Season Wrap-up

The 2012 Red Sox season came to a close after they were swept by the Mustangs 2-0 in the three game series.  The Muckdogs advanced to face the Comets in the GPMABL championship.

The team was much improved after a rough start to the rebuilding year.  With more new guys than returning ones and a new manager, the team started the year 4-12.  The pieces started coming together in the 2nd half as the Sox went 6-7 in the last 13 games of the regular season, and stunned the defending champion A's in the first round of the playoffs.  Next season appears promising as the team will return a solid group of players.

The Red Sox were proud to send five players to the GPMABL All-star game held at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, Delaware. The guys represented the team well, and had the following stats:

Bret Binder, P: 2IP, 1H, 0 ER, 1K
Rich Ryan, OF: BB, SB
Jason McDowell, OF: 3B, R
Shaun Frazier, SS: 1B, RBI
Steve McDermet, C: HBP, SB, R

Outfielder Joe Gorman was also voted an All-star, but was unable to attend.

Manager Brian Freiland also attended the game, snapped a few photos, and helped collect a $170 donation for the Aiden Peterson Foundation - a education fund set up for the son of our fallen Red Sox teammate Don Peterson.

Here is some of Brian's handy work behind the camera.

Shaun Frazier watches Jason McDowell at bat as he waits on deck.

2012 GPMABL All-Stars

(left to right) Bret Binder, Rich Ryan, Brian Freiland, Jason McDowell and Shaun Frazier.  Steve McDermet (kneeling)

   See you next year!

Binder No Hits Defending Champion

Binder fires a pitch in the 1st Inning

Bret Binder made history on Sunday by pitching the franchise's first post-season no-hitter.  As the 7th seed, the Red Sox faced off against the #2 seed and defending champion A's in a single-elimination contest.  The game's lone run was scored by Steve McDermet on a groundball to the second basemen.  Steve was on second, and broke on contact.  As the second baseman threw to first, Steve rounded third and didn't stop.  The throw by the first baseman wasn't in time, and Steve's agressive baserunning paid off.  Bret kept the A's off-balance all day and there were very few hard hit balls.  Congrats to Bret!

For the next round, the Red Sox face off against the #3 seed Muckdogs in a best of three series.  The first game was played immediately following the A's game, but the Sox couldn't keep the good momentum going as they fell 9-4.  Muckdogs' ace Nick Long got revenge for his post-season no-hitter loss against the Red Sox last year.

The Sox are down 1-0, and need to win this Sunday to keep the season going.  The game is at Plymouth Meeting and first pitch is at 10am.  See you there!


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Red Sox Get First Sweep of the Season

The Red Sox got their first sweep of the season over Penn Division rival, the Mayfair Fightin' Irish.

The first game was another extra-inning affair for the Sox, as the Irish fought back to tie the game at 3 in the bottom of the 7th to force extras.  The Sox answered back with 3 runs in the top of the 8th, and held the Irish scoreless in the bottom half to earn the win 7-4.  Fred Kerner earned the W, while Rich Ryan also turned in five solid innings on the hill.  Shaun Frazier, Wascar Soriano and Steve McDermet each had three hits.

Bret Binder took the mound in the second game, and in typical Bret Binder fashion, pitched a complete game for his fourth win of the season.  The bats provided just enough offense, scratching out three runs with four hits and a couple walks.  The Irish threatened with a man in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, but Binder's fourth K of the game sealed the victory, 3-2.

The sweep moved the Sox to 3rd place in the Penn Division.

PENN DIVISION	W	L	%	GB
Philadelphia A's (2)	13	7	.650	-
Aston Angels (6)	7	12	.368	5.5
Red Sox (7)	7	13	.350	6
Mayfair Fighting Irish (8)	6	14	.300	7
FRANKLIN DIVISION	W	L	%	GB
Philadelphia Comets (1)	17	3	.850	-
Philadelphia Muckdogs (3)	12	8	.600	5
Philadelphia Colt .45s (4)	9	10	.473	7.5
Quad County Brawlers (5)	8	12	.400	9

The updated stats are here.

Sunday's (7/15) game against the A's was moved to Hartford Crossing in Medford, New Jersey.  First pitch is at 10am.  See you then!

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I Wanna Be Rich

The Red Sox earned a split on Saturday against the Brawlers, taking the first game 6-3, but losing the second 9-4.

In the first game, Rich Ryan earned his first career W for the Red Sox as he pitched a solid 6.1 innings while allowing only 1 earned run and striking out 7.  Fred Kerner came in to get the final two outs after Rich was removed due to reaching the limit of 4 hit batsmen.  At the plate, Steve McDermet was 2 for 2 with 3 runs scored, a walk, and his fourth stolen base of the season.

The second game featured more solid pitching, but the Sox were their own worst enemy and allowed 7 unearned runs.

Updated stats are here.

The Red Sox improved to 3-10 on the season, but are on the bottom looking up in the Penn Division standings.

PENN DIVISION	W	L	%	GB
Philadelphia A's	9	4	.692	-
Aston Angels	5	7	.416	3.5
Mayfair Fighting Irish	5	8	.384	4
Red Sox	3	10	.230	6
FRANKLIN DIVISION	W	L	%	GB
Philadelphia Comets	11	2	.846	-
Philadelphia Muckdogs	8	5	.615	3
Philadelphia Colt .45s	6	6	.500	4.5
Quad County Brawlers	4	9	.307	7

This Sunday, June 17th is the 9-inning Father's day game against the Colt 45's at Plymouth Meeting.  First pitch is at 10am.  See you there!


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Yaroch Tosses a Jem

The Red Sox were stymied by Muckdogs ace Nick Long in game one, and fell 4-0 at LaSalle Bartley Field.

But with rookie Pat Yaroch on the hill for game 2, the Sox were able to salvage a split.  Pat threw his first career complete game, allowing only 3 hits and one walk while striking out 10.  The bats woke up for the second game, and the Sox prevailed 7-1 for their second win of the season.

Updated team stats are here.

Here are the updated standings:

PENN DIVISION	W	L	%	GB
Philadelphia A's	5	2	.714	-
Mayfair Fighting Irish	4	3	.571	1
Aston Angels	2	4	.333	2.5
Red Sox	2	5	.276	3
FRANKLIN DIVISION	W	L	%	GB
Philadelphia Comets	6	1	.857	-
Philadelphia Muckdogs	5	2	.714	1
Philadelphia Colt .45s	2	4	.333	3.5
Quad County Brawlers	1	6	.143	5

Next week we're off for the Mother's Day weekend.  We'll see you on May 20th at Latshaw McCarthy as the long-time rival Colt 45's roll into town for two.  First pitch is at 10am.  See you there!


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Red Sox Stumble Out of the Gate

With a rebuilt roster and young team, the growing pains are inevitable.  On opening weekend, the Red Sox visited the A's home turf at Hartford Crossing in Medford, New Jersey.  Coincidentally (or not?), this field was where their playoff run was ended by the A's last season.

Bret Binder was the opening day starter and pitched well before having to leave early due to participate in an important political debate in West Chester, PA (read more here and here).

The revamped pitching staff couldn't stop the bleeding, and the bats couldn't get going as the Sox got swept by the defending champion A's 13-4 and 9-4.

There's nowhere to go but up!  Here are the standings after the Week 1 action.

PENN DIVISION	W	L	%	GB
Philadelphia A's	2	0	1.000	-
Mayfair Fighting Irish	1	1	.500	1
Red Sox	0	2	.000	2
Aston Angels	0	2	.000	2
FRANKLIN DIVISION	W	L	%	GB
Philadelphia Colt .45s	2	0	1.000	-
Philadelphia Muckdogs	2	0	1.000	-
Philadelphia Comets	1	1	.500	1
Quad County Brawlers	0	2	.000	2

Next week, the Red Sox come home to Latshaw McCarthy in Norristown to take one of the oldest franchises in the league, the Philadelphia Comets.  First pitch is at 10am on Sunday.  See you there!


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