date, day and time:
diamond:
visiting team:
home team:
score (record):

Sat., Sept. 7, 3:00 PM
Central Park West
Morton Grove Athletics
Skokie Indians 2 Warriors
forfeit win (1-0)

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: The Morton Grove Athletics had three players show up, thanks to soccer conflicts and the Jewish holidays. So we divided up our team, borrowed some players from the Skokie Indians Bulldogs, used the brother of the Morton Grove coach, and got some kids from the stands. We didn't keep score, because the players switched sides during the game, etc. This was truly a sandlot pick-up game like I played when I was a kid. What a hoot! 
     The teams played a true pick-up game. M.Rupert and W.Needle pitched scoreless innings for the Warriors, giving up no hits and allowing no base runners. The Morton Grove Athletics got untracked in the fourth inning with good hitting and base running. The Warriors debuted 12 year old pitchers J.Henrich, M.Rupert, and P.Kohnken and used 13 year old pitchers W.Needle and C.Voight.

-- Coach Don Rupert

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: This game spotlighted excellent pitching from the Skokie players. W.Grodzicki (13 year old) and M.Rupert (12 year old) combined to pitch four innings of shut-out ball. J.Altman (12 year old) debuted as a Skokie player with one inning of strong pitching and aggressive base running. Skokie pitching struck out 11 and walked only one. M.Rupert, J.Henrich and J.Altman combined for a pick-off play catching a runner off first.In the fifth inning, the Skokie players demonstrated an instructional videotape example of trapping a runner between third and home; five players were involved and rotated through the run down as it is supposed to be done. The runner was tagged out by C.Voigt. J.Steege and S.Saxe gave it up for the team and were hit by a pitched ball in the same inning. W. Needle, who finished out the game pitching, hit a huge fly to deep center field that was destined for extra bases, until the Glenview fielder made a great over the shoulder catch with his back to home plate. A.Freitas had excellent fielding plays at shortstop and B.Matek and N.Flax provided steady outfielding. P.Kohnken went the distance behind the plate. Skokie sent 39 batters to the plate and left 11 runners on base. Glenview had 26 batters and three left on base.

-- Coach Don Rupert

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: During this three-hour game, both teams sent a total of 84 batters to the plate, with a total of 22 walks, 20 strikeouts, 19 hits, and 4 hit batsmen. Glenview's bats were hot, ours not.  W.Needle went two-for-two, plus coaxed two walks. J.Altman and M.Rupert scored three runs each and M.Rupert picked off a runner at first. We had good outfielding play from H.Cheema, B.Matek and N.Flax. J.Henrich and  A.Freitas provided strong infielding support. P.Kohnken and S.Saxe were also strong behind the plate. Our pitchers were Altman, Henrich, Rupert, Kohnken, Freitas and Needle. 

-- Coach Don Rupert

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: The Warriors' pitching continued to hold our opponents in check. C.Voigt, J.Henrich, A.Freitas, P.Kohnken and W.Grodzicki combined for a one-hitter. Although we gave up nine walks, timely fielding prevented runs. Grodzicki and Voigt made an excellent play from pitcher to third to trap a runner trying to score, getting the out. Voigt and Freitas made good plays in center field on deep fly balls. R.Rashid came off injured reserve for his first appearance as a Warrior and went three-for-four, and also got on base on an error and a walk (five at bats, five on base) and scored four runs. Henrich went one-for-one, coaxed three walks and scored three runs. Voigt laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, advancing both runners who then scored on Henrich's deep hit to right center. N.Flax singled for an RBI. P.Kohnken got on base four times via three walks and an error. S.Saxe had strong innings at second and behind the plate and H.Cheema anchored our outfield in right and left.

-- Coach Don Rupert

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: The Warriors pitching continued to hold opponents to few hits. R.Rashid, M.Rupert, A.Freitas, and W.Grodzicki combined for five innings of shutout ball, giving up only two hits. Altogether, Evanston got only four hits; however, we walked a number of their players and hit two, leading to a big inning for Evanston. W.Needle went three-for-three (and got on base when he was hit by a pitch). Grodzicki got a single and double; Rupert and Rashid each singled and walked. After being out for several games due to getting hit in the eye by a pitched ball, B.Matek made a strong comeback by getting on base on an error and driving a hard grounder to short. S.Saxe walked twice and had another good game behind the plate. N.Flax pitched and made an excellent rundown on a ball hit to deep right field. Our infielding was super; we got 16 outs by plays in the infield.

-- Coach Don Rupert

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: This was a close game with good pitching and hitting from each team. Warriors' pitchers M.Rupert and W.Needle combined for three innings of shut-out, no hit ball. Our fielding continued to be excellent, with no errors, and we had seven hits. P.Kohnken, Z.Morton (a Bulldog playing on our team for the game), R.Rashid, and W.Grodzicke each had singles. Needle had a double and Rupert had a single and double. J.Henrich walked twice and played solid in the infield. B.Matek continued to show aggressive batting and excellent outfielding. Our thanks go out to the Bulldogs for loaning us three players (Z.Morton, J.Zrust, and E.Peak), each of whom played well. 

-- Coach Don Rupert

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: In this six-inning game, shortened by unanimous vote of the players, coaches and parents due to low temperature and biting wind, the Warriors managed just five runs on six hits and nine walks. We left 11 runners on base. N.Flax went two-for-two at the plate, was also walked twice, and got two RBI's. R.Rashid got a double and a sacrifice fly, and C.Voigt doubled, walked and got hit by a pitch. B.Matek hit a nice single and P.Kohnken walked twice. Will Grodzicki pitched two strong innings, striking out three Dodgers. W.Needle hit a line drive single over short and did an excellent job behind the plate. J.Zrust, on loan from the Bulldogs when their game got cancelled, made a great play at second by fielding a ball hit off of the leg of J.Henrich at first and then throwing a bullet to first to get the runner out. 

     In the second inning, we pulled off another run down between third and home, scored as pitcher to catcher to third to first (covering home) to third to first (1-2-5-3-5-3) for the out. The players were Henrich (1), Kohnken (2), Rashid (5) and Voigt (3). Again, our fielding was good, with only two errors.

-- Coach Don Rupert

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: In this five-inning game (shortened due to time, temperature and the fact that both teams put a total of 72 batters to the plate), the Warriors held off a strong hitting Ken-Winn club with our own solid hitting and fielding. 

     R.Rashid went two-for-two (single and double), walked twice and scored four runs. W.Needle went two-for-three (single and double), walked once and scored three runs. M.Rupert executed a perfect hit and run, walked once, got on base on catcher's interference and scored twice. J.Henrich was two-for-two (single and triple) and walked twice. A.Freitas hit two singles, walked once, scored three times and hit a deep sacrifice fly to center that scored a run. W.Grodzicki hit a huge triple, walked once and stole home. B.Matek hit a nice single that started a six-run second inning. N.Flax got on base twice (error and walk) and scored twice. 
     Our fielding was excellent, with no errors. P.Kohnken made two great throws on dropped third strikes that got the runners out at first. S.Saxe took a pitch in the ribs in the first inning, but bounced back to pitch and play excellent infield. 
     Because of the temperature, our pitchers (Needle, Rupert, Saxe, Freitas and Rashid) only threw one inning each. The team showed its mettle in the top of the fifth, with the score 13 (us), 11 (them). With two outs, we drove across 5 runs (sounds like the Saturday night World Series game) and then held Ken-Winn scoreless in the bottom of the inning. 
     Final score 18-11. Excellent season-ending game!

-- Coach Don Rupert

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