For the second consecutive year, Harmony Sea Kittens battled to the Harmony Tournament title tilt, only to fall to Soft’s Balls (aka One-Hit Wonders in 2016). A well-played, hard-earned 13-12 win over arch rival Harmony Dogs set the early tone for the Kittens, who came back after a 2-hour layoff to dispatch Harmony Relics 20-3 in the second game of pool play. By the end of game two the sun broke through the clouds, adding heat to an already steamy day, and Los Gatitos ran out of gas vs. Soft’s Balls, who piled up runs early en route to an 18-6 win and their second title in as many years. Soft’s has become a nemesis for Sea Kittens, who are 13-6 since last August with four of the six losses coming to Soft’s.
Expectations of swinging for the fences!Sea Kittens 13, Dogs 12
The tourney opener developed into one of the most thrilling Kitten games of 2017. The Dogs attacked first, plating three runs off Sea Kitten started David “Zen Master” Rowe in the first inning. The Dogs greeted Rowe with 4 straight hits before he settled and quelled the rally with a comebacker and a punch-out.
Unfazed, the Kittens reared up and held their ground, with Dan Dynam-Oele bombing a first-inning, tape-measure, 3-run home run off the big cottonwood beyond the fence at Olbrich Field 3 to tie the game in the bottom of the inning.
Riled up, Tony Castenada’s crew regained the advantage in the second, scoring thrice more, but Ross Frey and Emily Brownson, filling in from Infield Flies, notched hits to open the bottom of the second and set the stage for a four-run inning, highlighted by a bases-loaded double from Joe Hennessy to tie the game and a Heidibadger Nelson grounder to give Sea Kittens a 7-6 lead.
By the third, Zen Master settled and showed the reserve that inspired the moniker. Backed by a steady Kittens defense- especially the infield of Erin “Mama Cat” O’Brien, Badgernelson, Dynam-Oele, and rookie Brenna Marsicek – The Dogs only managed two runs through the next four innings, even loading the bases with one out in the 5th without notching a run.
Meanwhile, the Sea Kitten offense kept clicking, with Hennessy delivering another 2-run double in the 3rd, Frey knocking in two, and Mama Cat lashing a two-out run-scoring single in the 4th to press the Cats’ advantage to 13-8.
Backed into a corner, the Dogs charged back one last time, scoring four runs in the 7th and advancing the equalizer to second with one out, but the cats stayed cool and Rowe induced a fly ball to center and pop up to seal the win.
Sea Kittens 20, Relics 3
Dogs bounced back with a decisive win over Relics in the second game of pool play, placing the Kitten’s fate in their own hands- a win over Relics would send Sea Kittens back to the tourney final, a loss and Dogs would advance on run differential.
Showing no ill-effects of a 2-hour layoff, beer, potato salad, or too many crackers, Sea Kittens opened game two with five consecutive hits and went on to take a quick 4-0 advantage. Hennessy took the mound in game 2 and was promptly greeted by two Relic hits, but settled quickly and limited the damage to a run.
The Relic defense also stepped up in the second, and the teams traded single runs in the second and third as the 5-2 game began to take the look of another closely contested match. But for as good as the Relics’ defense was, the Sea Kitten defense was a step better and retired 10 straight Relic batter between the second and fifth innings.
Humidity built through the afternoon at Olbrich, and players sweltered in the heat. When the sun punched through the haze during game 2, the day heated up even more and the Kitten offense heated with it. Karen Faster opened the fourth with a single, and the Cats’ bats got bopping again. Three runs in the fourth were followed by three in the fifth, and if it hadn’t been delivered already, a towering 3-run homer to right-center from Frey in the sixth was the Sea Kittens’ dagger.
Soft’s Balls 18, Sea Kittens 6
A quick turnaround and lost Rochambeau put the Sea Kitten’s back at bat against Soft’s Ball’s- MSCR LaCrosse League runners-up, tournament favorite, and Sea Kitten slayers. It was the second year in a row the teams met in the Harmony Final, won last year 8-6 by Soft’s behind a late 4-run rally.
Los Gatitos struck first, scoring a run and loading the bases with two out, but a Brad “Sweet Thing” Harkins 3-pitch base on balls was the biggest blow the offense could deliver in taking a 3-0 advantage. Zen master took the mound again for the Championship, and was greeted by 4 runs from the stacked Ballers’ lineup.
Perhaps showing effects of back-to-back games in the high heat of the day, the Sea kitten offense couldn’t hang while Soft’s balls pounded home three runs in the second and six in the 3rd to cruise to a 13-3 lead. And while the defense settled behind Rowe after that, it was unable to keep SB off the scoreboard in any inning, while consistently keeping the Kittens at bay.
As the afternoon wore on, the weary, beleaguered Kittens were unnerved by the sight of vultures circling the outfield as they dragged themselves out there for the final few innings.
Game Notes
Four of the Sea Kittens past 6 losses have been to Soft’s Balls; Sea kittens have gone 13-2 against anyone else since August 2016.
Soft’s Balls, thankfully, have been moved up for fall league play!
Zen Master loves some Harmony?
David Rowe last tripled May 30, 2012- he tripled three times in this year’s tourney. Felling frisky for the day games!
Rowe went 10-14 on the day, boosting his all-time Harmony Tournament batting average to 0.784- more than 200 points higher than his career batting average. His 29 hits (in 10 games) are tied with Joe for most in tourney play, and his 19 rounds scored are tops on the team.
Game 2 in the 2017 tournament marked Dave’s 100th game with Sea Kittens! He joins Joe (123) and Erin (117) in the 100 club. Heidi is next at 95.
Dan collected his 100th Sea Kitten RBI, in only 185 plate appearances over 52 games. Joe (173 career) needed 74 games (250 PA) to get to 100; Dave is at 89 career RBI, Erin 87.
Salmon Snacks
Brenna for stepping in for her 3-game Sea Kitten debut, playing a solid third base and flicking a pretty single to left in her first-ever Sea Kitten at-bat. First impressions never fade!
Erin for having a big day at the plate- going 8-13 with 5 runs scored and 3 RBI. Only Ross scored more runs (6) and only Dave and Joe (10 each) had more hits
Heidi for a solid two game at second, and making a sweet catch while catching the third, despite her trouble-foot acting up painfully
Dave for the aforementioned 3 triples and his continued Harmony Tournament Beast Mode
Laura for her 3-hit game 2, despite getting lost in a hazy vortex around second base. Twice 😉
Brad for running the base with abandon- but making it every time. He just slides into everything now!
Ross for his HR- the second over-the-fencer of his life, and his second in two weeks. New bat.
Ross gets one more for Joe & Brad backing him into the fence in game 1- “I’ve got room???”
Joe for jacking one out against Soft’s Balls. Meaningless in context, but it was the principle of the thing.
Ross and Emily for joining us for game 1; Karen for playing game 2, and Nicole and our random assortment of Relics for jumping in during game 3.
Regina & Sue- the Grits who held Callie and Estelle for the final innings of game 2.
