Dirty Pirate Hookers: Game 4 Summary

Dirty Pirate Hookers: Game 4

Wildwood: 5
Dirty Pirate Hookers: 6

6/3/09, Wednesday, 6:00 PM @ Ridge Field #1

The Dirty Pirate Hookers find vengeance and dump another divisional foe off the short plank.

The Dirty Pirate Hookers faced Wildwood for the first time since suffering elimination at their hand in Round 1 of the '08 playoffs. No triple play and no frenzied but deficient comeback attempt were necessary to chase victory. Instead, the Hookers relied on solid defense, good pitching, and smart, timely hitting to broker defeat.

John C toed the rubber for his second DPH start of the season and overcame shaky Hooker defense in the top of the first limiting Wildwood to a solitary run. The Pirates' top of the order produced two quick outs, but Colleen B and Scott J launched a 2 out rally with a pair of singles. After a fielder's choice quelled the rally, the Pirate defense went back to work.

The Hookers' defense and pitching dug in and held the line through the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings facing a mere 12 enemy batters while surrendering no runs. The Pirates proceeded to use their entrenched defensive position to stage the bulk of their offense. Justin V led off the 2nd with a bloop double and scored on a RBI line drive double by Garry S. Steve F then drilled a shot to right that submitted to an invisible enemy--a staunch, driving wind blowing in from right field. After another stunted fly ball out to right, Tahnee H hit a too hot to handle grounder to third scoring Garry S. Christina C then lined a single to left putting runners on first and second for John C. On the second pitch, John C blasted a shot to right-center that succumbed yet again to Wildwood's best defensive player--the wind.

The Hookers offense produced nothing in a quiet 3rd; wasting a one out single by Scott J. Garry S started the bottom of the 4th by bouncing a grounder and hustling a base from sloppy play by Wildwood's first baseman. With one out, Mike F delivered the Hookers' biggest shot of the day--a RBI triple to center-left. Tahnee H followed with a RBI single and with two outs, John C checked a bouncer back to the pitcher--but he ran hard out of the box and pilfered a base on another sloppy Wildwood play. Colleen B drove in the Hookers' third run of the inning with a scorched line drive single to left. With two on and two out, Scott J fired another Hooker bomb that fell victim to Wildwood's MVP--the wind--as it pushed the ball a few inches foul. Scott reloaded, but on his second try, flew out.

After 4 innings, the Pirates embraced a 5-1 lead.

Taking advantage of several singles and some sloppy Pirate defense, Wildwood fired a two run salvo in the top of the 5th. The Hookers had no immediate answer but held strong through 5 1/2 innings with a 5-3 lead.

The Hookers' offense re-engaged in the 6th when Steve F laced a single to center-right. With one out, Tahnee copied Steve by launching her own shot to center-right. Strangely reminiscent of his second plate appearance, John C stepped back into the box with two on and two out. This time, however, he came through and fired a two base, RBI shot to left for the last Hooker run of the game.

Wildwood refused to go quietly and used a double and two singles to plate a pair of runs in the top of the 7th. John C and the Hooker defense refused to capitulate and looted three easy outs to subdue any hope of a Wildwood rally.

After the game, Captain John C was most impressed with Wildwood's MVP, "We should've scored 13 or 14 runs..." he complained, "but she stole 4 or 5 big hits. I was proud of the way we battled and the way our defense dug in." When vengeance for the '08 playoff loss was mentioned, John C was succinct: "That's a crock...plain and simple. They won and nothing will change that. But, what we saw today is what a motivated team can do. We caught the pop-ups we had to catch, got our hits, and simply played the way we can play. Everybody was on board and sailing for the same booty. It was a good win."

The Pirates face their only remaining undefeated enemy, Poppy's, on Tuesday, June 9 at Fireman's Field--better known as Poppy's Park.

Boxscore	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Wildwood	1	0	0	0	2	0	2		5	9	3
DPH	0	2	0	3	0	1	x		6	13	3

Player	Slot	Pos	PA	AB	H	BB	IBB	HBP	ROE	CI	OS	K	SF	S	EB	CA	GIDP	1B	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	ROB	Avg	OBP	Slg
Christina C	1	2B	4	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	0.370	0.516	0.407
John C	2	P	4	4	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	5	0.591	0.708	1.091
Colleen B	3	1B/SF	4	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	4	0.310	0.333	0.345
Scott J	4	SS/SF/LF	3	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	0.542	0.600	1.083
Kristen D	5	C	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0.125	0.235	0.125
Justin V	6	CF	3	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	0.526	0.632	1.000
Garry S	7	LF	2	2	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	1	1	0.600	0.731	0.920
Warren S	7	1B	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.500	0.529	0.500
Steve F	8	RF	3	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	0.522	0.520	0.739
Mike F	9	3B	3	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	3	0.545	0.625	0.818
Tahnee H	10	SS	3	3	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	1	3	0.429	0.625	0.524
Gm Totals:			33	33	12	0	0	0	3	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	8	3	1	0	6	5	29	0.364	0.455	0.515

Lineup NOTE: Tahnee H arrived late necessitating placement in the 10 slot.

Dirty Pirate Hookers: Game 3 Summary

Dirty Pirate Hookers: Game 3

Dirty Pirate Hookers: 22
Softballs: 17

5/26/09, Tue, 9:00 PM @ Fireman's

Four times the Hookers and the mighty Softballs have met; four times Softballs walked the short plank--including a heartbreaking season ending game in the '07 Fall playoffs. The games are never blowouts, but the Pirates always find a way to win. This most recent victory came courtesy of the Hookers' offensive awakening. "Most everybody took part in the plundering..." said Captain John C. It's not too often a team is willing to go broadside with Softballs, but the Pirates' artillery matched them bomb for bomb. "The big difference was we had more runners on for the slugging..." added the Captain.

Lead off man Steve F initiated the charge by reaching on a bloop single over 2B. With one out, Pirates Garry S, Colleen B, and Scott J hit consecutive singles with Colleen and Scott collecting an RBI apiece. Justin V stepped to the plate with two runners on and two out to launch his first bomb as a Hooker.

Before stepping in the circle, Warren S had a 5 run lead with which to work. Warren protected the bulk of the loot allowing Softballs to recoup only 1 run.

The Pirates continued their assault in the 2nd, creating much damage with 2 outs and some assistance from Softballs wobbly defense. Christina hit a sharp grounder to short, where S Jackson--apparently mesmerized by Christina's speed--mishandled the ball and threw it away. Garry S followed with a smart single up the middle, advancing with Christina--a base each--on a poor throw from center. Colleen B plated them with a 2 base bomb to left. "One more Wheatie and it was out..." said the Captain, "inner half of the plate...right in her wheelhouse..." Scott and Kristen followed with a pair of singles and an RBI for Kristen and the Pirates scored their fourth run of the inning on an ROE by Justin V.

Warren resumed his attack and plundered Softballs' bats for another inning. After the bottom of the 2nd, the Pirates were leading 9-1.

The Hookers looked to add to their lead and used three successive singles by Warren S, Mike F, and Steve F to start the 3rd in auspicious fashion. Softballs' cheeky pitcher L Jackson, however, thought different and wiggled out of the inning surrendering only 2 runs on RBI singles by Garry S and Scott J.

Softballs took advantage of the reprieve by launching a 6 run raid in their half of the 3rd. The bottom of the inning started ominously when a fly ball to center-right fell between Garry and Steve. From there, Softballs used a series of singles, doubles, and a 3 run home run to alter the lopsided battle into a war of attrition with the Pirates holding firm onto an 11-7 edge.

Desperate for more runs, the Pirates opened the 4th meekly with a quick pair of pop outs. Mike F and Steve F ensured the Hookers padded their score with a pair of solo home runs. Mike sent his over the fence in center and Steve bounced his off the wall in right-center and proceeded to leg it out. Warren secured a 4th inning victory for the Pirates by surrendering only one run on a solo shot by S Jackson.

The Pirates looted 3 more runs in the top of the 5th. Colleen B ripped a single for her third hit of the day and Scott J reached on an E6. Justin V plated both with a line drive triple to center-right and scored on a bloop single by Tahnee H. A pair of errors by the Pirates defense in the bottom of the 5th led to Softballs' lone run and the Pirates holding a 5 run lead.

But Softballs found it impossible to stop the Pirates' surging offense. A trio of singles by Steve, Christina, and Garry loaded the bases for Scott J in the top of the 6th. "I missed my first chance when the bases were loaded in the 3rd..." said Scott, who found redemption by launching a bomb to left-center for the first Hooker slam of the season. The Hookers needed all the runs as Softballs responded in kind taking advantage of soft Pirate defense and by launching three blasts of their own. When the smoke cleared, the Pirates were up by 7.

Tahnee H opened the top of the 7th by ripping a line drive double to left. With one out, John C, in his first plate appearance of the game, launched a mishit shot off the fence in center. In the midst of confusion or bad acting in the outfield, the Captain trudged around the bases for another Pirate home run. Softballs made some noise in the bottom of the 7th with a couplet of two run home runs, but the Pirates pilfered the remaining 3 outs for an exciting 22-17 victory.

At his post game interview, the Captain exhibited his typical candor: "Engaging Softballs in a slugfest is not the smartest approach, but I'll take the win...I don't want to overlook the job Warren did, either. He pitched very well but our defense leaked like a rotting schooner. But...if you're not doing one half of the game well, at least do the other half well. The Hookers--especially the women, did that. Our offense picked the perfect time to turn it on."

On June 3rd, the Pirates seek to avenge their sole playoff loss to Wildwood, 6:00P at Ridge Field.

Next week is kid's day for the Hookers! Come see your favorite Pirates on June 3rd at Ridge Field and kids are allowed in free!

Boxscore	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
DPH	5	4	2	2	3	4	2		22	28	4
Softballs	1	0	6	1	1	4	4		17	19	3

Player	Slot	Pos	PA	AB	H	BB	IBB	HBP	ROE	CI	OS	K	SF	S	EB	CA	GIDP	1B	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	ROB	Avg	OBP	Slg
Steve F	1	RF	6	6	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	1	3	1	2	0.583	0.615	0.833
Christina C	2	2B	6	6	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	5	0.429	0.500	0.500
Garry S	3	CF	5	5	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	3	1	8	0.727	0.833	1.091
Colleen B	4	1B	5	5	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	3	3	10	0.231	0.231	0.308
Scott J	5	3B	5	5	4	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	1	4	6	10	0.667	0.769	1.500
Kristen D	6	SF/C	5	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	9	0.182	0.333	0.182
Justin V	7	LF	5	5	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	5	9	0.333	0.667	1.167
Tahnee H	8	SS	5	5	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	1	1	3	0.375	0.500	0.500
Warren S	9	P	5	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0.333	0.333	0.333
Mike F	10	C	4	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	1	2	0.500	0.600	0.875
John C	10	SF	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	1	0.500	0.714	1.333
Gm Totals:			52	51	28	1	0	0	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	20	2	1	5	22	21	60	0.549	0.615	0.922