The Chicago Hounds improved to 2-2 with a 14-7 victory over the short-handed Marlins at Southwest Park in Park Ridge last night.  The Marlins–who were sporting a league leading 3-0 record going into the game, and had given up only 2 runs total in those 3 victories, had the minimum allowable 8 players for the Thursday night makeup game (replacing the rained out opener).  The Hounds took advantage, with their best hitting performance of the year with numerous line drives and extra base hits aplenty.
Matt Burch (#6, P, 1-1) started the game on the bump and was stellar through the first 3 frames.  Most importantly Burch selected the blue hat and blue jerseys for the game, as he said “because we look so good in them.”  The Hounds took an early lead in support, scoring 9 runs in their first 4 times at bat.  But the Marlins came roaring back in the bottom of the 4th, scoring 7 and driving Burch from the game after 3.1 innings.  Kurt Kerrigan (#12, DH/P, 1 save) then finished the game with a strong 3.2 innings, including a scoreless 5th through 7th.
The Hounds defense was good at times, including turning a 3-6-1 double play to end the painful 4th, and they also had an interesting 3-4-1 single out at first as a ball deflected off of Stephen Correa, Jr. (#20, 1B) to Tony Correa (#13, 2B) (no relation, both not doctors) and Tony then threw to Kerrigan who was covering first (Kerrigan also had a nice scoop at first on the double play).  But the Hounds also had some errors, including at least one (and costly at that) in the difficult 4th.
But the true story of the game (other than the Marlins only showing up with 8) was the Hound offense.  Nolan Bielinski (#4, C) reached safely 4 times (2 walks, 1 single, 1 reach by error), stole a base, and scored 3 times.  Matthew Steffens (#5, LF/SS) scored twice, had 2 RsBI, and stole 3 bases (including home on a double steal attempt).  Brent Schoenbach (#7, 3B) reached safely all 3 times, on a single, double, and error, scoring twice and driving in a run on each of his 3 at bats.  Tim Riggenbach (#8, LF) replaced Schoenbach in the lineup and walked, stole a bag, and scored.  TJ Rinaldi (#1, CF) walked, doubled, tripled, drove in 3, and scored twice.  Mike Mudd (#29, RF) doubled, walked, reached by an error, drove in 2 and scored a run (nearly 2 runs, but was called out at the plate on a close play).  Joe Wietecha (#19, SS/3B) doubled twice and drove in 2 runs.  Correa (Tony) singled twice, Correa Jr. (Stephen) scorched the ball 3 times, reaching twice on a single and a double, and scored twice.  Finally Kerrigan doubled, scored, and walked.  A total team offensive explosion.
A select few Hounds celebrated at Outback after the game, no rowdiness this year, and I finally remembered to use a gift card my brother Clay gave me a few years back for Christmas.  Steaks for everyone!  (Well, not really, Brent had fish for some reason.)

No McDonald’s for your trusty beat reporter this game!

The Chicago Hounds had a tough weekend on the diamond, with a floodout at Taft on Saturday, and then Winnemac was flooded out on Sunday as well.  So the Hounds moved their game against the Orioles to Ridgewood High School, where they lost 9-3 due to one bad inning in the 3rd, when the Orioles scored 5 runs on at most 1 solid hit.  The field conditions were tough, the wind was blowing something fierce, sending TJ Rinaldi’s (#1, CF) would be homers just foul in left, and making throws across the diamond tough.  The infield grass at Ridgewood made the grass at Winnemac look trimmed, so the Hounds played essentially up on the edge of the infield the entire game.  This style of play was necessary, as shortstop Matthew Steffens (#5, SS) had 11 chances at short, including a 6-6-3 double play.  Unfortunately, he also failed at 2 of the 11 chances, including tripping on the lip of the grass on 1 occasion, giving the opposing coach his first “hit” of the year [Billy was begging his team to call it a hit], but our book has it as an error, which I agree with.)
Brian Hearns (#30, P, 1-1) took the loss on the hill, tossing a fine 6.1 innings before relinquishing the game to Joe Wietecha (#19, 2B/P).  Hearns struck out 4 and gave up very few solid hits, most of the men reaching base were on soft singles, infield hits, errors, and walks.  Hearns was hitting his spots, but unfortunately, the spots for strikes kept changing, as Scott the umpire was fairly inconsistent on the day.  Perhaps it was the 3-hour drive from Three Oaks, Michigan that made Scott so unpredictable.
It was really nice that Hearns was able to pitch a few innings in front of his wife and young son (who will be pitching soon I am sure)–it was cold out there today, but he brought his own baseball, ready to go.  Speaking of sons of Hounds, remember when Kyle Hanson (#2) met a girl on Tinder last year and said he was going to marry her?  Well he did, and here is a pic of their son Holton Wade Hanson (they are calling him Holt):

Nolan Bielinski (#4, C) led the offense for the Hounds, reaching base safely all 4 times on a solid single and 3 walks.  Bielinski also stole a bag and scored 2 of the 3 Hound runs.  The final Hound run came from Stephen Correa, Jr. (#20, 1B/2B) who singled and scored as the Hounds tried to mount a 7th inning rally, but it was too late.  Brent Schoenbach (#7, 3B) also had a fantastic day at the plate, also reaching all 4 times (an error–scoring Bielinski in the first, a HBP, and 2 singles), and Schoenbach drove in 2 runs in the final frame.  Schoenbach also inexplicably was caught trying to steal third base with 2 outs in the first inning as he pulled a #KeithRichardson, leaving before the pitcher even had started.  Schoenbach blamed himself for “setting the tone early” for the loss with that caught stealine.
Tony Correa (#13, EH) walked, Wietecha walked, Max Kiefer (#21, LF) had a scorching line drive (hardest hit ball of the day), reaching on an error and a single, and Matt Burch (#6, DH) took some cuts as designated hitter so we could save his arm for the game on Thursday.  Steffens went 0 for 3 after reaching safely in his first 5 attempts on the year.  The Hounds also saw the return of new college graduate Michael Mudd (#29, RF), who walked twice and caught two rumbling, stumbling, bumbling, rolling over balls in right field.  The sightlines at Ridgewood are awful, as a huge white building looms behind the plate, so Mudd did well to make the 2 circus catches.
The Hounds have a makeup game on Thursday evening at Southwest Park in Park Ridge against the Marlins, so they look to even their record to 2-2 on Thursday and then celebrate (quietly) at The Outback Steakhouse.

Games scheduled = 5

Games played = 3

Wins = 1

Losses = 2

MBS McDonalds visits = 2 (yes, I went both times this weekend, as both days I went early to check on the fields only to find out that they were flooded)

The Chicago Hounds split the first weekend games of the 2016 CMBA campaign, defeating the Red Sox 5-2 at Winnemac Park on Saturday, and then losing 4-3 to the Vikings at Taft High School on Sunday.
*Hounds Defeat Red Sox*
The Hounds had a strange and rare 2-pitcher 2-runs allowed no hitter against the Red Sox on Saturday at a windy and cold Winnemac Park. Brian Hearns (#30, P, 1-0) and Tim Riggenbach (#8, DH/P, 1 Save) combined for 7 innings of no hit ball. Hearns started and made it through 4 innings in between coaching 2 high school games of his own (they had a morning game, he dropped by to pitch, then went on to coach an evening game). Hearns only faced 14 batters, 2 over the minimus–1 reached by error (on a tough error for second baseman Joe Wietecha [see YTECHA 19 on his license plate] who made a beautiful diving stop to his left on the very first play of the game, but then unfortunately threw the ball away) and the other batter reached on Hearns’ only walk of the game. Riggenbach then took over and had 2 stellar innings (5th and 7th), but had a tough 6th where he loaded the bases with walks and hit-by-pitches, let a run in on a walk, and then a runner scored on a fielder’s choice/error. Riggenbach struck out 5 in his 3 innings of work, also allowing no hits, and earning the 3-inning save.
One of the batters that Riggenbach plunked was the final cut of the season from the Hounds, Derrek Krouse. Manager Matthew Steffens (#5, SS) had cut him late in the pre-season, but recommended that he tryout for the Red Sox, feeling he was good enough for the league, but felt the Hounds just didn’t have a spot for him. Riggenbach welcomed Derrek to the Chicago Metropolitan Baseball Association by nailing him in the back on the very first pitch he faced. (Not on purpose.)
The Hounds scored 5 runs in the game, with newcomer Garrett Eddy (#22, RF) scoring in the first inning after reaching on an error. Brent Schoenbach (#7, 3B) “drove” in the run by also reaching by error (since it was after 2 outs, no scored RBI). In the 3rd inning Steffens drew a walk, went to second on a single by Eddy, stole third, and then scored on a sacrifice fly RBI by Wietecha. The Hounds scored 3 runs in the 4th as Max Kiefer (#21, LF) reached on a fielder’s choice (after a single by Tony Correa (#13, C), rookie Stephen Correa Jr. (#20, 1B, no relation to Tony, but both are NOT doctors) then singled, and Riggenbach tripled to right, driving in 2. Steffens then singled (according to the book, but I thought I reached by error), driving in Riggenbach.
After the scare in the 6th when the bases were loaded and the Red Sox scored 2, Riggenbach settled down in the 7th handling things all by himself, with a strikeout, 1-3, and 2-1. Again, according to the book, but that seems weird. Maybe it was a 2-3? In any event, Hounds win the opening game!
McDonald’s count = Matthew Steffens = 0; Marcia Steffens = 1
*Hounds Drop Game in Seventh to Vikin**gs*
The Hounds had hoped to start 2-0, but it would not come to pass on a beautiful mother’s day at Taft High School. Manager Matthew Steffens’ mom had attended the cold game on Saturday, but missed the warm one on Sunday, no other mom’s were in attendance at either contest (as far as I can remember), although there were some wives and girlfriends in attendance at both.
Matt Burch pitched a complete game v. the Vikings, taking a hard luck loss. Burch struck out 5, walked 4, gave up 7 hits (only 1 of the extra base variety, a double), and 2 runners reached by error. The Vikings took a 1-run lead in the 3rd, added a run in the second, but then the Hounds took a 1-run lead by scoring 3 in the 5th off a series of Viking errors. Keith Richardson (#17, 1B) singled, Joe Wietecha (#19, 3B) followed with a single, and then Max Kiefer (#21, LF), Kyle Hanson (#2, 2B), and Matthew Steffens (#5, SS) all reached by errors, scoring 3 to take the lead.
The Hounds added a run in the 7th as Kiefer led off with a double, and Steffens singled him home, and the Hounds went into the bottom of the 7th with a 1 run lead (the Vikings had scored an unearned run in the 6th). Unfortunately the Hounds could not hold the lead as the Vikings took advantage of a slightly gassed Burch (the Hounds probably needed a closer at this game) and the Vikings scored 2 to win the game with a walkoff single.
McDonald’s count = still 0.
Overall, a good weekend start and the Hounds regulars and rookies all contributed. TJ Rinaldi (#1, CF) tracked down everything in center (which was not easy on the windy Saturday game) and Nolan Bielinski (#4, EH/C) got off the early snide in game 2 and overcame his arm injury to catch). Wietecha really flashed the leather in both games. Lots of positives.
The Hounds play the Vikings again next Saturday (9:30 am at Taft) and then play the Orioles at Winnemac on Sunday (12:15 start), hope to see you there!

The Hounds had hoped to start 2-0, but it would not come to pass on a beautiful mother’s day at Taft High School.  Manager Matthew Steffens’ mom had attended the cold game on Saturday, but missed the warm one on Sunday, no other mom’s were in attendance at either contest (as far as I can remember), although there were some wives and girlfriends in attendance at both.

Matt Burch pitched a complete game v. the Vikings, taking a hard luck loss.  Burch struck out 5, walked 4, gave up 7 hits (only 1 of the extra base variety, a double), and 2 runners reached by error.  The Vikings took a 1-run lead in the 3rd, added a run in the second, but then the Hounds took a 1-run lead by scoring 3 in the 5th off a series of Viking errors.  Keith Richardson (#17, 1B) singled, Joe Wietecha (#19, 3B) followed with a single, and then Max Kiefer (#21, LF), Kyle Hanson (#2, 2B), and Matthew Steffens (#5, SS) all reached by errors, scoring 3 to take the lead.
The Hounds added a run in the 7th as Kiefer led off with a double, and Steffens singled him home, and the Hounds went into the bottom of the 7th with a 1 run lead (the Vikings had scored an unearned run in the 6th).  Unfortunately the Hounds could not hold the lead as the Vikings took advantage of a slightly gassed Burch (the Hounds probably needed a closer at this game) and the Vikings scored 2 to win the game with a walkoff single.
McDonald’s count = still 0.
Overall, a good weekend start and the Hounds regulars and rookies all contributed.  TJ Rinaldi (#1, CF) tracked down everything in center (which was not easy on the windy Saturday game) and Nolan Bielinski (#4, EH/C) got off the early snide in game 2 and overcame his arm injury to catch).  Wietecha really flashed the leather in both games.  Lots of positives.
The Hounds play the Vikings again next Saturday (9:30 am at Taft) and then play the Orioles at Winnemac on Sunday (12:15 start), hope to see you there!

The Hounds had a strange and rare 2-pitcher 2-runs allowed no hitter against the Red Sox on Saturday at a windy and cold Winnemac Park.  Brian Hearns (#30, P, 1-0) and Tim Riggenbach (#8, DH/P, 1 Save) combined for 7 innings of no hit ball.  Hearns started and made it through 4 innings in between coaching 2 high school games of his own (they had a morning game, he dropped by to pitch, then went on to coach an evening game).  Hearns only faced 14 batters, 2 over the minimus–1 reached by error (on a tough error for second baseman Joe Wietecha [see YTECHA 19 on his license plate] who made a beautiful diving stop to his left on the very first play of the game, but then unfortunately threw the ball away) and the other batter reached on Hearns’ only walk of the game.  Riggenbach then took over and had 2 stellar innings (5th and 7th), but had a tough 6th where he loaded the bases with walks and hit-by-pitches, let a run in on a walk, and then a runner scored on a fielder’s choice/error.  Riggenbach struck out 5 in his 3 innings of work, also allowing no hits, and earning the 3-inning save.
One of the batters that Riggenbach plunked was the final cut of the season from the Hounds, Derrek Krouse.  Manager Matthew Steffens (#5, SS) had cut him late in the pre-season, but recommended that he tryout for the Red Sox, feeling he was good enough for the league, but felt the Hounds just didn’t have a spot for him.  Riggenbach welcomed Derrek to the Chicago Metropolitan Baseball Association by nailing him in the back on the very first pitch he faced.  (Not on purpose.)
The Hounds scored 5 runs in the game, with newcomer Garrett Eddy (#22, RF) scoring in the first inning after reaching on an error.  Brent Schoenbach (#7, 3B) “drove” in the run by also reaching by error (since it was after 2 outs, no scored RBI).  In the 3rd inning Steffens drew a walk, went to second on a single by Eddy, stole third, and then scored on a sacrifice fly RBI by Wietecha.  The Hounds scored 3 runs in the 4th as Max Kiefer (#21, LF) reached on a fielder’s choice (after a single by Tony Correa (#13, C), rookie Stephen Correa Jr. (#20, 1B, no relation to Tony, but both are NOT doctors) then singled, and Riggenbach tripled to right, driving in 2.  Steffens then singled (according to the book, but I thought I reached by error), driving in Riggenbach.
After the scare in the 6th when the bases were loaded and the Red Sox scored 2, Riggenbach settled down in the 7th handling things all by himself, with a strikeout, 1-3, and 2-1.  Again, according to the book, but that seems weird.  Maybe it was a 2-3?  In any event, Hounds win the opening game!
McDonald’s count = Matthew Steffens = 0; Marcia Steffens = 1

The Chicago Hounds were supposed to take the field today at Southwest Park in Park Ridge to face the mighty Marlins for Opening Day of the 2016 CMBA campaign, but the rain gods would not have it, and tonight’s game was cancelled due to flooding.
The Hounds schedule is attached, I will update you all on the rescheduled Marlins game once it is posted.
If any players or fans wish to have other friends or family members added to this email list (the list presently includes players, fans, and alumni), please send me the relevant email address. If anyone wishes to be removed from this list, please let me know.
Hope you all are well and happy 2016 baseball season!

2016-Hounds-Schedule.xlsx

The Hounds crushed the Rangers tonight behind a complete game win of Jeremy Schmitz, and the Marlins beat the Vikings, so the Hounds have made the playoffs as the sixth and final seed!
The Hounds play the Aviators this weekend in the first round of the playoffs:
*#*
*Date*
*Day*
*Time*
*Opponent*
*H/V*
*Field*
*R1 G1*
*8/1/2015*
*Saturday*
*1:00 PM*
*Aviators*
*V*
*Winnemac*
*R1 G2*
*8/2/2015*
*Sunday*
*12:00 PM*
*Aviators*
*H*
*Winnemac*
*R1 G3*
*8/5/2015*
*Wednesday*
*5:30 PM*
*Aviators*
*V*
*Winnemac*
See you there!

The Chicago Hounds lost 5-4 in 10 innings v. the league-leading Marlins yesterday, and then lost 15-6 tonight v. the playoff bound Browns. The score was 4-4 after 4 innings tonight, but then the Browns took over–despite home runs from both Keith Richardson (#17, 1B/SS) and T.J. Rinaldi (#1, CF).
The Hounds are now 12-14-1, and still in 6th place in the CMBA with 25 points, but could be overtaken by the Vikings, Yankees, or Red Sox, who all have potential for more total points as they have more games to play.
The Hounds play the cellar dwelling Rangers the final 3 games of the season–a doubleheader on Saturday and the final game next Tuesday. If they win all 3 games, the Hounds still have the potential to get a playoff spot with 31 points, but it will require the Vikings to have no more than 15 wins (31 points as well, but the Hounds have the tiebreaker), the Yankees to have a max of 15 wins (30 points), and the Red Sox to have a max of 15/30 as well. The Aviators and Orioles do not yet have 30 points either, but with 8 and 6 games remaining, they are unlikely to lose out.
Not impossible, but not necessarily easy either. The Hounds will rest up, try to heal some injuries over the next 4 days, and then look to sweep the doubleheader v. the Rangers at Winnemac on Saturday.

The Hounds scuffled today, dropping their first game since June 21. The Aviators beat the overmatched Hounds 14-2 in only 5 innings at a beautiful Winnemac Park.
Brian Hearns (#30, P) drove back early from a family trip only to find just 8 Hounds at the field, no subs, and many regulars were out or injured. Hearns probably was sorry he made the drive, but at least he helped prevent a forfeit, which has not been an issue at all with the Hounds this season–this was a rare game without 11 in the game and a couple subs on the bench.
Only Kyle Hanson (#2, 2B) and Matthew Steffens (#5, SS) were able to score in the game, and Tony Correa (#13, 3B) led the team in getting on base, as he reached by an error and walked in his 2 plate appearances (the Hounds only batted 9 today, and 8 of them only got to the plate 2 times). The Hounds faced a tough pitcher with a good fastball and a slider that was pretty fast as well, and the Hounds batters struck out for 7 of their 15 outs. The umpire was rough today–the zone was really wide, but we cannot blame him, we just got beat.
So today was a rough one, but we will move on and look forward to starting a new win streak with just 7 games left in the 2015 regular season. Playoff spots are not yet determined, and the Hounds will need to keep winning to make it.
Schedule for the remainder of the season:
*#*
*Date*
*Day*
*Time*
*Opponent (Hounds v.)*
*H/V*
*Field*
*24*
*7/14/2015*
*Tuesday*
*5:50 PM*
*Orioles (1-1)*
*V*
*Ridgewood HS*
*25*
*7/15/2015*
*Wednesday*
*5:50 PM*
*Pirates (2-0)*
*H*
*Winnemac*
*26*
*7/19/2015*
*Sunday*
*10:00 AM*
*Marlins (0-2)*
*V*
*Southwest*
*27*
*7/20/2015*
*Monday*
*6:15 PM*
*Browns (1-1)*
*V*
*Columbus Park*
*28*
*7/25/2015*
*Saturday*
*12:15 PM*
*Rangers*
*H*
*Winnemac*
*29*
*7/25/2015*
*Saturday*
*3:00 PM*
*Rangers*
*V*
*Winnemac*
*30*
*7/28/2015*
*Tuesday*
*5:50 PM*
*Rangers*
*H*
*Winnemac*

The Chicago Hounds defeated the Red Sox in a twin bill today, winning 11-8 in Game 1 and 6-5 in Game 2. The Hounds have now won 7 consecutive games and are 11-10-1 on the season (after starting 3-9-1).
T.J. Rinaldi (#1, CF) was the biggest factor on offense today, reaching base safely in all 7 plate appearances–with 2 singles, 2 walks, a reach by error, a triple, and a monstrous home run into the infield of the Little League field in deep left center of the field at Taft High School. Rinaldi scored 3 times, stole 2 bases, and had 1 RBI (on the home run). Anthony Camacho (#14, EH in Game 1, EH/RF in Game 2) also had a big day–driving in 5 runs on a Sac Fly, a single, a double, and on a fielder’s choice. The Hounds had contributions from everyone up and down the lineup in both games, these were quality team wins.
Robert Bavone (#10, P) came out of early retirement to pitch a complete game win in the first game. The 8 runs given up were more of a factor of the awful field conditions at Taft than anything else. The infield has been overrun with grass and weeds, no bounce is true, it is far, far worse than Winnemac ever was at its worst. Bavone went the distance and the Hounds were very happy to have him back on the hill.
Kurt Kerrigan (#12, RF in Game 1, P in Game 2) also got a complete game win in Game 2 of the doubleheader. Kerrigan was frustrated with his mechanics, but he still managed to strike out 9 Sox, including the final 3 batters in the 7th inning to put the game away. Kerrigan also had a double and scored a run in Game 1.
The Hounds next play the Aviators tomorrow morning at 9:30 am at Winnemac Park. The Aviators beat the Hounds the previous 2 times, both by 1 run each, so the Hounds look to exact revenge and get their 8th win in a row on this fantastic win streak.