Editor Remarks

Two weeks are on the books, meaning ¼ of the season had been played already. This without a doubt gives us a ‘sour-sweet flavor, as who doesn't love to come out and play on Sundays (especially after this long summer break), yet winter is coming and with that, the end of our 2021 season is a few weeks ahead. But worry no more, as plenty of memories are about to be made including the crowning of a new Fall season champ!

Personally, this week gave me 3 moments to store in the softball memories vault. First, I spent a few minutes before the start of the game chatting with the no-so-corny rookie captain Nick Barr, and his struggle to work the numbers to get multiple subs in a week. A sentiment that I can relate indeed after a convoluted season with the Marauders, in which the team ended up using up to 11 different subs!

Secondly, had the opportunity to experience how powerful a brand can be within this league. No doubt the Alford’s Iron Pigs franchise is the best one out there but never thought that wearing a pirate hat will have such an impact on former drafted players to the extent of hearing the “Arr” expression yelled by big Tim Jamieson after wishing the Leones good luck in its first game affair of the week (rest assure Marauders will return!)

Lastly, and after the games ended, our now traditional parking lot comradery gave me the chance to see that future of this league is guaranteed when you see little Myles Shwarts hitting bombs thru the net with a power that hardly was displayed during the Leones games (except from POW Spencer Manz)

 At the diamond

A hard couple of games had put the Leones in a tough position for week 3, as the team couldn’t capture any win in 2 really well-fought battled games. Game 1 against the Padres saw the ‘priest’ crew displaying a massive offensive throughout the game to the extent that the Leones were only capable to shut down the Prim’s squad in just one inning. Nevertheless, the Leones kept their heads up and battled back the entire affair, led by POW’s Spencer Manz 2-HR’s/5 RBI’s, Matt Shwarts inside the park HR/3RBI’s and Andy Mabry perfect 2-2 game including 2R’s to finalize a 16-9 loss after 6 innings

With the advantage of not needing to travel across the Spirit Park complex, the Leones stayed at Field 3 to face the Pease Storm Chasers in one of the best defensive games played in the season so far, with a 7-4 final score after 7 innings (with 9min left in the clock!) in which once again Leones displayed their strongest asset, it’s defensive, but couldn’t once again materialize any rally to take the lead in the game. Offensively speaking, only Ashley Mort and Andres Galarraga biggest fan (see fun fact section for more details) were able to get at least 2-hits during the game, which speaks volumes of the offensive drought the Leones had in game two

Outstanding Leones

·       Co-POW Andy Mabry – 4/6, 2R’s, BB

·       Co-POW Spencer Manz – 2/6, 2HR’s, 2R’s, 5RBI’s and solid defensive at LCF

·       Co-POW Matt Shwarts – 3/6, R’s, 4RBI’s and inside the park HR

Fun Fact

Did you know that Capitan Leo Cova childhood idol, Andres Galarraga played for 13 seasons with the Leones del Caracas at first base in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League wearing the number 41, and is the reason why up to this date the captain wears that number?