The Beer League: Angry Drunks Play Ball

[The Just]

These cities are made up. They’re not in a particular state or country, as we all have a little bit of these places in us all. This is the crazy world of Beer League Baseball.

These towns all share a common hatred towards each other. From kindergarten to old age, the citizens of these small towns of no greater than 25,000 have grown to hate each other. The drunks and ruffians in each town have fought with each other at bars, back allies, and many other places. They have ribbed the other cities in their high school years with big pranks on the other town’s mascot or main statue, and some of these guys have never grown up.

Nobody in these towns seem to of grown up. They glorify the idea of “just having a good time” at the bar and getting into fights. But the adults aren’t just satisfied with that. They don’t know who first thought of this, and it doesn’t matter, as all of the towns have decided to assemble a team to compete in a proposed baseball challenge.

Since most of the players on these teams are regulars at their local bar, it has been properly named “The Beer League.” Drunks, tough guys, loud mouths, and hard-nosed blue collar folk fill out these teams.
The league has been split between the North Division and the South Division, and all twelve teams play each other twice in this twenty-two game regular season league. All games are on Sunday. Rosters consist of twenty-five men, with up to three starting pitchers and no reliever limit. There is no strict order on the pitching rotation.

After the regular season, the top two teams play each other in a best-of-three. The winners of the division championship face off in a best-of-three series, and the winning town takes home The Golden Keg. The team with the most wins in the regular season are given The Honorary Whiskey Flask, with the tiebreaker being run differential (Runs scored - runs allowed). The Golden Keg is a real keg that has the winning teams etched into it, and their year of glory. The Honorary Whiskey Flask could be used as a real flask, but isn’t.

All games are free to attend, and are all played on fields with the same dimensions. (LFL: 300 ft., LF: 325 ft. , LCF: 345 ft., C: 365 ft., RCF: 345 ft., RF: 325 ft., RFL: 300 ft.). All playoff games are played at a neutral site - Victory Field. This place is located in the woods, centered between these twelve towns and not claimed by any of them. The perfect place for a bunch of crazed hooligans to be out of the law’s reach during the season’s most pivotal games. While the other parks can hold around one-hundred people, this place can have about three-thousand before the view really starts to get tough for the spectators.

With no DH, the style of play looks like that of the Deadball Era. Few balls are actually used during the game, with the same one used for most of the game. This hinders the offensive capabilities.

There’s no governing body. The inmates run the asylum. These towns don’t have much else going on, so they stake a lot of their pride on these madmen. The town media actually covers it in their papers, with “This Week In the Beer League” looking to become a popular read in the local newspapers.

With the season loaming, teams are scrambling to find scouts, coaches, and a twenty-five man roster. From here, the insanity begins…

North Division: Lochester, Antonville, Recker Lane, Borg Town, Yorex, Rushcannon

South Division: New Cranshire, Old Cranshire, Green City, Fieldton, Ellore, Tellshing

[The Just]

I’m setting up the schedules right now. I will be doing a team-by-team roster review, and then I will do this week-by-week feature called “Quest for the Keg.” This will cover all of the games on Sunday, injuries, important news, and anything else worth covering. A few storylines will be thrown in to make it more interesting.

Until then, I’ll give you all some history on the biggest rivalry in the Beer League.

New vs. Old - The Definition of Hatred
Sunday, March 4^th, 2007

The notorious “Beer League” will see twelve cities with nothing but disdain for each other pit their roughest and most skilled ballplayers against each other in the controversial league’s first season. While all of the towns have a history for hating one another, only one can be truly labeled a “blood feud” at this point.

It’s the ultimate form of tradition vs. revolution, the upper class vs. the lower class, the authority vs. the rebels, and old vs. new. They use to be united under the name “Cranshire,” but a battle line was drawn between the two sides of town and eventually saw the place break in half.

The signs were evident in the 1980’s when one side of the town was poverty stricken, and the other side was thriving as much as a small town could. The sides began to grow different views on certain social issues, with the ones in poverty feeling mistreated. In 1998, the town broke in half. The thriving side went by “Old Cranshire,” while the gritty lower income side was renamed “New Cranshire.”

The sides are different in so many ways. Tensions have built up due to differences in race, religion, social class, and age. Old Cranshire is a mostly white section that is heavily Christian, a $70,000 average income, and generally older people. New Cranshire is more racially diverse, a $30,000 average income, and the people are usually younger in this half.

What really seems to spark the hate is the religious beliefs of almost everyone in New Cranshire. The more rebellious town is 98% atheist, which is one of the major reasons as to why they wanted to split. Residents in New Cranshire felt that the Christian half dominated the scene and tried to make it tough on their Godless counterparts. The atheistic half felt that they were facing some glaring discrimination. This lead to many riots and protests.

The most brutal of these incidents took place in 1997, a full year before the split. Many young men between seventeen and twenty-four years old held a riot, charging the downtown area of the Old Cranshire half. They destroyed office buildings, looted stores, and flipped over cars. 147 were arrested, 92 killed, and twenty were injured.

In what was viewed as a drastic and uncalled for measure hours after it was settled, riot police ran into the New Cranshire section and assaulted innocent people in fear of an uprising. There has been no payback for those who were wrongfully attacked, and it’s a very bitter feeling that is shared by many of New Cranshire’s citizens.

While the team coming together for Old Cranshire is some of the town’s toughest bar rats, New Cranshire is expected to be composed of some of the most angry young men you could find. They are believed to be the most rowdy, and to carry more angst than anyone else in the Beer League.

April 1^st, the very first Sunday of Beer League action, will see Old Cranshire hosting New Cranshire. Both sides are still putting their teams together.

[The Just]

Antonville

Catcher: This is a position that looks very dire on the first team. Josh Dame looks to be the starter. At 28 years old, Dame has an average arm and range (Grade: C). He’s a spray hitter. Contact hitting is rated at a three, power a four, and his discipline a six. He does have some leadership ability, so he might come up big in what you don‘t see in the boxscore.

The backup catcher is 30 year old Tony Alm. His range is a D, his arm given a C grade. His hitting is marked as a three all across the charts.

Depending on the leadership skills of Dame and his influence, Antonville might want to scout the town for another catching talent.

AVERAGE RATING: *

First Base: 35 year old Henry Gonzalez has dismal range at first (E). At 6’6” 215 pounds, he’s not a fast runner. The pull hitter is valued not because of these, but because of his bat. His contact is rated at a four, his discipline a six, but the switch-hitter has a lot of power.

27 year old Australian Stevie Rode acts as the backup man at first, his glove given a C. His bat is nothing to write home about, and he is believed to be very injury prone.

AVERAGE RATING: *¾

Second Base: 29 year old Patrick Irby has above average defensive abilities at second and at short (B). He can run ( C), steal (B), and has the ability to bunt ( C). His contact and power is graded at a five, with discipline proving to be his strong point at a seven.

Stephen Locke’s glove as a backup is just as good as Irby’s. He runs as fast as Irby, steals better (A), and bunts better (B). His hitting is what holds him back, but he is still nice to have (3 con. - 5 pow. - 6 dis.).

AVERAGE RATING: **¼

Third Base: 28 year old lefty slugger Kim Fairchild has a lot of eyes on him after setting school records at Antonville High School. The only knocks on him are his consistency, his mental toughness, and trying to act like a captain despite his inability to come through during his high school career. His glove at second and third are given a C, but the pull hitter has impressive slugging ability. A six in contact, a nine in power, and a ten in discipline. At 6’4” 225 pounds, he hopes to make his Beer League career more fulfilling than his choking memories at AHS.

His backup is even bigger. At 6’4” 235 pounds, Cuba’s Augustine Alfaro does have such a good glove (D). But the 31 year old makes up for it by being a base running threat and having an ok bat (6 con. - 4 pow. - 6 dis.).

AVERAGE RATING: ***½

Shortstop: At 27, Adrian Calzada played with Fairchild. He was much faster and had a better glove back then, but his skilled in those areas have dropped of greatly. The Dominican is still a threat with the stick he carries (5 con. - 8 pow. - 8 dis.).

30 year old backup Neal Ruggeri isn’t a threat to steal, but his bunting is top notch (A). He has a C at SS and 2B, and isn’t much of a threat at the plate (3 con. - 5 pow. - 4 dis.). He doesn’t appear to have the mental toughness that you want in a big situation, and seems to be too lazy. His mind tends to drift on and off, and it might hurt his consistency.

AVERAGE RATING: ***

Leftfield: 31 year old left-handed hitter Michael Costillo displays above-average fielding skills (B). His arm is average, ( C), but he should make up enough ground to cover it. Other than his average speed and base running, his hitting is not one to strike fear (4 con. - 5 pow. - 4 dis.).

29 year old Jeffry Palmer is more out of shape than he was playing high school, but very few were available to be a backup leftfielder. At 6’2” 230 pounds, he has little range (D), but he has a nice arm (B). His running skills are poor, his hitting is fair to put it nicely ( 4 con. - 4 pow. - 4 dis.), but he does bring one thing. He can lay down a perfect sacrifice bunt.

AVERAGE RATING: *½

Centerfield: Sammie Andre is a 28 year old construction worker with an impressive physique, but never played baseball. At 6’3” 230 pounds, he can cover center very well (B). He can apparently play right better (A), but he says he feels best at center. He has a cannon for an arm (A). Seems perfect right? Wrong. The lefty has dismal hitting skills (2 con. - 3 pow. - 3 dis.). He does, however, remain very composed at the plate.

27 year old Theodore Lasher suffers when he plays both center and right (D), despite an average arm ( C). He has above average stealing ability (B), and can drop down a pretty mean bunt (A). But his plate skills are also poor (3 con. - 4 pow. - 4 dis.)

AVERAGE RATING: *

Rightfield: 33 year old Mexican lefty Fede Villalon shows good defense (B in RF, C in CF). He has an arm that few would challenge (A). He has a nice sac bunt (B), stealing ability (B), and average speed ( C). But his hitting could be better (4 con. - 5 pow. - 5 dis.)

25 year old Edwin Hill thinks he can switch hit, but should probably stick to righty (3 con. - 4 pow. - 6 dis., little consistency). Poor speed, poor bunting, and uber poor range in the outfield (E). The only thing he has is a good arm (A).

AVERAGE RATING: *½

Starting Pitching: With the Beer League being a week-to-week basis, it’s still advised that teams load up on pitching just incase. The old saying also applies to this crazy league, where “you can never have too much pitching.”

Being 34 years old doesn’t mean they won’t call you “The Kid.” At 6’4” 195 pounds, the lanky right-handed Jason Bester throws a fastball and a splitter. Just enough to get by in this league. He has brilliant stuff (8), movement (8), good control (7), and average velocity (6). Due to age, he is expected to be very inconsistent.

At 38, Mexico’s Cesar Resto looks to be a solid starter. He has a hard fastball, a nasty slider, but his sinker is what makes him a tough groundball pitcher to beat. He has nice endurance for an old man (B), and can hold down the bases (B). He has good stuff and movement (7), pinpoint control (9), and is able to muscle up his fastball (8). Expected to be great in high-pressure situations.

The left-handed Australian, Gabriel Anderson, gives opponents a different type of starter. With good duration (B), Anderson has the ability to be a nice finesse pitcher in Antonville’s options. He has good stuff (7), good movement (7), awesome control (8), but very little speed (4). At 5’11” 165 pounds, nobody expects him to blow hitters by. The team is looking to him for his left-handed changeup and curveball, and not his fastball. But some are expecting him to have bad consistency being an Aussie who just caught onto the game recently (and at 30), and he’s expected to melt in clutch situations.

There is a lefty they can turn to who can throw hard. At 39, Jonathan Gibson is somehow able to throw a hard fastball (8). I say “somehow” due to his 5’10” 160 pound Ron Guidry-like build. But much like Gator, he seems to have a magic arm. With good endurance (B), he has good stuff (7), movement (7), and control (8). He throws a low fastball, changeup, and curveball trio and looks for the groundball.

27 year old Steven Hanson isn’t the most skilled starter, but is known for being one of the Antonville’s most weathered tough men. When the weather gets harsh, he is the one they will turn. No wonder his endurance is rated so high (A). The righty fields his position very well (B), but has average stuff (5), movement (6), and good control (7). He has average speed (6), and throws a fastball, slider, and splitter.

AVERAGE RATING: ***½

Relief Pitching: 31 year old John Borkowsky, while not blessed with high heat (6), knows how to attack the strike zone (9 stuff - 8 mov. - 8 con.). He’s a righty with a good fastball, changeup, and slider. He has long relief endurance (B).

35 year old Darren Pickett is a lefty who, much like Aussie Anderson, is expected to be finesse (4 speed). He has a fastball, sinker, and slider that seems to generate a lot of groundball opportunities. He is a very talented hurler (8 stuff - 8 mov. - 8 con.).

Clark Foster is also a lefty, and also 35. For an old man, he can sure throw a lot (A). He can also field like a cat (A). He does seem to give up a lot of flyball opportunities, but he has just enough skills to pay the bills (7 stuff - 6 mov. - 7 con. - 5 speed). He has a fastball, changeup, curveball, and slider that he loves to mix with.

AVERAGE RATING: ****¾

Closer: At 6’11” 255 pounds, 26 year old Mathew Davis is intimidating to look at. Armed with just a fastball and slitter, Davis has great endurance (B). He can get a lot of groundballs, and does just enough to close a game out (7 stuff - 7 mov. - 7 con. - 5 speed).

AVERAGE RATING: ****

OVERALL GRADE: 27¾ / 55

[The Just]

Borg Town

Catcher: 25 year old William Jackson is a spray hitter (3 con. - 5 pow. - 6 dis.). He moves around pretty well for a catcher (C speed - C SB ability). He drops a mean sac bunt (A). He has average range at his position (C), but he has a pretty good arm to throw out prospective base stealers (B).

27 year old Steffen Matas doesn’t hit much better than Jackson (3 con. - 5 pow. - 7 dis.). He can drop a bunt just as great (A), but clogs up the bases (D speed - E SB ability). He has average range (C), and an poor arm (D).

AVERAGE RATING: *½

First Base: 33 year old Carlos Aguila from the Dominican Republic is one of Borg Town’s biggest bar hoppers. At 6’2” 260 pounds, he has dismal speed (E in both running and stealing). He doesn’t know how to bunt (E). He has poor range at first (D). The thing he’s best at is hitting (7 con. - 4 pow. - 5 dis.).

At 28, Cuba’s Tony Gonzalez stands at 6’7” and weighs 245 pounds. The tall man is a spray hitter (5 con. - 4 pow. - 2 dis.). His physical abilities are not much different than Aguila’s, but his mental toughness is a bit better. He’s one to look at in a clutch situation.

AVERAGE RATING: *¾

Second Base: 31 year old Jules Tully is a degenerate gambler who has been living under the bridge for a few years. His wife and children left him and they severely hate him to this day. The Beer League is the only thing he has in life. He has very good fielding skills (B), and can play a good shortstop (C). He bunt for a hit (A), sac bunt ©, he can run (B) and has a nice shot at stealing (C). His hitting is ok (4 con. - 4 pow. - 6 dis.).

The Dominican’s 29 year old Alberto Viveiros hits just as good as Tully, but lacks the running and bunting skills. He can field well at second ©, and can play at short but not has poor range at that spot (E).

29 year old pudgy William Daughtery (5’9” 185 pounds) has poor defending skills (E). Running, bunting, and stealing are all at an E. His hitting is ok, but nothing too special (5 con. - 3 pow. - 5 dis.). His strong point is that he’s a great leader, and it shows as he is the president of the Borg Town Gun Club.

32 year old Eddie Schrantz has average defense (C). He has above average speed (B) complimented with average base stealing instincts (C). He can’t bunt for a hit (E), but he knows how to move the runners over (A). He won’t strike fear at the plate (2 con. - 3 pow. - 5 dis.), he drinks way too much for any real good consistency, but that could benefit. Beer takes a lot of pressure off of him, giving him confidence in crucial moments. He has decent motivating skills when sober.

AVERAGE RATING: *½

Third Base: 33 year old Venezuelan Salvador Escalona has bad defending, running, and bunting skills. But his bat is what makes him a force to be reckoned with (6 con. - 8 pow. - 6 dis.). This pull hitter is expected to have good consistency and will come through in the clutch.

30 year old Shane Reece is just has bad at defense, running, and stealing as Escalona. He’s also a pull hitter, and has a lot of power in what is a long swing (4 con. - 9 pow. - 5 dis.).

AVERAGE RATING: ***

Shortstop: 33 year old Alexander Medlock is a spray hitter (3 con. - 4 pow. - 2 dis.) with average range (C). He can also play third (D). He has a good sac bunt (B). He has nice mental toughness, but is expected to take a seat and see one of the natural second basemen fill in for him at short.

AVERAGE RATING: *

Leftfield: 24 year old Larry “The Wanker” Baker has outstanding rage at left (A), but a weak throw (D). Wanker Baker has blazing speed (A). His hitting isn’t too bad either (5 con. - 6 pow. - 6 dis.). Wanker got his nickname in college. I’m sure some would prefer not to know specifically how he got it, but it’s probably obvious anyway.

25 year old lefty Roy Tawney is an injury prone man. He has poor range in left and right (E), but his arm is just lethal (E). With average hitting ability (4 con. - 3 pow. - 6 dis.), and so much aches that it hurts his consistency, expected him to shine in the big moments when few expect him to handle it.

AVERAGE RATING: **

Centerfield: 25 year old Australian Edward Witham is skinny and can move around very fast (6’4” 185 pounds, B speed - A steal). He can over a lot of ground in the outfield (LF - B, CF - B, RF - A). He covers the best ground in right, but won’t see much time there because of his arm (D). The switch hitter could improve at the plate (4 con. - 4 pow. - 4 dis.)

29 year old Pedro Bermejo of the Dominican Republic can play great defense (LF - A, CF - A). He’s good on the bases (B speed - C steal). He isn’t much of a threat at the plate (4 con. - 3 pow. - 4 dis.)

AVERAGE RATING: **½

Rightfield: 25 year old Jerome Salvador can’t play good defense (LF - D, RF - D), but has an average arm (C). He doesn’t run fast (D), but has good base stealing instincts (B). The switch hitter is capable of dropping a sac bunt (B). Skills at the plate a fair (4 con. - 5 pow. - 4 dis.)

25 year old Andrew Trushheim is a lefty who can’t cover much ground (D), and has an average arm (C). With average speed ©, he won’t steal much (D). Knows how to sacrifice (A), and might salvage some hits at the bottom of the lineup (3 con. - 5 pow. - 6 dis.)

AVERAGE RATING: *

Starting Pitching: 24 year old Dominican native Julio Cavazos is a RHP who has the potential to take the Beer League by storm. At 5’10” 185 pounds, he sure can throw hard (8). With a fastball, changeup, curveball, and a slider, along with his abilities, he’ll be hell for batters (10 stuff - 7 mov. - 8 con.). For a pitcher, he knows how to make good contact at the plate (6 con. - 2 pow. - 2 dis.)

At 22, Jeff Petrone seems to still be improving and his best is yet to come. Instead of putting him on the reserves list, they figured he would be better off learning on the job (6 stuff - 7 mov. - 6 con. - 4 vel.). He has a fastball, changeup, curveball, and slider.

25 year old Jewish man Michael “Rubber Arm” Kucharski is a RHP with great stamina, hence the nickname (A). Rubber Arm’s endurance will not be questioned, but the groundball pitcher will have his talent under question (6 stuff - 8 mov. - 6 con. - 4 vel.) He throws a fastball, changeup, curveball, and a slider.

25 year old Kevin Marmelejo is one of the Beer League’s hard throwers (9 vel.), and the righty has other attributes to go with the heat (7 stuff - 7 mov. - 5 con.). He has average stamina ©, and has outstanding leadership skills. Might give up a lot of fly balls that could turn into home runs. He throws a fastball, changeup, curveball, and a slider.

30 year old Ronald Slayer is a great leader, but is marginal at best (6 stuff - 8 mov. - 6 con. - 4 vel.) Unlike Rubber Arm, his stamina will end up calling the bullpen (D). He throws a fastball, changeup, and a slider. Will give up a lot of fly balls.

AVERAGE RATING: ****

Relief Pitching: 27 year old Dominican Marcos Echevarria is a RHP with scars riddled all over his face, and looks like a serial killer. He looks like he could kill someone just by his size (6’2” 220 pounds). He has good fielding (B), and knows how to pitch (7 stuff - 6 mov. - 7 con. - 7 vel.) He relies on a fastball and a splitter that could become predictable, and allows hitters to hit it up into the air more once they figure him out.

AVERAGE RATING: ****

Closer: 28 year old Bill Aguiar is one tricky person to hit. With great fielding ability (B), the RHP COULD be one of the best 9^th inning men in the Beer League (8 stuff - 6 mov. - 8 con. - 8 vel.). He has a fastball, changeup, slider, and a splitter. While he has great mental makeup, his consistency doesn’t match that of a closer.

24 year old John Royston is a RHP backup closer. Aguiar is a firefighter, and could get called on duty at any second. Royston can field very well (A), but doesn’t have the ability that Aguiar does (6 stuff - 6 mov. - 7 con. - 6 vel.) He only throws a fastball and slider.

AVERAGE RATING: ****½

OVERALL GRADE: 26¾ / 55

[The Just]

Ellore

Catcher: 28 year old Japanese native Tokuma Shinrikiyaru doesn’t have much range (D), has an average arm ( C), and won’t set speed records. But it’s his mighty bat that makes him one of the biggest threats in The Bear League (7 con. - 6 pow. - 9 dis.). He is one of the most durable players you’ll find.

His backup, 25 year old Richard Whittemore, has a pretty good bat for a backup (6 con. - 5 pow. - 7 dis.). He doesn’t have much range (D), but has an above average arm (B). Ok at sacrifice bunts ( C).

AVERAGE RATING: ***½

First Base: 32 year old lefty pull hitter Martin Koehn isn’t known for his defense (D), or his contact hitting (3), but can take some good hacks and occasionally hit one out (7 pow. - 5 dis.). He has ok running and stealing abilities ( C).

26 year old Adrian Lehr is out of shape (6’0” 280 pounds of computer programming sexiness), and he can’t field or run for **** (E in all categories). However, he can drop a pretty nice sac bunt (B). Despite good leadership skills, his bat won’t command as much as his words (5 con. - 4 pow. - 4 dis.).

AVERAGE RATING: *¾

Second Base: At 29, Luis Rael displays soft hands (B). He knows how to work the base paths (B speed - A steal), and can drop a decent sac bump ( C). Won’t strike much fear at the plate (4 con. - 3 pow. - 5 dis.), but is one of Ellore’s hotheads and will light a spark underneath his team if needed.

34 year old lefty pull hitter Gil Ortiz isn’t as well-versed at defending (D), with average speed and stealing ( C). He has dismal contact skills, but could work a nice count and might pull out a long ball (2 con. - 5 pow. - 6 dis.)

AVERAGE RATING: *½

Third Base: 23 year old Venezuelan prospect Pedro Frias has poor defense (D), and horrible hitting ability (1 con. - 2 pow. - 2 dis.). One has to wonder if there is better options on the reserve list instead of waiting for this prospect to learn on the job.

AVERAGE RATING: **

Shortstop: 25 year old Michael Johnson is a pretty big fellow (6’4” 235 pounds), but appears to have beach muscles (5 con. - 2 pow. - 3 dis.) . He can field very well at both short and third ( C), and won’t clog the bases (C speed - B steal). Fiery inspirational attitude, but he hates to do the hard clutch work himself. Will he get over his fear and become on of the Beer League’s biggest clutch hitters?

26 year old Dominican Segundo Luna isn’t too good with the glove at third (D), but he’s even worse at second (E). He’s a spray hitter who might salvage something as a pinch hitter (4 con. - 3 pow. - 6 dis.).

AVERAGE RATING: *

Leftfield: 24 year old Jerry Tiano isn’t very fast (E), has bad fielding range at left (D), and even worse in right (E). He has a monstrous arm to back up his lack of range (A). The lefty pull hitter makes his presence known with his bat (5 con. - 7 pow. - 10 dis.)

The tall and lanky Robt Zamudio (6’5” 175 pounds) has great fielding attributes (B range - C arm). He isn’t much of a stealer (D), but can sure run fast (B). He has explosive power at the plate (4 con. - 8 pow. - 6 dis.)

AVERAGE RATINGS: ***¼

Centerfield: The team has no natural centerfielder listed, and will most likely use someone else listed from the other outfield selections.

Rightfield: 38 year old lefty Kristofer Click is a solid worker who has all of the basics down. He’s good at right ( C), but below average in LF and CF (D). He has an awesome arm (A). He can run (B speed and steal), and has all of the bunting abilities (A for sac bunts and bunting for a hit). He can also swing a good bat (4 con. - 7 pow. - 7 dis.). Old age is against him, so his power might go down quickly.

28 year old Albert Garrido has average arm and range in right ( C), but little CF range (E). He could put up a good at-bat if needed (4 con. - 5 pow. - 7 dis.)

38 year old Scott Oakes is a lefty spray hitter who is a pest (3 con. - 5 pow. - 5 dis., A sac bunt - B bunting for hit, B speed - D steal). His arm and range is average ( C).

32 year old Peter Seeber has poor range in right and left (D), but his a great arm (A). Not much else to note, and he isn’t much to fear at the plate (4 con. - 3 pow. - 4 dis.)

AVERAGE RATING: *¾

Starting Pitching: 26 year old LHP Harold “Pistol” Fields is one of the Beer League’s most promising aces. Pistol has stuff that is just nothing short of electric (10 stuff - 7 mov. - 6 con. - 10 vel.) He sports a fastball, changeup, slider, and splitter. At 6’5” 215 pounds, Pistol gets his nickname because of how hard he threw in high school. He didn’t have the control he did then, which is why he probably wasn’t discovered by major league scouts.

At 6’7” 220 pounds, 32 year old RHP Matthew Parks is armed with some solid skills (7 stuff - 7 mov. - 8 con. - 6 vel.) He has a fastball, changeup, curveball, and slider.

32 year old RHP Dominican born Rigo Preciado doesn’t have the best, but will almost always thrown downward to draw groundballs. (6 stuff - 6 move. - 7 con. - 5 vel.). With a fastball, changeup, and curveball, the ball will be hit hard off of him so the infield better have good gloves.

36 year old LHP James Luman is a very picky finesse pitcher who will have average consistency. (6 stuff - 6 mov. - 8 con. - 6 vel.). Will nibble with his fastball, changeup, curveball, and slider.

31 year old RHP Pete Paredes will have a good game here and there, but could become easy to figure out with a slow fastball, and flat changes and curves. Won’t strike too many out (5 stuff - 8 mov. - 5 con. - 5 vel.), unless there is a day where the movement makes up for the lack of control. If he can’t predict where the ball goes, who says the hitter could?

30 year old LHP Alex Maul has some decent stamina ( C), along with some decent stuff (6 stuff - 7 mov. - 7 con. - 6 vel.). Armed with a fastball, changeup, curveball, and a screwball that can really come out when really needed, Maul won’t set the world on fire but can still churn out a decent start.

28 year old LHP Matthew McMurtyr, at 6’7” 235 pounds, has unique side-armed mechanics that could throw a lot of the Beer Leaguers off. He wouldn’t be much without that pitch delivery (6 stuff - 6 mov. - 7 con. - 6 vel., fastball, changeup, curveball, slider).

AVERAGE RATING: **¾

Relief Pitching: With no real man set as Ellore’s closer, this part of the team is very important.

26 year old Puerto Rican RHP Raul Martinez can throw hard (8) for a man who stands 5’10” 165 pounds. Armed with just a fastball and splitter, Martinez is good to call on for shutdown relief (9 stuff - 8 mov. - 8 con.).

At 37, LHP Steven Washington is a good option (10 stuff - 8 mov. - 6 con. - 8 vel.). He has a fastball, changeup, curveball. He could even be a starter, but may not have the stamina for it (E).

28 year old RHP Alva Fernandez of Honduras throws a fastball, curveball, and a changeup. He has good skills, but he is a very weak thrower. He uses that to his advantage, frustrating hitters when they realize that they just swung at something that barely reached the plate (7 stuff - 7 mov. - 8 con. - 4 vel.). But when he does get hit, it’ll most likely be up in the air.

AVERAGE RATING: ****¾

OVERALL GRADE: 22¼ / 55

[The Just]

I’ve been pretty busy, and figured that this could take awhile if I keep doing everyone on the top team. So instead I’ll just do the top guys who are either the best, or just guys to look out for.

First in this format is Fieldton.

CF James Wada is a 27 year old lefty with bad fielding (CF - D, LF - D), and a worse arm (E). With good base running skills (C speed - B steal), his bat should impact a game (8 con. - 7 pow. - 7 dis.).

Closer Fernando Tores is a LHP from Venezuela has a fastball and a slider. When he’s on, he is just electric (10 stuff - 10 vel.). But control could be an issue (6), yet his movement is pretty good (7).

Tony Albuerne is also a closer. At 34 years old, he’s the right-handed equivalent to Tores. They’re both from Venezuela. Armed with a fastball, sinker, and slider, he has the ability to dominate against right-handed hitters (8 stuff - 8 mov. - 5 con. - 10 vel.)

At 33, RHP reliever Charles Munoz is a librarian. The book smarts help, as he’s one of the smartest men in a league that’s called… well… The Beer League. In a world of ruffians, Munoz has a fastball, sinker, and slider (6 stuff - 6 mov. - 7 con. - 7 vel.).

Hailing from Japan, 26 year old 3B Naomi Takakazu‘s base clogging is forgiven by his great glove (B) and his explosive right-handed power hitting (5 con. 8 pow. - 6 dis.).

At 6’6” 180 pounds, 29 year old Michael “MiRod” Rodriguez is the man who stands at first. With a decent glove (C ), look for the righty to make frequent contact (7 con. - 4 pow. - 5 dis.). Tall man also makes for a nice base runner (B speed - C steal).

26 year old right-handed SP Bill “Mind Games” Ellington has one deceptive pickoff move (A). He’s one of the most deceptive players, period. Mind Games Ellington can back all of that with his talent (7 stuff - 7 mov. - 6 con. - 8 vel.). He throws his fastball, changeup, curveball, and slider all the same. The only thing that might do him in is his gambling and poker, where all those mind games come back to haunt him.

[The Just]

Green City

33 year old Canadian right-handed slugger Benjamin “Big Louie” Hisle, Green City’s most storied schoolyard and barroom brawler, surely isn’t valued for his glove (D), his arm (C ), or his base running (All D’s.) He sure isn’t going to bunt either (D). Big Louie is brought into the city’s Beer League squad to hit the cover off the ball like few men can (8 con. - 9 pow. - 10 dis.).

32 year old RHP reliever Jeffrey “Irish Hen” Hennessey is quite a character. Can drink more than anyone, and it takes a lot to get him smashed. The Irish Hen is only loaded with a fastball and a slide piece he’s been working on, but that’s all he needs (8 stuff - 6 mov. - 7 con. - 6 vel.).

27 year old Daniel Fields is a second baseman who could care less about defense (D), he just want to pull the ball to left and hit it out (5 con. 8 pow. - 7 dis.).

26 year old starting RHP Pedro Moya of the Dominican Republic is exceptional. With a fastball, changeup, curveball, and slider, he has the ability to be a good ace (8 stuff - 6 for everything else.)

33 year old RHP closer Abel Pelkey comes into the game with a fastball, changeup, and slider. It may not seem like he has amazing shutdown stuff that‘ll make him THE best, (7 stuff - 8 mov. - 7 con. - 6 vel.), but it’s his amazing confidence and composure that puts him over the top.

[The Just]

Lochester

36 year old Dominican born SS Jesus “The Wizard” Matamoros is a popular street performer in Lochester, and he makes an incredible ball field act. His defense is nothing short of amazing (SS - A, 2B - B). Right-handed hitter has one of the most feared pull swings in the league (7 con. - 8 pow. - 10 dis.).

30 year old RHP reliever David Clark is a submarine hurler who throws an awkward fastball, changeup, curveball and slider. He has the skills to really frustrate a college hitter or maybe even a Triple A player, let alone some average town drunk (8 stuff - 7 mov. - 9 con. - 7 vel.).

33 year old Dominican born LHP closer Sebas Pereira only has a fastball and slider, but this cubical warrior has been secretly throwing at a netting in his backyard hoping to try out for a minor league team for a long time. Realizing he’s a little old, he’ll settle with Beer League success. It shows that he’s been practicing (8 in everything, but his velocity is at a 6.).

32 year old RHP SP Robert Fults will give up a lot of fly balls, but he locates his fastball, changeup and slider better than most (7 stuff - 7 mov. - 9 con. - 5 vel.). Seems like a great leader, might be a little to inconsistent, and might struggle under pressure. But he’ll take you deep (B stamina.).

28 year old RHP SP John Goodfellow has a fastball, curveball, and a changeup. He’s exceptional, but may have shades on control problems (8 in everything but control, which is a 5.).

30 year old lefty-handed 1B Ronald Jurgens has good defense ( C), good base running (C ), and he may have trouble with contact hitting to spite his good eye and power (4 con. - 7 pow. - 10 dis.).

34 year old switch-hitting LF Waldo Hollins is a mess defensively (E in RF and LF). He’ll sort-of make up for his part in missing routine fly balls with his bat (7 con. - 6 pow. - 7 dis.).

[The Just]

New Cranshire

32 year old right-handed slugging catcher Philip “Scoops” Overbey is one of the slowest runners, is an average defensive catcher, but that’s not what everyone is looking for. Scoops Overbey is one of the most complete hitters in the league, but he loves to rip it out to left. (7 con. - 9 pow. - 9 dis.).

26 year old RHP closer Adan Scherrer looks like a very reliable go-to guy in the 9^th with his fastball, slider, and curveball (8 stuff - 7 mov. - 6 con. - 7 vel.).

25 year old RHP SP Loren “Not A Chick” Stromain has a fastball, splitter, and slider. With his average speed (6), he can more than make up with it using his wicked talent (9 stuff - 8 mov. - 8 con.).

32 year old Puerto Rican 2B Reinaldo Alvarez is a true gamer. He has good defense (2B B, 3B - C). Look for him to tear the bases up (A speed - B steal). He can move a runner over with a bunt better than almost everyone (A). The right-handed batter is also good when he takes a hack (5 con. - 5 pow. - 7 dis.).

[The Just]

Old Cranshire

27 year old RHP SP Edward “Bleeder” Gilbreath got his nickname due to the beatings he would take in the bars. While not a very good fighter. Bleeder Gilbreath has a fastball, changeup, curveball, and splitter that can really outclass opponents (10 stuff - 8 mov. - 6 con. - 7 vel.)

21 year old switch-hitting RF Robert Cole is a young tough talker who is slated to be a big prospect later on, but he is expected to practice more and work off the bench before he gets the strength and discipline he’s expected to obtain.

29 year old CF Ricardo Henriques is one of the few non-whites in Old Cranshire, hailing from the Dominican Republic. Known as a quiet man, he is expected to be a total psycho and rumor has it that he’s killed some people. He plays like a looney, fielding like a kamikaze (CF - A, RF - A). He has an incredible pinpoint throw (A). He can work the bases (B speed - C steal), and sure can bunt (Sac - C, For a hit - A). With a normal swing, he is a tough right-handed hitter to face (6 con. - 6 pow. - 5 dis.).

[The Just]

Recker Lane

29 year old RHP SP Edgar “The Hulk” Vanhoose is a menacing 6’1” 260 pound weightlifter and… ugh… oh, screw it, no reason to dance around it… He’s a man whore. Despite this man whoring, Vanhoose has some vicious skills (9 stuff - 8 mov. - 7 con. - 10 vel.). He has managed to learn a very awesome pitch selection that has a fastball, changeup, curveball, slider, and splitter.

34 year old 2B Robert Hayton is a farm worker who sure doesn’t have field muscles (6 con. - 7 pow. - 8 dis.). He can field pretty well (C ), and he won’t clog the bases (C speed - B steal).

35 year old left-handed LF Richard Lemond is a life long friend and fellow farm worker to Hayton. Lemond can play his defense (B), run with the best (B in speed and stealing), and has a smooth pull swing (6 con. - 8 pow. - 7 dis.).

[The Just]

Rushcannon

29 year old right-handed 1B Arthur “Flash” Claussen is a one of a kind. A legend in Rushcannon’s high school program, he still has it and can do it on both sides. Very few can swing a bat like he can (8 con. - 10 pow. - 8 dis.), and few can work the glove like he can (A).

37 year old right-handed 2B Ralph Lundeen is a marathon runner and total workout nut. The Randy Couture of the Beer League. He burns up the bases (B speed - A steal). He can field very well (B). He has awesome power, but he’s too much of an all-or-nothing pull hitter that might burn himself for it (4 con. - 8 pow. - 9 dis.).

31 year old RHP SP Dave “Slugger” Puente is truly a rare kind of ballplayer. He can field a good number of positions, and do them all justice (P, 1B, LF, CF, RF - All a C). For a pitcher, he earns the nickname “Slugger” because of his good bat… for a pitcher (6 con. - 5 pow. - 2 dis.). He can hold runners (A), and pitch deep (B). As for his actual pitching, he knows a good array of pitches (fastball, changeup, curveball, slider, splitter). He has good tools, but lacks in control and speed and that’s what prevents him from being a top notch hurler (8 stuff - 9 mov. - 6 con. - 4 vel.).

[The Just]

Tellshing

34 year old switch-hitting SS Eddie Rigby can field two positions decently (SS and 3B - C). This pull hitter can strike fear from both sides of the plate (5 con. - 10 pow. - 8 dis.).

25 year old RF Wilson “Shoeless” Baillie is a bit of a hippy. Known for his marijuana use, and always playing in his tie-dyed t-shirt, they call him “Shoeless” for a reason - he hardly wears them. He likes that because it not only fits his lifestyle, but because he thinks of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and prides himself on having the same nickname as such an acclaimed ballplayer. One has to assume that Joe Jackson fielded better (E range - D arm). But this pull hitter could become the Joe Jackson of the Beer League when he holds that bat (7 con. - 9 pow. - 10 dis.).

25 year old LHP SP Jay Koger is a hot headed death metal fan. Known for wearing chains and sporting a multi-colored Mohawk (some of these guys choose to wear hats and helmets, others don’t), the 6’5” 220 pounder can go deep into a game (A), hold runners, (B), and only needs a fastball, changeup, and curveball. He relies on his ability to throw hard a lot, and sometimes might rely too much on it (7 stuff - 7 mov. - 5 con. - 9 vel.).

[The Just]

Yorex

33 year old lefty slugging RF Perry Riddle can smash the ball with the best of them (8 con. - 8 pow. - 10 dis.). He is a bit careless in the field though (D), and doesn’t have much of an arm to make up for it like other prominent corner outfielders (C ).

25 year old LHP SP Julian Olivera is a 5’10” 165 pound lightweight drinker, but he’s not expect to do what the bigger players do. He’s a finesse lefty (8 stuff - 7 mov. - 8 con. - 5 vel.), and has a fastball, changeup, curveball, and slider to his use. He’s been practicing on hitting the strike zone, and doesn’t it better than most.

24 year old CF Derrick Keefe can field decently in two positions (CF and LF - C), with a decent arm ( C). The lefty hitter won’t hit it over the wall too much, but is a great line drive hitter (6 con. - 3 pow. - 8 dis.).

*NOTE: Thanks for following and being patient. We can finally get to the action now. Hold on tight, this is going to be a crazy one. Guess that's what you'd expect from a thread titled "Angry Drunks Play Ball." Feel as if I haven't lived up to that yet since it's been about a month and there have been no drunks and tough guys playing baseball yet.

[The Just]

Quest For The Keg
Season One -- Week One -- April 1^st, 2007

The Beer League season is finally here, and it’s time to start a new tradition around these parts. Not too many parts of this country would go along with these, but we’re in a pretty unique world over here.

To celebrate this new tradition, everyone had an honorary can of beer (of each individual’s choice) before the game. This might become a pre-game thing every week. Word has it that Glueck’s Honey Bock was the general favorite amongst the Beer Leaugers, with Adirondack Fat Scotsman Ale being swigged by the heavyweights (9.1 alcohol percentage!).

Lochester: 6
Antonville: 2

Time: 3:25
Attendance: 62 (100)
Weather: Clear skies (43 degrees), wind blowing right to left at 11 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: John Goodfellow
Game Notes: Adrian Calzada hit the longest homer of his career, it went 338 feet.

Antonville’s RHP Jason “The Kid” Bester (0-1, 6.00 ERA) had trouble in the first inning, giving up four runs. 3B Adrian Calzada’s solo homer in the ninth and Bester’s eight K’s were the few highlights of the game. Lochester’s RHP John Goodfellow (1-0, 1.0 ERA) pitched a good game and struck out seven.

Recker Lane: 2
Borg Town: 3

Time: 2:40
Attendance: 61 (100)
Weather: Partly cloudy (47 degrees), wind blowing out to center at 9 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Julio Cavazos

Borg Town’s RHP Julio Cavazos (1-0, 2.00 ERA) struck out ten and even drove in a run with a single to help out his own case in this tight game. Cavazos saw some tense moments going into the ninth ahead 3-1, and Recker Lane managed to get a run on LF Richard Lemmon’s sac fly. But Cavazos managed to get 3B Kelly Turner to fly out. RHP Edgar “The Hulk” Vanhoose (0-1, 3.38 ERA) pitched a good game, but it was a losing cause for Recker Lane as the offense failed to pick him up.

Yorex: 3
Rushcannon: 9

Time: 3:38
Attendance: 67 (100)
Weather: Clear skies (47 degrees), wind blowing in from center at 9 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Arthur Claussen
Game Notes: Ralph Lundeen hit the longest homer of his career, it went 370 feet. Arthur Claussen hit the longest homer of his career, it went 316 feet.

Yorex’s LHP Julian Olivera (0-1, 14.30 ERA) only made it through 5.2 innings before being lifted for a pinch hitter. Flash Claussen went 2-4 and drove in three runs, and hit a two-run homer off of Olivera in the fifth. Rushcannon’s RHP Dave “Slugger” Puente (1-0, 3.00 ERA) went all nine innings, and even got himself a hit.

New Cranshire: 4
Old Cranshire: 0

Time: 2:46
Attendance: 70 (100)
Weather: Partly cloudy (55 degrees), wind blowing out to right at 10 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Loren Stromain

In a very intense setting, New Cranshire’s RHP Loren “Not A Chick” Stromain (1-0, 0.00 ERA) struck out nine hitters and only gave up two hits through the whole game. He threw 101 pitches, and gave up only two walks. “Giving my team a chance to win is the most important thing for me,” he said. “I was able to do that today.” Old Cranshire’s RHP Edward “Bleeder” Gilbreath (0-1, 3.00 ERA) walked seven and was challenged by LF Donald Rein, who went 1-3 and drove in two RBI’s.
The crowd in Old Cranshire was venomous, yet a support group came in from New Cranshire who were more noisy as the game went on. Police officers came by to check on the situation to make sure it didn’t get out of hand.

Green City: 4
Fieldton: 3

Time: 3:05
Attendance: 62 (100)
Weather: Partly cloudy (47 degrees), wind blowing right to left at 8 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Pedro Moya
Game Notes: Benjamin Hisle hit the longest homer of his career, it went 336 feet. Adolfo Rodiguez hit the longest homer of his career, it went 360 feet. Cristobal Villamil hit the longest homer of his career, it went 433 feet.
Fieldton’s RHP Mind Games Ellington (0-1, 4.00 ERA) pitched a good game and struck out ten, but his offense wasn’t capable of pulling him up. It was Green City’s RHP Pedro Moya (1-0, 3.00 ERA) who found himself picked up.

Green City’s Benjamin “Big Louie” Hisle’s two-run homer in the third created some controversy when he was rounding the bases and Fieldton’s 3B Cipri Quiñones accused him of showboating as he watched the home run. Big Louie yelled, “Who the **** do you think you are?” Hisle’s teammates would lead him away before it became heated.
It was 3-3 going into the top of the ninth, and 3B William Gillman singled to left to score C Kenneth Brown from second. That was all they needed as Moya shut them down in the bottom of the ninth.

Ellore: 8
Tellshing: 1

Time: 3:40
Attendance: 95 (100)
Weather: Partly cloudy (49 degrees), wind blowing in from right at 9 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Harold Fields
Game Notes: Tokuma Shinrikiyaru hit the longest homer of his career, it went 365 feet. Robt Zamudio hit the longest homer of his career, it went 387 feet. Gregory Polster hit the longest homer of his career, it went 387 feet. Robt Zamudio hit the longest homer of his career, it went 438 feet.

Both LHP Harold “Pistol” Fields (1-0, 1.00 ERA) and LHP Jay Koger (0-1, 8.00) struck out eight. But Koger struggled more in keeping Ellore from scoring as Pistol Fields threw a great game in front of the Beer League’s biggest crowd in week one.


STANDINGS

NORTH DIVISION
Borg Town: 1-0
Lochester: 1-0
Rushcannon: 1-0
Antonville: 0-1
Recker Lane: 0-1
Yorex: 0-1

SOUTH DIVISION
Ellore: 1-0
Green City: 1-0
New Cranshire: 1-0
Fieldton: 0-1
Old Cranshire: 0-1
Tellsing: 0-1


NEXT WEEK’S GAMES

- Recker Lane @ Lochester
RHP Hulk Vanhoose (0-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. RHP John Good fellow (1-0, 1.00 ERA)

- Borg Town @ Yorex
RHP Julio Cavazos (1-0, 2.00 ERA) vs. LHP Julian Olivera (0-1, 14.30 ERA)

- Tellshing @ Antonville
LHP Jay Koger (0-1, 8.00) vs. RHP Kid Bester (0-1, 6.00 ERA)

- Fieldton @ New Cranshire
RHP Mind Games Ellington (0-1, 4.00 ERA) vs. RHP Loren “Not A Chick” Stromain (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

- Old Cranshire @ Green City
RHP Bleeder Gilbreath (0-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. RHP Pedro Moya 1-0, 3.00 ERA)

- Rushcannon @ Ellore
RHP Slugger Puente (1-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. LHP Pistol Fields (1-0, 1.00 ERA)

[The Just]

Quest For The Keg
Season One -- Week Two -- April 8^th, 2007

After a good showing by the communities for the first week, the pressure on those losing teams mounted as they took it from their co-workers on Monday. The winners were treated like royal amongst their fellow citizens, but now it’s back to the ballpark.

All teams decided to carry on with tradition, with some of the most skunk-like beer being consumed. Probably the only real well-known brand that was being noticed by a good amount was Guinness (half of Ellore was on that stuff), while Brooklyn Brown Ale and Schmidt were seen in many hands of the players.

Recker Lane: 1
Lochester: 4

Time: 2:58
Attendance: 83 (100)
Weather: Clear skies (44 degrees), wind blowing right to left at 9 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: John Goodfellow (Lochester. 9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 9 K, 81 GS)
Game Notes: John Goodfellow (LOC) sets a career high for K's in a game (9)! Jesus The Wizard” Matamoros (LOC) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 449 feet.

Borg Town: 8
Yorex: 4

Time: 3:28
Attendance: 56 (100)
Weather: Clear skies (57 degrees), wind blowing out to right at 10 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Carlos Aguila (Borg Town. 4-5, 3 RBI, two-run HR)
Game Notes: Carlos Aguila (BT) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 348 feet. William Jackson (BT) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 351 feet. RHP Julio Cavazos (BT) sets a career high for K's in a game (14)! Sydney Gast (YX) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 345 feet.

Tellshing: 9
Antonville: 5

Time: 3:15
Attendance: 69 (100)
Weather: Clear skies (52 degrees), wind blowing out to center at 10 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: C Eric Boynton (Tellshing. 3-5, 3 RBI, 2 2B)
Game Notes: Adrian Calzada (ANT) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 448 feet. Samuel Willis (TEL) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 454 feet. RHP Kid Bester (ANT) gives up a career high number of hits in this game (14).

Fieldton: 4
New Cranshire: 3

Time: 3:13
Attendance: 88 (100)
Weather: Clear skies (44 degrees), wind blowing out to right at 11 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: 1B Michael “MiRod” Rodriguez (Fieldton. 3-4, SB, two-run HR)
Game Notes: Scoops Overbey (NC) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 359 feet. Leonardo Cortes (NC) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 371 feet. Michael Rodriguez (FL) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 402 feet. RHP Mind Games Ellington (FL) sets a career high for K's in a game (13)!

Old Cranshire: 3
Green City: 1

Time: 2:58
Attendance: 96 (100)
Weather: Rain (51 degrees), wind blowing in from center at 8 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: RHP Bleeder Gilbreath (Old Cranshire. 9 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 80 GS).
Game Notes: Roman Cruz (OC) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 387 feet. 42 minute rain delay in 3rd inning. RHP Pedro Moya (GC) sets a career high for K's in a game (9)! RHP Bleeder Gilbreath sets a career high for K's in a game (7)!


Rushcannon: 2
Ellore: 4

Time: 3:10
Attendance: 57 (100)
Weather: Clear skies (54 degrees), wind blowing in from left at 12 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: SP Pistol Fields (Ellore. 9 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 14 K, 1 HR, 77 GS)
Game Notes: Pistol Fields (ELL) sets a career high for K's in a game (14)! Martin Koehn (ELL) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 396 feet. Slugger Puente (RC) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 313 feet. Jerry Tiano (ELL) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 367 feet. Kristofer Click (ELL) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 358 feet.


STANDINGS

NORTH DIVISION
Borg Town: 2-0
Lochester: 2-0
Rushcannon: 1-1
Antonville: 0-2
Recker Lane: 0-2
Yorex: 0-2

SOUTH DIVISION
Ellore: 2-0
Fieldton: 1-1
Green City: 1-1
New Cranshire: 1-1
Old Cranshire: 1-1
Tellsing: 1-1


NEXT WEEK’S GAMES

- Yorex @ Tellshing
LHP Juan Olivera (0-2, 10.43 ERA) vs. LHP Jay Kroger (1-1, 6.50)

- Antonville @ Green City
RHP Kid Bester (0-2, 6.50 ERA) vs. RHP Pedro Moya (1-1, 3.00 ERA)

- Old Cranshire @ Rushcannon
RHP Bleeder Gilbreath (1-1, 2.00 ERA) vs. RHP Slugger Puente (1-1, 3.71 ERA)

- Fieldton @ Recker Lane
RHP Mind Games Ellington (1-1, 3.50 ERA) vs. Hulk Vanhoose (0-2, 3.94 ERA)

- New Cranshire @ Ellore
RHP Loren “Not A Chick” Stromain (1-1, 1.00 ERA) vs. LHP Pistol Fields (2-0, 1.50 ERA)

- BEER LEAGUE GAME OF THE WEEK
PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNEL 14 AT 7:05 PM
Lochester @ Borg Town
RHP John Goodfellow (2-0, 1.00 ERA) vs. RHP Julio Cavazos (2-0, 3.00 ERA)

*NOTE: The GotW is a low production program on public television that is blacked out in the participating cities, with a replay of the game shown the next day. The coverage in these games will be done more in-depth with a bit of an NFL Films-esque coverage.

[The Just]

Quest For The Keg
Season One -- Week Three -- April 15^th, 2007

It was a very historic week in the Beer League. It was a week that saw some dominating pitching performances. We look back at the week of the pitchers before we see the best individual performance of the year in the Game of the Week.

Yorex: 3
Tellshing: 6

Time: 3:15
Attendance: 95 (100)
Weather: Clear skies (51 degrees), wind blowing out to right at 8 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Wilson “Shoeless” Baillie (Tellshing. 3-3, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HR)
Game Notes: SP Jay Kroger (TELL) sets a career high for K's in a game (15). SP Julian Olivera (YX) sets a career high for K's in a game (7). LF Wilson “Shoeless” Baillie (TELL) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 364 feet. 1B John Pan (TELL) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 369 feet.

2B Sydney Gast (YX) was ejected in the 6th for arguing a strike three call, and threw down with the umpire before his teammates drug Gast off. He had a bit too much alcohol in his system, and apparently shouldn’t drink more than the traditional can before the game. He was replaced at second by Francisco Leon.

Tellshing home runs: Wilson Baillie (1, 8th inning off Olivera, 0 on, 1 out.) John Pan (1, 8th inning off Olivera, 0 on, 1 out.)


After game notes: The lefty ruffian Jay Koger, well-known for his chains and Mohawk, got a standing ovation from his home town crowd after his 15 K performance. They carried him to the bar on their shoulders and everyone went into Monday morning with a hangover. Koger is said to of been found by the barroom toilet with lipstick all over his face and his Mohawk messed up.

Antonville: 1
Green City: 6

Time: 3:03
Attendance: 85 (100)
Weather: Clear skies (51 degrees), wind blowing in from left at 9 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Pedro Moya (Green City. 9 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 1 HR)
Game Notes: LF Benjamin “Big Louie” Hisle (GC) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 356 feet. CF Bennie Clingman (GC) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 373 feet. CF Bennie Clingman (GC) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 383 feet. LF Benjamin “Big Louie” Hisle (GC) set a career high for RBI in a game (3).

Antonville home runs: Adrian Calzada (3, 4th inning off Moya, 0 on, 1 out.)
Green City home runs: Benjamin “Big Louie” Hisle (2, 1st inning off Bester, 1 on, 1 out.) Bennie Clingman 2 (2, 3rd inning off Bester, 0 on, 1 out, 6th inning off Bester, 0 on, 0 out.)


Old Cranshire: 0
Rushcannon: 2

Time: 2:54
Attendance: 76 (100)
Weather: Partly cloudy (52 degrees), wind blowing in from right at 9 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: CL/RP Alden Hipps (Rushcannon. 4 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K)
Game Notes: SP Slugger Puente (RC) was injured while pitching. SP Bleeder Gilbreath (OC) sets a career high for K's in a game (9).

INJURY REPORT: The right-handed starting pitcher for Rushcannon, multi-positional Dave “Slugger” Puente pitched three innings, gave up three hits, and had two strikeouts. When starting the fourth, 2B Ramon Cruz singled down the third base line. It was apparent that Puente was in pain as he walked around the mound for a little bit. The team held a meeting and decided to sit him down on the bench. Alden Hipps threw four innings for the win, and Richard Steve picked up the save.

He has a strained elbow ligament in his right arm, and he is listed as day-to-day. It isn’t known if he’ll pitch next Sunday vs. Green City. If he doesn’t go, 29 year old lefty Pedro Montes of Venezuela is said to be getting prepared to face off against Green City’s RHP Pedro Moya.

Fieldton: 0
Recker Lane: 2

Time: 2:45
Attendance: 68 (100)
Weather: Clear skies (48 degrees), wind blowing right to left at 10 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: SP Hulk Vanhoose (Recker Lane. 9 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K)

New Cranshire: 4
Ellore: 2

Time: 3:21
Attendance: 99 (100)
Weather: Cloudy (51 degrees), wind blowing right to left at 9 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: SP Loren “Not A Chick” Stromain (Old Cranshire. 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR)
Game Notes: RF Donald Rein (NC) hit the longest homer of his career, it went 366 feet. RF Donald Rein (NC) set a career high for RBI in a game (3).

New Cranshire home runs: Donald Rein (1, 4th inning off Fields, 2 on, 2 out.)
Ellore home runs: Martin Koehn (2, 9th inning off Stromain, 0 on, 1 out.)



The Beer League Game of the WeekLochester @ Borg TownRHP John Goodfellow (2-0, 1.00 ERA) vs. RHP Julio Cavazos (2-0, 3.00 ERA)

Ninety-six residents of Borg Town stood around the local baseball diamond. They all heard of the visiting pitcher, undefeated John Goodfellow. What they knew was based on what others told them. They knew about their boy, a 24 year old Dominican whose name was getting around town very quickly. It was the battle of undefeated teams, and undefeated pitchers. A game like this one can really test an individual’s nerves.

It was 53 degrees at the start of the game. The smell of rain filled the air, and gray clouds darkened the land below. It was a very grim and grizzled setting, one that appeals to those wishing to prove their toughness.
Julio Cavazos downed a bottle of Corona before taking the mound. He struck out SS Robert Coy looking, made 3B Miguel Romero ground out, and struck out LF Waldo Hollins looking. He seemed nervous before the game, but Julio let it all out then. He looked composed after the first inning, and he was determined to shine in the Game of the Week.

Goodfellow saw the impressive inning, and needed to rise to the challenge in this big road game for Lochester. He walked LF Larry “The Wanker” Baker, but would get bailed out at Baker would be caught stealing during the next at-bat. SS Jules Tully replaced Baker on the bases with a one out single, yet Goodfellow would pick him off. He would get 2B Salvador Escalona to ground out, avoiding what could have been a very shaky inning.

The eyes of Borg Town turned to Cavazos to equal his first inning, and he did just that. He got 1B Ronald Jurgens to ground out before striking out Lochester’s best - SS Jesus “Wizard” Matamoros. He caught him swinging, and CF Allen Maynard also swung at strike three. Julio Cavazos was throwing something nasty, and Lochester batters were like deer in the headlights.

Goodfellow was counted on to match the stuff Cavazos was brewing. The bottom of the second wasn’t good at all, as Escalona’s fielding error at second allowed 3B Shane Reece on. Goodfellow managed to get through the inning, not letting anyone else on base and striking out one. As Lochester took the plate, there was a feeling that luck wasn’t on their side that night.

The rain came down hard in the third inning, and it looked like the action could’ve been called. But the Beer League, while they may not be the most talented ballplayers, are some of the toughest. Braving the elements, Cavazos struck out the side. The onlookers stood in the wind and rain and they roared as he struck out Goodfellow to pick up his seventh strikeout in three innings. He was just getting started.

Going into the bottom of the third, drenched in rain like everyone else, Goodfellow didn’t like striking out swinging in what was apparently a pitcher’s duel. He, like Cavazos, also braved the elements as he punched out C Stephen Matas looking, and got payback by making Cavazos swing at a wet curveball. A Wanker Baker double to the gap in left didn’t bother him much as he got Tully to fly out to left to end the inning.

The rain and wind eased up in the fourth, and would slowly die out as the game went on. After striking out Coy, Cavazos gave up a double down the leftfield line by Romero. His perfect game was broken, but greatness was still unfolding. He wouldn’t let that runner score from second, but he wouldn’t strike anybody else out in the fourth.

After Goodfellow retired the side in order in the bottom of the fourth, Cavazos came out to strike out two straight before RF Nicholas Depue grounded to first. With the rain drizzling a little bit at this point, the grass went and the base path a muddy and nasty place to stand and run, Goodfellow cracked his neck before slipping his glove on. He grabbed the battered and dirty ball and took the mound, adjusting his cap and looking to lead his team through a storm on the road.

The Borg Town crowd starting shaking the chain link fences and making all sorts of noise. Little children cursed at Goodfellow, and Borg Town laughed like a pack of hyenas as CF Andrew Trusheim pulled a fastball to right for a double. Goodfellow was determined to keep himself under control, making Australian switch-hitting RF Edward Witham to ground to first. Trusheim moved to third, and room for error decreased with one out.

After every called ball, the crowd would get louder and try to get on Goodfellow’s back. He went into a 2-2 count against the catcher Matas, baffling the righty with a changeup to strike him out looking. The crowd went quiet, as it was two outs and the pitcher was hitting. Cavazos was a hell of a hurler, but pitchers can’t hit can they? Cavazos had great contact ability for a pitcher, and stunned the crowd with a two out single to center. Trusheim crossed the plate, and the place went into a frenzy.

Lochester: 0
Borg Town: 1
Bottom 5^th, 2 out

Stud leftfielder Larry Baker, a hitter from the right side, was often called “Wanker” due to a very humiliating incident in college that involved him, a tissue, a Playboy, and a bathroom on campus. Now here he was, facing 2-0 count against one of the Beer League’s best. With Cavazos on first, he took the liberty of supporting his pitcher’s phenomenal game. His 343 foot two run home run to deep left field had Borg Town citizens screaming into the muggy night and waking up the elders.

While no more runs would score, the damage has been done. The pitcher and The Wanker made it happen on a two out rally.

Goodfellow pitched eight, struck out five, and gave up three walks. But in the top of the ninth, all he could do is watch as Cavazos gave up a single to Robert Coy. Lochester’s chance of a rally, though, seemed further than it really was. It was hard to feel a rally when the city’s faithful cheered Cavazos’ seventeenth strikeout of the game. Romero went down swinging, and Hollins went down looking. Ronald Jurgens walking, however, made the game dramatic.

With runners on first and second, and two outs, Cavazos had a three run lead to hold. He had eighteen remarkable strikeouts, more than anyone in league history at the point. But at the plate was The Wizard of the Beer League - Jesus Matamoros. He stood at the right side, looking to hit his second homer and pull one to left. He wanted to tie this game up and kill all of the work Julio Cavazos had done.

Cavazos was at a 3-2 count, and the fans were at their peak. Matamoros refused to give it up, fouling off pitches. But Cavazos made him his nineteenth strikeout victim, a slider caught Matamoros looking.

Everyone rushed out and lifted Julio Cavazos and Larry Baker up. Those were the heroes of the game, though Cavazos was given Player of the Game honors. Gave up three hits, only walked one, and struck out nineteen. Julio Cavazos had churned out one of the greatest, if not the greatest, single game performances in Beer League history.

Borg Town won, 3-0

Length of game: 2:48

STANDINGS

NORTH DIVISION
Borg Town: 3-0
Lochester: 2-1
Rushcannon: 2-1
Recker Lane: 1-2
Antonville: 0-3
Yorex: 0-3

SOUTH DIVISION
Ellore: 2-1
Green City: 2-1
New Cranshire: 2-1
Tellsing: 2-1
Fieldton: 1-2
Old Cranshire: 1-2

NEXT WEEK’S GAMES

- Borg Town @ Antonville
RHP Julio Cavazos (3-0, 2.00 ERA) vs. RHP Kid Bester (0-3, 5.88)

- Recker Lane @ Yorex
RHP Hulk Vanhoose (1-2, 2.52 ERA) vs. LHP Juan Olivera (0-3, 9.13)

- New Cranshire @ Lochester
RHP Loren “Not A Chick” Stromain (2-1, 1.33 ERA) vs. RHP John Goodfellow
(2-1, 1.73 ERA)

- Tellshing @ Old Cranshire
LHP Jay Koger (2-1, 5.33) vs. RHP Bleeder Gilbreath (1-2, 1.73 ERA)

- Ellore @ Fieldton
LHP Pistol Fields (2-1, 1.00 ERA) vs. RHP Mind Games Ellington (1-2, 2.77 ERA)

- BEER LEAGUE GAME OF THE WEEK
PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNEL 14 AT 7:05 PM
Green City @ Rushcannon
RHP Pedro Moya (2-1, 2,33 ERA) vs. RHP Slugger Puente (1-1, 3.15 ERA) OR, pending Slugger’s elbow strain, LHP Pedro Montes will make his debut.