6 3
The Reds kicked off the 2002 season with a pretty good effort against the Cards. The Reds struck for 3 runs in the first, on the strength of an RBI double by Ishpal, and bases-loaded walks by Sean and Alexia. After that, we were able to reach base and threaten, but never bunch enough offense together to score. Bryan picked up his first base hit, and Ishpal went 2-2. Andrew, Mitch and Adam M also made good contact. Both Mike and Andrew made their pitching debuts and both showed a great deal of potential. Defensively, 1B Ishpal had a very good game, and 2B Adam M made a pair of fine plays. C Adam C cut down a Cardinals runner trying to swipe third while 3B Bryan snagged a shallow fly ball to snuff out a Cardinal rally.

4 4
Two more Reds made their pitching debuts. Bryan started and allowed two runs, but pitched quite well. He ran into a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the second, but worked out of it by striking out the side. Ishpal also pitched his first couple of innings, and displayed an impressive fastball. He received some help on a nice play by 2B Adam M and 1B Kyle. Offensively, Adam C had our key hit, smashing an RBI double to right field to plate Kyle and Tyrell. In the top of the seventh, Mike gave us the lead swiping second and third and then alertly stealing home on a short overthrow to break a 3-3 tie. He also put in a solid 6 innings behind the plate. A fired-up Adam C did his best Don Drysdale impression with 3 strong innings, pitching his best game in a Reds uniform.

10 9
A lot of positive things happened in this game, unfortunately none of them on defense. Kyle started and pitched two solid innings, inducing weak grounders and pop-ups, but he got NO help from his fielders. We fielded the ball well, but then threw it away, dropped it, or didn't bother to throw at all. Oh well, all in good time. The Dodgers built up a 6-0 lead after two, but we struck back thanks to some heavy hitting from Ishpal (3-3, 2 doubles), Mitch (2-2, 4 RBIs) and Kyle, who picked up his first base hit and RBI. Adam C reached base 3 times and scored 3 runs, Bryan punched another hit, and Alexia had a walk and made her first contact of the season. The Dodgers were short-handed, so Dante agreed to play for them for the day. He walked and scored, and showed better confidence at the plate. We played catch up all day, but could never quite get even with the Dodgers, who also borrowed a pair of Rep players from the Mets. We look forward to our next meeting with them.

3 2
In the dictionary next to Hard Luck, there's this picture... There were about 8 different plays in this game that could have changed the outcome: all of them went the Mets' way. We continue to make gradual improvements. Sean, John and Jesse all hit the ball for the first time this year, with Jesse roping a ball to the outfield. Joel walked and swiped his first base. Bryan singled to drive home Adam M, and Mitch managed a steal of home, but otherwise the offense was dry. We put runners on base pretty well, but could never get that game-breaking hit, and we had a couple of runners erased on base running mistakes. Defensively, we had some difficulty taking care of the ball, and made some unwise extra throws. 3B Mitch and 1B Kyle combined for a defensive gem on a hard hit grounder, the kind of play you almost never see at this level, featuring a great throw, and then a perfect stretch by Kyle, who also tossed a shutout inning of relief. We're learning from our mistakes, and from that we should soon be on the winning end of one of these games.

8 2
Our tough luck continued in the first inning when the Cards, down to their last strike, plated two quick runs. We came right back thanks to some patience and erratic Cardinal pitching. We turned a pair of hit batters and a handful of walks into 3 runs. In the third inning, Adam C walked and was tripled home by Ishpal. We tacked on 4 more runs in the inning on more walks and an RBI single by John. Our pitching and defense were very good. Mitch pitched the first and last inning, and made an alert play at short to throw out a runner at the plate. LF Tyrell and 2B Adam both sacrificed their bodies to hold big Cardinal hitters to singles. Kyle and Ishpal each tossed a pair of scoreless innings, though Ishpal was helped by a phantom tag at home plate (That's what we call "intangible reach"). Our baserunning was outstanding, allowing us to pounce on Cardinal mistakes. A good effort and well-deserved first win.

12 3
The Reds offense exploded on this night, led by Mitch, Sean and Ishpal. Mitch was 2-2 with 3 RBI and a walk, Sean was 2-3 (his first two hits) with 3 RBI. Ishpal also drove in 3 runs, two on a triple he slammed halfway up the hill in left field. We had contributions from everyone. Jesse picked up another base hit. Dante walked, swiped second and third and scored on an RBI single by Bryan. Tyrell and John both swung the bat well. The Reds led 7-0 after two innings and never looked back. Kyle, Adam C, Ishpal held the Padres in check through the first four innings. Adam M made his pitching debut in the fifth, striking out one in an inning of work. Bryan looked good in his first game at catcher, putting in three solid innings.

15 8
The bats just keep on rolling. We pulled into a 6-0 lead after the 2nd inning, but the Dodgers walked their way back into the game, thanks in part to some spotty control, but also due to a miniscule strike zone. We ended up tied 8-8, heading into the last inning of play, despite out-hitting the Dodgers about 9-2. We had quite the final inning, sending the maximum 9 batters to the plate without recording an out. Kyle walked, Jesse singled, Mike walked, Bryan singled, Adam walked, Ishpal singled, John singled, Andrew walked and Sean polished off the inning with a bases-loaded double. For the game, Ishpal and John each recorded 3 hits, Jesse was 3-3, though we have to install his "Run Faster" software. Sean was 2-3 with 3 more RBI. Mitch and Bryan had two hits apiece, and Adam C picked up 2 hits, for one of our highest hit totals ever. Plus, Mike, Andrew and Tyrrell all made contact. With a 7-run lead, Adam C took the mound and polished off the Dodgers for our 3rd straight win.

10 7
The Reds bats battered Phillies pitching into a 9-3 lead by the end of 2nd inning. We weren't hitting dinky little singles, either. Ishpal slapped yet another double, Mike and Kyle slammed shots into the left and right field gaps, respectively, and Adam C hit a laser beam to right, for an RBI double. Bryan, John and Mitch kept up their hot-hitting, while Tyrell is inching ever closer to his first career hit. The offensive star of the game was Andrew, who broke out with 3 hits and 3 RBI, including a 2-run double in the second inning. On the mound, Kyle and Mike each logged a pair of solid innings, but we got lazy after the second, and made some ill-advised throws, letting the Phillies back into the game. We also lost two runners at the plate for failing to slide, a silly little rule that will disappear starting next week. We had a couple of defensive bright spots, namely Bryan, who continues to improve at catcher and threw out his first base stealer. Mitch was solid at SS and catcher. We have a talented group, but we have to keep our focus.

11 1
The bats cooled off a little this game. We were still making contact, but trading the solid line drives of previous games into popups and grounders, and the Cardinals have good defense. 8 of the 10 Reds in the lineup for this game were first-year players. That's not an excuse; they're GOOD first-year players, but we had our share of growing-pain mistakes. Overthrows were in the air on defence, we were a little hesitant on the bases, running ourselves out of a couple of promising innings. On the bright side, we're learning from our mistakes. For example, Dante won't try to steal an-already occupied second base again. Andrew started and allowed a few runs, but made great improvements his second inning of work and threw very well. John made his pitching debut in the third. He struggled with his control but got better as he went and got out of the inning. Sean took the mound in the 4th, and recorded 2 strikeouts, allowing just one run. He got a little help from SS Ishpal and 1B Bryan, who combined for the Cardiac Arrest play of the game. Ishpal ranged to his left to scoop a tough grounder. Bryan admired the play from first base, then realized he had to cover the base. He got there (barely) in time to make an ice cream cone catch of the high throw, and end the inning.

8 2
The Reds showed some heady play on both sides of the ball in this one. We jumped out to an early lead on hits by Kyle and Adam C. The Padres tied the game 1-1, but some nifty baserunning by John, who swiped second, third and scored on an overthrow put the Reds up 2-1. It was 3-2 Reds in the fourth when we loaded the bases and Adam C came through with a 2-run double. Andrew followed with a clutch single off a tough pitcher. We then executed the first of 2 double steals, with Andrew stealing 2nd and Adam C home. Andrew would steal 3rd and then home, as Adam M scampered to second base, drawing a throw. In addition to stealing the cycle, Andrew pitched 2 scoreless innings in a Houdini-like performance. He walked the bases-loaded with none out in the third, but got some help from his defence, who executed the run-down to perfection to catch a Padre off 3rd base. In the 4th Andrew put two runners on, again with none out, but was saved by an unassisted double play by 3B Kyle. C Mike played a solid game, helping nab two Padres at the plate. Ishpal shut down the Padres with 3 Ks in the fifth to preserve the team's 100th all-time win.

15 4
Mitch returned after a week off due to injury, deciding he'd "see how he felt." All he did was pitch 2 perfect innings, striking out 4, and go 3-3 with 2 doubles and 5 RBI. We may injure him every week... (just kidding Mitch). The second double, with 2 out and the bases full, blew the game open, 8-0 after two innings. We cruised from there, with two solid innings by Ishpal, and some great mop-up work by Kyle, who struck out the side in the 5th, including the Mets all-star slugger. Adam C picked up another multi-hit game, while Ishpal and Tyrell continue their solid hitting. Jesse finished the Mets off with a bases-loaded triple, and made a nice defensive play, snaring a sinking liner at second base, and alertly firing to third to complete a double play. Altogether a tidy game, though we could stand to swing at a few more strikes.

13 7
Another well-rounded offensive effort. The Reds pounded out a dozen hits, including 4 in the first inning, as we jumped out to a 4-0 lead. We tacked on 4 more in the 3rd and 5 in the 4th. Andrew continued to feast on Phillies pitching. He pounded the ball to all fields, going 3-3 with a double. Mitch finished the week 6-6, while Ishpal and Kyle also had multiple hit games. C Mike threw out a Phillies runner trying to steal third, and lined a beautiful hit just inside the 3rd base line. Adam M and John both made some contact, and while we'd like Joel to swing more often, he did a nice job running the bases, with great slides stealing third and home. We were very sharp on the basepaths, seldom missing a chance to take an open base. The Phillies are a VERY aggressive base-running team, and scored a few cosmetic runs late in the game, but we also threw out 4 Phillies baserunners, and Andrew, John and Jesse did a nice job covering for each other on overthrows.

11 5
The game began with a sparkling inning from Mitch: 9 pitches, 3 strikeouts. The Reds plated a run on a walk to Kyle, single by John and double by Mitch, but we left the bases loaded. The much improved Padres offense touched Mitch up for 2 runs in the 2nd. The Reds struck back to tie the game in the 2nd, but left the bases loaded. Kyle pitched a solid 3rd inning, giving up a run, and then the offense finally came through with a 4-run 3rd inning, though we did leave the... bases loaded. 5 more runs in the 4th sealed the victory, and yeah, we left the bases loaded. 7 different Reds picked up base hits, though Adam M's and Ishpal's travelled a combined 10 feet. Kyle and Tyrell also made good contact, and Sean, Dante and Alexia combined for 5 walks in 6 trips. The Padres put a lot of balls in play, and we saw some nice defense from SS Mitch and 2B Adam M, and a pair of nice plays from 3B Kyle. C Adam C discouraged several Padres runners from stealing with his strong throws. Bryan was unable to play due to illness, but came out to provide moral support.

9 9
The first two innings of this game were a nightmare, as the Reds imploded both on and off the field. Adam C started and didn't pitch badly. He was the victim of two poor calls, one which cost us an out, the second on a "triple" hit some 10 feet foul which was astonishly judged fair. Adam plunked two batters around these incidents, and thus had to be replaced. Andrew relieved and showed some rust, but got us out of the first inning. The Mets scored 4 more runs in the second and led 8-1 at the end of two. That was the GOOD news, as we had a blowup in the dugout. Sufficed to say, one does NOT use a baseball bat to settle a dugout dispute. Being the very first team to file an Incident Report with the league is a team first we could all do without.

In the home half of the 3rd, the Reds struck back. Tyrell led off by golfing a single to right field, sparking a 6-run inning, highlighted by a 2-run single by John. Ishpal pitched two scoreless innings, looking dominant at times. He was picked up by Mitch, who allowed just a walk. The Reds came to bat in the last inning trailing 9-7. With one out, Bryan was plunked. Kyle chopped a ball to short, and Bryan was called out at second base, though he clearly beat the throw, our third tough break of the night. That said, our umpires are young, learning and entitled to make mistakes. The key is not to dwell on the mistakes and to move on. That's just what we did. Kyle quickly swiped second and third, then Mitch walked and stole second, setting the table for Adam to punch the game-tying single to left. Both CF/3B Bryan and C/2B Kyle had very good games defensively. A fun comeback that was almost worth the night's headaches.

7 2
Fine pitching and defense earned us a solid win over our division rivals. Mitch, Ishpal and Adam C each logged 2 quality innings, with good defense behind them. The Dodgers were threatening in the 4th inning, with 2 on and 1 out, when 1B Adam C made a great backhanded stab of a one-hopper for the second out. CF Bryan then handled a fly ball to end the threat. SS Andrew made a fine play on a hard grounder to end the game. We used 4 catchers in the 30+ degree heat, and all for did a great job taking care of the baseball and keeping Dodger baserunners from moving up. Offensively, we pounced for 4 runs in the first, sending 9 Reds to the plate. Mike had a towering RBI single to right, while Adam C and Andrew competed for shortest hit of the season. Hey, they all count. Andrew made up for it later, unleashing a laser into the right field gap. Ishpal slammed a pair of hard hits, plating a pair of runs. Dante walked, swiped second and scored an important insurance run on Andrew's third hit of the day. Though he wasn't rewarded with a hit, Kyle had three great at-bats, stinging the ball a couple of times.

1 1
The pitching was outstanding in this game, for both teams. Mitch, Adam C and Ishpal combined for a 6-inning 2-hitter, with just a scratch run on an overthrow against them. The defense wasn't too busy, but came up big when they had to. C Mike threw out a runner at third base and 2B Bryan made a nice play on a groundball, sprawling to tag out the lead runner. RF Dante cutoff one of the Phillies rare hits smartly to hold the batter to a single and 2B John was great backing up throws at second. Offensively, we had a couple singles by Mitch and one by Ishpal, but that was about it. Kyle drew a couple of walks in the leadoff spot, and we did get a few runners to 3rd base, but our only run of the game came when Bryan took a ball in the arm with the bases loaded for an RBI the hardway. The Phillies had a man on 3rd in the last inning, but Adam C bore down to strike out a Phillies slugger and end the inning.

13 13
4 innings of some of the ugliest baseball we've ever seen, thanks in part to the lack of a strike zone. Calling a tiny strike zone at this level is unfair to the pitchers and is no way to teach kids to hit. The Mets were able to sprinkle the odd hit among their walks, and we generously threw the ball around, handing out extra bases. Trailing 3-0 after half an inning, the Reds struck back with 5 runs, 3 on a bases-loaded triple by Adam C. The Mets scored 5 right back, we scored 2, and so on. The Reds trailed 13-9 heading into the final inning, before drawing 7 straight walks to tie the game. Dante came within a whisker of ending the game, scooting a ball just off the pitcher's glove, but the Mets recovered to force Adam C at the plate by inches. We had some good at-bats in the game. Tyrell had some good cuts, ditto John. Our defense improved as the game went on. An alert relay from LF John to SS Mitch to C Bryan erased a Met at the plate, and P Mike easily ran down a Met slugger who had thoughts of stealing home.

4 4
Our club record 3rd straight tie, and another pitching duel with the Phillies. Andrew got the start and was outstanding in 2 innings of work. LF Tyrell saved a run backing up an overthrow at 3rd. He tossed a strike to the plate to erase a Philly. Runs were at a premium in this one. We used some alert baserunning on overthrows to 3rd base and the pitcher to take a 2-1 lead. The Phillies fought back and nosed ahead 3-2, but were kept from a big inning by 2B Adam M's snag of a dying quail on the infield. A walk to Mike and double by Mitch led off the Reds 5th. Walks to Adam C and Andrew tied the game. Mitch then swiped home to give the Reds a 4-3 lead. The Phillies tied it the bottom of the 5th on a pair of doubles. Tyrell walked to start the 6th, and reached 3rd on two heart-stopping stolen bases. With 2 down, Mike hit a laser beam to left, only to be snagged by the Phillies left fielder. The Phillies got the winning run to 3rd with one out in the bottom of 6, but P Adam C put on his closer face and struck out the side to end the game. A much improved defensive effort.

11 8
The Reds outlasted the Dodgers in the rain and unseasonable cool. We got off to a tremendous start. P Ishpal was lights-out, whiffing 3 Dodgers in quick succession. The offense backed him up with a 5-run outburst in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a 2-run double by Andrew. The Dodgers struck back for 4 in the 2nd. We extended the lead to 7-4, but were prevented from a big inning by some fine Dodger defense, and our own lack of concentration. Andrew pitched the third inning and pitched well, but after getting two outs he worked several full counts, and couldn't find that last payoff pitch, as the Dodgers took an 8-7 lead. Andrew (2-2, 2 RBI, 2 runs) singled to ignite a four-run rally in the bottom of the inning. With a 3-run lead, Adam C slammed the door on the Dodgers with authority, striking out the side. C Bryan was a jack rabbit behind the plate, hustling all over to hold Dodger runners in place. 1B Kyle made a key defensive play with the bases loaded to prevent a big Dodger inning, and the outfield did a nice job reaching the ball and hitting their cutoffs.

14 6
This game was basically two games in one. For the first two innings, runs were at a premium. The Reds loaded the bases in the first inning, but could manage only a run. In the bottom of the first, P Mitch ran into a jam after a walk and a double. The Dodger cleanup hitter ripped a screamer to left, only to be snared by LF Tyrell and relayed to 3rd for a clutch double play. The Reds bats came alive in the fifth, on hits by Mike, Ishpal and Mitch, intermingled with the odd walk, and a steal of home by Kyle. Dodger pitchers couldn't find the strike zone in the 4th, walking in a handful of runs. Last batter Jesse punctuated the rally with a 3-run triple that was inches from being an in-the-park grandslam. Up 14-1, our pitchers lost some control, but they could afford to. A solid effort; C Adam C and Bryan did good work behind the plate, stopping Dodger runners in their tracks. Joel and Jesse did a nice job running down balls in the larger Peewee outfield. John, Tyrell and Andew had some very good swings, and Alexia picked up her first career hit.

6 5
The most thrilling game of the year to date. Down 1-0, Mitch singled and scored on a booming double by Ishpal, who would later score on an RBI single by Adam C. Mike swiped home an inning later for a 3-1 lead. Our pitching and defense was fantastic; Mitch mowed down the Padres for 2 innings, Ishpal started a 1-3-2 double play to retire the top two Padre hitters, and 3B Bryan snagged a shallow popup, almost turning a second DP. With two on and two out in the bottom the fifth, Tyrell lashed a double to the right field fence, for a 5-1 lead. Adam C battled the heart of the Padre order, and gave up a few hard hits, but allowed just 2 runs. An RBI double by Mitch extended the lead to 6-3. The Padres narrowed the gap to 6-5 in the 7th, on 3 walks and 2 infield hits. With one out and the bases loaded, Kyle relieved, pitching for the first time in a month. He threw 8 pitches, 7 for strikes, for a fist-pumping first career save.

7 3
The definition of a total team effort. The Reds struck first as Mike scored on Andrew's RBI single. P Ishpal fell victim to the incredible shrinking strike zone, walking in 4 Padres. However, the Padres last batter failed to run out his walk, and C Adam C retrieved the ball and appealed the play at first, negating the run. The Reds rallied in the 2nd, on singles by Adam C and Alexia. Jesse followed with a drive to the gap in right, only to have it snagged for the third out. Kyle took the mound in the 2nd and, despite loading the bases, continued to baffle the Padres with 2 scoreless innings of work. The offense broke through in the 3rd, on a handful of walks, a 2 RBI single by Andrew and some VERY interesting baserunning by Kyle and Ishpal, who both ended up at 3rd base - simultaneously - yet both managed to score.

A bases-loaded walk to Joel stretched the lead to 6-3. Andrew relieved, striking out 2, then got a huge break when the Padre on third decided to steal home on a short wild pitch, only to find C Mike waiting for him at the plate. In the 6th Bryan snapped a hitting slump with a single, then used some crafty baserunning to score an insurance run. Adam C got the ball in the 5th and 6th and slammed the door on the Padres, striking out 5 and allowing just a pair of scratch singles. On defense, SS Andrew made a beautiful play to retire a fleet-footed Padre by a step, while Adam M, Joel and Dante hustled in the outfield to keep the Padres from extra bases.

9 6
Sean and Mitch returned to the lineup from illness and went a combined 3-4. Ten different Reds had hits, as the team combined for 15 in total, including 2 triples and 6 doubles. Mike ripped a ball to the water fountain in centre and was barely thrown out trying for the in-the-park homer, though we still think he was under that tag. Two batters later Mitch tripled. He was doubled home by Ishpal, who was doubled home by Andrew, who was singled home by John. It was quite the inning. Up 7-3, Kyle relieved, and was touched up for the first time in the playoffs, largely due to a double that was some 10 feet foul. Undaunted, Kyle worked out of the inning, thanks to his own defence. He handled a hot grounder, then successfully picked a runner off 3rd. A single by Kyle and a booming double by Tyrell tacked on 2 more runs, then we turned things over to Adam C, playing the last of the 9 fielding positions, for his 2nd playoff save. One of the best team hitting displays in club history.

10 6
A hard-fought game between two very good teams. Ishpal and Mitch kept the Cards big bats in check through the first three innings, while a John drove in a pair of runs with a clutch 2-out single in the first inning. An RBI walk to Kyle put the Reds ahead 3-0. We couldn't hold the Cards down forever, and on the very large, very dry, very hard diamond, a well hit ball just rolls and rolls and... you get the idea. The Cards put up a 5-run inning on a bases-loaded triple and in-the-park homer. We got one run back thanks to some nifty baserunning by Mike, who stole his way to third and then scored on a short overthrow to the pitcher. The Cards struck back an inning later with a 3-run homer, and extended their lead to 10-4. The Reds didn't go down without a fight, loading the bases in the top of the 6th. Ishpal scorched an RBI single to cut the lead to 10-6 and bring the tying run to the plate, but the Cards held on for the win. 2B Adam M made a beautiful defensive play in this game, and several young players made good contact against the very tough Cardinals pitching staff. Tyrell and Andrew hit the ball hard, and Joel had his best at-bats of the season, very encouraging signs for next season. The team can be very proud of a great season.

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