Zog: Hounds Clinch

I was just looking at the standings that were just posted. The way I see it, we have officially clinched a playoff berth. Only the top 4 make it and the 5th place team can only finish 3 and 3 at best. Well done, team.

Zog: Hounds Thrash the Sliders

For our penultimate game of the regular season, it was over to Colonel Charles Young Field in Harlem to take on the Sliders. We came into this game sitting pretty at 3 and 1, knowing that 4 wins would probably be enough to get us in the playoffs. It was a perfect night for a ballgame, and after a brief delay, it was time to play ball.

Juiena got the nod at starting pitcher looking to build on the success of her previous outing. She pitched magnificently, walking no one and allowing only 2 runs all game. Behind her, our defense really stepped up and looked like a well-oiled machine.

Our offense was also outstanding on the night. Everyone had a part to play, but the star of the show was Jason T. who hit 3 home runs, all well-hit shots. He and George were a strong 1-2 combo, going a combined 7 for 8 with 4 home runs and 11 RBIs. Mega went 2 for 3 with an opposite field solo home run. Push and Cindy combined to go 5 for 5 with 4 runs scored and 4 RBIs. Alan had a great game too going 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs. All in all, it was a great effort by everyone and our opponents seemed relieved when the game was finally over. Final Score: Hounds 21, Sliders 2.

With 4 wins sewn up, we can go into our final regular season game nice and relaxed. Let's keep the pedal down and continue this momentum all the way to the playoffs.

Zog: Player Stats Through 4 Games

I'm sure some of you are curious to know what your stats are. Big thanks to everyone that has stepped up to score our games. It's because of you guys that we have this useful information. We have some great looking batting averages on this team...

Zog: Hounds Get Back on Track

The place was Roosevelt Island.The time, a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon. Our opponents were a group called Suds N Strikes, and we knew we had to re-bound from our tough loss last game. We came out ready to handle business and it was time to play ball.

Margaret was starting pitcher and was her usual dominant self. Meantime, our offense exploded for 8 runs in the first two innings. Wink, George, and Amelia were a formidable 1-2-3 combination, each going 2 for their first 2. No home runs in this game for us, we just strung together hits and were disciplined at the plate. Soon we were up 8-1. We made a pitching change midway through the game, Juiena stepping up to take the ball. She pitched admirably but was let down by several errors by the defense. Our offense added some more runs, but our opponents kept battling, and we entered the last inning only up 12-8. Suds tacked on a couple and had the tying run at the plate with two outs. That's when Wink got the ball to put out the fire. He got the one batter he faced to pop up harmlessly to center, mission accomplished. Final Score: Hounds 12, Suds 10.

This was a great win for us, because everyone contributed in some way, that always feels good. We are now 3 and 1, and are in good position to make a playoff run. We still have plenty of work to do though, and I have a feeling there are no weak teams in this division. Let's stay focused.

MAJA: Margaret & Iain Win Team M.V.P. awards

Congratulations to Margaret & Iain for being voted team M.V.P.s in our MAJA Sports 2009 Central Park Softball Summer League campaign. Thanks to everyone that voted, it's a great reflection on our team that 9 different Hounds received votes, showing we are a balanced team that does not rely on just one or two players to carry us.

Margaret was our ace pitcher all season long. She dominated the league with a record of 7 and 0 and an outstanding ERA of 2.86. It was because of her great pitching that we were able to often jump out to big leads on our opponents, and her impeccable control on the mound(no walks all season) made sure our opponents were never able to score any cheap runs. She also contributed with the bat, hitting a respectable .391 and driving in 6 runs.

Iain was a new addition to our ballclub but he stepped in right away like he always belonged. He led the team with a torrid .750 batting average, and it seemed like every time he was up to bat he was driving in critical runs. His play at third base was also outstanding. He fielded everything that was hit his way, and he demoralized our opponents with his glove & arm. How can we ever forget his dramatic solo home run in the quarter final that carried us to victory and the showdown with Double D's.

I would be remiss if I did not talk about a couple of Hounds that I believe deserve honorable mentions:

Dave– The big fella was a critical part of our offense. He led the team in home runs, RBIs, runs scored, and hits(tied). He also displayed cat–like reflexes at first base. I know he saved me from at least 3 or 4 throwing errors. He was also able to infiltrate the enemy camps through flirtation.

Jason T.– This guy brought a quiet intensity to our team that was much needed. He hit at a .700 clip, mostly in the leadoff spot. He also covered tons of ground in the outfield. Along with Jason C. they were a formidable combination in left field.

Pushpita– Push was a steady presence for us all season long. Her contributions weren't always visible in the scorebook, but she was no less important to our success. She was responsible for the most clutch hit by any Hound in the regular season, that two-out game-tying hit vs SCN. She also did some fine work with her glove.

All in all, it was a great season with many memorable moments. Thanks to all of you for participating!

Zog: Hounds Take an 'L'

Having started the regular season 2 and 0, the Hounds headed back to DeWitt Clinton field to take on a UMass alumni team, ZooMass. It was a perfect night for a ballgame, and we were ready to take the field.

George got the ball for his first start of the season. After the way he pitched, it could quite possibly be his last. After a good first inning, he became erratic in what seemed like never-ending 2nd and 3rd innings. We also kicked the ball around a little, which did not help matters. By the time Mega came into the game to close out the 3rd inning, we were down only 8-3. All things considered, it could have been worse. We still had a chance to turn the tables.

Unfortunately, our offense failed to put together the big inning we needed. Wink and Iain did all they could to keep us in it; the Winkster going 3 for 3, and Iain going 2 for 3 with a 3-run homer. However, it would not be enough as our rally fell short in the last inning. Final Score: ZooMass 10, Hounds 7.

This loss is really disappointing because our talent level was much higher than theirs. They just made very few mistakes and their pitcher did not walk anybody. I take full responsibility for this one as having a different starting pitcher would have made a big difference. At least we are still 2 and 1 and we still control our own destiny.