CUBS "BEAR-LY" CLAW PAST CANNONS
W. H. Battles But Can't Break Out Against Second-Place Manchester
West Hartford, CT (AP)--Another CNMSBL Sunday came to a close and the Cannons suffered the same cruel fate that has befallen them each weekend since late May. Compete at the highest level the league has to offer. Challenge any and all takers throughout Connecticut, from Marlborough to Manchester. Command the all-out attention of the A Division's old guard. Come up empty in the end, this time dropping a pair to the Baby Bears, 9-6 and 4-2 at cozy Cannon Yards. True, wins and losses aren't everything, especially since it has been common practice for opposing skippers to praise West Hartford's play, wondering how a team this talented has only tallied one win. As all baseball fans know, a regular-season championship means little: it's the post-season that matters most (just ask the New Haven Cardinals). But the Cannons are still searching for that season-defining moment--that clutch rip, run-saving grab or rally-ending strike out against an opponent--that puts the team over the top and turns the 2006 tide in their favor. "It's tough to talk about the same things week after week," Manager Matt Celio told members of the media during his post-game press conference. "When you are short-handed [the Cannons were without pitchers Mike Patenaude and Mike Calabrese, shortstop Tom Luby, outfielder Brian Pinney and injured catcher Mark Lynch; free agent acquisition John Giudice missed a connecting flight from Raleigh, NC rendering him ineligible for the remainder of the season and the playoffs] and you still play a 10-4 team tight over the course of two ball games you've certainly got some special ingredients. I'll say it again: we're a very solid ball club and it's just a matter of time before we find the right mix. It's time to get cooking."
The Cannons returned home after more than a month and trotted Troy Barber to the mound in the opener. It was Barber's first start for West Hartford since June, 2004 against Griswold (the thirty-four year old has been used in spot relief this season behind Patenaude, Poland and Calabrese) and the right-hander showed signs of rust, immediately running into trouble after allowing singles to Eddie Harris and Red Moulin and then surrendering a three-run homer to Richard "Don't Mean Nothing" Marks on an 0-2 knuckleball that stayed up in the strike zone. Leif Ericson followed with a single and later scored on a passed ball and before the Cannons could blink they were down 4-0 heading into the home half of the first, a tall order for a team that has struggled with the sticks this season. West Hartford loaded the bases in the first frame against Ericson on singles by Ed Poland and Leo Dionicio and a Chris Barsa hit-by-pitch but the big blast wasn't there and the Cannons offense remained quiet until late in the game. The Cubs on the other hand added single runs in the second and third and two more in the fifth to take a commanding 8-0 lead against Barber (0-1). "It's frustrating," pronounced a bewildered Barber (5 IP, 8 R, 8 ER, 13 H, 1 K, 5 BB) after the game. "We've got a great staff here and I want to do my part. You just keep working hard and wait for a chance to take the hill. You're presented with an opportunity, you mentally and physically prepare for your performance all week and things go poorly from the get-go. I felt good out there and I felt like I was hitting my spots but as [Assistant Manager Mike] Weber said, 'So were they.' Plain and simple, I didn't get the job done today." It would have been easy for the Cannons to quit but the offense showed signs of life late behind the big bat of Jason Maule. Andy Borst used his wheels to work an infield base hit and Maule put West Hartford on the scoreboard with a two-run rocket into the left field grandstands. Poland worked a walk, stole second and scored on a Dionicio single as the Cannons cut the lead to 8-3 with two to play. In the sixth, Mike McGann singled and Borst beat out another base hit setting the stage for more firepower from Maule. The twenty-eight year old center fielder smashed his second homer in as many innings, a towering three-run shot to left, and West Hartford was only down a deuce after spotting Manchester an early snowman. Weber reached on an error by Cubs' Manager Mike Kakalow at short and Poland was hit by a pitch but Dionicio's deep drive to left-center dropped harmlessly for an out at the warning track to end the threat. The Cubs added an insurance run off of reliever Steve Markie (2 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 1 HBP) in the seventh and the Cannons went down in order to end Game One, a 9-6 loss for the hometown team.
With Poland pitching Game Two, the Cannons were confident that they could challenge the Cubs, securing a split. The thirty-one year old righty, pitching for his third straight Sunday, started strong and was able to hold Manchester scoreless over the first two innings while scattering three singles. In the home half of the first, West Hartford worked a runner into scoring position in the form of Kevin McGann but a 1-6-3 double play got pitcher Eddie Murphy out of the potential jam. In the top of the third, the left-handed hitting Murphy stuck out his bat against Poland a deposited a 308 foot just-fair fly ball over the right field fence for a 1-0 Cubs lead. Manchester struck for three additional runs in the fourth on a lead-off homer from Adolf Verboven, a wild pitch that scored Ericson who had reached on an error and a Jay Riehl RBI single. Poland (0-3) continued a troubling trend of being beaten by one bad inning--he allowed all three of his runs in the fourth frame against Newington last Sunday and took a tie into the seventh against Hartford at Cannon Yards on Father's Day but gave up five runs in the sweltering heat and humidity before being removed--even as the Cannons defense dug down to help him end the Cubs rally. Dionicio, playing shortstop in place of the vacationing Luby--in classic fashion Leo constantly questioned "Luby who?"--dove to his right to smother a sharply hit Brooks Dunne grounder and fired home from his knees for the second out of the inning to keep West Hartford close, down by only four. NESN's Tina Cervasio talked to the "Dominican Dreamboat" during the home half of the fourth, asking him specifically about his defensive play: "I'll suck up any balls that come my way. And there's nobody better on his knees than me," Dionicio replied. Perhaps something was lost in translation. West Hartford's offense provided another late spark when K. McGann led off the sixth with a single and Poland followed with a base hit. Dionicio hit a dribbler but legged out an infield hit (his third single of the day and third multi-hit Sunday in a row, showing why he was a Triple Crown candidate during the 2005 campaign) to load the bases. Celio had a one-out sacrifice fly to right that scored Poland but the Cannons could not muster any more runs and found themselves down 4-2 going into the seventh. Poland (7 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 7 H, 5 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP) kept West Hartford within striking distance, allowing only a two-out single to Kakalow and gave Dionicio another chance to be the hero. In the home half of the seventh, K. McGann reached on a fielder's choice and Poland followed with a ground ball to third that was flubbed by Dunne. The "Gringo from Santo Domingo," perhaps remembering his missed opportunity in Game One, swung for the fences on a ball low and out of the strike zone and then grounded to short to put the finishing touches on the Cubs season sweep with a 4-2 victory.
The losing streak has reached ten but it hasn't yet taken its toll on the Cannons' confidence. Expectations are still high as the team prepares to play the first-place Monaco Ford Marlins (13-3) on Sunday at Glastonbury. Ancient Roman generals were expected to have three defining qualities: they were to be young, brave and fortunate. Surely the team from West Hartford is youthful--both in age and A Division experience--and at times they have shown signs of the bravura or the "Cannon-style" that made them the pre-season favorite to win the 2006 CNMSBL Championship. At the moment, fortune has yet to fully smile down upon this team but the season is far from over. An old Italian proverb states that fortune and misfortune are two buckets in the same well, while Latin poet Claudian wrote, "Fortune sides with the bold." The start to the season has been a series of unfortunate events, Lemony Snicket lovers. But there is much more baseball to be played. Be bold, pull up that lucky bucket and the Cannons still might shock the world. This weekend's games at Glastonbury--West Hartford's first trip to town as members of the A Division--are sold out (the Cannons advanced out of the Glastonbury Regional in the 2005 B Division playoffs on their way to the title).
Cannons News and Notes: Maule has fourteen hits on the season, seven of them for extra bases (four doubles, three home runs) and is the team leader in ten of thirteen offensive categories; Dionicio and Poland are tied for second on the team with nine hits each; with two hits on Sunday, Borst raised his average from .154 to .211...he now has 76 hits for his regular-season career; with sixteen more hits on Sunday, the team batting average rose nine points from .225 to .234; West Hartford scores an average of 2.58 runs per game (3.67 at home to 1.5 on the road); the Cannons surrender an average of 4.83 runs per contest (5.33 at home to 4.33 on the road); nine of fifteen Cannons are eligible for post-season play (Barsa, Borst, Dionicio, Luby, Maule, K. McGann, M. McGann, Poland and Weber)...Barber, Calabrese, Celio and Patenaude can join them this weekend; Italian-Fest 2006 is scheduled for Friday, August 4 starting at 6:00 p.m.; original Cannon John Mancini married long-time girlfriend Kelley Whitaker this past Saturday in West Hartford.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Friday, July 21, 2006
THE JUICE TO GET LOOSE
Cannons Acquire Free Agent John "Juice" Giudice For Stretch Run
West Hartford, CT (AP)--Not since a white Ford Bronco driven by A.C. Cowlings ambled along the California freeways back in June of 1994 has there been such a frenzy and fanfare surrounding someone nicknamed "Juice." In an unprecedented trade deadline move at 2:00 p.m. (EST) on Friday, the West Hartford Cannons signed John "Juice" Giudice to a one-year deal with an option for the 2007 season. With eight games remaining--44% of the team's eighteen game schedule--the Cannons will have Giudice for this weekend's contests against the Manchester Cubs and the slugger will be available for postseason play if he participates in each game over the following four Sundays. "[Assistant Manager Mike] Weber really worked for this one," Manager Matt Celio told reporters outside of the team's practice facility earlier this afternoon. "We've been interested in signing Johnny for quite some time and it even looked as if we might have him locked up at the start of the year but unfortunately talks stalled. We remained optimistic that a deal could get done and it couldn't have happened at a better time for us." Giudice is represented by super-agent John "Boras" DeMorais who insisted on getting top dollar for his client, even if it meant sitting out the early portion of this season. In a prepared statement, DeMorais said, "I know the Cannons have a lot of high-priced talent locked up in long-term deals but I just wanted to make sure that John got fair market value for his services. We're both very pleased with the Cannons final offer. This is where JG wanted to play and he is ready to go." At Cannons World Headquarters Weber added, "I'm excited to have John in Cannons red. To sign a player of this caliber helps us tremendously, especially on offense. He's a confident player, the consummate teammate and he can only make those around him better. His on- and off-field attitude is just the shot in the arm the Cannons need. We look forward to having him in uniform this weekend."
Giudice, thirty-five, played his college ball at Eastern Connecticut State University where he was part of the 1990 National Championship team. After graduating in 1993, Giudice was drafted as an outfielder by the Colorado Rockies in the 20th round (576th overall) of the Major League draft. Giudice compiled a .273 average with seventy-one extra base hits--forty-two doubles, four triples and twenty-five home runs--in two seasons of Minor League ball (he spent part of the 1996 campaign and all of the 1997 season with the New Haven Ravens of the Eastern League) and played several seasons for the Bridgeport Bluefish before turning his full attentions to the Connecticut North Men's Senior Baseball League and the Cannons. Giudice spoke briefly with reporters outside of his Berlin, CT home: "I'm just happy and relieved to get this deal done. I've been itching to play and I think that the Cannons have some great young talent to compliment solid veteran leadership. This is an ideal fit for me and I just hope I can contribute starting this Sunday."
So members of Cannon Nation, be prepared to get juiced...and you won't need Victor Conte or even Ron Popeil to do it. The time has come for West Hartford to put the squeeze on the CNMSBL A Division. Single-seat tickets are still available for the Sunday, July 23 games against Manchester at Cannon Yards (10:00 a.m.) and can be purchased by phone at 1-800 CANNONS or by e-mail at whcannons.blogspot.com.
Cannons Acquire Free Agent John "Juice" Giudice For Stretch Run
West Hartford, CT (AP)--Not since a white Ford Bronco driven by A.C. Cowlings ambled along the California freeways back in June of 1994 has there been such a frenzy and fanfare surrounding someone nicknamed "Juice." In an unprecedented trade deadline move at 2:00 p.m. (EST) on Friday, the West Hartford Cannons signed John "Juice" Giudice to a one-year deal with an option for the 2007 season. With eight games remaining--44% of the team's eighteen game schedule--the Cannons will have Giudice for this weekend's contests against the Manchester Cubs and the slugger will be available for postseason play if he participates in each game over the following four Sundays. "[Assistant Manager Mike] Weber really worked for this one," Manager Matt Celio told reporters outside of the team's practice facility earlier this afternoon. "We've been interested in signing Johnny for quite some time and it even looked as if we might have him locked up at the start of the year but unfortunately talks stalled. We remained optimistic that a deal could get done and it couldn't have happened at a better time for us." Giudice is represented by super-agent John "Boras" DeMorais who insisted on getting top dollar for his client, even if it meant sitting out the early portion of this season. In a prepared statement, DeMorais said, "I know the Cannons have a lot of high-priced talent locked up in long-term deals but I just wanted to make sure that John got fair market value for his services. We're both very pleased with the Cannons final offer. This is where JG wanted to play and he is ready to go." At Cannons World Headquarters Weber added, "I'm excited to have John in Cannons red. To sign a player of this caliber helps us tremendously, especially on offense. He's a confident player, the consummate teammate and he can only make those around him better. His on- and off-field attitude is just the shot in the arm the Cannons need. We look forward to having him in uniform this weekend."
Giudice, thirty-five, played his college ball at Eastern Connecticut State University where he was part of the 1990 National Championship team. After graduating in 1993, Giudice was drafted as an outfielder by the Colorado Rockies in the 20th round (576th overall) of the Major League draft. Giudice compiled a .273 average with seventy-one extra base hits--forty-two doubles, four triples and twenty-five home runs--in two seasons of Minor League ball (he spent part of the 1996 campaign and all of the 1997 season with the New Haven Ravens of the Eastern League) and played several seasons for the Bridgeport Bluefish before turning his full attentions to the Connecticut North Men's Senior Baseball League and the Cannons. Giudice spoke briefly with reporters outside of his Berlin, CT home: "I'm just happy and relieved to get this deal done. I've been itching to play and I think that the Cannons have some great young talent to compliment solid veteran leadership. This is an ideal fit for me and I just hope I can contribute starting this Sunday."
So members of Cannon Nation, be prepared to get juiced...and you won't need Victor Conte or even Ron Popeil to do it. The time has come for West Hartford to put the squeeze on the CNMSBL A Division. Single-seat tickets are still available for the Sunday, July 23 games against Manchester at Cannon Yards (10:00 a.m.) and can be purchased by phone at 1-800 CANNONS or by e-mail at whcannons.blogspot.com.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
CAPS POP CANNONS
West Hartford's Heartbreak Continues, Losing Streak Stretches to Eight
Rocky Hill, CT (AP)--The world of physics dictates that a Cannon packs more firepower than a Cap: bigger, "badder" and with more bang for the buck the awesome artillery assembled against a harmless child's plaything would prove to be a contest in futility, a sheer matter of superior firepower. Unfortunately physics and the field of play are two very different places and although the West Hartford Cannons once again flirted with victory in their inaugural A Division campaign in the end it was the Newington Caps who had just enough to eke by, sweeping Sunday's double header by scores of 3-1 and 6-4 at jam-packed Rocky Hill Stadium. Unquestionably the Cannons can compete at this high level of play but there is a chasm between being competitive and being champions that needs to be bridged before West Hartford rediscovers it winning ways. "We are as good or better than every team in this league," Manager Matt Celio intoned in his post-game press conference. "It's hard to explain why we can't get over the top. I do know that this is the best group of guys that we've ever run out there in terms of talent. It's just a matter of time before we put all of the pieces together and start winning ball games. Unfortunately moral victories don't help us any in the standings. Being that it's almost August, I think the time is right for this team, myself included, to ante up and kick in like men. It's time to show our true character and strength of heart out there on the diamond over the next month and a half." Interesting that Celio invoked images of the film Glory as he closed his comments while third baseman Leo "Cerrano" Dionicio conjured memories of Major League as he spoke to reporters outside of the Cannons locker room. "Would we rather be 9-1 right now and not win the title or 1-9 and win it all? So, I guess there's only one thing to do. Win the whole f***ing thing." Glory be, confidence remains high among Cannons players and if karma follows suit perhaps West Hartford is on the verge of a major turnaround. Up your butt, Jobu!
Things started well for the Cannons as they were able to take an early Game One lead against the Capitals on a RBI single by Tom Luby that scored Cannons Rookie of the Year--and Most Valuable Cannon--candidate Jason Maule who for the third straight game scored in the first frame, this time after a single and two stolen bases from the twenty-eight year old phenom. West Hartford persistently applied pressure, loading the bases after the Luby single by adding an infield hit from Mike Weber and a Chris "Zinedine Zidane" Barsa walk, but Newington ace Willie Mays Hayes was able to wiggle out of the jam with an inning-ending strike out (one of thirteen he racked up during the opening contest) to keep things close. Ed Poland pitched for the Cannons and was up to the task, dominating through the first three frames, allowing only a walk and a hit batter to reach base while the Cannons offense continued to challenge the Caps starter, putting runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings. But Hayes struck out five more batters--seven over that same three-inning span--and settled into a comfortable groove over the next several innings. In the home half of the fourth myriad miscues preyed on Poland (0-2). Lead-off hitter Gross Pelletier walked after working the count full and stole second base. Suckmy Corkum followed with a ground ball to third that Dionicio fielded cleanly and though his throw to first pulled Barsa off the bag the runner was clearly tagged as he passed. However both umpires missed the call and it immediately came back to haunt the Cannons' right-hander. After a passed ball, Hayes had a RBI base hit and Dave Klingerman slapped a seeing-eye single under the outstretched glove of a diving Luby and the pulled in infield. What had been a one-run lead quickly turned into a two-run deficit. Poland (6 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 6 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP) was all but perfect over the final two frames, surrendering a harmless hit in the sixth but Hayes had the Cannons number on this day (Maule reached on a error in the seventh representing the only West Hartford base runner from the fourth inning forward) as the Caps defeated the Cannons 3-1--the sixth time in nine games that West Hartford's offense was able to manage only a single run against an opponent.
Game Two found staff stalwart Mike Patenaude on the mound for the Cannons against James L. Brooks and the Caps. Although the Cannons lefty was adequate on Sunday he uncharacteristically allowed hits--albeit few of them hard--in five of the six innings he hurled, staking Newington to a five-run lead through three. West Hartford's offense finally awoke and worked Brooks for three runs in the fourth as Barsa singled home Poland (who had a one-out base hit), Steve Markie drove in Luby (who had walked) and Mike McGann took ball four with the bases loaded, scoring Barsa and chasing the Newington starter. The Cannons added a run in the fifth when Poland singled home the speedy Maule and the team threatened to tie things as they loaded the bases with two down but the Caps brilliantly brought back Game One starter Hayes who had baffled the Cannons batters earlier and he was able to induce an infield pop to ruin the rally. Patenaude (6 IP, 6 R, 4 ER, 14 H, 2 K, 1 HBP) settled down in the middle innings, relinquishing a Rondell White base hit in the fourth, but an error and two singles in the sixth gave the Caps a much-needed insurance run against the veteran pitcher (M. McGann's perfect throw to Markie from right field cut down Mike Karp at the plate keeping West Hartford within striking distance, down just two). Hayes came back and worked a perfect seventh for the save securing Newington's second win this time by a score a 6-4 as Patenaude (0-4) lost yet again by two runs or fewer (along with Sunday's setback, in five starts the fifty year old has a no decision and has lost contests by scores of 2-1 and 3-1). Patenaude, who also went 1-3 at the plate with a third inning single to left, candidly conversed with members of the media after the game: "I wasn't at my best today. I was a bit rusty early on when they scored some runs but that's what happens when you take a month off in the middle of the season [referring to the team's twenty-seven day lay-off due to rain, Independence Day and a league scheduled bye]. I was happy with our offense as we had some good runs over a couple of innings but it wasn't quite enough to get us a win."
The team from West Hartford heads home to Cannon Yards for a twin bill against the Manchester Cubs (8-4) who handed the Cannons a pair of tough 2-1 losses back on May 21 starting the eight-game losing streak. "We are in a new league and it's encouraging that we have been competitive in each of the games but at some point we have to stop simply being competitive and start winning some ball games," Assistant Manager Weber articulated on his weekly radio program, Web Wrap. "It will feel good to be home again. Hopefully we'll have the fan support and all of Cannon Nation will rally behind us. I know it has to be as tough for them to endure as it has been for us out there on the diamond but hopefully we can throw some Ws up there, close out the regular season strong and light a fuse in the playoffs." Can the Cannons start playing at a Major League level? Will this season end with the glory that players and fans of West Hartford Cannons Baseball have come to expect? The bridge between being competitive and building an A Division CNMSBL champion is currently under construction and hopefully these Cannons will toil and complete the task before it's too late. Tickets for the Sunday, July 23 (10:00 a.m.) contests against the Cubs are available at 1-800 CANNONS or at whcannons.blogspot.com.
Cannons News and Notes: Weber's hit in Game One gives him 92 for his regular-season career and puts him on pace to become just the second Cannon to pass the century plateau (Celio leads the team with 104 lifetime hits; Luby is third with 87); Markie (.375), Maule (.370) and Poland (.300) are the only Cannon regulars with batting averages at or above .300 this season; Markie and Maule are the two West Hartford players without a strike out in 2006; with his double in the second inning of the opening game, Maule now has five of the team's eleven extra base hits (four doubles and a home run for a team-best 1.044 OPS); K. McGann had his first two-hit Sunday of the season against Newington...he also led off for the first time in Game Two; Barsa busted out of a 2 for 20 start to the season with a 2-3 game in the nightcap; the 13 strike outs in the first game were a season high for the Cannons...the team's strike out to walk ratio is slightly more than 3:1; with 14 hits against the Caps the team batting average climbed seven points to .225 overall...the team on-base percentage climbed thirteen points to .281; Mark Lynch was injured in a Twilight League game and will be out for the remainder of the CNMSBL season: Assistant Manager Weber said, "Lynchie has been a great asset to the team. He's a solid pick-up and having him in the clubhouse helps us. He's a winner and we look forward to playing with him next year."; Troy Barber, Mike Calabrese and Brian Pinney did not play this weekend.
West Hartford's Heartbreak Continues, Losing Streak Stretches to Eight
Rocky Hill, CT (AP)--The world of physics dictates that a Cannon packs more firepower than a Cap: bigger, "badder" and with more bang for the buck the awesome artillery assembled against a harmless child's plaything would prove to be a contest in futility, a sheer matter of superior firepower. Unfortunately physics and the field of play are two very different places and although the West Hartford Cannons once again flirted with victory in their inaugural A Division campaign in the end it was the Newington Caps who had just enough to eke by, sweeping Sunday's double header by scores of 3-1 and 6-4 at jam-packed Rocky Hill Stadium. Unquestionably the Cannons can compete at this high level of play but there is a chasm between being competitive and being champions that needs to be bridged before West Hartford rediscovers it winning ways. "We are as good or better than every team in this league," Manager Matt Celio intoned in his post-game press conference. "It's hard to explain why we can't get over the top. I do know that this is the best group of guys that we've ever run out there in terms of talent. It's just a matter of time before we put all of the pieces together and start winning ball games. Unfortunately moral victories don't help us any in the standings. Being that it's almost August, I think the time is right for this team, myself included, to ante up and kick in like men. It's time to show our true character and strength of heart out there on the diamond over the next month and a half." Interesting that Celio invoked images of the film Glory as he closed his comments while third baseman Leo "Cerrano" Dionicio conjured memories of Major League as he spoke to reporters outside of the Cannons locker room. "Would we rather be 9-1 right now and not win the title or 1-9 and win it all? So, I guess there's only one thing to do. Win the whole f***ing thing." Glory be, confidence remains high among Cannons players and if karma follows suit perhaps West Hartford is on the verge of a major turnaround. Up your butt, Jobu!
Things started well for the Cannons as they were able to take an early Game One lead against the Capitals on a RBI single by Tom Luby that scored Cannons Rookie of the Year--and Most Valuable Cannon--candidate Jason Maule who for the third straight game scored in the first frame, this time after a single and two stolen bases from the twenty-eight year old phenom. West Hartford persistently applied pressure, loading the bases after the Luby single by adding an infield hit from Mike Weber and a Chris "Zinedine Zidane" Barsa walk, but Newington ace Willie Mays Hayes was able to wiggle out of the jam with an inning-ending strike out (one of thirteen he racked up during the opening contest) to keep things close. Ed Poland pitched for the Cannons and was up to the task, dominating through the first three frames, allowing only a walk and a hit batter to reach base while the Cannons offense continued to challenge the Caps starter, putting runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings. But Hayes struck out five more batters--seven over that same three-inning span--and settled into a comfortable groove over the next several innings. In the home half of the fourth myriad miscues preyed on Poland (0-2). Lead-off hitter Gross Pelletier walked after working the count full and stole second base. Suckmy Corkum followed with a ground ball to third that Dionicio fielded cleanly and though his throw to first pulled Barsa off the bag the runner was clearly tagged as he passed. However both umpires missed the call and it immediately came back to haunt the Cannons' right-hander. After a passed ball, Hayes had a RBI base hit and Dave Klingerman slapped a seeing-eye single under the outstretched glove of a diving Luby and the pulled in infield. What had been a one-run lead quickly turned into a two-run deficit. Poland (6 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 6 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP) was all but perfect over the final two frames, surrendering a harmless hit in the sixth but Hayes had the Cannons number on this day (Maule reached on a error in the seventh representing the only West Hartford base runner from the fourth inning forward) as the Caps defeated the Cannons 3-1--the sixth time in nine games that West Hartford's offense was able to manage only a single run against an opponent.
Game Two found staff stalwart Mike Patenaude on the mound for the Cannons against James L. Brooks and the Caps. Although the Cannons lefty was adequate on Sunday he uncharacteristically allowed hits--albeit few of them hard--in five of the six innings he hurled, staking Newington to a five-run lead through three. West Hartford's offense finally awoke and worked Brooks for three runs in the fourth as Barsa singled home Poland (who had a one-out base hit), Steve Markie drove in Luby (who had walked) and Mike McGann took ball four with the bases loaded, scoring Barsa and chasing the Newington starter. The Cannons added a run in the fifth when Poland singled home the speedy Maule and the team threatened to tie things as they loaded the bases with two down but the Caps brilliantly brought back Game One starter Hayes who had baffled the Cannons batters earlier and he was able to induce an infield pop to ruin the rally. Patenaude (6 IP, 6 R, 4 ER, 14 H, 2 K, 1 HBP) settled down in the middle innings, relinquishing a Rondell White base hit in the fourth, but an error and two singles in the sixth gave the Caps a much-needed insurance run against the veteran pitcher (M. McGann's perfect throw to Markie from right field cut down Mike Karp at the plate keeping West Hartford within striking distance, down just two). Hayes came back and worked a perfect seventh for the save securing Newington's second win this time by a score a 6-4 as Patenaude (0-4) lost yet again by two runs or fewer (along with Sunday's setback, in five starts the fifty year old has a no decision and has lost contests by scores of 2-1 and 3-1). Patenaude, who also went 1-3 at the plate with a third inning single to left, candidly conversed with members of the media after the game: "I wasn't at my best today. I was a bit rusty early on when they scored some runs but that's what happens when you take a month off in the middle of the season [referring to the team's twenty-seven day lay-off due to rain, Independence Day and a league scheduled bye]. I was happy with our offense as we had some good runs over a couple of innings but it wasn't quite enough to get us a win."
The team from West Hartford heads home to Cannon Yards for a twin bill against the Manchester Cubs (8-4) who handed the Cannons a pair of tough 2-1 losses back on May 21 starting the eight-game losing streak. "We are in a new league and it's encouraging that we have been competitive in each of the games but at some point we have to stop simply being competitive and start winning some ball games," Assistant Manager Weber articulated on his weekly radio program, Web Wrap. "It will feel good to be home again. Hopefully we'll have the fan support and all of Cannon Nation will rally behind us. I know it has to be as tough for them to endure as it has been for us out there on the diamond but hopefully we can throw some Ws up there, close out the regular season strong and light a fuse in the playoffs." Can the Cannons start playing at a Major League level? Will this season end with the glory that players and fans of West Hartford Cannons Baseball have come to expect? The bridge between being competitive and building an A Division CNMSBL champion is currently under construction and hopefully these Cannons will toil and complete the task before it's too late. Tickets for the Sunday, July 23 (10:00 a.m.) contests against the Cubs are available at 1-800 CANNONS or at whcannons.blogspot.com.
Cannons News and Notes: Weber's hit in Game One gives him 92 for his regular-season career and puts him on pace to become just the second Cannon to pass the century plateau (Celio leads the team with 104 lifetime hits; Luby is third with 87); Markie (.375), Maule (.370) and Poland (.300) are the only Cannon regulars with batting averages at or above .300 this season; Markie and Maule are the two West Hartford players without a strike out in 2006; with his double in the second inning of the opening game, Maule now has five of the team's eleven extra base hits (four doubles and a home run for a team-best 1.044 OPS); K. McGann had his first two-hit Sunday of the season against Newington...he also led off for the first time in Game Two; Barsa busted out of a 2 for 20 start to the season with a 2-3 game in the nightcap; the 13 strike outs in the first game were a season high for the Cannons...the team's strike out to walk ratio is slightly more than 3:1; with 14 hits against the Caps the team batting average climbed seven points to .225 overall...the team on-base percentage climbed thirteen points to .281; Mark Lynch was injured in a Twilight League game and will be out for the remainder of the CNMSBL season: Assistant Manager Weber said, "Lynchie has been a great asset to the team. He's a solid pick-up and having him in the clubhouse helps us. He's a winner and we look forward to playing with him next year."; Troy Barber, Mike Calabrese and Brian Pinney did not play this weekend.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
J A X…HE’S JAX-TASTIC!
Former Cannons Fave Welcomed Warmly at World Headquarters
West Hartford, CT (AP)—Jason Jackson--the Cannons’ career leader in appearances on the ESPN family of networks, one of only twelve Cannons to hit a home run in regular- or post-season play (a memorable blast versus the New Haven Cardinals at Balf-Savin Stadium in New Britain), the only West Hartford player to this point to have an entire Cannons Jeopardy category dedicated to his legendary on- and off-field antics and the first Cannons player to have a team award named in his honor (the Jason T. Jackson Cannons Lifetime Achievement Award was soon followed by the Michael F. Weber Cannons Service Award and the Michael K. Patenaude Cannons Pitching Award and will be joined this season by the Tom "Mr. August" Bogiatzis Playoff Most Valuable Cannon Award)--ended his near two-year estrangement from Cannons management when he visited the team’s World Headquarters during his vacation from Florida last week. Jackson, who turned 34 on May 12, was welcomed back on Wednesday, June 28 with open arms by Manager Matt Celio and enjoyed surf and turf Cannon-style and his new favorite drink—Grey Goose on the rocks rather than a selection from the Mike’s Hard Assortment—as the two parties reconciled what had been a rocky relationship since the end of the 2004 campaign when JJax and the team officially parted company. “Jason was always touted as # 24 in your program and # 1 in your hearts and truer words have never been spoken. Cannon Nation is happy to have Jax back,” Celio told reporters after the Jackson family—wife Shirelle and sons Justin and Jordan also appeared—left following the five-hour visit. When reached for comment Jackson said briefly, “My Sundays have been empty without Cannons Baseball. I thought the love was gone but now I’m in talks to re-sign with the team in a limited role for the 2007 season and beyond.” Jackson was brought on board during the 2002 off-season—along with other big-time signings such as Bogiatzis, Tom Luby, Kevin McGann and Ed Poland—and logged much of his time at first base. Perhaps best known as a defensive specialist, Jackson was once quoted post-game saying, “I might not have much of a bat but I can field like a motherf****r.” A powerful post-season performer, Jax raised his batting average by a solid .77 points in August and was on-base in three out of every ten plate appearances in the playoffs. A frequent SportsCenter anchor, Jackson went on to host the wildly popular Jax Show on ESPN Radio (WPOP 1410 AM in the Hartford market) before moving to the Miami area to work for the National Basketball Association Heat, winners of the 2006 NBA title (he is being sized for a ring at this moment).
Cannons News and Notes: Jackson and Luby were spotted by members of the paparazzi at Grant's in West Hartford Center over the holiday weekend; 2005 Cannons Fan of the Year Marybeth Smiley ended her two-year relationship with left fielder Mike McGann, lending credence to the legend that the Fan of the Year Award is cursed (three-time Cannons Wife of the Year winner Molly Borst later divorced Manager Emeritus Andy Borst and 2004 FOTY winner and Bogiatzis girlfriend Deanna David didn’t last through the off-season after winning the "coveted" award…nobody has defended the title since 2003)…who will this year’s winner—or loser—be?; M. McGann and former Cannon Mike Santee were involved in a near bar brawl on Sunday when Santee tried to, unbeknownst to the younger McGann, hook him up with an unwanted team groupie at Harbor Yards in Middletown…no charges were filed; the Cannons return to action on Sunday, July 16 against the Newington Capitals in games that could have significant playoff implications; Patenaude’s Porno Pool Party 2: Electric Boogaloo takes place immediately following the July 16 double header.
Former Cannons Fave Welcomed Warmly at World Headquarters
West Hartford, CT (AP)—Jason Jackson--the Cannons’ career leader in appearances on the ESPN family of networks, one of only twelve Cannons to hit a home run in regular- or post-season play (a memorable blast versus the New Haven Cardinals at Balf-Savin Stadium in New Britain), the only West Hartford player to this point to have an entire Cannons Jeopardy category dedicated to his legendary on- and off-field antics and the first Cannons player to have a team award named in his honor (the Jason T. Jackson Cannons Lifetime Achievement Award was soon followed by the Michael F. Weber Cannons Service Award and the Michael K. Patenaude Cannons Pitching Award and will be joined this season by the Tom "Mr. August" Bogiatzis Playoff Most Valuable Cannon Award)--ended his near two-year estrangement from Cannons management when he visited the team’s World Headquarters during his vacation from Florida last week. Jackson, who turned 34 on May 12, was welcomed back on Wednesday, June 28 with open arms by Manager Matt Celio and enjoyed surf and turf Cannon-style and his new favorite drink—Grey Goose on the rocks rather than a selection from the Mike’s Hard Assortment—as the two parties reconciled what had been a rocky relationship since the end of the 2004 campaign when JJax and the team officially parted company. “Jason was always touted as # 24 in your program and # 1 in your hearts and truer words have never been spoken. Cannon Nation is happy to have Jax back,” Celio told reporters after the Jackson family—wife Shirelle and sons Justin and Jordan also appeared—left following the five-hour visit. When reached for comment Jackson said briefly, “My Sundays have been empty without Cannons Baseball. I thought the love was gone but now I’m in talks to re-sign with the team in a limited role for the 2007 season and beyond.” Jackson was brought on board during the 2002 off-season—along with other big-time signings such as Bogiatzis, Tom Luby, Kevin McGann and Ed Poland—and logged much of his time at first base. Perhaps best known as a defensive specialist, Jackson was once quoted post-game saying, “I might not have much of a bat but I can field like a motherf****r.” A powerful post-season performer, Jax raised his batting average by a solid .77 points in August and was on-base in three out of every ten plate appearances in the playoffs. A frequent SportsCenter anchor, Jackson went on to host the wildly popular Jax Show on ESPN Radio (WPOP 1410 AM in the Hartford market) before moving to the Miami area to work for the National Basketball Association Heat, winners of the 2006 NBA title (he is being sized for a ring at this moment).
Cannons News and Notes: Jackson and Luby were spotted by members of the paparazzi at Grant's in West Hartford Center over the holiday weekend; 2005 Cannons Fan of the Year Marybeth Smiley ended her two-year relationship with left fielder Mike McGann, lending credence to the legend that the Fan of the Year Award is cursed (three-time Cannons Wife of the Year winner Molly Borst later divorced Manager Emeritus Andy Borst and 2004 FOTY winner and Bogiatzis girlfriend Deanna David didn’t last through the off-season after winning the "coveted" award…nobody has defended the title since 2003)…who will this year’s winner—or loser—be?; M. McGann and former Cannon Mike Santee were involved in a near bar brawl on Sunday when Santee tried to, unbeknownst to the younger McGann, hook him up with an unwanted team groupie at Harbor Yards in Middletown…no charges were filed; the Cannons return to action on Sunday, July 16 against the Newington Capitals in games that could have significant playoff implications; Patenaude’s Porno Pool Party 2: Electric Boogaloo takes place immediately following the July 16 double header.
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