MAPP Slows the 'Sprawl' to a Crawl

Rookie Graves goes 4-4, Schwerin and Horn touch 'em all.
By Bob Loblaw, Voice Staff Writer
June 9, 2009

LOS ANGELES, CA. — It didn't take long for the MAPP Marauders' bats to come alive this season.

In just their second game of the season the guys 'n' gals in gray found their swings, banging out 20 hits en route to taking down the SPPD Urban Sprawlers 10-2 and earning their first win of the year.

Monday night's hitting was a stark contrast to that of the first game when most of the Marauders were shaking off the rust from the off-season. MAPP's consistency up and down the line-up was the key to beating SPPD for the first time in 3 seasons.

Rookie Samantha Graves set the pace for the ladies going 4-4 with two RBI in her first game. A trend she hopes to continue.

“Finding the right bat was key - we probably should have it checked to make sure it’s not corked," the bandanna-wearing Graves remarked after the game. "But seriously, whose ever 'Easton' bat that was - please, please bring it next week. I’ll fork over half of my contract extension money for that bat!”

It would be a small price to pay to keep the Marauders hitting the way they did on Monday.

Playing on Cromwell Field, with its cozy dimensions, the men aimed more for power than average, slugging 6 extra-base hits including homers by Brooks Horn and Billy Schwerin.

Horn belted an opposite-field homer deep to right-center in his second at-bat bringing in 3 RBI, while Schwerin followed as the next male batter with a scalding hit down the 3rd base line that was legged for an inside-the-park-er. The two sluggers batted in 5 of the 8 runs scored in the 3rd inning.

"Once we got the rally going in the 3rd inning," said Horn, "nothing could really stop us. The team just really came together this week. Personally, I'm a little disappointed in my hitting consistency, considering I could have taken advantage of the small outfield, but I think my one hit was the right hit to get."

The playing field certainly had drawbacks to go along with its hitter-friendly aspects. First baseman Mike Andrelczyk was very disappointed with the playing conditions.

"It's a dumb place to play softball," he said flatly. "Come on, joggers on the warning track and soccer players in deep center?! We might as well have played on the street! I mean, this isn't stickball."

When asked if he thought his ground-rule double in the 2nd inning would have been caught by the Sprawlers had their right fielder not have been bumped by a jogger on the track, Andrelczyk was unquestionably honest.

"He probably would have caught it, so thank God for the jogger that time! I usually try to hit the ball hard on the ground, but that short porch in right was so tempting. I just wanted to crush one into the grandstands!"

Others were happy to just get any old hit.

Laura Hartman was all smiles after the Marauder's victory, in which she contributed 3 singles and scored a run.

"Personally," she said "I'm just excited to see my batting average go up from triple zeros. As a team, we're very improved. I feel like we've turned it around and people should be afraid of us. The girls on our team rock! We're not just fillers." Hartman concluded by gritting her teeth and growling a salty pirate's "Arr!"

The Marauders certainly seemed relaxed and calm as they went about their business and there was a noticeable chemistry amongst the players throughout the game. That may explain why they were so successful offensively and defensively.

Second baseman Nadia Barosy remarked, "No one was tense. We all seemed relaxed. I like being on the winning side, so let's keep that going. I understand now why everyone who beat us last year was so happy."

Asked about her individual performance on the field she said, "I was happy with my fielding, since my goal is to eliminate all errors from my game. You know, I wanna be 'The Wall'. Nothing gets by 'The Wall'!"

Center fielder Andrew Burnop echoed Barosy's words on the easy-going feeling, saying "Playing out on the track made it feel like practice. Like it wasn't even a real game. No one seemed worried about messing up and I think, because of that, we made all the easy plays."

But not everyone felt relaxed during the game.

Rookie Billy Schwerin, despite hitting a home run and scoring two, felt like he made some misplays in replacement of starting shortstop Binh Tran.

"The things that I don't do right," referring to a missed flare over the infield, "just eat me up! I should have had that ball! It was off the tip of my glove!"

Showing his competitive nature, Schwerin continued to grumble about missed opportunities. "Fouling out in my last at-bat really killed me. I won't let that happen again. Ever. But, you know, that wasn't even the worst of it. I can't believe I struck out my boss, Laura!"

And finally, for players like Jairo Delgado, it was just good to get back on the field and play hard.

"Stepping back into the batter's box was just what Jairo needed," said the 2007 Muscle Milk® Home Run King, referring to himself in the third person. "Everyone better watch out for Jairo this year. Jairo is carrying a big stick."

Stats from Monday, June 8th --- SPPD Sprawlers vs. MAPP Marauders

Name	Batt. %	Slug. %	At-Bats	Hits	1B	2B	3B	HRs	K	RBI	Runs
Andrelczyk	1.000	1.667	2	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	1
Barosy	0.571	0.571	4	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	2
Burnop	0.667	0.667	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	0
Chan	0.750	0.750	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Delgado	1.000	1.000	2	2	2	0	0	0	0	1	1
Graves	1.000	1.000	4	4	4	0	0	0	0	2	0
Hartman	0.429	0.429	4	3	3	0	0	0	1	0	1
Horn	0.400	1.000	3	1	0	0	0	1	0	3	1
Legat	0.429	0.429	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Nguyen	0.750	0.750	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Schwerin	0.333	1.333	3	1	0	0	0	1	1	2	1
Teixeira	0.250	0.500	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	1