Dude, Where's My Softball Opponent?

With Macy's apparently caught up in preparations for their upcoming Memorial Day White Sale, the Bad News was left to while away their evening in Central Park, sans opponent. As dusk approached, and word spread that Macy's was one of five teams erroneously arguing for the right to play at the Coleman Oval, victory by way of forfeit was awarded to the Bad News.

Much thanks to everyone who went out of their way to make it to the field for this one -- especially Danny, Eric and Val -- without you guys, the Bad News would have been perilously close to playing shorthanded. Though that was admittedly less pertinent after Macy's failed to deliver so much as a shipping clerk to Central Park. Players of the game recognition goes to Nicole Chantharaj and Kevin Ma for delivering a fully-staffed team, and equipment, to the correct field for game time.

Next game: The Bad News is off Memorial Day week, but mark down Tuesday, June 5, 7:10 p.m. -- that's when the Ball Field Battle of the Media Titans hits Coleman Oval, with SourceMedia's Bad News taking on a squad from the New York Daily News.

Hammers Game Rained Out

Tonight's game is off. You can blame it on the (non-existant) rain. I'm going to blame it on the Commish for calling this one a bit too early.



Next game: Tuesday, May 22, 7:10 p.m.
The Bad News makes its Central Park debut, taking on Macy's, at Heckscher Ballfield #2.

Bad News Skeleton Crew Hangs On

Fielding a slightly ragtag lineup, the Bad News held on to defeat annual nemesis the Screaming Yaks in a 4-3 thriller.

Ringer Jason Bergen and Pat O’Leary contributed much-needed offense throughout the game for the depleted Bad News attack. Bergen went 2 for 3 and scored a trio of runs; while O’Leary recorded 3 RBIs and scored a run of his own to cap off a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate. Chrissy Korney had the game’s fourth RBI, contributing what would later prove to be a key hit with two outs and a runner on in the first inning.

In the late innings of the game, sub Steve Sarris contributed a nice hit and also made a key defensive stop with a pair of Yaks on the Pond. Defensively, the Sisters Korney kept the middle infield on lockdown, with Alicia Korney using every bit of her amazing 3-inch vertical to time a jump perfectly and snare a screaming line drive, ending the game and a Yaks rally that was getting out of hand.

Celebrating the victory at Jeremy’s Ale House that same evening, Colleen and new Bad News fan Ken helped squash a dominant Yaks’ lineup, one that still harbored dreams of an undefeated season -- at least when it came to the Battlefield of Flip Cup.



Next game: Same time, same place. Friday, May 18, 6 p.m.
The Bad News take on the Hammers, at the Coleman Oval.
Celebration -- hopefully -- to follow the game at Jeremy's.

Bad News 4 - Screaming Yaks 3

Game 2 Box Score
5/11/2007

TEAM    1  2  3  4  5  6  7   FINAL
SY      0  0  0  0  1  1  1   3
SM      2  0  1  0  1  0  X   4

PLAYER            AB  R  H  RBI  BB   AVG
9  T Falvey RF     3  0  1   0   0   .286
SB J Bergen LF     3  3  2   0   0   .667
1  A Korney SS     3  0  2   0   0   .429
21 P O'Leary P     3  1  3   3   0   .833
4  C Korney 2B     3  0  1   1   0   .333
20 R Chiriboga 1B  3  0  1   0   0   .250
8  C O'Connor C    3  0  1   0   0   .333
SB S Sarris 3B     3  0  1   0   0   .333
6  A Knights LCF   3  0  0   0   0   .000
SB J Patel CF      3  0  0   0   0   .000
 
2B - J Bergen (1)

Newbies Prove Playground Mettle

After a slow start in the first inning, when the top of the Bad News’ order could only put a solo run up on the board, the bottom of the order made its presence felt in the second inning. Five straight players scored that inning, a feat that the top of the order would eventually match during the fourth inning. It’s quite likely that never before had the Coleman Oval seen such a balanced attack.

Rookies Sandy Carvalho and Damian Nash contributed in a big way, creating a triumvirate of heavy hitters along with veteran Danny D’Amico -- all leading the team with three hits apiece. And not to be outdone when it comes to OBP, Doris Dastas (3 walks) and Frank Stingone (2 walks) showed impressive patience and impatience, respectively, at the plate.

But the night might have belonged to Patrick O’Leary, making his Bad News pitching debut. Of the 15 outs allotted to Silver Lining, the team made feeble contact more often than not, and the Bad News defense was left to observe as O’Leary cleanly fielded all of his chances. Defensive Gem of the Nite goes to Art Glavas, who made a heads-up play in the late innings -- throwing a strike from centerfield to first -- recording a key out in the process and squashing a potential twilight comeback by a demoralized opponent.

And thus, Silver Lining was left … well, looking for a silver lining.



Next game: Friday, May 11, 6 p.m.
The Screaming Yaks take on the Bad News, at the Coleman Oval.

Bad News 15 - Silver Lining 2 (5 Innings)

Game 1 Box Score
5/8/2007

TEAM    1  2  3  4  5  6  7   FINAL
SM      1  5  1  6  2  X  X   15
SL      0  1  0  0  1  X  X   2

PLAYER             AB  R  H  RBI  BB   AVG
9  T Falvey RF      4  1  1   2   0   .250
7  D D'Amico 1B     4  2  3   1   0   .750
1  A Korney 3B      4  1  1   3   0   .250
21 P O'Leary P      3  1  2   2   0   .667
3  L Gold C         3  1  1   1   0   .333
12 F Stingone LF    1  2  1   0   2  1.000
2  S Carvalho LCF   3  1  3   0   0  1.000
15 D Nash CF        3  2  3   2   0  1.000
10 N Chantharaj 2B  2  2  1   1   1   .500
14 F Finstead SS    2  1  2   1   0  1.000
20  R Chiriboga SS  1  0  0   0   0   .000
5  D Dastas DH      0  1  0   0   3    ---
18  A Glavas DH-CF  3  0  1   1   0   .333

2B - D D'Amico (1); A Korney (1); P O'Leary (1); 
L Gold (1); F Finstad (1); D Nash (1)