Knights Do It Again!

GLENDALE, CA - Knights come from behind in final at bat for second time over the Astros. With the 8-7 victory the Knights bettered their record to 7-4 and fell into another tie with the Culver City Cubs (who they lost to last week).

The Knights were without the managing expertise of Ryan Saul for the third time this season, but surprisingly they are 3-0 without the Red Hot Saulsa at the helm. They were also without the services of Colyn Van Buren, Austin Hurwitz, Ryan Brooks, Kevin Murkey, Erik Barber and Mike Vogel. So if your math is above a 3rd grade level 16 minus 7 still equals nine. Which were exactly how many players the Knights had to battle the Astros.

In baseball, nine are all you need especially when one of them is the Cuban Bull. Sulser got off to a rocky start giving up 5 runs in the first 3 innings on three home runs, but then he buckled down and knew he had to go deep into this game to give the Knights a chance to comeback. So that's what he did. Sulser tossed 6 more innings only giving up 1 more run and 2 more hits.

A Dog Showed Up From Out Of No Where...And Then The Rally Began. Then just like that *poof* he was gone. A true mystery.

Offensively, Sulser also got the ball rolling with his first hit of the season being a laser over the left field fence giving the Knights a run and shifting the momentum. Following suit the McDonald Brothers, Ian and Brendan, we 3-4 and 2-3 respectively, setting the table and even clearing it sometimes to spur on the Knights comeback. With the Knights tied 5-5 going into the top of the 6th inning the Knights shortstop Pete Halvorsen lead off with a double to left center, followed by an infield single from Rod Boaz moving Halvorsen, the tying run to third. Steve Fike then came up versus the lefty specialist and put together a great at bat fouling off 4 straight pitches, finally getting the one he could do something with and sending a fly ball deep enough to center to score Halvorsen and take the lead.

Seeing double? The McDonald Brothers go a combined 5-7 on the day.

This woke the Astros from their slumber and they came right back and tied the game in the 7th and took the lead in the 8th. Putting the Knights on their final at bat, down by one run, versus the Astros...Deja Vu anyone? If not, feel free to read about it here. But back to the present day, Josh Steiner reached on a throwing error to lead off the inning, followed by a Rod Boaz single which turned into a critical two base error when it went under the centerfielder's glove and allowed Steiner to reach third and Boaz second base. Boaz was then lifted as a non-runner for the last out which was the speedy Pete Halvorsen who represented the winning run. Steve Fike had an opportunity to be a hero for the second time this game after an amazing catch in centerfield robbing the Astros of more runs in the top of the inning. Fike worked the count full then took a ball in the dirt, loading the bases. Up stepped the struggling Pete Nelson, Nelson has been showing signs of coming out of his slump. All they needed was a fly ball from him to tie the game, with the infield in, Nelson wasted no time winning the game, hitting a flare over the SS into left field easily scoring Steiner with Halvorsen right on his heels sliding in with hands raised scoring the winnings run.

View All The Photos From The Game Here.

The Knights are back at it next week July 1, 2007 in Carson versus the Westside Brew Crew.

Fike Takes Care Of Pitching, Barber Takes Of Hitting, Knights Take Care Of Yankees

SYLMAR, CA - If there was a must win this early in the season it was Sunday versus the Yankees. Coming off an embarrassing 18-3 loss to the last place Storm the Knights were tied for first place with the Cubs (5-3) and in need of a win versus the 2006 league Champion Yankees. But the Knights were also back to their lean and mean selves with a who's who list of missing players (Brooks, Vogel, Van Buren, Steiner and Sulser). The Lightning Bolt kids not only had their inner demons to battle but they also had to face former Major League pitcher Matt Whisenant. It was the 6'3 lefties first time facing the Knights.

The Knights got off to a good start taking advantage of a Pete Halvorsen lead off single and Steve Fike being hit by a pitch. But Whisenant buckled down and struck out the next two hitters Rod Boaz and Kevin Murkey. The Knights looked like they would squander another great opportunity much like last game, but Erik Barber had other plans. Barber smoked the second pitch he saw into right centerfield scoring Halvorsen easily and allowing Fike to go to third. Fike then scored on a Pete Nelson chip shot over first base giving the Knights a 2-0 lead.

Rod Boaz fresh off being snubbed the MLB Draft, he had something to prove. Boaz tossed 5 shutout innings striking out 7 and getting out of 2 bases loaded jams. Boaz on a strict pitch count was removed after his 100th pitch in the 5th inning. Manager Ryan Saul then handed the ball to seldom used pitcher Steve Fike. Fike acted like it was just another day for him out of the bullpen. The left handed Fike tossed 3 strong innings allowing 0 earned runs and keeping the Yankees powerful lefties off-balance. Fike said after the game "I felt great out there, my mechanics were sound and I could have gone a few more innings. I am just happy to help out wherever Coach needs me."

The Knights offense continued to thrive behind the bat of Erik Barber who went 4-5 on the day and continued to come through with runners in scoring position. Also with a strong day at the plate third baseman Brendan McDonald. McDonald has ramped up his game since his brother Ian joined the squad. In over 25 years of playing baseball, this is the first time the McDonald brothers have played on the same team. Another milestone was reached Sunday when Ryan Saul connected on an RBI fielders choice, his first of the season, with runners at 1st and 3rd giving the Knights their 9th run of the afternoon. Halvorsen followed up with a single scoring Ian McDonald and capping the Knights scoring at 10 runs.

Knights closer Kevin Murkey came in to shut the door on the Yankees and had a 5 run cushion. The Yankees first two batters reached on a single and a HBP and later scored, but this gave Murkey the extra stress he needs to dig deep and concentrate. Murkey then retired the Yankees 3 and 4 hitters ending the game and giving the Knights a 10-7 victory. Keeping them tied with the Cubs at the top of the division with a 6-3 record.

The Knights will face off against the Cubs next week for the battle for sole possession of first place. However they will be without Ryan Brooks, Pete Halvorsen and Mike Vogel. But as we've seen this Knights team loves to play the underdog and they love to play with uneven numbers, much like a certain movie.

Mama said there'll be days like this...

CULVER CITY, CA - Mama said there'll be days like this, There'll be days like this Mama said...and boy was she right. The Knights had no idea what they were getting into this past Sunday versus the Storm. Coming into the game with a first place record of 5-2 playing the 1-6 Storm on paper it seemed like a foregone conclusion, but this is why they play the game on the field and not on paper.

The Knights had carried a full squad for the 2nd time this season. But these extra bodies just added to the amount of "lay witnesses" at the scene of this crime. The visiting Knights should have known the forces of nature were against them after they failed to score in the first inning wasting a lead off double. But like sheep being looked after by two cowboys on Brokeback Mountain...they didn't have a chance at life or love on this day.

El Toro's triumphant return to the mound wasn't suppose to go like this. After two HBP's a grandslam home run and two errors in the field, it was 7-0 and all these little sheep could do is wander around aimless while they're keepers were off pitching a tent. I could go into the lack of offense (3 runs) or the lack of defense (6 errors), but it's much easier to take if you just realize that Mama was right, there'll be days like this.

So the Knights fall to 5-3 and into a first place tie with a lot of teams...one of those teams is the Evil Empire known as the LA Yankees. The Knights will look to circle the wagons and fight out of this funk. But no matter what happens this season, they'll always have this lesson...this lesson they learned up there...way up there on Brokeback Mountain.

Watch The Slide show Below...or View All The 78 Photos Here