The On Deck Circle

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Slammin’ Hoes First Tournament – London and Dorchester
The Hoes were without a few key pieces to begin the SPO season. Pitcher Adam Millen was absent on Saturday, forcing usual bench boss Blake Murphy into a Saturday spot. The team also had the task of meshing with new players Greg Crane and Danny Matijiw. With a first-game bye and a generous seeding, the Slammin’ Hoes season got under way.

Game 1 – 20-19 Win v. The Braves II – A hard fought battle that announced the Hoes presence to SPO. This back-and-forth battle started with a poor first inning from pitcher Blake Murphy, but the bats were alive from the onset, making this a real hitting showdown. The Hoes came out on top thanks to a 7th-inning RBI fielder’s choice by Alex Snyder.

Game 2 – 18-4 Loss v. Gators – An embarrassing TKO loss (mercy rule in effect), the only even remotely bright spot was that the team showed life in the 5th inning before succumbing to defeat.

Game 3 – 18-11 Win v. County Blaze – Hangovers be damned, the team flew out of the gate to score 7 in the 1st and 7 more in the 3rd en route to a pretty resounding victory. Danny Matijiw scored 4 times thanks to a chicken sacrifice his tribe made to his God of Baseball the night before.

Game 4 – 8-4 Loss v. 4 What? – The bats went to sleep for this one, so the team couldn’t build on a great defensive effort. Sadly, this game (and tournament) ended with the team’s lone strikeout for the weekend.

So, a semi-disappointing first tourney for the boys in black and red. They got some of the entrance fee back because of the generous seeding but a .500 record is not what this team expects to produce. Inconsistent hitting was a big problem but should even out as guys get into mid-season form. B.J. O’Brien hit great, John Heymans was a nice surprise, Mike Poll had his usual dominant bat, and Danny ‘Teeto/Running Water’ Matijiw had a fantastic debut on and off the field. In two weeks time, it’s Windsor and a whole new set of Hoes for the boys to Slam.

Slammin’ Hoes Second Tournament – Windsor
Short one Greg Crane, the squad brought along Brent Spurgeon to fill the hole. With a much worse draw than Dorchester and too many early games, the deck was stacked against your favorite Slo Pitch team. Coming off a disappointing 2-2 opening tournament, the team had a lot of pressure, mostly self-inflicted.

Game 1 – 17-3 Win v. 4 What? – Revenge for the defeat in the previous tournament, the Hoes shook off some 8am cobwebs to pound 4 What for five straight innings en route to a mercy victory. Danny Matijiw had four hits and 8 different players crossed home plate in this one.

Game 2 – 16-15 Loss v. Boombah Conistan Rockies in 8 innings – Facing the only team as young as themselves in SPO-C, the Hoes looked sluggish until the 7th inning. It was then that they tallied 5 runs to tie the game, thanks in part to clutch triples by Dave Power and Mike Poll. In the extra frame, B.J. O’Brien hit a bases-loaded single and then scored on an error, but the Hoes relinquished the lead in the bottom half of the inning, losing by a run.

Game 3 – 6-5 Win v. Plumbing Now – Luckily, their swings weren’t working, because neither were those of the Hoes. 6 runs should not win you a Slo Pitch game but a fine defensive effort from the whole team made it possible.

Game 4 – 8-6 Win v. Expos – The Hangover Bowl, an 8:30am Sunday morning game that is apparently SPO tradition, saw another defensive gem put forth by The Team Now Known as Slammin. A big 6th inning secured the lead and ensured a better record this tourney than last.

Game 5 – 16-4 Loss v. D’Arcy Lane – The massage therapy school-sponsored D’Arcy Lane team was apparently less hungover than the Hoes, pounding them for six innings before the mercy rule went into effect. It was a disappointing way to end an otherwise decent tournament showing, especially because of the defensive lapses that are uncharacteristic of this team.

Unfortunately, the hitting struggled compared to the first tournament, costing the team a few runners left on base and a bit of frustration. However, the team improved on the previous tournament, posting a 3-2 record. Dave Power (12 for 19), Sean McDonald (11 hits), and Deven Hiscock (11 hits) all hit the ball well, and B.J. O’Brien cashed in a team-high 11 runs. In two weeks time, the Hoes hit up Dorchester once again for a tournament where they should sport their full 10-man roster for the very first time.