Game 1

TACOS - 5

Isotopes - 8

The TACOS faced off against the Isotopes and did not have the right chemistry for a win. Playing on field #4 with the wind blowing in, this game was a pitcher’s duel involving two crafty veterans on the mound - Banta and Ruckel. (Please read the next few sentences in Ribby Paultz voice from The Ticket). The Tacos offense sprinkled hits here and there but could not string enough action together at the same time to make a solid run. Rookie Taco Luke Morgan continued his torrid pace going 3 for 3. Pitcher man John Banta went 3 for 3. Mrs. Alicia ‘Captain’ Shwarts was a line drive machine going 2 for 3 with an RBI. Player man Brian Osgood hit his first fence blast, and Kevin ‘Knoxie’ Knox (not the guy that does interviews in the stands of Globe Life) had a double and two RBIs. The shell breaker for the Tacos was a late three run blast by head proton Andrew Williams (not the A's fan) that had just enough atomic mass to clear the left field fence.

Jon Banta – 3 for 3

Luke Morgan – 3 for 3

Alicia Shwarts – 2 for 3 / 1 RBI

Kevin Knox – 2 for 3 / Double / 2 RBIs

Game 2

TACOS - 8

Pirates - 6                            

The TACOS did not have much time to regroup before the very talented Pirates squad rolled into field #4 ready to make Coach Keg and his Taco crew walk the plank (it’s always intimidating to see the steely eyes of Skipper Bob looking out from the dugout). This game was another gritty game with good pitching and solid defense by both units. Pitcher man Banta was on point and was able to outduel Papa Gandy and hold the scrappy Pirates to six runs on the day. Osgood, Knoxie, and Player Woman Shwarts stayed hot at the plate, going a combined 7 for 11, with 4 RBIs. Cuddles came through with a key and sharply hit two run double to right field (might’ve been a shallow, perfectly placed pop up but my memory is foggy). The offensive highlight of this battle was the deep drive to left field hit by Lewis ‘Big Stick’ Zwick that burned the Pirates outfielder. It was great to hear the cheers from not only the Tacos dugout, but the stands as well, as Zwick rumbled into second base with a stand up double. There were two defensive highlights from this contest. One was made in LCF by young Tanner Gandy on a line drive blast by JC Burks. The other sealed the game as Brian Osgood made a tough diving catch on a hard line drive to get the first key out in the bottom of the 7th. Rumor has it that at some point in this game, a WWE wrestling match broke out at first base between a Taco runner (maybe Mrs. Shwarts) and the fearless Pirates Captain, but the proper words to describe this tussle evade me so I will set aside my quill and ink for now…

Brian Osgood – 2 for 3 / BB / 2 RBIs

Kevin Knox – 2 for 3

Alicia Shwarts – 2 for 3

Cuddles – 2 for 4 / Double / 2 RBIs

Jon Banta – 1 for 3 / 2 RBIs

IPOW – Jon Banta – 4 for 6 / 2 RBIs / 13 total runs allowed between the two games against tough competition

IROW – Alicia Shwarts – 4 for 6 / 3 Runs / 1 RBI