Station House wasted no time dispatching the now 2-6 Parrotheads Sunday afternoon at Goldstar Park.
Parrotheads starting pitcher Justin Palmer was tagged for two absolute bombs over the newly christened left-centerfield fence along with a relentless hitting attack. Despite the home team’s surge to an early 2-0 lead, the offense could not keep pace with Station House, which is now 7-1.
But the team was inspired by the play of Brandon Palmer after he was struck in the mouth by a rogue ground ball to third a week before and needed stitches. Parrotheads center fielders Adrian Alfond and Jason Claffey also played solid defense, but neither they or their teammates could find enough offense to keep place with Station House, a team that looks poised to compete with the likes of TJ’s, Brick House and Meat House for the league title.
The Parrotheads now have 10 days to regroup before they return to action on July 8. With 12 games left to play, the team is still confident it will get a few more W’s.
“We just can’t get down on ourselves and we just have to keep playing,” said Parrotheads veteran Bob Cook, who had two RBIs and two hits on the day. “Sooner or later the ball and the calls are going to bounce our way.”
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Parrotheads drop third straight; fall to Meat House
A three-game losing streak caused by an inability to score runs or play defense is causing a lot of Parrotheads players to look in their mirror these days.
The general consensus in the clubhouse is there is nowhere to go but up for veterans and rookies alike.
After falling to Meat House on Sunday at Guppy Park in Dover and losing to Brick House, 20-4, on Friday at GoldStar Park, the team has to wait until this Sunday before they can go for their third win versus Station House. The Parrotheads are 2-5.
“I’ve played on a lot of teams over the last 10 years and I still like this team and I like our chances to string together some wins,” says Bob Cook who took the loss Friday after giving up two moon shot homeruns to Brick House hitters. “We just have to keep believing in ourselves and keep playing good softball. Before you know it, we could be on a winning streak.”
Parrotheads coach Justin Palmer is still searching for the right batting order and defensive combinations that will enable everyone to get their fair share of playing time and give the team the best chance to compete. It hasn’t been easy.
In order for the Parrotheads to turn things around, look for the veterans to really step up. Cook knows he has to hit better and put out more effort when he is running the base paths. Jason Claffey knows he has to get on base and use his speed to score runs. Palmer knows he has to be patient with his players as they find the right groove.
“We just haven’t done enough of the things we need to do to win these games,” Cook says. “When we put together a good hitting attack and play strong defense, we will win our share of games.”
Look for the Parrotheads to bounce back Sunday. First pitch is at 4:45 p.m.
The general consensus in the clubhouse is there is nowhere to go but up for veterans and rookies alike.
After falling to Meat House on Sunday at Guppy Park in Dover and losing to Brick House, 20-4, on Friday at GoldStar Park, the team has to wait until this Sunday before they can go for their third win versus Station House. The Parrotheads are 2-5.
“I’ve played on a lot of teams over the last 10 years and I still like this team and I like our chances to string together some wins,” says Bob Cook who took the loss Friday after giving up two moon shot homeruns to Brick House hitters. “We just have to keep believing in ourselves and keep playing good softball. Before you know it, we could be on a winning streak.”
Parrotheads coach Justin Palmer is still searching for the right batting order and defensive combinations that will enable everyone to get their fair share of playing time and give the team the best chance to compete. It hasn’t been easy.
In order for the Parrotheads to turn things around, look for the veterans to really step up. Cook knows he has to hit better and put out more effort when he is running the base paths. Jason Claffey knows he has to get on base and use his speed to score runs. Palmer knows he has to be patient with his players as they find the right groove.
“We just haven’t done enough of the things we need to do to win these games,” Cook says. “When we put together a good hitting attack and play strong defense, we will win our share of games.”
Look for the Parrotheads to bounce back Sunday. First pitch is at 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Navy Yard submerges Parrotheads, 14-6
ROLLINSFORD -- Going up against the Dover Co-Rec League champion TJ's, a.k.a. Navy Yard is never a welcome prospect on any team's schedule, but the Parrotheads held their own with the softball jugernaught for several innings before falling 14-6 at Goldstar Park Wednesday night.
As expected, Navy Yard hitters jumped all over Parrotheads starting pitcher Justin Palmer and built a 10-0 lead by the second inning. The score ballooned to 13-0 before the Parrotheads offense came to life in the bottom of the fourth inning after the team strung together a series of stinging singles which led to two runs. Over the next three innings, the Parrotheads played better defense and chipped away at the lead with another four runs, but it wasn't enough to cover Navy Yard, a team that has captured the league title two years in a row.
The loss dropped the Parrotheads season record to 2-3 and the team will now have more than a week to regroup before they play Chumley's on June 18. Palmer, the Parrotheads coach, was pleased the team played better than it did in Monday's loss to Post 47.
"We definitely put in a good effort today and I think everybody played well. Even though they jumped on us early with a lot of runs, we never gave in and we kept battling all the way to the 7th inning," said Palmer, who pitched another complete game and recorded two strikeouts.
Bob Cook made good on his promise to eat his pregame ration of donuts and ice coffee so his bat would get going again and it paid off when Cook bashed three hits and knocked in two of the Parrotheads runs.
Outfielders Jason Claffey and Adrian Alfond also played some strong defense and each had a pair of hits. The Parrotheads also threw out their first runner at the plate when Alfond started a relay to Palmer who applied the tag as the Navy Yard runner slid towards home.
As expected, Navy Yard hitters jumped all over Parrotheads starting pitcher Justin Palmer and built a 10-0 lead by the second inning. The score ballooned to 13-0 before the Parrotheads offense came to life in the bottom of the fourth inning after the team strung together a series of stinging singles which led to two runs. Over the next three innings, the Parrotheads played better defense and chipped away at the lead with another four runs, but it wasn't enough to cover Navy Yard, a team that has captured the league title two years in a row.
The loss dropped the Parrotheads season record to 2-3 and the team will now have more than a week to regroup before they play Chumley's on June 18. Palmer, the Parrotheads coach, was pleased the team played better than it did in Monday's loss to Post 47.
"We definitely put in a good effort today and I think everybody played well. Even though they jumped on us early with a lot of runs, we never gave in and we kept battling all the way to the 7th inning," said Palmer, who pitched another complete game and recorded two strikeouts.
Bob Cook made good on his promise to eat his pregame ration of donuts and ice coffee so his bat would get going again and it paid off when Cook bashed three hits and knocked in two of the Parrotheads runs.
Outfielders Jason Claffey and Adrian Alfond also played some strong defense and each had a pair of hits. The Parrotheads also threw out their first runner at the plate when Alfond started a relay to Palmer who applied the tag as the Navy Yard runner slid towards home.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Cook looking for mucho hits tonight
Bob Cook cannot say why his productive bat fell silent during Monday’s loss to Post 47, but the veteran slugger promised to put a charge into the ball when the Parrotheads take on TJ’s tonight.
“There’s just not excuse for me not to hit the ball as well as I am capable of,” said Cook, who is in his 10th consecutive slow-pitch softball season. “My teammates depend on me to drive in runs and get on base and I didn’t even come close to getting the job done Monday.”
So what does Cook think caused his power outage?
“It’s simple. The Post 47 pitcher was throwing a lot of junk knuckle balls that threw my timing off. He’s a good pitcher and I have had trouble with him before. Just facing a different pitcher who will throw more regular pitches will make it easier for me to generate some offense.”
Cook says he spent three hours in the batting cages at the Parrotheads training facility on Tuesday honing his swing, improving his mechanics and doing what it takes to hit the ball hard.
“It was a good session. I tried not to overdo it, but I think it will put me back on track for today.”
If the Parrotheads hope to steal a win from TJ’s, a.k.a. Navy Yard, the league champions, Cook and the rest of the team’s big hitters will have to produce at the plate and in the field. Mistakes, like bad fielding plays or poor baserunning, can’t happen against such an experienced team that never takes losing lightly.
“We have our work cut out for us,” Cook said. “I know Justin will put together a good line up and we will be ready.”
“There’s just not excuse for me not to hit the ball as well as I am capable of,” said Cook, who is in his 10th consecutive slow-pitch softball season. “My teammates depend on me to drive in runs and get on base and I didn’t even come close to getting the job done Monday.”
So what does Cook think caused his power outage?
“It’s simple. The Post 47 pitcher was throwing a lot of junk knuckle balls that threw my timing off. He’s a good pitcher and I have had trouble with him before. Just facing a different pitcher who will throw more regular pitches will make it easier for me to generate some offense.”
Cook says he spent three hours in the batting cages at the Parrotheads training facility on Tuesday honing his swing, improving his mechanics and doing what it takes to hit the ball hard.
“It was a good session. I tried not to overdo it, but I think it will put me back on track for today.”
If the Parrotheads hope to steal a win from TJ’s, a.k.a. Navy Yard, the league champions, Cook and the rest of the team’s big hitters will have to produce at the plate and in the field. Mistakes, like bad fielding plays or poor baserunning, can’t happen against such an experienced team that never takes losing lightly.
“We have our work cut out for us,” Cook said. “I know Justin will put together a good line up and we will be ready.”
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Parrotheads run a fowl of Post 47, 15-2
Everything that could go wrong did and everything that should have gone right didn’t.
That was the story behind the Parrotheads disappointing 15-2 loss to Post 47 Monday night at Goldstar Park in Rollinsford. The offense sputtered, the defense buckled, and the base running, well, let’s say Coach Justin Palmer should make Bob Cook do a week in the slow-pitch instructional league.
Cook’s weak attempt to score from third with one out in the top of the third summer up the utter futility of the Parrotheads game. On a grounder hit to short, Cook danced halfway down the third base line and waited until the Post 47 shortstop threw to second to start a double play before he sprinted for home. But the second baseman elected to throw a strike to the female catcher who was waiting for Cook with enough time to order a cheeseburger and fries (Cook’s blazing speed.) Not wanting to injure the catcher who was standing right on homeplate, Cook avoided a collision and was tagged out. He also ran tepidly to first base on another double play ball instead of beating out the throw to first.
After tearing up the league with an astounding 10 hits and 12 RBIs, Cook had his worst game of the 2010 campaign leaving his immediate future in the starting line-up in doubt.
“It was just one of those nights. I didn’t swing the bat well, I couldn’t run that well and my fielding was off,” Cook said. “I’m just glad we will have another game on Wednesday so myself and my teammates can redeem ourselves. Our fans deserve better.”
Some of the bright spots included a towering triple struck by Palmer in the top of the fifth that scored two runs and solid hitting and fielding by left fielder Jason Claffey.
Palmer noted the Parrotheads are 2-2 and the team should feel good about being at .500 after taking on the more seasoned and experienced Post 47, the same team that eliminated the former Beacons team in the 2009 playoff tournament.
“We all know we can play better and I feel pretty good that we will play better on Wednesday,” said Palmer, who pitched a complete game in the loss.
The Parrotheads will take the field again on Wednesday versus TJ’s, a.k.a. Navy Yard, the Dover Co-Ed League’s defending champions.First pitch is at 6 p.m.
That was the story behind the Parrotheads disappointing 15-2 loss to Post 47 Monday night at Goldstar Park in Rollinsford. The offense sputtered, the defense buckled, and the base running, well, let’s say Coach Justin Palmer should make Bob Cook do a week in the slow-pitch instructional league.
Cook’s weak attempt to score from third with one out in the top of the third summer up the utter futility of the Parrotheads game. On a grounder hit to short, Cook danced halfway down the third base line and waited until the Post 47 shortstop threw to second to start a double play before he sprinted for home. But the second baseman elected to throw a strike to the female catcher who was waiting for Cook with enough time to order a cheeseburger and fries (Cook’s blazing speed.) Not wanting to injure the catcher who was standing right on homeplate, Cook avoided a collision and was tagged out. He also ran tepidly to first base on another double play ball instead of beating out the throw to first.
After tearing up the league with an astounding 10 hits and 12 RBIs, Cook had his worst game of the 2010 campaign leaving his immediate future in the starting line-up in doubt.
“It was just one of those nights. I didn’t swing the bat well, I couldn’t run that well and my fielding was off,” Cook said. “I’m just glad we will have another game on Wednesday so myself and my teammates can redeem ourselves. Our fans deserve better.”
Some of the bright spots included a towering triple struck by Palmer in the top of the fifth that scored two runs and solid hitting and fielding by left fielder Jason Claffey.
Palmer noted the Parrotheads are 2-2 and the team should feel good about being at .500 after taking on the more seasoned and experienced Post 47, the same team that eliminated the former Beacons team in the 2009 playoff tournament.
“We all know we can play better and I feel pretty good that we will play better on Wednesday,” said Palmer, who pitched a complete game in the loss.
The Parrotheads will take the field again on Wednesday versus TJ’s, a.k.a. Navy Yard, the Dover Co-Ed League’s defending champions.First pitch is at 6 p.m.
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