Tag Archives: Shooting Stars II

Stars (“New Bees”) Host Speakers

Last Monday (August 12th), the Speakers traveled to Lewisberry to close out the first half of the season against the Stars. However, the  series highlight turned out to be Manager Kevin’s new hobby: bees.

Bee-sides, neither team could muster much offense. The bats must also have been “hiving” in the Baker backyard.

Game 1 – Clayton Kershaw and a trio of relievers shut out the Speakers, who have runners at 2nd and 3rd with one out in the 1st. Kershaw whiffs both Cody Bellinger and Javy Baez to close the frame.

Jake Marisnick decides hitting with RISP is overrated and homers (11-1) in the 2nd off David Price. That 1-0 score holds up.

No Speaker reaches 3rd base again until the 9th. With two fast runners at 1st and 2nd and no outs, Baez grounds into a 6-4-3 DP. Kris Bryant fouls out to left to smother the mini-threat.

The Speakers out-hit the Stars 6-3. Anthony Rendon (3-4, 3 D) collects half of them.

W – Kershaw; L – Price (0-3); S – Nick Goody

Game 2 – Buster Posey and Rendon both reach with 1 out in the 1st. Bellinger launches a 3-run HR (8) as the Speakers dent the plate for the first time in the series.

Chase Anderson makes that one swing hold up by going the distance and shutting out the Stars, 3-0. The Stars get two on base twice in the middle innings, but Anderson takes away 3 hits and a walk during those frames to preserve the shutout. The Speakers never get another runner past 2nd.

W – Anderson (4-1); L – Quintana

Game 3 – Rendon singles home Mookie Betts following a triple to start the game. The Speakers string together 3 singles and a walk to plate a pair in the 2nd for — (in this series, at least) — a commanding 3-0 early advantage.

With 2 outs and nobody on in the 5th, Brent Suter throws wildly to 1st allowing Greg Bird to reach 2nd base. Ender Inciarte strokes the Stars’ first hit to put his team on the board for the first time in 19+ innings.

Betts’ third hit of the game leaves the yard (6) in the 7th to re-engage the Speakers’ 3-run lead, 4-1. Suter works around two more errors (Posey and Anthony Rizzo) until he gets the first 2 outs of the 9th.

That’s when Inciarte spanks his third hit of the game, a triple.  Dustin Pedroia singles home the run to bring the tying run to the plate.

The Speakers lift Suter in favor of Roberto Osuna. Matt Carpenter steps in as a pinch-hitter. Osuna prevents a walk (+43), which would bring the winning run to the plate. Carpenter finally hits a harmless fly ball to left to end the game, 4-2.

W – Suter (1-2); L – Dallas Keuchel; S – Osuna (2)

Afterward, all the buzz was about the Stars scoring just three runs, yet still squeezing a win out the series. The Speakers score in only 4 innings, but it’s good enough to swarm two victories to end the half on a sweet note.

#1 and #4 Go 20!

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day set the backdrop for the top seed Shooting Stars II to host the #4 Speakers. Shooting Stars II topped OOTL with 53 regular season wins.

The Speakers, fresh off a dramatic series against the Lemonheads, won 6 of the 10 meetings against the Stars this season. After losing the season opener, 15-10, the Speakers won 3. The Stars swept the 2nd Period series. The Speakers countered with an early 3rd Period sweep.

Game 1 – Jake Arrieta and Clayton Kershaw both dominate through 6. Arrieta allows 2 singles and a double — all in different innings. Kershaw surrenders a 2-out double and hits 2 Speakers. Neither starter sees a runner reach 3rd base.

Finally, with 1 out after the 7th inning stretch, Wilson Ramos picks on an Arrieta fastball and launches it out. Stars up 1-0.

Ian Kinsler doubles into the gap with 1 out in the 8th, but Kershaw whiffs both Dansby Swanson and Kris Bryant to preserve the slim 1-run lead.

Matt Belisle gets Yoenis Cespedes on a fly to right, then gives way to Aroldis Chapman after pinch hitter Mookie Betts is announced. Betts K’s. Anthony Rizzo flies to center to end the pitchers’ duel. Stars win, 1-0.

W – Kershaw (1-0); L – Arrieta (0-1); S – Chapman (1)

Game 2 – Jeremy Hellickson makes his Speakers’ post-season debut against Jacob deGrom. Dustin Pedroia greets Hellickson with a lead-off solo shot in the bottom of the 1st. Hellickson coughs up a hit in each of the next 4 innings, but no runner reaches 3rd.

The Speakers, still trying to spark their offense, leave runners in scoring position in the 3rd and 4th, but go 1-2-3 in the other 3 innings. Betts’ lead-off single in the 6th goes nowhere while Hellickson enjoys his first 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half.

The Speakers go in order in the 7th. With 2 away in the bottom half, Ender Inciarte singles (9). Hellickson departs for Adam Libertore. Pedroia lashes a hit-and-run single (7). Libertore strikes out Ryan Schimpf to end the threat.

The Speakers go in order in the 8th, still searching for their first run of the series. Pinch-hitter Yasmani Tomas doubles off Jeremy Jeffress to lead off the bottom of the inning. Pinch-runner Eduardo Nunez halts at 3rd on Matt Carpenter’s single (5).

With runners on 1st and 3rd, Jeffress strikes out Hunter Pence. Ramos grounds sharply to short. The Speakers turn a 6-4-3 twin killing to stop another Stars’ threat.

To this point, the Speakers have 6 hits and no runs through the first 17 innings of the series; and, only one Speaker runner has touched 3rd base.

Will Harris starts the 9th. David Dahl laces a double. Cespedes doubles him home to tie at 1-1. Rizzo connects on a 2-run home run. Manny Machado strikes out (8). Carlos Gonzalez doubles. Harris plunks Andrelton Simmons, then heads for the showers, now down 3-1.

Tyler Thornburg gives up RBI singles to Buster Posey (0-7) and Kinsler (5) before Thornburg retires the next 2 hitters.

All of a sudden, the Stars are down 5-1. JJ Hardy leads off with a single (9) off Bartolo Colon. Travis Jankowski strikes out. Inciarte hits a harmless fly out to right. Pedroia, enjoying a perfect day to this point, flies to left (4-5, D, HR, RBI, R) to knot the series at 1-1 with the Speakers heading home for the next 2 games.

W – Jeffress (1-0); L – Harris (0-1)

Game 3 – Jose Quintana and Carlos Martinez match up at Riegle Park. Both begin shaky outings. Carpenter triples home Pedroia in the 1st. Chris Young and Cespedes doubles tie at 1-1 in the bottom half.

The Speakers get Rajai Davis to 3rd (11, SB, 1-3) in the 2nd inning, but Thornburg takes over to strike out Young to end the inning. Bryant walks to lead off the bottom of the 3rd. After Cespedes and Rizzo K, Machado strokes a 2-run HR. Speakers up, 3-1.

The Stars leave a runner on 1st in the 2nd through 4th innings and can’t cash in on 2 base runners in the 5th. Martinez is pumped after wriggling out of that jam and retires the next 9 Stars.

Nunez boots a Davis grounder with 1 out in the bottom of the 6th. Posey grounds to short, sending Davis to 2nd with 2 away. Ramos commits a passed ball moving Davis to 3rd. Kinsler swings for the fences and clears the left field wall (6) for a commanding 5-1 lead.

With 2 outs in the 8th, Jonathon Villar singles (11). Keon Broxton works a walk, signaling the end of Martinez’s day (7.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 10 K).

Roberto Osuna prevents a Ramos walk. Then Ramos drives a double down the line to score a pair. Jarrod Dyson tries to walk, but is denied. Then he flies out to left to end the inning at 5-3.

Osuna returns in the 9th and is much more successful. Nunez flies to right. Both Jankowski and Inciarte whiff as the Speakers pocket a 5-3 victory and a 2-1 series advantage.

W – Martinez (1-0); L – Tyler Thornburg (0-1)

Game 4 will always be remembered in OOTL post-season history. Trevor Cahill and Joe Ross start well, but both will be long gone before this classic is decided.

The closest either team comes to an offensive threat is the Stars loading the bases with 2 outs in the 3rd. Ross calmly strikes out Aledmys Diaz to preserve the double shutout.

Chapman takes over for Cahill in the bottom of the 7th. Cespedes doubles with 1 out, marking the Speakers first hit of the game! Javier Baez, making his first series appearance, pinch hits for Gonzalez. Baez drives what initially looks like a 2-run homer, but Chapman (+51) brings it back to an RBI double. Baez would stay at 2nd as the inning ends.

Ross allows a lead-off single to Inciarte to begin the 8th. Nunez grounds him to 2nd. Pedroia doubles in the gap to re-tie the score at 1-1. Joe Blanton comes on and walks Diaz. Carpenter pops to short (8). Villar walks to load the sacks. Pence flies to left to prevent further damage. Game tied at 1-1.

Free baseball brings the fans much more than they could have ever anticipated. The 9th and 10th are uneventful.

Carpenter doubles (4) to start the 11th and to chase Libertore. Broxton pinch runs, but has to hold on Villar’s ground out to Machado. Pence is denied a walk by Jeffress, and then flies to shallow center. Broxton motors to 3rd on a Jeffress wild pitch. Ramos grounds weakly to 1st base to snuff another threat.

Top 12: Dyson doubles (0-6). Inciarte bunts him to 3rd. Nunez tries to squeeze him home, but Posey applies the tag and hangs on to record the huge 2nd out. Nunez then doubles (turned back HR!), but Brad Hand comes in to retire Pedroia on a pop to Simmons.

Bottom 12: Belisle plunks Rizzo. Davis pinch runs and steals 2nd. Two come-backers and a strike out send us to the 13th.

Diaz leads off with a double, the Stars third consecutive inning with a lead-off double. Osuna comes in to retire the next 3 batters in order. In the bottom half, Simmons reaches on Villar’s error, but is stranded at 2nd.

Colon comes on as the last Speaker in the pen. Dyson greets him with a 1-out single in the 14th, but Posey nails him trying to steal. Betts walks to start the bottom half, steals 2nd, and moves to 3rd on Davis’ sacrifice. Betts is caught attempting to steal home. Then Cespedes strikes out.

Both teams go 1-2-3 in the 15th. Francisco Cervelli, the Stars’ last first baseman, singles (9) to open the 16th. Villar doubles as Cervelli pulls up at 3rd. With the infield in, Pence pops up to Baez at 1st. (Infield deep would have been a DP!) Ramos pops to SS. Dyson grounds 3-1. Yet another threat averted.

Bottom 16: Kinsler singles (7) with 1 away. Enter Brian Flynn, the Stars’ final available reliever. Bryant walks. Young pinch hits and lines out to Nunez (8). Davis whiffs.

Colon walks Inciarte to open the 17th inning. Ender steals 2nd, but Nunez lines into a Kinsler unassisted DP.

While the Speakers’ bats quiet into a 12-in-a-row outage, Cervelli strokes another single (8) with 1 out in the 18th. Villar singles (11), but Pence grounds into a 1-6-3 double play to erase another threat against the tiring Colon.

Both teams mercifully go 1-2-3 in the 19th. The Stars repeat that pattern in the 20th.

Cespedes hits a one-hopper to the mound to begin the bottom half. Baez walks. As Baez breaks for 2nd, Machado singles (8) against Flynn (now base grade 11). With 1st and 3rd and 1 out, Simmons slaps an RBI single (8) to send the Riegle Park fans home happy.

The Speakers prevail, 2-1 in 20 innings, while getting out-hit 14-6. We wonder how many fans on the East Coast stayed up for the conclusion of this game.

W – Colon (6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 22 BF)(1-0); L – Flynn (4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 16 BF + 4 from Game 3)(0-1)

Game 5 – With both pens in tatters, Kershaw and Arrieta would be counted on to go deep into this one as play returns to the Stars’ home park.

Swanson starts fast with a double. Bryant loses a chance to walk, but then doubles home Swanson. Kershaw turns back a home run (+35).

The Stars offense finally gets back in gear in the 4th. Carpenter’s lead-off walk turns into the game’s first run. Villar singles (11). Arrieta uncorks a wild pitch. Ramos and Broxton each lift a sac fly to center.

Jankowski walks to begin the 5th. Pedroia doubles him home.

Inciarte, who enters defensively, doubles to start the 7th. Pedroia doubles him home to give Kershaw a 4-1 lead.

Broxton walks to lead off the 8th. With Broxton on the move, Dyson singles (10). On another hit-and-run, Nunez swings through the pitch and Jett Bandy throws through. Kinsler steps forward and throws to 3rd to nab Broxton diving back. Nunez grounds to Simmons, moving Dyson to 2nd. Inciarte provides the clutch RBI single (7) to complete the scoring.

In two starts, Kershaw (17 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 25 K) totally dominates and wins twice. Speakers up 3 games to 2 and heading back home for another potential clincher. Both teams get some bullpen arms rested.

W – Kershaw (2-0); L – Arrieta (0-2)

Game 6 – deGrom and Hellickson each set the opponents down in order through 2. Villar singles (9) leading off the 3rd. Jankowski singles (10). Inciarte flies to shallow left. Pedroia walks to load the bases. Schimpf grounds into a 4-6-3 DP.

With 1 out in the bottom of the inning, Posey singles (7). Kinsler strikes out. Dahl singles (10). deGrom gives way to Chapman to face Betts, who rips a 2-run double (turned back HR). The Speakers take the early lead, 2-0.

Hellickson retires 9 straight Stars following the big double play to end the 3rd. Simmons gets a 2-out single (0-7) with Rizzo on base in the 4th, but the Speakers come up empty as Posey flies out to LF.

Diaz starts the Stars’ 7th with a single (7). Hellickson out; Hand in. Tomas pinch hits and forces Hand to bobble a spinning two-hopper for an E-1. Hand hits Pence with a pitch and departs with the bases juiced. Jeffress gets Ramos on a 4-6-3 DP with a run scoring. Jeffress walks Villar, but Jankowski pops up to end the inning with the score, 2-1, Speakers.

With their backs against the wall, the Stars try to keep their season alive in the 9th. Nunez doubles (turned back HR). Tomas misses 2 bunt attempts, but then successfully sacrifices Nunez to 3rd. Pence laces an RBI single (7) to knot the score at 2-2 and hang a blown save on Jeffress. Blanton comes in to get Ramos and Villar to close out the inning.

Machado doubles (5) off Belisle to lead off the bottom half. Gonzalez singles (9) to short right. Machado pulls up at 3rd with no outs. Davis pinch runs at 3rd as Thornburg takes the hill to save the Stars’ season. Thornburg strikes out Simmons. Posey steps in and ends the game and series (66-0-6) with a walk-off RBI single. Speakers win 3-2 and take the series, 4-2.

W – Blanton (1-0); L – Belisle (0-1)

Stars News Release

************************NEWS FLASH**********************************

Tonight the 1st Place STARS host the 4 Seed and Wild Card Winner Speakers for a 7 game series with the winner advancing to the OOTL World Series.

Tonight’s Matchup will be a repeat between the Speakers and Stars but it was 2010 when they last met in the playoffs.

Stars won that matchup and went on to win their first of TWO World Series Championships.

The Speaker’s hold 3 Titles themselves so the Managerial skills will be on display this evening as during the season this contest saw two sweeps one by each team and a high scoring slugfest……… with the Speaker’s holding a 6-4 advantage…….but the Stars did win the first 4 of seven that they played……..anything can happen tonight as these two powerhouse teams take the field.

Stars Management is nervous but excited as Kershaw and Arrieta are scheduled to Dual in Game 1.

Game 2 Matchup has Hellickson for Speakers and DeGrom Taking the mound for the Home Team.

Game 3 Stars go with Quintana and the Speakers rally with Martinez.

Game 4 Stars are still undecided on Cahill or Flynn but Speakers are confident in naming Ross as their go to guy for game 4.

First Pitch should be around 5:30 as the Speakers Bus is scheduled to arrive around 5 PM tonight.

Rumor has it that the Browns and AB’s will continue their series on Sunday as the Browns hold a 3-1 Game Lead.

Stars Press Release

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Lymebees at Shooting Stars II

Game 1; Syndergaard vs DeSclafani; Bees score run in 1st and Stars get solo HR by Villar and go on to score 3 runs in bottom of 1st, Bees come back in 2nd with a lead off solo HR by Braun and bases loaded double by Pederson plus a single by Cano to score Pederson as Bees lead 6-3, Braun hits a 2 out solo HR in 5th, Stars get 3 runs in 7th to cut the lead to 7-6 Bees and Kimbrel comes in with 2 outs in 7th and faces the minimum batters to end the game with 5 strikeouts. Bees win 7-6. Bees 7/9/0 Stars 6/9/1

Game 2; McCullers vs Lackey; Bees score 1 run in 1st, 2 runs in 6th and 1 run in 8th on a HR by Braun and McCullers goes into 9th giving up 2 hits but turning a double play after each hit and not allowing a walk despite a -52 with just one 12/35 chance at walking, in 9th gets first 2 batter then gives up his 3rd single and gets Pedroia to complete the shut out as Bees win 4-0. Bees 4/8/0 Starts 0/3/1

Game 3; Fulmer vs Finnegan; Braun hits a solo HR for Bees in 3rd but that’s all Bees will get as Start get a 2 run HR by Diaz in 5th and add single runs in 6th and 8th for a Stars win 4-2. Bees 1/4/1 Stars 4/4/0

Bees record at 32-40. Braun goes 5 for 7 in series with all of the Bees 4 HR’s in series.

John Ingiosi

Speakers at Shooting Stars II

Today’s holiday allowed for a late Sunday series near Lewisberry, hosted by Manager Kevin and bench coach Tammy. Harley and Snoopy provided the Speakers with a much-needed dog fix.

Game 1 – The two Jakes, Arrieta and deGrom hold serve through 5. Ender Inciarte gets nailed at the plate following a 2-out Ryan Schimpf double in the 3rd.

With the top of the order in the 6th, the Speakers string together an 8, 9 & 10 plus a sac fly by Yoenis Cespedes to chase deGrom. Tyler Thornburg gets Manny Machado to pop up for the 2nd out. Then Anthony Rizzo laces a triple into the corner to cap the 3-run inning.

Wilson Ramos’ 2-out RBI single (55-7) scores Matt Carpenter, who doubled with 2 away in the bottom half. After Aledmys Diaz walks to start the bottom of the 7th, Brad Hand takes over.

Pinch hitter Yasmani Tomas singles (8) to put the tying runs on base. Rabbits Eduardo Nunez and Jarrod Dyson pinch run. Francisco Cervelli pinch hits for Inciarte. Roberto Osuna whiffs Cervelli, gets Jonathon Villar on a grounder to short, and — with runners at 2nd and 3rd, strikes out Schimpf to snuff the threat.

The Stars bring the tying run to the plate in each of the last 2 innings, but fail to get the clutch hit. Speakers win, 3-1.

W – Arrieta (8-3); L – deGrom; S – Joe Blanton (4)

Game 2 – Both Carlos Martinez and Clayton Kershaw wriggle out of early trouble. In the 4th, Cespedes walks with 1 out. Machado doubles into the gap as Cespedes rolls into 3rd. Kershaw then uncorks his 2nd wild pitch of the game to break the scoreless tie.

Kris Bryant doubles home Machado. With 2 away, Andrelton Simmons triples in Bryant. Villar throws a Buster Posey grounder into the stands as Simmons scores the 4th run of the inning. (He embarrassed himself in front of Buster Posey.)

Chris Young adds an RBI double in the 7th and a 9th inning sac fly after Dansby Swanson’s RBI double to complete the 7-0 final. Martinez shuts down the Stars on 3 hits, his 2nd consecutive 3-hitter, going the distance.

W – Martinez (9-6); L – Kershaw

Game 3 – Through 5 innings, the Speakers record a Rizzo single and Posey walk. Rizzo’s tossed at the plate as Travis Jankowski misplays his single, but recovers to relay to Nunez.

The Stars, meanwhile, tally 5 doubles and a single through 5, yet don’t dent the plate. (Schimpf’s double turned back by Joe Ross (+24).

Carpenter walks to lead off the 6th. Ramos (4-4, 2-D) singles. After Dustin Pedroia flies out, Nunez singles (8) home Carpenter for a 1-0 lead — the Stars’ first lead of the series.

AJ Ramos takes over for John Lackey (6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K) in the 7th. With 1 out, Cespedes walks. Rizzo doubles (turned back HR +61). With runners at 2nd and 3rd, Machado singles in the hole (44-7) to plate both.

The Stars enjoy just one more base runner through the final 3 innings. Ramos singles (55-7) with 1 away in the 8th. Dyson pinch runs and swipes 2nd base, but Pedroia pops up and JJ Hardy strikes out. The Stars go quietly in the 9th to complete the sweep, 2-1.

W – Ross (4-2); L – Ramos; S – Jeremy Jeffress (6)

Speakers 3rd period notes: 8-1 record while slashing .191/.234/.311. The key is opponents have scored a total of 9 runs (.182/.239) for an ERA of 0.96.

Speakers’ pitching has allowed just 53 hits in 84 IP while the Speakers have only 57.

The Speakers have hit 4 homers so far this period to opponents’ 1 — a solo by the Browns’ Corey Seager in the 1st inning of the 2nd game of the period — the only Speakers’ loss.