Veto League Baseball saw it's first pitch in 1998. Played by a handful of Moline Maroon teenagers, Saukie Field in Rock Island became the official home of Veto League Baseball from 1998 - 2004. It's the park where the majority of Bob Zerull's 97 homeruns came. It's where Josh Lawhorn set the pre-stat era record with six dingers in a game. It's where VLB was born.
Each year, Veto League makes its return to the field for the annual Saukie Days. Last weekend featured a huge attendance, with 24 players on both Saturday and Sunday.
Neither contest Saturday was close, as the Goonies (11-5) ended their impressive 2016 regular season campaign a 17-8 winner over the Squad (5-11). For the Goonies, it's the second year in a row they've finished with the best record in baseball. Those two teams will square off in the first round of the playoffs, beginning next weekend at Ridgewood. DJ Kitty (10-6) took game two, with a road 15-run six-inning mercy rule victory over the Crushers (6-10), 20-4. The lone homers hammered on Saturday came at the hands of unlikely candidates Jeff Kilgard and Adlonis Hopkins. It was Hopkins' second homerun in his 51st career game.
On Sunday, DJ Kitty started things off with an easy victory over the Crushers 15-7, clinching the #2 seed in the post season. Nick Swanson had his first career homerun. Game two was the closest of the weekend. Down by two with two outs in the bottom of the 7th with two strikes and a runner on base, Steve Gerard drilled a towering shot over the left field fence to send the game to extras, tied 8 apiece. However, in the top frame of the 8th, sub-captain Anthony Reese helped his own cause with a round tripper to left, sparking his team to six runs and a 14-8 victory. Ryan Barton also had a homerun for the Squad. Rookie Mitch Dietrich went 4-for-4 to lead his team in hits. VLB also had its first female of the year, as Steph Kaplan combined for 2-for-6 with a couple runs and two victories.
The Post Season will commence August 13 as the Goonies and Squad split the double header. Kitty and Crushers will play the following weekend in the opening round best-of-three series. The best-of-five World Series will begin after that. Plans are being formulated for a potential 2016 night game, with date yet to be determined.
Each year, Veto League makes its return to the field for the annual Saukie Days. Last weekend featured a huge attendance, with 24 players on both Saturday and Sunday.
Neither contest Saturday was close, as the Goonies (11-5) ended their impressive 2016 regular season campaign a 17-8 winner over the Squad (5-11). For the Goonies, it's the second year in a row they've finished with the best record in baseball. Those two teams will square off in the first round of the playoffs, beginning next weekend at Ridgewood. DJ Kitty (10-6) took game two, with a road 15-run six-inning mercy rule victory over the Crushers (6-10), 20-4. The lone homers hammered on Saturday came at the hands of unlikely candidates Jeff Kilgard and Adlonis Hopkins. It was Hopkins' second homerun in his 51st career game.
On Sunday, DJ Kitty started things off with an easy victory over the Crushers 15-7, clinching the #2 seed in the post season. Nick Swanson had his first career homerun. Game two was the closest of the weekend. Down by two with two outs in the bottom of the 7th with two strikes and a runner on base, Steve Gerard drilled a towering shot over the left field fence to send the game to extras, tied 8 apiece. However, in the top frame of the 8th, sub-captain Anthony Reese helped his own cause with a round tripper to left, sparking his team to six runs and a 14-8 victory. Ryan Barton also had a homerun for the Squad. Rookie Mitch Dietrich went 4-for-4 to lead his team in hits. VLB also had its first female of the year, as Steph Kaplan combined for 2-for-6 with a couple runs and two victories.
The Post Season will commence August 13 as the Goonies and Squad split the double header. Kitty and Crushers will play the following weekend in the opening round best-of-three series. The best-of-five World Series will begin after that. Plans are being formulated for a potential 2016 night game, with date yet to be determined.
RSS Feed
