Novelty Has Worn Off, Five-O's Drop Another 6-0

Well the Five-O's fear of not being able to field a full team came to fruition on Saturday morning. The Five-O's just made the cut with the minimum of eight players that is required as per the league rules to play a game. That is the good part. The bad part is the double play combo of Jon Boyt and his son Tyler Boyt had to leave midway through the game to fulfill another commitment which forced the Five-O's to forfeit.

"This was one of our biggest fears going into the season" Five-O's managing partner John Ginder said. "I knew that we would get a large number of players to sign up and only a few that will actually show up." This is something that is expected when you deal with a team of people who work different shifts.

Maybe having to forfeit was something good for the team. Their hitting woes and inability to get a hit with runners in scoring position continued as the Five-O's were only able to tally a season-low five hits. "Maybe our uniforms will turn this thing around" manager J.J. Mazzone said after the game.

The Five-O's actually looked like they knew what they were doing in the field today. After deciding to remove himself from leftfield and try his hand at centerfield, Mazzone was able to get past his blunders which plagued him in the first two games and was actually able to track down fly balls and not let anything get past him. Maybe it was the sun that contributed to his errors in the previous games although the sun was behind him. In any event it looks like the Five-O's were able to turn the corner on their shotty defensive work.

As for the offense.....that is entirely a different story. After tearing it up in the first game, John Ginder can't seem to find his groove again. "As I stated before, the Grand Slam was the worst thing to happen to me" Ginder said after his 0-2 Saturday. Ginder is hitless in his last six at bats and isn't showing any signs of getting out of his slump. "I think I am going to move myself down in the lineup" Ginder said to himself on his way to work.

Jenna Govel got her third start in a row and was effective at times. The first inning seems to be this teams achilles heel. In every game this season the Five-O's have put themselves in a hole and have to look up the rest of the way. "It is too bad Delicious can't pitch every game" Ginder said to himself while writing the article.

Since I started doing this game recap stuff after the first game, I am forced to choose a player of the game. It is a difficult task when your team gets shutout but I have to do it anyway. Going 1-1 with a single and a walk (and the only player to get to third base), Tyler Boyt has been named the CapitalRegionSports.com player of the game.

The Five-O's return to action this Saturday at 11am at Strawberry Park.

McKownville FD Too Much For Five-O's

The Guilderland Police Department entered Thursdays game with their heads held as high as their hopes after beating the defending champions on Saturday. The Mckownville Fire Department entered the game hoping just to keep it close. When the dust finally settled, Mckownville came out on top, 11-6.

After pounding the ball against the Hooper's, the Five-O's couldn't solve the Fire Departments pitching and were only able to muster a measly 15 hits. They were able to do that in one inning on Saturday. "The Grand Slam was the worst thing to happen to me" cleanup hitter John Ginder said talking about his heroics last game. Ginder struggled at the plate and wasn't able to repeat his performance and finished the game 0-4.

The loss can't be put soley on Ginder's shoulders, the Five-O's defense was less then impressive. Everytime the ball was put into play, you could hear circus music coming from the distance. The only thing missing was the small car with all of the clowns.

Wind had to have played a factor because that is the only thing that would make the woeful plays in the outfield make any sense. Saturdays ball dryer, Todd Roberts, was given the start in centerfield. Newly acquired Nick Deso arrived late but was able to step in the game and take over rightfield for the ailing Steve Witham. Both had misplayed balls but were able to make up for it at the plate. Roberts went 2-4 and Deso went 2-3. The one person who wasn't able to make up for blunders this time was J.J. Mazzone. Mazzone misread balls all afternoon and had a couple sneak under his glove and was only able to one base knock even though he was swinging at balls out of the zone.

Third baseman Roger Ginder was one of the few bright spots for the Five-O's. Ginder made some nice stops at the hot corner and was also able to throw out a couple of runners. He would have looked better if his brother John was able to haul in one of his throws.

Jenna Govel did a fine job on the hill for the Five-O's, striking out several Mckownville members. Not all of the runs were her fault but I don't need to mention the circus act in the field again.

Kyle Haines played the roll of cheerleader with his "Go Get 'Em" attitude. But that wasn't enough. Haines belted a two-run triple which at the time tied the game.

It isn't easy to pick a CapitalRegionSports.com player of the game, but I have to. So the award goes to Roger Ginder (2-4 with 2 runs scored). The Five-O's are back in action this Saturday at 11am at Strawberry Park. Let's see if they can avenge their loss and beat John Ginder's former team Western Turnpike/Westmere FD.

****Steve Witham left the game after his single in the second inning. He is listed as day-to-day. He is scheduled for an MRI tomorrow and will most likely miss some time with a hip flexor.****