The Chicago Hounds entered the second month of their 2021 season Tuesday evening at Winnemac Park. Future manager Phil Zelenka (0-1) made his interim managerial debut due to the planned, delayed arrival of current manager Tony Correa.

Mike DiCola and Tim Riggenbach, the Hounds’ two leading Cy-Young candidates, made up the rare lefty-lefty battery with the former pitching, and latter catching. DengenerateX, who’s team name still remains a mystery to me, also featured a lefty-lefty battery. DiCola went five innings, allowing five runs while issuing four walks and one apology. Both he, and his pitching looked sharper than his stat line would indicate. Nick Schmidt and Arron Kruse finished the game on the mound for the Hounds, giving up five earned runs in the bottom of the sixth. The visiting Hounds loaded the bases three times in the opening three frames but only managed to push across one run. Riggenbach (#8, C) led the team with his bat going two for two, with two doubles, two walks, and two runs scored. Tim also had two fans at the game (Anne and Gloria) and two servings of fried rice after the game. Amanda Mordacq (#84, 2B) got in on the deuces as well, playing second base and hitting an RBI double over the left fielder’s head after taking a pitch to the ribs earlier in the game. This marked Amanda’s first hit as a Hound, and the first ever by a lady-Hound (congrats!). However, Hans still holds the club record for longest hair while racking up a hit. Overall the canines looked good offensively going 11-31 with 6 walks, but couldn’t come up with the timely hits needed, leaving 13 dogX on base. The post game party was held at team-favorite K’s Dugout, where they consumed an estimated eight buckets of beer, and eight pounds of Chinese food provided by also team-favorite China Kitchen. Select members of the squad were joined by interim manager Phil Zelenka, his girlfriend, and his father, as well as K’s regulars Anne and Laura. The Hounds will be at Winnemac Park for their next two games, both against the Vikings on this upcoming Thursday and Saturday. We hope to see you all there!