The Baseball Furies have seen better days.
Jon Escajeda and his hapless Eskimos (2-3) snuck a pair of surprising wins, 18-9 and 21-6, from under the Furies (3-2). As it turns out, the growing interdivisional rivalry played its third game of the season, which was a mistake.
After a pair of rain outs and a last-second Thursday, May 18 ballgame, schedules became jumbled. Each team is only supposed to play two games against each of the opposing division team. VLB commissioner Matt Veto handed down a ruling at 3:46 a.m. last night that the game will count as an official contest, but further action may need to be employed near the end of the season.
"If it turns out that the Eskimos or Furies are a game either way of causing someone to be in or out of the post season, we might have to look at the situation more closely," Veto said.
No matter the teams on the field, a warm weekend at Veterans Park provided a pair of high-scoring, offensive affairs.
May 27, Eskimos 18, Baseball Furies 9
John Kelley is making a name for himself in the VLB.
With another seven RBI game, Kelley helped lift the Eskimos to their first victory of the season.
An eight-run sixth inning proved troublesome for the Furies who fell for the first time. The Furies were carrying a 7-5 lead at that point. Josh Francque found his stroke for the Furies hitting safely in five at bats and scoring three of the nine runs.
On a side note, Mike Stoneking returned to the VLB after an eight-year absence. Stoneking was one of the original 1998 members of the VLB coming to Saukie Field with Brandt Hoffman for the Veto League inaugural contest.
May 28, Eskimos 21, Baseball Furies 6
On Sunday, the wind howled at the backs of VLB batter and batters are proving it is possible to homer at the deep-porched Veterans Park.
The "VLB Bombers," Ryan Barton and Bob Zerull each homered twice in the game.
Barton's first homer was a three-run blast in the second inning. It gave the Eskimos a 5-1 lead at the time.
Zerull helped out his own cause with a two-run homer during part of a 3-run sixth that kept his team in the game. His second homer in the eighth had less meaning as the Eskimos had already plated 10 runs in the seventh to take a commanding lead. The game ended via the 15-run rule after seven innings.
"I just need to get into a cage to get my timing back," Zerull said. That's a scary thought considering his second homer of the game cleared the trees in left-center field.
The intentional walk was also used three times, setting an early record for the new rule. Zerull, Barton and Ryan Williams were all put on without a pitch. Williams was walked more for...well...strategic reasons. But he did sport a fine "Twinkie the Kid" trucker-style mesh cap.
Barton completed his big game going 6-for-7 with 7 RBI. Jon Escajeda had 5 hits, 4 runs and 3 RBI in the win.
Jon Escajeda and his hapless Eskimos (2-3) snuck a pair of surprising wins, 18-9 and 21-6, from under the Furies (3-2). As it turns out, the growing interdivisional rivalry played its third game of the season, which was a mistake.
After a pair of rain outs and a last-second Thursday, May 18 ballgame, schedules became jumbled. Each team is only supposed to play two games against each of the opposing division team. VLB commissioner Matt Veto handed down a ruling at 3:46 a.m. last night that the game will count as an official contest, but further action may need to be employed near the end of the season.
"If it turns out that the Eskimos or Furies are a game either way of causing someone to be in or out of the post season, we might have to look at the situation more closely," Veto said.
No matter the teams on the field, a warm weekend at Veterans Park provided a pair of high-scoring, offensive affairs.
May 27, Eskimos 18, Baseball Furies 9
John Kelley is making a name for himself in the VLB.
With another seven RBI game, Kelley helped lift the Eskimos to their first victory of the season.
An eight-run sixth inning proved troublesome for the Furies who fell for the first time. The Furies were carrying a 7-5 lead at that point. Josh Francque found his stroke for the Furies hitting safely in five at bats and scoring three of the nine runs.
On a side note, Mike Stoneking returned to the VLB after an eight-year absence. Stoneking was one of the original 1998 members of the VLB coming to Saukie Field with Brandt Hoffman for the Veto League inaugural contest.
May 28, Eskimos 21, Baseball Furies 6
On Sunday, the wind howled at the backs of VLB batter and batters are proving it is possible to homer at the deep-porched Veterans Park.
The "VLB Bombers," Ryan Barton and Bob Zerull each homered twice in the game.
Barton's first homer was a three-run blast in the second inning. It gave the Eskimos a 5-1 lead at the time.
Zerull helped out his own cause with a two-run homer during part of a 3-run sixth that kept his team in the game. His second homer in the eighth had less meaning as the Eskimos had already plated 10 runs in the seventh to take a commanding lead. The game ended via the 15-run rule after seven innings.
"I just need to get into a cage to get my timing back," Zerull said. That's a scary thought considering his second homer of the game cleared the trees in left-center field.
The intentional walk was also used three times, setting an early record for the new rule. Zerull, Barton and Ryan Williams were all put on without a pitch. Williams was walked more for...well...strategic reasons. But he did sport a fine "Twinkie the Kid" trucker-style mesh cap.
Barton completed his big game going 6-for-7 with 7 RBI. Jon Escajeda had 5 hits, 4 runs and 3 RBI in the win.