It's within our grasp!

After posting an 8-5 victory Friday night and a 20-5 pounding of Southside Tavern Monday night, Hofbrau has taken a commanding 3-0 QML finals series lead. Hoffy is now one win away from an unprecedented 5th consecutive title.

Game story on games 2 and 3 to follow.

Putting Southside away won't be easy, but Hoffy is looking to put together one more 7-inning effort and finish what it started.

GAME 4, TUESDAY NIGHT, 9:00 p.m. at KINCAIDE. THE TROPHY WILL BE THERE. WILL YOU?

Hoffy Draws First Blood in Finals Opener

In another classic dog fight (Sorry Michael Vick) between Hofbrau and Southside Tavern, Hoffy took the opener of the QML championship series, 12-10.

Things were going smoothly for the 4-time defending champs as they held a 6-1 lead going into the bottom of the 6th. That's when things got interesting as Southside lit it up for 8 runs in the inning to take a 9-6 lead.

Like Tom Brady leading a game winning drive, Hoffy kept its cool and went to work in the 7th for another dramatic come from behind victory. With the bases loaded and one out, Glen Bosse (last year's Hoffy playoff MVP) crushed a grand slam to give Hofbrau the lead. Bosse led the Hoffy attack with 5 rbi. Hoffy added an insurance run to take a 12-9 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

Offensive highlights for Hoffy included Franklin batting his natural righty for the first time this season and crushing a home run that may have just landed.

Southside got one run back in the bottom of the 7th before the talented Hoffy outfield closed the door with great catches from Polanco and Tom Fratolillo to end the game.

GAME 2 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18 AT KINCAIDE

Other noteworthy news from Game 1:

* 2 hits each from Dave "Josh" Brolin, Mark Free, Joey Butts and Harp Sing.

* Mark Free giving Joey Butts scary flashbacks by yelling "plenty of room" on a fly out.

* The Bosse family (Glen and Jon specifically) keep the strikeout beers flowing

* T-Frat staying red hot at the plate, including a scorching line drive thud off of Jack's back.

and the highlight of the entire evening:

* Scotty "The Game" Logan showing up with a coffee in his hand, slicked back hair, t-shirt and sneakers. The Game then borrowed Mike Berry's cleats and provided a key rbi in the 7th.

We're baaack!!

Hofbrau advanced to its fifth consecutive QML finals appearance with a 15-7 win over Big Times to sweep the semifinal series.

The game was a continuation from last week's rain shortened game 3.

Team Hoffy must now wait for the winner of the Southside-Paddy Barry's series. PB had jumped out to a 2-1 series lead. Southside responded with a 29-8 pounding of Paddy Barry's to even the series and force a deciding game 5 Tuesday night.

Rain suspends game 3 of semis

After taking games 1 and 2, team Hoffy looked to stay perfect in the post season last night against Big Times.

The game got off to a late start due to a game 3 slugfest between Paddy Barry's and regular season champs Southside Tavern. League officials are still investigating a rumor that the over-under for the game was 67.

When the field was finally cleared after Paddy Barry's taking a 2-1 series lead, Big Times drew first blood with two runs in the top of the first. Hofbrau responded with three in the bottom of the first, capped by a towering home run to right by Hoffy shortstop Franklin. We don't know where it officially landed, but next week I plan to contact the owner of the house and ask if we can put a maroon and gold seat in his yard to comemorate the spot.

Hoffy exploded for 8 more runs in the bottom of the second, highlighted by clutch 2 out hits from Tommy Frat and Jim Dennis. Nelly Feliciano provided another to addition to the highlight reel by rounding the bases on what looked like a double to center field.

The rain then intensified to the point where both teams agreed it was enough. The game stands 11-2 Hofbrau in the top of the third inning. Big Times up with a runner on first and one out. The batter at the plate has a 2-2 count.

Hofbrau sweeps Swingers in opening round

Team Hoffy started its championship quest last week with a 2-0 series win over The Swingers.



Game 1 was suspended due to rain with Hoffy up 5-4 in the fourth inning. When play resumed Friday night before the start of Game 2, Hoffy stormed out of the gate, plating 7 runs in the inning enroute to a 13-5 victory.



The teams got right back into it with the 4-time defending champs completing the sweep with a hard-fought 11-6 victory. One area where Hofbrau is noticeably weak is keeping the scorebook. So the stat details are sketchy (like Mike B's scoring technique), but my spies tell me that Ramon and Polanco (double and HR) and Mark Free, Glen Bosse, Greg Harper (3 hits each) come up big in the clutch.


The best news for Hoffy in the playoff run is the return of outfielder Tom Fratolillo. Fresh from his honeymoon, the steady influence hasn't lost a step in right field and has restored the deepest outfield in the league.

We Talkin 'Bout Playoffs

Team Hoffy begins its quest for a 5th consecutive QML title with a 2 seed and drawing The Swingers in the first round.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3-eavMSBnk

The kings of swing played Hofbrau tough during the regular season and will no doubt be ready to bring their A-game in the second season.

GAME 1 TUESDAY NIGHT, 9:00 AT KINCAIDE

Hofbrau goes all out in 10-2 win over Shockers

Team Hoffy improved to 18-2 on the season with a 10-2 victory over the Shockers last night at Perkins Field.

Outfielder Joey Butts brought back visions of Rodney McCray http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK1gd1RNCJI crashing into the outfield wall with a full sprint into the thorns in left field that left him battered and bloodied. Teammate Mark Free may be summonsed before the Kangaroo Court for yelling "plenty of room" mere seconds before the horrific crash.

Other highlights included Hoffy centerfielder Nelly Feliciano crushing a home run into the tennis courts in left field and Joey "blood and guts" Butts hitting the tennis court fence in left.