Truelove's Texas Hold'em Tournament 2024 Winner Crowned!

HATCHET SOFTBALL IS BACK SPRING 2024!

May 6, 2024

Highlight was our fans handling, with grace, our epic fail. LOL! 

Big thanks to Ron Benge for filling in for scorebook duties! WE WILL RETURN WITH A VICTORY NEXT MONDAY!

April 29, 2024

The Hatchets get back to their winning ways with a victory over Young Guns 11-10. 

April 22, 2024

If there was ever such a thing as a team having your #. Hatchets fall to 2-2 after a tough loss to Workday 20-17. 

Offensively couldn't ask for much more....except SOME output by the #10 hitter. Offensive player of the game for sure has to be John Drury. 3 for 5 at the plate, 2 300ft+ HR's one of them being a grand slam! 7 RBI night! Great hitting John! Entire team averaged 3 hits and 4.8 plate appearances!

Get back after it Monday the 29th. 

April 15, 2024

I believe the HATCHETS had a 7-2 lead in like the 6th inning with 2 outs....prettty routine flyball hit to the warning track in LF...in the glove, then out...SMH...5 runs later, 7-7, Truelove still SMH. Top of 7th Bush League pulls ahead by 1. Bottom of 7th and final inning...Blake Clark with a laser over 3rd for a base knock. Ricky Schwartz steps into the box and not to be outdone sends a laser of his own over SS. Runners on 1st and 2nd, no outs. Travis Craven settles in to end this thing....sends one that looks like a 300ft shot...caught at the warning track...moved 2 runners up. Darian Benge, whos been pretty hot at the plate, less the crop top (he'll get it), sent one looking equal to a 300ft send...just over the outreached glove of LCF, so Blake and Ricky ran wild! 

HATCHETS 9

Bush League 8

April 8, 2024

HATCHETS get that first win of the season! Stopping Young Guns in their tracks by a final of 16-8. Leather flashing...bats raking! Shout out to Travis goin 4-5, Darian went 4-5 and a 301ft dinger! Big John went 4-4 also a 300ft jack! (With nobody on) Haha! Ricky Schwartz said, "I'll go 3-3!"

Great win team! Workday won last night! This means war! 

April 1, 2024

HATCHETS drop their season opener in dramatic fashion!

Solid line up this season...HATCHETS can blame taking off a full year and being out of shape! HATCHETS will bounce back....who knows, maybe only loss of the season!

Stats have been updated on the SCHEDULE page! 

Please drop by often to follow the team!

Monday October 3, 2022

        HATCHETS, great Spring and Fall Seasons! I had an absolute blast playing with this great group of talented folks! We start playing late March early April every year and finish the year in October! That's a long year of softball! I loved watching this team gel and get better and better every game. I sure hope we can keep this thang rolling into 2023! See all you guys and our fans in the Spring!

                                                                                 -HATCHETS FRONT OFFICE 

    

        Billy text me that the HATCHETS only have 8 players on the verge of forfeiting the playoffs. Billy and Dustin had to skip on their Niner season tickets and miss the big Monday night football game Niners against the Rams. My 5-day quarantine ends, and I test negative at 2pm. THANK YOU PAXLOVID. I read it speeds up recovery and produces a negative test quicker. IT works. I've been sitting at home since Wednesday feeling like garbage. At night I walk the school track alone in the dark to make sure to get my 10k steps.  I repeat the same routine Wednesday through Sunday. Stay at home all day leave to walk the track at night. That is my entire existence. Props to Robert who picked up organic beet juice for me and my brother who handed me Sunday night dinner over the fence.

      We are short of players, so we call aluminum in the first playoff game. I hit the ball great and go 4 for 4. We win 15-10 and head to the championship. Waiting for us in the championship is a squad of 12 guys and large boisterous crowd. They have group of young girl supporters who are extremely vocal. We hit a grand slam in the first inning and take 5-0 lead on them with aluminum bats. When the score was 6-1 I came up with first and second one out. I almost worked a walk, but he threw me a 3-1 strike and I hit it up the middle for my first and only double play all year. I felt awful. However, late in the game I get a chance to redeem myself. The runners had just moved up to 2nd and 3rd with two outs losing 7-6 late in the game.  Important Abat I hit shot to right center that found grass and scored both runs to take the lead 8-7. Eventually they retake the lead, and I come up one last time in the last inning. It was our last chance down by 3 runs with a runner on first. I hit a shot down the line which allowed the go ahead run to come to the plate. We got another hit and then make the final out with the tying run on first base losing 11-9. This is the same team we lost to by one run in the last inning in the spring championship. As we are shaking their hands some classless guy on their team is yelling "Back-to-Back championships" in our face. It causes some friction at the end of the game until one of their players promises to kick the guy's ASS when they get to the parking lot. I was thinking we are short guys -missing an outfielder. I just came out of like a weeklong COVID quarantine few hours before gametime, and they still barely beat us. Yet they are talking smack at the end of the game? Actually, I was proud how our team battled at a disadvantage missing a bunch of players, yet it was not easy for them. 

                                                                                           -Monkey

Monday September 26, 2022

     HATCHETS wrap up the regular season with a win!!!!

Each season will typically have 10 regular season games and then the playoffs. The HATCHETS faced a team on the final night that was one gm up for playoff positioning and undefeated. This same team ended the HATCHETS win streak that went back to 2021. Monday night, final game of the 2022 season, was payback time! So, for the HATCHETS to get the #1 seed in the playoffs we'd need to win by 5 runs because the only HATCHET loss was to Bush League and they won 15-11. HATCHETS were a bit flat to start off the game but soon kicked it in to have a back and forth battle for 7 full innings. Getting the WIN was #1 for the HATCHETS, winning by 5 runs was secondly important. HATCHETS showed some shut down defense in the last 2 innings not giving up a single run, but came up just short the 5 runs needed for the #1 seed. Final score HATCHETS 18 Bush League 15. 

     A second seed doesn't really matter to the HATCHETS as they have proved they can handle any of the remaining 7 teams in their league and are looking forward to putting up another city championship banner!

                                                                                          -Truelove    

Monday September 19, 2022

     HATCHETS current win streak is 6 with one regular season game left. We'll lace them up against Bush League next Monday night. These characters seem to have our number.....BUT, third time will be a charm! A more detailed write-up to follow.....hopefully. 

                               -Truelove

Monday September 12, 2022

 

      HATCHETS gut out another victory in a low scoring affair. For the second game in a row the HATCHETS did not have the usual 15 run mercy rule game but instead had to scratch out a 7 inning 10-7 victory over the 4-3 Jack Wagon team. The victory keeps the HATCHETS within a game of the undefeated Bush league team and keeps the HATCHETS hopes alive for getting the #1 seed heading into the playoffs with the HATCHETS playing Bush league in their last regular season game. Once again, the early 6:30 start time had the HATCHETS scrambling to get 10 players by game time. With the HATCHETS missing most of their fans and their scorekeeper with the early start time Billy Truelove, on the injured reserve list, did his part and kept book and took over managerial and third base coaching duties giving the HATCHETS much needed moral support in a tough low scoring game. Billy even fetched a home run ball during the game.

     Offensively Cameron was a life saver in this game for the HATCHETS especially early on. All the HATCHETS hitters were struggling early on against the Jack Wagon pitcher, but Cameron first time at the plate broke the scoreless tie with 2 run home run to left. Later in the inning on defense the HATCHETS were hanging on to a 2-1 lead when there was a medium deep fly ball hit to Kid Joe in left field and the runner at third foolishly decided to test the strongest arm in the league.   Kid Joe did not disappoint firing a laser into the chest at Muentz at home. Muentz dropped it. Amazingly the ball stayed the same height all the way to the plate and Muentz expecting a slight drop in the trajectory of the ball got handcuffed trying underhand catch it. Luckily Darian caught a line drive on the next batter to keep the game tied 2-2. Then Cameron to the rescue once again breaking the tie with a huge 3 run homer to left field. At the very top of a pine tree Cameron's home Run ball knock a branch off that proceeded to fall 50 feet to the ground. It was a mammoth shot over the left field fence making Cameron solely responsible for the Hatchets first 5 runs. Out of home runs Kid Joe the next batter did the next best thing and hit ball over the right fielder's head. When their large 2nd baseman got the cut off throw, he showed Kid Joe the ball as Kid Joe rounded third. At that moment Joe took off towards the plate and beat the throw home for inside the park home run. Kid Joe did a great job deking their 2nd baseman to make the score 6-2. Also, to be noted on offense is Alex who had double off the right field fence and then later hit a home run which turned out to be an "out".

     Defensively HATCHETS had many outstanding two out catches that saved runs. In the 5th inning with two out Brandon got dirty diving in to catch a ball saving two runs. Then in the 6th inning, the defensive play of the game, with two outs and tying run at the plate a ball was hit that carried to deep center field Dustin G reached up and made an over the head catch at the warning track keeping the HATCHETS lead at 10-7. Dustin also had a catch early in the game where he dove in to take away a big hit. In the last inning down by 3 runs their big clean-up hitter, who hit their only homerun, hit one hard on the ground to left center Blake (SS) got the grounder and made a nice long throw right on target to nail their big guy at first. Then Darian snagged a hot shot grounder at third for the second out and Blake made a routine play at shortstop for the third and final out. The HATCHETS retired the heart of their lineup in order in the last inning. Finally, a 123 inning without drama where an outstanding catch was not needed to stop a rally.

     Many HATCHETS fans arrived late to the game including HATCHETS scorekeeper, Cory. They will be happy to know only one 6:30 game remains for the regular season. Next week's game against Young Guns. With tonight's victory HATCHETS moved to 7-1.PS. By the way Darian stats for the game might seem off because somehow the HATCHETS skipped him in the line-up on accident in the middle of the game and I guess no one noticed. OOPS

                                                                                                  -Monkey

Monday August 29, 2022

 

     Tonight's HATCHETS game is the type of game that can easily become a trap game for a team used to winning. It had all the ingredients for a possible upset with an early start time on a hot day, with the HATCHETS missing most of their fans, and against a team battling to stay out of the cellar called Workday Plan B. Don't be fooled by their 1-4-1 record because the Workday Plan B team lost by only 1 run in extra innings against the undefeated 1st place team under similar circumstances two weeks ago. Add to the fact the HATCHETS were missing so many players that Muentz had to come out of the stands to play catcher in order for the HATCHETS to have 9 players. HATCHETS without a full squad also had to call upon HATCHETS utility man Chris Ramos, usually playing outfield or catcher, to play first base with the hot sun setting in his face. Despite the HATCHETS missing a lot fans & players and not to mention Cory, HATCHETS scorekeeper, to start the game the HATCHETS did manage to finish the game gutting out a low scoring 13-5 victory.       

      Offensively in the heat the HATCHETS did manage to get a bunch of two out RBI hits to take a 5-2 lead heading into the fourth inning. Then in the later innings HATCHETS started hitting for more power and started to put the game away. Joe had a ball hit the top of the fence that score one run and then later Darian had a triple (Darian had 2 triples on the night) followed by Cameron's two run homerun which turned out to be the only homerun in the game. Blake ended the 6th inning with double coming off the bag for an "out" but managed to score Billy Truelove for the 13th and final run for the HATCHETS heading into the 7th and final inning. It should also be noted Kevin G was the only HATCHETS perfect at the plate tonight going 4 for 4.

      Defensively HATCHETS kept the opposing team to only five runs with only a few defensive mishaps. Early in the game Ramos battling the sun had a couple throws get by him before settling into the game. Late in the game Joe barely missed a ball over his head in the outfield and later had a ball get by him after a diving attempt. However. Kid Joe had the defensive play of the game by throwing out another base runner on the year. A hard low throw home from left field that skipped off the infield that Muentz was able to back hand for an "out". It would not be hyperbole to state that Joe might have the strongest arm in the Monday night upper division league. Despite having just a few misses overall the HATCHETS made the plays in the field. Even with 3 outfielders the defense was solid only allowing 5 runs on the night.

      Shorthanded and without many fans tonight the HATCHETS showed character and won a game they needed to win if they want to be the number 1 seed heading into the playoffs. A game that might be forgotten in the near future but one that still counts and matters. 

                                                            -Monkey

Monday August 22, 2022

 

Tonight, I was not sure if I'd be starting catcher for the HATCHETS and then one minute before game time casually strolling across the diamond with shades on and no glove Young KID Joe made an appearance becoming the HATCHETS 11th player. I gave him my glove and then proudly joined the large HATCHETS crowd in the stands.  What I witness from the stands was another flip flop mercy rule slaughter for the HATCHETS. The game even featured Billy Truelove making an appearance at pitcher throwing two shut down innings to close out the game which included a strikeout on the first batter he faced. The HATCHETS dominated the game with a final score of 26-3.  

Despite being part of a joyous HATCHETS crowd, I did have a tinge of sadness and sympathy for the other team. The opponent, Mambo Kings, had some success in the lower division in the spring season and got the call up to the majors , the upper division this Fall season. With high hopes and optimism Mambo Kings brought out a crowd that rivaled the HATCHETS crowd on opening night to start the Fall season. On opening night most of their fans were wearing the same jersey as the players. However, this is the upper division and reality has settled in for the Mambo Kings. They are now a sub 500 losing team. So by the time the HATCHETS faced them tonight Mambo Kings just had a few fans in the stands with no duplicate jerseys in their crowd. Robert Branco, a HATCHETS fan, noted their crowd did not even cheer on the few runs that they did manage to score in the third inning. I guess you can no longer call them fans, a more accurate description might be eyewitnesses to a massacre.    

Offensively the HATCHETS thrilled the large HATCHET crowd with almost back-to-back- to- back triples. Cameron DeBon started it off with a legitimate triple to right center then Billy Truelove followed that up with a triple of his own, but the ball got loose at third and Billy turned it into a little league homerun. Finally, newcomer to the HATCHETS Alex Zwingle had another shot to right center but mercifully pulled out the parachute and stopped at second for a double. The HATCHETS reached the maximum two home runs tonight.  The first was by Kid Joe who hit a tape measure shot to left center that ended up hitting a car in the parking lot. When he went to retrieve his home run ball it was suggested by the HATCHETS crowd, he bring his ID so he can exchange car insurance information with the owner of the car he hit. While Joe was behind the fence retrieving his home run ball John hit a home run that fell just short of hitting the same car. Perfect timing by John because Joe was able to retrieve both home run balls.     

Defensively for the HATCHETS Darian laid out at third base eating some dirt to get a ground ball and threw from his knees to get the force out at second. Cameron at second base made a nice back hand play up the middle throwing off balance to get the runner at first. Finally, Ricky Schwartz made a nice running catch in center field at his ankles going back on a ball. However, it should be noted after an inspiring game last week Blake Clark had 3 egregious errors at shortstop. The HATCHET crowd turned on him and chided Blake telling him if he keeps it up then next week, he might be sitting next to Muentz in the HATCHETS stands.    

After the win tonight Hatchets are 5-1 in second place. Even though HATCHETS have been steamrolling the competition recently, they still have to wait until the last game of the regular season to get another crack at the first-place team Bush League. 

                                -Monkey

Monday August 15, 2022

 

NO TEAM PUTS MORE BUTTS IN THE STANDS THAN THE PLEASANTON HATCHETS. As Kevin G's post game comments aptly put it "Muentz, Tonight there were more HATCHETS fans than HATCHETS players". A true statement. It was a large jovial crowd with good positive energy even Cory was in a good mood. The HATCHETS helped the crowd stay positive as they rolled almost to their second consecutive mercy rule game. The opponent hit a 2-run homer with the HATCHETS one out away from a 15-run mercy rule victory. However, that home run only delayed the inevitable 22-8 HATCHETS victory, but it also gave HATCHETS player Blake Clarke a unique offensive accomplishment.      Growing up in the 70's going 6 for 6 in a game always made me think of Rennie Stennett of the Pirates and more recently 6 hits accomplished by 2016 Giants SS Brandon Crawford. However now 6 for 6 in a game belongs to HATCHETS player Blake Clarke who accomplished that feat in the final inning tonight. Other Offensive notables are Ricky Schwartz who after a first Abat pop-up went perfect the rest of the night scoring 4 runs. Kevin G has to be noted for his home run that took after the movie "The Natural" and hit the scoreboard.  John who hit the fence most of the night followed up Kevin G's home run with one of his own. I think that is the third time this year Kevin G and John have gone back-to-back homers. Oh, and how about that cycle John Drury hit for....single, double, triple and HR!     

Defensively HATCHETS only gave up 8 runs on the night. A defensive double play that comes to mind for the HATCHETS is Dustin G gunning out a player at home from center field after a catch. Kevin G smartly letting the ball go as Muentz picked the ball up back hand on a hop keeping his foot on the plate. Another nice double play in the game was turned by Darian who caught a hot shot touched third and gunned it to second. Ricky made a nice catch at second on a low throw and thought about throwing to first to attempt an old fashion triple play. In the last inning Young kid Joe also had a nice throw from left to gun a guy out at first base who got a late start out of the box.

Overall, HATCHETS are 4-1 are in second place. Unfortunately, Bush League barely eked out an extra inning 1 run victory tonight to stay in first by one game. 

                                                         -Monkey

Monday August 8, 2022

 

A return to normalcy for the HATCHETS as they coast to easy 17-1 victory. The HATCHETS only needed three innings to score the game winning 17 runs. In fact, a mercy flip flop rule was imposed by the league director who was on hand to witness the one-sided affair. His mercy flip flop rule meant the HATCHETS would not bat in the fourth or fifth inning giving the opponent two innings to try to close the gap below 15 runs. The opponent, Bats Hit Crazy, did manage to score one run in the final inning as Kevin G came within one out of a shutout.  Offensively even though Dustin G and Brandon W made 6 of the HATCHETS 9 outs for the game, two of Brandon's outs were productive fly outs to the warning track scoring runners from third. Brandon also ran for Muentz 3 times. Muentz, who got some playing time, was 3 for 3 with line drive hits to each field. In fact, it is safe to assume that at least 7 or 8 HATCHETS in the line-up had at least 3 hits on the night. Surprisingly no home runs were hit by the HATCHETS but on this night, none were needed.    Defensively on the night HATCHETS turned a couple nice double plays. In the first inning Darian third to home double play and then late in the game Kevin G caught a hard-hit ball and turned it into an easy second to first double play. Brandon Ward ended the night making a nice running in catch at his shoelaces for the final out of the night.     

Special thanks to Darian's dad who kept book for the entire game and this time even keeping track of RBI's making Cory's appearance completely superfluous with the game already over. Next week's game will be against the HATCHETS Spring's playoff victim CC-24 Wicked Cajones. 

                                                                   -Monkey

Monday August 1, 2022 

 

It started out as a low scoring game without much energy from either team. Unfortunately, not a playoff atmosphere type of game. Bush league best defensive player was probably their pitcher who had no walks but kept throwing deep and high to every hitter inducing a lot of fly outs to their outfielders especially early on.  As the game went on HATCHETS did start laying off those early bad pitches and heading into the fourth inning the HATCHETS had tenuous 4-3 lead but then uncharacteristically Bush League had a power surge in the middle of the game with three home runs including one by a new lefty who almost hit the lights in right field which allowed them to take a 15-5 lead. HATCHETS did not throw in the towel but mounted a mini comeback finally losing 15-11.       

After the HATCHETS championship loss, the general feeling was Bush league was just some team with average players who won a one in a million-lottery chance to win the championship by 1 run and even though HATCHETS did not have their best game offensively or defensively tonight Bush League deserves some credit for winning. Bush League even had a Home run for an "OUT" something the HATCHETS regularly do.  It is obvious after the championship game Bush League now has newfound confidence that they can compete with us. Even with the loss the HATCHETS still understand regular season is important, but the ultimate goal is to win the championship sweatshirt and make sure Bush League only gets an ugly orange t-shirt for 2022. HATCHETS will face them again last game of the regular season. 

                                   -Monkey

Monday July 25, 2022

  

After last week's back and forth affair this week the HATCHETS took control of the game early and put forth a solid effort in week 2. No drama needed. Early on it was a game of home runs with Kevin G hitting a 3-run shot in the 1st inning and John D following that up with a 2-run shot in the 2nd inning. The Young Guns did answer with a 3-run shot homer of their own in the third inning to make the score 6-3 the closest they would come to the HATCHETS. Then the HATCHETS put on exhibition of line drive hitting. Billy Truelove (4 for 4) hit line shot to right field to plate two HATCHETS. Cameron almost took off their third baseman's foot on one of many line drives that Cameron hit on the night. Speaking of opposing players nearly losing body parts, Alex Z nearly took the pitchers head a couple times with some serious velocity off the bat! Dustin G and Darian B also joined in on the hit parade with at least 3 hits on the night. Ramos also contributed a couple of hits late in the game.              

      HATCHETS played some defense in week 2. Led by Darian who seem to have a putout in every inning ( no mistakes. He was locked in). Blake also turned a remarkable double play on their fast left-handed number 2 hitter. Also, a big defensive play was Kevin G strikeout for the third out with men in scoring position in the first inning. Then of course the young kid Joe put on another defensive show again. That guy is an exciting young player that gives the HATCHET fans some excitement. First, he laid out to make a diving catch that robbed the oldest player in the league of a hit. Then a deep fly ball to left fans got entertained with a laser throw from Joe in the air to Quinn at home that almost arrived in time for a tag out. The HATCHETS solid defense and offense resulted in an easy 17-5 victory 

   HATCHETS starting out 2-0 are doing their best to erase from their memory that fluky one run loss in the championship. A good segue for next week's game against Bush League. Bush League may own an ugly orange championship t-shirt, but Hatchets will definitely be gunning for the coveted Fall Sweatshirt. Hatchets owe that team some payback. Should be a good one. 

                      -Monkey

Monday July 18, 2022

HATCHETS start the new Summer/Fall league with a victory!

For some of us, aka me, took a few innings, 7 to be exact, to show that I need more reps! First game of the season was against an old teammate, Giovanni Remmen and the Jack Wagons. These guys know how to play us. They made our games last season close and they took us to the brink last night too!

Not to be outdone, the HATCHETS held it down very nicely (except me)! One play that sticks out in my mind was my guy on the corner...Darian Benge scooped up a laser with runners on 1st and 2nd, stepped on third and gunned down a nimble, young fast guy! That pretty much defines the league, nimble and fast and young guys. Man I'm getting old! Anyway, Cameron DeBon made a couple real nice grabs at 2nd base AND sent one about 320ft with a runner on! Cameron led the night for RBI's with 4! Dustin and Joseph made nice plays in LCF and RCF, unfortunately the guy in LF did not! This Alex Zwingle guy just shows up out of nowhere and makes some plays in RF and goes 3-3 at the plate! Damn, think I need to add him to the roster! Kevin G on the mound pitched a gem (except the pitches that sent balls to LF that were totally uncatchable!) Kev not only pitched a gem he jacked a 301ft homer! Maybe 305ft. John and Blake also getting it done in the field and at the plate....whoa, John, 4-4.....shooting for that batting title this season??? My man Ricky Schwartz came out to help out the HATCHETS since being down a few key guys! 

         -BRT

 

Bring on the Summer League season! 

After an outstanding Spring season, going 10-0 and then losing a heartbreaker in the Playoff Championship game, the HATCHETS are anxious for redemption! 

Check out the SCHEDULE tab for game times and hopefully we'll see you at the ballpark! 

         - HATCHET FRONT OFFICE

- Spring 2022 Team Write-ups -

A tough day. My day begins with me just missing catching catalytic converter thieves barely at 3:45am. My day ended tied going into the last inning of the softball championship. They scored one run we had a runner tagged out at third to end the game scoring zero losing 17-16 at 10pm. We had never lost this year heading into the championship. The funny thing is, the team we beat in the playoffs 19-3 mercy rule them with 30 minutes left on the clock ,on paper were better than the team we lost to in the championship. They brought a few tournament players and said we could only use aluminum bats. We killed them. I was 3 for 3 in the playoffs with 3 RBIs. However in my last at bat I had single up the middle with the bases loaded and our runner who either got injured or was dogging it got thrown out at third on a force out by their center fielder.  

We won so fast in our playoff game that the softball fields had to start the championship game 15 minutes early. We fell behind 16-5 in the championship game because we had to go back to using the normal bats again. It took some time to re-adjust but we came back and tied it up 16-16 heading into the last inning. Only to lose by 1 run in the last inning. A tough day. A day of near misses. 

-Monkey

6/13/22

Heading into the final game of the regular season there was a question if the game would even be played with game 5 of Warriors NBA finals on at the same time. However, the opponent, Cc-24 wicked Cajones, needs to win one more game to qualify for the playoffs so they showed up with four subs including a woman in left field. They were hoping to steal a win so they would qualify for the playoffs and make their next week's regular season game meaningless. Early on things were looking good for them as they broke out to a 3-0 lead. However, the Hatchets answered their lead with a huge inning scoring double digit runs in one inning. The scoring was capped off with back to back home runs, a Kevin G grand slam followed by a solo shot by John.   

Offensively Hatchets did well with every batter getting 5 abats. Kevin G was a triple shy of the cycle ended up going 4 for 5 with 2 singles, a double, and a grand slam. Mile Quinn had the only perfect 5 for 5 night spraying the ball all over the field even hustling out a double on a hit to left field. Also running hard on the base paths were Blake and Darian who hustled around the base paths to each get triples. Even though box score might not show it but John had 3 home runs with only one of them counting.    

Despite the big run scoring inning early in the game the Hatchets did have to hold on late to win 20-16 to end the season with a perfect 10-0 record . cc-24 Wicked Cajones were planning to make a third out before time ran out in the 6th inning because they wanted the heart of their line-up to come up in the last inning to try to tie or win down by just a few runs. In the last inning their leadoff hitter flew out to Dustin at the fence however their second guy got on and then The Hatchet defensive play of the night happened on the next batter. Their shortstop turned on a ball perfectly hitting hit 150mph down the line. Darian speared it at head level to record the second out. Instead of 2nd and 3rd one out the Hatchets were instead one out from victory. In disgust their shortstop summed it up perfectly stating " the hardest ball hit all night and that is how the game ends". He was correct because the next batter flew out to Joe at the fence in right center for the final out. Even though the Hatchets were undefeated in the regular season they know the playoffs can be a whole different animal that they will need to be prepared against. Nothing is guaranteed. Even last year in 2021 this same league the #3 and #4 ranked teams upset the two leaders in the playoffs to meet in the championship. The Hatchets as the 4 seed put it all together to upset the 1 seed in the first round of the playoffs most of them were so upset at the end of the playoff game, they refused to shake the Hatchets hands at the end of the game. (Later the #1 seed players explained they did not shake "The Hatchets" hands at the end of the game because of Covid?) Hatchets went on to win the 2021 championship 20-17. The Hatchets are hoping to repeat as the playoff champs in two weeks. 

                                                                     

 -Monkey

6/6/22

At game time the HATCHETS were missing their starting shortstop and their starting scorekeeper, however despite the missing guys the HATCHETS still manage to win their 14th game in a row defeating the second-place upper division D team, Bush League, 12- 9 to stay undefeated on the year.        

Defensively the HATCHETS did struggle in the outfield tracking some fly balls which cost them some runs on defense. However, the young kid Joe in right field made up for the sub-par outfield play by making some catches and by showing off the arm in right field. A Bush league runner thought he would easily take third on a base hit to right until Joe fired a laser to third. Upon seeing the great throw, the runner just put his head down and gave himself up 30 feet in front of the bag. Gone. The arm was shades of Milton Bradley or Jose Guillen in right field. Joe's defense made up for his two base running miscues. Both calls I felt were sketch. Umpires claimed he made a move to second even though you are allowed to turn inside the first base line as long as you do not make a definite move towards second. The early tag-up from second was also questionable. On defense it should also be noted that Mike Quinn filling in at shortstop flashed the leather making a few nice plays on the night including knocking the ball down to get the force at second on a few occasions.      

Offensively there are two at bats that come to mind for the HATCHETS. First the mammoth home run hit by John, a two-run shot that landed on top of the tree and almost came down on a jogger in left center. The other big hit was Mike Quinn two out bases loaded clearing double that scored three runs. Otherwise solid base hitting by the team throughout the game.       

So far, the 2022 HATCHETS are well run organization. Every game has had a full squad of at least 10 guys. Not to mention the team has its own website and scorekeeper, large crowds, and most importantly an undefeated season in the top upper division league on Monday nights. HATCHETS have already clinched the #1 seeding for the playoffs. The HATCHETS are trying to achieve the perfect season and have just one more regular season game before the playoffs begin.          

                        -Monkey 

5/23/22

HATCHETS get back to their winning ways after the BYE week. Punched-out the Jack Wagons by a score of 16-12. HATCHETS will enjoy the Memorial Day off and then get back after it June 6th!