Pledged to crush, The Knights Wait For Late Inning Heroics

BURBANK, CA - Picking up where the Cardiac Kids of last year left off. The SC Knights have already lived up to this year’s slogan of “The Greatest Show On Earth”. In the season opener the Knights took a few innings to get their ‘juices’ flowing and their bats swinging. But once they did it was a thing of beauty. With the biggest hits coming from Brendan McDonald and Jonathan Williams.

Down 5 nil in the 4th inning the Knights began their triumphant comeback. Starting their comeback? Whoelse but team sparkplug Pete Halvorsen, Halvorsen took an 0-2 pitch off the leg to give the Knights their first base runner since the first inning. Ryan Brooks took it personally, making sure to make the Astros pay for this mistake. Brooks laced the second pitch he saw into the right field gap scoring a hobbled Halvorsen all the way from first and ending up him self on second base. Giving the Knights their first run of the season, their first run of the game and cutting the lead to 4. Rod Boaz then delivered a clutch 2 strike hit, scoring Brooks easily from 2nd base cutting the lead to 3 runs.

A comeback isn’t any good if the other team keeps scoring runs and that’s where pitcher Rod Boaz stepped in. Following Sulser’s 2 hit outing through the first 3 innings, Boaz decided to use a different approach, not allow any hits through the rest of the game. The Knights 5th inning picked up where the 4th inning left off, scoring 2 more runs one on a past ball and the other on a Josh Steiner single.
Boaz continued his tight rope walking allowing 6 base runners on walks but removing the threat with 5 strikeouts. Giving the Knights an opportunity to scrap all the way back in the game. Down 5-4 Van Buren ripped a single then stole 2nd and moved to third on a passed ball. Halvorsen walked bringing up Brooks with a chance to tie the game. Halvorsen took off on the first pitch and the Astros catcher threw the ball into center field attempting to throw out the speedster. This allowed Van Buren to score the tying run and Halvorsen to go to third as the leading run with 1 out. Brooks knew his job now was to get that run to give the Knights the lead late in the game. He wasted no time smashing a fly ball deep into center allowing Halvorsen an easy tag, trot home. Knights take the lead 6-5.

The Knights in typical Knights fashion weren't done making this game exciting however. Knowing that the game would be much more entertaining if they allowed another run. So the drama continued when the Astros scored the tying run and loaded the bases for their slugger. Boaz quickly got a two strike count on two sneaky change-ups then blew him away with a two-seam fastball. This put the Knights back in the dugout with a tie score and one at bat to do something about it.

With two quick outs in the last half inning of the game, the Knights were down to their final strike. Mike Vogel swung at a splitter in the dirt for strike three...Game Ov...orrr not. The ball got away from the Astros catcher giving the speedy Vogel a chance to make it to first and extend the inning. Vogel dove in headfirst beating the throw by a step sacrificing his body for the team. Josh Steiner then connected on his second hit of the day moving the winning run to 2nd base. With the outfield in, Brendan McDonald smashed a basehit to rightfield, but alas, he struck it too hard and didn't give Vogel a chance to score. So the stage was set, Bases loaded...Jonathan Williams at the plate. The late inning heroics would come from the soft-spoken southern gentleman. Williams who spends his days saving Dolphins and his KNIGHTS doing battle.Williams missed his first chance...swinging through a fastball.Jonathan Williams then collected his biggest hit as a Knight. With perfect form he laced a line drive down the right field line scoring Vogel and winning the Knights their first game of the season.

The Knights will look to continue this Cinderella story next week versus the Brewers. I'm Max Mercy and I'll see YOU at the ballpark.

Spring Preview 2007

Max Mercy ready to kick off another season of Knights baseball. Like every new season there are some changes we’ll have to highlight to bring the Knights fans up to date with their latest and greatest Knights players.


Coming, Going and Back Again
First the fresh blood in the Knights organization. Newly signed Outfielder Erik Barber looks to make an immediate impact with his new team after being signed as a Free Agent in the offseason. The highly sought after Barber bounced around Independent leagues has now found a home with the Lightning Bolt. More on Barber once we’re able to catch him for an interview.

Going is the crafty Paul Gamm. Gamm as originally reported in earlier articles took a Middle Relievers job for the Oceanside Border Jumpers. He’ll be closer to his family and able to make it home in time for supper. Gamm finishes his career with the Knights (W-L) BA. With one memorable home run.

Back Again the Deer Hunting duo of Mike Vogel and Ryan Brooks. This dynamic duo are a force to be reckoned with, when they show up. Brooks will be the anchor of the offensive back in his 3 spot ready to clear the bases at a moments notice. Vogel packed on 10 lbs of muscle in the offseason, but hasn't lost a step according to Knights trainer Greg Anderson. Apparently the Offseason workouts with Murkey and Halvorsen paid off.

A New League, A New Team
The Knights will look to put kill their darlings of past losses with a fresh start in the LAMSBL. After coming within one game of the Championship game two years in a row, the Knights have moved into the LAMSBL to try their hand with a new cast of characters.

Coach Ryan Saul has been quite frank when talking about the new league. “It’s a breath of fresh air, nothing against the VABL they were a class organization, but we needed a change of scenery and a change of fields.” And they will get both.

The Knights season will once again rest on the pumped up, well oiled, extremely flexible arm of Tony “El Toro” Sulser. Sulser is quickly closing in on the Knights all time win record (held by Scott Frenchie Boudreaux). Sulser credits “great Knights defense” and yoga for his success.

The Knights have one of the more flexible teams in recent history. With a number of very versatile players you may never see the same lineup/defense twice all season.

To illustrate this look at the Knights depth chart.

Steiner – INF/OF/C
Vogel – INF/OF
Nelson – INF/OF
Brooks – 1b/3b
McDonald – 3B/OF
Williams – C/1B/OF/P
Murkey – RP/1B/OF
Fike – 1B/OF/RP
Sulser – SP/OF
Saul – OF/2B
Van Buren – C/3B/1B/RF
Halvorsen – INF/OF
Hurwitz – LF/1B
Barber – OF/INF
Boaz - SP/OF

Mix and match any way you’d like, this is going to be a lean and mean Knights team.

The SC Knights start their quest for the MSBL Championship on Sunday versus the Santa Fe Astros at LA Valley College. 10 am First pitch.

Brooks Back With Lightning Brings Thunder, Q & A With the Train, Knight Loss Syndrome

Texas elite slugger Ryan Brooks has returned to the Knights clubhouse bringing his Texan charm and the bevy of female fans back to it's roots. Welcome back Brooksie.

In today's getting to know your Knights, we have a Q & A with longtime controversial Knight Austin "ATrain" Hurwitz.

Max Mercy: Tell us Train, how did you get your nickname, The ATrain?

TRAIN: I don't know what it means. I'll be honest, I don't think anyone knows what it means anymore. Scholars maintain that the translation was lost hundreds of years ago.

MM: There has always been talk about your shoulder, care to elaborate?



TRAIN: My shoulder?! Does a flower stop being pretty to talk about it's petals? No. Such is A-Train.



MM: What do you expect from the Knights this year?

TRAIN: I expect big things from the Knights this year. Horrible, but great things. Like He who must not be named.




MM: It's never been a secret that you and Management don't get along, why is it you clash with "The Judge?"

TRAIN: I get along with everyone, Max. The liberal media is always afraid of what they don't understand.



MM: What is your favorite word?

TRAIN: "moist" if you don't know what that means, then i don't want to know you.




The Knights will continue their Spring Training schedule playing the Cubs on Sunday in Culver City. They have been working out non-stop since Pitchers/Catchers reported on Feb. 15th at their SC Facility located in a secret location in Southern California.

While the transition has mostly been smooth from the VABL to the LAMSBL there has been some fallout, apparently there are a few players in the Knights former league who don't know exactly how to react to the news that the Knights won't be there this year. So they lash out, sending nasty emails/comments to the editor of this fine publication. Fear not loyal Knights fans, it's very part of the grieving process and a sickness called "KLS" or Knight Loss Syndrome. When someone loses something dear to them, they must experience the five cycles of grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. From the tone of the emails, I believe they are well past the denial stage and now in the anger stage, next we'll start to receive emails of these individuals wanting the Knights back or trying to strike a deal...then to depression, where they will remove us from their bookmark....only to add us a week later to see "how the Knights did last week" and finally acceptance, where they will realize that nothing they can do will bring back the excitement that the Knights brought to the game of baseball for them.

To read more on this or if you think you are or someone you know is experiencing "Knight Loss Syndrome" go hear http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grief and learn more about what you can do to work your way through this hard time.


By popular demand the fans will get a more in depth look at what makes your favorite Knights tick. What get's them up in the morning...Who are their influences...

Some of the stories we are working on for future articles...

What Makes The "Quite Storm" Steve Fike tick?

Why is Player/Manager Ryan Saul always so Hot under the Collar? The truth behind the world-famous temper.

Is it true what they say about Peter Nelson's late night carousing? Does he really make Babe Ruth look like a saint.

Would Vogel leave the Knights if "Supercross 2: Dirty Bikes" came calling?

What secret did Jonathan Williams find in the oceans off Costa Rica in the offseason and will it help him to hit the curve ball?

How did Colyn Van Buren get so good looking? Genes or hard work?

Will the new LAMSBL drug testing effect and Knights this season (no i'm not naming names).

all this and more, this 2007 Season of Knights Baseball.

I'm Max Mercy and this has been another amazing article, by me.