After a rain out on Saturday, Veto Leaguers hoped to make up some lost ground with a Sunday doubleheader at Veterans Park.
The chances of that looked bleak early as 12-14-year-old softball players swarmed the field at noon. The head coach of the ASA Extreme offered to move to the other field, but Matt Veto allowed them to finish practice.
Their safety was considered as members of the VLB started to arrive; particularly Scott Ellefritz who's fancy for the younger crowd has become well-known. However, Ellefritz informs the VLB that he is taken and "loving every minute of it."
Hmm... We’ll leave it at that.
The parking lot was clogged with cars from ASA parents, Veto Leaguers and of course medieval battle re-creators.
Throughout the course of the doubleheader, several fight scenes took place under the tall oaks surrounding Adams' Pavilion. Members of the medieval beat each other with foam swords, shot each other with foam bow and arrows and even used "magic" as quote by one of the member who graciously returned a water logged ball.
That same member tried to recruit new VLB member Alex Leutzinger citing that "We're in season right now and are looking for new recruits." Leutzinger kept his distance as to not be put under a spell.
Despite the distraction, the VLB managed to play two in cold temperatures. In game one the Vandals (3-2) dropped the Josh Paul captained Eskimos 4-3. The Eskimos (3-4) rebounded in game two handing Veto and the Meteors (4-2) just their second loss of the season.
Vandals 4, Eskimos 3
Paul pulled out some of the magic left from last season's playoff run with the Goonies. It appears the sub-captain takes his replacement role seriously as his Eskimos played well in a tight contest with Kiel Engstrom and the Vandals.
Paul's crew plated all three of their runs in the second inning with RBI hits from Paul, Andre Burdine and Ryan Nettleton. The score was 3-2 after two innings.
The Vandals then tied the game in the third and the stalemate continued.
Finally, in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Vandals started to rally. Ellefritz reached safely and moved over on a Tom Gaskey (2-for-4, RBI) single. The merry-go-round continued with a hit by Mike Verre.
With Ellefritz at third, it looked as if a deep fly might do the job. However, Leutzinger's infield grounder was mishandled at third and the winning run scored. Leutzinger was 2-for-4 in the contest with two RBI.
Eskimos 11, Meteors 5
Paul took out his frustration of game one's setback on the hot-hitting Meteors.
It turned out Paul was the only hitter one fire as he finished a 6-for-10 day with 4 runs, 2 RBI, and 2 doubles. Paul also stole away three would-be-singles with diving and acrobatic catches in right field.
"I certainly don't make it look pretty," Paul said. "But I get the job done."
Veto scored the first run of the game for the Meteors to take a short lived 1-0 lead for 1 1/2 innings. The Eskimos rallied with six unanswered runs.
Leading 6-2 after 3 1/2, the Eskimos scored five more times. Ryan Barton had three RBI for the Jon Escajeda-less squad.
VLBers Alex Tschopp joined Escajeda on a trek out west. At last report, Escajeda was in Utah and told Veto he probably wouldn't make it to Veterans Park in time for Sunday's game.
The Saukie Division race is heating up and the Vandals moved up to first in the Black Hawk Division. Play continues in the VLB on Wednesday as the Vandals try to hold off the second-place Baseball Furies.
The chances of that looked bleak early as 12-14-year-old softball players swarmed the field at noon. The head coach of the ASA Extreme offered to move to the other field, but Matt Veto allowed them to finish practice.
Their safety was considered as members of the VLB started to arrive; particularly Scott Ellefritz who's fancy for the younger crowd has become well-known. However, Ellefritz informs the VLB that he is taken and "loving every minute of it."
Hmm... We’ll leave it at that.
The parking lot was clogged with cars from ASA parents, Veto Leaguers and of course medieval battle re-creators.
Throughout the course of the doubleheader, several fight scenes took place under the tall oaks surrounding Adams' Pavilion. Members of the medieval beat each other with foam swords, shot each other with foam bow and arrows and even used "magic" as quote by one of the member who graciously returned a water logged ball.
That same member tried to recruit new VLB member Alex Leutzinger citing that "We're in season right now and are looking for new recruits." Leutzinger kept his distance as to not be put under a spell.
Despite the distraction, the VLB managed to play two in cold temperatures. In game one the Vandals (3-2) dropped the Josh Paul captained Eskimos 4-3. The Eskimos (3-4) rebounded in game two handing Veto and the Meteors (4-2) just their second loss of the season.
Vandals 4, Eskimos 3
Paul pulled out some of the magic left from last season's playoff run with the Goonies. It appears the sub-captain takes his replacement role seriously as his Eskimos played well in a tight contest with Kiel Engstrom and the Vandals.
Paul's crew plated all three of their runs in the second inning with RBI hits from Paul, Andre Burdine and Ryan Nettleton. The score was 3-2 after two innings.
The Vandals then tied the game in the third and the stalemate continued.
Finally, in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Vandals started to rally. Ellefritz reached safely and moved over on a Tom Gaskey (2-for-4, RBI) single. The merry-go-round continued with a hit by Mike Verre.
With Ellefritz at third, it looked as if a deep fly might do the job. However, Leutzinger's infield grounder was mishandled at third and the winning run scored. Leutzinger was 2-for-4 in the contest with two RBI.
Eskimos 11, Meteors 5
Paul took out his frustration of game one's setback on the hot-hitting Meteors.
It turned out Paul was the only hitter one fire as he finished a 6-for-10 day with 4 runs, 2 RBI, and 2 doubles. Paul also stole away three would-be-singles with diving and acrobatic catches in right field.
"I certainly don't make it look pretty," Paul said. "But I get the job done."
Veto scored the first run of the game for the Meteors to take a short lived 1-0 lead for 1 1/2 innings. The Eskimos rallied with six unanswered runs.
Leading 6-2 after 3 1/2, the Eskimos scored five more times. Ryan Barton had three RBI for the Jon Escajeda-less squad.
VLBers Alex Tschopp joined Escajeda on a trek out west. At last report, Escajeda was in Utah and told Veto he probably wouldn't make it to Veterans Park in time for Sunday's game.
The Saukie Division race is heating up and the Vandals moved up to first in the Black Hawk Division. Play continues in the VLB on Wednesday as the Vandals try to hold off the second-place Baseball Furies.