The Chicago Hounds defeated Ramirez Baseball 7-3 today at a sloppy, sloppy, almost unplayable Maywood Veterans Memorial Park on Laura Grieger’s graduation day!

Nick Schmidt (#23, P) threw 6 solid innings to avenge last year’s loss to Ramirez, striking out 8, and giving up only 2 earned runs on 1 hit and 4 walks. Rookie “Lanky Charlie” or “Big Z” Phil Zelenka (#24, P) closed the game out pitching the final frame with a K and 1 unearned run.

Several Hounds and Mel celebrated the win with McDonald’s, Doritos, Bud Heavys and Bud Lights while watching the Aviators defeat tomorrow’s opponent, the newly formed Trojans (of former Hounds Alex and Jonathan Garcia and their dad). The Charlie’s were expected to attend the festivities, but apparently were all murdered at McDonald’s and therefore couldn’t make it.

The Hounds defense was slightly suspect on a horrible field, but the defensive highlight was Tony Correa (#13, C) throwing out yet another would-be basestealer (so beyond the vision board at this point, am I right?). His parents were in attendance today, so the timing was perfect.

The Hounds were down 2-0 going into the bottom of the 5th when Brent Schoenbach (#7, 3B) got things started with a sharp line-drive single to left. Rookie Arron Kruse (#11, 2B) reached on an error, and Matthew Steffens (#5, SS) singled to right. Brian Lehman (#2, LF) walked for the second time of the day and 5th time in the first 2 games for an RBI, scoring Schoenbach. Correa then drove Kruse home on a sac fly (was he actually safe?) to tie the game. Nelson Bowers (#48, DH) then singled, scoring Steffens to take the lead.

The Hounds put the game away in the 6th as Tim Riggenbach (#8, RF) reached on an error, Matt Burch (#6, 1B) singled, and Schoenbach reached on another Ramirez error and Riggenbach scored. Kruse then singled, driving in Burch, and Steffens singled, driving in Schoenbach. Kruse then (I believe, the book is unclear) scored on a wild pitch for his third time crossing the plate, second time scoring, first time legitimately safe. The 7-2 lead was enough of a cushion going into the last inning and the final score was 7-3, Hounds.

The Hounds play the Trojans tomorrow at 12:15 pm at Winnemac. Be there to see our reunion with the Garcia’s (and hopefully a thrashing of the Trojans)!