Gameday Results, 4/30: Coffee Grounds – Southgate, MI

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GAMES 1 & 2 1:00 PM FIELD A
(0-2)
WOLFPACK
(2-0)
WICKED ACES
GAME 1
1
LP: Strojny (0-1)
HR: Strojny (1)
7
WP: Bortmas (1-0)
HR: Bortmas (1,2), A. Bischoff (1)
GAME 2
7 inn.
2
LP: Strojny (0-2)
HR: G. Brannan (1)
3
WP: A. Bischoff (1-0)
HR: A. Bischoff (2,3)

(2015)
AVG: .222
SLG: .388
RpG: 4.04
ERA: 3.72
WHIP: 1.56
K/6: 12.3
0  •   All-Time Regular Season H2H Wins   • 
Ties: 0
8
The 2015 division champions clash in the first series of the new season. Neither team appeared in the preseason tournaments. So, this series marks two milestones: 1) the return of Austin Bischoff to the WSEM field for the first time in 600 days, and 2) the first game action for Greg Brannan as captain of the Wolfpack.

Greg's first test will be a big one for his team. The Aces have dominated the head-to-head series with the Wolfpack, going 6-0 over two seasons of play while outscoring the Wolfpack 65-5 in those games. In fact, when Austin last led the Aces in 2014, they did not surrender a single run to the Wolfpack. It's a very different lineup Austin has to work with today, though. With Evan Bischoff anticipated to be in Nebraska to start the season, Austin and Bortmas will be the only veterans on hand. The rest of his roster will be comprised of untested rookies. The Wolfpack, on the other hand, are in very familiar territory, returning the identical roster of 6 veterans that won the 2015 Garcia pennant.

(2015)
AVG: .249
SLG: .453
RpG: 5.71
ERA: 1.98
WHIP: 1.12
K/6: 13.9
GAMES 3 & 4 1:30 PM FIELD B
(2-0)
SEE YAS
(0-2)
FLYING SQUIRRELS
GAME 3
3
WP: Farkas (1-0)
HR: Farkas (1), Nagorski (1)
1
LP: Skinner (0-1)
HR: N. Braden (1)
GAME 4
13
WP: Nagorski (1-0)
HR: Farkas (2), Corbett (1)
11
LP: Brown (0-1)
HR: Skinner (1,2)

(2015)
AVG: .163
SLG: .261
RpG: 2.18
ERA: 4.91
WHIP: 1.46
K/6: 12.8
4  •   All-Time Regular Season H2H Wins   • 
Ties: 0
2
In their one-year history, these two teams have a history of trading blows. Both teams recorded a shut out victory against the other in 2015, and both teams also recorded a 6-run victory over the other. This trend continued when they met at the Wind-Up in their only action of the spring, and exchanged crooked numbers back and forth. The See Yas priority this offseason was to boost offensive production. They addressed this 2015 deficiency two-fold by adding the power bats of Bayley and Nagorski. For their part, the 2016 Squirrels roster is more cohesive: one that should get the most out of each piece in defined roles. Their undefeated streak through the Wind-Up bracket had some close calls, but exemplified what this roster is capable of.

The Opening Day Game 3 matchup of Skinner and Farkas has a 1-0 result written all over it. These are two of the only three pitchers to throw perfect games in 2015, and they're also the career leaders in that category with 5 (Farkas) and 4 (Skinner). The expected Game 4 pitching matchup of Brown vs Bayley is a rematch of the 2016 Wind Up Tournament championship. Brown was hit around a bit in that game, but edged out Bayley by a final score of 6-5. This meeting should get better performances out of both number-two arms in their only start on the day.


(2015)
AVG: .219
SLG: .423
RpG: 4.11
ERA: 3.13
WHIP: 1.69
K/6: 14.1
GAMES 5 & 6 3:30 PM FIELD A
(2-0)
EL DIABLOS
(0-2)
ISLANDERS
GAME 5
3
WP: C. Phillips (1-0)
2
LP: Doby (0-1)
GAME 6
10
WP: Hatt (1-0)
HR: Tomlinson (1)
0
LP: Gendron (0-1)

(2015)
AVG: .196
SLG: .404
RpG: 4.32
ERA: 4.07
WHIP: 1.96
K/6: 12.6
10  •   All-Time Regular Season H2H Wins   • 
Ties: 0
2
2015 was the Islanders best season as a franchise, resulting in their first playoff berth. Coming out of the draft, talk around the league was that the Islanders had assembled an even better roster that would take them even further. Well, they rode that wave straight into a 1-6 spring. If there's good news to be garnered from that, it's that they're yet to put even half of that roster together in a lineup. A lot of the Isles' potential likely tied into Gendron. When G slides in as the ace, Doby can become an above average number-two arm: the role which paved the way for most of his 8 W last season. The bats in this lineup should hold their own; being able to use the pitching staff tactically to its fullest will be the key to their season.

El Diablos end to 2015 was a bitter one, failing to get eligible and missing the playoffs for the first time as a franchise. Chandler Phillips addressed eligibility in the draft by grabbing his father and his fellow "bash brother," Sessions. He'll get the games he needs out of both, and do that without any headaches. The acquisition of Hatt answers the question of, "who's their number-two pitcher?" for at least a chunk of the season. If there's any question about how well the roster can hang in without Hatt, just take a look at their spring results: a 5-5 record in which Chandler went 4-0 on the mound. If El Diablos can continue playing near-.500 ball during their Hatt-less weeks, they'll be smoothly sailing toward a finish at least a few games above that mark overall.

(2015)
AVG: .201
SLG: .347
RpG: 3.61
ERA: 5.06
WHIP: 2.06
K/6: 12.4
GAMES 7 & 8 4:00 PM FIELD B
(1-1)
RED COX
(1-1)
HOLY BALLS
GAME 7
2
WP: Kujawa (1-0)
0
LP: Fisher (0-1)
GAME 8
1
LP: Castle (0-1)
11
WP: Pearson (1-0)
HR: Pearson (1)

(2015)
AVG: .195
SLG: .339
RpG: 2.86
ERA: 1.84
WHIP: 1.14
K/6: 14.5
4  •   All-Time Regular Season H2H Wins   • 
Ties: 0
2
The Cox were one of only two teams to reach 15 preseason points (5 W). While there's no direct correlation to in-season results, version 2016 does seem poised to follow in the footsteps of the 2015 squad. It is likely true that the loss of Jardine will weaken their pitching to a degree, but Castle can adequately fill that role while providing more power at the plate. The rest of the roster remains solidly intact, so the 17-11 secret recipe is largely unchanged.

The Balls narrowly missed the playoffs last year while not getting any innings pitched from mid-season pickup RJ Fisher. Now, Fisher's arm at the top of the rotation will be the first key to any success they find this season. There's basically a 1:1 correlation between his number of appearances and how far this team goes. They have a few useful options to fill the number-two pitcher role, but their bats - led by Pearson's power - likely play more of a role in the outcome of those games than the arms.

(2015)
AVG: .193
SLG: .397
RpG: 3.64
ERA: 4.46
WHIP: 2.06
K/6: 12.5