The Phat Monkees

July 21, 2007 - The 95ers turned in one of their more complete games of the tournament beating Quartz Hill 17-3 behind Kelsey Woodhouse's stellar pitching performance. Woodhouse kept the QH batters off balance all day with a good array of inside/outside pitches and off-speed stuff to rack up 7 Ks while allowing only 6 hits. She also held the fort defensively making several quick put outs on comebackers, including snaring a line shot up the middle to snuff out a possible QH rally. Woodhouse's battery mate, Sara Chamberlain, kept the QH runners that got on from going anywhere by not allowing a passed ball and by making two snap throws to second on feigned steals that kept the QH runners wary of her arm all day. Meanwhile, the 95ers offense got on a roll early getting a quick 7-0 lead in the first two innings behind the aggressive baserunning of Carly Wagenbach and Meghan Murphy helped along with singles by Sara Chamberlain and Meagan Raffery. The 95ers blew it wide open in the top of the fifth scoring 9 runs on two trips through the batting order. Notable appearances at the plate were turned in by Montana Hunter and Caralynn Fish. Hunter, coming to the plate twice with the bases loaded, recorded 5 RBIs in the inning with a single and a double. Fish smartly laid down two perfect bunts in the inning and with her speed was almost past first base before the QH defenders picked up the ball. Fish not only moved runners over on each bunt, but eventually stole 3 bases and scored on each trip. With a 14 run lead going into the bottom of the 5th, Woodhouse quickly shut down the QH batters and the mercy rule ended the game. The 95ers now travel to Grand Terrace for the State Division Finals starting on Tuesday, 7/24, at 6:00 pm. __________________________________________________________________________________________ July 19, 2007 - 95ers Win A Squeaker to Open Division Play The 10/11 year old All-Stars won their opener 6-5 in the Divisional championships against a tough hitting Quartz Hill LL squad. The 95ers were led by another strong 10 strike out pitching performance from Brooke Taylor who kept Quartz Hill off the board through the first 3 innings. The 95ers opened the game by scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the first behind the aggressive baserunning of Meagan Murphy and Carly Wagenbach, and the timely hitting of Sara Chamberlain, Carley Muller and Meagan Rafferty, helped along with a great bunt by Montana Hunter. After the first, both pitchers settled in to keep the game at 5-0 through 3 innings despite a long blast by Kelsey Woodhouse which was somehow caught by QH's right fielder. The 95ers defense was impressive. Carly Wagenbach took a line shot down the third base line and turned it into a routine out at first. Carley Muller made a great put out from her knees at first to end the 3rd inning thanks to help from hustling cover on the bag by Sarah Gurbach. Throughout the game, catcher Sara Chamberlain kept the Quartz Hill runners attached to their bases with good glove work and a dangerous arm. In the 4th, Quartz Hill scored one run. In the 5th, the Quartz Hill batters came alive with several shots to the gaps to score three runs. Then the Quartz Hill clean up hitter caught one flush for a home run over the left field fence tying the game at 5 (at this point, the girls wanted their manager to re-check the batter's birth certificate!!). The 95ers were not discouraged and recorded the final two outs to keep the score tied at 5. In the bottom of the 5th, Carley Wagenbach led off with a walk, stole second, and was moved to third after tagging up on Sara Chamberlain's fly out to center field. Carley Muller then drove another shot deep to right, but again the deep playing right fielder reeled it in. Wagenbach, however, had an easy tag up and scored the run for the 95ers to go ahead 6-5. In the top of the sixth, Brooke Taylor recorded another clutch performance. Quartz Hill's first batter got on with a squeaker down the third base line. Taylor came back by fanning the next batter. QH's lead off hitter then grounded out to Muller at first. QH's #2 hitter drew a walk and then got the free pass to 2nd base. Finally, with two out and runners on second and third, QH's free-swinging #3 came up. Taylor got her to chase two high fastballs for strikes. With an 0-2 count, Taylor then froze the batter with a screwball on the inside corner for a called third strike! Game over. The 95ers play Quartz Hill Saturday at 4:00 pm at Almansor Park for the Div. South Championship. ___________________________________________________________________________________ July 16: The 95ers completed their sweep through the elimination bracket to defeat No. Venice 11-0 to win the Section 4 Championship. The 95ers were inspired by the return of their teammate Amanda Newell from the hospital to watch them from the sidelines. Amanda received a nice ovation from all the fans upon her reaching the bleachers. Manhattan Beach's first 10/11-year old Sectional Champions mercied No. Venice after 5 innings behind another strong outing from Brooke Taylor who gave up only two hits to the No. Venice batters. Taylor was assisted by the resolute 95ers' defense. In the 3rd inning, with one out and runners on second and third, leftfielder Caralynn Fish made a running grab of a line drive and doubled up the runner off third base to end the inning. In the fourth, with a runner on second, Carly Wagenbach speared a shot down the third base line and calmly threw the runner out at first to end the inning. Some form of voodoo curse against Manhattan Beach catchers was in place, however, and Sara Chamberlain, while retreving a live ball off her glove, was struck in the hand by the batter taking an untimely practice swing. Sara was replaced at catcher by the 95ers ultimate utility player, Meghan Murphy, who received the game ball for not only providing two fine innings behind the plate, but also went two for three at the plate. The 95ers' offensive attack and speed game was too much for the No. Venice squad as almost every batter scored a run. The 95ers now play in the Div. 3 championships beginning on Thursday, 7/19, at 8:00 pm at Almansor Park in Alhambra. ____________________________________________________________________________________ July 15: In an incredible come from behind victory, the 95ers staved off elimination by beating No. Venice 12-10 on their home field. The 95ers played this game with the #47 on the arms in tribute to their fallen teammate, Amanda Newell. After the 95ers spotted No. Venice a five run lead in the first and another two runs in the second, things looked grim with Sara Chamberlain taking a hard foul ball off her shoulder at catcher, and Montana Hunter taking a shot to the ribs in a collision with the first baseman. But the girls rallied knowing that Amanda needed good news, and started their comeback. For the next three innings, the 95ers gave up only one run, while making seven put outs at home plate - two forces and five tag outs between Sara Chamberlain and pitcher Kelsey Woodhouse. Meanwhile, the offense got the No. Venice pitcher's timing down and started to pound the ball. Brooke Taylor and Kelsey Woodhouse both had long shots to the fence, and Caralynn Fish and Meghan Murphy continued to give the opposition fits by stealing four bases a piece. After climbing back to an 8-6 deficit by the top of the sixth, the stage was set for the big rally. Kelly Woodhouse started it off with a single up the middle, followed by singles from Carly Wagenbach and Meghan Murphy to load the bases. Carley Muller, already 2 for 3 on the day, battled off several foul balls on a 3 and 2 count. Finally, she got the pitch she wanted and drove a shot to the gap scoring three runs. Meagan Rafferty followed with another single to put runners on second and third. Up to bat came Montana Hunter, who drove a 2 and 2 offering up the middle to score two more runs. Not done yet, Sarah Gurbach and Brooke Taylor both followed with hits to drive in Caralynn Fish (running for the injured Hunter) for a six run rally. Although up 12-8, the 95ers needed to shut down the No. Venice offense to end the game. Things started off slowly with two walks to put runners on first and second. Kelsey Woodhouse settled in and fanned No. Venice's No. 2 hitter for the first out. No. Venice's No. 3 hitter responded with a single, but Carley Muller was johnny on the spot and held the runners at first and third. Then came the defensive play of the game. With the outfield slighty deep, No. Venice's No. 4 hitter lifted a ball to center field, too shallow for Muller to reel in but deep enough to freeze the runner. Muller came up throwing and and hit Sara Chamberlain on the fly three feet up the third base line just as the No. Venice runner was trying to make it home. Chamberlain won the collision hanging on to the ball for the put out. The crowd, which had now swelled due to the action packed tension on the field, roared with approval or disappointment depending on which side they were on. No. Venice did not want to give up. A single by the next batter put the score at 12-10. Woodhouse hung tough and got the next batter to fly out to Rafferty at short and all that was left was the pile up on the mound. Gutsy win for the 95ers! The 95ers play No. Venice again on Monday night at 5:30 pm for the Sectional championship. We'd appreciate all the Manhattan Beach support we can get. No. Venice had a huge vocal crowd at the game and the 95ers would love to see their league behind them! ____________________________________________________________________________________ July 14: The 95er's roll on! Good and bad news for the 11 year old Softball All-Stars. First the good news. The 95er's posted a 5-0 win today in their elimination game against Westchester LL behind a dominating 1-hitter from Brooke Taylor. Brooke kept the Westchester team off balance all day with a dazzling array of fastball and off speed pitches. The 95er's defense supported Brooke by playing error-free defense the entire game with Carly Wagenbach, Sarah Gurbach and Sara Chamberlain all turning in clutch plays. Brooke had a no-hitter through 5 and 2/3 innings when a bloob single with eyes landed in right center. Brooke calmly retired the last batter with a K to end the game. Carly Muller, Amanda Newell, and Caralynn Fish all contributed big hits to keep the offense rolling. So far in the tournament, speedsters Caralynn Fish and Meghan Murphy have almost a dozen steals each and have yet to be thrown out. The bad news is that the 95er's lost one of their star players, Amanda Newell, for the rest of the tournament. While stealing home (and she was safe), Amanda caught her cleat which forced her foot under her body and she broke her leg. Paramedics arrived and asked what happened and were told she broke the leg sliding. The paramedic said "sliding?" Amanda looked at the paramedic and said, "I need to work on it." Cracked us all up. She is a great kid and will be missed by her team Sunday when the 95er's play No. Venice LL in the first of two possible games for the Sectional championship at 1:00 pm. Time to win one for the Gipper! ____________________________________________________________________________________ July 13: Friday the 13th was not so lucky for the 11 year old All-Stars. The 95er's unfortunately spotted No. Venice with a large early lead due to a number of bizarre plays and mishaps that went the opposition's way. The 95er's were gamers, however, and never let up in their assault to get back in the game behind some great power hitting by Montana Hunter, Amanda Newell and Sara Chamberlain, and an endless assault on the base paths by speedsters Meghan Murphy and Caralynn Fish that caused No. Venice fits. In the bottom of the 6th, the 95er's closed the gap to 13-10 and were still pounding the ball. Unfortunately, No. Venice had the better luck in positioning their defensive players. Carley Muller crushed one to right, but the No. Venice rightfielder, playing back almost to the fence, did not have to move a step and caught what otherwise would have driven in two runs. In the same inning, with two runners on, Carly Wagenbach blistered a line drive which also would have driven in two, but the No. Venice 2nd baseman made a great grab. The 95ers play Westchester Sat. at 1:00 pm in an elimination game, but intend to win 3 in a row to advance. __________________________________________________________________________________ July 12: The Manhattan Beach 11 year old All Stars won a 4-2 nailbiter over Westchester Little League in their Section 4 opener played at No. Venice LL. The team, affectionately known as the 95er's, opened with an early 2-0 lead. Behind the stellar pitching of Brooke Taylor and a very stingy defense led by shortstop Meagan Rafferty, the 2-0 lead held through 5 innings. In the bottom of the 6th, Westchester scored two runs to tie the game, and the 95er's had to get the last two outs with the bases loaded. Undaunted, the 95er's scored 2 in the top of the 7th behind the clutch hitting of Sarah Gurbach and Carley Muller. In the bottom of the 7th, Kelsey Woodhouse, in her All-Star pitching debut, shut down Westchester with two runners on to preserve the 4-2 victory. The 95er's play No. Venice Friday night (7/13) at 5:30 pm.