The Storm took nothing for granted today, especially since they were facing the Storm Chasers and the Pirates, who are both very familiar with Storms… This was also a battle of the league’s top pitchers, with Banta and Burke both vying for that silver trophy behind Brumley. 

Game 1, Storm Chasers @ Storm 4-11

Brumley and the Storm defense kept the Storm Chasers from reaching first base in the first three innings. In the bottom of the first, Chris Cesario got things rolling with a double, and was promptly scored by a Matt Brumley single. Banta kept Calvano and Brumett from reaching base… this time. In the bottom of the second, Will Ryan doubled and was knocked in by a Casper single. Banta and the Storm Chaser defense kept the Storm from scoring any more runs, bringing the score to 0-2. In the bottom of the third, super sub Joseph Sanchez smashed a single to get things started. Other super sub Brian Lee doubled, and scored on a Chris Cesario 3-run home run. Joe Calvano doubled and was knocked in by Brumett, to bring the score to 0-6 for the Storm. The Storm Chasers scored 2 in the top of 4, and the Storm were unable to respond. The Storm Chasers grabbed another 2 in the top of 5 to bring the score to 4-6. With two outs in the bottom of 5, Chris Cesario got things rolling with another double, and was scored by a Brumley single. Calvano doubled, Brumett singled, and Danny Cortez knocked Calvano in with another RBI single. Then Will Ryan struck out, ending the inning and bringing the score to 4-9. The Storm Chasers did not score in the top of 6, and with the clock running out, the Storm strung some hits together, including singles from JC Burks, Matt Casey, and Joseph Sanchez. Duane Camby ‘induced’ an error and two runners scored as time expired, ending the game 4-11.

Game 2, Storm @ Pirates

Brian Lee did leadoff things and singled to start game 2, and was promptly scored on a Chris Cesario 2-run home run. Brumley hit what should have been a double but turned it into a single. Calvano singled. Brumett hit a sac fly deep fly ball which advanced both runners, and Will Ryan hit a big 2-out, 2-RBI single to score both runners. Kyle Casper doubled, and Will Ryan scored easily smartly held up at third was out by a mile at home. The Pirates got 1 run off a Dalton Fallaw solo HR in the bottom of the first. In the top of the second, JC Burks hit what could have been a 2-RBI single, but was instead a leadoff single. Matt Casey walked, and Duane Camby knocked Burks in with an RBI single. In the top of 3, Chris Cesario singled, Brumley walked, and Joe Calvano hit a 3-run shot. Will Ryan doubled, but did not score, bringing the game to 8-1. No one scored in the fourth. In the top of 5, Brumley singled and scored when Calvano hit another home run. Brumett and Ryan singled, but no one else crossed the plate, bringing the score to 10-1. The Pirates did not score in the bottom of 5. Looking for the run rule, the Storm’s bottom of the order all got on base on back to back singles from Burks, Casey, Sanchez, and Camby. Brian Lee reached base with an RBI fielder’s choice, and Cesario smashed a 3-run shot. Calvano hit his third home run, and the Storm went confidently into the bottom of the sixth up 16-1. Of course, even up 15, you still have to field the ball. The Storm experimented with just not getting the third out, giving up 7 runs until Brian Lee made a nice catch in RCF to end the game 16-8.

Storm IPOWs

1-4 Chris Cesario 6 for 7, 2 2Bs, 3 HRs, 6 runs scored and 8 RBIs. Chris also made some incredible catches in LCF. AND Joe Calvano 6 for 7, 2 2Bs, 3 HRs, 6 runs scored and 6 RBIs. Excellent SS play. Co-IPOWs.

5-8 Will Ryan 5 for 6, 2 2Bs, 1 run scored and 2 RBIs. Shockingly excellent 2B play.

9-12 Matt Casey 3 for 5, BB, 1 run scored. Easily would have had a triple if there wasn’t a runner in his way.