Everyone,
The Yankees beat the Rays Wednesday evening in a 3-2 thriller, meaning that the Braves will finish in fourth place in the regular season regardless of the outcome of our game Thursday against the Orioles.
Barring a change in the little-league tournament schedule, our first post-season game will be Tuesday at 4 p.m. against the fifth-place Rays. If we win that game our next game will be Saturday, July 11, at 2 p.m., almost certainly against the Dodgers. If we lose Tuesday, our next game will be Thursday at 4 p.m.
We split the season series with two of the three teams that will finish above us in the standings (Pirates and Phillies). If we can bring a sharp mental focus to a game, we can beat anyone in the league.
Dave
Showing posts with label Pirates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pirates. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Game Report: Pirates 14, Braves 7
The Braves fell behind big early, then battled their way back into the game, but ultimately lost to the Pirates 14-7 on a warm Saturday evening at Water Tower Park.
Pirates slugger Kyle Rogers homered twice, and the slick-fielding Pirates snuffed out potential Braves rallies in the 5th and 6th innings with strong defense.
Pirates coach Dave Arnold told me that Rogers has hit about a dozen homers this season.
While the Braves were disappointed with losing, many bright spots are worth noting from this exciting game.
Matt, our last available pitcher in uniform tonight, took the ball in the top of the 5th inning with nobody out and Pirate runners on 1st and 2nd. He struck out a batter. Then, after a walk loaded the bases, Matt induced a pop-up that Alec grabbed, and a ground-out that ended the inning.
Entering the bottom of the third inning, the Braves were down 10-1, but woke up with a furious rally that was fueled as much by aggressive baserunning as by hitting. With 1 out, Tyler started the excitement by drawing a walk. Nick ripped a hard single to center field. Matt singled up the middle, loading the bases. Scott's infield single scored Tyler. Jason blasted a pitch down the left-field line that became a ground rule double when the ball bounded out of play, bringing Nick and Matt home. Then, with Chris batting, both Scott and Jason (from second base) scored on a passed ball. Chris walked, stole second, went to third on Alec's groundout and stole home.
This all happened so quickly I'm not sure I got all the names right. The outcome was a 6-run inning, and a credit to the Braves' resiliency.
More highlights and notes:
Pitching: Evan put up a goose egg in the 4th inning, striking out a batter and helping himself by grabbing a ball in play and throwing to Tyler for the 3rd out.
Fielding: Jack, with a phalanx of family and friends watching in the stands, grabbed a flyout in right field, and made several smooth pickups at third base. Matt helped himself grabbing a pop-up on the mound, and Alec made a fine running catch of a flyball in center field.
Batting: Nick was 2 for 2, his other hit a booming double to center field. Ryan doubled, also to center field. Chris started our potential last-inning rally with a single up the middle.
NEXT GAME: 6:30 p.m. Monday June 22 against the Yankees; players should be there at 5:45 p.m., per the Braves coaches.
Pirates slugger Kyle Rogers homered twice, and the slick-fielding Pirates snuffed out potential Braves rallies in the 5th and 6th innings with strong defense.
Pirates coach Dave Arnold told me that Rogers has hit about a dozen homers this season.
While the Braves were disappointed with losing, many bright spots are worth noting from this exciting game.
Matt, our last available pitcher in uniform tonight, took the ball in the top of the 5th inning with nobody out and Pirate runners on 1st and 2nd. He struck out a batter. Then, after a walk loaded the bases, Matt induced a pop-up that Alec grabbed, and a ground-out that ended the inning.
Entering the bottom of the third inning, the Braves were down 10-1, but woke up with a furious rally that was fueled as much by aggressive baserunning as by hitting. With 1 out, Tyler started the excitement by drawing a walk. Nick ripped a hard single to center field. Matt singled up the middle, loading the bases. Scott's infield single scored Tyler. Jason blasted a pitch down the left-field line that became a ground rule double when the ball bounded out of play, bringing Nick and Matt home. Then, with Chris batting, both Scott and Jason (from second base) scored on a passed ball. Chris walked, stole second, went to third on Alec's groundout and stole home.
This all happened so quickly I'm not sure I got all the names right. The outcome was a 6-run inning, and a credit to the Braves' resiliency.
More highlights and notes:
Pitching: Evan put up a goose egg in the 4th inning, striking out a batter and helping himself by grabbing a ball in play and throwing to Tyler for the 3rd out.
Fielding: Jack, with a phalanx of family and friends watching in the stands, grabbed a flyout in right field, and made several smooth pickups at third base. Matt helped himself grabbing a pop-up on the mound, and Alec made a fine running catch of a flyball in center field.
Batting: Nick was 2 for 2, his other hit a booming double to center field. Ryan doubled, also to center field. Chris started our potential last-inning rally with a single up the middle.
NEXT GAME: 6:30 p.m. Monday June 22 against the Yankees; players should be there at 5:45 p.m., per the Braves coaches.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Game Report: Phillies 10, Braves 7
Team,
The Braves were able to beat the flu and field a team to face the Phillies. However, the Phillies were able to erase a 4-0 deficit and hold on to beat the flu-weakened Braves 10-7. Behind the solid pitching of both Alec and Evan, the Braves held the Phillies to three scoreless innings. The Phillies did all their damage in two innings … scoring 4 runs in the second and 6 runs in the fourth. But the Braves did not give up and scored 3 runs in the final inning only to come up short.
The Braves are now tied for second with the Phillies at 8-3 trailing the Dodger at 10-0-1. Our next game is at 5pm on Saturday, June 20th vs. the Pirates who tied the powerful Dodgers this past Wednesday. The Pirates are a very good team and will come into our game with a lot of confidence. This should make for another exciting game so don’t miss it!
Lastly, I want share a compliment we received from one of the Phillies coaches following tonight’s game … he approached me unsolicited and said “you have a really nice team” and had nice things to say about every player. So, parents and players, keep up the good work. We’ll see you on Saturday.
Ross
The Braves were able to beat the flu and field a team to face the Phillies. However, the Phillies were able to erase a 4-0 deficit and hold on to beat the flu-weakened Braves 10-7. Behind the solid pitching of both Alec and Evan, the Braves held the Phillies to three scoreless innings. The Phillies did all their damage in two innings … scoring 4 runs in the second and 6 runs in the fourth. But the Braves did not give up and scored 3 runs in the final inning only to come up short.
The Braves are now tied for second with the Phillies at 8-3 trailing the Dodger at 10-0-1. Our next game is at 5pm on Saturday, June 20th vs. the Pirates who tied the powerful Dodgers this past Wednesday. The Pirates are a very good team and will come into our game with a lot of confidence. This should make for another exciting game so don’t miss it!
Lastly, I want share a compliment we received from one of the Phillies coaches following tonight’s game … he approached me unsolicited and said “you have a really nice team” and had nice things to say about every player. So, parents and players, keep up the good work. We’ll see you on Saturday.
Ross
Friday, May 8, 2009
Game Day: Braves win, 9-1
Braves win over the Pirates, 9-1, with lights-out pitching, aggressive baserunning, steady defense, and timely hitting.
Details to come.
Dave
Details to come.
Dave
Game Day: 6 p.m. vs. Pirates; Practice post-mortem (as in Dave's ERA)
A spirited practice Thursday, with about two-thirds of the team plus four dads (me, Rick R., Stuart B., and Jim H.) at the high-school softball field.
As usual, our guys had a pretty sloppy practice until we separated into two teams for a scrimmage. Then they got their game faces on and made some great plays. Jason, Nick, and Matt were especially impressive in the field.
I pitched for both teams. A 20 mph wind was blowing straight in from center field and I had full command of my pitches. So I told the guys that I'd buy ice cream for everyone if anyone hit a home run over the fence, which is roughly the same distance as the fence at the Majors field at Water Tower.
As you have probably guessed, I learned the lesson that so many have learned before me: "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." Chris blasted my best fastball into the teeth of the wind. It landed 15-20 feet on the ice-cream side of the fence in left-center field, and the players erupted in celebration. A bit later Nick hit one just as hard, but on a lower trajectory. It reached the fence on a couple of bounces.
Everyone had a good time at Culver's.
We play the mighty Pirates Friday at 6 p.m. Please have your Brave at Water Tower by 5:15 p.m. I am expecting everyone except Tyler (on extended spring training in Florida) and Liam (on the DL for another week and a half). Please let me know if any other Braves will NOT be at the game.
Thanks,
Dave
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Practice tonight (Thur May 7)
Braves,
We will practice Thursday, May 7, after the high-school softball game on the diamond at the east edge of the high-school campus. The game could end as early as 5:45 p.m., so we need to have as many Braves as possible there at that time to be sure of being able to seize possession of the field when the high-school girls leave the field.
The practice will feature Braves pitching against Braves -- giving our pitchers and our hitters the kind of practice they had before last week's game. It worked out well last week, so we're trying to reproduce the experience.
Some guys who didn't have the opportunity to pitch at last week's practice will get the opportunity this time. Practice will end at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, more storms are forecast to rumble in late Friday night, but probably not until our game against the Pirates is finished. Braves should arrive at Water Tower at 5:15 p.m. for pre-game warmups.
Thanks,
The coaching staff
We will practice Thursday, May 7, after the high-school softball game on the diamond at the east edge of the high-school campus. The game could end as early as 5:45 p.m., so we need to have as many Braves as possible there at that time to be sure of being able to seize possession of the field when the high-school girls leave the field.
The practice will feature Braves pitching against Braves -- giving our pitchers and our hitters the kind of practice they had before last week's game. It worked out well last week, so we're trying to reproduce the experience.
Some guys who didn't have the opportunity to pitch at last week's practice will get the opportunity this time. Practice will end at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, more storms are forecast to rumble in late Friday night, but probably not until our game against the Pirates is finished. Braves should arrive at Water Tower at 5:15 p.m. for pre-game warmups.
Thanks,
The coaching staff
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