June 28, Thursday
Toyota thumped Duke's Barber Shop 10-5 at the big field on the Ridge. Toyota was looking forward to beefing up their run differential against Duke's, but the plan was foiled when Duke's used a couple of non-roster players including their pitcher who represented a vast improvement over their roster pitcher. John "Daisuke" C took the circle for Toyota, and despite a slow start through the first two innings, found his groove and proceeded to blow away Duke's batters through the next 4 innings and finished with 7 K's and 4 BB's. "It's all about upper body rotation..." noted catcher Jeremy B, "He has to do that to be consistent and effective." Brian S led Toyota's offense with a perfect day at the plate while Ernie P added some punch with an HR blast that landed in Jim C's back yard.
June 29, Friday
Toyota pounded nemesis Dirty Swingers 13-9 at Field of Dreams. John "Daisuke" C, who made his second start in as many nights, clearly labored through the game. He struggled to find consistency of mechanics, but had enough stuff to keep Dirty Swingers off balance with an occasionally effective fastball and a dirty knuckle ball. "He should've stuck to the knuckle..." noted umpire Vinnie P. Despite his struggles, John C again struck out 7 while walking 5 and offered the following regarding his line "Since I tweaked my landing leg while batting at Nott, my control has been off. I have to throw more strikes like I did in my first four starts..." Playing a hunch, the manager batted Steve F lead-off for the first time this season and Steve obliged his prescience with a 2 for 3, 1 Walk game at the plate. "I see him (Dirty Swingers' pitcher) really well..." noted Steve who also made a nice sliding catch in foul territory into the fence to help out his belabored pitcher. Ron S belted the game difference; a grand slam bomb deep to left center. Sloppy base-running stalled Toyota's offense in the later innings. Twice, hard line drives to the Swingers SF resulted in a caught advancing. "We ran ourselves right out of a couple innings..." stated Toyota manager John C, "Verification of catch or miss on hard line-drives to a close fielder before advancing is important. If it's in front of the base-runner, it's on him. If not, it's on the base coach. A little conservatism is good...I'd rather take one out in those situations than two..." At 6-1, Toyota is poised to move up in the division with a Toyota Cup victory this Monday, July 2.
Records and Standings
Dirty Pirates Sunday: 7-0, Remain in 1st by 1/2 a game over Bourbon St Reloaded (6-0)
Dirty Pirates: 7-3, A win and a loss has the Pirates in 5th place in the North
EYS: 7-1, With no games this week and another loss by Fiscal Hitters, EYS remains in 1st place
Anarchy: 6-1, Their first loss drops Anarchy to 3rd place in Lynn's AL
Toyota of Clifton Park: 6-1, Despite two wins this week, Toyota is stuck in neutral and remain in 4th in the North
