically a no-brainer. Congratulations for an awesome season, Ryan.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Most Likely to Hit a Pinata<o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Ryan will do anything for a home run—including swinging at things way above his head. But, hey, it’s worked out for him so far!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Alaina Coletti (CF/SS):</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><u>The Black Knight<o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Alaina didn’t get to play very much this season, and as a result, she tried to convince me a week after she severed her toe that she could play in the next game. Riiiight.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>The Black Widow<o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Not exhausting the number of superlatives that she can get with the adjective “black,” Alaina came back from the DL only to head straight into the ribs of Romeo to put him in place of her.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Elisabeth Edge (3B):<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Female MVP<o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"> First thing’s first: Elisabeth is the only person that I remember hearing say that HAD to get on top. She saw the stat sheets and was determined: she WOULD beat Rianna and stay on top to steal the female MVP award. Well, through that fighting spirit, she earned it. She topped the females with her .483 AVG and .516 OBP, and her .483 SLG came just behind Rianna and Alaina. Furthermore, whenever she gets in charge of a grounder at third, the runner had better count his or her blessings, as Elisabeth is known to make fast, clean throws to first time after time. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Most Likely to be Debilitated</u></div><div class="MsoNormal"> If there has been a season that Elisabeth has been unable to come to a game once because of being hung over and another because she had a super cold (or was more severely hung over), then I haven’t been present. Oh, and the same conditions apply if after missing a game for one of those reasons she doesn’t come the next week to play with continuing ailments of said problems.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mary Hasan (RF/C):<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>That’s What She Said</u></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Guess who batted a .667 against That’s What She Said? Not Ryan (.500), not Bobby (.250), and not me (.600). Yes, there were a couple others who batted well against them, but no one quite as well as Mary, who also batted in three runs during games with them. Check your stats because unless you’re Matt, you didn’t come anywhere close. Mary ended up tying Rianna with the most RBIs for the ladies this season. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Most Determined to Get Around the Bases</u></div><div class="MsoNormal"> We were all cheering that night against That’s What She Said when Mary finally met her goal of getting to third base. The only thing more exciting was seeing her cross home.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Joanna Niles (CF):<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Most Excited</u></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Whenever Joanna catches a fly ball she looks so amazed that she did it and proceeds to start jumping around.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Most Likely to Forget to Throw the Ball if Excited</u></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Whenever Joanna catches a fly ball she looks so amazed that she did it and proceeds to start jumping around, making her completely forget that someone else is still running around the bases.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><b>Matt Portner (CF/P):<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>Golden Glove</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> Though Matt’s bat suffered a bit this season, he made many clutch outs in LC. With Matt there and Ryan to his right, no fly ball escaped being impaled for an out.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>“Michael Cuddyer” Award</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> A few nights ago, the Twins were losing so horribly that Michael Cuddyer, a position player who hadn’t pitched since high school, came in to close out the game. During the inning, he loaded the bases and then got the final two outs for the Twins to lose 20 to something (it doesn’t matter what). That situation is highly reminiscent of Matt coming in to take over for Rianna after she struggled in our third bout against the Boneshakers. I figure that loading the bases as a pro equates to giving up 24 runs on 24 hits. The best part was, though, that those numbers and his 6 walks, one of the lowest walk totals of the season, came at having not pitched since the days of the Yetis.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><b>Prucha (2B):<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>Most Likely to Earn an RBI Single</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> Prucha clenched top spot for batting average for most of the season and finished second with a huge .591. The best thing about it, though, was that he raked in 10 RBIs—and only had two extra-base hits. In contrast, Bobby had 12 extra-base hits at the top of the order and pushed in the same amount. Either Prucha had some great runners on base every time or he really knew how to place the ball—and signs lean toward the latter. Also... Ichiro... Prucha... coincidence? Maybe I should adopt a one-name name.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><u>Most Unlikely to “Turn Two” with Greg</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"> Elisabeth heckled me every time I told Prucha to turn two on the next play, and rightfully so. Not once did we turn two. Not once was Prucha even given the opportunity to turn two.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
(stay tuned for the other half of the team in a few days!)</div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-27860837775967936302011-07-19T16:23:00.000-07:002011-07-21T19:19:30.998-07:00Game 15: vs. ZDUB Softball<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Rusty offense, pitching reins-in Unicorns</b></i></span><br />
<br />
With manager Greg Weaver on vacation, the responsibility of getting win #2 on the season fell to bench coach Bobby Weaver. So, after an extended break of nearly a month, due to the July 4th holiday and a rain postponement, the Unicorns of the Apocalypse took to the Princess Anne Athletic Complex's Red 4 field to close out <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/VBC-Softball/174762279238885" target="_blank">VBC Softball</a>'s Spring 2011 season.<br />
<br />
The game started off promising enough with the night's DH1 Nick Wasilewski getting on base with a single, and moving to third on two weakly hit balls back to the pitcher. With two outs, 2B Elisabeth Edge worked a walk before slugger LF Ryan Cahill lined a double to right - plating both Wasilewski and Edge, and moving to third on the throw.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>The early lead soon evaporated though as the bane of the Unicorns pitching staff, the base-on-balls, once again reared its ugly head. No one particular inning got away from them though - ZDUB was patient at the plate and able to take advantage of the few defensive errors made in the game. The Unicorns' opponent was consistent both offensively and defensively, stifling the VBC team on both sides of the game.<br />
<br />
The Unicorns tried to come back from their deficit in the later innings, with Cahill hitting his 5th home run of the season in the top of the 4th inning. Another run was added in the top of the 5th after a pair of singles, from RC Romeo Villanueva and 1B Alaina Coletti, and a walk of LC Matt Portner. Newly acquired 3B Kevin Carpenter followed with a shot to right center, but the runner at 3rd was unable to tag up for the sacrifice fly. The game was called for time and the 12-run rule when ZDUB scored two more times in the bottom of the 5th inning, bringing the final score to Unicorns 4, ZDUB 16.<br />
<br />
Although a loss seems to tell a different story, the Unicorns played a fairly solid game defensively and have noticeably improved over the course of the spring season. And while the score did eventually reach the 12-run deficit limit, this wasn't a blow-out as had been experienced previously - if the offense had been better able to create baserunners, as they did in the 1st inning, and take advantage of the opportunities they ultimately had, things could have turned out different. For a new franchise only a year and a half into their existence though, such growing pains are to be expected.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Highlights:</b> LF Ryan Cahill further bolstered his case for Spring 2011 MVP with stellar defensive play in the field and batting 2 for 2, while knocking in 3 of the team's 4 runs. </i>weavahVBChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06665247965873742620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-84841414169733077702011-07-11T15:34:00.000-07:002011-07-11T18:36:47.629-07:00Summer Training<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORbSE-5GA6xVFvKnsNX0-IrQ1VGtwuR_BRRR995iyvAcZKRm5-p9o64yXAGt4pNtSud-3a3onkcPNQzlLPFPgdtgtI58QWjaatbjxCvSguY4o8S6-RH-FqTUFBBg9Xn6Buc9mdbQIAE7Y/s1600/S%252711_Nick+perching.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORbSE-5GA6xVFvKnsNX0-IrQ1VGtwuR_BRRR995iyvAcZKRm5-p9o64yXAGt4pNtSud-3a3onkcPNQzlLPFPgdtgtI58QWjaatbjxCvSguY4o8S6-RH-FqTUFBBg9Xn6Buc9mdbQIAE7Y/s400/S%252711_Nick+perching.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>First baseman Nicholas Wasilewski<br />
perching during the mid-practice break</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>There was no telling how hot it was. No one out today really needed a thermometer--all one would have to do is look at the sweat-soaked shirts of the Unicorns of the Apocalypse to know: it was <i>certainly</i> hot.<br />
<br />
Eight members of the Unicorns journeyed to Kempsville Rec Center yesterday to engage in some summer practice. Normally they would be staying fresh for fall, but most of the Unicorns were making sure that they stayed loose for the make-up game two Mondays from now.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
For the most part, the Unicorns picked up right where they left off in terms of positioning, but not all played their normal spots. Lanah Stafford was able to get a rare chance at second base, though she will resume her place behind home plate during game time when Prucha takes the field. Plus, with the absence of Rianna Schweitzer, Matt Portner was able to practice pitching a little more. Fans should expect to see Portner pitch in a couple of games this fall, provided he does not have to take a leave of absence from the team due to work-related activities.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQre4_krw4J_TrBy7o9AOtqZkh_kEJdNdJE33cb87vsgOOqqyb-rPOx6BOalEB6VvHewm9IUSc40i6HT8xpM-qTWM9qgsO4rSrNNEoDOiWBMrwr_SlK7whmshdRSBG_-xwvLZg_5fO3-X/s1600/Joanna_blogcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQre4_krw4J_TrBy7o9AOtqZkh_kEJdNdJE33cb87vsgOOqqyb-rPOx6BOalEB6VvHewm9IUSc40i6HT8xpM-qTWM9qgsO4rSrNNEoDOiWBMrwr_SlK7whmshdRSBG_-xwvLZg_5fO3-X/s200/Joanna_blogcrop.jpg" width="143" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The practice also saw the return of Joanna Niles, who has been absent from the team since late May, when she took off for France. Luckily for her and for us, she was back in the United States of America by Independence Day. When reporting that she was unprepared for practice, she explained, "I ... was unprepared by the heat. The weather was always 75 degrees in France and the heat during practice made me lazy." However, despite writing something unintelligible ("Soyez prete pour moi!") and feeling a lingering laziness caused by weather patterns only reserved for the privileged descendants of the Francs, she seemed as if she had never left for the land of <i>omelette du fromage</i>, catching a couple of balls hit to her in RC and hitting a number herself over the infielders' heads. Sometimes, month-long trips to foreign countries can provide a great mental break for ballplayers, which in turn allows them to come back to the game in full swing*. The one problem with month-long ones, though, lies in that they can melt a player down physically, even if another advantage is remembering how much one really misses the important things. "I'm sore after one practice!" Niles informed us today via e-mail, "I really missed playing with those balls... and I missed my teammates and coach!"</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">*Editor's note: Pun intended</span>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-73815315930785610062011-07-08T11:29:00.000-07:002011-07-08T11:40:38.368-07:00Sub OverviewWith the retirement of Alaina Coletti from VBC Softball, it is only appropriate to take a look at the Unicorns' success with minor league call-ups* to determine who might best aid the Unicorns as a replacement in the fall season. Here are the nine subs listed on the spring season's roster:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*Editor's note: minor league meaning Duffer minor league, meaning E class, meaning anyone that does not play softball--essentially, everyone is eligible for a call-up</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqHAm3CBU2LtUz1W9edFFOW_1TvaPxOhZIlJCBDl1GroFp2EdVLL88IZ1tOiz7PXBSsI4vF8_lkfZoHFd7pqfuCFGdE9lKCxwTBrpXVoJlb-RqzzhU8ExtO1mxSwV6YF1-dRgxAmZvSxv/s1600/Sarah_crazy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqHAm3CBU2LtUz1W9edFFOW_1TvaPxOhZIlJCBDl1GroFp2EdVLL88IZ1tOiz7PXBSsI4vF8_lkfZoHFd7pqfuCFGdE9lKCxwTBrpXVoJlb-RqzzhU8ExtO1mxSwV6YF1-dRgxAmZvSxv/s200/Sarah_crazy.jpg" width="155" /></a></div><b>1. Sarah Redfield -</b> Redfield regularly attends Unicorns games and is considered part of the team's 14-man roster that is comprised of the team's primary players. However, she is also a member of the Blue Bombers, a C-league team that plays on Friday nights, so they only use her when they need to. Otherwise, she supportively cheers and keeps score. Redfield is batting .364/.417/.364 this season, having 11 at-bats in 5 games. She has played softball since high school, which gives her a very sturdy sense of fielding and provides the team with a reliable defensive sub, especially at 2B and in RC and LC.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Jen Doo - </b>Though never having played a game yet with VBC Softball, Doo is considered sub-eligible and was on the roster before the Unicorns started needing subs. Currently she resides in Northern Virginia, making it near impossible to get to any games since they are on Monday nights. However, Doo proudly sports a Unicorns jersey and is considered ready-to-play-if-necessary by Coach Weaver if she is around during a game. During throwing practice sessions, Doo has proven herself to have a strong arm and good accuracy, yet her being a novice shows in errors, as occasionally the ball pops out of her glove and lands hard on her legs. The good news is that she has been consistent in continuing to throw despite visible bruises on the hit spots.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>3. Christine Foust - </b>Originally interested in joining the team as a starter, Foust was hesitant to due to her work with the Virginia Arts Festival and with Virginia Beach's Symphonicity (fans may remember Megan DiPaolo of The Legion of Fistpumping Turtles--she held the same position at VAF but felt confident joining the team for the season). Foust only has two at-bats with VBC Softball, and while she has collected two strikeouts, her batting practice record of making frequent contact with the ball shows her potential as, in the least, a useful sub.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Rachel Matteo - </b>Matteo is the probably the most popular choice for serving as a replacement for Coletti. She made her first appearance with the Unicorns when they were but a Virginia Beach wiffleball team and joined the softball team when Romeo Villaneuva asked her to sub for Lanah Stafford against Boneshakers Bar and Grill and the Stunners. Matteo went 1 for 4 overall, batting in the only run in the first game and earning a walk in the second. The Unicorns were impressed with her performance and noted that she is able to make good contact with the ball--so much so that it lands in the pocket over the infielders' heads, reminiscent of Rianna Schweitzer's batting.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Vignette Kaltsas - </b>Speaking of Schweitzer, she has a history of scouting probable subs--Kaltsas is the only one actually to have played yet this season. Yet, when Schweitzer also tried to recruit her for the games on 6/20, she was unavailable. Though Kaltsas went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts against the Wine O's, she joined the Unicorns after the game at Finn McCool's, showing goodwill with the team.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Margaret Gardner - </b>Gardner was one of two subs scouted by Matt Portner for the 6/20 games. She was the first of the two to take the field, and she was eager to do so despite her admitted lack of knowledge on how to play her position of RF. In the end she went 0 for 3 with a walk. Rumors have it that Gardner has expressed interest in playing with the Unicorns again.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Melody Moreno - </b>The second of Portner's subs, Moreno had a lack of fielding knowledge and a batting performance similar to that of Gardner. Though she was a little shier, she had a similar spirit. Rumors do not have it that Moreno has expressed interest in playing with the Unicorns again.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Mel Di Domenico - </b>Greg Weaver called up Mel last minute and she was able to make it to the 6/20 games. She effectively played catcher for Schweitzer and circled the bases once for a run due to the patience of Nicholas Wasilewski and Bobby Weaver. "Adamantly" is the word that the rumors use to describe Mel's interest in joining the Unicorns' starters.<br />
<br />
<b>9. Nathan Anderson - </b>One would just need to read the "Subs Galore" post to see how effective Anderson's pinch hitting, base running, and fielding was against That's What She Said. Clearly, Anderson cannot replace Coletti in the starting roster, but he is being taken into consideration by the skipper. The problem with adding Anderson is twofold: one, Anderson would add another male to the roster, which means that two males would be benched and one would DH each game as long as there are enough females present to allow for a DH; and two, VBC Softball veteran slugger Larry Strait is expected to return in the fall. To further complicate things, Mel and Nathan are practically a Melthan--a two-for-one kind of deal. Anderson would, however, be a great sub in all areas, and Coach Weaver plans on at least offering him a spot on the roster in case more injuries are abound in the fall.Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-55890546031661725062011-07-06T12:27:00.000-07:002011-07-06T12:58:01.385-07:00Alaina Coletti Announces Retirement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV_dXhDd1x-N8HLvk0msJt-SjhuUdVLQDql-jozkN1rrkXmZs283bhn5pkf_uxs0vbwZLr-aTeBGYt_qwXxePuDu7XNakrq0-hBUeDHO96TaKbXlMgWL4xz8QtsLFdc5lqL_NiGBXbGox/s1600/Alaina_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV_dXhDd1x-N8HLvk0msJt-SjhuUdVLQDql-jozkN1rrkXmZs283bhn5pkf_uxs0vbwZLr-aTeBGYt_qwXxePuDu7XNakrq0-hBUeDHO96TaKbXlMgWL4xz8QtsLFdc5lqL_NiGBXbGox/s1600/Alaina_crop.jpg" /></a></div>Eight days ago, VBC Softballer Alaina Coletti hinted at an early retirement. This afternoon at 1:44pm EST, she confirmed that she will in fact not be returning to play with the Unicorns of the Apocalypse in the fall.<br />
<br />
"Not that I don't love you guys, but it's just not reasonable for me," Coletti told her skipper in a heartfelt e-mail. She punctuated the sentence with a colon followed by an open parenthesis.<br />
<br />
Coletti joined VBC Softball in 2010 as one of the founding members of The Legion of Fistpumping Turtles, even before the team had a name. Though inexperienced in softball, her natural athletic abilities and soccer training made her a quick study, and she sped up the batting order in a hurry, procuring the #2 spot in the nightly lineup.<br />
<br />
The Turtles' coach, the coach of the Unicorns, Greg Weaver, recollected, "We had a lot of confidence in her ability to get a base hit and aggressively speed around the basepaths. Most of all, though, we will miss her competitive spirit and great attitude in the dugout. She was a lot of fun both to cheer with and to have cheering for you."<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
When the veterans of VBC Softball were forming their team for the spring, Coletti was the first to start throwing and getting back into shape. She was also an outspoken participant in the creation of a new team name. In short, she was one of the most ready for the season to begin. Unfortunately, though, Coletti's season with the Unicorns was short-lived.<br />
<br />
In the beginning, Coletti found herself having to forgo games to manage and host receptions for her full-time job as Special Projects Coordinator with Virginia Arts Festival. She played in the team's second series, facing against the Stunners and going 2 for 3. It was exciting for fans of the Unicorns to see her pick up right where she left off. <br />
<br />
Soon afterwards, however, a work-related incident found her having almost severed her big toe. She was immediately put on the disabled list, and, a week or so later, Weaver found her trying to play in a game. "Of course I refused," Weaver said, "We didn't want her injuring herself early just to have her out the full season."<br />
<br />
Despite those intentions, Coletti was only able to return for two more games after her foot healed due to the Virginia Arts Festival uncharacteristically stretching into mid-June. It was upon realizing that she had played so little that she started to think of retiring.<br />
<br />
Fans of Coletti can catch her in her last game, the June 27th makeup on July 18th against ZDUB Softball. The game will be played on Princess Anne Athletic Complex Field Red #3 at 6:45pm. They also should watch for her possible return to co-ed rec soccer either this fall or next spring, as earlier in the year she had played on the Jiminy Kickits.<br />
<br />
For more posts on Alaina Coletti, click her name on the label link below.Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-15244254880752658802011-06-28T08:23:00.000-07:002011-06-28T08:28:11.751-07:00The Rain Falls Over the Unicorn in June (-icorn)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcLkazlAThAxKM5r6iZNOyT_tObLpryVNHWobwh-6AazBIwHX_Zl6uariOYT4U0DgnoFl1MKl0TBC3_DLx3okSl-sF4OY6PZUz-iyUfyKQ36pa6Tmz7Hug4UXmUE3lkPVzN03-JNxa6yh/s1600/IMAG0297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcLkazlAThAxKM5r6iZNOyT_tObLpryVNHWobwh-6AazBIwHX_Zl6uariOYT4U0DgnoFl1MKl0TBC3_DLx3okSl-sF4OY6PZUz-iyUfyKQ36pa6Tmz7Hug4UXmUE3lkPVzN03-JNxa6yh/s320/IMAG0297.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ryan Cahill when he found out <br />
that the game was to be delayed</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Last night both the Unicorns and ZDUB Softball fell victim to a torrential downpour that lasted approximately fifteen minutes. Unfortunately, it was enough to saturate the ballfields to the extent that they were deemed unplayable by officials.<br />
<br />
Last season, the VBC Softball team "The Legion of Fistpumping Turtles" had similar difficulties. Ryan Cahill recalled that it happened in both the spring and in the fall. Regardless of when it happens, though, it usually presents hardships for the management and the team alike. In the past, it was not uncommon for the officials to notify coaches one day prior to the scheduled makeup game that the game was on. Veterans of VBC Softball easily recount the time when they had to play on a Wednesday night despite their normal Monday night schedule.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrl0bxU1ARo8DdDDqatmC4t40j5d6EPfJnVxoIc7lzJ5gC8s0qKYcgtEKLsf98RoiH5HnH62E7JhAhgXvwV6TrC3ei08_gvZshyphenhyphenON7yL6hE_OEUotcpQRuXXR-tPLm5PJy9m3SbG8IW_Ek/s1600/IMAG0298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrl0bxU1ARo8DdDDqatmC4t40j5d6EPfJnVxoIc7lzJ5gC8s0qKYcgtEKLsf98RoiH5HnH62E7JhAhgXvwV6TrC3ei08_gvZshyphenhyphenON7yL6hE_OEUotcpQRuXXR-tPLm5PJy9m3SbG8IW_Ek/s320/IMAG0298.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ryan Cahill when he found out that<br />
the game might be on Wednesday</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Upon review of the posted makeup schedule for other divisions in the league, though, it seems that a game played tomorrow night is almost out of the question--some teams are scheduled to play as late as July 15th. It may be slightly comforting to know that the Unicorns do not have to scramble to make sure that everyone is available to play in a day's time, but it is unknown in what a two-weeks' rest will result. The good news is that Ryan Cahill is in fact not on the disabled list, but is just considered day-to-day; thus, the Unicorns are hoping to have him available to play as early as next week.<br />
<br />
Coincidentally, the last bouts against ZDUB came after a similar rest due to Memorial Day. In the first game, the Unicorns went down 15-6, but only batted a .333.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-86788006700518337842011-06-26T09:22:00.000-07:002011-06-27T12:48:56.634-07:00Game Preview for 6/27/11<b><u>Game @ ZDUB Softball</u> (Princess Anne Athletic Complex Field Green #3)</b><br />
<br />
The Unicorns (1-13) will try to make their last game their second win of the season by facing the third place team in the division, ZDUB Softball (6-5).<br />
<br />
The last time the two teams met, the Unicorns could not produce a good number of hits. Against ZDUB, their AVG stands at a .362, which is the second worst, just above the Stunners. Fans will remember the low numbers produced in the games were due not in small part to ZDUB's excellent shortstop, who got to every ball hit, no matter how hard, in his vicinity.<br />
<br />
Two game AVG/OBP/SLG: .333/.455/.444 and .391/.440/.435<br />
<br />
Coming off of a loss of only 5-11 (a rather successful one in the Unicorns' book) to the second place team in the division, can they shake off their old numbers and put one more notch in the win column?<br />
<br />
<b>UPDATE: </b>Team slugger Ryan Cahill (1.138 SLG) was put on the DL this evening for sustaining a broken finger. Cahill is career 2 for 5 with 2 doubles against ZDUB Softball.Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334085391653609632.post-54866817707451054682011-06-22T22:12:00.000-07:002011-06-27T12:45:33.697-07:00Subs Galore<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was an odd night for the Unicorns as they faced off against their rival this season--the Wine O's--and That's What She Said.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At Red Mill Farms Park, an area known for its distance from all of the team members and its plague-like population of mosquitoes, the Unicorns took the field early at 6:40pm at the demand of the umpire despite not having a full team. They knew they would be short, but the early start threw them for a loop as players were rushing to get out to Sandbridge after work. "The Wine O's are our favorite team to play--they have great spirit. That might explain Bobby [Weaver]'s feeling that they might have been going easy on us by not hitting the ball into right field since no one was there," skipper Greg Weaver recounts.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An all-time high of four Unicorn females were out of the lineup for evening. Catcher Lanah Stafford was on personal leave, the recently re-enabled Alaina Coletti was hosting receptions at a work event, speedster Joanna Niles is finishing up her time in France, and veteran team sister Sarah Redfield's whereabouts were unknown. Subs were on their way, but it was unclear as to how long they were going to take.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stafford's absence was probably felt the most, as pitcher Rianna Schweitzer was having trouble locating her lob ball through the first few innings. On average, Schweitzer had a walk rate of 5.75 batters per game before last week's start against Boneshakers Bar and Grill, when she walked a career-high 14, but she walked 11 of the Wine O's, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in the long first inning. Mary Hasan was behind the plate for the third time </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with Schweitzer as the pitcher.</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The first series that Mary was the catcher, Rianna pitched very well," G. Weaver recalled, "but the second series fell apart quickly. The difference between this time and that was that Lanah was around to get back behind the plate."</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hasan enjoys playing catcher, but admits to not being the most effective behind the plate. "If Rianna is aiming for my face, it's not going to help. I'm moving around all the time, half way trying not to let the umpire touch my butt, and the other half trying not to get smacked in the face as batters are going woo woo," Hasan said while swinging her arms in multiple directions.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After what seemed like an entire game, former defensive player-of-the-game and surprising pitching star of last week's game against the Stunners Matt Portner showed up to the field. Portner was allowed to play in the game despite it being against the league rules to have 6 males and 3 females on the field at one time due to the graciousness and sportsmanship of the Wine O's. When his cleats were fastened, Portner took point behind the plate for the first time, sending Hasan into her normal spot in right field.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Matt was able to give Rianna a target. Mary can't crouch, which she said is due to her bad knees, which she said is due to her age. Man, I am not looking to turning 25," the coach laments (editor's note: there is question as to whether or not Mary is actually 25, as she indicated on the roster she signed).</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As it turned out, Portner brought along two subs, Margaret Gardner and Melody Moreno, and during the first inning, Weaver's sub, Mel Di Domenico, arrived alongside her boyfriend, Nathan Anderson. Gardner and Di Domenico filled out the lineup and Portner was benched due to rule that designated hitters may not be added after the game begins.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a commonality between most all games that the Unicorns play: the first inning is always the worst. Aside from the nine walks, the Unicorns' defense allowed six hits. Those six hits brought in 11 out of the 19 runs that the Wine O's would eventually score.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a second commonality: the third out is always the hardest to get. After surviving the first inning, Schweitzer fanned two in a one-two-three 2nd. The third brought up their whole lineup plus the leadoff man a second time (eleven batters total). Seven of those batters came after the second out was made.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end, the Unicorns scored seven runs against the Wine O's nineteen. Players of the game included Ryan Cahill and Nick Wasilewski. Cahill went 2/2 with a double and a triple, tacking on three RBIs, and Wasilewski went 1/1 with a walk and two runs. The double came on a rather courageous flight to second as Wasilewski apparently read the opposing defense as too slow to catch him (most are). Also notable was Prucha's amazing behind the back snag on a line drive straight to him. That man's got reaction <i>and</i> he's hitting a .682/.682/.773 this season.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though the game started five minutes early, it ended about ten minutes late due to all of the shuffling of subs. It was disheartening that the Unicorns lost so badly to a team that against whom they should have done well and then had to go against a team that beat them held them to seven runs over two games, but there was good news: they could use all of their subs and have designated hitters with the start of the new game. In the first inning, a quarter of the lineup consisted of subs, and then in the top of the 5th, a third of the lineup did.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The game started off, again, as one might suspect: the Unicorns went down after four batters and the opposing team responded by earning seven runs. In the 4th, Bobby Weaver responded with a solo home run, and then a great showing of plate discipline and well-placed hits scored four more at the top of the 5th.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rally in the 5th started when team captain Greg Weaver called in Nathan Anderson to pinch hit for him. Anderson had already made a graceful leap for a ball in left field in the previous inning, and he followed his defensive acrobatics up with a shot into left field and a run from first to home on a single by Mary Hasan. Prucha went up to bat after Hasan, shooting a softly hit ball up the middle, and then Wasilewski walked, scoring Hasan. It was her first time around the diamond all season.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another patient at bat by Portner saw two more runs score, but that was the end of the rally as the top of the lineup got put out. A valiant effort in the 5th saw the Unicorns lose only 5-11. Eleven earned runs was their second best total of the season.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though the Unicorns lost both games, everyone had a good time watching their teamwork show its best with four fresh faces in the field. They have one more game of the spring season against ZDUB softball next Monday and expect to have the whole team with the exception of Joanna Niles. At full strength, the Unicorns are eager at their chance to secure another victory.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Neigh, Unicorns!</span>Muuurghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13592705812668738311noreply@blogger.com0