Error Filled 8th Dooms Cyclones

January 13, 2014 - A see-saw battle for 7 innings with the Cyclones tying the game on 3 separate occasions culminated in the 8th inning with a monumental meltdown by the Cyclones that would have the Cyclones go from a 5-3 lead to a 10-6 defeat in a matter of minutes. 

The Blaze took a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning on back-to-back doubles but the Cyclones answered in the 2nd with a run scoring double of their own.  In the 3rd, the Blaze plated a run to take a 2-1 lead.  Once again, the Cyclones answered with a run scoring double to tie it at 2.  In the 5th, the Blaze went up 3-2 on a double and an error.  The Cyclones would answer the bell once again in the 7th with another run scoring double.  But in the 8th, the tables would be turned as it was the Cyclones who would go ahead 5-3 on a single and an error.  That lead would not least, nor would the close, well played game. 

The bottom of the 8th began with an error and ended with the Cyclones coughing up 7 unearned runs and watching their Championship dreams go up in smoke.  A strong pitching performance by Shannon Morgan was soured by a  complete defensive meltdown that included 3 infield errors.

After a dismal Spring 2013 season which included the departure of several longtime players leading to a complete roster overhaul, the Fall 2013 season can be deemed a great success despite not winning a championship.  But after a season such as this, it only means that with the Spring 2014 Season on the horizon, there is a lot to look forward to.

Cyclones Rout Biscuits 9-0

January 6, 2014 - Which Cyclones team was going to show up.  The one that surprised the Rockies in the first game of the season or the one that couldn't get out of their own way to end the season against the Bombers?  The answer to that is written in the headline as the Cyclones showed up ready to play and play they did.

The Cyclones had been 0-3 against the Biscuits since the Biscuits had entered the league last Spring season. But this time, a very loose but focused Cyclones team would not be denied.  Shannon Morgan continued his stellar season on the mound tossing a 6 hit shutout of a tough hitting Biscuit lineup.  Gabriel Medina continued his hit hitting despite his sore hamstring.  Needless to say, this was a team effort and a team win.  Up next, the Blaze!!!

Regular Season Ends With A Thud

December 16, 2013 - It was supposed to be easy.  Win and finish in second place and receive a bye into the second round of the playoffs.  Lose and you need help.  The playoffs were locked several weeks earlier, but final seedings were not.  The Cyclone were gift wrapped a victory in the final week of the season that would put them in a good position to make it to the Championship Game.

But their opponents didn't see it that way and even some of the Cyclones felt it was a given as many players took personal time for themselves and family heading into the holidays and left the team short and in shambles.  The Bombers took full advantage of that.  The Cyclones playing without several regulars had to makeshift a defensive lineup that would make anyone worry about taking the extra base.  Nor did the batting lineup scare away any potential "gimme" hits.

Only 7 of the Bombers came to play, but play they did as they rallied from a 6-0 deficit to overtake the freefalling Cyclones 11-7 and helped them drop from the #2 seed down to #4.

Familiar Rivals, Familiar Faces, Familiar Results

December 9, 2013 - In the long awaited matchup between the Zephyrs and Cyclones, one thing was for certain - they are very familiar with themselves.  More so nowadays as a couple of players switched allegiances in the off-season and while one of those "former" players actually returned to the Cyclones midseason, he also brought along one of his buddies that played with the opposing team. 

That being said, this game was personal for several people and for several reasons.  In the end, it wasn't as close as it appeared and the Cyclones fell to the Zephyrs 7-4.

Shorthanded Biscuits Burn Cyclones

November 18, 2013 - They played with only 7 players for 8 innings and for the most part, the Cyclones could not take advantage whatsoever of the spacious outfield or porous infield.  The Biscuits took an early 1-0 lead in the first.  Starting pitcher Shannon Morgan struggled early but settled down nicely until the 5th inning when the Biscuits struck again for 3 more runs opening up a 4-1 lead on the Cyclones.

The Cyclones for their part, scratched and clawed to get base runners,  The old saying goes "Hit 'em where they ain't" but the Cyclones "hit 'em where they were" and could barely buy a hit.  But the base runners they did get had a way of making it around the bases.  But after 7 innings, the Cyclones came within a run, 4-3, of tying the game. 

Errors and miscues led to the Biscuits plating 3 more runs in the 8th to go up 7-3.  As the afternoon and the game were getting late, the Cyclones chances of victory grew slimmer and slimmer.  But in the bottom of the 8th, the Cyclones took advantage of a pitching change by the Biscuits and plated 4 runs to tie the game at 7.  But the good feelings and tie game would come crashing to an end as the Biscuits rallied to score a run in the top of the 9th and topped the Cyclones 8-7.

Blaze Hand Cyclones First Defeat Of Season

November 15, 2013 - The omens came fast and hard.  When you start the game with an error on a routine grounder, it's not usually a good sign.  When you have 3 errors in one inning that leads to 4 runs, that's an even worse sign.  But that's how the game started for the Cyclones against the Blaze on Thursday night and it really didn't get better from there.

The Cyclones tried to immediately strike back putting the first 3 runners to start the first inning on base, but only one of those runs would score.  Another telling sign of how the night would go.  From there, the Blaze stifled the Cyclones allowing only one other run while running away with a 13-2 victory of the Cyclones.

5 Run First Lead Cyclones Over Generals

November 11, 2013 - Gabe Medina continued his hot streak on Sunday by driving in 2 runs to start a 5 run first inning to lead the Spring Cyclones over the Generals 9-5.  Medina smacked the ball over the Generals left fielder's head to plate the first two batters of the inning.  At the time it was Medina's 5th consecutive hit.  It likely would have been a double but he jogged easily into first base while still nursing an injured hamstring.

Shannon Morgan continued his stellar pitching with another strong performance.  Although he gave up 5 runs (4 earned), he struck out 9 over 8 innings and survived a couple of hairy innings due to some questionable defense.  Hopefully with a return to a full squad, the defense will step up back to early season levels.

Sloppy Cyclones Speed Past Barons

November 3, 2013 - It has long been known that speed kills.  In sports it can be seen as a positive thing.  Speedy wide receivers are able to stretch the field.  Speedy outfielders able to track down almost every ball within a mile's reach.  Speedy base runners able to reach base before an infielder can look up to make a play.  In the case of the Cyclones and specifically Jonathan Tinker, the latter two apply perfectly.  Tinker has been a blast of fresh air for the Cyclones.

A combination of speed and athleticism has provided the Cyclones a dangerous lead off hitter as well as a gold glove caliber defense in centerfield.  In the case of yesterday's game, Jonathan had 5 stolen bases and 4 runs scored. The 5 stolen bases came 1 shy of tying a franchise record. The 4 runs scored gave him 12 on the season accounting for almost one quarter of the the team's season total.

Tink wasn't the only highlight of the game yesterday.  Gabe Medina, nursing a strained hamstring) stroked 4 singles (2 of which would have been doubles if not for the hamstring) and drove in 3 RBI while Trey Mumme came just inches shy of an home run but settled with a run scoring double instead giving him 3 RBI on the day as well. 

Shannon Morgan continued his hot pitching as he relieved starter Dean Cosme who was mainly ineffective and shut down the Barons to help Cosme and the Cyclones secure the 11-8 victory over the Barons.

Cyclones Blast Bombers 14-1

October 20, 2013 - After 4 consecutive rainouts the Cyclones appeared to have not lost a step as they soundly defeated the Bombers 14-1.  Once again behind the stellar pitching of Shannon Morgan (6 IP, 1R, 1ER, 9K, 1BB, 1HBP), the Cyclones were able to take advantage of the opposition with walks, errors and timely hitting.  Big hits from Ronnie Villarreal and Wes Dunn highlighted a 7-run 2nd inning which blew the game open and the Cyclones cruised from there.

9-Run 4th By Cyclones Blows Away Beavers

September 16, 2013 - The Cyclones sent 13 batters to the plate and scored 9 runs to blow past the Conroe Blue Beavers 18-8.  6 players had at least 2 hits and 7 scored at least 2 runs while everyone reached base one way or the other.  Ronnie Villarreal had the hit of the day as he capped off the 9-run 4th with a bases clearing 3-run double.

Wild 8th Inning Leads Cyclones Past Heat

September 9, 2013 - It was a tightly contested battle until the 8th inning.  That's when the Cyclones coughed up the lead by allowing the Heat to plate 2 runs on 3 hits.  But with a runner in scoring position, starting pitcher Shannon Morgan was able to get the third out keeping the game 2-1.

Then in the bottom of the 8th inning, it all began to unravel for the Heat.  After a lead off out, the Cyclones played small ball.  Newcomer Sam Hestand drew a walk.  Inexplicably, the Heat attempted to pick him off first and threw the ball away down the right field line.  Next up, Mgr Dean Cosme also drew a walk, but on ball 4, the heat uncorked a wild pitch, sending Hestand to 3rd base.  Looking to stay out of the double play, the Cyclones put on a hit & run that worked perfectly with Craig Parks getting the infield single while also scoring Hestand tying the game.  Another wild pitch later and it's 2nd & 3rd and one out and leadoff hitter Jonathan Tinker at the plate.  After taking 2 balls, the Heat change pitchers.  On a 2-1 count, Tinker bunts the ball up the first base line, Cosme comes into score on a safety squeeze that was executed to perfection.  Tinker meanwhile, raced up the first base line and actually got a single on his bunt. With the Cyclones lead now 3-2, it all fell apart for the Heat as wild pitches and errors doomed the Heat as they allowed Parks and Tinker to score.

Shannon Morgan (9 inn, 6 H, 9 K, 2 HBP) went out to finish off the victory and the complete game.  Cyclones 5 - Heat 2.

Revamped Cyclones Blow Past Rockies

August 26, 2013 - New look, new season, new team.  The revamped Spring Cyclones took the field at Lamar HS yesterday for the first time as a group and the results were very positive.  The fresh group of new suspects faced the new but veteran team on the block, Houston Rockies and came away with a 6-4 victory to begin the Fall 2013 season.

Mgr. Dean Cosme took the mound for the Cyclones and despite giving up a bunch of hits early, settled down and threw 7 shutout innings striking out 3 while walking only 1.  Cosme's biggest trouble came in the 2nd when he walked the bases loaded with two outs.  He was able to get out of the jam by inducing a 6-4 fielder's choice to end the threat.

Offensively, new Cyclones lead off hitter, Jonathan Tinker began the game with a routine grounder that the Rockies took for granted and Jonathan's speed forced a rushed throw and pulled the first baseman off the bag.  That helped the Cyclones get started as they plated 2 runs in the 1st inning and added 4 more in the 4th to make it 6-0.

The score would remain that way until the 9th inning when reliever Shannon Morgan was tagged for 4 runs (3 earned) but was able to get the final out on a pop up behind home plate.

Notable newcomers were Trey Mumme, who reached base all 3 plate appearances and Wes Dunn who drove in 2 RBI in the 4th with a timely single to to pen up the Cyclones lead.