Cincinnati CoBALTS Baseball Club

Cobalts took home the hardware Friday night in the Cincinnati City Championship Tournament with a 5-1 victory over the Cincinnati Hawks. Big offensive night from Brian Stoecklein, Mikey Taylor, and Mike Hatfield.

The pitching staff was once again impresive! This time it was young lefty Jacob Campbell going 5 innings and then Shannon Morgan finishing the last two of scoreless work. All told in the Tournament, the 'Balt Staff only gave up a measley 3 runs to the top teams in Greater Cincinnati....wow!!!

And, behind every great pitching performance is great dish work and Jason Cohill gets extra props for catching four-of-five games in the Tournament - tip of the cap to the iron man - especially in this heat.

Tip of the cap also to the Hawks who fought their way thru the deep loss-bracket to make it to the City Finals. Good luck to them as they represent Cincinnati in the Buckeye Championship Tournament in Akron!

So the City Champ Cobalts will take a well deserved break until the NABF Regionals begin Thursday night at Roselawn Park. Competition will be gunning for us, we know, so the 'Balts will have to bring it every inning of every game - sounds like fun!!!

Cobalts Championship Victory was their 30th of the 2008 campaign and stand 30-5.

Cobalts get another GREAT pitching performance, this time by Mike Wagner, in a 7-1 victory over the Flames.

Wags threw 6 shut-out innings for the victory and was helped by old buddy Brian Akers who crashed into the fence in right field robbing the Flames of a 2-out, bases loaded triple in the 3rd inning. Akes still has the "grill marks" on his forehead to show the kids how a 43 year old still gets it done!

Offensively, Rocky and Jason Cohill each had multiple hits. Todd Taylor with 3 RBI's.

Cobalts now sit undefeated in the Final Bracket and face the winner of the Hawks/Flames on Friday.

Cobalts are 29-5 overall in 2008.

3 Games deep into the City Championship Tournament and the Cobalts find themselves in the finals thanks to a Staff of Pitchers allowing a TOTAL OF 1 RUN!!!

Shannon Morgan got the Game 1 victory over the Blackhawks. He went 3 scoreless and was relieved by Jeff Scrote Dietz and El Vicator Carreon. Final was 16-0. Offensively the highlights were too many to mention.

In Game 2 it was Rick Rosell going all 7 in a 6-1 victory over Cheviot. Rick recorded 11 strikeouts. Hitting was lead by Cohill (HR), Stoecklein (HR), and Hatfield (2 RBI).

Game 3 was Paully Krause's turn. Ol' Paul threw an unbelievably efficient 76 pitches in a 7-0 shutout win over the Ohio Heat. This one was a little tougher as the game went into the 5th inning tied at 0-0 but Stoecklein and Hatfield blew it open with a five run 5th.

So your 'Balts will take on the Flames in the 2-and-out final bracket action on Thursday night.

Cobalts are 28-5 in 2008. 

On a great night for baseball many of the Old 'Balts returned to the field one last time on Friday and delivered one last victory: 11-6 over the Cubs.

Highlights were many but here's a few worthy of mentioning:

* Diesel McManus pitching a full inning with no compound fractures

* Mick Pardee looking like he belongs back in the rotation throwing a scoreless inning

* Craig Wilhoit with two put-outs from behind the dish after 12 or so Buddy Lights

* Johnny Mederer with a legit base knock and, of course, a sac bunt

* Mike Ike Browning dishing it up and smacking a solid hit to left field - dead pull hitter still

* Baby Mulves donning Pudge's #72 in honor of Big Mulves - also in attendance

* Cuz Barry Martin making a cameo at the Park 

* Drinking 4 cases of Natural Lite like it was 1987 again. Only now with wives and 32 kids at the tailgate

My thanks for the old guys suiting it back up one more time and re-living some of the great memories over past 22 years...thanks also to the current 'Balts who help the old guys win one last time on this great night!

Cobalts now stand 25-5 going into Tournament Play

In "Semi Pro Ball" sometimes you get the bear, other nights it gets you. Thursday night the Cobalts clicked on all cylinders and clinched their second CRC league title of the 2008 season - becoming both Friday night and Thursday night League Champions! (Thursday night co-champs with Cincy Hawks...congrats to them)

Keith Becker returns to form with a solid 4 innings of work and got the win. Jacob Campbell continues to impress with 2 innings of shutout relief and Mikey Taylor closed it out for the 11-2 win.

Offensively, highlights were many against the Yorkville ace who had previously beaten the 'Balts. Stoecklein, Todd Taylor, Rocky, Frank Arnold, and Mike Hatfield(HR) all with multiple hit and RBI games.

Cobalts now stand 24-5.