The 2016 Veto League Baseball season has shown an increase in numbers across the board from the disheartening 2015 season. Participation has increased so much that last weekend, VLB played it's first Saturday-Sunday weekend of the year, which featured a couple surprise visits.
On Saturday, the Crushers had rare back-to-back home games, taking on the Squad game one and Goonies game two. Game one was the closer of the two, as Captain Jeff Kilgard led his team to a walk-off victory, singling in the winning run after Lorenzo Martin was walked in front of him in the bottom of the 7th. The final was a defensive score, 6-5. In game two, the Crushers and Goonies collided. The game was deadlocked 3-3 until the bottom of the 6th, when the Crushers' bats caught fire as they plated nine runs for a decisive 12-3 victory. Veteran Anthony Reese made his first appearance of the year, going a combined 6-for-9 with two runs, four RBI and two victories. Rookie Alex Miller also had a nice day at the plate, going 7-for-11 with three runs and RBIs.
On Sunday, Veto Leaguers were surprised by a visit from the VLB Godfather himself, Matt Veto. Veto, who moved to the Philadelphia area after the 2011 season, has made sparse visits back to the Quad Cities, however, was in town this weekend and made it out to the diamond to see a few familiar faces and to monitor the status of the league. Veto found himself on the winning ends of both games, batting 4-for-9 with three runs. While taking his centerfield position late in the second game, Veto paused and confidently spoke, "This field, this game, is a part of our past. It reminds us of all that once was good, and could be again."
Greg Hixson had another monster performance, hitting 7-for-9 with six runs and seven RBI, to include a cycle in game #2 for the victories Goonies. Another impressive rookie, Nick Swanson, went 5-for-9 with five runs and four RBI.
This weekend also featured a VLB first -- the first amputee to play Veto League Baseball. Jason Paul, oldest brother of veteran Josh Paul, lost his left arm in a traffic collision five years ago. While struggling a bit at the plate, Jason said afterward that he had a great time, adding, "This league is awesome!"
VLB play will resume both this Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 at Ridgewood.
On Saturday, the Crushers had rare back-to-back home games, taking on the Squad game one and Goonies game two. Game one was the closer of the two, as Captain Jeff Kilgard led his team to a walk-off victory, singling in the winning run after Lorenzo Martin was walked in front of him in the bottom of the 7th. The final was a defensive score, 6-5. In game two, the Crushers and Goonies collided. The game was deadlocked 3-3 until the bottom of the 6th, when the Crushers' bats caught fire as they plated nine runs for a decisive 12-3 victory. Veteran Anthony Reese made his first appearance of the year, going a combined 6-for-9 with two runs, four RBI and two victories. Rookie Alex Miller also had a nice day at the plate, going 7-for-11 with three runs and RBIs.
On Sunday, Veto Leaguers were surprised by a visit from the VLB Godfather himself, Matt Veto. Veto, who moved to the Philadelphia area after the 2011 season, has made sparse visits back to the Quad Cities, however, was in town this weekend and made it out to the diamond to see a few familiar faces and to monitor the status of the league. Veto found himself on the winning ends of both games, batting 4-for-9 with three runs. While taking his centerfield position late in the second game, Veto paused and confidently spoke, "This field, this game, is a part of our past. It reminds us of all that once was good, and could be again."
Greg Hixson had another monster performance, hitting 7-for-9 with six runs and seven RBI, to include a cycle in game #2 for the victories Goonies. Another impressive rookie, Nick Swanson, went 5-for-9 with five runs and four RBI.
This weekend also featured a VLB first -- the first amputee to play Veto League Baseball. Jason Paul, oldest brother of veteran Josh Paul, lost his left arm in a traffic collision five years ago. While struggling a bit at the plate, Jason said afterward that he had a great time, adding, "This league is awesome!"
VLB play will resume both this Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 at Ridgewood.
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