Wrapping up the team’s most successful regular season to date, Harmony Sea Kittens (9-1, 5-0 MSCR Monroe League second half) comfortably strolled past Wisco Kids (1-9, 1-4) at Olbrich Park Wednesday night. With nothing on the line but a chance to pursue some team and individual records- and keep the bats, pitching, and defense in tune before next week’s league championship game against Swingin’ Eagles- Sea Kittens turned in their best overall performance since a July 11 win over Mickey’s Bomb Squad.
Mama Cat O’Brien connecting for her third double of the summer to open what would become the Sea Kittens’ 7-run third inning..
Returning from a four-week stint on the disabled list, Harmony starter Zen Master Rowe showed no ill effects, pitching an efficient 2-walk/ 2-strikeout game and carrying a shutout into the bottom of the sixth inning. Rowe also picked up where he left off with the bat and went 4-4 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored. After issuing a two-base walk to open the game, Rowe settled in nicely and retired 15 of the next 19 Wisco batters, without allowing a runner past second base.
Zen Master and Badger relax as the Cats coast to victory.
In the meantime the Harmony offense was in tune, opening the bottom of the first with five consecutive hits and going on to score five runs in the inning. The Cats went on to send eleven batters to the plate in both the 3rd and 5th innings, scoring seven and six runs in those frames, respectively. Sea Kittens up and down the lineup contributed, with 10 of 11 players collecting two or more hits, 10 scoring at least one run, and 10 driving in at least one run. Among the 30-hit barrage were nine extra-base hits, pushing the 2018 team total to a record 66, topping the 61 collected by the 2016 Sea Kittens.
The game’s highest drama was whether the Sea Kitten defense and Rowe could complete the second shutout in team history. For the second consecutive week Los Gatitos strung zeroes on the scoreboard for five innings but could not close out the 6th inning unscathed. With Sea Kittens up by three touchdowns, a rather speedy Kid opened the top of the 6th with a ringing double. Rowe got the next batter out but the next Kid lined a single to left-center. Joe Hennessy fielded the ball cleanly and threw to(wards) home- an on-target, short, and late throw, but a principled one. A throw that said, “hey, pitch- I try to have your back, but he too quick and too far away. Maybe next time they’ll hit to Man-Aaron (Jossart) or Mercury (Stevens) in that situation.” Wisco went on to score twice more in the inning, blah, blah.
Boom Boom Magyera robbed of a hit in the third inning.
Next Up:
MSCR Monroe League Championship Game: Harmony Sea Kittens (9-1) vs. Swingin’ Eagles (6-4), Wednesday August 15, 2018, Olbrich Park. Field & time TBA!
Sea Kittens have won 7 consecutive games and boast the league’s highest-scoring offense and stingiest defense, but Swingin’ Eagles have the distinction of handing the Kits their only loss of the season- a convincing 9-5 win June 6, a game in which the Cats mustered only one run and eight hits after a 4-run first inning. Those who attended the Schultzy-Oele wedding four days prior went a combined 6-18 in the game. Harmony avenged the loss a week later, but struggled through the first four innings of that game and trailed 5-4 before breaking through for 6 runs in the bottom of the fifth en route to a 12-5 win.
It’s Sea Kittens’ first Summer League Championship appearance since 2012, when the team routed Team Leah 16-1 for its first and only title. The Fall 2017 Sea Kittens lost to Pitches be Trippin’ 7-6 in the team’s only other title game appearance. Unlike the 2012 Kittens, who were forced to play the game with 9 players- including 2 non-roster subs- the 2018 Sea Kittens will be in full-force, missing only Man-Aaron Jossart and Ropes Curtis.
Game Notes
Jami connected for hits in her first three at-bats
Sweet Thing Harkins had his first home run ball retrieved from the underbrush and returned to him prior to the game.
Coupled with her 4-4 game last week, she became the second woman to collect hits in seven consecutive at-bats. Erin hit safely in seven straight September 6 & 13, 2017, and also holds the team record- eight straight, spanning three games May 13- May 27, 2015
“I have no idea what those words mean.” -Roadrunner Hauer, when told she could be the first SK woman to hit above 0.400 as a Summer League rookie.
Alex tied Joe’s team record with his 4th triple of 2018… but after coasting into third on what may have been an inside-the-park home run, the softball gods scowled mightily upon him in his next two at-bats.
Erin set a new record with her 3rd double of the summer- finally erasing that crazy thing where no Kitten woman had ever mustered more than two in a summer season!
The three times Brad has led off this season, he’s opened the game with a double, triple, and home run. Overall he’s a solid 10-16 in the one-spot… but he’s really blazed when batting down- 10 hits in 12 at-bats. Oh, these lineup decisions for game 11! 🙂
Dan tied Joe for team lead in home runs at 5 apiece
Remarkably, Brad and Laura batted one time in each of the Cat’s five innings at the plate.
Team records set:
The 2018 Sea Kittens have whacked 41 doubles in 9 games played (remember the forfeit!), topping the 2016 club’s 36
The 2018 crew has also collected 66 extra-base hits to out-pace the 61 hit in 2016
With 8 walks through 9 games, this season’s bunch is still ahead of 2013’s record-low 13 bases on balls accepted… just recall the scouting report that notes Steal Your Base drew 8 consecutive walks off the Swingin’ Eagles pitcher and caused him to become completely unglued.
Individual records in play:
We’ll have fun with those after next week’s all-around team performance! 🙂
Zen Master Rowe knocking one of his four base hits. Rowe went 4-4 and allowed a season-low 3 runs in his return to the team after a 42-day layoff.
Salmon Snacks
Kendra for subbing and making her Sea Kitten debut- and a sweet basket catch of a hard liner to right-center- trusting Joe’s backup (which was actually there)
Brad, Dave, Dan, and Joe all collected 4 hits and combined for 11 runs scored and 11 RBI
Jami for three solid line drive hits, and a nifty stop at second
Heidi for another nice two-hit game
Laura for a sweet grab at the plate
Dave for a stellar return to the mound- and at the plate!
Kyle for getting his groove with a pair of hits and 3 RBI after a 3-game layoff
Joe for the late, short, but on-line and principled throw toward the plate to feebly try to save the shutout
Erin for scoring 4 runs and hitting her third double of the summer
