October 2, 2011
Yankees 9
White Sox 11
As if the
scheduled playoff weekend rainout was some sort of omen, it set up a
perfect storm of a perfect day for the NWAMSBL at AA Royals Affiliate,
NWA Naturals Arvest Ball Park in Springdale, AR. The weather was
a perfect 71 degrees at game time and the field was immaculately true
to it's form from being named the # 1 professional playing surface in
America just last season. The stage was also set for the top two
teams in the 25+ Division to face off for the title. The surging
and well-stocked Fayetteville Yankees had picked up where they left
off last season when they dealt the NWA White Sox their only loss in
that year and had mounted a seemingly impossible comeback to drop the
White Sox again late this season. It seemed that the Yankees had
the White Sox's number despite the White Sox getting the best of the
Yankees earlier in the year. It only seemed perfect that the two
teams meet to settle it in the final game.
The White Sox
took the route of starting their young arms in the first four innings
to salvage the only pitcher left in the of-age rotation, Mark Taylor,
for the final 5 innings. That was the plan. Chris Huebner
got the start and tossed two solid innings giving up only two runs on
a walk to Josh Lane brought in by a double by Roger Hill.
Yankee, Robbie Starner, scored on a series of three errors in the
second frame. Huebner was relieved by Brody Harper who held the
third and fourth frames with no runs. The White Sox answered
with 4 runs off Yankee starter, Barry Blood, in the first two innings.
The White Sox continued to rally through the 5th inning eventually
knocking Blood out of the game leading 8-2. Taylor had breezed
through the 5th inning, but hit a buzz saw in the 6th where the
Yankees mounted a very familiar comeback scoring 7 runs on 5 hits, a
walk, an HBP, and two errors by Chris Huebner who had just moved to
shortstop. The inning finally came to an end when Taylor snagged
a laser line drive by Blood who looked to draw some in the process.
So, after 6
innings, the score was knotted at 9 apiece. From there, both
Mark Taylor and Yankee reliever, Jacob Koch settled down for what
would prove to be a much longer haul than each would have expected but
that both would have welcomed. Neither team could muster a run
through the next 6 innings despite some very near chances that were
snuffed out by some stellar defensive gems. The Yankee defense
was highlighted by a nifty lay-out grab by second-baseman, Robbie
Starner, and a diving hit-stealing line drive attempt by Barry Blood
who had moved to right field. The White Sox defense was led by a
hit-saving effort by right fielder, Andy Carpenter, and the "Web Gem"
of the day delivered by shortstop, Chris Huebner whose two grabs in
the top of the 12th inning set things up for the day's perfect
drama...
In the bottom of
the 12th inning, Stephen Boudreaux finally grounded out to short on an
8-pitch at-bat and it looked as if the game was going drag on to the
13th inning. However, White Sox player/coach, Patrick Taliaferro
slapped a nifty base hit to set up the go-ahead runner for Andy
Carpenter. Carpenter struggled last season batting a disappointing
.143. This season, he brought his average up to a respectable
.348, but what was curious to his teammates was his lack of game day
power that was so evident in the pre-season and at batting practice.
With the one out, a frustrated Boudreaux had just hollered to
Carpenter to, "Pick me up!" and then turned to a teammate and said,
"Yeah...that Carpenter. He's due." On the second pitch of
the at-bat, the lefty Carpenter launched a fat fastball over the right
field fence at Arvest Ball Park and into the home-side bullpen to
execute the 2-run walk-off. The White Sox leapt from the dugout
to celebrate their second consecutive championship. Carpenter
ended the day 2-4, HR, 2RBI, HBP, K. Other offensive stars for
the White Sox included stalwart, Tim Hooper (4-6, RBI, 2B, 2SB, K),
Chris Huebner (3-6, R), Patrick Taliaferro (3-6, 2R, 3RBI, 2B).
Mark Taylor earned the win and the Finals MVP Honor with a pitching
line: 8in, 7R, 4ER, 7H, 4BB, HBP, 13K.
The Yankees were
led by Roger Hill (4-6, R, RBI, 2B), and pitcher Jacob Koch's line was
8in, 5R, 4ER, 10H, 3BB, HBP, HR, 10K.
September 25, 2011
September 25, 2011--2011 White Sox Finish atop the regular
season standings with a 12-3 record and advance through the playoffs
with a 10-1 win over the West Beech Browns. White Sox return to
AA Naturals Arvest Ball Park on October 2nd to defend title against
the Fayetteville Yankees.
Dustin Wilson and Tim Hooper named to the 2011 All Star Team
Patrick Taliaferro and Andy Miller named coaches for 2011 All Star
Team
September 11, 2011
White Sox 16 Tigers 1
Tigers 6 White Sox 4
September 4, 2011
White Sox 12
Yankees 13
We figured out during the week why Sean
Carson was having an off day last week...torn rotator cuff. With
Garner out with a torn labarum, White gone off to college, Wilson on
the pitching DL, Huebner out this week, Rush MIA since game 2, the
White Sox were down to Mark Taylor and Brody Harper to handle duties
to finish the season along with position players at best. And
the Sox roster down to 11 to finish the season doesn't give many
options. So, the hope is that the offense can outscore their
opponents and hope for them to have an off-hitting day. The Sox
were up 11-3 going into the 7th inning (which should have been enough
to close out the game, but Taylor wasn't able to overcome the constant
barrage of Yankee hits and White Sox miscues. Andy Miller came
in to try and keep the lead, but things just got away. The game
ended when in the bottom of the 9th inning, bases loaded, game tied
12-12 and Andy Miller tried to float an Eephus pitch to one of the
Yankees best hitters who drilled the floater into left field for the
walk off win. The White Sox hopes of a repeat are looking very
dim if we cannot get some people healthy and/or showing up for games
in time for the playoffs..--Stephen Boudreaux, White Sox
August 28, 2011
White Sox 19
Cardinals 4
Cardinals 10
White Sox 22
I had warned our
guys that the Cardinals were a surging team and that they were not the
same team we faced earlier in the season. That held true
especially in game 2 of the double bill with the score tied 10-10
going into the top of the 5th inning of a 7 inning contest.
White Sox pitcher, Sean Carson, was not having his best day and might
have been reeling a bit from the previous weekend's Arklahoma Shootout
Tournament. Carson had come in to relive starter Chris
Huebner who only gave up 2 runs and had left the game with a
comfortable 9-2 lead. Carson, however, gave up 8 earned runs in
the next two frames to knot the score. Fortunately for Carson,
the White Sox offense came to his rescue pounding out 12 runs in the
final two innings. That got him fired up enough to pitch his way
out and even strike out the side in the final frame. Game one
had Mark Taylor on the hill whose line was 6inn, 4R, 2ER, 5H, 3BB,
1HBP, 5K to get the win. Taylor also had a home run in game 2 to
cap a successful day. Offensively, Lincoln Garner (who cannot
play the field or pitch due to a torn labarum) had a great day at the
plate with a line of 5-7, 6R, 2RBI, HR, 2BB. Mike Lopez made an
offensive comeback after a drought with a line of 3-5, 4R, RBI, 3BB,
SB. --Stephen Boudreaux, White Sox
August 21, 2011
White Sox place
6th in Arklahoma Shootout Tournament
August 14, 2011
White Sox 17
Rangers 1
Rangers 4 White
Sox 24
The weather has finally
turned. Some thought it would never come signifying the "End of
Days" or something. But today, it was a pleasant 84 degrees and
breezy with only a few spotted clouds. Perfect was the adjective
uttered by those same naysayers from a week prior.
In
game one, the Sox offense was 14-43, 17R, 7RBI, 4@2B, 3BB, 2K. Huebner
gets the "W" and Taylor the "save" with a combined line 7inn, 1R, 1H,
6BB, 2HBP, 10K. Welcome back to Mark Taylor who looked solid with what
appeared to be a dominant fastball. The Sox dugout was
scratching their collective heads trying to get a gauge on the speed
while the Ranger batters couldn't catch up enough to get a word in
edgewise. It had been a year since Taylor took the mound
sparingly, so it was a pleasant surprise to see his strength
especially after his first inning striking out three straight batters
in the heart of the Ranger line-up. Game Two: Sox offense
line was more efficient at 12-27, 21R, 14RBI, 2@2B, 1HR(the return of
Andy Miller), 11BB, 0K. Sean Carson went the distance 5inn, 4R, 3ER,
6H, 2BB, 2HBP, 6K facing only 27 batters. White Sox offensive
leaders on the double header were: Dustin Wilson (4-7, 4R, 7RBI,
2@2B, 2BB, SB?), Patrick Taliaferro (5-6, 6R, 3RBI, 2B, BB, HBP, SB),
and Andy Miller in his return to the line up after being out 7 games
(1-1, 3R, 2RBI, 3BB, HR)--Stephen Boudreaux, White Sox
August 7, 2011
White Sox 16
Browns 11
Even though it was still
registering 100+ degrees, it felt a little cooler this day.
6-straight 100+ degree weekends is starting to take its toll. I
think it is also wearing on some folks' patience, too. But
it felt like cooler weather was just around the corner. But this
game was a hot one. The Browns are a solid new addition to our
league and pleasure to compete with. These guys are all having a
great time with the opportunity to play baseball and it shows.
White Sox starter, Lincoln Garner, sputtered before he could get out
of the gate only facing three batters plunking the leadoff and walking
the next two before leaving with a sore arm. That put the still
short-handed White Sox in a pickle about pitching. Seth White
offered up his arm to eat up some innings to keep Sean Carson from
having to toss 9 on the day. White's line looked respectable by
picking off Garner's third base runner, a K, and 6-4 roller to get out
of the jam. The sure-hitting Browns made it interesting through
the first 4 innings with a total of 9 runs. The White Sox
hitters did a little damage of their own, though and had the score
holding at 10-9 Sox at the end of that frame. From the 5th
inning on, it was a different game. Sean Carson came in for the
Sox and gave up no earned runs striking out 6 batters through 4
innings giving up only three hits. However, the Browns pushed
two runs across on a couple of costly throwing errors putting the
score 11-10 Browns in the 6th. Having seen Browns pitcher Nathan
Currier a time through, the White Sox took advantage of his
not-up-to-his-standard arm and plated 6 runs in the top of the 8th
inning to complete the comeback win. Led by S. White (2-3, 3R,
BB, 2SB), L. Garner (2-4, 3R, 2RBI, BB, K), D. Wilson (3-5, 2R, 4RBI,
HR, 2B), T. Hooper (2-4, 2R, 3RBI, 3B, BB, K, SB), S. Boudreaux (2-4,
BB), and A. Carpenter (2-4, 2R, 3RBI, BB, K).--Stephen Boudreaux,
White Sox
July 31, 2011
The Pirates/White Sox rivalry series dates all the way back to 2003
when both teams were still in the 18+ division so it is a series
always anticipated. What makes the Pirates unique this season is
the continuation of their employ of two of the best pitchers the
NWAMSBL has ever seen. A one-two punch that will, in most cases,
deliver a knockout to opponents. Eric Smith and Kelly Sisco are
further proof that all lefthanders should have been burned at the
stake way back in the 1600's when we had the chance. That stuff
is evil. But what the White Sox countered with is a one-two
punch of their own on the bump. The game was tight as Dennis
mentioned above through the final frame, but it was the craftiness of
starting righty, Chris Huebner, and our own evil lefty, Sean Carson
that kept the Pirate bats cold allowing only one earned run on the day
on scattered hits. Since the staff only struck out four, that
meant the White Sox defense was solid on the day. Mike Lopez and
Tim Hooper stood out in the field. Receiver, Dave Battaglia was
superb behind the dish picking off two Pirates while calling a great
game and dropping a bomb over the left center fence. Statistically, S.
White (2-4, 2R, 2B, BB), P. Taliaferro (2-4, R), C. Huebner (2-4, 2R,
3RBI. HR, BB), D. Battaglia (2-5, R, 4RBI, HR, K).--Stephen
Boudreaux, White Sox
July 25, 2011
White Sox 1
Dodgers 9
As the White Sox roster
numbers dwindled down to 10 for this Sunday's matchup with the
Dodgers, it appears that their confidence dwindled as well.
Normally, the White Sox offense is potent enough to overcome most
obstacles in the past few years, but today...ugh. The Sox
managed only 8 scattered hits on the day but could not move anyone
past second base in part to "hitting it right at 'em" and some very
solid defense by the Dodgers infield. Most especially Troy
Steiner who gobbled up 7 assists no matter where they put him at short
or third. The White Sox came to the plate 34 times and only
struck out once. That means defense was getting the job done.
The White Sox pitching staff was flat all day between Garner and
Carson. Neither pitched poorly, but the Dodgers' sure-hitters
found holes all over the field tapping 11 hits and stringing them
together to be productive. Statistically, Stephen Boudreaux was
2-3, Seth White was 2-4, R, SB.--Stephen Boudreaux, White Sox
July 18, 2011
Wingnuts 8 White
Sox 9
White Sox 12 Wingnuts 10
A solid, close series
between these two squads today. It was pretty good baseball all
around on both sides. The White Sox numbers are dwindling down
to 11 on the active roster and I admit I am getting nervous.
It's a good thing that we have some key hitters in the lineup that
don't seem to get nervous themselves. In game one, Lincoln
Garner got the start and pitched three innings of great baseball.
Garner faced 12 batters and struck out 8 of them. Only one run
was scored on a snowball fight in the first inning. Levi Rush
finished things off with 4 innings of solid, nasty stuff despite
getting into a little trouble in the 5th and 7th ultimately winning
the oddest of battles with a cricket player who fouled off about 20
pitches. Offensive stars in game one included Dave Battaglia
(2-3 RBI, 2R, BB), Tim Hooper (3-4, RBI, 3SB, 2R), Patrick Taliaferro
(2-3, RBI, 2B), and Andy Carpenter (2-2, 2@2B, BB, RBI).
In game two, the White Sox
took control of the game through 6 innings with Sean Carson on the
hill pitching a pretty brilliant game giving up three meaningless
runs. In the 7th inning, the Sox, who were short on pitching,
gave Andy Carpenter a try. With the White Sox up 12-3, Carpenter
gave up 7 runs in a row on two singles, three walks and an HBP.
Being game, Carson decided to come in and save his own game recording
all three outs in the 7th frame. For the White Sox offense
Lincoln Garner (3-4, 3R, 2B, 2RBI, SB), Tim Hooper (3-4, 2R, 2B,
5RBI), Patrick Taliaferro (2-2, 2R). --Stephen Boudreaux, White
Sox
June 26, 2011
Yankees 5 White
Sox 16
After the loss of Andy
Miller and Levi Rush out for disciplinary reasons and Mark Taylor for
the season, the White Sox were down to 12 on the active roster which
is alarming because a few will be out of pocket after the holiday
break. This game was what I expected from the Yankees out of the
gate. They put up two quick runs in the first inning on a
single, error, and Russ Williams' double to plate the pair. Sox
starter Lincoln Garner struck out Barry Blood and Patrick Taliaferro
made a nifty play to assist Garner at first base to end the side.
The White Sox responded with one in the first and one in the second to
tie things up. The game was knotted again at 4-4 into the 5th
inning when Seth White plated the go-ahead run on Matt Jacobson's fly
to right. Still a tight game into the 8th inning, the White Sox
bats took advantage of tired Yankee pitching highlighted by Mike Lopez
adding a little insult to injury with a grand slam in the top of the
8th. Offensive highlights for the White Sox: Seth White
(3-4, 4R, 2B, BB, 2-SB, RBI, K); Dustin Wilson (3-5, 2R, RBI); Mike
Lopez (2-4, 3R, HR (3), HBP, SB, 4RBI, K); Sean Carson (2-2, 2B, 3RBI,
BB). Carson also gets the win on the hill going 4 innings, 5K,
4H, 0BB, and a pickoff. --Stephen Boudreaux, White Sox
June 19, 2011
Cardinals 3 White
Sox 22
It's still early in the
season and I am sure the pitching will catch up with the hitting as
early as the next game week. The White Sox have been getting
some offensive surprises in their first two games. Notably,
veteran little guy, Mike Lopez who has jacked two bombs already this
year after what I think he said was, "10 years since his last home
run." One would wonder why he is batting in the 9th position,
but I am sure that may change if our coaching staff catches it.
And we may need to replace a potential loss in our 4-hole spot for a
while. Dingers also by Dave Battaglia and rookie, Lincoln Garner
in the big ball park in Rogers. Pitching was the big question
mark based on the big loss from last season, but the new staff seems
to be holding its own for the moment. Mark Taylor returns next
week and hopefully we can see how he has progressed in the off
season.--Stephen Boudreaux, White Sox
June 12, 2011
bye
June 6, 2011
Rangers L White
Sox W
The pre-season was a real
concern with the ton of rainfall and lack of field availability
keeping the White Sox from gathering as a full team until game one.
Keeping tabs with each other on Facebook or email just doesn't do much
for team chemistry, so I was worried. The bulk of the White Sox
were returning from a fun and successful 2010 campaign so it was great
to see all the guys and it reminded me why we do this. The
camaraderie transcends the game. The Sox are looking to
find a way to defend their title after losing stalwart pitcher, Evan
Neiser, bunt king and RHP, Tom Spaniol, "Mr. Baseball" John Michael
Hariston, fireballer, Josh Merryman, and my own son, Nathan Boudreaux.
New guys for 2011 look to be way capable and fit right into the "Sox
mold" (or moldy socks?): Matt Jacobson an MSBL transfer from
Indiana, Lincoln Garner from Virginia, and the Perrin brothers, Mike
and Lance who were with the Appleknockers last season, and LHP Sean
Carson who was on the 2010 roster, but was unable to attend any games.
Garner started the game on the hill and showed his mettle right off
the bat allowing 0R on 0H, with only 3BB and 6K in 3 innings.
Sean Carson relieved and went 2 innings, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 5K.
The White Sox offense took
its foot off the accelerator after the first inning but the gas kept
getting to the engine going a combined line of: 20H, 6@2B,
3HR, 23RBI, 4HBP, 9BB, 3K... a team .625BA.
Only one stolen base in the first inning when the contest was still in
question.
The Springdale Rangers are a spin-off team from last
years' Yankees squad and they are to be applauded for working to
expand the league. They are in a building mode and were not
quite ready come opening day. At the conclusion of the game, the
White Sox (with a roster of 20) offered the Rangers the Perrin
brothers and two other quality ball players in the reserve.
There should be some quick improvement.--Stephen Boudreaux, White
Sox