CONCORD -- Damn, Muckrakers! Damn!
Normally, your humble correspondent does not traffic in expletives, but there comes a time and place to break out the language not normally uttered in polite society.
So here goes, one more time: Damn!
There. We got it out of our system. And it feels good!
Speaking of feeling good, there's what the Muckrakers are doing to the competition in Concord D Fall League. Not just winning, mind you. Try ... dismantling.
The latest ballclub to feel the lash of the 'Rakers whip was perhaps the most surprising. The poor unfortunates were the Conquistadors, the self-same outfit that hung the lone Fall League loss on the Mucksters, a 7-5 decision a week earlier.
Well, that must have gotten under the skin of the Men of Muck; a burr in their saddle, if you will. For the Muckrakers administered a memorable butt-kicking, as well as took over first place, with an Oct. 4 29-9 crushing of those same Conquistadors, who by this time probably wish they'd never beaten those Mucky guys in the first place.
The 'Rakers had 34 hits in 55 at-bats in as complete a bum-rushing as this reporter can recall.
It's almost funny in retrospect, but this game was playing out pretty much to the book most of the way. The Muckrakers went scoreless the first two frames, put across three in the third inning and four more in the fifth, taking a 7-5 lead going into the sixth inning.
Then all holy heck broke loose.
The Mighty Mucksters scored nine runs in the sixth inning and an incredible 13 more in the seventh, tallying 22 of their 29 runs in the last two innings. Such shock and awe has rarely been visiting upon D League, one would think
It probably had to impress Muckraker rookie Justin Boyd, who did some impressing of his own in his 'Raker debut. He went 4 for 5, scoring three runs and driving in three from the 10-hole.
It was just the latest in the long list of fine recruits by manager Matt Knauff, who didn't have a bad day himself: three hits, five runs, three RBI. But then, you could hardly swing a dead cat without hitting a 'Raker with a multiple-hit game, as nine 'Rakers had two hits or more, and eight Mucksters had three safeties or greater.
There was winning pitcher Chris White, who had a 'Raker game for the ages at the plate, going 6 for 6, with six RBI and four runs, including a homer and a triple among the carnage. White and Marshall Murray (4 for 6, five RBI) authored back-to-back homers in the fifth inning.
Mike Gale, the 'Raker returning to the fold, slammed four hits, and Scott Brama, Eric Leithliter and Dave Taxier all had three hits, and Randy Striegel (coupla hits) and Matt McCall each contributed a couple runs scored as well as solidified the Muckraker infield.
It was quite an enterprise from all involved and as impressive an outing as you're bound to encounter at Willow Pass Park. Anyone stumbling upon it could only have one reaction:
Damn!
Showing posts with label Conquistadors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Conquistadors. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
'Rakers bust out to 3-1 Fall start
CONCORD -- It's been feast or famine for the '12 Fall League edition of the Muckrakers -- and so far, heavy on the feast.
The 'Rakers' tour of duty so far consists of two nights, four games -- a couple of doubleheaders, with one sweep and one near-sweep for a 3-1 mark for the post-summer campaign.
Last Thursday's action on Field 1 was emblematic of the way things have gone so far for the Muckistas. In the doubleheader opener, the Men of Rake put on a line-drive clinic in crushing KP Bombers for the second game in a row 31-3. Game 2 vs. the Conquistadors was an entirely different kettle of fish, as the Mucksters fell just a little short in a tautly played battle 7-5.
Let's not spend much of our valuable time analyzing the first game. To be blunt, Yer Heroes hit the ball early, late and in between in crushing their hapless foes, jacking up nine runs in the third inning, eight more in the fourth and adding a nine-spot in the fifth. Thirty-one runs on 41 hits, helped along by a KPB outfield that treated softballs hit to them like hot rocks.
Game 2 could not have been more different, as it was an early showdown between the loop's undefeated, and top-two, teams. The Conquistadors' team defense was as good as KPB's 'D' was putrid. Also, the Conquistadors utilized a rarely seen defensive alignment, with three speedy outfielders and the extra fielder placed in short center, just beyond second base.
It took the 'Rakers a bit to break down C-dors' scheme. The Rakesters went the first five innings without scoring, putting only one batter in scoring position over that span (not counting Rakers rookie Marshall Murray's fifth-inning blast that cleared the fence, which by rule was an out). The C-dors, by that time, has built a 4-0 lead.
The Rakers began digging into that margin in the sixth, putting up four runs to tie up the sucker. Leadoff man Matt McCall singled, and sped home on Randy Striegel's double, which found a gap the C-dors outfield. Cleanup man/pitcher Chris White singled in Striegel, and advanced to second on a C-dors error. The next two batsmen, Reed Johnson and Murray, each followed with RBI hits to knot the thing.
Thus, it all came down to the final seventh inning between these two proud team. The C-dors fired the first salvo, tallying three times to take a 7-4 margin going into the bottom of the seventh.
The Men of Muck fired back, battling desperately after two had been retired. Eric Leithliter singled, McCall reached on a booted ball at shortstop, and Striegel came up clutch with a single to drive in Leithliter. Captain/GM Matt Knauff blasted a deep drive into center, but the quick C-dors center fielder tracked it down on the run, robbing Knauff and ending Rakers hopes on this night.
But one thinks these two teams have not seen the last of each other. In fact, the schedule says the very next Muckrakers game is against the self-same Conquistadors (Oct. 4, 6:15 p.m., Field 4). In a feast-or-famine season, the Rakers are looking forward to eating hardy on Thursday.
The 'Rakers' tour of duty so far consists of two nights, four games -- a couple of doubleheaders, with one sweep and one near-sweep for a 3-1 mark for the post-summer campaign.
Last Thursday's action on Field 1 was emblematic of the way things have gone so far for the Muckistas. In the doubleheader opener, the Men of Rake put on a line-drive clinic in crushing KP Bombers for the second game in a row 31-3. Game 2 vs. the Conquistadors was an entirely different kettle of fish, as the Mucksters fell just a little short in a tautly played battle 7-5.
Let's not spend much of our valuable time analyzing the first game. To be blunt, Yer Heroes hit the ball early, late and in between in crushing their hapless foes, jacking up nine runs in the third inning, eight more in the fourth and adding a nine-spot in the fifth. Thirty-one runs on 41 hits, helped along by a KPB outfield that treated softballs hit to them like hot rocks.
Game 2 could not have been more different, as it was an early showdown between the loop's undefeated, and top-two, teams. The Conquistadors' team defense was as good as KPB's 'D' was putrid. Also, the Conquistadors utilized a rarely seen defensive alignment, with three speedy outfielders and the extra fielder placed in short center, just beyond second base.
It took the 'Rakers a bit to break down C-dors' scheme. The Rakesters went the first five innings without scoring, putting only one batter in scoring position over that span (not counting Rakers rookie Marshall Murray's fifth-inning blast that cleared the fence, which by rule was an out). The C-dors, by that time, has built a 4-0 lead.
The Rakers began digging into that margin in the sixth, putting up four runs to tie up the sucker. Leadoff man Matt McCall singled, and sped home on Randy Striegel's double, which found a gap the C-dors outfield. Cleanup man/pitcher Chris White singled in Striegel, and advanced to second on a C-dors error. The next two batsmen, Reed Johnson and Murray, each followed with RBI hits to knot the thing.
Thus, it all came down to the final seventh inning between these two proud team. The C-dors fired the first salvo, tallying three times to take a 7-4 margin going into the bottom of the seventh.
The Men of Muck fired back, battling desperately after two had been retired. Eric Leithliter singled, McCall reached on a booted ball at shortstop, and Striegel came up clutch with a single to drive in Leithliter. Captain/GM Matt Knauff blasted a deep drive into center, but the quick C-dors center fielder tracked it down on the run, robbing Knauff and ending Rakers hopes on this night.
But one thinks these two teams have not seen the last of each other. In fact, the schedule says the very next Muckrakers game is against the self-same Conquistadors (Oct. 4, 6:15 p.m., Field 4). In a feast-or-famine season, the Rakers are looking forward to eating hardy on Thursday.
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