MCSN: Aug 20, 2011

Explosive Start To The Playoffs

1st Round Playoff Recap

Wed, August 24, 2011

The Nitros kicked off the 2011 Moody Softball Playoffs with a big bang far exceeding the logo on their shirts. The sixth-seeded Nitros' 23-7 rout of #3 seed The Franchise marked the second consecutive season with a major upset in the first round of the playoffs. Last year, the #7 Punishers (then 2-6) upended #2 El Fuego (then 5-2-1) in what is still the biggest playoff upset in league history.

The Nitros, who entered the playoffs at 1-7-2, cranked out 31 hits, the most in playoff history and the second-most in league history, ending the season early for The Franchise, who came into the game at 5-5 but were 2-0 against the Nitros in the regular season. The win was the first postseason victory for Sam Baturoni, who is now 1-1 managing in the playoffs.

The Franchise was missing their top hitter, Steve Haake, and starting pitcher Mat Smith. The Franchise was further limited by a gimpy Ed Freed (hamstring). But The Franchise gave it their all. Ryan Dollard went 3-for-3, each Huntington (Jeremy and Kristen) went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs, rookie Charles Heffern also went 2-for-3, and rookie Vince Colada also chipped in a hit. But ultimately the Nitros had too much firepower, as they not only notched two five-run offensive innings but also a six-run offensive inning. The Nitros scored in every inning but one.

Unlike last week, where Nitros manager Sam Baturoni declared his team's breakthrough victory over the Minor Prophets was due to their "awesomeness", Baturoni was much less certain about the reason for this week's decisive playoff win.

"I don't know why we won," Baturoni said. "We had two players show up late, [and] one player slept in and missed the game. Thus, I had to re-do the offensive and defensive lineups 5 minutes before the game started. Some people were at the bottom of the batting order only because I forgot they were present and it was too late to bat them higher. In the first inning, many people had to play out of position because the tardy players had yet to arrive."

The Franchise, however, knew exactly why the Nitros won.

"Yes, we were missing players and had injuries during the game, but it didn't matter...Nitros played awesome," surmised The Franchise's Kristen Huntington. "Hat's off to them. They are peaking at the just the right time. They flat-out beat us. What else can we say?"

Believe it or not, the most runs scored in the league this season in one game is a distinction now belonging to the Nitros after this 23 run explosion, which also happens to tie them for second-most in league history...and they couldn't have picked a better time to explode.

Offensively, the Nitros got contributions from everyone. Neal White and Eric Bartl both drove in 5 runs, Vivian Malmgren was a perfect 5-for-5, Joshua Hall and Laurel Hardy went a sizzling 4-for-5, and Ashley Chismark and Juan Cruz added 3 RBI each.

Defensively, the Nitros' defense was "stellar", according to ump Gary Lockwood. Pitcher Baturoni bewitched The Franchise, limiting them to only 7 runs, definitely a noteworthy accomplishment. Even so, The Franchise is looking at the bright side.

"The Franchise is not hanging our heads," Huntington said. "We had a great season, great fellowship and we formed a lot of new friendships. Our team had a lot of fun together this year. This was just one game and it happened to be in the playoffs. We're wishing the Nitros the best of luck this Saturday!"

Oddly, Baturoni echoed the same sentiments for his own team.

"I'm extremely proud of the development of less experienced Nitros," he said. "Not only are they experiencing fellowship with their fellow believers, but they are also making increasing contributions to the team."

With the Nitros now hitting the snot out of the ball AND playing impressive defense, one thing's for sure: The Usual Suspects won't be playing the same pushover team they swept in the regular season by a combined score of 28-5.

While The Franchise failed to beat the Nitros three consecutive times (living up to one of sports' perceived truisms), the Home Invaders and Minor Prophets met each other in the other first-round playoff game with the Invaders also trying to beat their opponent for a third time this year. But since the second regular season matchup was a forfeit by the Prophets, it actually was just the two teams' second meeting, not their third. So this game was theoretically up for grabs...and it played out that way as well.

In a tense, back-and-forth duel, Ovi Tisler's Home Invaders squeezed out a taut 11-8 win over Dan Coughlin's Minor Prophets, making Tisler 2-0 lifetime against Coughlin in the playoffs (the two managers also met in the first round last year, where Tisler's Global Warming team beat Coughlin's Lion's Den squad 8-3).

"The Minor Prophets played very well," Tisler conceded. "And this game was a couple of plays away from going 11-8 the other way. We were fortunate to make the plays we needed to make, and hit just enough to squeak by."

“The Nitros played awesome.”

- The Franchise's Kristen Huntington on how her team was upset by the Nitros

Trailing by 3 in the top of the 7th, the Prophets had great hope they could take the lead when Suzanne Stalker got a hit with just one out, bringing the top of the Prophets' order up. But Invader pitcher Andy Tisler induced Coughlin to pop up for the second out. The Prophets' Les Carter then got a single, but with the tying run at the plate and Chris Cormier on deck, Andy Tisler got the final out to end the dramatic game.

"Both sides of the ball played well," Tisler said. "We played great defense all around and also hit the ball
when we needed to. We didn't leave too many runners on base like we did last week; so I was pleased
to see improvement in that regard."

Four Invaders (Ethan Sinnema, Ovi Tisler, Tim Kerr and rookie Jared Mesenbrink) had perfect days at the plate. Dan Ionescu also had a breakout game, hitting his first home run of the season to lead off the second inning and added a huge RBI in the 6th to pad the Home Invaders' lead.

Except for Nate Crozier, the Prophets had all their big hitters together for this game also. But Home Invader Andrea Tisler made some spectacular plays at 2nd base, including snagging a liner to deny an extra base hit. And Invader Rob McMahon made the defensive play of the game. Usually an infielder, he was in LF when he snagged a deep fly ball at the warning track which saved at least 2 runs, and then made a great running catch on a smash by Minor Prophet Chris Cormier to put the inning away.

Ovi Tisler was grooming McMahon as a new outfielder to take over his position next week, when Tisler "will be enjoying some gorgeous golf courses out in Hilton Head, SC while on vacation" with his family.

"I strategically scheduled my vacation to coincide with the playoffs so I could give my team an edge by me not being there to choke at the plate," Tisler deadpanned. "Who knew I'd be on a tear (7-for-8, 8 RBI) the last 3 games before vacation?"

With the Invaders able to handle the full-throttle assault by the loaded Prophets, it certainly gives the Invaders confidence that they can make their third meeting against a similar Friars team a different outcome from the combined 35-12 drubbings the Invaders suffered in the regular season.

At 10:20am, the All-Star Game got underway with the team led by Robert Martinez leading Rob McMahon's squad 3-2 after the first inning. But a large, crackling shot of lightning forced the game to be called off, and the rains came 10 minutes later, prematurely ending what looked to be a highly interesting contest.

Now comes Championship Saturday, with the #6 cinderella Nitros against the top-seeded The Usual Suspects at 8am, followed by the #4-seeded Home Invaders against the #2-seeded Friars at 9:10am. The winners meet in the 2011 Championship Game at 10:20am. Any predictions?

"We'll have a tough contest in the Championship Game against the Nitros," predicted Tisler of his Home Invaders. "They can hit the ball well and nobody likes to bat against Baturoni. The first 2 games are really just a formality and should probably be skipped so we can all concentrate on the two best teams in the league."

The upstart Nitros aren't looking that far ahead.

"Our strategy is to convince [Usual Suspect pitcher] Gary Lockwood that the game is actually at 9:15am," Baturoni said. "Also, I plan on praying for a repeat effort of last Saturday. Of course, I'll justify my request by saying I'm doing it for His glory ;)"