July 9-10, 2016
This will the 7th time the Hurtin' Units team has been entered in this great event. The tournament is held to help raise funds for kids who can not afford to play sports.
This tournament is my favorite of the season and I look forward to playing in it every year.
PHILLY CHEESESTEAK CAME TO PLAY!!
Game # 1- July 9th, 2016, 9:15am
Units win 19-6
Keogh Park- In the first game of the tournament the Units took on the Inglorious Batsters. This game was played at Keogh Park.
For this tournament we had 9 regular season players, missing from our team were Ted, Ingo and Robert. The Hurtin' Units would pick up Phil G.(Philly Cheesesteak), Troy H. (the Great White Hope) and Ricky M. (Portugal's native son) as tournament replacements. For this game we had a full squad (12 players), and a full bottle of Sambuca. Here's a shot to having a good tournament boys...smoooooth.
A couple of weeks back Inglorious Batsters captain, Peter H., made me a banner for this tournament, I forgot the frickin' banner (next game Jimmer).
Over the first couple of innings this game looked like it could be a close one, but the rust wore off the bats, in the 3rd inning, and the Units never looked back.
The Units' team showed some awesome power and Philly showed (after not playing several seasons) that he still had some pop in his bat and that he still could get to balls in the outfield.
The Units defense was solid in this game only allowing 6 runs to score on a good hitting Inglorious team.
The Units had a win under their belt and it took a bit of pressure off us as we continued on to the next round robin game. Good start UNITS!
MUDDY CLEATS IS MORE LIKE IT.
Game # 2- July 09th, 2016 - 3:30pm
Hurtin' Units win 15-9
Coventry Park- The Hurtin' Units next game was up against the league leading Dusty Cleats. The Cleats have a great lineup and I knew this was going to be a tough game.
My co-captain, Peter H., was not here for this game. Peter had a family function to attend to and was probably eating potato salad and coleslaw about the time this game started. We would again have a shot of Sambuca before the start of this game...keep it going guys, cheers!!
Most of the day the temperature and humidity were rising, and 4 batters in to this game the skies opened up and heavy rains came down. We were called off the fields during the downpour. By the time the game resumed, everthing and everyone was soaked, including the field. Trees really don't provide the shelter you think they do.
I did remember to bring the HU banner this game, we should have used it to keep dry.
For the first couple of innings the field was a little slick, a couple of Unit players took mud baths. Mark took a header rounding first base (tearing up his arm, for the second time in a week) and Brad took a tumble running to first base and then he decided to slide in to 2nd base making sure that all of this uniform was dirty.
As the game rolled along, the diamond start to drain and dry, and the field conditions didn't really play a part in the outcome of the game. Nice job Mr. Dol!!
In the bottom of the second inning, with the Dusty Cleats leading 4-2, the Units would score a 7 run inning to take the lead. The Units' defense would close the door on the Cleats, highlighted by a spectacular catch in right field by Ricky M. off the bat of Steve B. In the top of the open inning (6th) the Cleats would push back and score 5 runs, but the Units would stay solid defensively and eventually close out the game. Nice win Units...now go dry your gear out.
IT WAS A BANNER DAY!!
Game # 3- July 10th 2016. 9:00am.
Hurtin' Units win 9-4
Coventry Park- Sunday morning was perfect weather for a baseball game. There was a sun/cloud mix and the light breeze on diamond one.
For this game Clayton picked up a box of Tim's coffee and I picked up a bottle of Forty Creek Cream. We all had our morning coffee (with Forty Creek) and we were set to take on the Grisslies.
Earlier in the week, I had texted Rob F. and said that he should bring his Grisslie's banner, I remembered mine, we hung them on the fence and we had a banner day.
The Hurtin' Units and Grisslies had played a regular season game earlier in the week. The Grisslies defeated the Units by a score of 15-12 in that game. The Units and the Grisslies are 2 very similar teams and every time we play, the game is very tight, well played, well pitched and extremely close. This game was no different.
Coming in to this game the Units were 2-0 in the tournament and the Grisslies were 0-2, so the pressure was on the Grisslies to win, but if the Units could win, it might mean a bye in to the semi-finals.
The Grisslies would win the coin toss, but would bat first, (I was 0-3 in coin tosses) and we would be home team. The Grisslies would score a single run in the top of the first inning. The Units would start strong with 6 runs in the bottom of the inning.
The tight defense of both teams kept the game in the single digits, each team would score 3 more runs. The Units would prevail with a 9-4 win.
The Hurtin' Units would now head to the bar for bar duty from 10:30am to 12:30pm.
Jon D. would sub for one of the young timers teams. Mark was probably playing again somewhere.
After a bit of tallying of scores and plus/minus stats, the Units would finish the round robin in 1st place with 3 wins and a plus/minus of +18. The Units would get a bye in to the semi-finals vs. either the Inglorious Batsters or the Dusty Cleats. These 2 teams would play in the quarter-finals against each other for the berth in the semi-finals.
BACK TO THE INGLORIOUS.
Game # 4 (semi-final game)
July 10th, 2016- 4:45ish
Hurtin' Units win 20-10
Coventry Park- Coming in to this game the Hurtin' Units knew we were going to play a team we had already played. The Cleats and the Batsters were playing each other in the quarter finals and the winner would take on the Hurtin' Units in the semi-finals.
The Batsters were the first team the Units played in the tournament on Saturday morning. After the loss to the Units, they played really well and made it in to the quarter finals, I remember watching them take down the Draft Kings and thinking how good they looked.
The Cleats were the team we played in the rain soaked affair and there it wasn't really a surprise to see them in the quarter-finals, based on how well they have played in the regular season.
The Inglourious Batsters would go on to win the game against the Cleats and would get a second chance at the Hurtin' Units in the semis.
The weather for this game was great, there was a strong breeze and plenty of sunshine. The Units were down to 11 players for this game, Rick had prior commitments (who knew Portugal would make it to the final in the Euro Cup) and he could not make our final 2 games.
Magically, there was a shot of Sambuca on the bench after we warmed up a little. It's magically delicious!!
In the this game against the Batsters, the Units offense came out strong, putting up 6 runs in the top of the 1st inning. The Units only allowed the Batsters a single run in the bottom.
The Units would score another 7 runs in the top of the 2nd inning. The Batsters would play the Units tough the rest of the game, but in the end the Units would be victorious. The Units defense was again solid, we would bend, but would not break. The Inglorious Batsters were the only team to get in the double digits, in scoring, against the Units in this tournament.
Kevin C. hit a ball back to me at pitcher, in this game, I think it scared him more than me. Just a reactionary catch for me, still a scary moment. Kevin came out to the pitching mound to give me a hug and make sure I was okay... then skipped back to the dugout. Thanks Skippy.
THE TANKS WERE GETTING LOW!!
Game # 5 (Finals)
July 10th, 2016.
Hurtin' Units win 27-9
The semi-finals and the finals were played almost back to back. There was a short break in between the games for guys to grab a drink, go to the washroom and prepare for the final game of the tournament.
The Sons of Pitches probably needed this break a little more than the Units. Earlier in the afternoon the SOPs had to play a quarter-final game, which meant they had played one more game, in the hot sun, more than the Units. Their tanks were probably a little lower.
I guess I wasn't around for the coin toss this time (I was 0-3 anyway) and Pete went up and got the win. The Hurtin' Units were the home team for this game.
In the top of the first inning the SOPs would score a single run and the Units would counter with 2 runs to take an early, short lived lead.
In the top of the 2nd inning, the Sons would pound out 7 runs and in the bottom would shut the door on the Units. The first 7 run inning the Units had given up all tournament.
In the top of the 3rd inning, the Units defense would hold the Sons to 1 run and in the bottom or the inning, the Units' bats would come to life scoring 4 runs to chip away at the Sons lead. The score after 3 complete innings of play, Sons of Pitches 9, Hurtin' Units 6.
The Hurtin' Units defense, over the next 4 innings was stellar; the Units would close the door on the Sons and they would not score again, four shut out innings. I think by this time the tanks were almost empty.
Not only did the Units' defense kick it up a notch, the offense went on a tear, scoring 7 runs in each of the next 3 innings. The Units would go on to win the HTKP tournament for the first time in their 7 year history. Congratulations Units!!
Thanks:
On Friday night I went to the all-star game and homerun derby. The pavilion was electric with people enjoying the evening's events. I stood there just looking around and thinking to myself how amazing this event has become.
There are so many good people that put their time and energy in to to making this event happen and I would like to thank all of you for doing so. This is not an easy job, but it is a feel good event, knowing that it is all for a great cause. Thanks to everyone who participated in this great event.
The HELP THE KIDS PLAY tournament is my favorite tournament of the baseball season. I'm not sure if it's because it's such a good cause, or because I get to play it with my regular season teammates, or if I just love to play the game, but whatever it is, I'm thankful to be a part of it.
I would like to thank my teammates for such a great weekend of baseball. We have a great group of guys on this team and we have had a good season together. Thanks go out to Rick M.(Rick is a waiting list player, awesome skills), Troy H. (was on my winning August tournament team last year) and Phil G. (a former T.O.T player, Hurtin' Unit alumni) for playing with us this weekend.
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