Sir Lord Baltimore

(L-R) top row: Kevin D, Emery P, Mike B, Michael K, Adam C, James J

middle row: Andy S, Barbara D, Emily B, Kristen A, Avery (ump)

kneeling: Joan S, Adam R

not pictured: Megan M, Joan D

After splitting the night, Sir Lord Baltimore ends second season at .500

Adam C wheeled backward to make a stellar grab deep in centerfield, thus ending the Wolfepack threat in the bottom of the 5th, but the damage was done. The 'Pack had narrowed Sir Lord Baltimore's significant lead to one run, bringing the score to 10-9.

The Sirs failed to score in the top of the sixth, so the tension was thick as they retook the field.

And the rally continued for the 'Pack, scoring three more runs in the inning to take the lead and eventually win the game.

The Sirs only managed to plate one run in the top of the seventh. With two outs and runners primed to go from scoring position, Barbara D, who sustained an injury during warmups, cranked a hard shot into centerfield. The line drive was a beauty, but it was an easy catch for the fielder.

Final score, Wolfepack 12, SLB 11.

It was a brutal loss to a team the Sirs had downed in their last outing, taking the victory after being down 6-1. On Tuesday the tables were turned though, because after the second inning Sir Lord Baltimore controlled the board with a 7 to 1 lead, and seemed unstoppable.

It wasn't a winless loss, when all was said and done. Emery P hit well with a homerun or two. And the real story though was Kristen A, who nailed a double up the first base line, a career highlight for the rookie hitter. She also hit a terse line drive into centerfield and, on defense, snagged a beauty of a throw from Adam C to temporarily muzzle the Wolfepack's aggressive base running with a smartly applied tag at second.

But, as Bobby Bonilla once said, "I had an opportunity with Baltimore to make it to the World Series, and that didn't happen."

The loss came in the second game of the night for the Sirs, which might have accounted for some of their trouble. In fact, pitcher Michael K was heard to say after the game, "It does start to wear you out after a while." That was an understatement; he was playing with limited rest and a bad hamstring, which he incurred the previous week while scoring from second base.

In Sir Lord Baltimore's first game, they trounced the Civics Works Beelers with a final score of 24-10. But that game began frightfully, when CWB scored four unanswered runs in the first inning. The Sirs were put down in order.

And before that, Sirs second basewoman Barbara D was injured during warmups, when she was struck above the left eye by an errant perfect throw from Emery P. Initially afraid that she wouldn't be able to dress for the game (or should that be "tutu for the game," given D's eccentric uniform stylings), SLB medical staff cleared her to play, in spite of a constant trickle of blood down her face.

A second-inning defensive substitution was made, putting Kristen A at second and Barbara D in right field. Also, it didn't take long for the bats to warm up, and the Sirs notched 11 runs with only one out in the second inning, invoking the mercy rule. During the rally, Andy S legged out a three run homer, his first of the season, as did Emery P.

Then, with an 11-4 lead, Joan S, who played brilliantly all night at first base, was called in to pitch for Michael K. She retired the first two batters without much trouble, but then walked in six runs. The Beelers went through their entire batting order that way, until S, through gritted teeth, managed to draw a popup which third baseman Kevin D reeled in handily.

The 11-10 score didn't last long, and with Michael K back at the helm the Beelers didn't score another run. The slaughter rule was invoked at the fifth inning, for the third time in this matchup.

So after starting the season with an 0-4 record, your Sir Lords and Ladies of Baltimore ended the year at 6-6, a significant improvement not just over the fall, but since their last league, when the team only managed one win and seven losses. Such speedy improvements bode well for whatever athletics the team pursues. There is talk of Sunday afternoon football games in the snow.

Until then, I'm signing off as your dutiful, proud reporter of all things Sir Lord Baltimore.

Sir Lord Baltimore Earns #3 Seed

Baltimore, MD--The top story today is the postseason seeding, which was announced at about 3:30 EST this afternoon. Sir Lord Baltimore claimed the #3 spot, which is no small feat for a team that began the season at 0-4. They put the Civics Works Beelers, OSK and GTM behind them in the rankings.

Playoffs begin on Tuesday, when #3 SLB takes on the #6 Beelers at 8pm. The winner of that game will play the #2 Wolfepack in the season's first doubleheader. The Sirs slaughtered the Beelers in their last two meetings, and defeated the 'Pack in a come-from-behind victory on November 1st.

Asked how he feels about their chances, SS Adam R said, "We can't focus on that right now. We just need to get out there and make sure we do our best and play like a team. A team that features a very healthy Michael K." He was referring to the hamstring injury K suffered in their last outing.

Sir Lord Baltimore 10, Wolfepack 6

"I knew we had it locked after the first inning," said Emery P with a smile, who turned in a solid first performance as an outfielder.

His post-game comment was full of bluster, though, because the game started bleakly for Sir Lord Baltimore. Through the first five innings on the muddy field, the Wolfepack held them to three runs while scoring six.

In the first, the 'Pack scored two when a line drive squeezed through CF Adam C's legs. Then the Sirs were retired in order in the bottom of the inning.

The Wolfepack scored a third run in the second, but the Sirs also managed to get on the board when Michael K scored on Adam R's bloop single to right. The run proved costly, though, as Michael K pulled his hamstring rounding third base.

Things only got worse in the third inning, when the Sirs were unable to shut down the weird-swinging V.J., who hit a hard shot to right field. Although they would prove to be the 'Pack's last of the night, three more runs would score in that round, and the Sirs failed to respond.

Sir Lord Baltimore's defense kept their opponents from scoring in the fourth, though, when Michael K struck out two batters with a runner at third. K had four K's on the night, during which he frequently chatted with the home plate ump, Avery, who may have been intoxicated.

In their turn at bat, with Adam C at second, the ailing Michael K hit a profoundly deep line drive to center field, which on any day of the week would have been a homerun for the slowest turtle. Hampered by his injury, though, Michael only skip-walked as far as second base. Meanwhile, Adam C crawled home to make the score 6-2. Emery P went in to pinch run for Michael, but the side was retired.

The Sirs defense managed to hold the 'Pack again in the fifth inning. Then the Sirs managed to score another run when Adam R crossed the plate on an errant throw to first, bringing the score to 6-3.

In the top of the sixth, Adam C made a great sliding grab at LF. (In the locker-bleachers after the game, he pointed out that his legs were still grass stained.) Then a weak grounder was mucked up in the sludge pit on the third base side of the field, and despite charging the ball, Kevin D was unable to pull it from the mud and make the throw in time. Things got dramatic when the Sirs put a shift on to defend against V.J.'s right-field bloop with runners at first and second. Instead, V.J. went to left field, dropping the ball behind third base, but Adam R scrambled over from second to make the catch and retire the side.

Things looked grim as your Sirs of Baltimore headed into the dugout for what could be their last chance to secure a victory, and with it a top seed for the playoffs. They knew that if they didn't make it happen here, their chances in the post season would be significantly diminished.

Leading off the inning, Emily B struck a ball up the third base side and legged it out to first -- but the ball was called foul. She ended up striking out in the at bat. But after her, Kevin D roped his first single of the night. Then Adam C walloped one down the left field line. It looked foul, so Kevin hung up between first and second, while Adam C was scurrying past first. The runners almost passed each other, but Adam C slammed on the brakes just in time. When the fielder missed the catch, the ball was determined to be in play, but the confusion limited the extra base hit to a single.

Joan S, who played a stalwart first base all night, loaded the bases on a single. Then Emery P hit a high fly ball that landed in right field, and Kevin and Adam scored. Michael K hit another deep shot to score Joan and tie the game, but again his injury left him short of bases. Andy S came in to pinch run from first base, but was put out by Barbara D's well-struck fielder's choice RBI for the second out, which scored Emery P for the go ahead run. Then Adam R cranked a double to right to keep the rally going.

With Adam R on second and Barbara D at third, Mike B hit a hard grounder past the shortstop. Barbara  scored easily, and on the throw home to catch Adam R, Mike hustled to third base. Adam R beat the throw, which was promptly sent back to third base to put out the baserunner, who dove bodily into the bag.

The ball passed him wildly, and he scrambled to his feet and walked in, the proud owner of a three RBI in-the-park homerun.

In the game's final inning, Mike B made two catches in right field, the second of which was a beauty that he tracked down and caught on the fly. "I knew I had it," he said later of the catch that earned him Player of the Game.

Michael K stuck out the final batter and the topsy-turvy contest was over.

"That was the best performance of Sweatpants's career," said SLB fanatic Rahne A after the game, referring to the team's jerseys. Spirits were high all around for the team and the fans, which also included Kevin D's parents, in town from Pittsburgh. They had assembled bunk beds during the day.

The win should secure a top seed for Sir Lord Baltimore in the postseason, which begins on Tuesday. Tune in here for the latest standings and results.

Sir Lord Baltimore 9, OSK 6

Sir Lord Baltimore improved a game on Tuesday night to make their record 4-5, downing OSK in a grudge match. Earlier in the year, OSK took advantage of bad SLB defense and slaughtered the team, 13-3.

But none of that sloppy gameplay was evident in the rematch, as the Sirs defense harnessed the chatty OSK through 5 innings. Michael "K" K turned in his best performance of the year, retiring six batters on strikes and walking none. In the outfield, Adam C tracked down numerous flyballs and linedrives, at one point gunning a throw from left center field to secure a double play with 2B Joan S.

The play came just moments after another great Adam C-to-Joan S connection to throw out the same runner, but the ump missed the call. Adam C had fired the ball down a pipe and Joan S caught it on a dive, keeping her foot superglued to the bag. Getting the double play was redemption.

SS Adam R also turned in a double play when runners were at first and second in the second inning, covering the bag and the throw to first.

True to form, sluggers Michael K and Adam C also showed up at the plate, with two homeruns each. While they each knocked linedrives for one of the 4-baggers, it was their legs that carried them on the other hits. One of Adam C's in-the-parkers actually came on a hard hit grounder to the OSK shortstop, who failed to glove it.

In a comedic moment, Adam R sailed a flyball to right field. When the catch was dropped, he was ready to sprint to second base -- except he'd missed the bag at first. Legs flailing, he looped around to tag up and by this time the ball was still rolling in the close-cut grass, so he had time to race to third.

That's the sort of play that put the Sirs ahead 7-3 by the third inning, hoping to gain six more to return the favor of a slaughter. But after OSK put a couple runners on base in the sixth with only one out, a hard shot to right field resulted in a 3-run homer. The game got interesting with a score of 8-6. Michael K sat down the next batter and Kevin D reeled in a fly ball at shortstop to end the threat.

That's when Michael K legged out his second homerun to finalize the score at 9-6. The Sirs took the field for the top half of the seventh, but it was made meaningless when, in an outstanding play in a game of outstanding plays, Joan S deftly fielded a hard shot to 2B and flipped the ball in for the out.

Sir Lord Baltimore 7, Mobtown Beatdown 13

It was a school of hard knocks on Tuesday, as your Sirs of Baltimore were felled by the bats of the Mobtown Beatdown. Final score: 13-7, which is a two-point improvement since the teams last met.

The contest started slowly on the chilly evening, with an uncharacteristic strikeout for the consistently effective leadoff batter, Mike B. Next, Adam R -- back to the top of the order -- was put out on a grounder to second base, and Emily B's tap was no match for the Beatdown.

But the Sirs defense allowed only one baserunner in the bottom half of the inning. Starter Michael "K" K also dealt a strikeout to the first batter. He had three or so on the night, as well as a couple walks.

And, in the top of the second, Michael K stroked a shot deep into center field and legged out a homerun, putting the Sirs onto the scoreboard.

But then trouble started for the Sirs when the Mobtown Beatdown plated six runs. And just as it seemed like there was no end in sight for the long inning, out number three came when RF Adam R connected with 2B Kristen A, who snagged the throw out of the dirt and applied the tag in a fluid motion, like a seasoned veteran. It was an inspired play, indicative of the kind of grace that makes softball more than a game.

The Sirs responded to the big inning on their next at bat, drawing a couple bases on balls. Michael K's walk brought in Adam R. Next, Michael and Emily B scored on a two RBI fielder's choice off of the productive bat of Kevin D. Then, with Kevin still on base, Adam "Ace" C walloped a two run homer into the darkness at the edge of the field. It was the farthest this reporter has seen a ball fly during regulation play. After a moment, the left fielder returned with the ball.

"How long was I gone for?" he asked.

"Just like thirty seconds."

"Seemed longer," he said, then he recounted a story about an epic, wintry battle he'd just witnessed, between a lion, a witch and four children. "The lion died. Oh, here's the ball," he said in conclusion, and the game resumed.

But it didn't resume well for Sir Lord Baltimore, who couldn't keep their bats working. While the Beatdown continued to hit away, the Sirs fell silent. However, in another bright moment, this time verging on the comedic, Michael K managed to stretch a Joan S grounder into an RBI from second base with patiently aggressive base running.

For the Sirs's final inning on the field, closer Joan S came in for what was nearly a Mobtown Shutdown. Snagging a hard hit comebacker, she attempted a pickoff throw but a half-step out of time. She allowed a walk, but then struck out the next batter. After that, the opponents scored a few more runs on a liner to right field.

In the end, it was the accumulation of close calls that sealed the fate of Sir Lord Baltimore. As James J put it after the game, "We were just too timid." Enough said.

Sir Lord Baltimore takes on the dreadful OSK at home next week, at 8pm. OSK slaughtered SLB when they met in September.

Sir Lord Baltimore 11, Civic Works Beelers 1

It was a night of second helpings. For the second game in a row, Sir Lord Baltimore held their opponents to a single run, and they slaughtered the Civic Works Beelers for the second time in two meetings.

The game started slowly enough, though, with the Beelers notching a run in the bottom of the first inning. Then, with two outs at the top of the second, Joan S tied the game on a right-field double knocked by Adam R.

In the third inning, the Sirs managed to notch two more runs, one on a chop down the third base line by Emily B which scored Mike B, her husband. All in the family.

The Beelers threatened the narrow lead when their team's Big Man hit a solid line drive into right center field with runners on first and second. With deft glovework, Barbara D snagged the ball and lasered a throw to second to stop the runners.

The bats stayed relatively quiet through the next few innings as the Beelers were contained by Kevin D, slotted for the first time at shortstop. Joan S, who struggled with a baserunning snafu that Michael K described as painful, also played an inning at first base.

Asked what caused her to stop running from second to third with a runner behind her, Joan S claimed responsibility. "I'm just not a good baserunner," she said. "And I have to tune out Michael sometimes," she continued, referring to Michael K's entreaties from first base.

Things really started for SLB in the sixth inning, when they scored eight runs, including three from a Michael K wallop.

The Beelers made an attempt in the bottom half of the inning, but couldn't manufacture any runs against the mighty Sirs. The win brought Sir Lord Baltimore to within one game of .500 at 3-4-0. Their roadtrip continues next week when they face the undefeated Mobtown Beatdown.

Sir Lord Baltimore 8, GTM 1

Sir Lord Baltimore introduced new black uniforms Tuesday night, but it wasn't just the shirts that were on display. Trouncing their opponents 8-1, the Lords and Ladies played like a whole new team.

Right Fielder Megan M said, "We got good."

Asked how she accounts for the win, SLB manager Joan S didn't speechify. "Defense," she said at an after-game celebration.

It didn't hurt when the bats came alive for sluggers Michael K and Adam C, either. Michael had two homers and five RBI. Adam's homer brought in two. If memory serves this reporter, Emery P plated James J with a single in the third inning to get things started for the Sirs.

The game, which lasted roundabout seven innings, didn't start offensively for either team. In the third inning, after SLB went the long way through their entire batting order, only Mike B had managed a base hit, which he did in both of his first attempts.

But after his second hit, he was called out for a casual high-five with first base coach Adam R.

That's when the game changed for the Sirs. James J drew a walk, putting himself at 2nd base and giving speedster Emily B the bag at first. A solid hit from Emery P brought James J back home to tie the score at 1-1. That's when Michael "Three Man Army" K roped his first opposite field homer.

Later in the game, with Joan S on base, Adam C powered one into center field, scoring two. Michael K's last homerun of the game brought the score to 8-1.

The single opposing run came after a bizarre error. After catching an infield fly ball, shortstop Adam R attempted to pickoff the runner at first. The ball rolled under a hole in the fence, so the umpire advanced the runner.

"Of course I feel bad about that play," Adam R said after the game. "If we connect, the inning's over. Instead we put the runner in scoring position. That hurts."

The run was not charged against Sirs pitcher Michael K, who completed the game, walking two. He pitched out of a jam in the fourth inning, when he got GTM slugger Reyes to hit a blooper into shallow left field. Adam R hustled out from shortstop to make the catch.

Later, with the bases loaded in the final inning, Michael K snagged an unassisted double play at the plate to end the contest.

The win brought Sir Lord Baltimore's record to 2-4-0.