these go up to eleven

and this one

a little late on this one.

RIP

Game Day [29] Ducks vs. Saxonburg

Directions to highfield #1

bracket link

This evening, the South Oakland Ducks of the North Side travel to the edge of civilization to play the Saxonburg [Saxons?] in the opening round of the BEC/PGHNABA/SteelCityClassic Wood Bat double elimination tourney.

The Butler tournament didn't exist until we tried to contact their teams about playing in the Steel City Classic, then they under cut us and put out an inferior product.

In truely Capitalist fashion the Steel City Classic, an entity run by Joe, Vinny, and Sorosky, with minor help from myself and TC, Kenny Powers, and Tremel (sp.), was absorbed by the bigger cheaper Butler Tournament, a tournament that may not provide the same quality as the one we've been working since spring, but it will be less expensive. Does the consumer really benefit?
We've been bought out, basically.
Once we paid them they changed formats twice.

The number of guaranteed games has dropped to 4 to 2.
Let's win and it won't matter.

They are charging $15 per spectator to watch games at Pullman.
i doubt we see much of a cut from the door.
Maybe that's what we should have done, charged admission to amateur games in order to subsidize some of our cost.

Today the Ducks take the field at the same time as the legaue champ Hurricane's, Halloway hates the blogosphere, and especially this blog, but we are pulling for him, and the Fightin's today.

The backdrop here is one of our entire league being disrespected, and disregarded as fodder for the Fed and BEC teams to beat up on, while we hand over our money to subsidize their methlabs.

Normally I don't believe in playing for respect. But this is different. There is more on the line for our league in this tourney than there was when the Blues romped in the AC tourney.
As much as our league has grown and as far as it has come, - and it has come a very long way - it is clear that we still are not respected locally.

With all this bullshit dominating the week leading up to the start of the tournament, there is still baseball to be played.
If the Ducks, and the Pittsburgh NABA want the respect of these teams we have the opportunity to earn it.
***

We were put in this bracket specifically to be door mats to the Saxonburgs, (that name sounds like something out of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.)

We are South Oakland of the North Side.
We will face either a former pro or a DI pitcher, nothing we haven't seen in over the summer I'm sure.
We have an opportunity today.

This evening, the creepy, backwoods Butler County countryside will resonate with the sound of
quack.


Abe Lincoln is back with a vengeance.


Bad news for Saxonburg.

the schedule is going to change again - why not another edit? {monday 8/31- 10:03pm

we're going to a straight double elimination format now.
the final schedule will be posted later today.

this couldn't have worked out any worse for us.
here is the schedule.

i have no idea how to even try to get our game friday moved. but that would be great.

As of now, we need a shortstop for the first two games.


none of this is joe's fault he's been working hard with little help to make this a worthwhile endeavor.



who is this saxonburg team?

Friday, September 4th, 2009

6PM @ Pullman Park – Debos vs. Portage

6PM@ Highfield ( Lower Field) – Ducks vs. Saxonburg

6PM@ Highfield ( Upper Field) – Sto Rocks vs. Pittsburgh

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

10AM@ Pullman Park – Butler vs. Freeport

10AM@ Highfield (Lower Field) – Clancy’s vs. winner of Debos vs. Portage

10AM@ Highfield (Upper Field) – Rochester vs. winner of the Pgh. Vs. Hurricanes

10AM@ BCCC – Pirates vs. winner of the Saxonburg vs. Ducks

I recieved an "unoficial" bracket and it is rediculous - i won't post it until it is final - it is set up in a manner that would potentially have teams playing 3 or 4 games in one day and the HR Derby interfering with some games, which doesn't make much since as we have field times spanning 4 days but whatever, this is what we have now.

if we beat saxonburg we play saturday at 10am on Saturday against the Dunnless Pirates, if we lose game 1 we play at 12pm on Saturday and will have to win that game to force a double header and a 3pm game.

if we go win-lose

we play saturday at 3pm and have to win to force a 6pm game. which would be 3 games in one day.

unbelievable.

if we go win-win
we play saturday night at 7pm

let's hope this get tweaked a bit.

Sunday, September 6th
Continuation of Tournament – Times and Location TBD

Monday, September 7th
Continuation of Tournament – Times and Location TBD

Erie trip next weekend

Depo and the rest of the staff will take over the majority of the blogging operations, for a while.

I've just let them know via this post.

I'm beat.

Season recap following labor day.

Spots are still available for the Steel City Classic.

email the Commish at pittnaba@yahoo.com if you are interested in entering a team.



9 on 9 winter ball is in the works, email the league office if you are interested.



quack.

Tremel

This post marks the first time in the Ducks blog' s history I have spelled John Tremel's name correctly.

The All Star Game was called after 3 innings when the lights malfunctioned with The Monongahela leading 3-1.

Guthrie had the game winning rbi, with a 1 out 2-run bases loaded shot to deep second base the guy had to dive for and make a tough throw the firstbaseman couldn't hold onto.

the lights came back on after 15 minutes or so, but the Allegheny All Stars and the umpires left had left.

The Owlz boycotted the All Star Game, apparently.

BP Thursday at 6pm.

Kenny, get your team together for the labor day tourney.

quack.

Sunday.

A detailed recap of the Canes game 3 victory.

Nice work, Nate. - FightinRafalskis.com for next year.

All-Star Game Aug 11th 8:30pm, John Herb Field

League meeting preceding at 7pm.




fall ball registration asap.

Erie on the 22nd, and 23rd.

Steel City Classic Sept 5-7.

Depo will schedule BP for this week, Dr. Jones is busy updating the stats.

quack

shrubbery

duck hedge.

Wednesday

Who won last night?
Someone post a recap in the comments.

Bulldogs blog recaps our comments, and has pics of awesome party.

Keg Stand City.



BP today and Thursday at 6:45

quack

Batting Practice.

Ducks.

BP Tuesday and Wednsday at 6:45pm at Pitt.

Bad News for the Eagles, from the Onion

Monday.

The League Finals start tomorrow.
Black Sox vs. Hurricanes.
8:30pm John Herb Field

The All Star Game will be Tuesday August 11th
8:30pm at John Herb.

Ducks batting practice today at 6:30pm

We will probably hit twice more this week.

The Steel City Classic is still accepting teams.
Pittsburgh NABA teams receive a discount on their entry fee.

The will play a 3 game series against TESCO of the Erie Adult Baseball League.



We will play at Ainsworth Field where they have been filming Signs of the Time a documentary about, William Klem, the umpire who invented the arm signals for "out", "safe", "foul", "fair", etc..

without Klem's arm signals we wouldn't have this...

Quack

All Star Game Scheduled for August 11th

Campbell vs. Wales


Teusday 8/11/09
8:30pm John Herb Field.

League Meeting at 7pm open to anyone with ideas on how to improve our league.

League semi's tonight Sox/Owlz at Moore Park, and Warriors/Canes at John Herb Field.




Who is He?

The Steel City Classic will take place over Labor Day Weekend.
the cost has decreased to $750 for outside teams.
PGH NABA teams will receive a discount.

Email the Commish if you want to enter your team, or combination of teams for the chance to beat Yoda's team f it actually exists.

Rumor has it the Black Sox might not enter because they are scared to face South Oakland again, with Swanger back in center field.

Quack.

Bulldogs Blog Updated After Week long Bender.

Solid work as always by Dr. Radical & Co. - Calling out Yoda for his indiscretions and giving a grim recap of the Warriors Bulldogs wild card game.

Click on the above link.

If you want the circle jerk of the century check out the Gray Bats Team Awards post on their now fully functional blog.


Sox-Owlz at Moore Park tomorrow night.
winning coach can post a recap if they want, same with the series winning coach.
Canes Warriors play tomorrow as well don't know when or where but its not Moore apparently.

Quack.

Playoff Update [UPDATED 7-31-09] Warriors 10 - Canes 6

The Warriors have defeated the Fightin's 10-6 in Game 1 of the Campbell Conference Finals.

The reigning intercontinental champs (who are in the unfamiliar role of underdog this series) can wrap up a second consecutive trip to the Finals with a win Saturday, 9pm at More Park.
They want Hulk Hogan.

The Warriors O Doyle out-dueled former Black Sock Chris Recker for the win, Brent Heintzleman (sp.)had a 2-inning save, Rafalski and Joyner each pitched one inning in relief.

The Craig Boley went 2 for 3 with 2BB, and scored 3 times.

Don Stetzer had two hits, and dedicated them to Chris Wojton.

Heintzleman (sp.) hit a ball off the fence in the seventh against Rafalski that cleared the bases plating 3 runs.
Updates in the comment section are welcome.
Where will the Owlz and Sox play if not Moore Park?

The Ducks are still planning our invasion of Erie, and setting our roster for the Steel City Classic.



Robot Duck is looking forward to South Oakland of the North Side's trip to Erie.

• The Warriors will play the Fightin' Rafalski's in Game 2 Saturday, 9pm at Moore Park.
• Game 2 of the Owlz Sox series has been pushed back to the weekend.

Our number one priority this off season will be to acquire more fields.





hilarious.

YODA has made an appearance in this comment thread.

Quack.

Wales Conference Final Update: Black Sox 3, Owlz 1

In the series dubbed "The Battle of the Air Horn vs. The Loud Lady Owlz Fan,"
The Black Sox took game 1, 3-1, over the Owlz.

Since 2004 the team that has won game one of the 3 game series has gone on to win 78.3% of the time, according to Pete Chalfin.

The '04 Ducks lost in the Conference finals to the Sox after taking game 1.

Game 2 will pit pitcher of the year candidate Scott Dunn against potentially J.T. Slavicek or whomever else the Sox have.
The Sox have got to be thin on pitching, mayeb we'll get an appearance from the greatest pitcher in the history of organized baseball.

The Sox's lefty pitched well.

neither of these team names can be made into possessive plurals.

the conclusion to this game was not forgone, apparently.

Words were exchanged after the game between two of the best players in the series.

Feel the hatred.

Winner of tomorrow's game and of the series can email me a recap for posting if they want.
Updates from the western conference are welcome also.

***

I'm still sick to my stomach about Sunday's loss.
Just fucking gut-wrenching.

Ill have a season recap after the finals.

Jones will have some team awards.

My picks for Ducks Awards:
MVP: Castle
Offensive player of the year: Captain America
Co-Pitchers of the year: Fletch/Invisible Hand
Defensive Player of the Year: Jesse Smith

Coby is probably hard at work right now on his recap.

The Ducks are in the process of getting our roster set for our trip to Erie for 3 free baseball games at the former home of the Erie Sailors, who when I saw them as a kid were the minor league affiliate of the Marlins, and seeking sponsors for our labor day tournament team.

Expect a call from the good Dr.


Quack.

Playoff Game 2 Recap. Black Sox 6, Ducks 5 final 10innings

Matt Slavonic hit a game winning RBI single in the bottom of the tenth, scoring Jason Goldie from second, and ending the Ducks season.

South Oakland led 3-2 going into the bottom of the 5th, the Sox scored two to take a 4-3 lead.
the Sox would add another run in the bottom of the sixth.

South Oakland tied the game at 5-5 with 2 runs in the top of the seventh.
Dutch drove in the tying run with an RBI fielder's choice.
We needed to take the lead there and we didn't.
Wojton drilled a ball to the gap, and the Sox left fielder was shaded that way, and was able to make the catch.

The Ducks didn't really threaten in extra frames.

We almost turned a triple play.

There's no shame in losing a 10 inning game.
Much better than last year's playoff loss.
It is a whole different kind of pain.

Good season, everyone.

This game will go down in the annals of the Ducks Sox rivalry as by far the best baseball game of the storied series.

I can't believe its over.

Good luck to the Sox and whomever they face in the Conference Finals.

Kenny played so well he was offered a contract with Tampa.





Note: the foul ball call was correct. we looked it up.

here's the rule:


the highlighted part says, "is touched by a player "on" foul territory, it is a foul ball."

there was some uproar over that.

the call was correct.

Its a footnote in the story of a great game, and a bitter sweet season.

If someone wants to go into more detail on this recap that would be great, but I don't have the mental capacity right now.

The Ducks will field a team in the Labor Day Tournament, and will travel to Erie to play a 3 game series against the Erie Adult Baseball League team or team(s) McCray knows the weekend of August 22nd.

I'm looking forward to another solid season recap from Coby.

Quack.

Playoff Gameday [2]:Ducks vs. Black Sox IV.

Ducks vs. Black Sox

3pm

Avonworth High School

The winner will play whomever wins the 5:30 game between the Owlz and Confederacy in the conference finals.

We have a chance to eliminate the Black Sox.

We will face Chalfin again.
The Ducks will start Guthrie or Smith.

We have another great opportunity this afternoon.

we will be a bit short-handed, we need to be better than the sum of our parts today.

Bad News for the Black Sox

BP Sunday 12-1:30pm

Ducks vs. Black Sox

3pm

Avonworth High School

Playoff Game 1 Recap: Ducks 10, Gray Bats 1

Unofficial line:

Nick Homa CG, 5 hits 8 K's 1ER
Kirk Gibson: 2-3, BB, 1B, HR, 3RBI,
Castle 2-3, SB, 3runs
Depo 1-3, 2B, 2RBI - three ladies after the game.

The Ducks (1-0) advance to the Wales Conference semifinals thanks to a 10-1 win over the Gray Bats (0-1), setting up a rematch with Kenny Powers and the rival Black Sox.

Nick Homa doesn't lose to Ben Sorosky.



The game was scoreless going into the top of the 3rd when Sorosky singled home some dude who hates his coach.

The Gray Bats led 1-0. They had runners on first and second with nobody out.
Ducks' reliever Adam Smith was warming up in the pen, the Bats had their best hitter at the plate, and he infield-flied out.
Homa K'd the next guy, then a ground-out ended the threat.

In the bottom of the 3rd, the Ducks scored five runs with two outs.


Gwin singled and stole second, then
Captain doubled to center.
1-1

with the score tied Kirk stepped to the plate...
Gibson drove in what would be the game winning run

2-1 Ducks

Gibson advanced on a passed ball.
J.Smith walked.
Wojton singled in Kirk.

3-1 Ducks

Depo hit a bases clearing double to right-center and the Ducks led 5-1 after 3.

The Gray Bats hit out of order, but weren't called out. I think it was a typo in the lineup card, but this is the playoffs.

Casale led off the 4th with a walk.
Gwin bunted down the thirdbase line, beat the throw to first, which got away from J.Rocker, and Casale scored.

Gwin marked it as an RBI double in the book.

Ducks 6, Gray Bats 1 after 5.

In the bottom of the sixth, Sorosky was relieved trailing 6-1.
Casale walked to start the inning, then a perfectly executed hit and run by Gwin and Casale turned into another RBI double to right for Gwin.

7-1 Ducks

Novak tripled to right to make the score 8-1.

Kirk Gibson's Homerun


McCray is now tied with Gwin and Wojton for the Ducks all-time post season HR record. (1)
He hit one off the dirt mound well past the wall in right field.

The Commish and Strom retrieved the ball
they can attest - it was a shot.

10-1 Ducks.

Homa retired the side in order in the top of the 7th.

i think i missed an inning in the recap.

After all that talk about sportsmanship, the Gray Bats' coach didn't shake hands after the game.

This was the Ducks' day, Homa was better than Lombaradi this afternoon, and the Ducks hit when we had to.
We didn't stop after one inning of offense.
Both teams played hard and with class.

it could have been a different game if that guy makes the diving catch on Captain and if maybe the Bats more guys contributing on offense, but when the dust settled, and South Oakland won by nine [9] runs.

The gin bucket will flow again.

The South Oakland Ducks of the North Side are now 6-4 all time in post season play.

This is the game we've been waiting for since we were eliminated last season.

We knew it was coming all year.

Another shot at Kenny Powers and the Sox for the right to advance to the Conference Finals.
I bet the Sox would have rather played the Rebels or whatever, but they knew they'd get us again, and deep down i know Kenny, and Goldie, BSOX 40, and Chalfin are pumped its us.

The Rebels play the Owlz in the Forgone Conclusion Game tomorrow.
The Bombers crushed the Oilers 10-1, and take on the Fightin's' tomorrow.
The Bulldogs play the Warriors in the other Campbell Conference semi.



Quack.

Playoff Gameday [1]: Ducks vs. Gray Bats.

Wales Conference Wild Card Playoff

3pm, LaRoche College.(Directions)

Ducks (0-0) vs, Gray Bats (0-0)
Projected Starters: Depo vs. Sorosky

"When we got to the ballpark, we knew we were going to win. That's all there was to it. we weren't cocky. I wouldn't call it confidence either. We just knew. Like when you go to sleep you know the sun is going to come up in the morning."


The name of the game is Thunder Dome



two men enter one man leaves

Rumors that LaRoche College has been traded for field prospects for the 2012 season are unsubstantiated.

The regular season may have been "meaningless" but the playoffs aren't.

Abe Lincoln and Ninjas

Depo on the hill


Bad News for the Gray Bats

Quack.