Warning Track Power Goes Streaking With 15-9 Win Over Wells Fargo

Warning Track Power is on its first winning streak of the season after a too-tense 15-9 victory over Wells Fargo last night in St. Louis Park Mixed C League play. WTP (3-1) jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but for the second time in the last three weeks, failed to find the killer instinct that was present with the Boom Goes the Dynamite teams of 2005 and 2006.

Wells Fargo, a team made up of bank tellers, high school dropouts and former child actors, closed the gap to 12-9 in the fifth inning, but a small WTP rally and some stalwart defense sealed the win and the two-game win streak.

Playing in midsummerlike conditions with temperatures in the 90s and winds in the 20-30 mph range, both teams' pitchers struggled to find the strike zone. WTP hurler Jeff Keiser (Avon, Conn.) filled in admirably for staff ace Jim Strick (Combined Locks, Wis.) who was off providing his melodic voice talents to a low-level softball tournament in Wisconsin. Keiser walked three, but kept Wells Fargo's rallies to a minimum by deftly mixing up his pitches.

At the plate, Keiser had a forgettable performance, but was picked up by three WTPers with batting averages of .750 or better. Aging veteran Kevin Noth (Norwalk, Wis.) had his best game since 2007, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Savvy slugger Matt Slieter (Owatonna, Minn.) continued his torrid start to the 2009 campaign with a 3-for-4 outing. Slieter is now hitting a team-best .909 on the season. Tall infielder Cathy Behr (Willmar, Minn.) had another stellar performance at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.

Warning Track Power now heads into the bye week with a 3-1 record in the St. Louis Park Mixed C League standings.

Box score above. For Warning Track Power season stats, go to slowpitchstats.com.

Game Notes
* Warning Track Power veteran Kevin Noth filled in as umpire for 1.1 innings until USSSA umpire Alexander P. Tardeman arrived.
* Warning Track Power went 19-for-36 (.528) on the night.
* Kevin Noth has hits in four straight at bats, his best streak since the 2006 campaign.
* Top hit streaks of the season: Matt Slieter: 7, Kevin Kurtt 5, Kevin Noth 4
* Cathy Behr has had four straight multi-hit games to start the season. Slieter has three consecutive multi-hit contests.
* For the second straght week, a WTPer struck out swinging. This week, Casey Kurtt got the K after last week's whiff by Amanda Hoehn.
* WTP is 3-0 when Kevin Kurtt wears his "Kyle's Birthday November 17" t-shirt.
* WTP is 3-0 at Dakota Park East and 0-1 at Dakota Park West.
* WTP was without the services of its top two pitchers in Jim Strick and Steve "Moonlight" Geller.
* WTP failed to hit a triple for the first time this season.
* Alyssa Downing arrived at the field a career-record 28 minutes early. Meghan Potter was also early for an unprecedented second week in a row.
* Ten-day acquisitions/lovebirds Ben Flattum and Carmelina Carabajal struggled at the plate, going a combined 1-for-5, but made significant social contributions during a postgame meal at Major's Sports Café.
* Flattum and Casey Kurtt were the lone WTPers without a hit.
* WTP drew a season-high six walks.
* WTP only had three extra base hits - doubles by Cathy Behr, Lisa Hardy (!) and Meghan Potter.
* Matt Slieter failed to reach base in the first inning for the first time this season.
* Cathy Behr was named the misterheavyfoot.blogspot.com Player of the Game. Second star: Kevin Noth. Third star: Matt Slieter.
* Umpire Alexander P. Tardeman was named the Nick Joos/CoSIDA Goat of the Game.
* Kevin Noth subbing for late umpire Alexander P. Tardeman for 1.1 innings was nominated for the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year and the Kodak Moment of the Year.
* Lisa Hardy digging out a poorly thrown ball to first from third baseman Ryan Maus for a crucial out has been nominated for Kodak Moment of the Year.
* Umpire Alexander P. Tardeman made an inexplicable "out" call on a play at second base involving Matt Slieter. After a WTP flyout, Slieter tagged up and bluffed a run to third before retutning to second. Wells Fargo threw to second before Slieter reached the bag with Lately calling him out, despite the fact that a tag needed to be made. The moment will now be recognized as a contender for the Steak Knife Blooper of the Year.
* Also recognized for Blooper of the Year will be Casey Kurtt's drop of a perfectly thrown ball by shortstop Kevin Kurtt that would have provided a highlight-reel inning-ending double play.
* Fans in attendance: Leah Foreman-Keiser (one inning), Pam Hardy, Hardy Family Member A, Hardy Family Member B, Kieran Kurtt, Laura Kurtt.
* 2009 Three Star Standings:
Cathy Behr 6
Jim Strick 6
Matt Slieter 5
Kevin Noth 3
Michelle Train 3
Kevin Kurtt 1

Warning Track Power Back in the Win Column with 12-2 Thumping of Myslajek Ltd.

Warning Track Power got back in the win column Tuesday with a convincing 12-2 victory over Myslajek Ltd., in a game played in horrendous conditions of heavy rains and driving winds. WTP (2-1) cruised to the win on the strength of a pitching gem by veteran hurler Jim Strick (Combined Locks, Wis.) and perfect nights at the plate by Strick, Matt Slieter, Kevin Kurtt and Steve Geller (10-for-10, 7 runs, 5 RBI).

With the win, WTP maintained its undefeated all-time record (3-0) against Myslajek, a team comprised of certified public accountants, recovering alcoholics and at least one prostitute. Warning Track Power now stands in a three-way tie for second place behind defending champion Green Giants (2-0) in the St. Louis Park Mixed C League standings.

Box score above. For Warning Track Power season stats, go to slowpitchstats.com.

Game Notes
* The game was played in awful weather conditions with periods of heavy rain and sustained winds upwards of 30 mph.
* Warning Track Power played through the franchise's first ever rain delay.
* Warning Track Power went 21-for-34 (.618) on the night.
* Four WTPers had perfect nights from the plate - Matt Slieter (3-3), Kevin Kurtt (3-3), Jim Strick (2-2) and Steve Geller (2-2).
* Amanda Hoehn, an offseason free agent signee, made her WTP debut, going 0-for-3 with one strikeout (swinging).
* Hoehn's strikeout was the first swinging K in recorded franchise history.
* Aging veteran Steve "Moonlight" Geller made his 2009 WTP debut, going 2-for-2 with
* WTP recorded its third consecutive game with multiple triples.
* Pitcher Jim Strick did not have an earned run, despite the game being played in horrendous conditions.
* Jeff Keiser had a career-high two infield hits, including one ball that went approximately 17 inches in distance from home plate.
* Meghan Potter arrived at the field a career-record 23 minutes early.
* Alyssa Downing arrived at the field after the scheduled start for the fifth time in the last six games.
* Kevin Noth wore his always-popular wife-beater, but went with a long-sleeve t-shirt when the weather made a turn for the worse.
* Potter and Keiser both ordered mushroom pizzas at the postgame meal at Majors.
* Keiser and shortstop Kevin Kurtt each made a pair of throwing errors. Kurtt made up for it at the plate...Keiser did not.
* Kurtt had a team-leading 3 RBI despite hitting from the leadoff spot.
* Lisa Hardy hit the first sacrifice fly of the season.
* Jim Strick drew his second career walk.
* Amanda Hoehn was the lone WTPer without a hit.
* Kevin Kurtt and Jeff Keiser were not first two roster members present at Dakota Park for the first time this season. Keiser and Matt Slieter arrived before Kurtt.
* Jim Strick was named the misterheavyfoot.blogspot.com Player of the Game. Second star: Matt Slieter. Third star: Kevin Kurtt.
* The weather was named the Nick Joos/CoSIDA Goat of the Game.
* WTP gritting out four runs in the first inning under terrible weather conditions was nominated for the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year.
* Steve "Moonlight" Geller's rare opposite field hit in the fourth inning has been nominated for the Kodak Moment of the Year.
* Umpire Ron Dinkenger made an inexplicable "safe" call on a play at first base even though Lisa Hardy had control of a poorly-thrown Jeff Keiser ball a full step ahead of the runner. The moment will now be recognized as a contender for the Steak Knife Blooper of the Year.
* Also recognized for Moment/Blooper of the Year will be Steve "Moonlight" Geller's slipping, sliding catch of a short fly ball, followed by a poor throw to third to complete a double play. The play would not have been recognized had Geller been wearing cleats.
* Fans in attendance: None, although Steve "Moonlight" Geller's agent Enrico Gellabrini was spotted in the stands. Rumor has it that Gellabrini is assisting Geller while he re-negotiates his endorsement contract with Myoplex.
* 2009 Three Star Standings:
Jim Strick 6
Matt Slieter 4
Cathy Behr 3
Michelle Train 3
Kevin Kurtt 1
Kevin Noth 1

Embarrassing. Warning Track Power Loses 9-8

8-0 lead after two innings, followed by allowing nine unanswered runs. Texa Tonka 9, Warning Track Power 8. There's your recap.

Box score above. For Warning Track Power stats, go to slowpitchstats.com.

Game Notes
* Game started out well with shortstop Kevin Kurtt opening his second straight game with a triple.
* Warning Track Power's downturn seemed to begin with utility player Alyssa Downing's strikeout...looking.
* Texa Tonka did not reach base until the third inning.
* Warning Track Power went 15-for-32 (.469) on the night.
* No WTPer had a batting average over .667 for the game.
* WTP set a team and league record with six triples, but had just one double and eight singles.
* WTP missed the savvy of veteran outfielder Matt Slieter.
* Aging slugger Steve "Moonlight" Geller was also absent.
* Only two players had multi-RBI games - Jeff Keiser (3) and Ryan Maus (2).
* Alyssa Downing, Meghan Potter and Casey Kurtt combined for a highlight-reel 9-4-2 double play with Kurtt blocking the plate to tag out a Texa Tonka runner at home. The moment will now be recognized as a contender for the Kodak Moment of the Year.
* Kevin Kurtt and Jeff Keiser were the first two roster members present at Dakota Park for the 15th time in the last 17 contests.
* Cathy Behr was named the misterheavyfoot.blogspot.com Player of the Game. Second star: Jim Strick. Third star: Kevin Noth.
* Umpire Susan H. Keller was named the Nick Joos/CoSIDA Goat of the Game.
* Alyssa Downing's strikeout was nominated for the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year.
* Fans in attendance: Beth Kurtt, Jim Kurtt, Kieran Kurtt, Laura Kurtt, Cameron Noth, Lori Noth.

Warning Track Power Era Begins with 25-6 Rout of Colgate

Behind the strength of an impressive .738 team batting average and a solid season-opening outing by savvy hurler Jim Strick (Combined Locks, Wis.), Warning Track Power cruised to a resounding 25-6 rout of Colgate in its inaugural game last night. Colgate, a team made up of a combination of furniture assemblymen, spa receptionists and toothpaste salespeople, was playing in its first game in the St. Louis Park Mixed C League.

Box score above. For Warning Track Power stats, go to slowpitchstats.com.

Game Notes
* Warning Track Power went 31-for-42 (.738) on the night.
* Four WTPers had perfect nights from the plate - Matt Slieter (4-4), Jim Strick (4-4), Kevin Noth (3-3) and Michelle Train (2-2).
* All but one batter (Casey Kurtt) recorded multi-hit games.
* Matt Slieter notched a career-best and franchise record-tying 5 RBI.
* With the fill-in performance of catcher/manager Michelle Traen, WTP management is considering cutting the absent Lisa Hardy or Amanda Hoehn in favor of locking up Traen for the season.
* Aging slugger Steve Geller was also absent.
* Train filled the shoes of Hardy quite nicely, drawing two walks.
* Shortstop/owner/president Kevin Kurtt opened the season with a triple, sliding head-first to narrowly beat the tag. Kurtt's slide was the team's only of the game.
* Eight players had multi-RBI games - Slieter (5), Strick (4), Alyssa Downing and Noth (3), Cathy Behr, Jeff Keiser, Katie Fornasiere and Train (2).
* Katie Fornasiere and Kevin Kurtt combined for the rare 4-6 fly ball putout in the first inning. Fornasiere camped under a shallow fly ball and did her best volleyball setter imitation as the ball bounced out of her glove and into the waiting hands of Kurtt. The moment will now be recognized as a contended for the Kodak Moment of the Year and/or the Steak Knife Blooper of the Year.
* Also up for Blooper of the Year was Noth's drastic misjudging of a long fly ball in the third inning.
* Slieter now is either tied or in the team lead in seven offensive categories - batting average (1.000), hits (4), doubles (2), RBI (5), slugging percentage (1.500), on-base percentage (1.000) and on-base plus slugging (2.500).
* 24 of WTP's 31 hits were singles.
* Kurtt and Keiser led the team with four runs scored.
* Kurtt and Keiser were the first two roster members present at Dakota Park for the 14th time in the last 16 contests.

* Train was named the misterheavyfoot.blogspot.com Player of the Game. Second star: Matt Slieter. Third star: Strick.
* Casey Kurtt was named the Nick Joos/CoSIDA Goat of the Game.
* Kevin Kurtt opening the game by turning a stand-up double into a head-first slide triple, thereby setting the tone for the game, was nominated for the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year.
* Fans in attendance: Beth Kurtt, Jim Kurtt, Kieran Kurtt, Laura Kurtt, Cameron Noth, Lori Noth, Noth's Mom, Emily Slieter, Kelly Slieter.

The Boom Box Score - Green Giants 8, Boom Goes the Dynamite 7

Boom Goes the Dynamite (7-4) failed to put a dent in the Green Giants' bid for a perfect season, falling 8-7 to the league leaders last night in St. Louis Park Mixed C action at Aquila Park.

Trailing 8-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Boom rallied with three runs on a bases clearing double by Meghan Potter to cut the Green Giants' lead to one. After holding the Giants (11-0) scoreless in the top of the seventh, Boom loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom half of the inning on a single by Casey Kurtt and walks by Jim Strick and Alyssa Downing. Boom's then-leading hitter Matt Slieter had a chance to play the hero, but he hit a bad pitch that went to the Giants' second baseman who fired to first for the final out.

The loss, coupled with HGH's 15-3 win over The Chiefs last night, pushes Boom into a tie for third place with Skeet Skeet, entering the final week of the season. Boom faces HGH (8-3) next week, while Skeet Skeet takes on the Green Giants.

Game notes from the above box score (season stats are below and also available at slowpitchstats.com; standings are available here):
* Duffy's Pizza Three Stars of the Game: 1. Ryan Maus, 2. Jeff Keiser, 3. Jim Strick.
* Nick Joos/CoSIDA Goat of the Game: Matt Slieter.
* As a team, Boom hit a very pedestrian .400.
* Boom's seven guys went a combined 10-for-17 (.588) with three RBI, one walk, two doubles and a triple while Boom's six ladies went 4-for-16 (.250) with four RBI, one walk and one double.
* Boom's top of the order (spots 1-5) hit 8-for-14 (.571) with six RBI, three doubles and a triple, while the bottom of the order (spots 6-13) hit 6-for-19 (.316) with one RBI.
* Out of Boom's 14 hits, 10 were singles.
* Matt Slieter suffered his first loss as an active player. Boom is now 6-1 with Matt Slieter in the lineup (1-3 without).
* Production: Meghan Potter is averaging .714 RBI per at bat. The next best ratio is Cathy Behr at .621. No male player has better than a .481 ratio (Strick).
* Boom is 7-1 with Kieran Kurtt in attendance and 0-3 without the 8-month year old in the stands.
* Kevin Kurtt became the first Boom player with 10 doubles on the season. He had his fourth straight game with a double.
* Only Kevin Kurtt, Jeff Keiser, Kevin Noth and Steve Geller have played in all 11 games this season.
* RBI Totals (Female - 70, Male - 82)
* Run Totals (Female - 49, Male - 103)
* Kevin Kurtt has scored in all 11 games this season. He leads the team with 21 runs scored.
* Kurtt is the lone Boom player with multi-hit games in all 11 contests this season.
* With his 1-for-3 outing, Matt Slieter had his first game without multiple hits. He also failed to score a run for the first time this season.
* Jim Strick has two or more hits in all nine of his games played this season.
* Ryan Maus had his third straight two-hit, one-run game.
* Jeff Keiser had his first multi-RBI game since notching five on May 20 vs. Absolute Bail Bonds.
* Keiser hit his second triple of the season.
* Keiser now has recorded multiple hits in all but one game (June 24 vs. Myslajek Ltd, 1-for-2).
* Keiser had fans in the stands for the first time in his career as wife Leah and sister-in-law Sara made the game's attendance stand at two.
* Cathy Behr suffered her first hitless game of the season. She did, however, notched her ninth consecutive game with an RBI.
* Meghan Potter struck out twice last night, tying Casey Kurtt for the team lead (2).
* Potter has had multi-RBI games eight times this season, including last night's three RBI effort. She has had three or more RBI in five games this year.
* Potter failed to score a run for only the second time this season.
* Kevin Noth had his second hitless game of the season.
* Alyssa Downing drew her fourth walk of the season, tying her for the team lead with Casey Kurtt.
* Steve Geller failed to record a multi-base hit for the first time since May 27 vs. Skeet Skeet.
* Geller has scored in three consecutive games.
* Boom has drawn 16 walks this season, while Boom's opponents have reached base on balls 28 times.
* Kevin Kurtt now leads the team in runs, hits, singles, doubles and sacrifice flies.
* Keiser's strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 1:1.714, while Steve Geller's is at 1:4.
* Jim Strick and Jeff Keiser are Boom's male leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting, minimum 33.3 percent of games played). Strick ranks first in RBI (13), and third in home runs (0) and batting average (.741), while Keiser ranks first in home runs (2) and RBI (13), and fourth in batting average (.667)
* Meghan Potter and Cathy Behr are Boom's female leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting, minimum 33.3 percent of games played). Potter ranks first in RBI (25) and home runs (0), and second in batting average (.629). Behr ranks first in home runs (0) and batting average (.655), and second in RBI (18).
* Jeff Keiser is Boom's leader in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (pitching), Keiser first in wins (5), ERA (6.25) and strikeouts (7). In second place, Steve Geller ranks second in wins (2), ERA (8.76) and strikeouts (4),
* Boom has not hit a home run since Jeff Keiser had two round-trippers in the 21-20 win over Absolute Bail Bonds on May 20.
* Boom's average margin of victory is 4.86 runs this season.
* Boom's average margin of loss is 2.25 runs this season.
* Boom averages 14 runs per game and allows an average of 11.7 runs per game.
* Boom is now 2-2 in one-run games this season.

The Boom Box Score - Boom Goes the Dynamite 17, Jobdig 5

Boom Goes the Dynamite (7-3) got back in the winning column with a convincing 17-5 win over Jobdig (0-10) on Tuesday night to hang on to second place in the St. Louis Park Mixed C standings. Boom out-hit winless Jobdig 24-11, and had a team batting average of .706 (24-for-34). Tied with HGH for second place, Boom remains three games back of the 10-0 Green Giants in the standings.

Against Jobdig, Boom Goes the Dynamite built a 10-0 lead after two innings to cruise to the five-inning victory. Pitcher/General Manager Jeff Keiser (Avon, Ct.) returned to the mound with three scoreless innings to improve to 5-0 on the season. Keiser walked two, struck out two and allowed one home run.

Boom's offense was led by outfielder Meghan Potter's season-high five RBI. The Hibbing, Minn., native went 2-for-2 with two doubles and a sacrifice fly. Ten Boom players recorded multi-hit games, while only two went hitless (Casey Kurtt, Andrea Smith).

Boom Goes the Dynamite takes on the league-leading Green Giants on Tuesday, July 15 at 9:15 p.m., at Aquila Park Field #2. Boom then will take part in the St. Louis Park Softball Playoffs on Friday-Sunday, July 18-20. Details on Boom's postseason have not yet been made available by League Commissioner Sam Lombardo.

Game notes from the above box score (season stats are below and also available at slowpitchstats.com; standings are available here):
* Duffy's Pizza Three Stars of the Game: 1. Meghan Potter, 2. Ryan Maus, 3. Andrea Smith.
* Nick Joos/CoSIDA Goat of the Game: None.
* Boom's six guys went a combined 16-for-18 (.889) with nine RBI, three doubles and a triple while Boom's six ladies went 8-for-16 (.500) with eight RBI, two walks and three doubles.
* Out of Boom's 24 hits, seven went for extra bases.
* Steve Geller has eight consecutive hits. Geller is hitting .818 over his last four games.
* Boom is 6-0 with Matt Slieter as an active player (1-3 without).
* Production: Meghan Potter is averaging .688 RBI per at bat. The next best ratio is Cathy Behr at .653. No male player has better than a .529 ratio (Slieter).
* Boom is 7-1 with Kieran Kurtt in attendance and 0-2 without the 8-month year old in the stands.
* Kevin Kurtt recorded his first game-winning RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly in the second.
* Potter tied Boom's season-high with five RBI, tying Jeff Keiser's five on May 20.
* Kevin Kurtt became the first Boom player with 10 extra base hits on the season. He had his third straight game with a double.
* Only Kevin Kurtt, Jeff Keiser, Kevin Noth and Steve Geller have played in all 10 games this season.
* RBI Totals (Female - 66, Male - 79)
* Run Totals (Female - 47, Male - 98)
* Kevin Kurtt has scored in all 10 games this season. He leads the team with 19 runs scored.
* Kurtt is the lone Boom player with multi-hit games in all 10 contests this season.
* Kurtt has recorded an RBI in five straight games.
* Casey Kurtt went hitless for the first time since June 17, but walked twice and scored twice.
* Jeff Keiser failed to record an RBI for the second consecutive game.
* Keiser notched his first three-hit game since May 27.
* Keiser hit a season-high two doubles.
* Meghan Potter had her first two-double game since May 27.
* Potter had had multi-RBI games seven times this season. She recorded her first sacrifice fly of the year on Tuesday.
* Jim Strick has two or more hits in all eight of his games played this season. However, he failed to record an RBI for the second straight game.
* Cathy Behr notched her eighth consecutive game with an RBI. She now has six multi-RBI games this season.
* Behr recorded her third game with three or more hits.
* Steve Geller has now notched five straight multi-hit games.
* Geller had his second straight game with a triple.
* Boom has drawn 14 walks this season, while Boom's opponents have reached base on balls 28 times.
* Matt Slieter has two or more hits in all six of his games played this season.
* Kevin Noth had his first three-hit game of the season with three singles. It was his first multi-RBI game since May 27.
* Ryan Maus had his second straight two-hit, two-RBI game.
* Kevin Kurtt now leads the team in runs, hits, singles, doubles and sacrifice flies.
* Keiser's strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 1:2, while Steve Geller's is at 1:4.
* Jim Strick and Jeff Keiser are Boom's male leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting, minimum 33.3 percent of games played). Strick ranks second in RBI (13), and third in home runs (0) and batting average (.720), while Keiser ranks first in home runs (2), third in RBI (11), and fourth in batting average (.667)
* Meghan Potter and Cathy Behr are Boom's female leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting, minimum 33.3 percent of games played). Potter ranks first in RBI (22) and home runs (0), and second in batting average (.656). Behr ranks first in home runs (0) and batting average (.731), and second in RBI (17).
* Jeff Keiser is Boom's leader in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (pitching), Keiser first in wins (5), ERA (6.40) and strikeouts (6). In second place, Steve Geller ranks second in wins (2), ERA (8.76) and strikeouts (4),
* Boom has not hit a home run since Jeff Keiser had two round-trippers in the 21-20 win over Absolute Bail Bonds on May 20.
* Boom's average margin of victory is 4.86 runs this season.
* Boom averages 14.7 runs per game and allows an average of 12.1 runs per game.

The Boom Box Score - The Chiefs 16, Boom Goes the Dynamite 14

Boom Goes the Dynamite (6-3) lost 16-14 to the 3-6 Chiefs, and that's all we're going to say.

Game notes from the above box score (season stats are below and also available at slowpitchstats.com; standings are available here):
* Duffy's Pizza Three Stars of the Game: 1. Alyssa Downing, 2. Steve Geller, 3. [redacted].
* Nick Joos/CoSIDA Goat of the Game: Emily Wood.
* Geller made his first start at pitcher since May 27, picking up the loss to move to fall to 2-3. He walked four and did not record a strikeout.
* Boom's six guys went a combined 13-for-18 (.722) with seven RBI, three doubles and a triple while Boom's six ladies went 8-for-17 (.471) with seven RBI, one walk, one double and one triple.
* Out of Boom's 21 hits, 15 were singles.
* Alyssa Downing had her fourth 3-for-3 game of the season, hitting a single, double and a triple with 2 RBI.
* Downing reached base for the ninth consecutive game.
* Boom lost its first game with Kieran Kurtt in attendance. Boom is now 6-1 with Little KK present and 0-2 without the 8-month year old in the stands.
* Kevin Kurtt has scored in all nine games this season. He leads the team with 18 runs scored.
* Kurtt is the lone Boom player with multi-hit games in all nine contests this season.
* Alyssa Downing became first Boom player to be named first star of the game twice this season.
* Lisa Hardy had her second hitless game of the season.
* Jeff Keiser failed to record an RBI for the first time since the fourth game of the season.
* Cathy Behr notched her seventh consecutive game with an RBI. She now has five multi-RBI games this season.
* Jim Strick has two or more hits in all seven of his games played this season. However, he failed to record an RBI for the first time this season.
* Andrea Smith had her second consecutive multi-RBI game.
* Fleet-of-foot Kevin Noth hit only his third double of the season.
* Steve Geller had his second three-hit game of the season. He has now notched four straight multi-hit games.
* Geller had a season-high 3 RBI and hit his first triple of the season.
* Boom has drawn 12 walks this season, while Boom's opponents have reached base on balls 26 times.
* Keiser's strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 1:2.5, while Steve Geller's is at 1:4.
* Jim Strick and Jeff Keiser are Boom's male leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting, minimum 33.3 percent of games played). Strick ranks first in RBI (12), and third in home runs (0) and batting average (.727), while Keiser ranks first in home runs (2), second in RBI (11), and fourth in batting average (.633)
* Meghan Potter and Cathy Behr are Boom's female leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting, minimum 33.3 percent of games played). Potter ranks first in RBI (17) and home runs (0), and third in batting average (.633). Behr ranks first in home runs (0) and batting average (.696), and second in RBI (15).
* Jeff Keiser is Boom's leader in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (pitching), Keiser first in wins (4), ERA (7.00) and strikeouts (4). In second place, Steve Geller ranks first in strikeouts (4), and second in wins (2) and ERA (8.76).
* Boom has not hit a home run since Jeff Keiser had two round-trippers in the 21-20 win over Absolute Bail Bonds on May 20.
* Boom's average margin of victory is 3.67 runs this season.
* Boom averages 14.4 runs per game and allows an average of 12.8 runs per game.

The Boom Box Score - Boom Goes the Dynamite 13, Myslajek Ltd 11

Boom Goes the Dynamite stayed in second place in the St. Louis Park Mixed C League standings with a 13-11 win over Myslajek Ltd. last week. Boom (6-2) hit .613 as a team, including a 12-for-16 (.750) effort from the guys, to push Boom's winning streak to four games.

Leading 13-3 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, Boom pitcher Jeff Keiser proceeded to walk four to help Myslajek rally with eight runs to cut the lead to two. The sixth inning began with Boom up to bat, but misguided umpire Sammy H. Keller made his second boneheaded call of the night, ending the game due to time limit after two Boom batters. According to USSSA rules, the inning, once started, should have been completed to its entirety (both the top and bottom halves of the inning). Myslajek has filed a protest with St. Louis Park Softball Commissioner Sam Lombardo, while Boom has asked for clarification on the rule, as well as a suspension of Keller.

Boom looks to add to its winning streak against The Chiefs on July 1 at 7:15 p.m., at Dakota Park West. Boom rolled to a 14-10 win over The Chiefs on June 3.

Game notes from the above box score (season stats are below and also available at slowpitchstats.com; standings are available here):
* Duffy's Pizza Three Stars of the Game: 1. Alyssa Downing, 2. Andrea Smith, 3. Casey Kurtt.
* General Manager Jeff Keiser's selections of a trio of Boom ladies for the three stars of the game have been called into question as the ladies as a whole hit a pedestrian .467 (7-for-15) on the night.
* Keiser made his fourth straight start at pitcher, picking up the win to move to 4-0. He walked a season-high four and recorded one strikeout.
* Boom's six guys went a combined 12-for-16 (.750) with five RBI and six doubles, while Boom's six ladies went 7-for-15 (.467) with eight RBI, two walks, four doubles and a triple.
* Out of Boom's 20 hits, 11 went for extra bases.
* Keiser hit his first sacrifice fly of the season.
* Alyssa Downing reached base for the eighth consecutive game with a triple and a walk.
* Boom improved to 5-0 with Kieran Kurtt in attendance. Boom is 0-2 without the 8-month year old in the stands.
* Casey Kurtt broke out of a 0-for-9 hitting slump with a 2-for-3, one double, one RBI, tworun output.
* Kevin Kurtt has scored in all eight games this season. He leads the team with 17runs scored. He has scored two or more runs in the last four games.
* Kurtt is the lone Boom player with multi-hit games in all eight contests this season.
* Alyssa Downing became the eighth different first star of the game in seven games.
* After going 13-for-15 (.867) in her first five games, Downing is hitting just 1-for-8 (.125) in her last three games. Downing does, however, lead the team with three triples.
* Ryan Maus had his first hitless game of the season.
* Lisa Hardy was recorded a walk in two of her three games.
* Keiser failed to record a multi-hit game for the first time this season.
* Jim Strick has two or more hits in all six of his games played this season. He notched his first game with multi extra-base hits on Tuesday.
* Matt Slieter has two or more hits in all five of his games played this season. He failed to knock in a run for the first time on Tuesday.
* Steve Geller has notched three straight two-hit games.
* Andrea Smith hit her first two doubles of the season. She also had a season-high 3 RBI (her first multi-RBI game of the year).
* Cathy Behr missed her first game of the season due to work obligations.
* In Keiser's four starts on the mound, Boom has committed just three errors. During Geller's four starts, Boom committed 22 errors.
* Boom has drawn 11 walks this season, while Boom's opponents have reached base on balls 22 times.
* Keiser's strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 1:2.5, while Steve Geller's is at 1:3.
* Jim Strick and Jeff Keiser are Boom's male leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting, minimum 33.3 percent of games played). Strick ranks first in RBI (12), and third in home runs (0) and batting average (.737), while Keiser ranks first in home runs (2), second in RBI (11), and fourth in batting average (.630)
* Meghan Potter and Cathy Behr are Boom's female leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting, minimum 33.3 percent of games played). Potter ranks first in RBI (17) and home runs (0), and second in batting average (.633). Behr ranks first in home runs (0) and batting average (.700), and second in RBI (13).
* Jeff Keiser is Boom's leader in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (pitching), Keiser first in wins (4), ERA (7.00) and strikeouts (4). In second place, Steve Geller ranks first in strikeouts (4), and second in wins (2) and ERA (7.86).
* Boom has not hit a home run since Jeff Keiser had two round-trippers in the 21-20 win over Absolute Bail Bonds on May 20.
* Boom's average margin of victory is 3.67 runs this season.
* Boom averages 14.5 runs per game and allows an average of 12.5 runs per game.

The Boom Box Score - Boom Goes the Dynamite 10, Absolute Bail Bonds 9

Boom Goes the Dynamite held on to second place in the St. Louis Park Mixed C League standings with a nailbiting 10-9 win over Absolute Bail Bonds last night. Boom (5-2)hit a pedestrian .514 with only one extra-base hit, but pitcher Jeff Keiser and the Boom defense blanked Absolute (3-4) in three innings to push Boom's winning streak to three games.

Boom led 10-6 entering the bottom of the seventh inning before Absolute slugger Melvin Fenstermacher hit a one-out, three-run home run to pull Absolute to within one run. From there, Boom shut down the rally, capitalized by a game-saving fielding gem by second baseman Emily Wood to end the game.

Boom looks to add to its winning streak against Myslajek Ltd. on June 24 at 7:15 p.m., at Dakota Park East. Boom rolled to a 15-9 win over Myslajek to open the season.

Game notes from the above box score (season stats are below and also available at slowpitchstats.com; standings are available here):
* Duffy's Pizza Three Stars of the Game: 1. Emily Wood, 2. Steve Geller, 3. Lisa Hardy.
* Jeff Keiser made his third straight start at pitcher, picking up the win to move to 3-0. He walked two and did not record a strikeout.
* Boom's six guys went a combined 11-for-20 (.550) with eight RBI and a double, while Boom's six ladies went 8-for-17 (.471) with two RBI and five walks.
* Steve Geller hit Boom's lone extra-base hit on the night with a double which was completed with an awkward head-first, semi-rolling slide into second.
* Alyssa Downing had her second consecutive hitless game, but did reach base for the seventh consecutive game with a walk.
* Boom improved to 4-0 with Kieran Kurtt in attendance. Boom is 0-2 without the 7-month year old in the stands.
* Boom team sponsor Bob Swoverland made his first appearance of the season
* Casey Kurtt tied a Boom franchise record with two bases on balls.
* Casey Kurtt became the first Boom player to bleed profusely this season after a slide into second base following a run-down.
* Casey Kurtt is mired in a 0-for-9 hitting slump after beginning the season with a .462 batting average through three games.
* Kevin Kurtt has scored in all seven games this season. He leads the team with 15runs scored. He has scored two or more runs in the last three games.
* Kurtt and Keiser are the lone Boom players with multi-hit games in all seven contests this season.
* Doug Vose is now the Boom career leader in batting average at 1.000 (minimum 4 at bats). However, Vose's stats are unofficial this season until he plays in 33 percent of Boom's games.
* Emily Wood became the seventh different first star of the game in seven games.
* Wood is hitting 4-for-5 in her last two games.
* The No. 2 spot in the Boom batting order is a combined 7-26 (.269) and 1 for last 13.
* Geller has scored a league-high three runs on sacrifice flies. Three of his eight runs have come on SACs.
* Meghan Potter did not record an RBI for the first time this season.
* Kevin Noth went hitless for the first time this season, but picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly.
* Lisa Hardy gained her first hits of the season with a 2-for-3 showing.
* Matt Slieter hit a career-high three singles.
* Boom improved to 1-1 with Jim Strick and Ryan Maus out of the lineup.
* Cathy Behr missed her first game of the season due to work obligations.
* In Keiser's three starts on the mound, Boom has committed just one error (Noth). During Geller's four starts, Boom committed 22 errors.
* Boom has now committed one error in its past three games.
* Boom has drawn nine walks this season, while Boom's opponents have reached base on balls 18 times.
* Keiser's strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 1:2, while Steve Geller's is at 1:3.
* Jim Strick and Jeff Keiser are Boom's male leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting, minimum 33.3 percent of games played). Strick ranks first in RBI (10), and third in home runs (0) and batting average (.750), while Keiser ranks first in home runs (2) and RBI (10), and fifth in batting average (.640)
* Meghan Potter and Cathy Behr are Boom's female leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting, minimum 33.3 percent of games played). Potter ranks first in RBI (15) and home runs (0), and second in batting average (.667). Behr ranks first in home runs (0) and batting average (.700), and second in RBI (13).
* Jeff Keiser and Steve Geller are Boom's leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (pitching), Keiser first in wins (3) and ERA (.00), and second in strikeouts (3). Geller ranks first in strikeouts (4), and second in wins (2) and ERA (7.86).
* Boom has not hit a home run since Jeff Keiser had two round-trippers in the 21-20 win over Absolute Bail Bonds on May 20.
* Boom is now 2-1 in one-run games this season.
* Boom's average margin of victory is two runs this season.
* Boom injury report from last night's game:
- Steve Geller: mild shoulder separation following humorous head-first, rolling slide into second base
- Andrea Smith: pulled hamstring while legging out one of her two singles
- Matt Slieter: sprained finger while attempting a diving catch in left center field
- Emily Wood: thigh contusion while making the game-ending out by blocking a grounder at second with her leg
- Casey Kurtt: knee and leg lacerations and abrasions following slide into second during a run-down
- Emily Wood: sunburn
- Doug Vose: ego when not named one of the Duffy's Pizza Three Stars of the Game

The Boom Box Score - Boom Goes the Dynamite 12, Jobdig 4

Boom Goes the Dynamite has its first winning streak of the season in St. Louis Park Mixed C League action after a 12-4 win over Jobdig on Tuesday. The night did not begin well as GM Jeff Keiser put his foot in his mouth during the pregame meeting with umpire Sammy H. Keller. Keiser mentioned to the teenaged umpire that he was glad "to have a different ump this week...the woman we had the last two weeks was terrible." The young man in red then informed Keiser that that woman was his mother, Susan H. Keller. To Keller's credit, the game was called fairly and without any controversial decisions.

Despite the auspicious start to the night, Boom (4-2) cruised to the easy win as Keiser did not allow an earned run in seven innings of work. Keiser and the Boom defense played shutout softball for three innings and nearly moved the blanking to the fourth, but first baseman Kevin Noth dropped an Andrea Smith throw from third base that would have ended the inning. Jobdig (0-5) went on to score its only runs of the game in the fourth. By the top of the fifth inning, Boom led 11-4, adding an insurance run in the top of the sixth.

Boom looks to add to its winning streak against Absolute Bail Bonds on June 17 at 6:15 p.m., at Dakota Park East. Boom edged Absolute 21-20 on May 20.

Game notes from the above box score (season stats are below and also available at slowpitchstats.com):
* Duffy's Pizza Three Stars of the Game: 1. Matt Slieter, 2. Jeff Keiser, 3. Ryan Maus.
* Jeff Keiser made his second career start at pitcher, picking up the win to move to 2-0, walking none and striking out three.
* Boom's seven ladies went a combined 4-for-19 (.211) on the night. Meghan Potter (1-3), Cathy Behr (1-3) and Emily Wood (2-3) accounted for the hits.
* Alyssa Downing had her first hitless game of the season, but did reach base for the sixth consecutive game with a first-inning walk.
* Boom's seven guys went a combined 15-for-20 (.750). Each guy had at least two hits with Matt Slieter leading the team with a career-best 3-for-3 effort.
* Boom improved to 4-0 with Kieran Kurtt, Beth Kurtt and Laura Kurtt in attendance.
* Kevin Kurtt drew only the third walk of his softball career.
* Kurtt has scored in all six games this season. He leads the team with 13 runs scored.
* Kurtt and Keiser are the lone Boom players with multi-hit games in all six contests this season.
* Kevin Noth recorded Boom's lone error. Boom has now committed one error in its past two games. Jim Strick has had multi-hit games in all five of his games played.
* Matt Slieter notched his first two-double game of the season.
* Potter notched her fifth consecutive multi-RBI and multi-hit game.
* Noth began re-growing his goatee and went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
* For the second straight game, Matt Slieter led the team with a 1.667 slugging percentage.
* Boom has drawn four walks this season, while Boom's opponents have reached base on balls 16 times.
* Keiser's strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 3:4, while Steve Geller's is at 1:3.
* Jim strick is Boom's male leader in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting), ranking third in home runs (0), RBI (10) and batting average (.750).
* Potter and Behr are Boom's female leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting). Potter ranks first in RBI (15) and home runs (0), and third in batting average (.696). Behr ranks first in home runs (0), second in RBI (13) and batting average (.700).
* Jeff Keiser and Steve Geller are Boom's leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (pitching), Keiser first in wins (2) and ERA (5.00), and second in strikeouts (4). Geller ranks first in wins (2) and strikeouts (4), and second in ERA (7.86).

The Boom Box Score - Boom Goes the Dynamite 14, The Chiefs 10

Boom Goes the Dynamite got back in the win column in St. Louis Park Mixed C League action with a 14-10 win over The Chiefs on Tuesday. Tied 9-9 entering the fourth inning, Boom proceeded to out-score the Amanda Hoehn-led squad of heavy drinkers and former semi-pro hockey players 5-1 to cruise to the win. Eight of Boom's 12 players registered multi-hit nights, led by three-hit games by the middle of the lineup (Meghan Potter, Jim Strick, Cathy Behr, Ryan Maus and Alyssa Downing). Boom moved to 3-2 in the league despite another atrocious showing by umpire Susan H. Keller. For the second consecutive game, Keller blew a pair of obvious call, leading Boom general manager Jeff Keiser to consider filing an official protest with league commissioner Sam Lombardo.

Boom looks to start a winning streak against Jobdig on June 10 at 6:15 p.m., at Dakota Park West.

Game notes from the above box score (season stats are below and also available at slowpitchstats.com):
* Duffy's Pizza Three Stars of the Game: 1. Meghan Potter, 2. Kevin Kurtt, 3. Cathy Behr.
* Jeff Keiser made his first career start at pitcher, picking up the win, walking a Boom season-high four batters.
* Cathy Behr was named a star of the game for a team-leading fourth time in five games.
* Alyssa Downing was 3-for-3. She is 13-for-15 on the season and has posted a perfect 1.000 batting average in four of the five games this season.
* Meghan Potter is the only Boom player to have at least two RBI in every game this season. With 14 RBI, she has more runs batted in than Steve Geller, Kevin Kurtt and Kevin Noth combined.
* Boom improved to 3-0 with Kieran Kurtt, Beth Kurtt and Laura Kurtt in attendance. Boom is also 1-0 with Cathy's guy, Greg, in the stands.
* Ryan Maus had a career-high three hits.
* Geller ended an 0-5 skid with a double.
* Kevin Kurtt recorded his first multi-double game of the season.
* Boom did not record an error for the first time in team history.
* Noth took a ball to the back of his leg while legging out an infield single.
* Matt Slieter and Keiser recorded their first doubles of the season.
* Potter notched her fifth consecutive multi-RBI and multi-hit game.
* The DiNardo/Glen Mason Comeback Player of the Year frontrunner, Potter leads the team in at bats (20), hits (15), doubles (6) and RBI (14).
* In the last three games, Behr has gone 10-for-11 with nine RBI and seven runs scored.
* Maus failed to score for the first time this season.
* Noth shaved his goatee and went 1-for-2 with zero RBI.
* Matt Slieter led the team with a 1.500 slugging percentage.
* Casey Kurtt and Emily Wood went hitless on the night in seven combined at bats. It marked the first time this season that Kurtt and Wood failed to reach base safely.
* Boom failed to record a strikeout for the third consecutive game.
* Boom has drawn two walks this season, while Boom's opponents have reached base on balls 16 times.
* Keiser's strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 0:4, while Geller's is at 1:3.
* Keiser is Boom's male leader in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting), ranking first in home runs (2) and RBI (8), and fourth in batting average (.667).
* Potter and Behr are Boom's female leaders in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (batting). Potter ranks first in RBI (14) and home runs (0), and third in batting average (.750). Behr ranks first in home runs (0), second in RBI (12) and batting average (.765).
* Geller is Boom's leader in the John Miller Enterprises Race for the Triple Crown (pitching), ranking first in wins (2), ERA (7.86) and strikeouts (4). Keiser is second, ranking second in wins (1), ERA (10.00) and strikeouts (0).

The Boom Box Score - Skeet Skeet 18, Boom Goes the Dynamite 13

Boom Goes the Dynamite moved its St. Louis Park Mixed C League record to 2-2 with an embarrassing 18-13 loss to Skeet Skeet on Tuesday. win over Absolute Bail Bonds on last night. Leading 13-10 entering the top of the fifth, Boom apparently decided as a team to forget how to catch and throw a softball, allowing Skeet Skeet to plate eight runs. The scoring rally was augmented by a flat-out godawful call by USSSA umpire Susan H. Keller. Mentally fried from the beatdown suffered in the top half of the inning, Boom failed to mount any sort of rally in the bottom of the fifth to hand Skeet its first win.

Boom looks to get back in the win column against The Chiefs on June 3 at 6:15 p.m., at Dakota Park West.

Game notes from the above box score (season stats are below and also available at slowpitchstats.com):
* Duffy's Pizza Three Stars of the Game: 1. Cathy Behr, 2. Doug Vose, 3. Meghan Potter.
* The following Boom players committed one or more errors: Kevin Kurtt, Jeff Keiser, Meghan Potter, Kevin Noth, Steve Geller.
* Kevin Kurtt saw his hitting streak come to an end at seven at-bats.
* Cathy Behr posted a 2.000 slugging percentage with her single and triple. Kevin Kurtt followed at 1.333 with a double and a pair of singles.
* Kurtt and Behr recorded Boom's third and fourth sac flies of the year.
* Behr took a ball to the back of her neck while stretching a double into a triple.
* Behr and Keiser recorded their first triples of the season.
* Behr earned her team-leading third Duffy's Pizza Three Stars of the Game accolade.
* Meghan Potter made her first appearance in the infield this season.
* Potter notched her fourth consecutive multi-RBI game.
* Alyssa Downing and Kevin Kurtt failed to record an extra-base hit for the first time this season.
* Steve Geller was the lone Boom player without a hit on the night at 0-for-3.
* Doug Vose went 3-for-3 with 3 RBI in his Boom debut.
* For the first time this season, aging hurler Steve Geller did not allow a home run.
* Geller failed to record a strikeout for the second consecutive game.
* Though he allowed 22 hits and four walks, Geller was only charged with three earned runs.
* Boom has drawn two walks this season, while Boom's opponents have reached base on balls 12 times.
* Geller's strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 1:3.
* Former Boom Goes the Dynamite "slugger" Tory Kukowski made an appearance as a fan.

The Boom Box Score - Boom Goes the Dynamite 21, Absolute Bail Bonds 20

Boom Goes the Dynamite moved its St. Louis Park Mixed C League record to 2-1 with a nailbiting 21-20 win over Absolute Bail Bonds on last night. Trailing by one run entering the bottom of the seventh, Kevin Kurtt (Edina, Minn.) led off the inning with a triple to complete a 4-for-4 night. Meghan Potter (Hibbing, Minn.) drove Kurtt in for the tying run and was followed on the basepaths with a single by Jeff Keiser (Avon, Ct.). Keiser’s single was his third hit of the night, following his first two career home runs. The stage was set for Cathy Behr (Willmar, Minn.) to cap a 5-for-5, four RBI night with a liner to left center to score Potter from second for the game-winning run.

Boom looks to start a winning streak against Skeet Skeet on May 27 at 6 p.m., at Dakota Park East.

Game notes from the above box score (season stats are below and also available at slowpitchstats.com):
* Cathy Behr's five-hit game set a 2008 season record.
* Behr recorded her second career walk-off game-winning hit. She had one three years ago with the Gas On The Fire.
* Jeff Keiser's two home runs and five RBI set 2008 Boom season records.
* Jeff Keiser recorded the Boom family of franchises' first-ever two-home run game.
* Kevin Kurtt has six consecutive hits, tying Boom's season-high
(Alyssa Downing).
* Keiser posted a 2.250 slugging percentage with his two dingers and one single. Kevin Kurtt followed at 1.750 with a triple, double and pair of singles.
* Kevin Kurtt nearly injured Andrea Smith in the on-deck circle with a wayward, haphazard toss of his bat after hitting a double in the fourth innning, striking the star third baseman in the right shin. X-rays were negative on the shin after the game.
* Kevin Noth maimed the Absolute Bail Bonds pitcher with a screaming liner, forcing her from the mound. Showing no care or remorse, Noth proceeded to take second base on an errant throw after her teammates were clearly shaken.
* Andrea Smith recorded Boom's second sac fly of the year. Steve Geller has scored on both sac flys this season.
* Alyssa Downing's three-game, six at-bat hitting/on-base streak came to an end as the rookie utility player went 2-for-4.
* Downing hit her team-leading second triple of the season, only to get tagged out between third and home on a baserunning gaffe.
* In his first action as a Boom member, Matt Slieter went 2-for-3 with three RBI on a bases-clearing triple. Slieter was administered oxygen immediately.
* Boom recorded a team record four triples.
* Aging hurler Steve Geller allowed a grand slam home run for the third consecutive game.
* Geller has now allowed five home runs in his last three starts.
* Geller failed to record a strikeout for the first time this season.
* Boom has drawn one walk this season (Andrea Smith last night), while Booms opponents have reach base on balls eight times.
* Geller's strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 1:2.
* Geller hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth, but the round-tripper was disallowed due to Boom exceeding its home run limit (2).
* Boom Goes the Dynamite enjoyed its largest fan base of the season as Katie Fornasiere, and Jim, Beth, Laura and Kieran Kurtt witnessed last night's win.
* Maggie made the first appearance by a mascot this season.
* With the win, Boom Goes the Dynamite earned an article in this week's Let's Play Softball. On page 13, Cathy Behr and Kevin Noth are featured with photographs in Minnesota's premier softball publication.

The Boom Box Score - Green Giants 19, Boom Goes the Dynamite 18

Boom Goes the Dynamite suffered its first loss of the season on May 13, falling 19-18 to the Green Giants in a five-inning game at Dakota Park East. Down 19-8 going into the bottom of the fourth, Boom rallied with nine runs to pull within two. Boom then went 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth, setting up the deciding at-bat in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, ailing first baseman Kevin Kurtt (Edina, Minn.) knocked in aging hurler Steve Geller (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) with a single to cut the Giants' lead to one. With team sparkplug Emily Wood (Wausau, Wis.) on second and Kurtt on first, Comeback Player of the Year candidate Casey Kurtt (Lakeland, Minn.) came to bat with the chance to play the hero. Unfortunately, the dimimuitive utility player/mom grounded out to perennial Giant All-Star third baseman Sam Nzigamasabo who proceeded to turn a 5-3 double play to end the rally and keep the Green Giants undefeated at 2-0. Boom (1-1) looks to bounce back this week against Absolute Bail Bonds on May 20 at 7 p.m., at Dakota Park East.

Some quick notes from the above box score (season stats are below and also available at slowpitchstats.com):
* Kevin Noth (Norwalk, Wis.) hit the first official home run in the history of the Boom Goes the Dynamite franchise. All prior dingers were unofficial as Boom (and its defunct franchises) had not played on a field with fences until this season.
* Alyssa Downing (Marshall, Minn.) hit Boom's first triple of the season, using some questionable baserunning to make it to third base.
* Not a single fan or mascot attended the game.
* Despite earning the loss, Geller's K-to-walk ratio was 2:1.
* Geller has now allowed three home runs in his last two starts.
* Kevin Kurtt hit the first sacrifice fly of the season.
* For the second straight game, Meghan Potter (Hibbing, Minn.) led Boom with three RBI.
* Potter recorded the first game of the season with multiple extra-base hits.
* Downing owns a perfect 1.000 batting average, reaching base in all six of her at-bats. She is followed by Kevin Kurtt (.857), Potter (.714) and Jim Strick (.714).
* Boom has not drawn a walk this season.
* On the season, Geller has struck out eight, while allowing only four walks.

The Boom Box Score - Boom Goes the Dynamite 15, Myslajek Ltd. 9

Now that Boom Goes the Dynamite is in an actual league that requires teams to actually keep score in an actual scorebook, we bring you the first installment of an actual box score - from Boom's 15-9 actual season-opening win over Myslajek Ltd.

Some quick notes from the box score:
* The batting averages of Boom's bottom of the order - the bottom four batting averages for the night (nice managing work by rookie bench boss Michelle Train).
* Aging hurler Steve Geller struck out four in seven innings of work - quite the feat in slowpitch softball.
* Jim Strick (3-for-4, 3 RBI) and Alyssa Downing (3-for-3, 2 RBI) emerged as the frontrunners for the 2008 edition of the Tory Kukowski Memorial Rookie of the Year Award (disclaimer: Strick and Downing were the lone rookies in the game).
* With their 1.000 batting averages, Kevin Kurtt (4-for-4, 3 runs scored) and Downing are the early favorites for the Victory Sports Silver Stick Award.
* Every Boom player reached base except 10-day acquistion Kristine Yorde. Likewise, all but two Boom players scored (Yorde, Kevin Noth).
* Due to the absence of Lisa Hardy and Alicia Jerome in the lineup, Boom did not draw a single walk for the game.

Game story hopefully to come later.