Using a near-flawless pitching performance from wily veteran Kyle Coughlin (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Boom Goes the Dynamite opened the 2007 season with a 19-6 rout of Big Swingin last night at the Lake Nokomis Athletic Field in Minneapolis. In front of three fans, Boom showed little signs of rust as the two-time defending CSC Champions pushed their franchise record winning streak to 23 games.
Healthy for the first time since the fall of 2003, Coughlin pitched two no-hit innings to start the game and was solid throughout from the mound, walking only one and scattering six hits. In addition to his hurling performance, the journeyman slugger went 4-for-4 at the plate with a home run in the fourth inning to put the game on ice.
"I was great," Coughlin said.
Making her debut with Boom Goes the Dynamite was rookie outfielder Meghan Potter (Hibbing, Minn.), formerly of North Dakota State and Hibbing High School. Ranking 11th on the NDSU career home run list with nine round-trippers, Potter displayed her power in the third inning with a blast to left center to give Boom a 13-3 lead.
"I give all the credit for my performance to Tom Wistrcill," Potter said at the post-game press conference at the 5-8 Club. "He gave me the best pep talk of my illustrious career during lunch today at the Library. He probably couldn't run from home to first base without sustaining multiple injuries, but he knows his stuff. Basically, he just told me that I need to be a superstar...that I'm anything but mediocre. I'm choking up just thinking about his words."
Despite the strong performances throughout the lineup, the game was marred by several bouts of little to no effort from a handful of Boom players. While Casey Kurtt (Lakeland, Minn.) showed outstanding hustle and grit, taking two foul balls off her ever-expanding belly and running out every play, infielders Lisa Hardy (Hopkins, Minn.) and Alicia Jerome (Seattle, Wash.) once again showed signs of selective hustle.
Jerome failed to run out a shallow fly ball in the fifth inning, but it was Hardy who was the most visible culprit of non-effort. A documented hothead with a history of dust-ups with opponents, teammates and umpires, Hardy nearly cost Coughlin of his home run in the fourth inning. With the oft-injured Coughlin putting months of chiropractic work on the line as he sped around the bases, Hardy refused to do more than a trot on the basepaths.
"I run when I want to run," Hardy said, evoking memories of former Minnesota Viking Randy Moss.
Boom Goes the Dynamite (1-0) continues its defense of the CSC Championship next Monday at the Lake Nokomis Athletic Field.
Notes:
• Jeff Keiser (Avon, Ct.) was perhaps the rustiest of the Boom players as the left fielder had two errors in the field and went 0-for-3 from the plate. With his putrid performance, Keiser earns the first Nick Joos/M. Lochrem Goat of the Week Award.
• Steve Geller (St. Louis Park, Minn.) was a close runner-up to Keiser in the Goat voting, failing to reach base and making an error at third base. Geller also made two outs in the fifth inning.
• Kevin Kurtt (Edina, Minn.), a two-time Boom MVP, was borderline flawless in the field with 13 assists from his shortstop position. The expectant father showed little rust at the plate, going 3-for-4 and needing just a home run for the cycle.
• Kevin Noth (Maidson, Wis.) did not receive his $5 cleats from craigslist in time for the game, providing high comedy during baserunning.
• Tory Kukowski (Lewiston, Minn.) got off to the fastest start of his Boom career despite still employing his long, looping swing. Usually good for two or three easy pop-ups in season openers, Kukowski went 3-for-4 with a fielder's choice.
• Alicia Jerome nearly started a fight in the fifth inning as she shoved Big Swingin's first baseman as she rounded the base.
• Fans in attendance: Laura Kurtt, Shane Sandersfeld, Michelle Train - all now eligible for the Jeannie/Cowboy Bob Superfan Award
• Mascots in attendance: Cooper, Koda - both now eligible for the Goldy's Gang Mascot of the Year Award.
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