YSA: Hounds Stumble

After winning easy in our last game, we were faced with a greater challenge at Central Park's North Meadow. The Citrin Cooperman team is solid all the way around. They played us very tough, and even though we took a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st, we would not score again the entire game. Juice was on the mound for us and she did everything she could to keep us in the game as she always does, but we did not do enough on the offensive end. It was a humbling game and a reminder we have work to do if we are to compete with the elite. Final Score: Hounds 3, CC 6.

We have now lost 2 of our last 3(both losses by a score of 6-3). We are now 3-2 and at a crossroads to our season. Will we drop to .500 or will we go to 4-2? I refuse to even entertain the possibility of the former. The way I see it, we will need to go at least 8-4 to ensure a spot in the playoffs and with this latest loss we are leaving ourselves little room for error. I am confident though we can get a winning streak going. Our defense is good but we need to do a better job at the plate. We had too many pop ups today and that doesn't do anything for us. Pop ups don't move the runners along and put no pressure on the defense. I know we can do better.

YSA: Hounds Destroy The Misfits

With Wink on the mound the Hounds got back to their winning ways against the Misfits. The game was close until about the midway point when we blew it open with some timely hitting. Karim led the way going 2 for 2 with a walk and 3 RBIs. Meanwhile, our defense was tight, stifling the Misfits at every turn. They got so frustrated that things got a bit testy but fortunately cooler heads prevailed. The game was closed out with a slick 10-4 double play orchestrated by rookie Rebecca. Final Score: Hounds 15, Misfits 5.

YSA: Stats Thru 3 Games

Hard to believe, but 3 games are in the bag already. Now is a good time to look at the stats.

(click to enlarge)

YSA: Hounds Fall to Wolves

For Game 3 of the season Juiena took the mound for us as we were hoping to go 3-0. We were up against one of if not the best team in the League, the Citywolves. We played well and held our own against the champs, but we did commit some miscues which cost us dearly. Juice was in full Houdini mode, getting out of jam after jam. She gave us a chance to win the game but we did not do enough to get her the win. The Wolves are a complete team and were able to prevail this time, but we can take some comfort in knowing we kept it close. Final Score: Hounds 3, Citywolves 6.

Let's shake off this first loss and come out strong next week. Same time, same place.

YSA: Hounds Fry the Fish

Wink took the mound looking to give us back to back wins to start the season. He pitched brilliantly, allowing only 3 runs through the first 4 innings. The defense behind him was much improved from Opening Day. Meanwhile, our bats were disciplined and every Hound was able to contribute to the scoreline in some way. Allie and Pat each had 3 RBIs, with The Bopper going yard for the first time this season. We let in some cheap runs in the last inning, but the game was well in hand at that point. Final Score: Hounds 14, Fish 5.

We're off to a 2-0 start and are improving week to week. Hopefully we can keep building on this as more difficult games lie ahead.

Hounds Win On Opening Day

With Juiena on the mound, the Hounds prevailed in a close one against Top of the Rock. The umpire blew a few calls but fortunately it did not cost us the game. We had some standouts like JT (2-2, BB, 2 RBIs, 2 RS), Iain (3-3, RBI, RS), Pat (2-2, 2 RBI), Karim (1-1, RS,RBI), and rookie Sam (3-3, 2 RS). Our defense was solid for the most part even though there were a couple of miscues. Juiena aided her own cause with a 2 RBI single. The game was called early due to darkness, and it was not too soon. Final Score: Hounds 12, Top of the Rock 10.


The season starts on a high note but we are going to have to make some improvements if we are to hang with the elite in the division.

YSA: Hounds Fall Again; Season on the Brink

After losing on opening night, it was time to get back on the field and get back to our winning ways. The location was DeWitt Clinton and it was a very humid night in the city. Our opponents were the cityknights, a team made up of some of the members of last season's overall league champs, the citywolves. We knew we would be in for a tough battle and that is exactly what we would get. 

As the away team, we came up to bat first. Cityknights' pitcher is a very crafty fellow, changing speeds, location, and working very quickly. We were able to scratch out a couple of runs in the top of the 1st, MikePa driving in JT with a single, and Pat driving in MikePa with a sac fly. Juiena was our starting pitcher , and she gave it her all out there. cityknights are just a good offensive team and are going to put up runs against anybody. It didn't help that our D wasn't particularly sharp. There was a mixture of nice solid plays and questionable blunders. We got into deep trouble, falling behind 8-2 and in danger of getting blown out. But we fought back gallantly, lead by Juiena, who was a Houdini in the middle innings, getting us out of jam after jam. We put up 2 in the 3rd on RBI base hits from Iain and Pat. Another 2 scored in the 4th on JT's double. Now we were down only 8-6 and finally showing signs of life.  Unfortunately, the comeback would end there. We were able to hold cityknights scoreless for a few innings, but in the bottom of the 6th they put up another 5 spot in what can only be described as a debacle of an inning. We turned a bloop RBI single from one of their bottom of the order hitters into a 3-run home run with our defensive butchery. It was ugly out there, there is no need to sugarcoat it. In the top of the 7th we went out 1-2-3. Final Score: Hounds 6, cityknights 13.

Our record now stands at 0-2 and I think it's time for all of us to ask ourselves some questions. Are we going to continue to play like this? Are we willing to do what it takes to improve? Do we want to come to the ballfield for shits and giggles or do we want to actually win some games? There are some clear remedies from the outset. On the defensive side, we need to be a lot more communicative, and we also have to be smarter out there. There were many throws that should have never been made last night. We really need to think about risk/reward before making some of these throws. We need to accept that these are all good offenses and they are going to put up runs regardless. I know people are just trying to make a play, but sometimes, putting the ball in your pocket IS the best play to make. I am confident that with some adjustments, we can turn around the defense. More troubling is what is happening on the offensive side. We are making it too easy for the opposing defenses. There were two 1-2-3 innings and 2 innings were only 4 batters came to bat this last game. Too many pop ups and easy outs. We have to face the fact that the umpires are allowing these fast pitches and we have to adjust. The only way to improve our hitting right now is to get our timing down, and the only way do that is to go to the batting cages. We have almost two weeks until our next game. I am going to organize something in the Bronx during this break, most likely on Saturday, October 1 late morning/early afternoon. Be there, or go to the cages on your own. We all owe it to ourselves to do this.