Fog Wins Another Championship

Last night the Fog could have added their 3rd championship in 6 years, but instead we settle for 4th place.

If the wounds of the season still run deep, take a moment and reflect on a similar team to ours, the 2004 Fog.

AP - Magnolia, WA

The Fog were playing for the championship again following their narrow 11-10 victory over Gun Club. The opponent was a team they know well, Kenny. Kenny had been a team the Fog had always handled until last year's playoffs when they upset the Fog and advanced. That victory carried Kenny this year to the #3 seed and an earlier 6-5 victory over the Fog.

Old Man Swagger was still in the Fog's dug out, though he was pretty winded following the 6th and 7th innings with Gun Club. Between innings he waited his turn in the honey bucket line, causing Nolte to be a little late for the pre-game instructions. As well, Nate had another surprise up his sleeve. As he filled out the lineup card, an additional name was added - Gerlitz, Joe. As he returned the book to the Fog's lucky bookkeeper Erik Lindblad, he pulled Boyd aside and told his XA what was going one. Earlier in the day, Nate and Joe had completed a fantasy baseball trade and discussed the Fog and the events at hand. Joe was stuck in LA working on a commercial that had no end in sight. Then, at 11:03 came the call, change of plans, Joe was flying home and his plane was landing at 6pm. If the Fog one their first game, Nate was to call and Joe would come down. Nate placed the quick call unbeknownst to anyone. The buzz in the dugout grew, Joeisha, the Fog's comeback player of the year, the Seinfeld to Nolte's Costanza, the straw that stirs the drink was coming.

One slight problem though, once again the Fog was the visiting team and the game was underway but no Joe yet he was the #6 hitter. Simple solution, if Joe isn't here, everyone moves up and we have a new 11 hitter. Boyd got the action going as he reached via error at first, Nolte singled, Hansen singled, Nate singled and took second on a error by the right fielder and just like that it was 3-0 and no outs. Pinder grounded out scoring Nate. Dan followed with a solo home run to make it 5-0 and still only 1 out. Peter walked (again) before Darin grounded into a fielders choice. Daunte singled, Tim singled, Joe, who had now arrived but still tying his shoes singled, Boyd singled and Nolte singled, before Graeme flew out to end the inning. Fog 9 and Kenny yet to bat. Kenny managed one in their half of the inning, but the tone was set. Neither team scored in the 2nd, in the 3rd the Fog added 2 more to take a 11-1 advantage. Kenny followed with 1 in the third and 3 in the fourth to cut the margin to 11-4, the Fog added one more in the 5th to make it 12-5 and during the half inning, Kenny's manager, yes they have a manager that doesn't play gathered his troops and gave them a stern talking to. During which time Tim overheard them say, this pitcher is throwing first ball strikes, so go up hacking. Tim passed on the info to Nate who said thanks, though truth be told his control is so limited he just tried to keep the smoke and mirrors intact. The sixth saw the Fog send up all 11 batters again and drop a 5 spot on Kenny to take a 17-5 lead into the bottom of the 6th. Kenny managed to get two aboard, but with two outs their #2 hitter hit a fly to right center where Dan took a few steps in and squeezed the leather around the ball for the 3rd and Fogs 2nd Championship in 4 years.

Not only was the arrival of Joe a boost to the psyche of the Fog was proved to be much needed was Pinder pulled his hamstring in the top of the 6th and was benched for health reasons by Coach Watson.

The Fog had avenged a prior years playoff loss, by 12 running Kenny when it mattered most. The Fog had turned a lost season it a special season, rattling off 8 straight victories and 9 of it's last 10. At it's lowest point of the season, the Fog was 1-3, the team wasn't hitting and their were philosophical differences with the batting order. But then that all changed with the double header sweep of Gun Club and Average Athletes, in which two important events happened. First was the return of Swagger and second was the return of Boyd to the lead off.

The head of the city rec department gave Kenny their 2nd place trophy before thanking Fog for a great season and giving us our championship t-shirts and monstrous first place trophy. As well, the Fog was backed by it's biggest crowd of the season, including the Wilkins clan as dad had to watch the playoffs from the sidelines due to a foot injury.

With the Fog's victory, we now have naming rights to two children and our first opportunity to name will come in early 2005 when Darin adds to his family. Please submit your suggestions to the Fog's XA and we will review them at the Super Bowl for the final vote. As well, Darin can avoid this naming obligation if he let's the Fog design a tattoo for his lower back.

Fog Can't Hang with Cooper's

AP - Maple Wood, Seattle

The Fog took the field last Friday night in the second round of the playoffs, looking to defeat a team they had lost to twice in the regular season, Cooper's. The Fog got the scoring going in the first when Graeme went yard for the third time in the playoffs making it 2-0. Coopers tallied one in their half of the 1st to trail 2-1 heading into the 2nd.

After Will and Joe were retired, Dan doubled and scored on Peter's single making it 3-1. Little did anyone know that Dan's double would be our last extra base hit of the evening. Cook's single scored Peter. Ben singled to extend his perfect playoff batting average, but severely twisted his ankle on the base paths. Dante's single finished the scoring for the Fog and it was 5-1 heading into the bottom of the 2nd. After a lead off double, Joe stranded the runner there, getting the next three batters.

Confidence was in bloom and the Fog was ready to play add on in the third and make a reservation for the championship game this coming Wednesday. Couple of slight problems, the Fog were retired 1-2-3 in both the 3rd and 4th innings and Cooper's had other plans.

A lead off walk in the bottom of the third was followed by a single before the third batter flew out to left center. Joe then walked the next batter to load the bases for the #3 hitter, who crushed a ball over Brent's head in right center. The following batter flew out to Peter. The next batter singled attempted to score from first on a blooper to right but a great throw and incredible block of home plate denied him. Fog 5 Cooper's 5.

The Fog again went down 1-2-3 and Cooper's again loaded the bases with 2 singles and a walk before a single scored one making it 6-5. With the bases still loaded the #11 hitter smoked a ball over Will's head in left center, the second consecutive inning the Fog had surrendered a grand slam. Still with no outs, the next batter doubled before the Fog finally registered an out. The next batter also made an out. With a runner on 2nd, two outs the next batter singled him in, advanced when the following batter reached via error and both scored when the next batter smoked a home run over Dante's head for a 3 run shot. Cooper's 14 Fog 5.

Both teams managed to score one run in the 5th making it Cooper's 15 Fog 6 heading into the 6th. If the Fog had any chance of getting back in the game it was in the 5th as they loaded the bases with no out and only managed on run, hitting into a double play and then a fly out.

In the 6th, the Fog put 4 of the first 5 batters on base scoring 2 before Will and Joe got out. Heading into the bottom of the 6th it was Cooper's 15 and Fog 8.

The first 4 batters singled scoring 2 before a triple cleared the base paths, making it 19-8 and just one run away from the 12 run mercy rule. With no outs and a runner on 3rd, the next batter walked, though it remains unclear if Joe's 5th walk of the night was intentional or not, regardless, the following batter singled ending the game and the Fog's 2006 season. Cooper's 20 and Fog 8. Twice this year the Fog were twelve runned, and both times by Coopers.

2006 Fog Final Stats

Joe's Keys to the Game - July 14

Third Time is not the Charm

AP - Maple Wood, WA

The Kangaroo and Kiwi Pub faced The Fog in the first round of the Loyal Heights Men's A League playoffs. Despite being swept in the regular season, the KKP hoped that the third time would be the charm versus the Fog.

Once again, Joe failed to heed his keys and arrived just in time for the second inning. That meant that Nate had to return to the mound and attempt to pitch in wind tunnel like conditions. After walking the first batter and third batters and allowing a single to the second batter, Nate proceeded to serve up a grand slam, only to be followed by a solo home run. KKP 5 and the Fog 0. The Fog treated their half of the first with an urgency to get back in the field and were retired 1-2-3.

Joe took over in the second and kept the score at 5-0. Graeme showed everyone how it was done by hitting the first of this two home runs and the Fog ended the 2nd trailing 5-4. After allowing 2 in the top of the third, the Fog flexed a muscle not seen much this season and scored 12 runs in the 3rd, including 7 after two outs. Fog 16 KKP 7.

The Pub would score 9 more runs to bring their tally to 16, but the Fog added 6 more in the 5th for a final score of 22-15.

Highlights:
At the coaches meeting the umpire informed both teams that only the catchers could have their hats backward and only when they were catching. When informed of this rule, Joe was dumbfounded. He proceeded to saunter up to the plate with his lid backward and before the first pitch, red informed him of the rule. Joe managed to overcome the hat drama and single.

An inning later this same umpire had to ask Boyd to not coach third base so actively and close to the runner, seems Boyd not only wanted to instruct the runner, but also touch them.

In Joe's attempt to reach the field by the 2nd inning he forgot his bat, so after he retired the KKP in the top of the 3rd he ran to retrieve Wonder Boy. Sure enough that same inning, the golden bat delivered a 3 run bomb.

The Fog return to action for the 2nd round of the playoffs tomorrow, Friday July 14th at 7:30 at Maple Wood 2 vs Cooper's

Playoff Stats

Joe's Keys to the Game - July 12

Support Your Favorite Catcher

Care to show how much you appreciate Steve Boyd? Look no further, a chance to obtain Boyd's favorite Mariner signature

First Playoff Game

The Fog are the #4 seed in the playoffs and we will be facing Kangaroo & Kiwi Pub, the #5 seed. We play on Wednesday, July 12th at 6:15 at Maple Wood. See map for directions. After we win, we will face the #1 seed on Friday at 7:30 at Maple Wood.

Playoff Update

Our first playoff game will be Wednesday, July 12. It will be at Maple Wood, and the game time will either be 6:15 or 7:30. I expect to learn the game time early next week. Please disregard the schedules I gave out at the last game.