Zeppelins Bring Down The House – Again!

LED put up a massive offensive attack against the House of Representatives “Hurricanes” last night at Perkins Road Park.  With only eight Zeppelins in the lineup the team scored 15 runs on 25 hits, and put together a combined team batting average of .625.

Corey Dorsa and Eddie James both turned in 4 for 5 performances at the plate, and five other Zeppelins went 3 for 5.  Eddie had two singles, a double and a triple, scored three times and drove in four runs.  Corey had four singles, scored four times, and drove in two runs.  Ashley Falcon had a single and two doubles, scored twice, and set a Zeppelin record with five RBIs.  Russell Richardson had two singles and a double and drove in two runs.

LED put up a strong defense as well against the 12 Hurricane batters they faced.  Eddie put out 10 Hurricanes from the mound, including three strike outs.  Russell assisted in seven put outs from first base, Jayson Newell had six from shortstop, and Paige Ovens added five more from second base.

Corey made a great play in center field, throwing out a runner at second base from the ground.  And Korey “The Original” Patty’s fly ball catch in deep right field at the top of the seventh with LED up 15 – 7, ended any Hurricane hope of a comeback.

But the defensive play of the game was turned in by Ashley and Chelsea Harris.  The top Hurricane hitter came up to bat and surprised everyone by going across field from the left side of the plate, putting the ball well over Ashley’s head in left field.  Ashley gave chase on the ball as the batter was crossing second base.  She hurled a monster throw from deep left field in to Chelsea at third base, and Chelsea snagged the throw and made the tag just in front of the bag.  His coach at third tried to ease his hurt feelings and told him, “What can you do, it was a perfect throw.”

Finally, while Ashley and Coach Linda Regira were discussing the brain eating amoeba found in the Donaldsonville water supply, Eddie indicated that he had read that, thought about Regira, and said that it “explained a lot.”  Not sure where he was going with that.  And, with the exception of the small boy in the stands who Jason made cry, a great time was had by all.

The Zeppelins take on the Baton Rouge Police Department next Wednesday at Perkins Road Park.  LED should definitely get “lawyered up” for this game because, as league rumor has it, the police games are shrouded in controversy.

Many thanks to all who stepped up to the plate for LED.

Hits:  Paige (3), Jayson (3), Corey (4), Ashley, Eddie (2), Russell (2), Korey (3), Chelsea (2)

Doubles:  Jayson, Ashley (2), Eddie, Russell

Triple:  Eddie

PLAYERS:  Ashley Falcon (Civil Service), Chelsea Harris (Louisiana Job Connection), Corey Dorsa (SEC), Eddie James (Business Development), Jayson Newell (Business Development), Korey Patty (Lead Development), Paige Ovens (Business Development), and Russell Richardson (Business Development).

FANS:  Lori Melancon arrived to take pictures of the game.

 

“Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer.” (Ted Williams)

The Zeppelins faced off against DOTD last night at Perkins Road Park to play what was a tight, lead-trading match until the two teams were tied 5-5 going into the final inning.

DOTD started off the top of the first by scoring one run on a solo homer by their pitcher.  The LED defense cracked down and got out of the inning leaving them with runners stranded on second and third.  LED was unable to plate a runner at the bottom of the inning, and left Paige Ovens and Jayson Newell stranded on base.

At the top of the second DOTD plated another runner to bring their lead to 2-0.  LED answered back by scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning.  Eddie James started the rally with a single to the right side of the field.  Gary Beadle then produced his own single to deep right, which Eddie stretched into a two base advance, landing on third.   Chelsea Harris hit a hard line drive into left center which plated Eddie.  Eric Burton then hit into a fielder’s choice ending in Chelsea being out at second but pushing Gary on to third as a setup for the next hit.  David Carter then hit a single to plate Gary before the inning ended deadlocked 2-2.

DOTD then tacked on two more runs in the top of the third with the same four-man combination they would come to rely on later in the game.  The Zeppelins answered back with a run in the bottom of the third. Paige led off with a single to the left side and Jayson legged out a single to the right side.  Corey followed up with a single to load the bases.  Ashley hit a fly that backed up the shortstop toward the outfield, allowing Paige to tag up and score, and narrowing the DOTD lead 4-3.

The Zeppelins held DOTD to no runs in the top of the fourth, while coming back to add two more runs in the bottom of the inning.  Gary led off with a single to right field followed by a single from Chelsea to left field.  Eric again hit into a fielder’s choice leaving Chelsea out at second but pushing Gary to third for a score on the next hit.  Matthew hit a fly to the second baseman who then made a bad throw trying to nail a runner not tagging up.  This allowed Gary to score and Matthew to get the RBI.  David then got up and hit another great shot to the right side, plating Eric, and putting the Z’s up 5-4.

DOTD answered with another run at the top of the fifth with the same quartet of guys.  LED was unable to answer at the bottom so the inning ended with the score tied again at 5-5.  Neither team scored in the sixth, so the game went into the final inning to determine the winner.

Having gotten back to the top of their lineup, DOTD then brought up the same quartet of guys and coaxed a few LED miscues to plate all four, putting the game out of reach at 9-5. 

The Zeppelins have nothing to feel bad about and everything to feel good about because for the second game this season they have had to play at a disadvantage.  The other teams only fielded two women (one behind the plate), which means LED’s coed team is in effect playing against a mostly all-male opponent.   The fact that the team can hang in these odds is a testament to the strength of LED’s female players.  GEAUX GIRLS!

Next week LED will face the House of Representatives, and our old friend/former co-worker/homerun hitter Daniel Waguespack, on Wednesday at 6:00 at Perkins Road Park. 

Hits:  Chelsea (2), Corey, David (2), Eddie, Eric (2), Gary (2), Jayson (2), Paige (2) and Russell (2).

Doubles:  Ashley

RBIs:  Ashley, Chelsea, David (2) and Matthew

Many thanks to all who STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE for LED.

PLAYERS:  Ashley Falcon (Civil Service), Chelsea Harris (Communications & Marketing), Corey Dorsa (SEC), David Carter (BRAC Liaison), Eddie James (Business Development), Eric Burton (Business Incentives), Gary Beadle (IT), Jayson Newell (Business Development), Matthew Wattigny (FastStart), Paige Ovens (Business Development), and Russell Richardson (Business Development).

FANS:  The Zeppelins had two LSU athletes in the dugout for the game pulling for them.  Ashley’s little sister Alayna plays softball for LSU (as did their other sister Allison), and Ashley’s roommate Hannah Robinson played tennis at LSU with Ashley’s cousin Megan Falcon (LSU’s only three-time singles All-American and the highest ranked NCAA seeded player in the history of LSU tennis). 

Hannah has an even longer family history with LSU sports.  Her grandfather is former Tigers football standout Johnny Robinson, who starred in LSU's 1958 national championship team and went on to play professionally for the Kansas City Chiefs.  Her great-grandfather is former LSU men's tennis coach W.T. "Dub" Robinson, for whom the Tigers' tennis stadium is named. 

After the Zeppelins game ended the three girls got out on the field and participated in some fast pitch action.  Unfortunately for Corey who was playing catcher for them with no equipment, he was smacked in the neck by a foul tip on a 65 mile-per-hour pitch from Alayna.  If you see him today ask to see the bruise!  The group then decided they would continue play without a catcher. 

“It ain't braggin' if you can back it up.” (Dizzy Dean)

Well nobody is bragging, but the Zeppelins have put their first season win in the books.

It was a team effort as the Zeppelins faced the Wildlife & Fisheries team at Perkins Road Park last night. LED played strong defense and put up strong numbers at the plate.  W&F was truly a class act, and it was a pleasure to play ball against a team so evenly matched with LED in both ability and love for the game.  There was not one controversial call even though their coach IS a lawyer.

Paige Ovens lead the offense with a 3 for 3 performance.  Eddie James and Gary Beadle both went 2 for 2, and Ashley Falcon, Russell Richardson, Eddie James, Chelsea Harris and Matthew Wattigny all knocked in RBIs in their at-bats.  Ashley and Russell both hit doubles on the night as well.  And rookie player Rachelle Kilgo, a library intern in Business Intelligence, made a solid debut at catcher.

The “Wildlifers” started off the top of the first inning by scoring two runs.  Eddie ended their scoring drive by striking out their veteran player known as the “Godfather.”  The Zeppelins answered in high fashion in the bottom of the first by plating five runs.  Paige started off the inning with a single and moved to second on a Jayson Newell single.  Corey Dorsa reached safely but a fielder’s choice getting Jayson at second left runners on first and third for Ashley.  Her single to right field scored Paige and put runners at first and third for Russell.  His double to right center drove in both Corey and Ashley.  Eddie then singled to score Russell.  Gary then singled up the middle to move Eddy to third, and Chelsea singled to send Eddie home.  LED was now up 5-2 on the “Wildlifers.”

Solid defense by both teams left the score unchanged after the second inning.  The “Wildlifers” then came back to score two more in the top of the third from their same four-man starting lineup which left LED with only a one run cushion. 

LED then scored again in the bottom of the fourth when Eddie led off with a single to right followed by a single from Gary, which Eddie stretched for two bases to end up on third.  A few bats later Matthew put one beyond the right side of the infield to score Eddie.  Third base coach William “Rounding 3^rd” Day saw a chance for Gary to score as well so he sent him on.  Gary unfortunately had to watch the throw in as he was put out 9-6-2 at the plate.  He could have been safe if he had only knocked their female catcher off of the plate, but he was too much of a gentleman to do such a thing.  LED now had a two run lead.

The Zeppelins held strong on defense not allowing any runs until the top of the sixth.  Their team speedster named “Slow” on his jersey got up and hit a line drive to the outfield for a double.  Their long-ball hitter then hit a single up the middle to put runners at first and third.  The next batter, their female catcher, hit a shot out to left center, scoring a run.  But Gary was in left center and he quickly threw the runner out going to second.  If he had just piled into her on the play at home earlier…….. The “Godfather” then got a ton of ribbing from his team for hitting a shot which had him safe at first, at the cost of getting his female teammate out at second by a fielder’s choice which Paige tossed to Eric. 

The next out left LED up by only a single run, but it was enough as the Zeppelins mowed the “Wildlifers” three up, three down in the top of the seventh.  Eric threw out the leadoff batter at first, and Eddie scampered for grounders on the next two batters, putting them both out at first.

A great time was had by all and everyone is looking forward to another win this week.  LED will face DOTD on Wednesday at 6:30 at Perkins Road Park. 

Hits:  Paige (3), Jayson, Corey (2), Ashley, Russell, Eddie (2), Gary (2), Chelsea, Matt, and Eric.
Doubles:  Ashley, Russell

RBIs:  Ashley, Russell (2), Eddie, Chelsea, and Matthew

Many thanks to all who STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE for LED.

PLAYERS:  Ashley Falcon (Civil Service), Chelsea Harris (Communications & Marketing), Corey Dorsa (SEC), David Carter (BRAC Liaison), Eddie James (Business Development), Eric Burton (Business Incentives), Gary Beadle (IT), Jayson Newell (Business Development), Matthew Wattigny (FastStart), Paige Ovens (Business Development), Rachelle Kilgo (Business Intelligence), Russell Richardson (Business Development), and Steven Grissom (Secretary).  Will Day (Business Development) coached 3^rd base.

FANS:  Chelsea’s boyfriend Brandon, Jayson Newell’s wife Beth, and Eric Burton’s wife Leigh Ann and their beautiful daughter Sophie.

“Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is.” (Vince Lombardi)

And nobody wanted to win more than the Zeppelins last night at Burbank Soccer Complex as LED took on the Department of Environmental Quality.  LED played hard as nails until the final out of the game and so did DEQ.

Defense was strong on both sides with the scoring coming largely from hitters finding the gaps. 

DEQ jumped quickly on the board scoring two runs at the top of the first, but the Zeppelins quickly countered with two of their own in the bottom of the first.  With two outs, Ashley Falcon started a rally with a single, followed by singles from Corey Dorsa and Russell Richardson.  Eddie James then knocked a ball to the outfield to score both Ashley and Corey.

DEQ put up two more runs in the second while LED was unable to plate a runner.  While holding DEQ down in the third, the Zeppelins chipped away again at the lead by scoring another run.  Eric Burton started off the inning by legging out an infield single.  Paige then hit a long single to left center to move Eric to scoring position.  A few bats later Ashley knocked one into the outfield to score Eric.  This put the score at 4-3.

In the fourth, DEQ put another run on the scoreboard while LED was unable to score, leaving the Zeppelins down by two.  LED held DEQ to no runs in the fifth, and then went on a scoring frenzy at the bottom of the inning.  With two outs Eric started the rally by knocking out another single. Korey Patty then added a single of his own followed by a Paige Ovens double which plated Eric.  Steven G. then shocked them all by placing one into deep left field from the left side of the plate.  His double allowed Korey and Paige to score.  Ashley then got up and knocked one to deep center field plating Steven G.  These four runs put LED up 7-5.

The lead was short-lived as DEQ scored three runs on three successive doubles and a single in the top of the sixth.  DEQ was now up 8-7 and neither team would put up any more runs for the remainder of the game.  In the final analysis Ashley and Eric both went 3 for 3, and Paige, Eddie and Korey all got two hits on the night.

In a final note Steven “Bahamas” Baham kept insisting that his phone’s autocorrect is the reason his uniform shirt reads “Bahamas.” 

LED will face both the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and DOTD next week as rainout makeup season has begun.  Days/locations/times will be forthcoming.

Hits:  Paige (2), Ashley (2), Corey, Russell, Eddie (2), Gary, Matthew, Steve B., Eric (3), Korey (2)

Doubles:  Paige, Ashley, Steven G.

RBIs:  Ashley (2), Steven G. (2), Eddie (2), Paige

Many thanks to all who STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE for LED.

PLAYERS:  Ashley Falcon (Civil Service), Chelsea Harris (Communications & Marketing), Corey Dorsa (SEC), Eddie James (Business Development), Eric Burton (Business Incentives), Gary Beadle (IT), Korey Patty (Lead Development), Matthew Wattigny (FastStart), Paige Ovens (Business Development), Russell Richardson (Business Development), Steve Baham (Business Incentives), and Steven Grissom (Secretary).  Will Day (Business Development) coached 3^rd base.

FANS:  Mills Richardson (Russell’s son), Susan Bigner (Business Incentives) and her daughter Katie, Steve Baham’s wife Rachel, Joe Coussan (Communication & Marketing).

 

“Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose; sometimes it rains. (Edward Fant “Bull” Durham)

And sometimes you tie.

After nine long innings and the waning of visibility at the Burbank Soccer Complex last night, the Zeppelins and the Department of Insurance “Regulators” were still neck and neck with no end in sight.  Everyone agreed it was too dark to start inning ten, so the 5-5 tie was recorded in the books.

It was touch and go for a while when it looked like the Zeppelins would have to play without a fourth woman because of last minute field changes.  Coach Linda Regira jokingly suggested that Russell Richardson’s young son Mills would have to play catcher for LED.  Mills, the consummate ball player, decided he was going to somehow convince his parents to FINALLY let him get on the field with the team.  But just before the game started Stephanie Hartman made it out to the field, much to Mills’ dismay.  And later during the game when a ball came in to Stephanie at catcher from the outfield to stop a runner scoring from third, Mills could be heard grumbling, “Man, that coulda been me!”

At the top of the first inning the Regulators exploded with four runs on five hits and a few LED miscues.  LED was unable to put up a score in the bottom of the first, but did have hits from Eddie James and Ashley Falcon, who at that point stretched her 6^th at bat as a Zeppelin to a 6^th hit.

The Zeppelins then cracked down hard on defense, shutting the Regulators out for the remainder of regulation play.  LED tacked on one run in the second, another in the third, and two more in the seventh to end regulation tied at 4-4.  Both teams would go on to score another run each in the eighth, and no one scored in the ninth. 

There were some stellar moments on defense including a third inning double play from the trio of Eddie, Russell, and Chelsea Harris.  With runners on first and second, Eddie pitched a short-hopper from the mound to Russell at first to get the batter, and Russell sent it cross-field to Chelsea who tagged the runner heading to third.  Eric Burton played a solid shortstop, teaming up with Ashley, Russell and the outfield to put out eight Regulators.

The middle outfield manned by rotating fielders Jayson Newell, Michael Pernici, Steve Baham and Corey Dorsa teamed up to wreak havoc on the long hitters.  And not to be outdone by her male fielders, Katie Richardson made a game-saving play in overtime to put a runner out at third from left field when the bases were loaded.  The Regulators tried to argue that their runner crossed the plate before the out, but since it was a force-out the run did not count.

Eddie also did another of his “All Eddie” innings where he caught two flies and struck out a third batter to retire the side unassisted in the top of the fifth.  Eddie lead the team in put out assists with 12 from the mound, while pitching nine full innings and helping cover home plate.  That’s why they call him “Steady” Eddie.

Ashley showed her power when she caught a hard hit grounder at second and turned to toss the ball to Russell before she realized how fast the Regulator batter was running down the baseline.  She pulled her arm back into another gear and rifled him out at first.  She assisted in five additional put outs at second during the course of the game.  Chelsea also showed some arm when she threw out one of their quicker runners at first on a grounder to third.  With that play she decided her dad might consent to get her a birthday present after all.

LED had some solid production on offense as well.  Katie, Corey, Chelsea and Steve all drove in RBIs.  Michael scored once driven in by Steve, Steve scored once driven in by Chelsea, Katie scored once driven in by Corey, and Jayson scored twice, driven in both times by Katie (once in the fourth and again in the eighth)!  Corey led the hitting going 4-4 followed by Jayson and Katie who both went 3-4.  LED ran up 22 hits on the night.

LED will face the Department of Environmental Quality next Wednesday at a location to be determined based on weather, field conditions and availability (the kickballers are back at it again).  First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.

Hits:  Chelsea (2), Eddie, Russell, Ashley, Jayson (3), Eric (2), Katie (3), Michael, Steve (2), Corey (4), Stephanie (2). 

RBIs:  Katie (2), Steve, Corey, Chelsea

Many thanks to all who STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE for LED.

PLAYERS:  Ashley Falcon (Civil Service), Chelsea Harris (Communications & Marketing), Corey Dorsa (SEC), Eddie James (Business Development), Eric Burton (Business Incentives), Jayson Newell (Business Development), Katie Richardson (Russell’s wife),  Michael Pernici (Lead Development), Russell Richardson (Business Development), Stephanie Hartman (Small Business Services), and Steve Baham (Business Incentives).

FANS:  Mills Richardson (Russell’s son), Crawford Pernici (Michael’s son), Leigh Ann and Sophie Burton (Eric’s wife and daughter), and Brandon (Chelsea’s boyfriend) and their two dogs.