Zog: Team MVPs

The voting is closed, congratulations to the worthy winners.

And now, your 2010 Zog Fall League MVPs:

Zog: Team Picture

front row (L to R): Kyle #18(R), Push #25, Jessie #27, Amy #12, Juiena #23, Cindy #24, Camille #4

back row (L to R): Mike #8, Jason #11, Wink #2, George #9, Karim #10, Buddah #34(R)

not pictured: Dave #99, Diana #15, Iain #3, Pat #6

Zog: Hounds Crash Out

Having put in a solid 5-1 record in the regular season, it was time for the Hounds to face the best the division had to offer in the single-elimination, two round playoffs. The location was DeWitt Clinton Field and a Winter chill coated the fall air. In the semi-final game, the opponent was The Sunday Hops. They were a fun-loving, scrappy bunch that would give us one of our biggest challenges of the year.

Juiena was our starting pitcher and she took the mound in the top of the 1st. She got into some trouble, with Sunday Hops scoring two runs. Their offensive formula was consistent throughout the game: hit bleeps and bloops and occasionally get aided by Hounds' miscues. We got on the board in the bottom of the 1st, with Iain hitting an RBI single. But we would only score one more run in the next four innings. Sunday Hops' pitcher, a lanky fellow, gave our hitters fits with his high-arc spinner. We entered the bottom of the 6th down 2-4 and knowing we didn't have much time to turn this one around. 

Then the bottom of the order came up big, with Cindy getting on through a fielder's choice, then Pat driving in C-Rod with a double. Next it was D.Lo's turn to bat and she calmly stroked a single past the third baseman to score Kyle who was running for Pat. Our dugout was jubilant as we sensed a turning point had just occurred. Unfortunately, the rally was killed with an inning-ending double play. However, we had tied the score and we still liked our chances as we entered the last inning. 

What happened next was a perfect storm of bleeps, bloops, walks, and errors that culminated in Sunday Hops scoring 6 runs in the top of the 7th to put us in a serious hole as we entered our last licks. We put up a valiant fight, with the heart of the order putting up 3 runs. But ultimately, it was not enough. The rally fell short, and just like that, our season is over. We were all a bit shocked that it ended at this stage. Final Score: Hounds 7, Sunday Hops 10.

We have to give a lot of credit to Sunday Hops. They made the most of their opportunities and were deserving winners. They were the better team tonight, but they are a team we should be able to beat when we are at our best. It makes it even tougher to swallow but this game can be very humbling sometimes. Many thanks to all of you for another successful Hounds season, even if we didn't take home the big prize this time around. They haven't heard the last of the Hounds yet.

Zog: Final Regular Season Stats

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Zog: Hounds Close Out Strong

Having not been able to play an official game for the past couple of weekends, the Hounds returned to DeWitt Clinton Field to close out the regular season. It was an unseasonably warm fall evening and the Lousy Shirts team awaited in the opposing dugout. We knew the game carried importance as playoff seedings were in play. After a brief pre-game exchange regarding the bases in which we were able to steal away home field advantage, it was time to play ball.

Juiena took the mound and set the tone for us by pitching a 1-2-3 top of the 1st. Now it was our turn up to bat and we quickly got on the board, MikePa singling and scoring on a base hit by Iain. However, Lousy Shirts scored 3 in the top of the 2nd, and the game would become a slugfest. Let's give credit to Lousy Shirts, they are a solid ballclub top to bottom and made some fine plays to keep themselves in the game. We tied it at 3-3 in the bottom of the 2nd, only for our opponents to take the lead again in the top of the 3rd. Entering the bottom of the 4th, we were down 4-6 and we knew it was just a matter of time before we could turn this one around. Jason T, Juiena, and The Cap all got on base to start the inning, setting up a bases loaded opportunity for Dave. Coming off a long layoff, he showed why he is the straw that stirs the Schlink by proceeding to hit a frozen rope in the gap for a grand slam home run. It was part of a 3 for 3, 5 RBI night for the Big Fella. 

After re-taking taking the lead, we would never look back. Juiena continued to battle and our defense put in an A- defensive performance. There were a couple of minor miscues, but they did not cost us too much. We would add 3 runs in the 5th and one run in the 6th, MikePa hitting a solo homer. Lousy Shirts tacked on 2 in the 6th but were unable to make it any closer. Juice closed them out after a brief scare in the 7th to secure the complete game victory. Final Score: Hounds 12, Lousy Shirts 8.

This was a great way to head into the playoffs. I'm proud of the way we kept our heads in the game despite being down for a couple of innings. Our offense was clicking well– we scored a run every inning. But we still need to work on our baserunning decisions both as baserunners and base coaches as we got burned again(twice) on baserunning plays. 

We head into the playoffs having put in one of our most complete performances of the season. I am confident we can do well if we have a full compliment of players available. We must stay humble and hungry though if we are to reached the promised land.

Zog: Hounds Win By Forfeit

Zog: Team Stats thru 4 games

The Stats have been compiled thru the first 4 games and there are many Hounds that are having outstanding seasons. Of course Iain has taken his usual place among the stat leaders, but the big surprise is MikePa, who is team leader in batting average and runs scored. Mike is hitting a perfect 1.000. It is literally impossible to do better than that. Rookies Kyle and Will(Buddah) are distinguishing themselves, hitting .800 and .700 respectively.

Among the ladies, Juiena leads in batting average with Push and Camille right behind her. Juice is also having a dominant season on the mound, posting a minuscule 1.40 ERA. That has to make her one of if not the best pitcher in the league. Way to go, Juice and the defense behind her deserves credit for that too.

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Zog: Hounds Stomp on The Other Team

Coming off a two-game winning streak, the Hounds headed back to DeWitt Clinton Field to solidify their status as legitimate championship contenders. As the game was about to commence, a beautiful scarlet and purple sunset blanketed the sky. Our opponent had a name befitting any Hounds opponent: The Other Team. They seemed very focused and determined to get their first win of the season, so we thought we could be in for a challenge. Oh, how wrong we would be.

As the home team, we took the field first with our ace Juiena on the mound, having just returned from her nuptials. She showed no signs of rust as she closed out TOT 1-2-3 in the 1st. Then it was our turn to bat, and we quickly put up a 5-spot. MikePa earned a 4-pitch walk which allowed Juiena to also walk, setting the stage for Mr. Clutch Iain to hit one of his patented opposite-field home runs. The Cap then broke out of a 1 for 7 slump by stroking a clean single to left. Jason T. then stepped up and drilled a two-run homer, putting us up 5-0 after the first inning. Juiena continued to roll along, and we would add 3 runs in the 2nd.

The 3rd inning was a killer for TOT. They were only down 8-0 and had us down to our final out in the bottom of the frame. With Jason T. on 3rd base, Diana hit a grounder to the shortstop which seemed destined to be an out. D.Lo never gave up on the play though, hustling all the way. The shortstop's throw was bobbled by the first baseman, allowing D.Lo to be safe and JT to score. That error opened the floodgates, and by the time the inning was over, Mike, Iain, and Pat had all homered, putting us up 15-0. It just goes to show that this game can change on one play and good things happen when we hustle.

Another highlight that has to be mentioned is Camille's 3-run home run in the 4th inning. It was a laser shot to left which had our dugout going crazy. There was a bit of bad blood between the two teams, but it was quickly squashed by the umpire(Swayze). All in all, it was a solid offensive performance from the Hounds, I saw a lot of well-hit balls that would have been hits against any team. The standouts on the evening were MikePa(2-2, 2 BB, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 RS), Juiena(3-3, BB, 4 RS), Iain(4-4, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 3 RS), Pat(3-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 RS), Jason T.(3-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 RS), and Camille(2-2, BB, HR, 3 RBI, 3 RS).

Unfortunately, the lights were mysteriously cut off in the middle of the top of the 5th. With the game well in hand, and TOT looking shell-shocked, we felt it was only right to call it a day and end their suffering. Final Score: Hounds 23, The Other Team 0.

As this season has played out, it's pretty clear that there are 1 or 2 other teams that we need to be concerned about come playoff time. One is Never Been to Third, who we lost to on opening day, the other is the team we face this Sunday. As of this posting, they are undefeated and in first place. Let's see how well they measure up to the Hounds.

Zog: Hounds Make it Two in a Row

It was a cloudy early fall afternoon with the faint hint of summer still lingering in the air. A light sprinkle fell from the sky as the Hounds took the field on Roosevelt Island. Although short handed(9 players), they were full of confidence and ready to get interim manager Wink his first victory. The opponent, CYANide (who were also short handed), scored 2 runs in the first inning after a couple of bloop hits and some miscues. Then the Hounds came up to bat and quickly erased the deficit with 5 runs of their own. They continued to bring in runs in multiple innings always keeping the pressure on CYANide who had to play catch up the whole game. The Hounds defense settled in and although we gave up 10 runs we also made timely defensive plays that halted CYANide’s momentum and were huge rally killers. Highlights in the field were Camille(unassisted double play), Buddah(throwing out a runner at home), Amy(doubling up a runner tagging too early), Jason T.( an outfield assist to 2^nd), and Amanda(catching 2 foul balls hit straight back behind the plate). The offensive standouts were Kyle (4 for 4, 3 RBI, 2 RS), Buddah (3 for 4, 2 RBI, 1RS), Wink (2 for 4, HR, 3 RBI, RS) and Amy (2 for 3, BB). In the end, the Hounds were the more focused team and knew what it took to win. Final Score: Hounds 14 , CYANide 10.

Kudos to Wink and everybody else for getting the job done. It doesn't matter how you do it, the 'W' in the standings is all that matters. This is a critical win that puts us in control of our own destiny as we march towards the playoffs. Nice work, team.

Zog: Hounds Bounce Back Big-Time

Having lost a nailbiter on opening day, it was time for the Hounds to get back on the field and return to our winning ways. It was another trip to DeWitt Clinton, and it was a perfect evening for softball. In the opposing dugout were the City Slickers, a team we knew nothing about, other than that they had won on opening day. With only 6 games in the regular season, it was imperative that we get the win in this game. We took the field focused and determined.

As the away team, we came up to bat first, and we got off to a flying start. MikePa got us going again, leading off the game with a double, and scoring from 2nd on a simple 6-3 by Juiena. Wink then came up and stroked a solo homer, and the next 7 hitters proceeded to hit safely. Let's be honest, City Slickers definitely butchered a lot of balls, but we made the most of their mistakes. After the top of the first was over they were down 9-0 and there could be little doubt we would prevail.

Juiena got the ball as starting pitcher and she was in a nice groove from the start. Her high arc pitch was confounding City Slickers, and the defense behind her was outstanding. Most of the action for us on the defensive side occurred in the infield. Iain and the Cap were a strong left side of the infield combo, and new Hound Kyle played a solid first base. Meanwhile, our offense continued to roll along. The production was spread around, but the standouts were Mike(3-3, 2 RS, RBI), Wink(3-4, 2 HR, 4 RS, 3 RBI), Iain(5-5, 2 HR, 5 RS, 4 RBI), Push(4-5, 2 RS, 3 RBI), Buddah(4-4, HR, 3 RS, 3 RBI), and Kyle(4-4, 2 HR, 3 RS, 5 RBI). WIth the score at 17-0, Amy was brought in to get some relief work. She pitched well for the first couple of innings but got into some trouble in the bottom of the 5th. George then came in to get the final 7 outs of the game and he closed out City Slickers with relative ease. Let's give them credit for taking the beating in stride and let's give credit to the ump(Swayze) for letting us get the whole game in despite going over the time limit by a lot. Final Score: Hounds 27, City Slickers 7.

Even though we came through with a solid performance tonight, I must caution that our opponents were pretty awful and we shouldn't read too much into this blowout win. There are better teams ahead of us, although we also have the team that lost to City Slickers ahead on our schedule. That should be interesting. For next week, several key players will be away. Who is going to step up and carry us to victory?

Zog: Hounds Lose a Tough One

After basking in the glory of our all-conquering summer, it was time to return to action in the Zog Fall League. It was a brisk September evening in New York, and a steady sheet of rain blanketed the city. We showed up to the field a bit surprised that the game hadn't been called, but nevertheless ready to get down to Hounds business. The location was DeWitt Clinton Field in Hell's Kitchen, and our opponents were a team called Never Been to Third. They had also won their division in the previous season, so a close, well played game was to be expected. Just how close nobody could have anticipated.

Juiena got the ball as the now undisputed ace of the pitching staff. She pitched masterfully all night, giving us a chance to win the game. The first couple of innings went by with neither team being able to score. NBT also had a very good pitcher on the mound, and he stifled us with his very high-arc spinner. Finally, in the top of the third, NBT put up a run on the board, through a couple of clean hits and a miscue. Juiena escaped the inning without any further damage, and she battled her way out of trouble on several occasions. We then responded with a run of our own in the bottom of the third. MikePa stroked a single, then hustled his way to 2nd on a grounder from Jessie. He then scored from 2nd on a fielder's choice, getting new Hound Kyle his first ever RBI. It was all hustle, and our dugout was now fired up.

From there, the game was played on a razor's edge. Our defense did make a couple of mistakes, but there were also some fine plays made by Push, Mike, and Juiena, among others. The 1-1 scoreline held until the bottom of the 6th, when MikePa again hustled his way home after a single, fielder's choice, and a throwing error. Jessie picked up the RBI on that occasion. We were now up 2-1 going into NBT's last licks.  We felt good about our chances of locking up the win, but fate would not be on our side. A swinging bunt got the rally going for them, a dropped fly ball in the outfield assisted, and a clean base hit to right drove in the go-ahead run. In the bottom of the 7th, we went out 1-2-3, and we couldn't help but feel we let one slip away. Final Score: Hounds 2, NBT 3.

As unfortunate as it is to lose our first game(first Hounds loss in an opening game– ever), I don't think it's time to panic. We wanted to move up a division and we were always expecting a greater challenge. Now we know what we need to do in order to succeed at this level. We need to make some improvements, and I am confident we will. Our next game now takes on added importance as starting the season 0-2 could put a serious damper on our playoff chances. We can accept nothing less than victory next Sunday.

Zog: Team MVPs

The voting is closed and the people have spoken. The Hounds MVPs for the Zog 2010 Spring/Summer league have been chosen. The winners are definitely worthy of the honor. So without further adieu, the winners are:

Zog: Vote for Team MVPs

We're still soaking up the glory of our dominating championship performance, and it's a good time to select the team MVPs. There are a lot of candidates to choose from, a testament to the balance of our squad. Here is a look at the final regular season stats if you need some help making a decision. Please vote for one male and one female Hound. And remember, this for Zog League only. Winners get a nifty piece of Hounds swag.

Team MVPs(1 Male, 1 Female)
	Alan
	Amy
	Cindy
	Claudia
	Dave
	George
	Iain
	Jason C.
	Juiena
	Karim
	Margaret
	Mike
	Mega
	Murph
	Push
	Wink
pollcode.com free polls

Zog: Hounds Repeat

The finale of the Zog Spring/Summer 2010 season brought us to Riverbank State Park and a championship showdown with Who's On First. These were the last two division champs squaring off in what was expected to be a close game. WOF had beaten us the last two times we played them, but we knew there were circumstances which prevented us from being at our best on those occasions. Our opponents came into the game very confident, one might even say cocky. But what they didn't know is that the Hounds were confident too, it was just a quiet confidence that we exuded. The setting was Riverbank State Park, also known as Hounds Field. The weather was perfect after threats of rain. After some pre-game gamesmanship by your humble Captain, it was time to play ball.

WOF was the away team and as such were up to bat first. Our starting pitcher was Juiena, who had been rock solid for us all season long and was coming off a strong performance in the semi. In the first, we were a bit jittery and committed a couple of miscues that allowed WOF to put two runs on the board. We controlled the damage though and got out of a potentially big inning. Now it was our turn to bat and the offense got right to work. MikePa drew a walk before Iain drove him in with a triple. Dave followed with an RBI double, and just like that, the score was tied. Next, WOF gifted Mega the dreaded 4 pitch walk which allowed Juiena to also walk. The Cap then stroked a 2-RBI single before being called out on a questionable baserunning decision. Wink drove in a run too and now we were up 5-2 after the first. After an uneventful 2nd inning, we blew the game open with some fantastic hitting. We would score 11 in the 3rd, with the entire lineup getting in on the fun. Pretty much everyone had a good offensive game but some of the standouts were MikePa(2-3, 2 BB, RBI, 3 RS) Cindy(3-4, BB, RBI, 3 RS), Iain(4-5, 4 RBI, 4 RS), Dave(4-4, 5 RBI, 3 RS), Juiena(2-3, BB, 2 RBI, 3 RS), and WInk(4-4, 3 RBI, 2 RS). 

Once we took the big lead, WOF started to come apart at the seams. We kept our focus though and followed up with multiple runs in the 4th and the 5th, and all the while Juiena maintained dominance over the opponents' hitters. Her high-arc stuff was working really well and her command was impeccable. WOF had little answer for her but did have one nice little moment when one of their ladies hit a solo homer. But the game was well in hand at that point and it would hardly matter. We could sense that victory was imminent and our dugout became quite boisterous aided by some wonderful support from our fans. Our defensive highlights had to be Murph and Dave turning a 5-5-3 double play, MikePa making some nice grabs in the outfield, and Iain & Cindy working the solid middle infield combo. 

In the final inning, WOF was able to muster nothing as they appeared like they just wanted the game over with. And who could blame them as it was a dominating performance from start to finish from the Hounds. The game ended on a simple 5-3 putout from Iain to Dave, and for the second season in a row, we were the last team standing. Final Score: Hounds 24, Who's On First 5.

Needless to say, the victory was exhilarating and some raucous celebration ensued. More on that in a minute. But now is a good time to reflect on what we have accomplished. We have won two championships back-to-back in dominating fashion. Hard to believe it, but we were only 3-2 at one point this season. We closed the season out with a 9-game winning streak, with almost all of those victories coming by double digits. We have put yet another rivalry to bed, as there can be no rivalry with a team that one beats by 19 runs– in a championship game, no less. We faced down a pitcher who gave us trouble in the regular season only to come out and throttle him in the playoffs, a la ZooMass last season. OK, WOF made a couple of errors, but the reality is, we hit really well all night and pretty much the entire second half of the season. We should all be very proud of ourselves because Lord knows we put a lot of hard work into this. We are a formidable opponent for anybody right now and it's time to start thinking about bumping up a division. We have proven everything we can prove in Casual Division. This Fall, prepare for a new challenge.

After the game, The Hounds entourage headed over to Dinosaur BBQ for the championship celebration. The food was plenty and the beverages flowed as we enjoyed the spoils of victory. It was a memorable night for all.

Zog Semi Final: Hounds Lay Down the Gauntlet

The 2nd season has arrived and the Zog single-elimination tournament is always a gut-wrenching affair. The Hounds had finished the season in first place and we earned a bye straight into the semi-final round. Awaiting us in the opposing dugout were the Maroons, upset winners in the wild card round, but a team we have had little difficulty with in the past. The turnout was fantastic and we had nearly our entire squad present. The location was DeWitt Clinton Field, a place where we have always played well. The weather was near perfect even if the night air was a bit thick. After the two captains exchanged pre-game pleasantries, it was time to play ball.

Juiena got the ball as starting pitcher and she closed down the Maroons 1-2-3 in the top of the first. Now it was our turn to bat and we were feeling very confident. Maroons gifted a four-pitch walk to MikePa to start the inning, which allowed Cindy to also walk. Iain then followed up with a 2-RBI triple. The Cap got lucky on a fly to right and turned it into a 3-run homer. We were up 6-0 and we were off to the races. In the 3rd we would add 5 more runs to really put Maroons in a deep hole. The heart of the order came up very big in the game with Iain(2-4, HR, 3 RBI), Dave(2-4, RBI, 2 RS), Mega(3-4, HR, 2 RBI, 3 RS), Juiena(3-3, BB, 4 RS), George(3-4, HR, 5 RBI, 3 RS), Wink(2-4, HR, 6 RBI, 2 RS) and Push(2-3, RBI) all either scoring or driving in at least one run. Meanwhile, Juiena was cruising and Maroons were having much difficulty stringing together hits. In the later innings, we switched things up somewhat defensively and unfortunately, there were some miscues. That allowed Maroons to tack on some runs but the result was never really in question. Juiena closed them out in the 7th to make it yet another Hounds blowout victory. Final Score: Hounds 18, Maroons 5.

I like the aggressiveness we showed today. We are playing excellent ball but we still have one more hurdle to climb. We must stay hungry and focused heading into this last game. It won't be easy but I know we can do it.

Zog: Final Regular Season Stats

The final regular season stats have been compiled and it must be said we had a very strong offensive season. All the Hounds single-season records came crashing down. Iain took the triple crown, hitting .844 with 10 Homers and 32 RBIs. Wink set new marks in At Bats and Hits, a testament to his exemplary attendance and consistency. Juiena closed out the season as team leader in Wins, and she won the ladies batting title with a .486 average, almost .200 points higher than her average last spring/summer.

We have to put the regular season behind us now. None of what happened then will count towards what happens next. The two teams that beat us this season lay ahead of us in the playoffs. I have no doubt we are up for the challenge, but we must stay humble, hungry, and smart in order to pull it off.

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Zog: Hounds Annihilate Sporting Wood

The regular season finale brought us to DeWitt Clinton Field in Hell's Kitchen on a warm Summer night. It was a rematch with Sporting Wood, a team we had already dominated earlier in the season. We were primed and pumped to close out the season strongly and head into the playoffs on a high note. We also had playoff positioning at stake, with a victory clinching the top spot in the division and homefield advantage throughout. Sporting Wood is quite frankly, a team that can't hit, run, throw, field or pitch. To top it off they came to the game short-handed, only being able to field a team of eight players. After a brief negotiation, we decided that we would not lend them a player due to the importance of the game for our side. Finally, it was time to play ball.

As the away team, we came to bat first. Sporting Wood's pitcher was not able to find the strike zone, and when he did, he got pounded. Iain, Dave, Mega and Wink all went yard in the first, and we put 10 on the board in that opening frame. The game was pretty much over at that point, as starting pitcher Juiena had given up 10 runs in a game only once this season. She pitched a scoreless first, and in the 2nd we scored another 12 runs to really put the result beyond question. The highlight of the 2nd inning had to be Camille's monster 3-run home run...it was a shot any of the fellas would have been happy to have. The bench went crazy and after that point our motivation became padding our stats and shooting for the Hounds all-time single-game scoring record(27). We then did offer a player to Sporting Wood to stop the bleeding a bit, but their manager stubbornly refused before his team convinced him to accept. By then though, it was too late. We pulled our offer and decided to really step on their throats.

There are too many other offensive highlights to list, but some that come to mind are Iain hitting two homers; one a grand slam, the other a 3-run shot. Dave hit for the cycle, although he could have at least fake-tripped on the turn at first to make his "single" more believable. Mega had two dingers and drove in 4, Camille drove in 5 and Amy had a hustle home run and drove in 4. The record fell in the top of the third, and who knows how much we would have scored if the game hadn't been called due to time limit. Wink came in to relieve Juiena in the 4th, and threw two shutout innings. When the game was over both teams were relieved, but for different reasons. Final Score: Hounds 33, Sporting Wood 1.

Let's give credit to Sporting Wood for mostly being good sports and taking the beating in stride. Sure, there was that one chatty fellow, but we felt too sorry for him to even reply to his banter. 

Now the playoffs are upon us. We have a first-round bye and most likely won't be playing for at least another week. Please bear in mind that playoff games could be scheduled any day in the coming few weeks, we need all hands on deck for the title push. I am very confident we can defend the crown.

Zog: Hounds Batter Rams

Having already clinched a playoff spot, the Hounds headed over to idyllic Heckscher Field in Central Park to face the Rams, a Fordham alumni team that we have faced(and beaten–albeit with some controversy) before. For us, the remainder of the season is about fine tuning our ballclub and building momentum as we enter the playoffs. The Rams came in holding on to the slightest glimmer of hope to make the post-season. The conditions were perfect and the stands were packed with spectators wanting to see some good ball. We would not disappoint.

We were home team for this game, and Margaret got the ball making her 2nd consecutive start. Rams would score 2 runs in the top of the first, and we promptly answered with 3 runs of our own in the bottom of the frame. Wink was the catalyst, hitting a laser in the gap for a 3-run dinger, part of a 5-RBI day for him. The game stayed close for a few innings and we entered the bottom of the 4th with the score tied at 4-4. We thought we were in for a tough finish.

As has been our M.O. in recent games, we put the pedal to the metal in the later innings. MikePa had a 3-run homer of his own in the 4th. Dave & Iain went back-to-back in the 5th. Then in the 6th we really poured it on, scoring 6 runs to put the result beyond doubt. The ladies really stepped up at the plate, going a combined 10-15. Cindy went 2-4, Juiena went 3-4, Claudia smoked a single to left, Amy had a 2-RBI base hit, and Margaret went 3-3. Let's not forget Mr. Clutch Iain who continued his assault on the triple crown by going 4-4 and hitting 2 homers. All the while Margaret shut the opponent down aided by some bend-but-don't-break defense. Rams were demoralized by the time their last at-bat came up and went out meekly to end the game. Final Score: Hounds 17, Rams 4. Protest That!

We are on a roll and the timing could not be better. We have a bit of a long break until our next game (July 28th) and I do not want us to lose our momentum. It may be wise to have a practice soon. Stay Tuned.

Zog: Hounds Show Grit & Clinch a Playoff Spot

Our Zog season finally brought us to one of our favorite fields to play at in Central Park's Great Lawn. The grass was thick and the weather was beautiful. We were fortunate to bump into a catering truck which supplied some much-appreciated libations. After a brief delay waiting for the umpire to appear, the game was set to start. Our opponents were the Hardballers, a cellar-dwelling but scrappy team that was hungry for their first win. 

Margaret was our starting pitcher and as always, she pitched very well. She held Hardballers to 3 runs over 7 innings. Our defense gave up a bit, but mostly took away. Our opponents had a very crafty pitcher too though, and his work combined with some decent defense held us to no runs through the first 3 innings. We were down 0-3 entering our turn at-bat in the bottom of the 4th. We knew we were on the verge of turning this thing around.

The top of the order then came up in the 4th and sparked the turnaround. Alan, Cindy, and George got 3 hits in a row, then Iain stepped up and hit a 3-run home run. Just like that we had overturned the 0-3 deficit to a 4-3 lead. After that, we were off to the races. 10 Hounds had a multiple-hit game, including Murph who went 4-4 and had a ton of action at third base. We scored 9 in the 4th and 6 in the 5th to blow the game open. We continued to make the plays we needed to on defense and closed them out with a 1-2-3 7th. Final Score: Hounds 16, Harballers 3.

With this win we have clinched a playoff berth. I won't congratulate anybody because we have bigger things on our mind and making the playoffs was always a foregone conclusion, at least in my mind. We must continue to build on our momentum as we head into the 2nd season. Our final 2 opponents are in the lower half of the standings, but they both have an outside chance of making the playoffs so you know they will be playing hard. Let's be the dream-crushers.

Zog Standings Link

Zog: Team Stats Through 9 Games

With only a quarter of the season left, the races for team leader in the various offensive categories are really heating up. I have to give props to Alan, Claudia, and Juiena for getting their batting averages way up from the last time stats were posted.

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