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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By Fastpitch Johnny. August 9, 2004, UPDATED : The Texas Thunder’s catcher Ryan Realmuto was anticipating inside corner location from Nauts in-trouble starter Gina Oaks on a 3-2 count in the first. Realmuto guessed right. She exploded on Oaks’ inside pitch, her bat creating the “DOYINGGGG” sound which in Fastpitch means Going…going…gone and gone it was.
OAKS DELIVERS INTO THE WHEELHOUSE: It’s 3 and 2 to Ryan Realmuto, Texas catcher in the first inning. Kristen Zaleski leads from first, Liz Bouck from second as Gina Oaks delivers the homerun pitch. The high far and deep blast hugged the left field line. Venus Taylor turned and headed to the corner, watching the majestic arch of the ball as it sailed almost in agonizing slow motion into the shrubbery behind the 10 foot high Trace Adams U.S.A. sign about 5 feet fair. 3-run homer. The Nauts were down 3-0 last night before the sun went down. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
“The Southpaw Shooter”, Lindsay Chouinard took the circle and continued her Naut dominance, not allowing a Naut to reach second base, throwing her third shutout on the Juggernaut this season, 5-0 mathematically eliminating Naut hopes of finishing first.
The double defeat dropped the Nauts 2-1/2 games behind Akron for second place with 8 to play, when Akron beat California on the West Coast last night. It is likely that Akron and the Nauts will meet in the first round of the playoffs, unless Texas completely collapses against New England and California.
FIRST GAME BUMMER: Kaci Clark mops up in completion of suspended game, pitching to Serena Collins of the Thunder from July 25 in the late afternoon Monday. The Nauts went 9 and out, and the Thunder won this opening game 6-0. Photo by WPCNR Sports
After Sunday’s great win, the electricity appeared gone as this second game started. Jen Carlo in the press box commented that completing the first game might have had something to do with that.
The Nauts and Thunder completed their suspended game necessitated by two hours of Houston showers July 25. The Nauts expired in 45 minutes beginning at 5:30 P.M. with Peaches James of the Thunder retiring nine Nauts in a row in the 5th, 6th and 7th innings to preserve the 6-0 Thunder lead amassed against Kaci Clark in Houston two weeks ago. That win dropped the Nauts 3-1/2 off the Thunder first place pace.
The plan was to win the second game behind Oaks, close the gap back to 2-1/2 but Chouinard did not let that happen.
Who IS this Kid, Bouck?
The Texas Jackrabbit is a menace.
The Jackrabbit did it again to the Nauts last night. Liz Bouck did it again by leading off the regularly scheduled game. She beat out her third bunt single in her last 4 at-bats on the Nauts. They know she’s going to bunt. They have 8 players playing the infield. Yet, Bouck still beats them out and is hitting .279 in the league. Bouck says she’s going to keep bunting until the league can throw her out.
THE BOUCK SHIFT: The Juggernaut deploy Paul Plemenos’ “Bouck Shift.” Infielders Carri Leto at second and shortstop Lyndsey Klein play inside the base paths to protect against the Baltimore Chop. Pasquerella at third and Erica Hansen at first within conversational distance to snatch up the bunt. Liz Bouck still beat outs bunts. Note position of the outfielder, Venus Taylor 10 feet off the dirt of the infield. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
Jackie Pasquerella is on top of the plate, but Bouck is so fast she beats them out anyway. Gardner next up sacrificed Bouck to second. Then Oaks walked Kristen Zaleski on another 3-2 count. She then went 3-2 to Realmuto with two balls being I mean right around the plate. Then Oaks threw inside and Realmuto guessing right, launched the pitch over the left field fence.
Rattled, Oaks hit Ginger Jones-Powers and Clare Burnam in succession.
But, this being fastpitch softball nobody charged the mound, or got upset. Then, too late, Oaks fanned Steph Ramos and Amanda Buchholtz to retire the side.
The Thunder Bunt Torture Continues in the 2nd.
Oaks troubles continued in the second frame. She fanned Erin Evans, but that Bouck girl, who is hitting .279, this time worked a walk on another 3-2 count. Gina could not seem comfortable tonight.
Lindsay Gardner then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt that waltzed slowly down the foul line. Third Sacker Pasquerella watched it spin, but it would not go foul. A bunt single. There were runners on first and second. Oaks enticed Kristen Zaleski to foul out to Erica Hansen the firstbaser outside first and was within an out of controlling the damage and keeping the Nauts within striking distance of Chouinard.
It was not to be.
Realmuto up again with two on smacked one hard on the ground on a 1-1 pitch to Jackie Pasquerella between the mound and the third base line. Jackie had it pop out of her glove, then rifled it to first, too late. But to compound the felony, Erica Hansen playing first with Oaks pitching let the ball go through her glove down the line, and the alert, ever pesky Liz Bouck, having reached third, scored. 4-0.
Next up Ginger Jones-Powers dumped a single in front of Kellie Wilkerson playing deep in right to send Realmuto over with the 5th run.
40 Miles of Bad Road.
Oaks had faced 16 hitters in two innings of work, allowed 4 hits, one a homer, hit two batters, walked 3 (2 of whom scored) on 3-2 counts, and had given up 5 runs, 4 earned. As Bob Murphy would say, she faced “40 miles of bad road.”
Juggernaut Killer.
Meanwhile, Lindsay Chouinard sailed along, not striking out the Nauts, but getting them to hit outs, something the statuesque southpaw does very well. Chouinard retired the first 7 on 4 groundouts, 2 flies and a K, before allowing a bloop hit to the opposite field to Courtney Scott.
Then she retired 14 of the last 16 Naut batters on 9 grounders and 3 flies, if my scorecard is correct. It was Chouinard’s fourth win over the Nauts this season, in which she has allowed them 1 run in 28 innings. She beat them 2-0 in Houston, June 10; 3-1 in Montclair on July 7, and 7-0 July 24 in Houston. Chouinard did not allow a Naut to reach second base tonight. Chouinard who is 10-5, is 6-5 with the rest of the league, and 4-0 against the Nauts.
Winning With No Fastball.
WPNCR caught up with “Shoot” (as she is called by her teammates) after the game and asked her thoughts about the game.
She said the 3 run homer took a load off: “Yeah, it was a good game. I got my three runs early, and just try and shut ‘em down after that. Runners on base minimal.”
“SHOOT”: Lyndsey Chouinard, Long Tall Lefty who shoots the corners, icing her southpaw after the game. Photo by WPCNR Sports
WPCNR asked what was working for her tonight. (She threw pitches that looked tantalizing and dazzled with movement.)
SHOOT ready to draw. Clare Burnam is the third baseman. Photo by WPCNR Sports
Shoot Swings to the Motion, reminiscent of a lefthanded Lew Burdette. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
Shoot Fires. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
“Well, I try and mix up speeds. Throw something hard. Throw something offspeed. Then throw a change. Different speeds. I think it works well.”
WPCNR asked if she had an overpowering fastball when she needed it, and I was surprised to learn “The Shooter” does not throw a fastball:
“I actually don’t throw a fastball. I throw more movement pitches. It’s more my style. I tell people I’m more like Greg Maddux (Braves Cubs corner specialist) than Randy Johnson (Diamondbacks). I’m not going to overpower. I like to make my defense work behind me. I think it keeps them in the game better. Just move it around and keep the batters off balance. ”
Her battery mate Realmuto Monday night agrees. “She was awesome (tonight). She just mixed speeds real well. Kept the hitters off balance. That’s what she’s been doing all year. She doesn’t ever give anything away in the middle of the plate. She’s had big games for us.”
Chouinard talked about her National Pro Fastpitch season as positive: “Yeah, I’m definitely glad I did it. It’s an experience. We’re the pioneers. We’re getting the league going. It’s been a lot of fun, so we’ll see how the end goes.”
Chouinard still thinks anything can happen, noting the Thunder has one more with the Nauts Tuesday night in Montclair, then plays New England for 3 and Sacramento for 5 games.
Realmuto Reality.
WPCNR asked Ryan Realmuto about the pitch she hit off Oaks for the big blow:
“I was lookin’ in. She threw the pitch inside. I just took her over left field, “ was how Ryan explained it. WPCNR asked about how she developed her distinctive low crouch that launched tonight’s opening inning rocket.
Ryan Realmuto. The Thunder Tonight. Photo by WPCNR Sports
“When I was a kid, I had a problem with lunging so I just opened up a little bit, widened out, and took a step away. I’ve had it since I was 10 years old. It makes me shorter to the ball.”
WPCNR asked how the Thunder (which entertained themselves between games by playing pepper with a sock, trying to keep it in the air to the music by kicking it with their feet to each other), stayed so loose after last night’s tough loss. (Before they shook hands last night after their 5-3 loss with the Juggernaut at the plate, they came together as a team right after they had lost and did the all-for-one-huddle.)
“With as many games as we play in the summer, “ Realmuto said, “you got to put those kind of losses behind you. That’s what we did. Came out today and hit the ball good.”
Asked if the mosquitos in New Jersey were as bad as the mosquitos in Houston, Realmuto laughed out loud and said, “I think they’re worse., but the humidity’s better (in New Jersey).”
Realmuto is positive on her first NPF season: “It’s been a good year. A fun summer. I’m glad I did it. It’s been exciting. I got to meet good people. It’s been fun.”
Kaci Clark mopped up for the Nauts, relieving Oaks in the fifth. Oaks (10-8) came through big for the Nauts in June when the Juggernaut were trying to replace Michele Smith in their rotation, but has struggled in her last two outings against Akron and Texas, surrendering 11 runs in 7 innings.
JUGGERNAUT Action on Pro Sports Radio. Final Home Game Tuesday Night.
The Juggernaut play their final home game of 2004 Tuesday evening in Montclair at the Little Ball Park on Campus, Montclair State University Softball Stadium. Gametime is 7:35 P.M. Tickets are available.
The Juggernaut finish the season in Arizona and Sacramento. Two of the Juggernaut games in Arizona will be internetcast around the world on Pro Sports Radio, August 16 and 18th at 10:35 P.M. E.D.T.
Getting Nautical.
No Playoff Home Games. Are you Kidding?
It has been decided by the National Pro Fastpitch league to hold all playoff games in Akron, Ohio to avoid excessive travel costs by New England, the Juggernaut, and the Thunder. The Schedule.
Semifinals Round (Best-of-three)
August 25, 2004
Game #1 – Second Place Team vs. Third Place Team @ 6 p.m. E.D.T.
Game #2 – First Place Team vs. Fourth Place Team @ 8 p.m. E.D.T.
August 26, 2004
Game #3 – Second Place Team vs. Third Place Team @ 6 p.m.
Game #4 – First Place Team vs. Fourth Place Team @ 8 p.m.
August 27, 2004 (if necessary)
Game #5 – Second Place Team vs.Third Place Team @ 6 p.m.
Game #6 – First Place Team vs. Fourth Place Team @ 8 p.m.
Championship Series (Best-of-three)
August 28, 2004
Game #7 – No. 1/No. 4 series winners vs. No. 2/No. 3 series winner @ 7 p.m.
August 29, 2004
Game #8 – No. 1/No. 4 series winners vs. No. 2/No. 3 series winner @ 4 p.m.
Game #9 – No. 1/No. 4 series winners vs. No. 2/No. 3 series winner @ 6 p.m. (if necessary)
Fans can purchase tickets now by calling the Akron Racers ticket office at 330-376-8188.
Tickets for the entire series (Playoffs and Championships) can be purchased for:
• $40 for adults
• $35 for seniors
• $20 for student/youth
Individual game tickets are also available:
• $10 for adult
• $8 for seniors
• $5 for student/youth
The Radisson Hotel City Centre has been chosen as the official hotel of the NPF Playoffs and Championships. Reservations can be made by calling 330-384-1500 or by visiting the hotel website (www.radisson.com).
NPF Playoff and Championship apparel & collectibles will be available at Firestone Stadium throughout all the playoff games.
The playoffs will be internet-broadcast on ProSports Radio. Juggernaut management is disappointed they could not host the playoffs in Montclair.
ESPN to telecast Thursday Night Softball next Season.
WPCNR has also learned from the Juggernaut General Manager, Rick Perrotty that ESPN, the sports television network, has signed a contract with National Pro Fastpitch to televise a National Pro Fastpitch Game of the Week on Thusday evenings.
YES Wants More of a Piece of the Nauts.
The New York Yankees network YES is also interested in televising many more Juggernaut games in 2005, Perrotty said. Ratings were not available from the national YES network today at the ballpark, but Perrotty estimates Sunday night’s telecast was seen by 500,000 homes.
The National Pro Fastpitch Standings August 10, 2004.
Monday Results
Texas 6, NY-NJ Juggernaut 0 (1),
Texas 5, NY-NJ Juggernaut 0 (2)
Arizona 7, New England 3
Akron 4 California 2, (Late)