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Masters Dragons
Good Morning Stats Fans,
Once again we made the finals, but much like the whole season, we started well, but eventually finshed one short of victory.
Batting first, we made a solid start with walks to Slippery and Showbags and a then a first pitch Home Run to me to bring them home. Jocko also got home thanks to some aggressive base running.
Rowdy, carrying an injury, started on the mound throwing to Homer and got the first batter out with a fly ball to Cement at 1B. After some sloppy fielding and a dropped third strike they started to get on top so I came on to close out the dig. A catch to Showbags and a relayed throw from CF to get the runner at home and we were back in the dugout.
4 all at the end of the first.
I'm not sure whether their pitching got better or their umpire more biased, but we only managed 1 run in the 2nd thanks to a big double by Rowdy.
2 big catches at CF by Slippery helped us get 3 up, 3 down.
5 - 4
The 3rd dig was our best. Safe hits to Homer, KD, Slippery and 2 to Jocko including a double, combined with 3 HBP saw us score 6 runs and take a commmanding lead.
We held them to just 2 runs. A strike out, a pop up to the pitcher, and a standard 6 - 3.
11 - 6
The runs kept coming in the 4th. Another hit to KD, a Double for Slippery, Cement got hit again and then an in the park Home Run to Showbags and we had another 4 runs.
Unfortunately the wheels started to get a bit wobbly and some more sloppiness in the field, let them get 6 runs.
15 - 12
With our confidence a bit dented we only managed 1 run in the last dig thanks mainly to a safe hit by Rowdy.
Still, we were 4 up and only had to hold them out to win.
With the top of their order coming up to bat, they scored 3 fairly quickly. We then got 2 quick outs to put the game on a knife edge.
2 runners on base, their last batter up and we could have walked him to win the game, but we decided to challenge him to hit the ball and he did and they won.
Final Score 16 - 17
Play of the Day Award : I can't go past Showbags in the park HOME RUN. Watching him hobble around third clutching his hammy with all of us urging him on is what Masters is all about.
Stats of the Day Award : There were many candidates this week with 3 players batting 500 and 2 at 750, but I'm giving it to Slippery. His stats read 4 ABs, 2 Hs inc. a double, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 1 SB, 2 POs and 1 A.
Great Stats!
I would like to thank everyone for their efforts this year and for putting up with me when my competitive instincts took over from my normally calm self.
A special thanks to Jodi for scoring this year. You made my job a lot easier.
Success is not always measured by how many games you win, especially in Masters, but more by how much you enjoy playing and the people you play with.
I have had a very enjoyable season as coach and there were many little victories along the way which made it all worthwhile.
Don't forget about the inaugural vote count night at my place, 51 Golden Bear Dve Arundel, on Saturday 4th September starting around 6:30.
Please let me know how many are coming and if you can bring some nibbles or a dessert. I'll put on a BBQ and we'll have a few drinks to celebrate the season that was.
Good Stats Everyone
Big Dog
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Stats for Round 8
Good Morning Stats Fans,
Wecome back after a well earned / needed 2 weeks break.
It's been a while since our last game, so I'll see what I remember.
We played another former Div. 1 team in Robina 1. I don't recall the final score, but they did use probably the best pitcher in the comp. against us. So no taking it easy. We didn't win.
We started ok with Slippery leading off and getting a safe hit first up, then some other things happened and we finished off their first dig with a DOUBLE PLAY. I took the catch at SS then threw the ball to Slippery at 2B.
Sudsy pitched, then I pitched, then Rowdy pitched, then Sudsy again, until Pratty said 'Let me have a go.'
In his debut on the mound he managed to do what the rest of us couldn't and tame the strong Robina batting line up.
He also got our only other hit of the day.
Jocko had a busy day at 3B and Tortoise took a couple of catches at CF.
Play of the Day Award : Late in the game, with bases loaded thanks to a couple of walks, Cement came up to bat and laid down a perfect sac bunt to get our only earned run of the day. ( Sorry Jodie I don't care what the book says it just felt like an earned run)
Stats of the Week Award : It was a lean day on the stats sheet, but Slippery stood out by batting 1000 with 2 walks and 4 POs and 1 Assist.
Good Stats everyone
Big Dog
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Good Morning Stats Fans - 21/5/10
Unfortunately we suffered a 22- 0 hiding from one of the division 1 sides. 3 home runs to the Mudgee side including one which almost hit houses in St Kevins Ave. was a pretty good indication of the differences between division 1 + 2 sides.
As the score indicated we had no star players but the pride in the Dragon team meant everyone had a red hot go.
The good news is we get back in the saddle this week against Coomera
Big Dog
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Good Morning Stats Fans.
It was a welcome return to the winners list this week with a comfortable victory over the Dodgers.
We had our best 9 players on the field. ( Well the best 9 available)
There was plenty of good natured sledging going on as former Dragons, Dusty, Doc and Googs, were in opposition.
Butch was away this week so I finally got a start on the mound and managed to get their lead off batter, Doc, watching a 3rd strike. Macca taking great delight in " ringing him up ".
Thanks to some quick thinking by Showbags ( with an assist by Pratty?) and a good catch to Jocko, we had them back in the dugout for just 1 run.
Our turn to bat. 2 hits to Sudsy and myself and 1 each to Jocko, Pratty and Tortoise, a double, and some helpful fielding from the Dodgers and we scored 10 runs.
Next dig and it was almost 3 up and 3 down. Catches to Sudsy and Jocko and a redeeming out to Cement at 1B and we were back in the batters box.
This time it was Homer and Showbags getting the hits. A couple of walks and we had scored another 4.
As per our pre-game strategy, Rowdy came on to pitch and went for 2 and 1/3 innings. A bit more than expected, but with 2 Ks ( great catching by Homer behind the plate) and only 1 earned run it was a big effort.
I came back on to get the final 2 outs. Fittingly they were a catch to Rowdy at LF and a 4-3.
We had 2 more bats with Cement getting 2 hits and Sudsy, having a feast on Dusty's pitching, another 1.
Final score was 15 - 8.
Stats of the Week Award : The award goes to Sudsy, who had some great stats this week. 3 hits from 3 ABs including a triple, a walk, 3 RBIs, 4 POs and 1 A.
Play of the Day Award : See attached file. An attempted pick off by Dusty actually caught on film. ( Good work Bags ) It's a bit graining. I'm the one on 1st. Too busy laughing to go to 2nd.
This week we play Mudgee at home at 2:00.
Let us know if you are not available.
Big Dog
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Good Morning Stats Fans,
This week we played bottom team Nerang Maroon and to say that we took the game a bit lightly, is a massive understatement. Consequently we were soundly beaten 21 - 5.
We started slowly scoring 1 run in the 1st thanks to a walk to Sudsy and a good hit by Rowdy.
Then we put Crutchy, aka Showbags, on the mound in an attempt to boost his confidence, but it didn't happen for him and Sudsy came on to finish the dig. They scored 9 with only 2 outs. A catch to Rowdy at 3B and a SS to 1B.
Hits to Butch and Pratty saw us score 2 in the 2nd. We held them to 2 as well with 3 infield outs. Butch, Showbags and Cement all featuring.
The rest of the game was a blur. 2 hits to Homer and myself, another one for Butch and 1 to Slippery was all we could manage. Tortoise took the last catch of the day at CF. Homer performed admirally as catcher on what was a difficult day behind the dish.
Stats of the Week Award : This week's winner is Homer who hit 2 from 3, a PO and a SB. Runner up was Butch.
Play of the Day Award : Rowdy's bobbled catch at 3B. Rowdy swears it was never in doubt, but the pictures tell a different story. Thanks Lesa.
Next week's game is against the Dodgers at Home at 2:00.
Butch, Slippery and KD are already out so everyone else turn up ready to play.
We don't want to take this one lightly.
Good Stats Everyone
Big Dog
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Good Morning Stats Fans,
After a slow start we had another big win this week against Nerang Gold. The final score being 15 - 7.
You can call it good coaching or just our rotation policy, but we started with Rowdy on the mound and Homer catching against probably the better of the two Nerang teams and after some shaky moments midway through the first dig, it turned out to be a pretty good decision.
With some excellent back up from Sudsy at SS,(4 As and 2 POs), Slippery at 2B, (2 As) and Tortoise at 3B, (1 PO), and Butch at 1B, they had scored only 2 earned runs after 2 &2/3 innings.
I came on to relieve Rowdy and thanks once again to some tight fielding, we shut them down for the remaining 2 digs. Rowdy featuring with a catch at CF and Cement taking over the 1B duties.
We had a great day with the bat as well. 13 safe hits and 12 RBIs.
Tortoise with 3 & 1, Jocko 2 & 3, Sudsy 2 & 1, Butch 1 & 2, Big Dog 1 & 2, Slippery 1 & 1, Rowdy 1 & 1, Cement 2 hits and KD 1 RBI.
It was a fantastic team effort.
Stats of the Week Award: A very hard decision this week with great stats by everyone. The winner is Cement who batted 1000,2 from 2, had 1 SB and 2 POs. Runner up was Tortoise 3 from 4, 1 RBI, 1 SB and 1 PO.
Play of the Day Award: During the top of the 1st dig, Rowdy, who was having a bit of trouble on the mound, turned and pointed to me at CF. I thought he was saying that the next batter was going to hit it to me so I waved back. Later he told me he was asking to be taken off after the next batter! Fortunately he struck out the next 2 batters.
Next week's game is against Nerang Maroon at Nerang at 2:00.
Please let us know if you are available or not.
Good Stats Everyone,
Big Dog
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Good Morning Stats Fans,
This week was the Grand Final replay against Runaway Bay Rays and we reversed the result with a stunning 13 - 8 win.
We started with Crutchy on the mound and after 1 pitch we had 1 out. A ground ball to Jocko at 3B and a good throw to Butch at 1B. The next pitch was right down the middle, but from then on each one got further away from the strike zone.
A walk and 2 HPBs later and I took over the pitching duties. 1 K and a big catch from Tortoise at CF to end the innings.
R/bay took the field and we were looking a little shaky with 2 out after 3 batters, but then it was a batting frenzy with hits to Tortoise, twice, Crutchy, twice, Sudsy, a triple, Big Dog, Cement, Butch and Slippery. Rowdy and Jocko were both hit by a pitch.
At the end of the 1st innings we were 10 - 3 up and looking good.
2nd innings another catch to Tortoise, a standard 5 - 3 , Crutchy to Butch, and a K and we were back batting.
Hits to Rowdy and myself and a walk for Jocko and they changed pitchers, but we still scored 2.
3rd innings the first batter gets to 1B safely ,but is spectacularly caught stealing by Sudsy and Crutchy at 2nd. Another K and a catch by Crutchy and we were back in the dugout.
Hits to Sudsy and myself, a double, saw us score 1 more run.
The score now 13 - 7 with one more to go.
4th innings they manage to score once more. A PO by Cement at 1B, a K and another 5 - 3 and we had to bat for 6 minutes to win.
Great at bats by Homer, 7 pitches, Tortoise, 6 pitches, Slippery, only 3 but 2 of them dodgy strike calls and Crutchy meant time and game was called.
Stats of the Week Award: There were some great stats this week, see attached, with 13 safe hits and 13 RBIs, but thanks to some very lenient scoring by Jodie, I was the only one who batted 1000. So I get the award this week.
Play of the Day Award: This week it goes to Sudsy for his triple to CF. It probably could have been an in the park home run had he not been slowed down by the heavy white overshirt.
Next week's game is at Surfers at 11:30.
Training is on Thursday at 4:00 or Wednesday with the other side if you want.
Please let Butch or myself know if you are available before Thursday nights selection committee meeting.
Good Stats Everyone
Big Dog
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Good Morning Stats Fans,
Welcome to a new season of Dragons baseball. This year we have a new coaching panel, or old depending on how you look at it, of Butch and myself.
We said goodbye to Doc, Dusty, Punter and Rookie and welcomed back premiership player Pratty and boom recruit Peter 'Crutchy' Crutchfield. We started well against Runaway Bay leading after the 1st innings 2 -1, but first round nerves got the better of us and we lost 6 - 3 after 5 innings.
Batting first and there were not too many highlights. Only 3 safe hits. 1 each to Sudsy, Homer and myself. There were 3 walks and 2 HPBs, but we couldn't convert these into runs on the board.
In defence we started Crutchy on the mound throwing to Sudsy, but that only lasted 4 batters as nerves got the better of him. 1 K, 2 walks and 1 HPB when Butch called time and I came on to pitch out the game. There were many fielding highlights, mostly in the infield, including 2 DOUBLE PLAYS. Crutchy had 3 POs and 4 As including a DOUBLE PLAY when he went to SS. KD had 2 catches, 1 PO, 1 A and a DOUBLE PLAY from 2B. Rowdy, 3 POs,1A and Tortoise, 1 PO shared the 3B duties, Cement covered 1B and Sudsy had a great game as catcher with 3 POs. Stats of the Week Award : This week's award goes to KD, not only a DOUBLE PLAY, but a spectacular running catch to end the 2nd innings.
Play of the Day Award : Crutchy telling Slippery, who was lead off batter, that Runaway Bay were 1 short and their catcher was going to soft toss all the pitches.
I think this week's game is at home, but I don't know who we play or what time.
I will send out the details later.
Good Stats everyone
Big Dog
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