Monday Games are in the books!

The PED's were matched up with against the BSer's and Yo Julio's today -- I think both teams are solid "top 4" quality at the camp this year so we had our hands full.

The morning game started at 10am and with yours truly on the mound I knew I had to be good to be effective today.  I was matched up against Dave Hinnenkamp who year after year is one of the best all around players at camp as a good hitter, fielder, and a quality pitcher as well.  We were the visitors and we scratched out a run in the top of the first to get things going - but the bottom of the first BSer's plated 2 runs to take the lead.  I was not sharp at all and wild, walking a number of batters (let alone I felt like the umpire was putting the squeeze on the strike zone -- but that is for another blog) as well but escaped disaster by limiting them to two runs.  BSer's struck for another run in the 3rd inning to stretch their lead and we scored in the 4th to make it a 3-2 ballgame.  The bottom of the fourth BSer's put together a mini rally as our fielders did not make the plays and BSer's are up 5-2.  PED's hitters finally started putting the ball in play and found some holes (helped by some errors) and scored 2 runs in the top of the 6th inning to bring us to 5-4.  I struggled in the bottom of the 6th but stranded 3 runners after BSer's had loaded up the bases with only 1 out - I struck out one guy while getting another to pop out to end the inning (and potential rally).  PED's came out fast and plated a run to tie the game in the top of the 7th -- then with 2 on and 1 out - Don Brandt (a good North Dakotan guy - GO BISON!) hit a line drive down the first base line for a 2 RBI base hit -- PED's are now up 7-5.   I went out to the mound to close out the game and after getting 2 outs, I walked one guy and then induced a weak pop up to third base and the PED's notch the victory - a good all around game by the PED's.

The 2nd game we were matched up against the Yo Julio's - who won their first game - so both teams were looking to get to 2-0.  The game was very well pitched and we will fast forward to the bottom of the fifth inning with the YJ's having a 1-0 lead.  Sutherland was pitching a very nice game to this point, the PED's decided it was time to get the bats going and we scored 4 runs to get that lead while the rain started to pour down a little - we held them in the top of the sixth and then tacked on 2 more runs in the bottom of the inning to stretch the lead to 6-1.  Schmidt finished out the complete game victory by getting the last 3 outs and the PED's are 2-0 for the day.

Day 1 - Standings
Warriors   2-0
PED's       2-0
Sleepers    1-1
38 Special 1-1
Yo Julio's  1-1
BSer's        1-1
Stingers     0-2
Saggy Balls 0-2

The Stingers scored one run today and Saggy Balls scored 0 -- so a long day for a couple of teams -- we will play two tomorrow as long as the weather holds up -- might rain tomorrow but today's forecast was ugly and it ended up being ok to get the games in!

Cigar & autograph party tonight....looking forward to it.


~~ "You can observe a lot just by watching." - Yogi Berra ~~