Right Direction
The Rome Raiders snapped a four game losing streak and at the same time, may have salvaged their season, as they beat Waterford on the road during Wednesday night's makeup game, 5-3, in comeback fashion.
The Raiders have had a tough go, as they have lost four games by one run this season. It looked as though that would be the case once again heading into the top of the 9th down 3-2 to the Rivermen. However, a three spot in the 9th proved to be the difference and Rome finds itself back in the playoff mix.
Rome also avenged a 7-6 loss to Waterford two weekends ago. They started Wednesday night's game like they did in their loss to the Rivermen, with the games first run. An Adam Gallo two out single scored Nick Aplin, who also singled, giving Rome the early 1-0 lead off of Rivermen starter Nick Hunt.
The score was quickly tied up in the bottom half of the first when Adam Brechtl demolished a Jeff Smith hanging breaking ball, as the ball still has yet to land.
The Rivermen took a 2-1 lead the next inning before Rome came back to tie it in their part of the fifth frame when Aplin tripled and scored on a Chris Houk sac fly.
With the score 2-2, Steve Ems led off the fifth with a triple and eventually scored, giving Waterford the 3-2 lead.
It wasn't until the ninth that Rome put a dent into that lead. Mike Splittgerber started off the frame against reliever Anthony Kozelek by squirting one by Ems at second base, as he couldn't handle the tough backhanded play.
Next batter, Eric Cutshall, attempted to sac bunt and was down 0-2 before hitting a seeing-eye single, putting the lead runner on. Aplin followed with a walk, loading the bases with nobody out. Smith, no doubt the game's MVP, came through with a huge two-RBI double, making it 4-3. The final run of the frame would be scored after Gallo hit a shot to first base that wasn't handled.
Rome had the similar scenario in their last game against Mukwonago, taking the lead in the 9th, before giving it away. However, this time around Smith made sure this wasn't going to happen. He struck out pinch hitter Chuck Rudenz, followed by a Brad Nowicki strikeout, and ending it by striking out Jason S(something).
No specific stats are in to the Rome Webmaster, however, Smith did go all 9 frames, giving up 2 earned runs and coming up with the clutch 2 RBI double. Aplin also finished with three hits and reached base four out of five at bats.
Every game from here on out is big for Rome, and it starts with a double header against Burlington on Sunday at the Rome Dome. First game is at noon.
2009 Players of the Week:
Week#1: Jeff Smith (Rome) - The southpaw's offseason workout plan (ROIDS!) worked out for him in Rome's rain shortened 7-0 win against Genesee in Week #1 - technically - although it was the only game played. Smith dominated on the hill going all seven innings, giving up just five hits in the shutout. He also kept his pitch count down, getting ahead of most hitters. He helped Rome erase the memories of an 0-6 start just last year with a solid performance.
Honorable Mention: Nick Aplin (Rome) - 1x2, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB
Week #2: Tim Goetzler (Dousman) - The brand new Dousman hurler helped Dousman to its first win of the 2009 season with a 7 inning perforamnce, accumlating 6 strikeouts and giving up just two earned runs and no walks in the win. Dousman was 6-16 in finishing above Farmington for last place just a season ago. The youthful bunch is looking for a turn around season and the debut of Goetzler helped them in their 5-4 win over Sullivan.
Honorable Mention: Jeff Smith (Rome) - 9 inn., 2 ER, 4 hits, 13 K's; Aaron Dolan (Gen) - 3x4, 2 BB, 4 runs
Week #3: Jason Infusino and Matt Demarais (Genesee) - The Genesee Rebels got a huge lift from these two players in a 3-2 win against East Troy. The win over an East Troy team who is normally in the top half of the playoff mix, moves Genesee's mark to 2-1 in the Southwest. Infusino had the game winning hit, as he smacked a two-run tater i nthe top of the 8th frame to give his team the 3-2 lead. Meanwhile, it was reaquired Matt Demarais that held down the fort for Genesee. He pitched around 6 errors. He went the distance in giving up just seven hits while striking out six. The two runs given up were unearned as well. Look for this win to catapult the Genesee squad.
Honorable Mention: Bryan Dominick (NP) - 7 inn., W, 1 ER, 9 K
Week #4: Matt Lisbeth (Delavan) - Delavan needed a win, and Matt Lisbeth delivered. Lisbeth went the distance in a 172 pitch marathon outing, but led the Blackhawks to a 5-3 win against the North Prairie Dawgs by striking out 13 hitters. After a couple of tough losses to open the season, Lisbeth's performance gives Delavan some solidified pitching in a somewhat thin rotation.
Honorable Mention: Steve Ems (Waterford) - 3x4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI
Week #5: Nick Aplin (Rome) - If anyone had Aplin on their Southwest Fantasy Team during the Memorial Day weekend, more than likely they would have satisfied with his performance. Aplin had some ink in nearly every category during Rome's two victgories - against Sullivan and North Prairie - on Saturday and Sunday. For the two games, Aplin went a combined 4-for-6 with a home run, double, 4 runs, 3 RBI, 2 walks, a HBP and a stolen base. He also played some stellar defense at the shortstop position. Aplin led Rome back to the .500 mark with his POTW worthy performance.
Honorable Mention: None
Week #6: Matt Demarais (Genesee) - Demarais was a stud for Genesee on the mound Sunday during a double dip in Waterford. Going up against the best hitting team in the league, Demarais pitched not only all 7 innings of the first game, but 6 more innings in Game 2 in the sweep of the Rivermen. Demarais gave up just one earned run on six hits in Game 1. He came back out onto the hill for Game 2 and pitched even better considering the circumstances, giving up four hits and one earned run in over six innings of work. The two wins keep Genesee right behind league leading Genoa City, as they have won their last seven in a row to go 7-1, with much thanks to Demarais (and a pretty good offense).
Honorable Mention: Blake Rowe (Dousman) - CG, W, 1 hit, 6 K; Andy Sturtvant (Genesee) - 5x6, HR
Week #7: Todd Grafenauer (Mukwonago) - Graf didn't necessarily have a career weekend against Genoa City, but his effort made it possible for the Lakers to shock the entire Southwest with a doubleheader sweep of undefeated Genoa City. Graf went a combined 3-for-5 with a HR, a double, one walk, three runs and 4 RBIs. The steady veteran not only helped give GC their first two losses of the year, but put his team back in the playoff race early on in the Southwest season, as the division looks to be a crapshoot.
Honorable Mention: Jeff Smith (Rome) - CG, W, shutout, 4 hits, 6 K; Chris Elliot (Gen) - 2x2, 2 2B, 3BB, 4 RBI
Week #8: N/A
Week #9: Todd Grafenauer (Mukwonago) - This is the second time in three weeks Mr. Graf has been the POTW. He's been putting up some pretty rediculous numbers. THe Lakers swept Delavan in a double dip on Saturday, as Grafenauer went 4-for-5 with three home runs and a double. In the first game, Graf went 3-for-3 with three jacks, 5 RBI and 3 runs. Pretty fricking impressive. He also has taken over the lead in the Southwest home run race. The Lakers have also climbed babck into the middle of the pack, right in line of a playoff spot.
Honorable Mention: None
Week #10: Kris Sagert (Sullivan) - With a tie game, Kris Sagert delivered a knockout blow to the Dousman Frogs, as he hit a grand slam home run in extra innings to secure a win for Sullivan. Sagert finished the game with some good numbers, too, going 3-for-6 with those 4 RBIs. The win keeps Sullivan in the playoff race, which has now heated up. Meanwhile, the home run may have been a symbolic visual of the Frogs coming back to reality.
Honorable Mention: Todd Grafenauer 3x3, 3 2Bs
Week #11: Ryan Hoffman (Burlington) - The Rome Webmaster doesn't have all the statistics for Hoffman. He simply knows he had the best weekend of anybody this year. In Game 1 of a double dip against Sullivan, Hoffman hit three, count 'em, three homeruns in his team's 8-1 victory. If that wasn't enough to propel his team to the win, he also was the winner on the mound, going all seven innings to earn the victory. Hoffman didn't stop there, as he hit his fourth and final home run in Game 2. Although his team lost the second game, Hoffman had a great Sunday in his team's douple dip split. He took over the Southwest homerun race with 8 on the year.
Honorable Mention: Todd Grafenauer 3x3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI; Nick Aplin 5x7, 2B, 5 runs, 3 walks, HBP
2009 Homerun Total:
Ryan Hoffman (Burlington) - 8
Todd Grafenauer (Mukwonago) - 6
Jason Morgan (Waterford) - 4
Andy Kraus (Sullivan) - 3
Brad Nowicki (Waterford) - 3
Aaron DeGrave (Burlington) - 2
Hank Johnson (Delavan) - 2
Justin Keegan (East Troy) - 2
Mitch Shorougain (Mukwonago) - 2
Chris Houk (Rome) - 2
Nick Aplin (Rome) - 2
Shaun Beherend (Sullivan) - 2
Adam Brechtl (Waterford) - 2
Chris Harmeling (Waterford) - 2
Steve Ems (Waterford) - 2
Brad Nowicki (Waterford) - 2
Mike Kuhn (Burlington) - 1
Dave Lebak (Burlington) - 1
Bud Milroy (Burlington) - 1
Dave Smith (Delavan) - 1
Todd Nieuwenhuis (Delavan) - 1
David Wenzel (Delavan) - 1
Kevin Wenzel (Delavan) - 1
Adam Doolittle (Dousman) - 1
Greg Matyas (Dousman) - 1
Justin Radichael (Dousman) - 1
Jeff Tess (East Troy) - 1
Adam Wolter (East Troy) - 1
Chris Elliot (Genesee) - 1
Jason Infusnio (Genesee) - 1
Andy Sturtevant (Genesee) - 1
Nate Rebholz (Mukwonago) - 1
Ryan Toshner (Mukwonago) - 1
Kevin Kiser (North Prairie) - 1
Kris Sagert (Sullivan) - 1
Wade Axelson (Waterford) - 1
Chuck Raduenz (Waterford) - 1