April 6, 1921
Third time is the charm for Jared Way as he picks up his first pitcher win in Penguin colours. Twice in a row, a fantastic pitching performance was undone by Stopper Tommy Taaij in the very next inning. Way pitched until the 8th today against the Port Magnolia Dolphins and was sitting on a 2-1 lead. Giving up just 3 hits and 1 walk over that time. Butts clenched in the 9th when Taaij issued a walk to the first hitter but the next three outs flowed in quick succession. Way has a 0.82 ERA. Taaij is sitting on a 17.18 ERA.
Meanwhile, his old teammate Max Steel lit up the Whiskeytown Ducks for 16 K's. A timely 2-run home run by LF Odin Bendig in the 8th also help secured the win and negate the need for extra innings.
April 8, 1921
The Elephants lost their first game of the season and since then have gotten 9 wins in a row. Their latest is an extra-innings victory over the Amelia City Metropolitans. The Metros threw everything into the 8th and 9th to pull level. They could have pulled off the win there and then too had it not been for the arm of left fielder Zach Hauptmann throwing a runner out and the quick thinking of closer Max Collins in getting the pick-off to get the final out.
The Elephants finally break through in the 11th with an inside the park home run by 1B Vladik Zavalin.
Weirdly, the OOTP news service elects to highlight a 10th inning walk by Patrick Wright which ended with him stranded on 2nd rather than Zavalin's home run.
But that's cool. Dude like walks.
April 9, 1921
For the first time in their history, the Crimson Forest Falcons are above .500. They did it in style too with a walk-off home run by LF Augie Hanson to get a win off the Salt Quarter Penguins. Tommy Taaij is again the villian of the piece for Penguins as he gives up 2 home runs to blow the game. Penguin fans are calling for his head.
...and last year's #1 draft pick Christian Tiggs picks up his first home run in this game as another bonus for Falcons fans.
They'd do it again the next day, this time with SS Gaby Williams hitting the winning home run in the bottom of the 10th.
Anyway, mad respect to Sharks pitcher Peyton Kramer who gave up only one hit and three walks to the Spice District Roosters in a complete game shutout. Guy took on the best hitters in the league and dominated.
April 11, 1921
Fun fact, 23 year old Sugar Factory LF Zach Hauptmann has just won the player of the week award twice in a row. He's slashing .558/.596/.865 over the first 12 games of the season. Yikes.
April 13, 1921
The benches cleared in the top of the 1st when Broncos pitcher Mike Robbins hit Penguins RF Newman Ranson with a pitch and Ranson responded by charging the mound.
We've heard bits and pieces of what was said and it involved each player's mothers so we won't be repeating it here. We're not that kind of publication. Each player was suspended for five games. The Penguins came out with a huge 12-2 win on the back of RF Aldo Maguzmov's 2 home runs in the 3rd and 7th.
Meanwhile, the Elephants have gone on a four game losing streak and RF Patrick Wright is not taking it well.
Wright is .132/.277/.245 this season.
