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Shriners Sweep Sluggers, 11-7

Game 12
Aug. 25, 1999

GAME BOXSCORE
PlayerPosABRHBIBBK2B3BHRSF
Tony Vinciguerra3b2111001000
Teresa Murray3b1000000000
Todd Conlysf2000000000
Gene Fredeysf1000000000
Peter Howelf3121000000
Dan Landesmancf3122000110
Robert Orleman1b/c3110001000
Lisa Chiuchiolo2b/p3010000000
Steve Baerss3111001000
Bob LeRoyrf2112100010
Chris Cornellp2000010000
Bruce Brauninger1b0000000000
Julie Scottic2000000000
Craig Trummlf2110001000
Tamara Stanley2b1000000000
Michelle Fugere2b1000000000
Totals--317107114120

Linescore1234567 RHE
Shriners 0 1 3 0 3 1 3 11 12 1
StayWell 0 4 3 0 0 0 0 7 10 3

PitcherIPHRERBBSOHR
Chris Cornell 5 9 8 8 6 0 0
Lisa Chiuchiolo 2 3 3 1 2 0 0

Loss: Chris Cornell 1-3

GAME WRAPUP

GAME WRAPUP/OFFENSIVE NOTES

With the score set at 1 to 0, Shriners going into the bottom of the second, Dan "Dinger" Landesman launched a shot into right field to tie the game. He also wrapped up the team lead in home runs with 10 in 10 games played. Robert "Stretch" Orleman stretched out a double. Steve "Wheels" Baer responded in kind with another double to keep the extra-base feeling alive and tally another RBI. Bob "Otis" LeRoy took a note from Landesman's book and launched another shot into right field. The scorebook showed a 4-1 Slugger lead.

The Fez answered with three more in the third to knot the game at 4. The Sluggers replied with more extra-base action in the bottom of that inning. Craig "Trump Card" Trumm started out the inning with a double. With one out, Tony "Bologna with the Meatball Eyes" Vinciguerra followed with an uncharacteristic double down the left field line-his only pull hit of the season-to score Trumm. Todd "O Positive" Conly advanced Vinciguerra to third with a well-placed force to second. With two away, Peter "Howe Consistent Are Ya?" tapped an infield RBI single that only true hustle could create. That kept the third inning alive, scored Vinciguerra, and gave "Three-Bagger Dan" Landesman a chance to knock Howe in on a triple. The score sat at 7-4, StayWell, but that ended the Slugger offense for the year. The Shriners offense took over from there to score seven more over the last three innings and sweep the Sluggers 3 to 0 on the year.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

If you thought the free agent market was kind to the Sluggers during the preseason, it was even kinder during the season. It didn't always appear that way though. One day before the trading deadline, "Yes-Siree Bob" LeRoy's agent, Todd "The Claus God" Conly got on the horn with Coach Tony "Skip" Vinciguerra. "I've got a guy you can't pass up," Conly stated. "He can hit the ball a mile. Now show me the money." The Skipper's eyes widened as he thought about his 3 and 4 record, and soon the deal was sewn. "I figured the pennant was ours for the taking with one more home run hitter in the lineup," he said. "Boy has that guy disappointed us. You see it happen all the time. A money-hungry free agent jumps from a small-market team [like LeRoy's former team, the Beacon Hill Drunken Horsemen] to get a huge pay day, and then he just sits back and waits for his paycheck." In his first four games in a Slugger uniform, LeRoy went 6 for 11 with two doubles. "His agent, if that's what you want to call him, said he was a long-ball hitter," a frustrated Vinciguerra said after an 11 to 4 loss to Merrill Lynch on July 27. "This guy is not panning out." All that changed on Wednesday.

Bob "Otis" LeRoy, finally reached his hitting potential on August 25. He went 1 for 2 with a walk and laser beam to right center for a 2-run homer. That dinger knotted the game at 4 to 4 and won LeRoy the final Player of the Week award of the millennium. Bob's defense also makes him an asset to the Sluggers. He had 3 putouts on the night. "His cannon of an arm can be both a blessing and a nuisance," Coach Tony said after the game. "He throws even harder than he hits. When he's accurate, it's a beautiful thing. When he's off, or we don't have infielders backing each other up, it's trouble."

PLAY OF THE GAME

Peter "Howe Much Do I Hate Gravity?" made a fantastic diving catch in left field, which prevented the Fez from scoring in the fourth inning. Unfortunately, Peter "Howe Many Hamstrings Do You Have?" reinjured his hamstring on the play. That was to be expected, however. "Before the game, Howe called me to say that he was going all out for this game," Coach Tony said. "He told me that this was the last game of the season and he was going to risk life and limb to make every play. He hinted that it might be the last game of his career too." Nagging injuries are causing Howe to consider hanging up the cleats, but the Sluggers won't hear any of that. "He's too important to this team on and off the field," Dan "Dinger" Landesman said with a tear in his eye during a post-game interview. "Just knowing that he's there in left field makes me a better player." There will be a lot of speculation about Howe's retirement this off-season. Be sure to stay tuned to Foulpole.com to catch all of the updates.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

The Sluggers have turned many double plays this year, including a few unusual ones. Sure they turned the old 6-4-3 a few times, and they completed a 4-6-3 the week before. They even had a couple of 4-3 catch-and-throw double plays this season. The most unusual double play before Wednesday's game was August 3rd's 8-5 catch and pick-off play between Dan "Dinger" Landesman and Tony "Bologna" Vinciguerra.

The Sluggers turned another DP on Wednesday, and they saved the best for last. It started with Dan "The Man" Landesman's catch in center. Landesman ran the ball toward the infield and threatened to pick off a runner leading off second. Thinking he was distracted, the runner on first headed for second. Bruce "Blue Jeans" Brauninger yelled to Dan, who gunned the ball to first where Brauninger scooped up the one-hopper and picked off the runner. They combined for the only 8-3 inning-ending double play that amateur softball might ever see.

Here's how the rest of the defense worked out. Bob "Otis" LeRoy added two putouts to his Player of the Game performance. His agent, Todd the "Incentive Claus God" Conly had a nice catch too.

Lisa "Car Wash" Chiuchiolo added one assist and one putout on the day at second. Tony "Skip" Vinciguerra was busy with three putouts at third. Teresa "The Terror" Murray Robert "Stretch" Orleman had three assists and one unassisted putout at first base.

Bruce "Brick Wall" Brauninger piled up four assists at first and a fifth while covering the plate during the Play of the Millennium. Steve "Wheels" Baer tallied three more put outs Wednesday, including part of the Play of the Millennium. Peter "Howe Much Is Your Contract Worth?" joined the fun with two putouts and an assist on the Play of the Millennium.

PLAY OF THE MILLENNIUM

With a runner on first, the Shriners' cleanup hitter knocked a shot into left field that no ordinary human being could reach. Peter "Howe Much Do I Hate Gravity?" started the play by running down that ball. Howe was so far into left field when he caught up to the ball, it still looked like an in-the-park home run. He then made a perfect throw from deep in left field to Steve "Wheels" Baer at short stop. Wheels made completed the relay to Bruce "Brick Wall" Brauninger, who was covering the plate. The Brick Wall made the tag on the surprised runner, who fell both from the collision and humiliation. The 7-6-2 play wowed the Slugger Backers in the stands, removed a sure solo shot from the record books, and finally gave Brauninger a nickname that would stick like a brick to mortar. It's a fitting way to end the Slugger season, which was based more on fun and flair than competition.


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