GIANTS BASEBALL
The Giants have established a long tradition of playing competitive baseball since forming in 1995 to play in a no longer existing NABA league. In 1997 the Giants left NABA and became a founding member of the Twin City Men's Adult Baseball League. The team has carrried winning records most seasons and won league championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005. The team has played in many additional tournaments over the years, including many local tournaments as well as tournaments in Austin, MN and Phoenix AZ.
Giants' News
It is with a heavy heart we post this update. RIP Jeremy, you will be missed
They say there's no crying in baseball but that becomes more difficult as we learn of the passing of former Giant, Jeremy Marthaler. Jeremy was a good man, a good player and a good friend. For many years the Giants only had one catcher on their roster as most years Jeremy caught every game the team played. At least now I know that I'll have someone to play catch with when I go to heaven. Jeremy was 49 years old.
2024 Season Highlights
Week One Babycakes
After a long off season, opening day was finally here. Todays opponent the Babycakes, now in their third year, and the Giants had never matched up before. Typically with most new teams it takes about three years for a team to develop, so we were expecting a challenge from this up and coming team. The Giants started new addition and former Ram, Josh Gabrick on the mound and he held the Babycakes to a couple of runs on 14 Ks as the Giants took a bit to get the bats going. With a couple of runners thrown out in close plays at home the Giants finally broke the game open on Noah Danner's two RBI single followed an inning later by another two RBI single by another former Ram, Tyrese Allen, who also had three stolen bases. New addition Will Heise came off the bench to add a couple hits and solid baseball all around led to the 8 to 2 win.
Game two starter, Cole Lambert, said "Give me the ball." It didn't matter that a week and a half ago he was laying in a hospital bed wondering if he was going to make it home, let alone play baseball this season. He pitched - giving up only one hit, the rest of the team hit and we helped him out with a short outing in the 17 to 1 win. Will Heise finishing his day at the plate going 5 for 5, hit what was said to be the longest home run in modern baseball history. They finally caught up to the baseball still rolling a couple of innings later. Bryce Stuart added a couple hits and altogether eight players had hits.
Good start getting two wins. It's odd at this point in the season but the Memorial Day weekend comes at a good time to give a few injuries a chance to heal.
"You better lose yourself, the moment you own it. You better never let it go. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime" Marshall Mathers
LF Go Giants!!
Week Two Sea Donkeys
The perennial high scoring Sea Donkey were the opponent this week and suffice to say, they lived up to their reputation in the first game. The Donkeys jumped out to a 6-run lead before the end of the second inning putting the good guys in a hole. Rob Dembroski came in to pitch 3 scoreless innings giving the Giants a chance to put up 6 runs to make it close, but a Sea Donkey run scratched out in the bottom of the sixth put them up by one. The Giants ended the game stranding the tying run at third. Cole Lambert, Brandon Curry and Ren Martin all had two hits in the loss.
Game two would be our chance for revenge, right?
Wrong. The Giants couldn't get the bats going, obviously falling for the Jedi mind trickery of the Sea Donkeys pitching in the 8 to 0 loss. Cole Lambert again led the team with two hits and Josh Gabrick pitching gave the team a chance, but like someone I know likes to say, "You have to score more than zero runs to win".
"I'm a little bit off today, something down inside me feels so different. See, I'm a little bit off today, I cannot put my finger on it." Zoltan Bathory
I think we can all agree that better managerial decisions would have brought these games our way. You win or you learn. Today, hopefully, we learned.
LF Go Giants!!
Week Three Ducks
Game one starter Josh Gabrick settled down after the first couple of innings and the Giants finally got their bats going in the sixth inning when Noah Danner doubled off the wall tied the score at 4. The score remained tied until Will Heise's sac fly scored the winning run in the bottom of the 8th. Gabrick finished with 12 strikeouts in his complete game victory. Not exactly according to plan, but we'll take it. In the second game, starter Will Heise was going smoothly until the fifth inning when new comer Bucky Kuhn came in to slow down the pesky Ducks. By the time things settled down the Giants were down 6 to 4. The Giants ended both the sixth and seventh innings stranding the bases loaded. The key hit did not come and the Giants did not pass go. Adam Kern and Ren Martin each had two hits in the loss.
"Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose." Lyndon Johnson
The baseball season is not just a typical season, like summer. Each season is more like a story, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Every team has a chance to write it's own story every year. We're still at the beginning. What counts is how the story ends.
LF Go Giants!!!
Week Four Legends
Josh Gabrick took the ball in game one and kept the Giants in the game. A couple of chances to tie the game were squandered leading to the 6 to 5 final. Eli McEwan went 3 for 3 with a couple of stolen bases in the loss. Game two was a back-and-forth game that put the Giants within one strike of a win, but fate went against us again and the extra inning game ended with the good guys down 13 to 8. Will Heise had three hits, Josh Gabrick had two and Eli McEwan also added two more, going 5 for 6 on the day - enough to earn the Player of the Week. All in all, though, both games were victories that turned into defeats.
"I have not yet begun to fight" John Paul Jones
Sounds good Jones, but how about we start now? I think now would be a good time to start a winning streak.
LF Go Giants!!!
Week Five North Stars
This week's match up against the North Stars looked tough as the Giants were again deluged with injuries and no shows. Cole Lambert stated the first game leaving after 5 innings with a 3 - 2 lead. Newcomer Bucky Kuhn came in and gave up a run (controversial call) and the game stayed tied until the 13th inning with both teams scoring runs but with the North Stars coming out on top, 7 to 5. Another loss snatched from the hands of victory. Game two started badly and then got worse. Control problems plagued the starter, but Adam Reents, in an attempt to work on his arm rehab (and possibly regain past glory), came in to keep the score close enough to give the Giants a chance. However, the depleted numbers finally caught up to us leading to a 10 to 5 final.
“Never confuse any single defeat with a final defeat.” F. Scott Fitzgerald
Despite a streak going in the wrong direction, there were a few bright spots. They say that you either win or learn. The last two weeks we've learned some things that should help us later in the season.
LF Go Giants!!!
Week Six Colts
The results of the last couple of weeks have left the Giants sitting on the edge looking down into the abyss of obscurity and insignificance. Injuries, no shows, an inopportune bad call here and there, all conspired in an apparent attempt to fray the social fabric between what's right and what's wrong. A literal fight between good and evil. Would the good guys get back on track? We gave the ball to Cole Lambert to find out against the upstart Colts. Seven innings and 15 strike outs later the Giants were on top in the 9 to 2 victory. Ren Martin went 3 for 3 with Adam Kern and Mike Cisewski both adding a couple more. Now on to game two. Bucky Kuhn answered the bell earning his first of what should be many wins for the Giants. Eli McEwan, Adam Reents and Chandler MacLean all had 2 hits, but Mike Cisewski put the game away being the latest Giant to earn the Dong Chain hitting a two run homer to complete the scoring in the 11 to 3 final.
"The one constant through all the years, Ray has been baseball. This field, this game, it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again. People will come Ray. People will most definitely come." Terrance Mann
That's right, Ray. The team is heading into the All Star break in a positive direction.
LF Go Giants!!!!!
Week Seven Saints
The main question for today was which Giants team would show up. With the heat index predicted to hit 100 degrees, the team would need a more than a bare boned squad to handle the improved Saints. Game one starter Cole Lambert worked out of a couple jams, but the Giants scoring 5 runs in the first inning allowed him to coast to the 9 to 6 final win with Rob Dembroski getting a save. Cole also had a couple of hits and Josh Gabrick added a couple more. Great start, but how about game two? Well, it didn't take long to find out. The top of the first was the chance to jump out ahead scoring 6 runs, before Josh Gabrick took the mound as game two starter. After a couple of innings Bucky Kuhn came in to earn the win in the shortened 12 to 0 win. Cole Lambert again led the hitting with 3 hits while Josh Gabrick, Will Heise and Eli McEwan each added two.
Great time to continue the winning streak and an even better time to eat pizza after the game.
"Things are going great and they're only getting better. I'm doing all right, getting good grades. The future's so bright I gotta wear shades." Patrick Lee MacDonald
LF Go Giants!!!!!!!
Week Eight Tomcats
The feisty Tomcats came to town this week and despite the Giants initially scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the first, the bats went silent allowing the Tomcats to scratch out a couple to tie the game. The first game was close until the fifth inning when Adam Kern's second hit of the day brought in a two runs to finalize the scoring at 4 to 2. Cole Lambert picked up the win striking out 11. Game two featured Bucky Kuhn throwing his first complete game shutout. Josh Gabrick, Mike Rademacher and Mike Cisewski all collected two hits to led the scoring to the 7 to 0 final.
"Running a ball club is like raising kids who fall out of trees." Tom Trebelhorn
That's right Tom, I think the challenges of running a team are common to most teams. However, the winning streak continues and playing some solid baseball allowed the team picked up a couple much needed wins.
"Perseverance doesn't always mean winning and losing. Perseverance means showing up and rising to the occasion and performing." Michael Chiesa
LF Go Giants!!!!!!!!!
Week Nine Coyotes
Considering Sunday was supposed to be the hottest day of the summer, the deluge of players missing (vacations, illness, etc.) didn't help considering the Coyotes were at this point undefeated. Oh well, that's why you carry a large roster and at least we had 9 guys (10 actually). Believe it or not, things actually got worse when game one starter, Josh Gabrick, came out of the game after the first inning with a sore arm. Down by two runs, Plan B quickly brought Adam Reents in to see if he could keep the Giants in the game. The Coyotes inched out another run when a hit by Reents brought in a couple of runs to get the Giants on the board. Noah Danner added an RBI single an inning later to tie the score getting us to the bottom of the 8th when the Coyotes scored the winning run on a controversial play. We'll never know how many innings Reents could have gone but coming off the bench to pitch 7 innings with no earned runs was noteworthy as were his 3 hits.
Oh hey, that's right, we play doubleheaders don't we. There's still another game, right? Well, now we're down to Plan C. Will Heise was put into duty to start and pitched well until he ran into control problems in the third inning and Noah Danner did a nice job in his first time behind the plate this season catching all 15 innings. Ultimately, though, it didn't matter as all the bats could muster was two measly hits and no runs. Well, at least they shared some pizza with us after the game. And, as far as I know, everyone made it home in one piece
.
“It is not winning or losing the battle that matters, but how the war ends.” Paulo Coelho
That's right, Paulo, there's a good possibility that we'll get another chance against this team in the playoffs and maybe I'll be a lot smarter by then.
LF Go Giants!!!!!!!!!
Week Ten Expos
This week matched us up against another one of the top pitchers in the league. The game was tied at 1 for a few innings with starter Adam Reents doing well until the wheels fell off and by the end of the 12 to 1 loss, we had used 4 pitchers. Notable was Ren Martin pitching an inning in his first game in several years and Josh Gabrick getting the only 2 hits. Game two’s starter Bucky Kuhn bailed us out by showing up just before game time. One bad inning, though, marred his compete game effort leading to a 8 to 5 loss. Adam Reents, Will Heise and Eli McEwan all collected two hits, but with a little luck and a more consistent strike zone we could have ….. oh well, luck is not with us this year and it’s not a good strategy anyway.
Hope is not a strategy. Luck is not a factor. Fear is not an option.” James Cameron
That’s right. That’s how the saying goes. But how about this one:
“You kick a dog long enough, that dog is going to bite you or die.” Dave Pelzer
Next week is a chance to bite back and get some momentum before playoffs.
LF Go Giants
Week Eleven Bombers
The Bombers were the third tough team in a row the Giants had on the schedule. It was also the last Sunday before playoffs. The team definitely wanted to build some momentum and had to win at least one of these games to lock in a home team advantage for the first playoff game. Game one’s starter, Cole Lambert did his part holding the high scoring Bombers to just an earned run, but the final score of 13 to 3 was the result of hits and more hits. The hitting was led by Mike Rademacher’s 2 for 2, 3 RBI game with a double and the season’s first triple. Noah Danner, Mike Cisewski, (3 RBI) and Will Heise also all had two hits. Josh Gabrick added a bases clearing triple. Great job, guys but there’s still another game with an overall losing record on the line and don’t we still want to take momentum into the playoffs?
Well it didn't look good at first. In fact it really looked bleak. Game two’s starter, Bucky Kuhn, came out of the game with a sore arm after one inning, relief pitching had a few control problems and before you knew it, the Giants were one hit away from being beaten by the ten run rule. Did you say over? Nothing is over until we decide it is! A few walks and a few hits later and pretty soon we were only down by one when Daniel Opdahl’s steal of home tied the score at 12. Noah Danner, pitching in his first game of the year, managed to get through a couple of innings to give us a chance to add to the run total ending in a 18 to 13 final. By the time the dust had settled, the Giants had used 8 pitchers. Josh Gabrick and Brandon Curry (4 RBI) led the hitting with three hits each. Mike Rademacher and Ryan Polehonka both added a couple as well. On the day, Mike Rademacher was 4 for 5 with 5 RBI and Josh Gabrick was 4 for 6 with 5 RBI.
“What? Over? Did you say over? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! It ain’t over now, ‘cause when the goin’ gets tough, the tough get goin’. Who’s with me? Let’s go!” John Belushi
As someone in the dugout said, “The Giants have come full circle.” That is so true. The team has been through some unexpected challenges this season, but now the playoffs start and it’s as good a time as any to start combining skill with luck.
LF Go Giants
TCMABL Playoffs
Entering the playoffs as the fourth seed meant the first matchup would be against the Saints. Last year as the 6th seed they had upset the third seed by a score of 24 to 13 so we knew that would likely be a much improved team then their record would indicate. Turns out it took a complete game effort with no earned runs from starter Josh Gabrick to make it to the 3 to 1 final. The hard fought battle was decided by Noah Danner's winning RBI followed by back to back doubles for an insurance run by Brandon Curry and Chandler Maclean. Win game one - check. Now all we have to do is beat the one seed. No problem, right? Cole Lambert, back early from his vacation, took the mound and was effective in keeping the Giants in the game until fate and poor grounds keeping allowed the ball to take an unusual hop. The Giants had 7 hits and quite a few hard hit balls that were caught, but they were to no avail as the season ended with a 10 to 0 defeat.
Our Twitter guy posted:
"A somber day today. Giants get handled dropping to the Coyotes 10 - 0 to end the season. A season of ups and downs has taken it's last turn. Huge shoutout to all the players and fans that stuck with us throughout the year, Next year is on the horizon and we'll be back!"
This season did have some challenges, but it seemed like things were starting to turn around by the end of the year. There were some new players that contributed and hopefully everyone will return next season to continue to build where we left off. As I like to remind myself, all teams end the season with a disappointing loss except for one. Next year we'll be battling to be that team.
LF Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!
2023 Season Game Summaries
Week I North Stars
After weeks of waiting for the weather to cooperate Opening Day has finally arrived. The TCMABL North Stars, today’s opponent, split with the Giants last year in the regular season so we were expecting close games. In fact, the first game matched up the same starting pitchers from last year’s dramatic walk off 2-1 playoff victory over the North Stars so we were really expecting a close game. Turned out not to be with the Giants scoring early and often as the 13 to 6 final score would indicate. Mike Buttgereit earned the victory going 6 innings give up I run with 7 strikeouts and no walks. Adam Kern and Jon Garbacz both had 3 hits, but the winner of the new suddenly coveted Dong Chain was Chandler Maclean who hit a blast that landed in the swamp beyond the center field fence.
Game two of the double header turned into more of what we expected in game one. Cole Lambert navigated his way through 6 innings giving up only 2 unearned runs in an effective start, but it took his walk off hit in the bottom of the seventh to score the winning run making the final 3 -2. Noah Danner pitched the top of the seventh, striking out 3 hitters on 10 pitches to get the win.
Good start to the season.
Go Giants!!
Week 2 Diamond Jaxx
Today's opponent, the Jaxx, coming off a sweep last week looked to be much improved over their inaugural season last year. The opener featured Giants' starter Mike Buttgereit's command of their lineup with a complete game 8 - 0 shut out allowing only 2 hits with 9 strikeouts. Adam Reents had a couple of hits and new comer Ren Martin had a key hit driving in 2 runs. Game 2 turned into more of a challenge. The Giants scored 4 runs in the first inning and it seemed like the game was going smoothly. Cole Lambert pitched effectively for a few innings before running into a bit of a jam. Another new comer, Brydon Hegarty, took over and got three quick outs but by now the Giants were down by one. Mike Buttgereit obviously sensing an opportunity to pad his stats came in to tamp down another jamb pitching two thirds of an inning. The Giants were able to scratch out a couple of runs in the bottom of the 6th allowing Noah Danner the opportunity to face three batters for the save. Cole Lambert had a couple of hits and scored two runs including the tying run in the 9 to 8 win.
"Baseball is such a tough game. It really humbles you at times; you just have to try not to get too high or too low." Chase Utley
Let's keep this streak going!
Go Giants!!!!
Week 3 Expos
The Expos are a solid team that is expected to be at the top of the division and have always given the Giants a tough day. Game 1 starter Tommy Danner pitched 6 solid innings giving up only 1 earned run. The only problem was the defense gave up a couple of extra runs to make this a back and forth game until Cole Lambert scored the walk-off run in the bottom of the seventh. Cole also pitcher the last inning to get the win in relief. for a final 8 - 7 score. Ren Martin and Michael Rademacher led the hitting each having three hits. In game two the defense Game two combined a similar Giants defense with a little worse offense leading to a 10 - 3 loss. Adam Reents and Michael Rademacher each had 2 hits accounting for 4 of the team's total 6 hits.
Next week it doesn't get easier as we face last year's division championship opponents the Tomcats.
Go Giants!!!!!!
Week 4 Tomcats
The Tomcats were last year's playoff Cinderella upsetting the top seed to advance to the division championship so the Giants knew they could be tough to beat. Game 1 starter Justin Freyholtz returning after a long hiatus gave the team a good start pitching 4 solid innings giving up only one run. However this time the bats came alive leading to a shortened 14 to 2 final. Tommy Danner and Michael Rademacher both had 3 hits to lead the hitting. Freyholtz also added a couple of hits with a triple. The Coveted Dong Chain was also passed to Noah Danner coming of the bench to hit a no doubter down the left field line.
Game two starter, Tommy Danner, not wanting to be outdone by his brother, pitched 5 innings giving up only one run to get the victory. The bats stayed hot for a 10 - 1 final score. Just Freyholtz and Andrew Jakus each had two hits.
"Winning isn't everything, but wanted to win is." Vince Lombardi
Go Giants!!!!!!!
Week 5 Ducks
The rain stopped just in time for this week's match with the Ducks, a team that's given the Giants tough games in the past. In the first game, the Giants started slowly before realizing the second time through the order that swinging at the first pitch wasn't always a good plan. This change in strategy lead to the highest offensive output for the team this season. Justin Freyholtz hitting a home run for one of his three hits was able to hold on to the Dong Chain for only a couple of innings before Chandler Maclean hit another home run to take it back. Andrew Jakus and Adam Kern each added a couple of hits to round out the highlights. Cole Lambert pitched the shortened complete game to earn the win for the final 15 - 4 score.
Game two turned out to be a little more balanced. Freyholtz starting on the mound pitched 4 effective innings giving up only one run allowing the offense to get on track for the 8 to 2 victory. Adam Kern, Rob Dembroski, Cole Lambert and Adam Reents all had two hits. Dembroski also got the win in relief pitching the final three innings.
"Winning is like shaving - you do it every game or you wind up looking like a bum." Jack Kemp
Well, I don't know about that, but we looked good this week. Let's keep it going after the All Star game!
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!
Week 6 Hippos
Given a chance at playing the Hippos on CHS Field, nicest field in the state, the Giants jumped at the opportunity. Every blade of grass was in place and the infield gave the infielders no excuses today. Cole Lambert took the ball and after giving up a walk struck out the next 9 hitters on his way to a one hit shut out. The Giants pounded out 13 runs in the shortened game. Mike Cisewski had three hits with Adam Kern, Noah Danner and Justin Freyholtz each adding a couple.
Game two featured starter Justin Freyholtz going 4 1/3 innings while striking out 10. Brydon Hegarty led the offense going four for four with a ground rule double. Chandler Maclean added three hits and Tommy Danner finished out the game on the mound for the 8 to 2 win.
"A baseball field must be the most beautiful thing in the world. It's so honest and precise. And we play on it. Every star gets humbled. Every mediocre player has a great moment." Jim Lefebvre
So true, Jim, so true. Let's just bask in that rare great moment.
Go Giants !!!!!!!!!!!!
Week 7 Bats
Today's opponent, the Battalion Bats, are well known to most of the Giants and the hope was to keep this a friendly matchup ending in a tail gate barbeque. Of course eating brats with a couple wins under our belt was our preference. Game one starter, Cole Lambert, set the pace going all seven innings giving up one run with 11 strikeouts. He also led the hitting, along with Mike Rademacher each getting two hits for a 4 to 1 win.
Game two was more about scoring runs as Justin Freyholtz and Cole Lambert lead the team with 3 hits with Adam Reents, Andrew Jakus and Mike Cisewski all adding a couple more. Freyholtz worked 4 innings to get the win with Tommy Danner working the final three. Final score for the sweep 11 to 6.
I don't know what Polo put in those parking lot grilled quesadillas, but they sure tasted good! We might want to consider catering or a food truck at the next game.
"Set your goals high, and don't stop until you get there." Bo Jackson
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Week 8 Rams
Today’s opponent, the Rams, have always been one of the top teams in the league, so as usual the Giants knew they would have to play well to win. The games began with new Giant’s starter, Sam Melchior, weaving his way through the Rams order for the first 3 plus innings giving up only one run until muscle soreness led to his early exit with the Giants in front. Ryan Polehonka had three hits and Adam Reents added a couple more, but the real story of game one was the number of walks given up. At the end of the game Giants’ pitchers totaled 9 walks and that was a little too much for the team to overcome in the 7 to 5 loss. So for the moment, there was no joy in Mudville (or New Hope for that matter).
It’s a good thing that in game two, the bats came alive as this would now become a must win. Mike Cisewski, Michael Rademacher and, new addition, Brayden Bender all had two hits to led the team’s offense. Cole Lambert started, pitching 5 innings giving up only 3 runs and Bender came in to pitch the last two for the 9 to 3 win. The real star of the day, though, was Cole’s wife, Cassie, who let Cole come back from their camping trip early so he could earn the win. Way to go, Cassie!
“We made too many wrong mistakes.” Yogi Berra
I didn’t know you saw that first game, Yogi, but yes we did.
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Week 9 Sea Donkeys
The Giants knew they would have a tough matchup against the team leading the league in runs scored. Game one started Tommy Danner on the mound to keep the Sea Donkey’s bats in check. This worked for most of the game, but a few Giants’ mistakes cost the team a couple of runs before running out of time with a 6 to 4 loss. Ryan Polehonka led the hitting with 3 hits, while Mike Cisewski and Justin Freyholtz added a couple more including Justin’s triple. Game two’s scheduled starter, Freyholtz, left the first game with an injury so Rob Dembroski, who came in to pitch the final of game one, stayed on the mound pitching very effectively lasting 5 2/3s innings for a 6 to 3 win. Noah Danner came in to finish the game picking up a save. Adam Reents hit a home run becoming the latest Giants to wear the Dong Chain while both Danner and Chandler Maclean also each had two hits to lead the offense.
"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won’t be worth a dime." - Babe Ruth
The losses are team losses and the wins are team wins.
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Week 10 Colts
The Giants started the day with two concerns, first off the weather forecast was predicting rain, a lot of rain. Secondly, since the team was missing quite a few players this week, we didn't want to give the newly formed Colts a chance for an upset. With Cole Lambert on the mound the first game went according to plan. The ten run rule shortened the game leading to a 11 to 1 score, with Cole allowing only an unearned run. Cole also lead the hitting along with Mike Cisewski with 3 hits each. Brayden Bender also added a couple. Still no rain. Game two started off slowly, but eventually featured the deciding 13 run inning in the top of the fourth, putting the game successfully on ice, coasting to a 16 to 1 final score. Cole Lambert led the hitting again with 3 hits including 2 doubles. Ryan Polehonka also had 3 hits with Chandler Maclean, Tommy Danner, Andrew Jakus and Adam Reents each adding two more. Danner also picked up the win just before the torrential rains finally arrived making sure everyone got soaked as they ran to their cars. Accomplished both goals with a short squad and two short games to beat the weather.
"You just have to want it more than everyone else." Steve Trout
We'll need to carry this into next week's games as the team prepares for playoffs.
18+: Cole Lambert (GIA):
6-6, 5R, 5RBI, 2-2B, HBP, BB, 4SB
5IP (CG), W, 3H, 0ER, 2BB, 7K
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Week 11 Coyotes
The Giants went into the weekend having already clinched a second seed first round playoff bye with an outside chance of moving up to first seed, but the team would have to win both games against the top placed Coyotes. The first game sent Rob Dembroski to the mound who went all 7 innings in the close 7 to 5 loss. The game was tied 5 to 5 going into the top of the seventh when a couple of mistakes turned into a couple of runs. Mike Rademacher, Brydon Hegarty and Adam Reents (triple) all had two hits. Now for game two the team only had pride to play for and it was soon apparent that we were having none of that. A combined pitching effort along with Cole Lambert's two hits led to a 9 to 0 defeat.
Not the best way to go into the playoffs, but a couple of players got playoff eligible and a few guys had a chance to recover from some nagging injuries.
"Losing builds character. You know who said that? A loser! A guy who got his ass stomped every day, basketball, football, baseball, lose, lose, lose and lose. All right, I'm talking about me." Christopher Titus
I can't help but agree with you, Chris. Not much good to come of it, but the good thing is that with baseball, there's always another game coming up.
LF Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2023 Playoffs
After earning a first round bye, the Giants were facing a team that they had split with during the regular season. The Rams coming off an impressive 20 to 2 win over the Bats the day before were a good team that was able to save their best pitcher for their next round. The Giants would have to play their best as they had lost to this pitcher earlier in the year. Cole Lambert started on the mound for the Giants and the matchup lived up to expectations. The Giants were able to scratch out a single run, and then another, leading until the top of the seventh when the Rams broke through with two runs to tie the game. Rob Dembroski came in in relief and the game remained tied until the Giants were able to fill the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth and Adam Reents ground ball scored the walk-off run to make the final 3 to 2. Reents led the offense with 3 hits and 2 RBIs, while Cole Lambert and Brayden Bender both added a couple, but the entire defense also came up big in contributing to the win. This sets up a re-match of last year’s championship game with the Coyotes who led the league in runs allowed.
“The best teams are built by players who understand that each individual has an important role to play. They’re made up of players who can pull together when it matters most.” – Lou Piniella
One game down, two more to go.
LF Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Playoffs Third Round
Next up, the team that swept us to finish the regular season, setting up a rematch of last year's championship game. Cole Lambert took the mound and held the high scoring Coyotes to 4 runs over 7 innings. Rob Dembroski came in to earn a two inning save for the 6 to 4 win. Adam Reents stayed hot in the playoffs leading the offense. A good start for the weekend, but there was still one more game to play. The Giants had made it to the championship game for the second year in a row.
LF Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Championship Game
The match started out with the Giants coming close to getting a TKO in the first round over the division winning Legends. Unfortunately there were 8 more rounds to go and the Giants might have just punched themselves out. By the time the dust had settled the Giants had given up 3 touch downs and had only scored two (with the missed extra point). On this given Sunday, there was no joy in Mudville and the Giants were the Bridesmaids again.
"Losing feels worse than winning feels good." Vin Scully
Sure, Vin, but we can't just mope around about it, can we? Well, at least not too long, right?
"Losing doesn't make me want to quit. It makes me want to fight that much harder." Bear Bryant
Now that's more like it, Bear.
When you consider that the Giants lost their three top pitchers from last year's team, to make it to the championship game again really shows the make up of this team. You have to have a lot of things go right to win a championship. Injuries took their toll on the team this year, but there will always be a next year, right? Right?
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2022 Season Highlights
Week 1 Tomcats
After staring out the window all winter waiting for spring, opening day is finally here. Yeah!!! The Giants were facing long time rivals the Tomcats, led by a guy named Tom, no less. The first game starter was Mike Buttgereit who gave up a run in fours innings of work and left with the game tied 1 - 1. Newcomer Justin Freyholtz earned the win in relief as the Giants finally got the bats going to a final 5 – 1. Combined they had 12 strikeouts for an excellent way to start the season. Justin also contributed to the scoring by adding two hits, as did Adam Rents. Kevin llamas also had a key double that scored two runs.
For game two, the Giants took a 6 run lead giving starter Adam Rents a bit of a cushion. Adam in his first win for the Giants pitched 6 solid innings that was only marred by a couple of unearned runs. Cole Lambert looked good coming in to close out the seventh. Adam also had a couple more hits as did Rob Dembroski, Mike Cisewski, Cole Lambert and Jon Garbacz.
“I stare out the window and wait for spring.” Rogers Hornsby
Next week the Legends.
Go Giants!!
Week 2 Legends
The Giants were looking forward to this match up against the Legends, a team that has been steadily improving every year. Game one put Justin Freyholtz on the mound who had four effective innings giving up only 2 runs. The good guys got on the board scoring 3 runs to briefly take a 3 - 2 lead but the Legends managed one more run sending the game into extra innings where an error led to the game winning hit. Ryan Polehonka, Justin Freyholtz and Adam Reents all had 2 hits in the losing effort.
For the second game, the Giants asked Adam Reents to bail the team out. Unfortunately he was the only one with a bucket and the rest of the team was without a paddle or so it seemed (to stay with the metaphor). The end result was a 7 - 5 loss and a long day at the ball park. Jon Garbacz led the team offensively with 2 hits. Oh well, what would you rather be doing on a sunny day in spring. Back to the drawing board after taking the Memorial weekend off.
"Most one run games are lost, not won." Gene Mauch
Don't we know it Gene, don't we know it.
Go Giants!!
Week 3 Sea Donkeys
This Sunday’s matchup was against the perennial division champions, the Sea Donkeys. They lived up to their reputations as starter Mike Buttgeriet and Tommy Danner (in relief) did well to hold their tough lineup to 6 runs in the first game. The Giants offense was measly to say the least as the team only managed to cough up 4 hits, scoring 2 runs. Game two wasn’t much better with Adam Reents holding the Donkeys to only 5 runs as the Giants were only able to scrape up 3. Chandler Maclean’s solo home run gave the boys a momentary boost but it wasn’t enough. Cole Lambert’s family was in attendance doubling the normal fan base and one member of the entourage was heard screaming “Noooooo” from all the way in the parking lot. The future Giant clearly disgusted at the performance of his favorite team.
“Each strike gets me that much closer to the next home run.” Babe Ruth
Oh well, the game before starting a long winning streak is always a loss, right?
Go Giants!!
Week 4 Diamond Jaxx
The home team came up to the bat in the first inning quickly getting the first two batters on base. With the number three hitter coming up to the plate, things looked pretty good. That is until a hard hit line drive turned into the first ever triple play against the Giants in team history. Damn, oh well, Mike Buttgereit settled in on the mound and the lost chance didn’t matter as he struck out 13 in the complete game 5 – 0 victory. Justin Freyholtz hit a triple as the hits were scattered. In Game two, not to be outdone, Adam Reents responded with an equally effective complete game 6 – 1 win. Adam had 12 strikeouts and no earned runs. Justin Freyholtz led the way again with 3 hits with Mike Cisewski and Cole Lambert each getting a couple.
“OK, we won a game yesterday. If we win today, it’s called “two in a row”. And if we win again tomorrow, it’s called a “winning streak”……. It has happened before!” Lou Brown Major League II
Let’s keep that winning streak going!
Go Giants!!!!
Week 5 Ducks
With the forecast expecting to hit 100 degrees, the plan was to get a couple of quick wins before heat stroke set in.
Game one: The first game starter Mike Buttgereit followed the plan with another 13 strike out complete game win as the good guys edged out the Ducks 2 to 1. Somehow the Giants only managed 3 hits as Cole Lambert scored the game winner on a throwing error. Game one – check, now to game two.
Game two: If I told you that the Giants gave up 4 runs in the first inning and another 4 runs in the seventh inning, you might think that the team took a lopsided loss. Yes, the feisty Ducks took their hacks, but so did the Giants in the 10 – 8 final to take the sweep. After a seeing eye hit filled first inning, Adam Reents settled down to have an effective 6 inning outing while striking out 10. Cole Lambert and Adam Reents led the hitting with 3 hits each while Logan Mahowald added a couple more.
“If yesterday was a good day, don’t stop. Your winning streak has just begun.” Anonymous
Good team wins on the day against a tough group of Ducks.
Go Giants!!!!!!
Week 6 Saints
With one third of the players MIA for one reason or another, this Sunday’s games looked to be a new challenge for the Giants. Justin Freyholtz took the mound and pitched five solid innings and was followed by Noah Danner pitching the final three to earn the 7 – 4 win in extra innings. The hits were scattered as seven players each had one hit - and we needed every one. The second game went a little easier as Mike Buttgereit earned the victory with Cole Lambert coming in to strike out 6 batters in the final two innings for a 10 – 1 final. Justin Freyholtz had three hits including a home run to lead the offense and Chandler Maclean and Mike Cisewski also had three hit games. As the day progressed, the Giants had another never before event as they scrambled quickly from plan A to plan Z as the team needed to use three different players (Justin Freyholtz, Cole Lambert and Noah Danner) that both pitched and caught. Great job and great team wins!
“When you’ve learned to believe in yourself, there’s no telling how good a player you can be. That’s because you have a mental edge.” Rod Carew
Enjoy your 4th of July break (but don't enjoy it too much - if you know what I mean)
Go Giants!!!!!!!!
Week 7 Diablos
With the threat of storms and possibly tornados moving through the area, the last thing both teams wanted to do was delay the start of the game due to an umpire no show. Finally, the Diablo manager volunteered to fill in and we were off. And when I say we were off, I mean the Giants quickly fell behind 4 to 1 and had to scratch out three runs to take the game into extra innings when pitch runner Tommy Danner scampered around the bases to score the walk off run in the 5 – 4 final score. Danner also pitched four scoreless innings to pick up the win in relief. Adding offense were Cole Lambert, Ryan Polehonka and Jon Garbacz with 2 hits each. As game two got underway, it became rapidly apparent the replacement umpire that finally showed up was a dramatic step down from the volunteer drafted from the dugout. It would have been interesting to see how the game would have played out with a consistent strike zone, but the good guys scraped by with a 2 to 1 victory - so what can you, say? The offensive managed only 4 measly hits but Adam Reents pitched great, working through the inconsistencies giving up only 2 hits to earn the complete game victory.
“Cardinal rule for all hitters with two strikes on them: Never trust the umpire.” Robert Smith
This is universally true.
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!
Week 8 Hippos
The homeless guy sleeping under the tree behind the third base dugout stirred. Or was it a homeless guy? Maybe it was a new Giants fan waiting for the game to start. It will remain a mystery as he wandered off at some point, but while he was there he saw excellent pitching performances through both games of the double header. Justin Freyholtz, the first game’s starting pitcher earned Player of the Week consideration with a complete game no hit shutout. Justin stuck out 15 batters in the shorted 6 inning 10 - 0 victory, only 3 walks kept the game from being perfect. Ryan Polehonka, Noah Danner, Cole Lambert, Adam Reents and Justin Freyholtz all had 2 hits to lead the scoring. In the second game, we gave the ball to Adam Reents who matched the earlier game’s no hit shutout making this the first time in Giants history that there were two no hitters back to back. It came at the right time too, as the offense was sparse with the Giants being held to only 3 hits with Ryan Polehonka getting 2 of them in the 2 - 0 final.
“Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” Vince Lombardi
Great pitching, good defense, great team wins. Let’s keep the momentum going into next week.
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!
Week 9 True Blue
The biggest question going into this Sunday was whether the Giants would be able to finish the day with nine players on the field. It took one of the guys driving up from Iowa, but it worked. The Giants’ put 6 runs on the board in the top of the first aided mostly by a wet mound that led to control problems. The cushion didn’t last long and at one point the good guys were down by a run. Three runs scored in the top of the 6th led to Adam Rents 6th win with Noah Danner coming in to close out the game to earn a save. The offense in the 11 – 9 win was led by Just Freyholtz’s three hits and a couple of doubles by Chandler Maclean. Adam Kern also added two hits. Now that we got that out of our system (and the mound had dried up a bit), the second game was a little more typical with Justin Freyholtz getting the complete game victory in the 6 – 2 final. Justin had 10 strikeouts allowing only one earned run. The scoring was led by Brandon Curry, Andrew Jakus and Jon Garbacz, each with 2 hits.
“I never did say that you can’t be a nice guy and win. I said that if I was playing third base and my mother rounded third with the winning run, I’d trip her up.” Leo Durocher
Good team wins with everyone contributing. Let’s keep it going!
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Week 10 Cardinals
The Giants went into this Sunday facing the team leading the league in runs scored. We also realized that having locked up the third seed in the playoffs, the only way to move up is to sweep the Cardinals. A tough feat considering they haven’t been swept by any team in years, but one game at a time, eh? Mike Buttgereit took the ball and proceeded to keep the hitters off balance enough to slide through 6 innings just getting scuffed for an unearned run. The Giants offense was led by Cole Lambert’s 3 hits with Ryan Polehonka and Rob Dembroski each adding two in the 4 – I final score. Noah Danner came in to strike out 3 to get the save.
Would the bats break out in game two? Turned out – nope. Game two was a pitchers duel all the way. Hard throwing Cardinal Jacob Pinc was slicing through the Giants lineup, but Adam Reents for the Giants was matching him inning by inning. Finally still tied 0 -0 the plan diagrammed in the dugout (sixth inning) was for Mike Cisewski to hit a homerun, then we hold them and win. It would have worked perfectly too, if Mike’s hard hit fly would have been 1/2” further. Instead it was off the top of the wall and back into the field where he was stranded on second base with his second double of the day. Reents kept pitching and we went into extra innings. Bottom of the 8th Mike Cisewski (yes - him again) steps up to the plate trying to get one more inch – instead he strikes out – but wait – the pitch was in the dirt and went past the catcher. Mike’s now on first with one out! He steals second and goes to third on an infield out. Pinch hitter Kevin Llamas hits the ball perfectly between two diving outfielders to play the part of hero and the good guys win 1 – 0. The crowd erupts and Reents earns the 8 inning complete game shutout to complete the sweep. Yea!
"I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it." Sandy Koufax.
Good advice Sandy, let’s carry this over into the final regular season games.
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Week 11 North Stars
With the opportunity to move up to the coveted second seed, the pressure was on to win both games this Sunday. Mike Buttegreit settled down after a rough first inning to pitch 6 innings to get the first game win. Just Freyholtz came in to get a save in the 4 – 1 final. Eight different Giants got hits, all singles in this team win. In game two, pitcher Adam Reents gave up 2 runs in the first to settle down and dominate the rest of the way. Unfortunately, Sam Nelson pitching for the North Stars was effectively shutting down the Giants lineup until the 7th inning when a potential big inning fizzled after just 1 run. Nelson only allowed 4 hits with Ryan Polehonka getting two of them. The 15 game winning streak had come to an end on the 2 – 1 loss and with it the hope for a first round playoff bye.
Oh well, guess what? We get to play more baseball! We didn't even want a first round bye, did we?
Also, (this might sound familiar) but doesn’t every winning streak start after a loss?
“Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride - Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no - I got to keep on moving” Matthew Wilder
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Playoffs
Game One
The playoff seeding set up a rematch with the same team that we split against the last week of the regular season, the North Stars. And, of course, we knew who they were going to pitch against us. Well maybe this time it would be different. Turns out - Nope. The game was a repeat of the last game, a pitcher's duel all the way. Sam Nelson pitching for the Stars held the Giants to only 1 run through 8 innings. Mike Buttgereit matched him giving up only a run through the top of the ninth. Bottom of the ninth the Giants were able to get a couple of hits putting runners on the corners with two outs when an error led to the walk off 2 - 1 win. Justin Freyholtz led the hitting with 3 hits, but the hero of the game was Buttgereit going all nine innings giving up just 3 hits and one run.
Great Win - we go to game two
Game Two
Facing the second seed coming off a bye the day before, the fully rested Cardinals began slowly allowing the Giants to start the game scoring 8 runs in the top of the first. Things settled down a bit after that, but the tone had been set in the 10 - 5 upset win. Adam Reents picked up the win while also getting three hits. Justin Feyholtz came in to earn a save by pitching the final three innings. Cole Lambert and Ryan Polehonka also added a couple hits each.
“In playing ball, and in life, a person occasionally gets the opportunity to do something great. When that time comes, only two things matter: being prepared to seize the moment and having the courage to take your best swing.” Hank Aaron.
Next week = More Baseball
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Game Three
The game was originally schedule for Saturday got pushed back to Sunday with the winner playing in the championship game to follow. We were up against the Tomcats, who coming off a dramatic upset win in the second round were obviously improved from the team we faced in the second week. The game stayed close too, until the bottom of the sixth when the Giants broke out with 4 runs and cruised behind Mike Buttgereits complete game victory in the 9 - 1 score.
Championship bound. Here we come!!!!!!!!
Championship Game
The Giants set out to put a cherry on this season that featured a 15 game winning streak and 3 suddens death playoff victories. The Coyotes were the returning league champions. The teams took turns scoring runs and in the sixth inning the Coyotes were ahead 6 - 4, but eventually the hard hitting Coyotes showed why they led the league in almost every statistical category as they made the final 10 - 4.
Was it a good season?
Every season is like a journey for both the team and the player, so I'll let everyone answer that for yourselves. The Giants started this season in the middle of last winter beginning with early indoor practices in February, continuing on with outdoor practices on wet muddy fields, through a slow start of the regular season that turned into a 15 game winning streak. Like most teams, there were games when we had a full roster and games when we barely had nine. As the season progressed the team coalesced with new additions and everyone finding their roles.
One thing to remember, though, the last championship game the Giants played in was 17 years ago in 2005. This season the journey brought us to the championship game. Maybe next year it will bring the championship.
Go Giants !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Baseball isn’t just a game. It’s life being played out on a field – a field of dreams – on diamonds of green, where players pursuing their dreams try to be the best they can be on the grandest stage of all – where men become boys and boys become men, all speaking one universal language without uttering a single word." Tom Tatum
2021 Season Highlights
Week 1: Saints
The Giants’ long awaited 2021 opening day had finally arrived. The first game against a scrappy Saints team featured the offense as new addition Tyler Storandt and Mike Cisewski led the team with 3 hits each, while Tommy Danner added a couple more in the 9 to 8 win. Rob Dembroski gave up 5 runs over 4 innings to get the win on the mound. The second game was just the opposite with Tommy Danner pitching the complete game 3 to 1 victory giving up only a run on 4 hits while striking out 5. Ryan Polehonka led the hitting with 2 hits and an RBI.
Way to go Giants!
Today we were good enough, but “Never let good enough be enough.”
Bonus quote: “Stand tall, talk small, play ball.”
Go Giants!!
Week 2: Coyotes
The Giants were playing the 2018 league champion Coyotes this week without their full squad on a very hot and muggy day for May. Mike Cisewski hit a 2 run home run in the top of the first and new comer Mike Buttgereit took the mound taming the wild dogs until they managed to scratch out a couple of runs late in the game to force extra innings. A run scored in the top of the 10th wasn’t enough as the Coyotes scored 2 in the bottom of the inning to earn the victory. Cole Lambert contributed with 3 hits. OK, wipe away the tears and win the next one, right? Tommy Danner, who was coming off a strong opening day outing against the Saints, was heard saying “Get on my back, boys. I got this”. Seven strong innings later and the Giants had managed a 5 to 1 win to take a split. Mike Cisewski had two hits and a couple of RBIs to stay hot. Adam Kern had a 3 hit game and Jon Garbacz also had a couple of RBIs. Rob Dembroski had a key hit to score an RBI and also managed to somehow catch all 17 innings and still walk to his car. I don’t know if he made it home, though, as there was some mention of somebody owing somebody a beer.
Isn't a split kind of like a tie? It could be worse, I suppose.
"If a tie is like kissing your sister, losing is like kissing your grandmother with her teeth out." George Brett
Hopefully everyone can come back from the Memorial Day break in good shape and ready to go, because as Yogi Berra used to say “The other teams could make trouble for us if they win”.
Go Giants!!!
Week 3: Expos
With a third of the team MIA for one reason or another, the Giants had their work cut out for them playing the Expos who have been gradually turning into a perennial top tier TCMABL team. Their game 1 starter, Evan Acosta, was coming off a win the previous week with 14 strike outs, so we knew we weren’t going to score many runs. Two runs scored early in the game didn’t stand up in the 3 – 2 loss, wasting excellent pitching performances by Everett Locke making his first start for the Giants going 3 strong innings, and by new addition Aiden Prentice who struck out 12 batters in his 4 inning stint. Game two was a story of lost opportunities as the Giants were falling for their pitcher's Jedi mind tricks with the Expos playing the role of the mongoose to the Giants cobra resulting in the final 7 – 6 score. Swear a few times and look at the positives. At least there weren’t any injuries this week, although we did have an outfielder laying on the ground for a while after a collision with the fence. I assume he’s OK. Maybe I should have asked him but I saw him drive away. I’ll take that as a positive, so we got that going for us.
"But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated." Ernest Hemingway
Maybe we'll get a chance for a rematch in the playoffs.
Go Giants!!!
Week 4: Rams
It seems like every week the Giants are playing short-handed and facing perennial top team match ups. This week was no difference with 2019 Division champs the Rams as the opponent. Game one started with Mike Buttgereit in charge on the mound for the Giants. He coasted smoothly through their tough lineup until he was hit with a hard line shot to the gut in the sixth inning. Turned out to be a gut shot both literally and figuratively as he toughed out the complete game 3-2 loss. In game two, the Rams showed they could, after all, still hit in the 17 – 4 loss.
Not much to say about that, except to point out that for the first time in the 26 year history of the Giants, they played a couple innings with a left handed second baseman.
Well, as they say: Tomorrow's getting harder, make no mistake, luck ain't even lucky, got to make your own breaks
I think we're about due for a long winning streak!
Go Giants!!!
Week 5: Tomcats
Despite the light rain (80% chance of rain forecasting an all-day drenching), most of the Giants showed up at the field hoping to play at least one of the scheduled games. Deciding that a little mud never hurt anyone, the games went on. In the first game, the Giants started out scoring 6 runs in the top of the first giving starting pitcher, Mike Buttgereit, an uncharacteristically comfortable lead. Mike sailed through their lineup resulting in his first win as a Giant. The final score was 9 – 1 with both Noah and Tommy Danner, Mike Cisewski and Tyler Storandt, all getting a couple hits. Game two started out much the same as the first game with the Giants scoring 6 runs in the top of the first. The Tomcats, though, put up more of a fight against winning starter Tommy Danner and, after a short rain delay, reliever Rob Dembroski, scoring runs in several innings making the final 11 – 9. Mike Cisewski (again) and Cole Lambert led the offense with 2 hits each. Mike finished the day going 4 for 6, 3 runs scored with 2 RBIs besides adding a couple of web gem defensive plays in centerfield as well.
Outscoring the opponent 20 to 10 isn’t too bad, but as Babe Ruth once said, “Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.”
Or this Sunday’s games, either.
Go Giants!!!!!
Week 6: Tigers
With the second week in a row starting with morning rain and the forecast for more, the Giants probably wouldn’t have minded if we had to reschedule the games this week. Missing most of the team’s pitching, the Giants were playing short-handed once again. No worries, though, as new addition to the pitching staff, Kevin Llamas, was immediately put under a baptism by fire. He responded with this year’s first shutout pitching a complete (shortened) 5 inning game, giving up only 2 hits with 8 strikeouts. Adam Kern led the offensive with 3 hits, as Ryan Polehonka and Cole Lambert each added 2. Final score 10 – 0. The Giants gave the ball to Everett Locke in game 2. Everett has been slowly putting together a decent season in previous spot duty and he stayed on target with a solid complete game outing allowing only 2 runs on 3 hits with 7 strikeouts. The offense made this a 5 inning game, as well, led again by Ryan Polehonka and Adam Kerns. Adam ended the day going 5 for 6 with 5 runs scored while Ryan went 5 for 7. The final was 12 – 2.
“Success in not a sometimes thing. In other words, you don’t do what is right once in a while, but all the time. Success is a habit. Winning is a habit.” Vince Lombardi
Nice to enter the 4th of July All Star break with a 4 game winning streak. Well earned congratulations to the Giants’ representatives this year, Mike Cisewski and Cole Lambert. Everyone is encouraged to come out and cheer them on. The game is at 5 PM on July 5th at Alimagnet Field in Burnville.
Go Giants!!!!!!!
Week 7: Legends
Mike Buttgereit showed up and said “Just give me the ball” and give him the ball we did as he sailed through the Legends’ lineup giving up only one run in the seventh for a 3 – 1 complete game 1 victory. Good pitching and a solid defense was the key as hits were sparse with Rob Dembroski hitting a home run to led the scoring. But just when we thought we could set the cruise control, game 2 went off the tracks. The lead went back and forth for a while with Dembroski hitting his second home run of the day and Chandler Maclean hitting a triple driving in 2 runs. Noah Danner also added a couple of hits. Finally, though, a combination of errors, free passes and base running mistakes put the game just out of reach in the 7 – 5 loss.
“You play against yourself; your opponent is your potential.” Bobby Knight
With our five game winning streak ended, it is now time to start a new winning streak.
Go Giants!!!!!!!!
Week 8: Diablos
The new to the TCMABL Diablos were coming off a previous week’s win over the previously undefeated Sea Donkeys, so clearly they were better then their record indicated. Scoring 6 runs in the top of the first, though, gave the Giants a cushion that allowed the team to weather a couple of big innings for the Diablos’ as they tried to battle their way back. Chandler Maclean led the team making his season in just two at bats, when he hit a grand slam in his first at bat, followed by a two run double, followed by taking the rest of the day off. Ryan Polehonka also had three hits and Mike Cisewski added a couple more giving Everett Locke a win in relief for a 10 – 7 final. The second game was more typical for the team this season with Mike Buttegreit keeping the hitters off balance and great defense backing him up. Cole Lambert made several web gems at third and the outfield caught everything hit their way. Tommy Danner and Rob Dembroski led the hitting each with two hits in the 5 – 0 win.
“When you’ve learned to believe in yourself, there’s no telling how good a player you can be. That’s because you have the mental edge.” Rod Carew
Anyone ever heard of Rod Carew? Let’s carry this over to next week!
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!
Week 9: Cardinals
The Giants had their hands full playing against the perennial league front runner Cardinals. With a couple of guys only able to play the first game and a couple more nursing nagging injuries, the Giants were more concerned about having 9 players on the field than anything else. The team did manage to score enough runs but it wasn’t enough as home runs and miscues in the field led to a 12 – 8 defeat. Offensively the hits were scattered with Mike Cisewski leading the team with 2 hits. The goal of making the first game quick to beat the forecasted mid 90’s heat wasn’t met either and now the depleted squad was tasked with making the second game closer. Ten runs scored in the top of the first proved that the team still had a few kicks left. Adding another 6 runs with Mike Buttegreit on the mound allowed a smooth ride to a 16 – 3 win. Cole Lambert led the team with 3 hits (2 doubles) and Tommy Danner added a couple more in the 5 inning game.
Well, as the saying goes, “Strong is what happens when you run out of weak.”
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!
Week 10: True Blue
When coming up with game summaries I try to stay mostly positive, but that’s been pretty tough this week. The Giants came out flat, then flat lined on their way to getting flattened. I could attribute the first game’s 4 to 2 loss to an ankle to eye strike zone that extended a few inches both sides of the plate and a missed call or two on the bases. But you can’t really blame a guy that seemed to be celebrating with the winning team on his way out after the first game, can you? Oh well, that’s part of the game. By the second game (with a different umpire), it was becoming apparent that the entire Giants squad had unilaterally, independently, and secretly decided to honor Simone Biles by refusing to compete. Toss in a couple of injuries, lose the game 6 – 3 and call it a day.
In retrospect, though,
We wouldn’t like the perfect umpire in every game. It would take away baseball’s greatest excuse – We was robbed”. Billy Evans
Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat." F Scott Fitzgerald
Next week onward and upward.
Go Giants!
Week 11 Bombers
Aiden Prentice got his first start on the mound for the Giants in the first game and earned his first win this season against the hard hitting Bombers. Mike Buttegreit was credited with a save striking out 2 of the 4 batters he faced. Not much happened offensively as the team managed somehow to scrape out a 3-2 win. Game two was all about too many walks and poor quality at bats leading to the 6 – 1 loss. Considering the umpire’s extremely large strike zone walking that many batters could be seen as quite an accomplishment, so we got that going for us. The day started with light rain, a wet field and sloppy conditions which seemed to be the theme of the day. Oh well, the season ends with an overall record of 12 – 10 and on to the playoffs we go!
All we have to do now is to win the next 4 games against the league’s best teams. No problem, right?
“That’s one of the great gifts of this, the greatest of all games, baseball: it allows you, still, to lose yourself in a dream, to feel and remember a season of life when summer never seemed to die and the assault of cynicism hadn’t begun to batter optimism.” – Mike Barnicle
See you at the playoffs!
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!
Playoffs
The Giants ended up being tied with three other teams for playoff seeding resulting in a match up with the Legends. The game started out looking like it was going to be a pitcher’s duel with Aiden Prentice matched against the Legends number 1, Jon Lucktenberg. Mike Buttegreit replaced Prentice in the fifth inning with the Giants down 2 to 0, but the Giants finally got on the board and led 3 – 2 after seven. Everything seemed like it was going according to plan, but a couple of wild innings later the Giants managed to come out with a 9 – 7 win. Aiden Prentice was the player of the game and besides pitching the first 4 2/3 innings of the game, he went 4 for 5 with a double, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Mike Buttegreit got the win in relief.
aWin the first game.
Next up, the Cardinals. Coming off a 16 to 3 win over the Cardinals in our last game, the team knew that we had to match that effort, especially considering they were benefiting from a 1 seed giving then a first round bye. The game went from a 3-3 tie after four innings to a 7 – 5 Giants lead after six. Everything was rolling along until the bottom of the seventh inning when the wheels fell off. For some unknown reason the umpire decided that the strike zone (like Sasquatch) no longer existed until after the Cardinals had scored 7 runs. By the top of the eighth, he had rediscovered the strike zone and the Giants were only able to pound out a couple more runs to the final 12 – 9 score.
It’s becoming more and more obvious every year that to win through the playoffs in this single elimination style tournament, you need to have everything go your way. Most of the top teams are capable of winning the last 4 games and as the results of the championship weekend show, the Giants are in that group.
Today things didn’t go our way…………………next year, maybe they will.
Hope Springs eternal in the baseball breast
Until July,
When in six towns, hurled backward from the crest,
Passes by;
And, stilled at last beyond the pennant gate,
The ringing cheer
Fades to a curse – and then the cry: “Just wait
Until next year.”
Grantland Rice
2020 TCMABL Season Cancelled Due to Covid - 19
As you are all aware, last evening the Board of Directors held a meeting to determine if a 2020 season is feasible and or in the best interest of the league.. After a healthy debate and weighing all the various factors, the Board of Directors voted in favor of cancelling the 2020 season. Please know this was not an easy decision, but we feel as though it is the right decision for our league at this time.
On a personal note, this weighed very heavily on the minds of the Executive Board and the Board of Directors as we know how much baseball means to all of you, your players, and extended families who support our league. .
The Executive Board is going to meet later this week to discuss and determine the logistics of several key items (league finances, usage of baseballs, monthly managers meetings starting in July, etc.) for closing the books on the 2020 season, and will follow-up with you at that time. After which, we will turn our attention to the 2021 season, which is the 25th Anniversary of the TCMABL.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information. Otherwise, I hope you and your players have a safe and enjoyable rest of your summer.
Sincerely,
Ryan Lutzka
TCMABL President
2020 Notes
I made a mistake the other day. After resigning myself to the prospect of not playing baseball this year, I happened to walk past a baseball field. The green grass and freshly dragged infield was calling me. I felt depressed and couldn't help but second guess the decision to cancel the 2020 TCMABL season.
I understood that we had too many issues that we felt couldn't be resolved, including:
1. The difficult logistics of using a limited time frame to coordinate fields, establish schedules, collect money from players, etc.
2. The very likely possibility that Covid-19 transmission will be occurring throughout the 700 to 800 TCMABL group (plus their families).
3. Deciding what measures the TCMABL should adopt to keep people safe, considering many players do not have medical insurance.
4. Figuring out how to enforce these measures throughout all the games which are played all over the TC area with little oversite from the league.
5. The league's potential legal liabilities as well as the liabilites that could fall personally on the Board of Directors.
But other leagues were playing. What if our worries proved to be exaggerated and none of our concerns became the problems we thought they might become?
Well, the answers aren't all in yet and I suppose the true impact the pandemic has had on amateur baseball locally probably won't be know for quite a while, but I've tracked some stories (mostly local) and put them in a time line from the time the league cancelled it's season until now.
June 22nd – TCMABL Cancels Season
June 24th – Governor Walz OKs Baseball's Return
June 25th – MBA Teams in the Eastern Minny League – Hibbing and Princeton - Opt Not to Play This Year
https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?s=baseball&u=EASTERNMINNYLEAGUE
June 25th – Eau Claire, WI Town Team Cancels Season
https://www.weau.com/2020/06/25/eau-claire-cavaliers-cancel-season/
June 26th – Several MBA Town Teams Test Positive. Players and Teams are Quarantined.
June 26th – MBA Town Team Cancels Game because a Player Came into Contact with Covid-19 Patient
June 26th - Several Twins Players Test Positive
https://www.startribune.com/some-twins-players-have-tested-positive-for-covid-19/571487182/
June 28th – Wisconsin 40 Team Amateur Baseball league is Forced to Cancel Season after Positive Covid-19 Tests
June 29th - Twins Sideline Two Coaches for Season
June 30th – Another MBA team, Cologne, cancels games due to Covid-19.
June 30th – All Minor League Baseball Cancelled
June 30th - Wilmar Stingers Player test positive. All players screened daily.
Stingers player tests positive for COVID-19 | West Central Tribune
July 1st - WI League Cancels Season Due to Covid
July 3rd – Entire Youth Baseball League Shut Down When Coach Tests Positive After Attending Hockey Tournament in WI
July 3rd – Are Covid-19 Waivers Enforceable in Sports?
July 6th – Young People Fuel Covid-19 Spike
Cases among young people fuel COVID-19 spike in Edina
July 8th – Rochester Honkers Season Suspended as Player Tested Positive
Honkers' season on hold after player tests positive for coronavirus | News Break
July 8th – Multiple Teams Including Top Ranked Baseball Team in Iowa have Seasons Cancelled After Positive Test
Dowling Catholic baseball, softball seasons canceled after positive test for COVID-19
July 9th – Only 3 Games Were Played Last Week in the DRS (Dakota, Rice, Scott) Baseball League Because 4 Teams Had Players That Tested Positive and Couldn’t Play
July 9th – Youth Baseball Tournament Leads to at Least 10 People Testing Positive From Two Teams
July 9th – MBA Team, East Bethel, Ends Their Season
https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?s=baseball&u=EASTERNMINNYLEAGUE
July 9th - MBA Team Hopkins Berries Quits Playing This Year
July 10th - Mulitple MBA Teams Face Game Cancellations Due to Players With Covid-19
Amateur baseball faces scheduling difficulties after COVID-19 tests
July 13th - WI Town Team Cancels Games
One Broncos player tests positive for COVID-19
July 13th - Another Iowa Team Cancel Seasons Due to Covid
July 14th - New York Adds Minnesota to States That Travel Restrictions
July 17th - Virginia, MN cancels baseball
July 20th – Yet Another Iowa Team Ends Season
July 22nd – Governor Walz Mandates Wearing Masks Throughout the State of Minnesota
https://www.startribune.com/walz-mandates-masks-indoors-across-state/571861471/
July 25rd - 15 New Ulm Area Physicians are Opposed to the MBA State Tournament for Fear of Viral Surge. City Council votes 5 - 0 to Cancel Hosting State Tournament
Upon further review… | News, Sports, Jobs - The Journal
NU City Council balks on baseball tourney | News, Sports, Jobs - The Journal
July 27th – MLB Covid - 19 is Already Causing Chaos for Baseball
July 27th - WI Youth League Suspends Games After Multiple Players and Coaches test Positive
August 1 - MLB Commissioner Warns He Might End Baseball Season
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/31/us/mlb-coronavirus-cardinals-brewers/index.html
August 1st – Eden Prairie Baseball Cancels Games Due to Covid-19
August 4th – Iowa Amateur Baseball State Tournament Cancelled Due to Covid -19
August 7th - MLB Coronavirus Problem is Turning into a Scheduling Nightmare
https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2020/8/7/21358891/mlbs-coronavirus-problem-scheduling-nightmare
August 11th - Big Ten Postpones Season Citing Health Concerns and Liability Issues
August 11th – Covid-19 Risk Management Guidelines for Amateur Sports
https://www.sadlersports.com/coronavirus-risk-management-in-sports/
August 14th - Bemidji Blue Ox Advances in Playoffs After Cancelling Games for Two Weeks in July After Player Tests Positive
August 20th - Class C MBA Tournament – Sterns County - Lake Henry Advances Due to Forfeit With 8 Players Testing Positive
September 21st - Arizona Cancels Fall League
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/arizona-fall-league-cancels-2020-season/
What does all this mean?
At the same time that Covid-19 positive test numbers were going up, multiple teams and multiple leagues cancelled their seasons or at least games and tournaments because of the coronavirus. From what I can tell, some of the amateur leagues are well organized and have strict reporting rules, while other leagues have what seems to be a "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The leagues that were well organized experienced many problems, while other leagues probably had the same problems but just don't know it. Did the TCMABL make the right call? Time will tell on this petri dish experiment, but it would be hard to deny that these same problems wouldn't have made it very difficult for the TCMABL to get through a season.
Good luck, stay healthy and hopefully this won't lead to what many other states are experiencing now.
2019
Congratulations to Noah Danner and Austin Fadness for being selected to represent the Giants in this year's All-Star game. Come out to cheer them on at Alimagnet Field on Saturday, August 24th at 2:00 PM.
2019 Season Recap
2019 Playoffs
It has been said that baseball is made to break your heart. There are 16 teams in the 18+ TCMABL. 15 of them will end their seasons with a disappointing loss. For many of us, the year began last winter with indoor practices turning into the preseason as the seasons changed. We watched as the dead of winter turned into the green of spring and the light of summer. Now we head back toward the dark, hoping to be fortified by past memories and the hope of next year. There’s always next year.
“What? Over? Did you say ‘over’? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! It ain’t over now, cause when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Who’s with me? Let’s go!!!!” Bluto
I'm with you, Bluto, even though probably no one else even knows who you are.
“The one constant through all the years has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.” W.P. Kinsella
In fact, now guys have a chance to see if they can get a few fall games in before letting those broken bones heal, to decide whether to rehab or have surgery, or maybe just get back into the gym. Merging the past with the future, that’s what baseball is all about. It never really ends. Next year starts now, right?
Week 11: Sea Donkeys
With the Division leader Sea Donkeys as this week’s opponent, the Giants gave the ball to Austin Fadness for his first start this season. Not only did Fadness hold the Donkeys scoreless until being relieved late in the game, but he also led the offense hitting two home runs. Nick Hetland also hit a homerun and Adam Kern and Matt Carter each had 2 hits, while Noah Danner came in to get the last couple of outs to end the Donkeys rally in the 7 – 6 win.
In game 2 the Donkeys picked up where they left off by scoring 8 runs in the first 4 innings until Dillon Solomon came in to keep the Giants’ chances alive with a couple of quality innings. The onslaught created a hole that was too deep to climb out of and the 8 – 4 loss brought the regular season record to .500 with 11 wins and 11 losses.
“It’s not how you start the season, it’s how you finish. If you wind up helping the team make the playoffs, that’s what you play for. You don’t play to put up your numbers, but to try to get a chance to make it to the World Series.” Albert Pujols
Let’s build on the last couple of games and carry this through the playoffs!
Go Giants
Rain Out Make Up Game 2: Bombers
On this week night rain out make up game, the Giants came out on top in the 5 – 2 win over the Bombers. Starting pitcher Ernie Heifort, backed by a strong defensive effort, earned his first win as a Giant before being relieved by Austin Fadness with Cole Lambert closing out the game. Adam Kern had a couple of hits to lead the scoring and Noah Danner had a couple of nice defensive plays at first.
"Keep battling." Wesley Fadness
That says it all, boys.
Go Giants
Week 10: Cardinals
This Sunday, like most game mornings, the day starts by preparing the field, making sure that everything is in good shape with eager anticipation that something good is about to happen. This Sunday, however we had to put our hopes on hold until the next game. The story of the first game was one bad inning that led to most of the Cardinals’ scoring in the 5 – I loss. Austin Fadness and Cole Lambert each had two hits while Noah Danner had 11 Ks.
The story of the second game was too many missed scoring opportunities in the 5 - 3 loss. Dillon Solomon had a couple of hits and Rob Dembroski had a good start on the mound but offensively in both games the bats could not put anything together and against a good hitting team like the Cardinals you need to score a few runs to have a chance. Apparently using some sort of Jedi mind trick, the Cardinal’s pitching was able to keep the Giants hitters off balance with a variety of off speed pitches throughout the day. The key hit never materialized and over aggressive base running led to a couple of missed runs as at times it felt like we were auditioning for the next Bad News Bears movie.
“You can’t second guess baseball. You can’t second guess yourself.” Mariano Rivera
But hey, now that I think of it, all of the Bad News Bears movies end with the Bears winning the championship - so we should be in the drivers seat the rest of the way, right?
“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there is no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” Derek Jeter
Go Giants
Week 9: Expos
With dark clouds on the horizon, the threat of thunderstorms looked to overshadow last year’s opening day rematch between the Giants’ Noah Danner and the Expos’ Mac Sheppard. As those of you following along at home may remember, last year’s game ended in a 1 – 0 loss as Sheppard earned the Player of the Week award for his no hit effort. This time was different, though, as Danner was on the top of his game and the Giants hitters were able to get a few hits to scratch out a 2 – 0 win. Noah finished giving up only 2 hits with 8 K’s. Offensively the team was led by Mike Cisewski with two hits.
“Bob Gibson is the luckiest pitcher I ever saw. He always pitches when the other team doesn’t score any runs.” Tim McCarver
Actually with a little luck, and maybe with even a couple of hours of sleep, Noah would have given up even fewer than zero runs. True story.
Ernie Heifort started game 2 in his first start for the Giants and was effective for three inning before being relieved by Ryan Polehonka in a short effective stint. The game was close until the sixth inning when a few walks, misplays and inopportune hits put the Giants on the losing side of the 7 – 4 score. A couple of triples by Nick Hetland and Chandler Maclean were the only offensive highlights.
“Baseball really is a glorified game of throw and catch. And if you don’t have guys who throw it really well, you can’t compete for long.” Tucker Elliot
Yep. That about says it. I don’t know who Tucker Elliot is but you could add hitting in there somewhere too, eh Tuck?. Let’s get some momentum going in the right direction as we get closer to playoffs.
Go Giants
Week 8: Ducks
The Giants entered the day needing a sweep of the Ducks to stay in the middle of the American Division’s battle for second place. The story of game one was Noah Danner’s complete game gem. What should have been a no hit shutout fell just short as the game was extended a little by a defensive anomaly but the 7 – 1 win started the day off in good shape. Offensively, Austin Fadness led the way with a double and a triple and three RBIs, while the rest of the team chipped away.
Game 2 was best described by one baseball pundit as an emotional roller coaster. The Giants got off to a quick 4 – 0 deficit with Rob Dembroski’s effective relief appearance keeping the Ducks from scoring even more. Scoring 6 runs in the fourth inning moved the momentum back in the right direction for the Giants and we added another run to get ahead 7 – 4. Everything looked to be in control but a bit of chaos led to 3 Duck runs in the seventh to tie the score. Since some of the team hadn’t played in a couple of Sundays and we all needed the extra practice, the chance to end the game was delayed until Cole Lambert’s walk off double scored Mike Cisewski in the bottom of the ninth. Other highlights included Ryan Polehonka's 4 for 4 game and 2 hits games from Jason Hodson, Chandler Maclean, Mike Cisewski and Cole Lambert, who also came in to close out the game earning his first win as a Giant.
It wasn’t pretty but the good guys won and everybody went home happy - at least as far as I know.
“Show me a guy that’s afraid to look bad and I’ll show you a guy you can beat every time.” Lou Brock
I think we’re starting to get over our fear of looking bad. Now it's full steam ahead!
Go Giants
Week 7: Avengers
Being undermanned on the hottest day of the year is not a situation you want to be in and with the humidity and heat combining to make the ball field feel like a sauna, the Giants had a tough day ahead. Especially considering we were playing a team of super heroes. In the first game putting up 5 runs in the first inning helped give the Giants’ starter Rob Dembroski a cushion that expanded into a 15 to 5 score with Rob picking up his first win of the season. Scott Palma led the offense going 4 for 4 with 2 doubles, a triple and 3 RBI. Matt Carter also had three hits as Ben Brandriet and Chandler Maclean each had two.
By the middle of second game however, the effects of the heat started to show. And - in retrospect - the Avengers’ strategy of throwing the ball right at batters and runners seemed to have worked. Against Robert Downing Jr. on the mound, the team couldn’t get the bats going as it seemed to be a group decision that the battered and bruised hitters would rather hang out under the shade of the canopy of the dugout then stand all alone in the hot sun on the bases. Scott Palma’s second triple of the day, Cole Lambert’s spectacular diving catch in left field and Rob Dembroski’s iron man day were highlights in the 5 – 1 loss. Also worthy of note was the effort from Bryan Hendricks as he got called up for temporary help and pitched 5 effective innings between the 2 games.
“I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball.” – Pete Rose
I think the Iron Nine know just what you mean, Pete.
Also on the plus side, I did find a couple of nice sized agates in the gravel between first and second, so that was kind of nice.
Go Giants
Rain Out Make up Game 2: Twins
The Fourth of July break might have been the necessary chance to recharge as the Giants came out against the Twins with an 8 - 0 win. Noah Danner got back in the groove with a 12 K, complete game shut out. New addition Dillon Solomon was 2 for 2 with 2 doubles and a couple RBI and Chandler Maclean also went 2 for 2 but the highlight was Noah's pitching performance.
"That rain delay was the most important thing to happen to the Giants in the past 100 years. I don't think there's any way we win the game without it." Anthony Rizzo
I think that might be just a slight exaggeration, but it's one way to put a positive spin on getting rained out.
Go Giants
Week 6: Bombers
There is a saying that the only thing worse than losing is to get rained out. So when the day started with the wind howling like a crossfire hurricane and our area in a severe thunderstorm watch, things didn’t look promising. When the wind is blowing out, as many of you that have played at Lighted know, anything hit into the air has a chance and the pitcher is throwing into the wind. Plus as it turns out (my current theory), when it is as windy as it was on Sunday, a fast ball pitcher loses a couple of miles off his best pitch and an off speed pitcher gets even more movement on his pitches. At least that is what the result of the first game 10 to 4 loss seemed to display. The Giants offensively were led by Chandler Maclean’s 2 hits with a home run, and two hits days by Jon Garbacz and Mike Cisewski, but in almost every inning runners were left on base as key hits have become sparse this season.
Then the monsoons arrived and we were done for the day.
But it made me think that maybe rain isn’t worse than losing after all. In fact you could say the rain was the highlight of the day as it washed us into the fourth of July break ready to refresh and start the second half ready to go. A figurative but also literal cleansing, as some of the uniforms at least got rinsed this week.
“If a tie is like kissing your sister, losing is like kissing your grandmother with her teeth out.” George Brett
Thanks for giving me that mental image, George, but I know what you mean.
Go Giants
Week 5: Indians
Sunday’s games against a significantly improved Indians team proved that when you mix a good opponent, a couple mental mistakes, a bad call or two and just plain bad luck, the outcome will not be good. In fact you could say from starting the day with a wet (and locked) field to the end of the second game, the entire day left much to be desired – to be polite. In the morning’s game, Noah Danner’s run of scoreless innings ended by virtue of seeing eye hits that somehow managed to barely elude the defense. The offensive led by Nick Hetland’s 2 for 3 with a home run and Matt Carter’s going 2 for 2 was not enough to overcome the deficit in the 6 – 3 loss. Rob Dembroski pushed into duty on the mound started the second game pitching 4 strong innings before being relieved by Jake Wood in the middle of the fifth. The offense sputtered, taking turns between getting hits and striking out, waiting as the key hit never arrived. The Giants did have a few chances but in a close game any mistake, whether it be from the umpire or a player, can be the deciding factor. When the 5 – 4 game was over, all you could say is “Man, that was F***ed up.”
Oh well, next week is a new opportunity.
“From my failures blooms growth and I become one with the baseball, the field and the universe. (Repeat to yourself.)” Jon Garbacz
What? What the heck does that even mean? Whatever you’ve been drinking, save some for me.
“Whether you have a great game or a terrible game, tomorrow’s another day and you’ve got to come out here and compete.” David Wright
Let’s pick it up next week.
Go Giants
Week 4: North Stars
The first game match up between Giants' pitcher Noah Danner and the North Star's ace Sam Nelson looked to be a pitchers' duel and the game did not disappoint. Danner, making a strong bid for Player of the Week for his second week in a row, pitched his second shut out giving up 2 hits and 12 strike outs in his complete game 3 - 0 win. Mike Cisewski hit a homerun in leading the offense. Sometimes in baseball, though, it's good to have a short memory as the good guys couldn't get the bats going other than a 6th inning home run by Austin Fadness in the 11 - 1 loss.
"I never blame myself when I'm not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn't my fault that I'm not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?" Yogi Berra
I think I might have to get a new bat.
Maybe new batting gloves too.
Go Giants
Week 3 True Blue
After last weeks setback against the Coyotes, the Giants stood at the precipice looking into the abyss of meaninglessness. With the 3 -1 first place True Blue as this week's opponent, could the team rise up to the challenge? Noah Danner answered right away by pitching the Giants' first ever perfect game. The rest of the team responded by scoring 10 runs and playing errorless defense. Noah ended with 9 Ks in the shorted game. Ryan Polehonka went 2 for 3, with 3 RBIs and 2 Runs Scored and Cole Lambert went 2 for 3 with a double and 2 Runs Scored to lead the offense. In the second game the outcome was not decided until the 8th inning. The teams battled through 7 innings and started the 8th with a 3 - 3 tie. In the top of the inning, Ryan Polehonka singled and came around to score on Cole Lamberts 2 out single. Austin Fadness hit a double and Mike Anderson had an RBI single. When the dust had settled the Giants had scored 3 runs, all with 2 outs. Nick Hetland finished off the bottom of the 8th to earn his first complete game win for the Giants finishing with 11Ks and only 1 earned run.
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." George Steinbrenner
Wait a minute George. Calm down. You seem kind of tense.
"I have no control over results. All I can do is play to the best of my abilities. Success is me giving everything that I have." Ichiro Suzuki
Maybe that's a little better.
Go Giants
Week 2: Coyotes
The expression "We got waxed." sums up the day pretty well. Not one of those buff and waxes that you do to your car either. More like a hot wax poured over your chest hair and pulled off with tape. (Not that I would know anything about that.) I try to think of some positives to take away from every Sunday, but a couple of nice outfield sliding catches by Jason Hodson and Adam Kern were lost in the cause. Let's turn the page and go into next week ready to go.
"The main idea is to win." John McGraw
"Nice guys finish last." Leo Durocher
Maybe next we can get spit shined.
Week 1: Twins Game One
The first game of the Opening Day rain out makeup was a good start to the 2019 season with a 5 to 2 victory over the Twins. The Giants scored a first inning run and the Twins scratched out a run a couple innings later as the game settled into a pitchers’ duel with Nick Hetland pitching 5 solid innings. The team was finally able to put together a few hits in bottom of the sixth to score 4 more runs. Ryan Polehonka with 2 hits and 2 runs scored, Adam Kern’s 2 hits and Rob Dembroski’s 2 RBI double led the way. Noah Danner came in to close out the game earning the win. The real story, though, was the team’s errorless defense led by right fielder Mike Anderson’s over the shoulder bases loaded catch and his throw out at third to catch a runner trying to advance.
“Be on time. Bust your butt. Play smart. And have some laughs while you’re at It.” Whitey Herzog
I think Whitey got the sentiment precisely. Let’s follow his advice and carry this forward.
New Players for 2019
The Giants would like to welcome new players Scott Palma, Cole Lambert, and Nick Hetland! Scott and Cole look to get a few game winning hits as they display their versatility in the field with Nick giving opposing batters a tough day at the plate. Great additions to the team!
"It has to start somewhere, it has to start sometime. What better place than here, what better time than now?” Zack de la Rocha
Congatulations to 2018 Cy Young Award Winner Noah Danner!!!
2018 GIANTS
Check out the ABOUT page To read the 2018 Season Summary
Back Row L to R: Adam Kern, Jon Garbacz, Jake Wood, Tom Sletten, Noah Danner, Brandon Curry, Mike Cisewski, Ryan Polehonk, Chandler Maclean.
Front Row L to R: Zach Kunesh, Jason Hodson, Mike Anderson,Jobu, Austin Fadness, Wesley Fadness, Ben Brandriet, Rob Dembroski. Missing: Matt Carter.
2018
2018 SEASON SUMMARY
Playoffs Week 12
The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Giants’ nine that day;
the score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.
And when a batter died at first, and another did the same,
a sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.
But Kunesh scratched out a single, Danner running in his place,
and Sletten, waiting for his chance to face the Bombers ace;
The ball was pitched, a mighty blast right over the fielders head
There’s still hope, one chance at least, hanging from a thread
When the ball stopped rolling, and the men saw what occurred,
there was Tommy safe at second, Noah came around and scored.
From the benches, full of people, there went up a muffled roar,
like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore.
Was this enough? Down one run, we needed at least one more
From all the Giants faithful there rose a lusty roar.
It knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
for one of the team’s best players was advancing to the bat.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
and now the air is shattered by the force of the batter's blow.
The crack of the bat, the ball hit hard, through the sky it went.
The team’s fate determined as we watched the ball’s descent.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
but there is no joy in Mudville — the mighty Giants have lost out.
Week 11 Reds
A win against the Reds would clinch a playoff spot so the Giants went to work right away in the 15 to 3 win. Austin Fadness led the way with 3 doubles and 3 RBI and Jake Wood had a couple of hits. Jason Hodson and Rob Dembroski teamed up for the win on the mound. The second game was icing on the cake with another complete game shutout for Noah Danner moving the Giants into the 4th seed in the division playoffs. The Giants offense was able to muster 10 hits against one of the best pitchers in the league in the 7 - 0 win. The offense was led with a couple of hits by Mike Anderson and another double by Fadness.
“One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something.” – Nolan Ryan
Great way to finish the regular season. Let’s carry this 4 game winning streak into the playoffs.
Week 10 True Blue
The Giants went into the games this Sunday as almost every other Sunday this season, with the team’s playoff hopes on the line. It seems like after we lost both games in the season opener (by one run) every game has been a must win as we tried to stay as one of the top 6 seeds. The True Blue were also fighting for a playoff spot, so winning today was important. In the first game, the Giants fell behind giving the True Blue an early 4 -0 lead, but the team was able to scratch back tying the game on a bases loaded 2 run single by Noah Danner. Ben Brandreit’s single in the bottom of the seventh scored Ryan Polehonka for the walk off 5 – 4 win. Jason Hodson started the game with 5 strong innings despite very poor mound conditions with Rob Dembroski, in his first pitching appearance, picking up the win with 2 scoreless innings in relief. It can’t get much better than walk off heroics, right?
Or maybe it is something we could build on, but how could we top that?
In the second game, it turned out, that all we had to do is give the ball to Noah Danner. The first few innings were a pitchers’ duel until Ben Brandreit’s double turned into a run scored. There was a great diving catch in right field by Jason Hodson, the rest of the team played errorless ball and we added a few more runs. But the real story was Noah’s no hit pitching performance. He finished with O hits, 8 K’s and 3 BB’s. Can you say TCMABL Player of the Week?
“It is very bad to drink Jobu’s rum. Is very bad.” Pedro Cerrano
I don’t know. That might be true. Be very true.
My advice is to stay away from rum, boys. At least until after we win.
Week 9 Bombers
A baseball field is a magical place. Some might even call it a holy place. Maybe that’s why when I wake up early Sunday morning I can’t wait to get to the field. This Sunday was no different. After all, we were facing a tough Bombers team that last week lived up to their name when they swept the 2016 league champions scoring 22 runs in the process. Given their offensive potential our goal became obvious - keep them from scoring 22 runs. That said, a couple of wins would be good too. The first game went true to form. Noah Danner found his groove and the Giants bats made the 12 – 2 game end early. Noah had 8 strikeouts to add to his league leading total. Austin Fadness, Ryan Polehonka, and Jason Hodson each had 2 hits at the plate.
The second game, however, was a replay of last week where we just couldn’t get the offense going. Jason Hodson pitched 5 strong innings giving up only one earned run but the bats let us down in the 4 – 0 loss. The only offensive highlight was Ryan Polehonka’s 2 hits making him 4 for 6 with 3 Runs and 3 RBI on the day.
"Slump? I ain't in no slump. I just ain't hitting." Yogi Berra
That's a good way to think about it.
"It was all I lived for, to play baseball." Mickey Mantle
We heard you lived for a few other things too but we know what you mean Mick.
Week 8 Tigers
In the first game of this week’s double header the Giants started strong with a 10 – 2 win over the Tigers behind a solid complete game performance from Jason Hodson. Leading the offense with 3 hits and a triple with a triple was Chandler Maclean. Adam Kern, Jon Garbacz and Mike Cisewski also had two hits in the attack. So far so good.
“Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.” Babe Ruth
It would have been nice, however, if the team could have saved a couple of those runs for the second game as we were only able to scratch out one run on Ryan Polehonka’s aggressive base running in the first inning before going on to lose 3 – 1. Noah Danner was left without run support again as he struck out 13 in what was another impressive outing.
“You’ve got to have an attitude if you’re going to go far in this game. Every great batter works on the theory that the pitcher is more afraid of him than he is of the pitcher.”
Ty Cobb
A confident attitude is as important to hitting as anything. Let’s copy Ty Cobb's attitude and carry this through the rest of the season.
Week 7 Sea Donkeys
There is a philosophy that says you don’t lose - you only win or learn. Well this Sunday the Giants three game winning streak ended as they decided to go back to school. Against the league leading Sea Donkeys, the Giants came up just a little short. The 2 - 1 opening game loss was a playoff caliber game in most ways except the hoped for outcome. Noah Danner had another excellent outing on the mound, holding the Sea Donkeys to just one earned run. The Giants also missed opportunities in the second game with a 8-4 final score despite two hit games from Austin Fadness, Ryan Polehonka, Tom Sletten and Chandler Maclean.
“Baseball is a game based on adversity. It's a game that's going to test you repeatedly. It's going to find your weaknesses and vulnerabilities and force you to adjust. That adversity, in the big picture, is a really good thing because it shows you where your weaknesses are. It gives you the opportunity to improve.” Theo Epstein
The team could use this learning experience as an opportunity to improve so we can bounce back next week and overcome adversity. The would be taking the high road. But as you may know – taking the high road isn’t always the one taken. We might want to consider:
“Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser.” Vince Lombardi
Or if you prefer:
“Show me a good loser and I’ll show you an idiot.” Leo Durocher
Next week let’s hit it, and hit it, and hit it again. And when were done hitting it, let’s kick it. And when we’re done kicking it, let’s slap it.
Week 6 Ducks
Week 5 Cardinals
Ever been hit with a baseball in the face? Well on Sunday the team learned how that feels, both literally and figuratively in the first game of the double header. Last year’s defending champions played “murder ball” according to their tweet sent between the two games, but the game was actually quite close until the 4th inning when our shortstop took the expression “keep your eye on the ball” too literally.” That knocked out not only the shortstop but the starting pitcher as well, opening up an avalanche that ended poorly. The second game, however, was restorative as a suddenly improved Giants team played a combination of small ball, solid defensive and strong pitching to come back with a 9 -1 win. The game really got going when the Giants scored 3 runs on two bunts by Ryan Polehonka and Jason Hodson. Also Mike Cisewski hit a couple of doubles, Matt Carter went 2 for 3, while Noah Danner gave up only 1 run with 8 strikeouts in the complete game victory.
Running a ball club is like raising kids who fall out of trees. — Tom Trebelhorn
No need to expand on this. Plus, I’ll toss in a bonus quote:
"When we lost I couldn't sleep at night. When we win I can't sleep at night. But when you win, you wake up feeling better." - Joe Torre
Either way you don’t sleep but I agree with Joe. Let’s build on this for the rest of the season.
Week 4 Indians
Like the view of the second dog on the dog sled team, the first game was familiar territory for the Giants. Against another longtime rival, the Indians, the team couldn’t get the key hit and the result was another one run loss. Despite only giving up 2 runs in an excellent pitching performance from Mike Anderson and a 2 for 3 hit day with a triple from Rob Dembroski, the Giants decided to hit most of their hard hit balls right at the Indians’ fielders.
With the temperatures now 90 + degrees and the second game played under a heat advisory, the Giants snapped back to form winning 8 to 3. Noah Danner had another strong outing completing his third complete game and earning his second win. Offensively, it was truly a team effort as 8 different players got hits.
"A good friend of mine used to say, 'This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.' Think about that for a while." Bull Durham
This week we got all three. Think about that for a while.
Week 3 Rams
This week the Giants got some pitching help from new comers Joe Gonzalez and Jason Hodson to beat a very good Rams team in the first game. Joe pitched a strong 5 innings allowing only 2 earned runs with Jason closing out the last two scoreless innings. The Giants came from behind to score 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th with Matt Carter, Zach Kunesh and Mike Cisewski all having 2 hit games at the plate. The second game, despite Chandler Maclean going 2 for 3, is not how we baseball. Getting 4 runs down early was too much for the team to overcome. The team, however, played well defensively with only 2 errors on the day and no one got injured, at least as far as I know.
Remember these two things: Play hard and have fun. Tony Gwynn
Week 2 Snappers
This week matched up two teams with a long time TCMABL rivalry. Against the Snappers, the Giants finally got off the bump but it took another moral victory to get there. The day started off much like week one with another one run loss. Despite going up against one of the league’s premier pitchers, Jared Carlson, the Giants, led by Tom Sletten going 3 for 3 with a double and Matt Carter going 2 for 3 at the plate, were able to score 8 runs in the first game loss. This week, however, the team figured out a way to win game two behind another solid outing on the mound by Noah Danner and Mike Anderson going 2 for 3 with a double. On another note, the new jerseys finally got through customs and the team at least looked good for both games.
"Baseball is a game of inches." Branch Rickey
OPENING DAY!
Week 1 Expos
A couple of one runs losses is guaranteed to cost a manager a few hours of sleep as he replays the games over and over in his head. Sound defense and good pitching, the norms that usually win games, went looking for a key hit or two. In the first game despite Noah Danners great outing on the mound, we forgot that you need to score at least 1 run to win. In the second game, Zach Kunesh had a great day at the plate hitting his first of what we all hope is many home runs for the Giants.
After the game as the team was in the dugout trying to put a positive spin on the moral victory a player was overheard saying" "A lot of people get wrapped up in the wins and losses, but they don't notice a lot of the little things we do so well. The coaches keep saying we're not playing bad, we just need to put the puck in the net. That's the only thing we're not doing well right now, we're not putting the puck in the net." That's what coaches say, apparently, but not all coaches.
“Take your bleeping moral victory and shove it up your bleeping ass, you bleeping bleeper” Long time BYU head coach LaVell Edwards.
Sure is a good thing we don't have Lavell Edwards for our coach, although we might agree that he has a point.
OPENING DAY 2018 IS COMING!!!
After our last (hopefully) indoor practice last Sunday I was flipping through the channels and happened across a baseball movie that I hadn’t seen before. I don’t remember the name but it quickly caught my interest as I recognized the movie was about the struggles of an amateur baseball team. The game was close and in a key situation when one of the guys struck out. He lost his temper throwing his bat toward the dugout. When he got into the dugout he started wrestling with his teammates. Pretty soon the whole team was involved. The team in the other dugout was staring at the scene in shock. “What’s wrong with these morons,” they were saying. One of the coaches stepped in and demanded that they knock it off and take their positions in the field. The whole time in the field the guys continued to mutter and curse.
At that point I turned the TV off.
I figured the movie would somehow end happily in a group hug with the players winning the championship – probably – after all it was a movie - but I already know how this would end if it happened in real life. Don’t know why I’m mentioning this but I can’t wait for this season to begin.
Let’s PLAY BALL!!!
"To me, baseball has always been a reflection of life. Like life, it adjusts. It survives everything." Willie Stargel
Embrace the Holiday Season
Sometimes things can happen that hit you hard. Something that emphasizes what’s important and puts everything in perspective. Something like that happened to me. Unknown to me, last August about the same time that the Giants were losing their last game of the 2019 season, my brother Mark was learning that he had Stage 4 cancer. The prognosis gave him between 1 and 6 months with the median being 4 months. The news was the worst. Nothing could be done. How can you squeeze a couple of decades of living into the next few weeks?
My brother is who I played catch with in the back yard as a kid growing up. As an adult he worked with me for years to establish a business. He was a good uncle to my children and a good husband to his wife. He was with me through all the highs and lows of my life. I watched him grow up and then get old before his time.
I suppose there’s several things we can learn from this, but I think probably the most important thing especially considering we’re in the holiday season is to embrace the people that are close to you and let them know that you love them. I was blessed to have my brother in my life and I was blessed to have those few weeks. Mark died on December 19th, on the same date as our mother.
Mark Garbacz (second from left)
