Okay. Let's be honest. The 28+ has kind of lost a little luster over the years as the Brewers and Black Sox have been playing baseball with a cheat code and everyone else has been playing with a broken controller. But things got heated up this past Sunday and – this week - with the Brewers and Mets igniting a rivalry we haven't seen since the days of the Ravens and Cardinals.
The game started awkwardly when the visiting team (Brewers) showed up with a lawnmower to mow the infield grass and lines at Pearl Park. Now let's continue to be honest, when the high school season finishes and Washburn is out of school - Pearl Park turns into a dome less biodome but without the theatrics of Stephen Baldwin and Pauly Shore - it's flush with dandelions, wildflowers, snake holes, boulders, different types of weeds and tall grasses and an occasional snapping turtle will crawl out of left field. Great conditions to study global warming but not the greatest conditions to play the grand ole game. So, bringing your own lawnmower was probably a radical idea - but a needed idea to solve an issue, which is the maintenance of Harmon Killebrew Field at Pearl Park. Anyway, enough with Minnesota's geology - we are taking baseball.
The most competitive game the Brewers have played all season was highlighted by the pitcher’s duel between Nate Jackson and Jamar “Juice” Cadejuste, both going seven innings but Jackson picking up the win by scattering four hits. Matt Grill came in to close the door for the save throwing a clean two innings – Grill also scored two runs in the 4-3 win. If your internet savvy enough you can search for the highlights on YouTube.
No question, these two teams could see a rematch in the 28+ title game and the Mets have a legitimate chance at knocking off the five time champions.
Also improving teams like the Lake Monsters, Piranhas and Hounds have been a welcome sight to 28+ eyes - making the top tier more competitive than it has been over the past four or five years. And you still have to look out for the always solid teams like the Northeast Nine, Delano Bats and the Grasshoppers. The 28+ is no longer a snooze fest - at least on Twitter.
The Lake Monsters after picking up a couple studs in the offseason are now a real threat in the National as well. With the additions of Ben Levy and former Booster Danny Bissonnette – the monsters improved on top of their stable core of players. They took another step forward as they downed the Nine 6-3. Reed Richerson with two this and two runs batted in, Anthony Gross picked up the late innings win with two strikeouts in two innings of no hit ball.
The Black Sox scored four in the sixth inning to break open a pitcher’s duel verses Delano Bats and win 5-2. Ben Lemke went 2-4 with a double, triple and three runners drove in – he also picked up the save going two clean innings. The Hoppers blanked the Muskies 5-0, Bryan Jamieson with a complete game shutout, pitching three hit ball and also smacking two hits and scoring a run for his cause. Matt Chruscieski with three hits, double and two runs scored. One game separates the Hoppers, Monsters and Black Sox from the Brewers in the surprising competitive National Division.
Outside the “top four” the Hounds are sitting at .500 looking up after a win over the Generals on Sunday. Joe Collier – on loan from the Rams – went 4-4 with four dogs knocked in and scored two runs. Justin Ancel also had four hits and Joe Glynn has three hits. Steve Siquerious with the complete game shutout going seven innings and only allowing two hits in the 14-0 win.
The Bulldogs 7-5 win over the Snappers put them in hold of the last playoff spot in the National. The Mariners and Isotopes still have a chance at that last playoff spot if they can string some wins together.
The American Division is up for grabs as the fifth seed is only a game and a half out of first place. The Blue Jays made a case for the post season behind Cory Canaday’s performance, with two hits, three runs, two RBIs and picking up the save to close out the 10-4 win over the Isotopes. The Piranhas are the class of the division right now sitting on top after a 3-0 blanking of the Mariners. Brandon Case de Calvo pitched a complete game shutout striking out eleven, he also had two hits and the plate and scored a run. Mike Kuhlman drove in two runs for the fish.
I wish we could talk about a playoff run in the Roy Hobbs, but everyone makes the playoffs in the gentlemen’s division so all we get to talk about is underage players with asterisks and questionable bookkeeping by certain teams named after a Tom Cruise movie character.
The Dodgers remain on top after a 20-9 throbbing of the Mavericks. Chad Manders doubled and drove in five and also picked up the win going six innings. Phil Rivera scored four runs and Josh Richards drove in three. Dodgers have won six in a row and are cruising to a playoff – oh that’s right, everyone makes the playoffs anyway.
Speaking of winning streaks the Skeeters have won four in a row after a Thursday win over the Angels and a Sunday sweep of the Knights. Casey Johnson went a combined 5-8 with a double and four runs batted in for the bugs. Bob Gordon and Ken Wangler each picked up the wins. Tom Genrich breaking out a slump with three hits, double, four RBIs and scoring twice.
The Grays sleepwalked to a double header sweep of the Wobblies. With two Wolves still half in the bag from the prior nights’ festivities – the ball was being kicked around more than the Minnesota United on cocaine. Michael Shanor and Jon Schlotz each pitched solid and gutsy enough to keep the cats off the path and Steve Cupryna, Michael Crane and Jon Widerski saved the day at the plate with clutch hitting. The only team in the league without an asterisk has won four in a row.
The Angels and Voyageurs traded wins last Sunday. Henry Medrano homered for the watchers and Nate Ackman picked up the mid game comeback win. Nate Ackman homered in the rematch but also picked up the loss as Lewis & Clark won 7-2 led by Ryan Saralampi’s complete game five hit performance on the bump. John Denhartog and Jared Klahsen with two hits each for the green machine.
The hottest team in the TCMABL – the Rams – have won fourteen in a row after another sweep this past Sunday. Andy Kemper won the morning with a complete game shutout fanning five through seven for a 2-0 victory over the Bombers. Nolan Baker won the afternoon match with help from Jordan Zoellmer’s three hit day. Jeff Moe doubled twice and Joe Glynn had two runs batted in. The Rams have a big game verses the Coyotes upcoming this Sunday – the winner of split of this series will impact who will win the National.
After an early morning Twitter error or scare – the Coyotes did sweep the True Blue. Jason Eddy and Matt Ruban each homered, Michael Heitpeas had three hits and Roger Morrison struck out ten in seven innings only allowing two hits in a morning 7-2 win. Adam Weber followed that with a complete game win of his own, striking out seven – he also drove in three runs with his two hits and two walks. Mike Lippert had three hits for the Yotes. The defending champs are looking good going into August.
The Cardinals continue to win as well with a sweep over the Twins. The balanced Cards combined 17-3 to take down Tri-City. John Remakel and Cody Gustafson picked up the wins.
The Sea Donkeys continue to run away with the American after a sweep of the slumping Tigers. Emery Hull, Jelani Thomas and Matt Shaver all with two hits each. Andy Gaddis picked up the win striking out six in seven. Joey Novak struck out eight and picked up the complete game shutout in game two. Dan Casazza and Hull both double and Dan Anderson with two hits and two runs scored. The Donks have pretty much wrapped up the Burnsville first round bye.
The Expos swept the Saints, Thomas Troy with four RBIs in the morning and Bryndyn Shipquist got the win. Keanu Smith’s six inning grand slam helped the Expos pull ahead and win 7-5 over Stillwater. Mac Shepherd struck out eight in three innings to pick up the late innings win.
Giants get back on track and swept the Ducks. Noah Danner pitches a one hitter and Austin Fadness with a double, triple and three runs batted in for the morning 7-1 win. The Giants needed nine innings for the afternoon 8-7 win. Ryan Polehonka with four hits, Cole Lambert with the win, he also doubled and drove in a run. The Giants and Expos meet up this Sunday in a very important game for playoff seeding.
The Legends have won five in a row and are back in the playoffs after a sweep of the Avengers. John Harper and John Toraason with the wins, Scott O’Brien doubles and triples and scores four times. Legends hope to continue their winning ways this Sunday as they face a hot Cardinals team.
The Indians and North Stars trade wins, Bailey Smith picked up the morning win for the Indians. Ben Herman, Elliot Engen both with two hits – Engen doubled and tripled. Adrian Waters with three hits, runs and two runs batted in for the Stars in their 6-4 win. Travis Warren gets the win.
