Action Around the FLB: July 4

 Portland and Bracebridge continue to impress in the early turns of the season, sweeping their respective series. A close game between Omaha and Hawaii evened the series at 2 a piece after a masterful piece of pitching by the Meadowlark bullpen. The struggles continue for Washington and Wisconsin who are currently winless. There were plenty of fireworks this 4th of July in the FLB!

 

Quad Cities River Rats (3-1) 0 0 0 3 0 0 4 2 0 9 11 0
Long Beach Waves (1-3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2
W: P. O'Quinn (QCR/Robin/SP; 1-0) L: C. Navarro (LBW/Great Dane/SP; 0-1)
HR: C. Jones (QCR/Fox/CF; 1) W. Kitspatrick (QCR/Grey Fox/SS; 1)
Player of the Game: P. O'Quinn (9 IP, CGSO, 8 K)

The River Rats won their opening series with a pitching gem, with Phil O'Quinn pitching a complete game shutout, striking out eight Long Beach players in the process and holding them to just four hits. Phil was helped out by a pinch-hit grand slam by Craig Jones.

Washington Ravens (0-4) 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 7 1
Portland Pioneers (4-0) 1 3 0 0 2 2 4 0 X 12 13 0
W: P. Penguinator (PDX/Penguin/SP; 1-0) L: T. Hoffman (WAS//SP; 0-1)
HR: K. McLeod (WAS//; 1), S. Leonard (WAS//; 1), S. Zula (PDX/Cheetah/1B; 2), A. Coyotl (PDX/Coyote/CF; 1)
Player of the Game: P. Penguinator (9 IP, CG, 2 ER, 10 K)

Pioneers fans were delighted with another gem from a rookie pitcher. Patrick Pengunator struck out 10 Ravens for a complete game, helping to facilitate the sweep of the Ravens thanks in large part to the Pioneer's solid rotation.

Marietta Sternwheelers (1-3) 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 4 8 0
New Orleans Pelicans (3-1) 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 X 6 9 0
W: M. Vers (NOR/Skunk-Dragon/SP; 1) L: R. Alexander (MAR/Koala/RP; 0-1) S: G. Herrera (NOR/Badger/CL; 3)
HR: T. Coaltender (MAR/Skunk/3B; 1), C. Themyst (MAR/Mongoose/1B; 1), T. Simpson (NOR/Polar Bear/C; 2)
Player of the Game: T. Simpson (2-3, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI)

It was a tight game for a while in New Orleans, with the Wheelers pulling ahead 4-2 in the sixth until a rally sparked by Terry Simpson's solo home run helped the home team come out on top, scoring four in the sixth and helping the Pelicans pull out the win.

Charleston Swamp Foxes (1-3) 1 5 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 9 12 1
Winnipeg Pikes (3-1) 1 3 4 1 2 0 0 0 X 11 13 2
W: T. Wood (WPG/Beaver/RP; 2-0) L: J. Salazar (CHA/Seal/SP; 0-1) S: L. Sanders (WPG/Rottweiler/CL; 2)
HR: K. Johnson (CHA/Raccoon/C; 1), M. Rise (CHA/Winged Hyena/2B; 1), J. Price 2 (WPG/Fennec/LF; 2), M. Corvus (WPG/Utahraptor/CF; 1)
Player of the Game: J. Price (2-3, 2 HR, 6 RBI)

The Swamp Foxes had a tremendous surge in offense this game, but it wasn't enough when Jenny Price had the game of her career, hitting two home runs to score 6 by herself. The Pikes knocked Julio Salazar out in just 2 2/3 innings, tagging him for 8 runs.

Omaha Meadowlarks (2-2) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 8 1
Hawaiian Tikis (2-2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
W: T. Baskerville (OMA/Crocodie/SP; 1-0) L: R. Ryian (HAW/Lizard/SP; 0-1) S: M. Brioso (OMA/Weasel/RP; 2)
HR: None
Player of the Game: T. Baskerville (8 IP, 0 ER, 9 K)

Tanya Baskerville's first start of the season showed the same dominating stuff that she has been producing the last three years that included the Van Hoover in 2012; holding her own in a pticher's duel with R. Ryian where she sent 8 Tikis packing, even as Ryian racked up seven himself. But ultimately the 'Larks squeaked by with a sac fly in the 6th to pull out the tie for the series.

Wisconsin Randalls (0-4) 0 0 1 6 1 1 0 3 3 15 17 1
Bracebridge Bombers (4-0) 3 0 0 0 3 2 8 1 X 17 12 1
W: B. Smythe III (BBB/Lion/RP; 2-0) L: W. Graves (WIS//; 0-1) S: J. West (BBB/Black-Footed Ferret/CL; 2)
HR: H. Zed (WIS/Black Lab/1B; 1), J. Stephenson (WIS/Hare/SS; 1), S. Sheehan (WIS/Badger/3B; 1), A. Colby (WIS/Bobcat/OF; 1), J. Utsu 2 (BBB/Cross Fox/RF; 3), M. Ace (BBB/Spotted Hyena/1B; 1), J. McKenzie (BBB/Badger/C; 2)
Player of the Game: J. Utsu (2-3, 2 BB, 2 HR, 6 RBI)

The Randalls tried their hardest on a hard-rocking offensive game, with four home runs on the game combining for 9 of their 15 runs, but the Bombers hit everything that was thrown at them and more, led by Jirik Utsu's two home runs for 6 RBI, sweeping the Randalls out.