News and Announcements

Post Author Picture

Posted by Matt Goodell at Apr 26, 2010 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

April 27, Giants (8-1) vs Red Sox (4-5)

I'm starting to believe this team is California all the way ... because they would not survive in any other climate involving pouring rain or tornado winds!  Two games that were on the verge of being canceled, ended up being played with mixed results.

The game started with P Tyler showing off his right arm as he threw strikes only allowing 2 hits and 1 run ... and I bet that run allowed fired him up as he took the mound in the second tossing only 13 pitches and striking out the side.  Reliever P Aidan allowed 3 hits and a couple to cross the plate, but also struck out two and threw two out to 1B CalebP Caden came in to finish the game ..... unfortunately, nobody gave him the memo that there was a newly modified strike zone!  He did have a nice put out and strike out that actually kept the game within reach for the bottom half home team Giants to have a fighting chance and some dramatics ...

Down 2-7 and in the final inning, almost all hope was lost.  This team could of easily of packed it in, grabbed a snack, and gone home.  But we should of known better with this group ... instead, Caleb started with a BANG  driving the ball into centerfield.  Caleb decided a single wasn't enough as he stole two bases reaching 3rd.  After seeing a couple pitches, Dylan gets the bunt sign and puts the ball perfectly into play scoring Caleb.  He too showed off his wheels around the basepaths and with 2 outs and down 4 runs it was rally time ... Caden hit an RBI single ... Colin punches one ... Tyler hits the texas leaguer over 2B scoring 2 RBI's ... Aidan follows with a hit over 1B just eluding the outstretched glove for the safe hit.

So here we are down by 1 run and down to our final out in the final inning ... and up steps Cameron Akey.  With a 1-1 count he SMOKES the ball into right field saving the team from a loss!!!

Stud hitters of the evening:  Tyler (3-3, 1 R, 3 RBI, 2 SB) and Cade (1-1, 2 HBP, 3 R, 1 RBI, 4 SB)

Again, Game Ball goes to the one that takes an opportunity and runs with it .... hitting the walk-off maximum 5th run perserving the tie is a massive opportunity .... which Akey knocked out into the outfield.  You are in a zone kid ... a zone I hope you never exit!!  Great job Cam.  

  GIANTS  7    Red Sox  7 

 

image
Post Author Picture

Posted by Matt Goodell at Apr 23, 2010 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

April 24, Giants (7-1) vs Red Sox (4-4)

 

Solid game again ..... but it wasn't easy.  Normally dependable  P Colin had difficulty finding the strike zone as the opposing coach had to complete his pitching 5/8 times.  Luckily, his defense was there to get his back, and oh boy they sure did.  3B Caden made the first out of the day by snagging the popup ... and 2B Mitchell took care of the rest by going 4-3 two times, none more important than the 3rd out by sacrificing his body, smothering the hard hit line drive, and throwing the runner out from his knees !!!  In the 2nd inning SS Tyler scooped the grounder making the strong throw to 1st for the out ... while 1B Caleb assisted all the outs, he even took care of his own with a nice play at the first bag.

P Colin made it through 2 shutout innings only facing 8 batters.  P Cade came in and did him one better only facing seven ..... and he didn't even need the defense.  As a matter of fact, all eight of them could of stayed on the bench as Cade struck out the side both innings.  Facing the top of the order he struck out the first two batters with the minimum SIX pitches ... and an additional six pitches later he finished the last hitter ending this battle.  

Overall, the defense was freaking awesome .... 3 Hits, 5 Put Outs, 6 Ks (4 player), 0 errors

Offensively, it took 5 outs before the hitting finally started ... and it was the Switzer Brothers who stepped up with a 2-out rally in the 2nd inning as Caleb ripped a double and Ben followed with an RBI single ... Ben stole a base setting himself in scoring position and on the 2nd pitch Anthony smacked it scoring a Ribbie. 

Only up 2-0 the Giants weren't satisfied ... in the 3rd Ryan said forget the 2-out rally, how about the zero out rally, as he shot one back up the middle for the lead off blast.  The hit parade was on as the next four Giants - Caden, ColinTyler (2B), Aidan - made serious contact ... and Cameron almost made it six in a row, but the Red Sox centerfielder made a great play.  The pitcher wanted nothing to do with Mitchell as he plunked him ... leaving it up to hot hitting Nick to send in the maximum 5th run.

Stud hitters of the game were plenty ..... Ryan (1-1, R, SB), Colin (2-2, R, SB), Aidan (1-1, R, 2 RBI, HBP) and Caleb (2-2, 2B, R, 2 SB), who was a master not only in the box, but also on the basepaths, keeping eye contact with the 3rd base coach and running the paths like a clinic.     

Game Ball could of gone to many in this one .... but it was Mitchell who continues to work hard, and it really showed in this matchup.  He took one for the team at the plate and trotted to first base ... appriopriately rubbing dirt on his elbow.  His defense at second base was stellar producing outs and more importantly saving runs  ... stuff like that changes games and sends momementum to the right team .... glad you are on our side Mitch!!!

 GIANTS  7     RED SOX 0

image
Post Author Picture

Posted by Matt Goodell at Apr 16, 2010 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

April 17, Giants (6-1) vs A's (1-6) 

Our post game speech after the Dodgers had one message --- get mentally focused.  That's it.  Physically they did absolutely nothing wrong, but for one day their heads just weren't in it.  So what would today bring ...

When you are the visitors there is one thing you want from the team to start the game and apply the pressure ... and that's by scoring 5 runs.  Colin and Cade drove the ball for base hits ... Tyler rocked the ball scoring them for 2 RBI's ... Aidan continued by hitting the ball to right field and Nick followed with a drive of his own.  So with three runners already in and two runners on base wanting to go home, Cameron does his duty by knocking the player pitch into play getting his own two RBI's for the quick Giant start.  To quote Jeff Kent ... "the money lies in the RBI's" ... if that is true, Cameron and Tyler are both due some serious coin.

The next 3 innings the A's calmed down and made an impressive 3 strikeouts and 6 defensive plays shutting the G's out.  But it's tough keeping the machine down as Nick begin the next scoring rally with a big hit down the left field line ... Cameron tried outdoing him by hitting his shot into center field ... Caleb followed with a ROCKET into the outfield gap for a standup double and 2 RBI's ... and finally it looks like Coach Tony is a dollar lighter as Anthony took his bet and BLASTED one into left field.   

Stud hitters of the day were Nick (2-2, 2 runs), Caden (3-3, 1 run) and Cameron (2-2, 2 RBIs, 1 run).  All of Cade's hits were into the outfield ... and Cam's were both off the player pitch.  Lovin' it.         

Pitching was on and off today ... Tyler (2 K's, 1 run), Caleb (2 K's, 1 run), Caden (5 K's, 3 runs) all threw strong collectively striking out 9 A's.  So with the pitchers taking care of 1/2 of the outs, the Defense needed to back them up ... and back them up they did.  P Tyler caught a nice popup ... RF Dylan made the perfect grab for the out ... and Tyler finished his outing to 1B Aidan for the assist.  2B Dylan continued his defensive prowess by throwing to 1B Mitchell, who also took care of a grounder (U3) tagging the runner strolling by ... and 3B Ryan zoned in on the foul popup snagging it midair, booyah!  CF Mitch jumped on the hard hit ball and made the awesome catch ... and finally 2B Ryan smoothly threw out the runner.  Overall, incredible defense (9 put outs, 1 error

I dig giving the Game Ball to the kid that has a moment ... but not only did this player have multiple moments all over the place, but he took to heart the message we sent about focus.  Sure, the Right Field catch was very cool ... and the grounder he routinely played going 4-3 for the out was solid ... and of course getting the bat on the ball is always welcomed ... but what was extremely impressive to us coaches was his play behind the mask.  Dylan was a brick wall at catcher.  Absolutely nothing got by him and he did it all .... he even almost threw out the stealing runner at 3rd!  No doubt about it, The Question Man had all the Right Answers today ... great, unbelievable job on the field Dylan!!!

  GIANTS  7     A's  5 

image
Post Author Picture

Posted by Matt Goodell at Apr 12, 2010 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

 April 13, Dodgers (4-2) vs Giants (6-0)  

If you would of told me prior to the game that the Dodgers were going to hit infield grounders AND the Giants were going to hit shots to the outfield, I would of said "SWEET  ... sounds like just another day at the office."  But if you would of told me the actual outcome of the game I would of said, "SOUR ... I forgot, I don't like days at the office."  Luckily, I dig chinese food ....

No doubt it's a long season and really tough to win every 18 games.  Last year we went 13 games before losing one and we feel this squad is 10x the talent.  Bouncing back is not even a question or worry.  If anything, now is the time the kids should realize that every game ... every play ... every swing ... every practice ... and every word that a coach speaks has meaning ..... and that FOCUS is paramount in order for success. 

The game itself had many components ... also known as the GOOD the BAD and the UGLY

THE GOOD:  It started right, with P Ryan making the first out to 1B Caleb (1-3).  3B Caden made a nice pop up grab with bases loaded and 2B Mitchell the quick throw to 1B Caleb keeping the damage to just one run in the 1st.  P Ryan chalked up a K and SS Tyler to C Ben was sweet for the force out ... and 2B Nick played the grounder perfectly and tossed it to 1B Aidan.  What happened next was INSANE  ...  Caden came in to pitch the 3rd inning and in TEN PITCHES he strikes out the side ... SAY WHAT???  Next inning he gets another K and also makes two incredible plays on the slow rollers by making the tough angled throw to Solid Gold 1B Caleb for the outs.

Hitting wise Caleb and Tyler were part of the 1.000 club batting 4-4 with strong singles.  Aidan and Nick also hit the ball hard for singles .... but it was the little guys that did the scoring as Ryan kept his head down and found his stroke by crushing a double over the CF, scoring our only run off of Colin's first pitch crush over the LF for his RBI double

THE BAD:  But from there things got downright strange on defense ... Dodger infield hits to first base ... then second ... then third ... and SS ... were all supposedly easy outs, but for some reason made difficult and turned to errors.   And the offensive hits for the Giants ... man the hits were there, but just like the saying goes "you killing me smalls" ... as they were sucked up by the Dodger gloves.     

THE UGLY:  You know what ... I figured out why we didn't get this one.  It had absolutely nothing to do with the kids .... You see, I'm an extremely SUPERSTITIOUS person ... and for my entire life I don't shave on game days.  It just doesn't happen, no matter if it's football, basketball, baseball or beer pong (it's a sport right?) ... and for some reason the razor came out ... and the goat off.  What was I thinking???  I'm sorry guys .... my bad.  Well, looks like I too have some work to do before next game ..... 

  Dodgers  5    Giants  1 

image
Post Author Picture

Posted by Matt Goodell at Apr 9, 2010 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

 April 10, Giants (5-0) vs Diamondbacks (1-4)  

Every team is dangerous no matter the record ... and the D-Backs are a prime example.  As a matter of fact, this squad hit the ball harder, down the lines, inbetween outfielders, and found holes in the infield with timely hit drives more than any other AA team we have faced.  Their coaches brought a prepared and determined group of kids today taking this one all the way to the very last inning ...

With the DBacks getting a quick three runs on the board, P Aidan realized the best way to get these guys out was going to be by doing it on his own ... so he delivered strike after strike .... after strike after strike, getting 3 K's over the next five batters to minimize the damage.  He continued his strategy into the 2nd inning as he only faced three batters and struck them out with only 14 pitches.  P Mitchell followed suit by getting 4 K's over his two innings ... as a matter of fact, these two pitchers faced a total of 22 batters and only THREE  times did the opposing coach come out to complete an at bat.  That my friends is called "being dialed in".

With these two pitching gems and in sync with homeplate it was a slow day for the defense.  There were only three opportunities, which two were perfectly executed in the 4th.  On a slow roller SS Colin scooped up the ball and made the quick strong throw to 1B Aidan ... only problem was, he thought Aidan was 6'7" ... however, good news was we found out that he can actually jump and stretch to 6'7"!!! ........ as he came back to earth and landed on the bag a step ahead of the runner.  And 2B Ryan showed off his skills by making a great diving catch for the final out.

Offensively the Giants were unphased by the 3 spot the Dbacks put up at the top of the first ... as they grouped in front of the dugout and yelled out "BANG!! ", Colin, Nick and Tyler immediately loaded the bases on 6 pitches.  Mitchell, Caden and Ben put the ball in play each chalking up an RBI to tie the score 3-3 after one.  Ryan, Dylan and Anthony hit base hits but couldn't get the following support to knock them in as the DBacks made defensive plays.  So with the score 3-7 it was time to go to work .... and we asked the boys for a 5-run inning and left it up to them to get it done.  And get it done they did, as every batter this inning were for extra bases .... Nick lead the hit parade with a blasted double ... then Tyler found his way over to 3rd ... Mitchell crushed a double ... then Caden ... then Ben ... and with 4 RBIs already in Aidan stepped up and destroyed the ball to the outfield for the final double and game winning run.

I had two favorite plays of the day ... one when Ryan hustled from 1st base and made a picture perfect slide into 2nd just  beating the forced throw .... and the other favorite was "THE LEAP" from this weeks game ball winner .......   

In order to win the game ball you must do multiple plays and create moments that make you stand out.  Well, I think getting 6 Ks while pitching ... getting the 5th game winning RBI run off a blasted double ... and making a STAND OUT defensive play at first base jumping for the saving out qualifies as creating amazing moments.  Yeah, no brainer here .... AIDAN was lights out and the one going home with the game ball ... great job!!! 

 GIANTS 8      DIAMONDBACKS 7  

image

Sponsors