On to the finals

Talk is cheap, especially in the playoffs.

Team Hoffy endured a tough challenge from Paddy Barry's, needing 8 innings to post a 12-11 win to advance to their 4th consecutive Merhcant League finals.

Hofbrau was its own worst enemy in the early going as baserunning mistakes killed what might have been rallies. The three-time defending champs found themselves continaully in counter-punch mode. PB put up a 3-spot with some clutch hitting in the top of the seventh to put Hoffy on the ropes, 11-10. Scott Logan (4-4, 3 rbi) knocked in the tying run in the bottom of the seventh. Logan almost scored the winning run when Glen Bosse ripped a base hit to center field, but was gunned down by a good relay throw to the plate.

After letting up a run in the top of the 8th and having to endure the most trash talk in recent Merchant League history (most of it from the PB peanut gallery), Team Hoffy stepped up and took what was theirs again. A single from Tom Fratolillo sandwiched between walks by Jim Dennis and Mike Yocco loaded the bases for Greg "Hop Sing" Harper, who silenced the loadmouths with a solid base hit to left. A slight bobble by the PB left fielder was all T-Frat needed to cruise in with the winning run.

"The good news is we're going to the finals," second baseman Glen Bosse said, "But we're gonna need to play a lot better than this in the next series."

As for the finals, it's a rematch of last year's classic 7-game final between Hofbrau and Malachy's, which completed its sweep of Big Times in the other semi-final match up.

Hoffy just gets it done in game 2.

The bats were silent for most of the night, but team Hoffy showed just why all 7 innings count, coming from behind with a 6-run seventh inning to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the semifinal series.

Paddy Barry's put up a 5-spot in the third inning on well-placed drop shots. Hoffy got 3 runs back in the fourth inning before going hitless in both the fifth and sixth. Stellar defense from Nelly in centerfield and Glen "Chico Lind" Bosse at second base prevented the game from getting away.

Down 6-3 after six innings, Team Hoffy just put on the hard hats and went to work again. After base hits from T-Frat and Keith McCray, Dave Brolin launched a triple in the gap in left center to make it 6-5. Steve Lannan then tied the game with a single. A base hit from Jon Bosse and a heads-up walk from Nelly loaded the bases for Steve Yocco, who knocked in the go-ahead run in a close play at the plate that might have resulted in an out had PB's catcher been standing on the plate (as opposed to two feet in front of it and trying to put a tag on a force play). The Game and Glen Bosse cleaned things up by knocking in two more runs to give Hoffy a 9-6 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, the two mainstays for Hoffy, solid pitching and good defense took control and shut PB down.

PB is a talented team that will be a contender in this league for years to come. But last night, one team played like they have been in the playoffs before and one team didn't. One PB outfielder said it best when he chirped "All night" to Stevie in the first inning. That's right PB, that's the difference between us, you guys talk all night and we play all night!

GAME 3 TUESDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 P.M. AT KINCAIDE FIELD!!

Team Hoffy survives tough test in semi-final opener

Things won't be easy from here on in. Team Hoffy wins game 1 of the QML semi-finals over Paddy Barry's, 9-6. I'll invite Scotty to post a comment to this post for the game report....because who better to provide a summary of the game than....The Game.

GAME 2 FRIDAY NIGHT AT 9:00. (RUBEN) KINCAIDE FIELD!!

Hoffy cruises to second round in a rout

Shortstop Bill Wysocki summed game 2 up best: "It was close for the first two batters". Team Hoffy posted a stunning 15 runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 29-1 thumping of Peddocks to win the series 2-0 and advance to the semi-finals.

Led by a 5-5, four-RBI hitting performace from The Game, several Hoffy players had their fellow drunks in mind as Keith and Jon Bosse struck out and Stevie hit in to a 6-4-3 double play.

T-Frat and Dave Brolin inspired the troops early by delivering their strikeout beers. Tommy had an impressive array of Bud Light, Bud, Pabst Blue Ribbon and O'Doul's and had the foresight to bring a cooler with ice, while Dave found the only 24-pack of cans left in Massachusetts. (we'll let the guys who don't drink slide a little).

Next up is Paddy Barry's, the team that likes to talk shit when they have absolutely no credentials to do so. Stay tuned...

Getting in playoff form

Once again, Joe Bosse comes up with a summer injury that jeapordizes his playoffs. At least we all know this injury came from his punching the ground at third base (as opposed to last year's naked wrestling incident in New York).

Don't worry Joe! If need be, Scotty will do his Mr. French impersonation and get you ready.

Hofbrau Vying for #4

The Hofbrau "El Hofmina-Rico" squad has started the Quincy Merchant League playoffs in search of an unprecedented 4th consecutive title. Game reports and stats to follow.