The White Sox players have selected Jeffrey and Tom to represent them in the 2012 AAA All-Star Game this Tuesday, June 19 6:00 at Cusick.
Congratulations to Jeffrey and Tom!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Game vs Mets Is On!
We will play this game at 4:00 at Broadmeadow (upper field). 3:30 warm-up.
See you there!
See you there!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Possible Schedule Change
Our final round robin game--the showdown with the mighty Mets at Broadmeadow--might be moved up to a 4:00 first pitch (rather than 6:00). We would warm up at 3:30.
This is not definite. There is still a good chance we will play as originally scheduled (6:00).
This is not definite. There is still a good chance we will play as originally scheduled (6:00).
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Sox Set Sights on Mets
With three round robin games being played in such quick succession, it is difficult to produce a detailed play-by-play for each game. Instead, I will roll through highlights of the first two round robin games.
The Sox drew a very tough pool for the round robin--the Phillies, who finished the regular season in first place, the Astros, who defeated the Sox in a nail biter a few weeks back, and the Mets, who handed the Sox their third loss of the season last Tuesday. From this pool two teams will advance to the semifinal round.
The Sox took on the Phillies first on Saturday at Cusick under beautiful baseball skies. It's about time! Eric started for the Sox and had a searing fastball working for him. He fanned four and gave up only one hit in three innings of 1-run ball. He had excellent support defensively. Tim covered some real estate in the first inning to haul in a long fly ball to center field--where triples go to die. Drew at the hot corner yanked a screaming line drive out of thin air to save extra bases in the second. In the third inning, Will at right field gunned a runner down at second for an emphatic outfield assist. The Sox were flashing the leather all day long. Tom took the hill in the fourth inning and put up another couple of zeros for the Sox. Commanding a blazing fast ball, he struck out 5 in two and two-thirds inning of work. He also benefited from a top-notch defensive effort. In the fifth, Dan at second elevated and put leather on a smoking line drive towards right field. Tom helped his own cause when he laid out for a dying infield pop up--a spectacular diving catch to end the fifth. Jared came in to close out the game with two away in the bottom of the sixth, bases loaded, and the winning run at the plate. Cool, composed, and all-business, he only needed for pitches to deliver the K and the White Sox first playoff win of the season.
On the offensive side, the Sox held a very tenuous 1-run lead through five innings, until Eric provided some insurance with a clutch RBI triple in the top of the sixth--an absolute bomb nearly back to the fence in center field--that gave the Sox a little breathing room. Tim drove in another with his third of three singles in the game to make it 4-1, Sox, and that would be the final.
Drew earned the game ball for his outstanding defensive play at third base, including that bullet he gloved in the second. Joshua also deserves mention, having caught all six innings, receiving the ball with great consistency, providing a steady target, blocking pitches, keeping everything in front of him, and making good throws down to second. Hardest working guy on the diamond.
The next morning, the White Sox took Cusick field with one playoff victory securely in hand. It was a good thing, too, because the Astros brought their bats, and their dominating lineup showed no mercy. They put up 12 runs in the contest, and the White Sox could not keep pace, falling in the end 12-2.
But this game did feature some bright spots for the White Sox. Tim put on a clinic in center field, hauling in two long fly balls that would have easily gone for extra bases. He delivered at the plate, too, driving in both White Sox runs--one on a single in the first and another on a sacrifice fly in the third. Micah, who is emerging as a highly effective pitcher for the White Sox, recorded two more scoreless innings and four Ks. His fastball has caught some serious zip of late, and he's commanding it well. Another player coming into his own down the stretch is Zach. He was 2-for-2 this morning at the plate, belting two hard singles. Dan and Tom also made some good noise with the bat. Dan went 3-for-3 and Tom cranked a double deep to left in the third.
The game ball was awarded to Tim for his excellent play in center field and for his effort at the plate bringing in all of the White Sox runs this morning.
The loss to the Astros did not seem to faze the White Sox in the least. They are all business when things go their way, and they are all business when they don't. They understood that they did not need to win today in order to advance to the semifinal round. Two wins, in all likelihood, will be enough to kick the White Sox into the semifinals. The White Sox have a good chance for that second win this Tuesday when we take on the Mets at Broadmeadow in our third and final round-robin game.
See you there!
The Sox drew a very tough pool for the round robin--the Phillies, who finished the regular season in first place, the Astros, who defeated the Sox in a nail biter a few weeks back, and the Mets, who handed the Sox their third loss of the season last Tuesday. From this pool two teams will advance to the semifinal round.
The Sox took on the Phillies first on Saturday at Cusick under beautiful baseball skies. It's about time! Eric started for the Sox and had a searing fastball working for him. He fanned four and gave up only one hit in three innings of 1-run ball. He had excellent support defensively. Tim covered some real estate in the first inning to haul in a long fly ball to center field--where triples go to die. Drew at the hot corner yanked a screaming line drive out of thin air to save extra bases in the second. In the third inning, Will at right field gunned a runner down at second for an emphatic outfield assist. The Sox were flashing the leather all day long. Tom took the hill in the fourth inning and put up another couple of zeros for the Sox. Commanding a blazing fast ball, he struck out 5 in two and two-thirds inning of work. He also benefited from a top-notch defensive effort. In the fifth, Dan at second elevated and put leather on a smoking line drive towards right field. Tom helped his own cause when he laid out for a dying infield pop up--a spectacular diving catch to end the fifth. Jared came in to close out the game with two away in the bottom of the sixth, bases loaded, and the winning run at the plate. Cool, composed, and all-business, he only needed for pitches to deliver the K and the White Sox first playoff win of the season.
On the offensive side, the Sox held a very tenuous 1-run lead through five innings, until Eric provided some insurance with a clutch RBI triple in the top of the sixth--an absolute bomb nearly back to the fence in center field--that gave the Sox a little breathing room. Tim drove in another with his third of three singles in the game to make it 4-1, Sox, and that would be the final.
Drew earned the game ball for his outstanding defensive play at third base, including that bullet he gloved in the second. Joshua also deserves mention, having caught all six innings, receiving the ball with great consistency, providing a steady target, blocking pitches, keeping everything in front of him, and making good throws down to second. Hardest working guy on the diamond.
The next morning, the White Sox took Cusick field with one playoff victory securely in hand. It was a good thing, too, because the Astros brought their bats, and their dominating lineup showed no mercy. They put up 12 runs in the contest, and the White Sox could not keep pace, falling in the end 12-2.
But this game did feature some bright spots for the White Sox. Tim put on a clinic in center field, hauling in two long fly balls that would have easily gone for extra bases. He delivered at the plate, too, driving in both White Sox runs--one on a single in the first and another on a sacrifice fly in the third. Micah, who is emerging as a highly effective pitcher for the White Sox, recorded two more scoreless innings and four Ks. His fastball has caught some serious zip of late, and he's commanding it well. Another player coming into his own down the stretch is Zach. He was 2-for-2 this morning at the plate, belting two hard singles. Dan and Tom also made some good noise with the bat. Dan went 3-for-3 and Tom cranked a double deep to left in the third.
The game ball was awarded to Tim for his excellent play in center field and for his effort at the plate bringing in all of the White Sox runs this morning.
The loss to the Astros did not seem to faze the White Sox in the least. They are all business when things go their way, and they are all business when they don't. They understood that they did not need to win today in order to advance to the semifinal round. Two wins, in all likelihood, will be enough to kick the White Sox into the semifinals. The White Sox have a good chance for that second win this Tuesday when we take on the Mets at Broadmeadow in our third and final round-robin game.
See you there!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Tonight's Practice/Scrimmage Is Off
Of course now the sun is shining and the rain has stopped. But High Rock is unplayable, and the Mets manager has called his team off.
Tonight's Practice/Scrimmage Moved to High Rock
Majors needs Upper Broadmeadow for a playoff game, so we have been bumped.
We will practice and then scrimmage with the Mets tonight at High Rock (NOT Upper Broadmeadow).
We'll start at 5:30.
Again, I apologize for all the schedule shifting!
We will practice and then scrimmage with the Mets tonight at High Rock (NOT Upper Broadmeadow).
We'll start at 5:30.
Again, I apologize for all the schedule shifting!
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
First Round Playoff Schedule
We are grouped with the Astros, Phillies, and Mets for the first round of the playoffs. In this round, each team will play each other team once (round robin). The two teams with the best records will advance to the semi-final round (final four).
Here is our schedule:
Saturday, June 9: White Sox vs. Phillies at Cusick. 10:30 warm-up, 11:00 first pitch.
Sunday, June 10: White Sox vs. Astros at Cusick. 8:30 warm-up, 9:00 first pitch.
Sometime next week (TBA): White Sox vs. Mets at Newman. 5:00 warm-up, 6:00 first pitch.
This will be a difficult round for the White Sox. We're very excited about the challenge!
Here is our schedule:
Saturday, June 9: White Sox vs. Phillies at Cusick. 10:30 warm-up, 11:00 first pitch.
Sunday, June 10: White Sox vs. Astros at Cusick. 8:30 warm-up, 9:00 first pitch.
Sometime next week (TBA): White Sox vs. Mets at Newman. 5:00 warm-up, 6:00 first pitch.
This will be a difficult round for the White Sox. We're very excited about the challenge!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Tonight's Game Is On!
Cusick is open. White Sox and Mets are on!
This game will actually be a scrimmage as the regular season is officially over. Playoffs will begin Saturday with our first round robin game. As I mentioned in the email last night, we are grouped with the Mets, Astros, and Phillies for the first round (tough group!). We will all play each other over the weekend and early next week. The teams with the two best records from this group will advance to a final four round.
This first round will be a great challenge for the White Sox. It'll be a lot of fun!
This game will actually be a scrimmage as the regular season is officially over. Playoffs will begin Saturday with our first round robin game. As I mentioned in the email last night, we are grouped with the Mets, Astros, and Phillies for the first round (tough group!). We will all play each other over the weekend and early next week. The teams with the two best records from this group will advance to a final four round.
This first round will be a great challenge for the White Sox. It'll be a lot of fun!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Today's Game Cancelled
Our game vs. the Mariners this afternoon is off. Cusick Field has not recovered from yesterday's rain and probably will not by 3:00.
With only a week left in the regular season, and every team and field booked, it looks unlikely that we will be able to make this one up.
With only a week left in the regular season, and every team and field booked, it looks unlikely that we will be able to make this one up.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Power on Mound, at Plate Lifts Sox Past Nationals
In an attempt to dodge the rain on Saturday, this game was rescheduled for Friday, which featured a much more favorable forecast. A few clouds rolling in Friday evening, but high 60s and dry. Looked like the White Sox and Nationals might actually beat the weather this time. The bigger question, though, was whether the White Sox would be able to handle the Nationals' hard-throwing stable of pitchers who have so far silenced some of the league's noisiest bats.
The visiting White Sox would have to face the Nationals' top arms tonight, beginning with a flame-throwing righty in the first. Eric stepped in to lead things off and battled back from 0-2 to work a walk. Tom singled to put two on with nobody out. Both Eric and Tom advanced in such a manner that can only be revealed publicly after the conclusion of the season--suffice it to say that it worked this time. Two in scoring position, then, with nobody gone in the first. Jared singled in Eric with a hard shot up the middle, and the Sox were on the board early. Tom would cross the plate on a single of the bat of Jeffrey, and the Sox were up 2-0 right out of the gates. Terrence put himself on with a single as well, but the Nationals' pitcher would zip it up after that.
Micah got the ball for the White Sox to start, and he delivered a beauty in the bottom of the first. He retired the leadoff batter with one pitch that induced a chopper to second, perfectly played by Eric and the throw on to Jeffrey at first for the out. Micah then logged two Ks to put a shut-out first in the books for the Sox. 2-0, Sox, after one.
Micah contributed on the offensive side as well with a single to get things going in the second. Drew worked a walk, but the Nationals' starter was sharp and escaped the inning unscathed.
Micah returned for the bottom of the second. The Nationals put two on, but Micah was not at all rattled. He went about business as usual. He had a great fastball working for him and he was hitting his spots. He struck out one, got another to pop up to second where Jared made a nice grab ranging in. He got the third to ground to short. Tim scooped and fired to Eric at first to put an end to the second. The Nationals were able to put two on the board and the game was all knotted up at 2 apiece after two complete.
Micah put together a solid outing for his White Sox: 3 Ks while giving up only 1 hit over two innings pitched. Most importantly, he kept his team in the game with the Nationals' ace on the mound through the first two innings. An excellent effort from the young righty!
Tom stepped in to light a spark for the Sox in the top of the third. First pitch swinging, he shot a rocket into left field for a leadoff double. He would score on a burner up the middle by Tim, the RBI machine who continues to amaze with his clutch hitting, and the Sox would regain the lead 3-2.
Tom would take the hill for the Sox in the bottom of the third and pick up right where Micah left off. He got one to ground to second where Jared gloved it and fired to Eric at first. He struck out the next and got the third to pop up to Tim at short who lined it up and hauled it in to end the inning. Still 3-2, Sox.
Will worked a walk to put himself on with nobody out in the fourth. On the first pitch to Micah, Will jumped off and waited. As soon as the catcher threw back to the mound, he took off for second. Safe! A flawlessly executed delayed steal, and the Sox had a runner in scoring position. Micah took the free pass to put two on, and then Drew worked the count full, took ball four, and loaded the bases for Eric. Eric and Tom both walked, and the Sox were up by 3.
Tom returned for the bottom of the fourth and proceeded to strike out the side. He had great stuff tonight, striking out four over the course of two shut-out innings.
The Sox would put up some insurance in the fifth. With Tim at third and one out, Micah singled for the second time tonight bringing in Tim and and putting the Sox squarely in command, 6-2.
The Sox sent Jeffrey out to close and attempt to seal up the two-inning save. Jeffrey has not seen a lot of action for the White Sox yet, but he's been pitching quite a bit this spring for his AAU team, so at this point he has easily reached mid-season form. He made a quick adjustment to the Little League pitching distance of 46' (as opposed to 50' in AAU), and made short work of the fifth inning by striking out the side with an overpowering fastball that he had in good command tonight.
Tom doubled again in the sixth, this time on a line drive to deep left, and then scored on a double to left center off the bat of Jeffrey, who scored on a single by--guess who--Tim, reliable as ever with runners in scoring position.
With the score now 8-2, Sox, Jeffrey returned to lock it up in the bottom of the sixth. He did so with three straight Ks, all looking (and wondering what hit 'em). Very efficient work by the big lefty, and an outstanding effort all around for the White Sox.
With this win, the Sox improve to 6-2 on the season and gain a share of second place, one game behind the Phillies and tied with the Astros and Mets--a tight race coming into the final week of the regular season.
Tonight's game ball was awarded to Micah, who set the tone with two brilliant innings on the mound to start and a 2-for-2 effort at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Just doing his job, he'll tell you, but it was a particularly impressive job tonight. Congratulations, Micah!
Next, the White Sox take on the surging Mariners Sunday at Cusick. See you there!
The visiting White Sox would have to face the Nationals' top arms tonight, beginning with a flame-throwing righty in the first. Eric stepped in to lead things off and battled back from 0-2 to work a walk. Tom singled to put two on with nobody out. Both Eric and Tom advanced in such a manner that can only be revealed publicly after the conclusion of the season--suffice it to say that it worked this time. Two in scoring position, then, with nobody gone in the first. Jared singled in Eric with a hard shot up the middle, and the Sox were on the board early. Tom would cross the plate on a single of the bat of Jeffrey, and the Sox were up 2-0 right out of the gates. Terrence put himself on with a single as well, but the Nationals' pitcher would zip it up after that.
Micah got the ball for the White Sox to start, and he delivered a beauty in the bottom of the first. He retired the leadoff batter with one pitch that induced a chopper to second, perfectly played by Eric and the throw on to Jeffrey at first for the out. Micah then logged two Ks to put a shut-out first in the books for the Sox. 2-0, Sox, after one.
Micah contributed on the offensive side as well with a single to get things going in the second. Drew worked a walk, but the Nationals' starter was sharp and escaped the inning unscathed.
Micah returned for the bottom of the second. The Nationals put two on, but Micah was not at all rattled. He went about business as usual. He had a great fastball working for him and he was hitting his spots. He struck out one, got another to pop up to second where Jared made a nice grab ranging in. He got the third to ground to short. Tim scooped and fired to Eric at first to put an end to the second. The Nationals were able to put two on the board and the game was all knotted up at 2 apiece after two complete.
Micah put together a solid outing for his White Sox: 3 Ks while giving up only 1 hit over two innings pitched. Most importantly, he kept his team in the game with the Nationals' ace on the mound through the first two innings. An excellent effort from the young righty!
Tom stepped in to light a spark for the Sox in the top of the third. First pitch swinging, he shot a rocket into left field for a leadoff double. He would score on a burner up the middle by Tim, the RBI machine who continues to amaze with his clutch hitting, and the Sox would regain the lead 3-2.
Tom would take the hill for the Sox in the bottom of the third and pick up right where Micah left off. He got one to ground to second where Jared gloved it and fired to Eric at first. He struck out the next and got the third to pop up to Tim at short who lined it up and hauled it in to end the inning. Still 3-2, Sox.
Will worked a walk to put himself on with nobody out in the fourth. On the first pitch to Micah, Will jumped off and waited. As soon as the catcher threw back to the mound, he took off for second. Safe! A flawlessly executed delayed steal, and the Sox had a runner in scoring position. Micah took the free pass to put two on, and then Drew worked the count full, took ball four, and loaded the bases for Eric. Eric and Tom both walked, and the Sox were up by 3.
Tom returned for the bottom of the fourth and proceeded to strike out the side. He had great stuff tonight, striking out four over the course of two shut-out innings.
The Sox would put up some insurance in the fifth. With Tim at third and one out, Micah singled for the second time tonight bringing in Tim and and putting the Sox squarely in command, 6-2.
The Sox sent Jeffrey out to close and attempt to seal up the two-inning save. Jeffrey has not seen a lot of action for the White Sox yet, but he's been pitching quite a bit this spring for his AAU team, so at this point he has easily reached mid-season form. He made a quick adjustment to the Little League pitching distance of 46' (as opposed to 50' in AAU), and made short work of the fifth inning by striking out the side with an overpowering fastball that he had in good command tonight.
Tom doubled again in the sixth, this time on a line drive to deep left, and then scored on a double to left center off the bat of Jeffrey, who scored on a single by--guess who--Tim, reliable as ever with runners in scoring position.
With the score now 8-2, Sox, Jeffrey returned to lock it up in the bottom of the sixth. He did so with three straight Ks, all looking (and wondering what hit 'em). Very efficient work by the big lefty, and an outstanding effort all around for the White Sox.
With this win, the Sox improve to 6-2 on the season and gain a share of second place, one game behind the Phillies and tied with the Astros and Mets--a tight race coming into the final week of the regular season.
Tonight's game ball was awarded to Micah, who set the tone with two brilliant innings on the mound to start and a 2-for-2 effort at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Just doing his job, he'll tell you, but it was a particularly impressive job tonight. Congratulations, Micah!
Next, the White Sox take on the surging Mariners Sunday at Cusick. See you there!
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