By Dave Hoffenberg
Over the years we have seen our fair share of David beating Goliath. Upsets are going to happen and the best part is they happen when you least expect it. Those two lines were almost written about the Heavy Hitters, who recently shocked the entire league. They put up their biggest battle in team history against the Monsters and took them to the seventh inning.
The Hitters had Loco on loan from the Phat Italian and he pitched well, delivering six “Cold Beer K’s” to the Monsters. The Hitters also called up Cade Duval from the Tahoe Teacups who contributed with his bat. It was all Hitters in the first inning, taking a 3-0 lead. The teams traded runs the rest of the way in a classic see-saw battle. The Hitters were clinging to a one run lead in the sixth but the Monsters rallied to take a 12-10 lead into the seventh.
Loco then led the rally cry and gave the team their biggest pep talk, which they’re not used to, but they listened. They put a scare into the Monsters putting two on base with two outs, Mild Megan up and Duval on deck. Unfortunately, Megan missed a single up the third base line by a few inches, resulting in a “CBK” foul out to end the game.
Those ten “winning” runs were the most they’ve scored all season combined.
Clearly Moguls had a huge winning week, blasting their three opponents by a combined 63-11. The star of the week was Judd “These boots aren’t made for walking” Washburn who was “En Fuego” with five homeruns. First they took on McGrath’s and jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind Washburn’s grand slam. McGrath’s turned on the hit machine and closed the gap 5-4 after one inning. Then, Brett “The Hitman” Regimbald got into the homerun game blasting a two run shot in the second and Washburn also scored to double up McGrath’s 8-4. McGrath’s got one back in the second when Seth “The Mask” scored but that would be the last run they would get until the fifth. The “Brett and Judd Show” was fun to watch, unless of course you were on McGrath’s, as each kept getting the hits and homeruns to seal the 21-8 mercy win.
The next opponent was the Hitters who weren’t able to keep it close like their last game. C.M. had their biggest output of the season crushing the Hitters 30-1 in only two innings. The Hitters tried the four catcher rotation but neither one could stop the onslaught. Every single team member scored for C.M. and they hit through the order in the very first inning. In the second inning, they hit through the order two and a half times! The ball was flying out of the park as Washburn crushed another and Angel blasted a grand slam. Speed also killed the Hitters as Regimbald had two inside-the-park homeruns and Hunter and Ronzoni each added one. Ronzoni’s was his first ever. He was near perfect on the mound, only giving up two hits and delivering a “CBK” looking to Coach Clarke.
They rounded out their week against the Phat Italian in the bottom of the night double-header. The Phat has been yearning for a win against them for a few years now and was desperately trying to avoid another sweep. That did not happen as Clearly Moguls stayed hot.
The Phat had their chances to score in the first with runners on the corners but Loco grounded out to end the inning. Nearly everyone for C.M. got a hit in the first and they jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back. Ronzoni stayed hot as well, limiting the Phat to two runs over seven hits with three “CBK’s” to Steve “Killer” Kent and Isaiah. He was especially good when he got power hitting Evan to ground out to him twice. Angel was a perfect three for three with three runs scored and Hunter was three for three with a run scored and three RBI.
In the end C.M. got another mercy win, this time in the sixth 12-2. Not once this week were they taken to the seventh inning. Washburn’s week ending historic stats were six for eight with two walks, 10 RBI and nine runs scored.
McGrath’s bounced back with two close wins over the Monsters and STF. The Phat started their week with a win over STF.
Clearly Moguls started where they left off and that was crushing homeruns, this time by some unlikely people. Will “The Thrill” Burdick hit his first of the year and it capped off a huge game for the team. While the other teams are still battling it out for playoff seeding, C.M. clinched the number one seed, two weeks early. They did so in a pivotal game against arch-rival, The Vermonsters. It was the rubber match with the two previous games being decided by three runs combined. The game started on a low note as Brando Remick “Cold Beer K’d” to lead-off. Judd was able to drive in a run for a 1-0 lead. Tyler jacked a two run shot in the bottom to give the Vermonsters the lead.
The teams exchanged runs in the second for a 3-2 Vermonster lead. Scooter hit a huge two out, two RBI double in the third to regain the lead 4-3. The Vermontsters blew a huge opportunity for runs in the third when they left the bases loaded. Both teams went down 1-2-3 in the fourth but C.M’s was CBK-2-CBK.
C.M. exploded in the fifth as they batted through the order and scored seven runs. The Vermonsters responded by going CBK-2-CBK with one of those a very rare one by Rollie. Will jacked his homerun in the sixth and the Vermonsters came up with a huge diving web gem by Tyler to rob Brando and stop C.M. They used that to fire up the team with a two run blast by Jason, and Tyler and Trey scored as well to cut the lead 12-7. They had a chance for many more but were caught in a rare left field to pitcher double play. C.M. was not done and they added three in the seventh to stretch their lead 15-7 and then turned on the “D” to finish them off. Rollie delivered five “CBK’s” to Ronzoni’s two. DJ Dave suffered two of those but was able to even it out with two RBI. Judd was still in “Beast” mode going four for four with three runs scored and a RBI. Angel matched that with an additional two RBI.
SCHEDULE
Monday, July 14
STF vs Heavy Hitters @ Killington 5:50 p.m.
STF vs Heavy Hitters @ Killington 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 16
Phat Italian vs McGrath’s @ Killington 5:50 p.m.
Phat Italian vs Monsters @ Killington 7 p.m.
Clearly Moguls vs STF @ Bridgewater 5:50 p.m.
Clearly Moguls vs STF @ Bridgewater 7 p.m.
STANDINGS
1. Clearly Moguls 11-2 (clinched the #1 seed in playoffs)
2. McGrath’s Irish Pub 9-5
3. Long Trail Monsters 8-5
4. Phat Italian 7-5
5. STF 2-8
6. Heavy Hitters 0-12 (clinched the #6 seed in playoffs)
