MSCR Monroe League Championship Game
Tonight’s title tilt features Monroe League first-half-winners Swingin’ Eagles (6-4) and second-half champs Harmony Sea Kittens (9-1). Sea Kittens are in the midst of a seven-game winning streak and feature both the league’s top-scoring offense and stingiest defense, but Eagles have the distinction of handing Harmony its only loss, with Eagles coming out on top of a 9-5 game June 6 to secure the first-half title. Eagles held Sea Kittens scoreless for three consecutive innings in the win- the only time the Cats have put up three straight goose eggs in the team’s past 27 games. Harmony bounced back a week later and topped Eagles 12-5, but scuffled through the first 4 innings of that game and trailed 5-4 before breaking through for a 6-run fifth inning. Zen Master Rowe (4-0) will get the start for Sea Kittens. Rowe pitched seven effective innings against the Eagles June 13, walking none and striking out three in the Kitten win. A twist for the championship is a venue change: the teams will leave the familiar confines of Olbrich Park and venture to the big Goodman #2 diamond, where the broader dimensions- 280′ all-around vs. 248′ fences at Olbrich- will cut into Sea Kittens’ long-ball game, but may provide opportunities for the Cats to exploit the gaps. The home run has not been a large part of the Eagle offense this summer. Sea Kittens do have a number of players who have extensive experience at Goodman through Monday night Bottomfeeders games- Dan DynamOele, Polish Puma Latzka, Roadrunner Hauer, and Joe Hennessy- and all of the Cats have played at Goodman before. It’s unclear if any Eagles players have experience on the larger diamond. Zen Master Rowe (4-0) will get the start for Sea Kittens, Rowe pitched seven effective innings against eagles June 13, walking none and striking out three in the Kitten win. Unavailable this week are Ropes Curtis, Schultzy Oele, Man-Aaron Jossart, and Clutch Younger. Heidibadger Nelson is listed as questionable for the night’s game as she tries to shake illness. Kendra “Love Knot” Haight will fill an outfield slot as she did for Sea Kittens last week, and fall Sea Kitten Flash Marsicek is ready to go if Heidibadger cannot. In the latter case, Marsicek would play second base and Roadrunner Hauer would join Haight in the OF. Gametime forecast is improving, as the chance of rain has diminished from 80% to 40%, but a threat of thunderstorms remains in the area. Winds are forecast to be 5 mph from the southeast- out to left. It’s going to be a beautiful night for softball- come out and Get Smitten With the Kitten!Projected lineup
OF Polish Puma Latzka 1B Mama Cat O’Brien 3B Dan DynamOele 2B Roadrunner Hauer DH/OF Joe Hennessy OF Heidibadger Nelson (questionable- illness; Flash Marsicek if HBadger can’t go) OF Sweet Thing Harkins C Red Shoes Hewitt P Zen Master Rowe OF Kendra “Love Knot” Haight SS Boom Boom Magyera