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WEEK 2 NOTES
#8 Ones (2-1) vs #7 Night Owls (1-2)
Game 1 – Lawrence (0-2) against Gutierrez (1-1)
• No Kiefer for the Owls, but we have Ryan Chen in the building.
• Levi has a clean first inning on the mound, then promptly hits a leadoff double to right as the wind is immediately a factor in this first game. Bryon Brundage hit a little dying quail to center, and the Owls jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead after 1.
• Levi goes 2.1 without giving up a hit before walking out, but new Warbird Alec Holligan finishes out the final 3.2 innings scattering 3 hits and walking none. The Owls take game 1, 1-0 as pitching, defense and Mother Nature are the story first game of the series. Lawrence gets the win.
Game 2 – Brundage (1st Appearance) vs. Chen (1st Appearance)
• Both pitchers get through the 1st inning, it is in the 2nd inning where we get our first tally of the series for the Ones. Rookie James Ogburn works a leadoff walk, Adam AK Koutz lines a double off the wall the left and the Ones take a 1-0.
• Kyle Silva wiggles out of a bases loaded situation when the Night Owls execute a double play by throwing out Austin Bull on a perfect relay from Andrew Miller to Levi Lawrence to nail Bull at the dish, 2 outs.
• Bottom of the 4th, the Owls got to Chen, as Levi starts off another inning with a double, Brundage walk, Holligan RBI single, Miller RBI single to right field. That ends the game for Chen. An error from Chhay in right and the Owls take the lead 3-1 after 4.
• Gutierrez leads off with a single down the line to start the 5th, AK singles under Holligan at 2nd, Ryan Chen singles to left and the Ones cut the lead 3-2. Silva gets Bird to K and Ogburn to ground into a force out.
Game 3 – Holligan (0-0) vs Koutz (0-0)
• Tyler Peter hits a bloop single over Silva at short, Chen walks Gutierrez singles to left and the Ones lead 1-0 after 1.
• Peter at it again, hits a ball into left field and the wind knocks it down and it falls in for a single. An error by Silva at a short and Gutierrez does it again singling to center to drive in Peter, the Ones 2-0 going into the bottom of the 2nd.
• The Owls offense gets into gear in the bottom of the 2nd, with 2 singles, 2 walks some from a help of a couple of One’s errors and a big 2 out, 2 Run Double from Malik Ogburn and the Owls take a commanding 7-2 lead after 2.
• The Owls tack on 2 more runs in the 5th. Holligan goes 5 strong and gets the win. The Owls won 9-2 and got the 3-0 sweep. Holligan gets the win.
PLAYER OF THE SERIES – Levi Lawrence (.420, 5 for 12, 3 RBI’s 5 Runs Scored, 1-0, 1 sv, 0.00 ERA, 6 K’s, 1 Hit allowed)
#4 Vaderz (1-2) vs. #9 Pharaohs (1-2)
Game 1 – Roundy (1-1) against Barden (0-0)
• Mother Nature robs Alec Hutt in the top of the first, but it is the Pharaohs get it going early and it is Logan Christie’s line drive homerun, his 3rd of the year, on the 2nd pitch he sees over the wall and Pharaohs take an early 1-0 lead.
• Roundy looks like he found Season 4 form and settles down after the 1st, holding the Pharaohs to 1 run through 4.
• Barden looks good early, but the Vaderz patience eventually get him to walk out in the 3rd and turn it over to Christie and Trask, who both walk out but yield no runs and NO HITS into the top of the 5th. And a baserunning error by the Vaderz help Trask escape in the top of the 4th.
• Manager Sesai works a walk to start the 5th, walking out Trask. A 2-out RBI double by Roundy, then an RBI single by Alec Hutt gives the Vaderz a 2-1 lead as we go to the bottom of the 5th.
• Roundy exited with 2nd walk in the bottom of the inning, but the Vaderz turn to former Cy Young winner, Billy Santiwan to close the door.
• Sesai adds an RBI single in the 6th to complete the scoring, Vaderz take game 1, 3-1. Roundy gets the win.
Game 2 – B. Santiwan (0-1) vs. Skaggs (First Appearance)
• Skaggs has a clean top of the 1st, and the Pharaohs are at it again. This time it is Seth Barden who mashes a flyball to left and Vaderz’ all-start Kyle Eder almost makes an amazing catch at the wall, but it falls just out of reach and the Pharaohs take another early lead, 2-0 after 1.
• Barden takes over to Skaggs in the top of the 2nd and to say he looked good, would be an understatement, pitching 5 innings, striking out 8, walking 1 and giving up 0 hits.
• Roundy, not to be outdone, came in to start the bottom of the second and he is equally impressive, pitching 4 innings, striking out 6, walking 1 and only giving up 1 hit, to the unlikeliest of hitters, Tera Hall. Shooting a single down the first base line.
• You read the right folks, Pharaohs threw a combined no-hitter in game 2, only had 5 fielders for a balance of the game and won 2-0. Barden got the win and Pharaohs even the series at 1.
Game 3 – Eder (0-0) vs. Bosnos (0-0)
• It is the Vaderz who strike first as Santiwan hits a lead off solo shot to left and the Vaderz lead 1-0 after 1. Bosnos cannot get out of the first as he walks out. And Logan calls his own number to come in to stem the tide.
• Eder looks great in these tough conditions until the Pharaohs leadoff hitter Parker Trask touches one to left and ties the game at 1.
• Pharaohs chase Eder in the 4th, but Billy is waiting in the wings and keeps the Pharaohs off the board for the remainder of the series.
• Ethan Ibarra and Jerome Byndloss added solos in the top of the 6th and the Vaderz take game 3, 4-1. Just like AK predicted. Santiwan got the win and the Vaderz win the series 2-1.
PLAYER OF THE SERIES – Tanner Roundy (1-0, 0.72 ERA, 12 K’s, 3 Hits allowed)
#3 Sandvipers (2-1) vs. #1 Lightning (3-0)
Game 1 – Petrovsky (0-1) vs. Purdy (1-0, 1 Save)
• Purdy wiggles out of trouble in the top of the 1st as he gets Petrovsky and Dean swinging to end the inning.
• The Lightning did not waste any time as Justin Spurrier crushes a 3-Run HR right down the line and Jayk Purdy hits a ball through Tavano’s legs in left field and score newest Lightning Jaedyn Traut. Lightning up 4-0 after 1.
• The Lightning are at it again in the bottom of the 2nd as they get an RBI single from Randy Dalbey and a 3-Run bomb from Bruce Huson and the lead grows to 8-0 after 2. And Purdy takes a seat to conserve innings and turns the ball over to Randy Dalbey.
• Tanic in a big spot, bases loaded, 2 outs work a walk to drive in the Vipers only run in game 1.
• Lightning and Vipers both send 5 pitchers to the mound to maximize innings, but the Lightning cruise to an 8-1 win. Purdy gets the win; Lightning takes a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2 – Tanic (1-0, 1 Save) vs. Spurrier (0-0)
• Mother Nature is back, and offense is going to suffer, as everyone is just shaking their heads as balls that should be hits fall harmlessly into someone’s waiting hands.
• Tanic walks out after 1.2 of an innings and they turn immediately to Petrovsky to get out of the inning. But it is an uncharacteristic error from PLW veteran Michael Dean that allows the only run on the game, Lightning lead 1-0 after 2.
• Spurrier is brilliant allowing 1 hit over 6 innings, striking out 10 and only walking 1 and getting the win.
• Lightning clinch the series with a 1-0 win and look to get their second sweep of the season.
Game 3 – McDowall (0-0) vs. Dalbey (0-0)
• Sandvipers were looking to avoid the sweep score first as Mark Tavano hits a single to score, McDowall hit a double earlier in the inning. Vipers 1-0.
• The Lightning answer with a run of their own as Spurrier collects an RBI single of his own to tie the game at 1.
• The Lightning extended their lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the as Hallead lines a single down the line for an RBI single.
• The Sandvipers get single runs in the 4th to tie the game at 2-2, when Petrovsky scores McDowall from 2nd with a single up the middle.
• Both teams add a run in the 5th, Sandvipers with another Petrovsky RBI single and Lightning answer with an RBI triple from reigning ROY Tyler Hallead and we go to the 6th locked at 3. As PLW veteran Adam Tanic gets out of a 1st and 3rd, no out jam after walking the bases loaded strikes out Dalbey and Huson to end the inning.
• The Sandvipers finally got Purdy to walk out after getting 2 quick outs, and Spurrier took the ball in a big spot. After a walk to put 2 runners on, it is that guy again, AJ Petrovsky with his 3rd RBI single, this one to right and the Vipers take the lead 4-3.
• Tanic gets the Lightning in the bottom of the 6th and the Vipers avoid the sweep 4-3, with Tanic getting a hard-fought win. Lightning takes the series 2-1.
PLAYER OF THE SERIES – Justin Spurrier (.250, 3 for 12, 1 HR, 4 RBI’s 1-0, 0.75 ERA, 8 IP, 12 K’s, a Complete Game 1 Hit Shutout)
#3 Cajuns (0-3) vs #10 Legends (1-2)
Game 1 – Ledet (0-0) vs. Taravella (1-0)
• All is quiet until the 2nd inning, when the Cajuns push across 4 runs in the top of the 2nd inning. Cajuns walk out Taravella and Church in the inning, Bobba mixes in an RBI single and Giordano grounds one through the 5/6 hole to round out the scoring, as Osgood comes in to shut the door.
• Bottom of the 2nd see the Legends answer against Ledet. An error to start off the inning get the bats going, capped off by a 3-Run bomb from Derrick Corral.
• Legends tack on another run thanks to another Cajun error, a single and a 2-out RBI single Taravella and the Legends lead 5-4 after 4.
• Cajuns right back at it, thanks to error on a tough wind ball, and a Devlin Daniel big HR to left and the Cajuns surge back into the lead 6-5.
• Legends keep the hot hitting going, single by Osgood, back-to-back doubles by Sansone and Corral and a 2-Run HR by Taravella and the Legends retake the lead 9-6.
• Osgood retires the Cajuns in the 6th and Legends take Game 1 9-6. Osgood got the win.
Game 2 – Mansell (First Appearance) vs Church (1-1)
• Legends waste no time as Taravella doubles with 2 outs and Garcia hits a single to right and then with two outs, Legends take a 1-0 lead after 1.
• Osgood gets the Legends out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the 3rd with a strikeout.
• Corral hits his 2nd HR of the series off Mansell and the Legends increase their lead to 2-0.
• Mansell gets his revenge against Osgood as he crushes a no doubter to left field and the Cajuns close the gap to 2-1.
• Legends scratched another run thanks to another Cajun error and a 2 out RBI single by rookie Brenden Hite extending the lead to 3-1.
• Taravella comes in to save the game in the 6th (with a NASTY knuckleball) and the Legends take Game 2, Osgood gets the win. Legends lead the series 2-0.
Game 3 – R. Ruesch (0-2) vs. Picone (0-1)
• Cajuns jumped out to a 3-0 in the first thanks to a couple of 2-out singles, 2 walks and wind ball that falls between the whole Legends team.
• Legends get 2 runs of their own in the bottom of the 3rd, thanks to 3 walks, a single and another Cajun error. Cajuns still lead 3-2 after 3 innings.
• Cajuns go back-to-back with solo home runs from Ruesch and Mansell and the lead grows to 5-2.
• Ledet comes in and out multiple times to get the Cajuns out of jams and Sashi Bobba gets the save and the Cajuns take Game 3. Ledet gets the win, Legends take the series 2-1.
PLAYER OF THE SERIES – Billy Osgood (.273, 3 for 11, 2 Runs 2-0, 1.57 ERA, 7.2 IP, 8 K’s)
#6 Snappers (2-1) vs. #5 Bombers (2-1)
Game 1 – Bryner (0-1, 1 Sv) vs. K. Santiwan (0-0)
• The action for this game starts in the 2nd inning, Snappers get 3 in their half of the inning, with the big blast coming from rookie Austin Topel a 2-Run shot to left. Webber added an RBI double to finish the scoring.
• Bombers answer in their half of the 2nd with 7! TB52 hits a 2-Run Shot to start the Bombing Run, Alex Fernandez adds a 2-Run HR of his own, then Bauer hit a 3-Run bomb his second of the inning. Bombers led 7-3 after 2.
• Snappers pick themselves up off the canvas and punch back get 2 in the top of the 3rd, courtesy of Austin Topel with his 2nd 2-Run HR in as many innings.
• If you thought the Bombers were done, you would be mistaken. Can you say a second 7 spot in the bottom of the 3rd. This Bombing Run’s big blows are an RBI triple by Max Fernandez, a long 2-Run HR by Zach Hartwell, Max adds to his RBI total with a Grand Slam to left. Bombers led 14-5.
• Snappers got a single run off a Brandon Gregg RBI double in the 4th.
• Snappers’ comeback comes up short as they get 2 more runs in the 6th with solo HRs from Weber and Greg Kelley. But the Bombers lead is too much, and they take Game 1, 14-8 and lead the series 1-0. Max Fernandez with the win.
Game 2 – Topel (0-0) vs. Max Fernandez (1-1)
• The Snappers waste no time getting the bats going. With 2 outs it is that guy again, Austin Topel hits his 3rd HR of series. This one of the 3-Run variety. Snappers up 3-0 after the top of the 1st.
• Snappers added another single run in the 2nd thanks to another solo HR from Weber.
• In the top of the 3rd, the Snappers added another single run when Austin Topel hit his 4th Homerun of the series, Snappers up 5-0!
• Bombers get on the board in the bottom of the 3rd thanks to Kenny Santiwan as he gets one up in the Jetstream and the Bombers cut the lead to 4, 5-1.
• Bombers get 2 more in the bottom of the 4th thanks to reigning MVP Trevor Bauer, hitting a 2-Run HR, 3rd of the series. Snappers still led 5-3 after 4.
• It is the top of the 6th, when Mother Nature decides she wants a laugh. TB7 joins the HR Party with a solo to left field. Topel adds a 2-Run single, Tomolo adds another 2-Run single and final walk to Wilson and the Snappers put up a 7 spot of their own and take a commanding lead 12-3.
• Brandon Gregg sets down Bombers 1-2-3 in the 6th. Bombers win Game 2. Series tied 1-1.
Game 3 – MOTHER NATURE WINS.
PLAYER OF THE SERIES – Austin Topel (.625, 5 for 8, 4 HR’s 10 RBIs, 5 Runs 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 IP, 5 K’s)
Week 3 Power Rankings
1) LIGHTNING (Hold at #1) – Another series win, this time over the Sandvipers moves them to 5-1 to start the season. You would think with such a fast start that it would be the potent offense carrying the load, but in fact it is their deep pitching staff that is leading the way. A league best 0.65 ERA as a team and 54 K’s against just 27 Hits in their first 6 Games. The lineup will improve, and the defense is solid. Look for another series win in Week 3.
2) VADERZ (Up 2 Spots from #4) – The Vaderz take their first series of the season with a good showing against the PHARAOHS, except for the no-hitter thrown against them, they were able to take 2 of 3 this week. Tanner Roundy looks like his old self dominating on the mound with a 2-1 record and a 2.51 ERA and 22 K’s through 14.1 innings. Eder will start to dominate, and this lineup will continue to mash their way into the playoffs.
3) SANDVIPERS (Down 1 Spot from #3) – Tanic and the rest of the Vipers were able to will themselves a win against the #1 Lightning this week, when they were otherwise dominated in the series. The lineup is as powerful as there is in the PLW, but attendance may be an issue in coming weeks. And the pitching staff has one of the worst ERA’s in the league at 5.20 and they are walking more hitters than they strikeout. I believe the Vipers will try and get a pitcher in the coming weeks. If they don’t, a continued slide down the rankings could be on the horizon.
4) BOMBERS (Up 1 Spot from #5) – With an unfinished series against the SNAPPERS on Sunday, the BOMBERS showed both sides of their PLW coin. The offense looked fantastic in Game 1, scoring 14 runs in the first 2 innings, reflected in the league best Slugging Percentage (.706). And then their league worst team ERA (5.61). They have been two weather dominated series, so expect the ERA to come down, but that slugging percentage may not. The lineup is powerful from 1-6. Bauer and any combination of Fernandez brother can pitch with any one and the defense is Top 3, in my opinion.
5) SNAPPERS (Up 1 Spot from #6) – And the climb up the rankings continues. Bryner and Weber have been joined by Topel and Kennedy. J-Dub looks like Season 4 version, Greg Kelley has proved his bat plays in the lineup as well as his presence in the field. Hitting .298 as a team and the defense is at the top of the PLW, this team has all the pieces to make serious run to the top of the rankings. No TB7 this week against the Vipers, but this team is more than just TB7.
6) NIGHT OWLS (Up 1 Spot from #7) – The Owls earned their first sweep of Season 6 against the ONES in Week 2 and looked good doing it. Winning 2 1-Run games before their offensive explosion in Game 3, the pitching and defense looked good. The combination of Lawrence, Holligan, Silva and Brundage on the mound looks to be PLW caliber and don’t tell Andrew Miller he only had 9 fingers! His defense in the outfield last week could have very well won the series for the Owls. Owls get a huge test Sunday night against the LIGHTNING, and they may what it takes to shut them down!?!
7) LEGENDS (Up 3 Spots from #10) – Behind a full lineup and some quality innings from Billy Osgood, the Legends won their first series of the season. The bats must come around, as pitching has been the story for the Legends through the first 2 weeks. Hopefully, Mother Nature will cooperate, and Week 3 games will be more about Wiffle than Wind. Legends look to build on Week 2 as they take on the Pharaohs in Week 3 and continue to move up the rankings.
8) CAJUNS – (Down 5 Spots from #3) – The championship hangover appears to be real. While the pitching staff has been solid, it has been uncharacteristic errors in the field and some of the coldest bats in the league (Hitting .196 as a team), the fall down the standings is a by product of the lack of offense. The Cajuns did get a quality win and go into the Week 3 series against the Bombers looking to right the ship. The offense is too good, Ledet, Runnalls, Ruesch and Mansell will not continue to hit .153. And the pitching and fielding remain solid. This early in the season, the series against the Bombers is a big one.
9) PHAROAHS – (Hold at #9) – 2 Weeks and 2 “bad” splits for the Pharaohs. There are flashes of a very dangerous team. Skaggs and Barden threw a combined No-Hitter against the VADERZ last week and the defense improved from week-to-week. The offense must get better, hitting .193 as a team is not good. But hitting 12 Homeruns in the conditions that they have had to play in, speaks volumes for this teams’ run potential. They will be looking to serve me a little piece of humble pie as they take on my LEGENDS in Week 3.
10) ONES – (Down 2 from #8) – A sweep will never help the rankings, but 2 of the losses were by 1 run. The defense must get better results, too many extra outs. Weather has been an issue for sure, but both teams have had to endure it. The rotation is still formidable when either Stein or Chen is in attendance, and they complement Koutz and Gute. And the lineup lengthens as well when they show, or Barrick is at the top. When a majority of the lineup is present this team can win a series from anyone.
