The UAL season doesn’t really start until October 1. I’m on reasonably good terms with the commish, so I figured he wouldn’t mind if I started a little early. The opposing manager had given me his instructions and my Kerry Highlanders are expected to compete this year. For a lottery pick, that is. I don’t have a single A or B start. Nor do I have enough C starts to cover 160 games.
Bring on the Troy Hawks and lets see how it goes.
The first game matched Mikolas (CZ) for the Hawks and Gray for the Highlanders (CY). The Hawks broke on top on Peralta’s RBI double in the second. The Highlanders had two on and one out in their half on the second. A double play put an end to that though. We loaded them up in the 4th, but a Straw pop up and two strike outs ended that threat. So its going to be that kind of season is it? A Flores double and Gurriel dinger made it 3-0 after 4 ½ in favor of Troy. Aaron Hicks got the Celts within a run wit a two run blast in the bottom of the 4th. Troy scored three in the 7th and four in the 9th on their way to a 10-2 laugher.
Peralta and Greene, both CXY, were set up to throw a ton of K’s in Game 2. Greene gave up a three run homer to Flores and a solo shot to Taveras in the first (hint: not the start I was looking for). Ramon Urias’ RBI single and Andy Ibanez’ two run double made it a one run game after one. Ibanez’ second double in the 5th plated two more and made it a 6-4 Kerry lead. Dog gone Taveras went yard again – fortunately with no one on – to close it to 6-5 Kerry after 5 ½. The Highlanders got Chapman (B*XYW) for three 8th inning runs to close out the scoring at 9-5. Both starters fanned ten batters. Ibanez went 4-4 with three doubles, four RBI and a run.
With the series tied at 1, the Hawks sent Morton (BXW) against Lyles (DZ). Lyles scattered 12 hits. That was the bad news. The good news was he went 9 innings, giving up just one run on Semien’s solo homer to start the Troy 9th. The Nine parlayed their 12 hits in to nine runs.
Troy sent Patrick Sandoval (C) to face Bryce Miller (CYZ) to try and even up the series. Sandoval was outstanding, allowing 3 hits in six innings pitched. He left the game leading 3-0. Kerry torched Chapman (again) for two runs in the 8th to make it 3-2. Maton tossed a scoreless 9th, fanning two to earn the save for Troy.
Teheran (CZ) took the bump against the Highlanders’ Ryan (CXYZ) to decide the series winner. With two gone in the visitor second, Taveras singled. Polanco’s liner found the gap and Taveras trotted home for a 1-0 Troy lead. Straw led off the Ryan, with help from Middleton and Bautista, made the lead stand. The Highlanders win the first series 3 games to two.
Kerry’s future outlook
I don’t expect many more series wins. Sure, their will be some, but a 64 win season if my prediction. Of course, last year I predicted we would be under 500 and made the playoffs, so don’t bet the mortgage. OK, its pretty safe to bet the mortgage. Two more series in October. One against a Philly team that expects to challenge for a playoff spot and the other against a perennially tough Ephrata team. Philly next, I think. Since the manager is across the street, we will play face to face. I’m gonna say we drop eight of the ten against the Flying Pigs.
We have a Highlanders team in the IAL. They have a bullpen. ;)
Remind me, are you guys cards and dice, BBW or a mixture?
Tom
We are cards and dice. We have a six team division in which all the managers prefer to play on line. For divisional games they use rolz.org. It allows you to see all the dice rolls and talk smack (via typed messages) to your opponent as well. Most guys are on the phone so don’t need to type. When I’ve used rolz, I haven’t had a single die roll off the table.