'Rakers' Season Comes To End With Playoff Loss to I'd Hit That

CONCORD -- The season that began with a hail-out ended with: hell....out.

The Muckrakers were battered and bloodied, and yet they refused to quit and they fought on to the bitter end. And that's just Randy Striegel.

As they have all year, the Men of Muck gave a valiant effort, but this time their efforts fell a little short in a 13-11 loss to I'd Hit That on Field 3 last Friday. It was the second loss to the playoffs for the Muckrakers, who were thus eliminated and forced to call an end to an eventful 16-game campaign.

Yer Heroes, you'll be proud to know, did not go down quietly or compliantly. Rather, the Masters of Muckdom battled IHT -- which bore an uncanny resemblance to their first-place friends from D-League South, The Guys -- to a 9-9 standoff after the regulation seven innings. IHT rallied for four runs in the top of the eighth to take a 13-9 lead. But it was nervous times for IHT in the bottom half, as Rick Browning walked with one out, Dave Alcorn singled, and both eventually came around to score on Striegel's double. But somehow IHT managed to hold on and advanced in the tournament, perhaps knowing in their heart of hearts that maybe they got away with one on this night.

Certainly, the most inspirational athlete on the field this night was Striegel. Starting at shortstop in this one, Striegel was bopped in the head by an errant IHT toss in going for a double in the third inning. Blood flowed from Striegel's ear as a result of the toss. But leaving the game was never an option for the sturdy Striegel, who went 4-for-4 in the game, lacking a home run for the cycle.

Striegel and the 'Rakers were at their best in the first inning when they poured it on for five runs on the strength of home runs from Chris White and Matt Knauff.

In the fourth, Luke Abbott doubled and scored on Browning's single as the Mucksters make it an 8-5 game in their favor. But feisty IHT went ahead 9-8, the 'Rakers tied it in the sixth on Bob Brindley's single plating Striegel, thus setting the stage for extra-inning heroics from both sides. Yet, for the Muck-N-Ators, it was not to be.

And yet, there was little fault to be found in a season that saw the Muckrakers make their triumphant return to the land of the postseason. Not that that looked like a sure bet after the team got off to a 1-4 start. But the 'Rakers, as they always seem to do, pulled together and made it better. They got to work and made it a season to remember. And that's softball, the Muckraker way. May there be several more seasons sill to come.

Muckrakers Smacked Around by Bay Sluggers

CONCORD -- They say all good things must come to an end, and so it was for the tough-luck Muckrakers, who saw their record-setting five-game regular-season winning streak snapped in a 12-7 loss to the Bay Sluggers on Thursday night on Field 4.

The Men of Muck, managed on an interim basis by Dave Taxier, just didn't git-er done with the bats, mustering just seven runs, their second-lowest output of the season. Defensively, there was a play here or there that could have been made but wasn't. It wasn't an awful defensive showing by any means on Thursday, it was just a tad below the high bar established during the 'Rakers' aforementioned win streak.

It was a night when things were just off a bit for the snake-bit Mucksters. The team hit the ball hard for the most part, but right at Bay Slugger defenders. Our Heroes, for example, lined into two double plays, one each in the last two innings when the Muck-N-Ators were desperately trying to mount comeback rallies.

The Muckrakers tallied twice in the first inning, but then scored only once more over the next three frames as the Bay Sluggers took a 10-3 lead. The 'Raker bats finally stirred in the fifth, as Matt Knauff doubled to drive in Taxier and Rick Browning, and Reed Johnson singled to plate Dave Alcorn and Knauff. Randy Striegel then absolutely crushed a ball up the middle, but the quick-handed BS pitcher somehow latched onto the drive and tossed to first for the buzz-killing double play. If it wasn't for bad luck, the 'Rakers would have no luck at all.

The 'Rakers had similar luck in the final inning, the bottom of the sixth, as another line drive turned into a double play to put a damper on a possible dramatic comeback. It is a cruel game, this softball.

And yet, despite the setback, the 'Rakers still sport a winning record (6-5), not bad for a team that was 1-4 at one point. And the loss may yet not prove fatal to the Muckrakers' playoff hopes, depending on whether the top two or top three ballclubs in this five-team division make the playoffs.

It could mean this all goes down to next week's last game of the regular season, when the 'Rakers are the visiting team in taking on Trainwreck. The Muckrakers have split the season series vs. Trainwreck, having lost the first encounter, then winning the rematch.

One cannot sign off without saluting the effort of Knauff, who sustained a hamstring injury running the bases in the third inning, yet still managed to gut it out and play the rest of the way. It's that kind of inspirational effort that's gotten the 'Rakers this far, and the stuff that will push them on in the games to come.

Muckrakers stay hot

CONCORD - The weather may have cooled off on Thursday from a recent heat wave to hit the Bay Area, but it couldn't cool off the red-hot Muckrakers.

The Muckrakers beat the first place Guys 9-6 to win their fourth consecutive game.

The surging Muckrakers (5-4) played perhaps their best defensive game of the season which was highlighted by some clutch hitting in the sixth inning.

After the Guys rallied to score three runs in the top of the inning to tie the game 6-6, the Muckrakers responded with three runs of their own. With two outs Dave Alcorn (3 for 4) stepped up to the plate and calmly singled to score pinch-runner Chris Wagnon at a close play at the plate for the go-ahead run. Then Reed Johnson singled to plate Luke Abbott and Alcorn.

The top of the seventh proved to be just as dramatic for the Men of Muck. It looked like the Guys were set to have a rally of their own having ducks on the pond with just one out. The Guys' No. 5 hitter hit a chopper to first baseman Abbott who decided to go home to Brian Kroll to record the second out. Then it was noticed that the Guys' batter came up lame out of the batters' box, so Kroll threw the ball back to Abbott to complete the game-ending double-play. That's 3-2-3 for those scoring at home.

The game looked as it was going to be a slug fest out of the gates. The Guys scored three runs to start the first, and the Muckrakers answered by batting around in the bottom half of the frame plating six runs highlighted by Chris White's two-run triple.

Then it was defense and more defense. White pitched a great game in place of Dave Taxier and was supported with some nice glove work from Alcorn at third base, Matt Knauff (3 for 3) who made a nice diving catch in left-center field and Wagnon, who caught several lasers in right field.

The second-place Muckrakers will try and stay hot next week against Nine Mugs and a Pitcher.

Muckrakers Mess Up Trainwreck, Storm Into Second Place

CONCORD -- Oh, my, now things are getting interesting.

The Muckrakers perhaps positioned themselves as the power to be reckoned with in D-League South with a convincing 17-6 thrashing of Trainwreck on Field 2 last Thursday.

This was a 'Raker outfit that at one point had lost three in a row and sat at 1-4. The suddenly blazing-hot Men of Muck have now run off three victories in a row, with their latest conquest coming over the team formerly in second place. Well, Yer Heroes booted Trainwreck out of its high perch and took over sole possession of the second slot, trailing only The Guys in the D-League South standings.

In this one, it was more the Muckrakers who played like an out-of-control runaway train. The Mucksters started slowly, trailing 5-2 after two innings, then rallied for four runs in the third frame, then continued on from there to throttle a team they'd lost to in the previous encounter.

The 'Rakers put it away with a seven-run outburst in the seventh inning, leaving no doubt who was the new big, bad boy on the block. Somewhere, The Guys had to be concerned.

The 'Rakers offense has been a consistent hitting machine for most of the season, but vs. Trainwreck, the defense also shared the spotlight. The Mucksters' 'D' was a little shaky early, but once it established itself, there was no turning back. Reed Johnson fielded a scorching bad-hop one-hopper at shortstop and turned it into a double play, Dave Alcorn was as steady as he goes at third base, and Jose Gomez made the plays at second base in his understated way. 'Raker rookie Scott Brama showed astonishing hop and quickness at the catcher position. Chris White made an unbelievable over-the-shoulder catch from his first base spot in short right. The outfield -- Matt Knauff, Matt McCall, Randy Striegel and Chris Wagnon -- tracked down everything hit its way. On the mound, Dave Taxier struck out some guys (perhaps aided by a certain amount of Trainwreck inebriation?).

The offense was its reliable self as the MuckMen rolled out a 27-hit attack. Perhaps the sign that all would be going the 'Rakers' way was Gomez' drive that hit off third base and went for a double in the second inning. In the third, the 'Rakers strung together six hits in scoring four times. The next big explosion came in the seventh as Los Muckeros got a triple from Brama, a double from Striegel and a homer from Alcorn in establishing total dominance of the proceedings.

Striegel (5 for 5, five RBI) enjoyed a stellar night at the plate, as did Alcorn (3 for 5, three RBI), McCall and Brama (3 for 5 each. White (4 for 5) and Johnson (3 for 5, three runs).

The 'Rakers piled up 17 runs while holding the league's second-place team to six runs. That's how the Muckrakers (4-4) do, and how they look to keep doing as they attempt to storm their way back into the postseason.

Muckrakers Use Epic Inning To Shatter 9 Mugs And A Pitcher

CONCORD -- Dave Taxier was struggling. The (R)aging right-hander had been staked to a four-run lead in the top of the first, but, partly because of his ineptitude and maleficence, was in the process of giving it all back in the bottom half of the frame. Indeed, 9 Mugs And a Pitcher came out of the first inning tied 4-4.

That's about when 'Raker first baseman Chris White told Taxier, "that's OK, we'll get those runs back."

Perhaps not even White realized just how right he was.

In the most fabulous frame in Muckrakers history, the Mighty Mucksters piled up an incredible 18 runs in the top of the second inning, powered along by five home runs, on their way to overwhelming 9 Mugs (and so forth and so on) 27-15 for their second victory of the season, snapping a four-game losing streak.

The 'Rakers rewrote the record books partly because they recognized the prevailing meteorological conditions on rarely played-on Field 5. Dave Alcorn led off the soon-to-be-famous frame by lofting what looked to be a routine flyball to right. Except the ball kept sailing, sailing, sailing over the outfielder's head, and the drive went for a home run by the trailblazing Alcorn.

Thus informed, the 'Rakers launching drive after drive to the right side, the result being four more homers and a whole passel of runs. Before the top of the second was done, 22 'Rakers had batted and Chris Wagnon, Luke Abbott and White had blasted round-trippers. Alcorn also tripled in the frame, and darned near hit for the cycle in the second inning alone.

The lead was so huge not even a struggling Taxier could give it back. Thus, the Muckrakers emphatically got into the win column, thanks to what turned out to be a 32-hit offense, perhaps another stat for the 'Raker record book.

After a series of close-but-no-cigar defeats, it had to feel good for the Mucksters to enjoy a rare laugher victory. Any kind of win would have felt good at this point, but to put up 27 runs on a day in which everybody hit well, well ... oh my.

Reed Johnson blasted the ball all five times up and went 5 for 5. Abbott, about to embark on an Australian walk-about, said farewell by going 4 for 5 with a career-high seven RBIs. White hit with might (4 for 5, five RBIs). Ben Enos made his '11 'Rakers debut a memorable one, taking ownership of the leadoff role and going 4 for 4 with three runs scored. Alcorn finished 4 for 5 with five driven in, and Chace Bryson and Rich Browning each contributed three hits. Jose Gomez had a two-hit game and stood out again at second base. And Taxier even struck out a guy -- and didn't strike out himself, fortunately.

The take-away from this one is, with six games left in the regular season, Los Muckeros still have time to cause great upheaval in the standings. Let those 27 runs signal a warning shot to the rest of the trembling D-League South.

Muckrakers Go Dry, Lose To The Guys

CONCORD -- You can pick all sorts of various nits with the noble Muckrakers in this early juncture of the Summer of 2011 D-League South season, but one thing you must concede: Those 'Rakers can hit that ball and score those runs.

At least 20 hits per game and double-digit scoring -- count on it. Put it in the bank. Book it, Dan-o.

Well, not this time, Bunky. All good things must come to an end, and the Mucksters' streak of fine batting and run production came to something of a screaming halt in a 12-2 piano-wiring at the hands of The Guys last Thursday on Field 1 in a make-up of the recent hail-out.

Perhaps it was the early 6 p.m. start time. Maybe the hot temperatures had Our Boys feeling a little lethargic. Could it have been that The Lads were a little uncomfortable in the unfamiliar confines of Field 1? Or perhaps it was the unflinching law of averages smacking the 'Rakers where it hurts.

Whatever the heck was going on, it sure played havoc with the Men of Muck's average production figures. The managed just two runs and 10 hits against The Guys in falling to 1-3 on the season.

Single runs in the second and fifth innings -- and that was it, try as the Muckrakers might. Early on, it seemed as if the runs would come fast and furious, as usual. Chris White singled with one out, and Jose Gomez singled him home. However, that was that for that rally.

After a scoreless third and fourth, the Muckrakers were back at it in the fifth inning. White led off the fifth with his second hit of the game, and came around on singles from Rick Browning and Chris Wagnon.

Dave Alcorn, Browning and White were the 'Rakers' lone two-hit men on a hot evening when the 'Rakers never caught fire. That sent them into a bye week, which may have been for the best. No doubt this band of 'Rakers will come back rested and refreshed and ready to again wreak havoc wherever havoc needs to be wreaked. It's the 'Raker way.

Muckrakers bopped by Bay Sluggers

CONCORD -- Despite a continued dose of heavy hitting, the Muckrakers took one on the chin Thursday on Field 4, falling just short to the Bay Sluggers 17-16.

The valiant Men of Muck lashed 20 hits, their second-consecutive 20-hit outing of the season and have scored 33 runs in two games but still managed to fall to 1-1 in the nascent campaign.

You could look near and far for contributing reasons for the cause of the 'Rakers sustaining their first setback '11. Perhaps the first appearance of Marley the dog somehow triggered a disturbance of the 'Raker force. Personally, we discard this notion as Marley, by all appearances, is a sweet and contented pooch, not prone to force-disturbing.

Then again, it could be that the team stumbled a bit when Chace Bryson had to depart for a bit to attend to his car alarm, which was sounding off at an inappropriate time.

But this theory too is easily debunked, as Bryson was stellar in the Muckraker season debut, going 4 for 4 and showing his opposite-field stroke was in midseason form.

No, the sad truth of the matter is the Mucksters did not always play the standout defense that has been the hallmark of so many victories throughout the ages.

And let's give some credit to the Bay Sluggers, who didn't brandish a ton of power but were able to produce single upon single upon single as the situation called for it. Well played, sirs.

But Yer Muckrakers flashed some glory of their own. Perhaps most outstanding was Chris White, playing in just his second 'Raker game. All he did was go 3 for 3 with an eye-popping seven RBIs, four of which came on White's fourth-inning grand slam.

Likewise, Reed Johnson, in his second 'Raker game, collected three hits in three at-bats. Randy Striegel, playing hurt, went 3 for 4, doubling twice. Matt Knauff continued his impressive long-ball showing by going yard in the third inning as the 'Rakers pounded two round-trippers for the second game in a row. Rich Browning, who supplied Marley was an excellent box seat just to the right of the dugout, continued his hot start to the season by going 2 for 2 and drawing a walk.

All of this could have been the magic formula for victory, and it almost was. The 'Rakers went into the final inning down 17-14, and cut into that margin as leadoff man Dave Alcorn and Bryson each singled, and each eventually came around to score, with Johnson plating a run with a base hit and White driving in one with a sacrifice fly.

But the Muck-N-Ators were a bit of a day late and dollar short, which is how D-League sometimes crumbles. Next Thursday presents another opportunity to get back on the good side of the ledger.

NOTE: The Muckrakers' hail-out in Week 2 has been rescheduled for Thursday, May 5 at 6 p.m., when the opponent will be The Guys on Field 1.

'Rakers pour it on, tip 9 Mugs and a Pitcher

CONCORD -- Now that was worth waiting for, wasn't it?

Denied a game for two weeks thanks to the schedule-maker and Mother Nature, the Muckrakers rained a whole lotta offense on 9 Mugs and a Pitcher, taking the opening night tilt 17-8 Thursday on Field 3.

The victorious 'Rakers played like a team that was desperate to get the darned league under way. All 12 Mucksters contributed to the fun, with each 'Raker getting at least one hit and eight having multi-hit games. The Men of Muck amassed 26 hits and batted .577 against hapless 9MAAP, and surely sent shock waves through the rest of Thursday Night D-League.

This was a new-look 'Raker outfit doing all this damage. In addition to the old reliables, sprinkled about the lineup were a trio of 'Rakers making their Muckraker debut: Reed Johnson, Jose Gomez and Chris White. Under the able guidance of Manager Chris Wagnon, the newbies and the vets meshed as though they've been one happy family for years and years.

It's not unlike Fearless Leader Wagnon to have some managerial trickery up his shirt sleeve, and boy oh boy, did he pull one out of the hat on Thursday. Wagnon employed the rarely seen "Volleyball Defense," where each player rotated left after each inning.

Whimsical, perhaps, but effective, yes. Yer Mucksters played stellar defense in Game 1, with the infield and outfield each turning in highlight-worthy plays.

Bob Brindley, making one of his cameo appearances, popped 9MAAP's bubble with his spectacular catches in left field. Matt Knauff was his usual solid self in center and almost turned in a remarkable play on a deep drive. At shortstop, Randy Striegel put a nice bow on the game with his nice flip from the hole to third baseman Dave Alcorn, good for the forceout and the final out of the contest.

Your Heroes were just as dominant on offense. In fact, in the third inning, Brindley and Striegel each bashed home runs, which served as a noisy prologue to the eight-run fourth inning that blew this puppy wide open. Fourteen 'Rakers batted in the fateful frame, with 11 bashing hits and six driving in runs. Alcorn tripled in the inning, and the plucky infielder and leadoff man enjoyed a 3 for 4 opening night.

Rick Browning also got off to a hot start, going 3 for 4 as well, and Knauff and Striegel were positively torrid with their 4 for 4 game, Striegel also driving in four runs.

So D-League, you've been warned: You can only hold off the relentless Muckrakers for so long.