CYCLONES ARE CHAMPIONS!
9 run 7th capped by a Craig Baser Grand Slam sealed the victory while Justin Putnal gutted out a complete game

Houston Cyclones win the Fall 2022 35+ Division Championship


DH Craig Baser capped off a 9 run 7th inning with a Grand Slam to centerfield vs. Marauders Dec 4, 2022


Justin Putnal vs. Marauders Dec 4, 2022

December 5, 2022 - On Sunday the #1 seed Marauders faced the Houston Cyclones for the HHL Fall 2022 35+ Division Championship.  It was quite the back and forth game until the 7th inning.  In the first inning, the visiting Cyclones went up 1-0 on a Rudy Casanova hit, who stole second and scored on an error by the Marauders first baseman. The Cyclones would give up their slim lead in the 2nd inning as Cyclones starting pitcher was tagged for 4 runs in the inning, 2 of which were unearned.  The Cyclones promptly answered back scoring 4 of their own in the 3rd inning as a walk, 2 singles and 2 doubles plated the 4 runs to put the Cyclones back on top 5-4.  But the Cyclones couldn't hold the lead as a throwing error, a walk and an RBI ground out scored 2 more runs for the Marauders, who now lead 6-5. The Marauders would tack on another run in the 6th inning.

Come the 7th inning, the Marauders made a pitching change as their starter ran out of gas and let his manager know.  With the pitching change came renewed life in the Cyclones dugout.  Cyclones veteran third baseman BJ Galvan began the 7th with a single to left.  A walk to Alfredo "Sauce" Rivas and a seeing eye single just past the third baseman to left loaded the bases. A walk and a hit followed, scoring 2 runs to tie the game. A grounder to third was the next play and the third baseman chose to attempt the out at home rather than trying for a standard double play.  HE threw the ball high and wide of home and the error allowed the go-ahead run to score leaving the bases still loaded for Craig Baser.  The Marauders pitcher had just thrown 2 consecutive slow curve balls that Craig took for a strike and a ball.  The Marauders pitcher attempted a third straight slow curve and before you knew it, Craig Baser deposited the ball over the wall in just left of center field for a game changing Grand Slam!

The Cyclones would score two more runs in the inning and take the lead 14-7. Fast forward to the bottom of the 8th inning which would be the last inning, the Marauders would not go down without a fight.  Back-to-back doubles led off the inning scoring another run before the runner on second would be doubled off after the next batter hit a fly ball to right for the first out and then the second out.  Another couple of hits and an error plated the final run of the game for the Marauders as the next batter grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game and give the Houston Cyclones a 14-9 victory and the Fall 2022 35+ Division Championship.

PLAYOFF ROUND 1 TO CYCLONES 
Offense explodes for 14 runs, while Putnal, Zuniga and the defense shut down the Expos

Starting pitcher Justin Putnal delivers a pitch during the playoffs vs Expos November 13, 2022


First baseman Alfredo Rivas stretches to make the catch vs Expos November 13, 2022

November 14, 2022 - #2 seed Expos hosted the #3 seed Houston Cyclones as the 35+ Division playoffs began Sunday afternoon. The battle between the 2 divisional heavyweights began with the Cyclones scoring 3 runs in the top if the first inning as an unusually wild Ryan Martin started for the Expos. The first 3 batters for the Cyclones reached base on a hit and 2 walks and Martin then got the next 2 batters to strikeout.  It seems as though the Cyclones would let a golden opportunity to get up opn the Expos early slip by but starting catcher Juna Zuniga worked an RBI base on balls and got the Cyclones on the board 1-0.  Then Dre Vappie dropped a single to plate another 2 before the inning ended on a fly to left.

The Expos would answer right back getting 1 in the bottom of the first as Cyclones starting pitcher Justin Putnal was still trying to find his location in the early going.  The game would remain 3-1 until the Cyclones plated another run on the 3rd without the benefit of the ball leaving the infield. And the score would remain that way until the top of the 5th when Tom West lead the inning off with a double to left field. After the Expos got the next batter to ground out, the Cyclones would then go on to score 5 consecutive runs before another out was recorded.  Another 2 runs would score before the inning ended and the Cyclones took a commanding 11-1 lead.

The Expos for their part would not give up, but Justin and Juan's game plan was working to perfection and what trouble the Expos did give to Puntal, Justin was able to work around it and keep any Expos threats from becoming Expos runs. The Expos would score one more time in the bottom of the 5th as their answer to the 7 run barrage the Cyclones fronted in the top half of the inning. The Cyclones would answer that 1 run back with one of their own in the top of the 6th and another 2 in the 7th.  However, in the end, it was just icing on the cake as the Cyclones defeated the Expos 14-2 to exorcise whatever demons had been plaguing them earlier in the season. Up next, the Cyclones face their longtime rivals, the Marauders in the championship game to determine the Fall 2022 35+ Season Champions.

2022 MSBL WORLD SERIES 
Houston Cyclones Tournament Team qualified for playoffs but fell to eventual champions

Standing (Left to right): Mgr. Dean Cosme, Ray Mariano, Armand Molleur, Chris Abrahamson, Chris Sklodowski, Rance Fredericksen, Jason Wheaton, Nathan McCain, Mike Ross
Kneeling (Left to right): Cody Hester, Jose Torres, Jason Baxter, Nelson Landavazo, Wade Distler, Bryn Dytri, Russell Holder, Chris Yordt, Art Martinez

The 2022 Houston Cyclones Tournament team participated in the 2022 MSBL World Series in Phoenix. The team went 2-4 in pool play, but qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 3 appearances.  While the record may not reflect the on field success, this team was vastly improved from previous years.  The tournament came to an end after falling to the BBQ Baseball Forkballers in the Quarter-Finals as injuries decimated the pitching staff.

CYCLONES ROLL OVER RANGERS 19-3
Final game of season turns into a route
 
Albert Van Dellen delivers a pitch vs. Rangers  November 6, 2022

November 7, 2022 - With not a lot on the line on Sunday, the Cyclones went into the game knowing their third place finish in the standings was a lock because the first place Marauders got a freebie victory via forfeit over the Expos to secure their first place finish meaning the Cyclones, having lost the the Expos 3 times this season could not move up to the 2nd seed. 

Knowing that, Mgr Dean Cosme went a little unorthodox by starting pitcher Albert Van Dellen, who is normally a relief pitcher.  AVD started well, but 2 long innings by the Cyclones kept Albert on the bench longer than desired and he began to lose his stamina and ran out of gas in the 3rd inning. Never fear, Alfredo Rivas picked up the slack and finished off the game with 3 scoreless innings.

The Cyclones offense went on a tear but also was very disciplined in their approach as they had 15 hits along with 10 walks and 4 HBP. That's 29 base runners not including errors.  However, 2 batters stoff out above the rest.  Kyle Keena went 4-4 w/ 2 runs score and 3 RBI and Andre Vappie went 2-2, w/ a double, 2 runs scored, 3 RBI a walk and an HBP. Final 19-3.

CYCLONES SWEEP 1ST PLACE MARAUDERS
Cyclones take game 1 - 10-8 and shutout the Marauders in game 2 - 17-0

EXPOS SHUTOUT CYCLONES 8-0
Cyclones' attempts to rally stifled at every turn by Expos
 
Dean Cosme laces a single vs. Expos October 9, 2022

October 10, 2022 - The Cyclones barely put up a fight as they were stifled by the Expos in an 8-0 loss. A scoreless game after 3 innings turned into a rout after the Expos scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 4th and tacked on 3 in the 5th and another in the 6th to complete the victory over the listless Cyclones.

CYCLONES TOPPLE RANGERS 10-4
Solid pitching and defense keep Rangers winless
 
Jonathan Mikus watches his fly ball vs. Rangers October 2, 2022

October 3, 2022 - This time, Justin Putnal didn't beat the Rangers with his arm. Rather, he beat them with his bat. Justin drove in 4 RBI, going 2-4 with a single and a double, scoring once as well.  Tom West and starting pitcher Dean Cosme each had 2 RBI also.  Everyone in the lineup reached base via a base hit or base on balls and almost everyone scoring at least once.

Speaking of starting pitching, Dean Cosme pitched a complete game allowing 4 earned runs on 9 hits and 4 walks with a couple of strikeouts over 7 innings.  It was those 2 strikeouts however that proved most pivotal. With one out, Cosme proceeded to load the bases on 3 consecutive walks. After a brief meeting with catcher BJ Galvan, they changed the game plan. The game plan proved fruitful as Cosme struck out the next 2 batters to end the threat. Final Score - Cyclones 10 - Rangers 4

CYCLONES SPLIT DH VS EXPOS
Defense lets Putnal down in Game 1, Expos forfeit Game 2
 
Guy Koenig lines a single vs. Expos September 25, 2022

CYCLONES FIZZLE VS HURRICANES
Cyclones lose 2nd consecutive game
 
Alfredo Rivas delivers a pitch vs. Hurricanes September 18, 2022

September 19, 2022 - Cyclones pitching allowed a pair of runs in each of the first 4 innings and at the plate could not get anything going against the Hurricanes until a rally late in the game yielded their lone run of the game.

CYCLONES COLLAPSE IN FINAL INNING
5 run lead goes wasted as pitching and defense fall apart
 

BJ Galvan Calls for the Pop Up vs. Marauders September 11, 2022

September 12, 2022 - The Cyclones were leading 8-3 entering the last half of the final inning when things began to unravel. The innings started with 2 consecutive base on balls, then a hit and then a spiral downward.  4 runs had scored before an out was recorded and the game would end before a third out could be made. On the bright side, newcomer Ruben Gomez made his team debut and promptly went 3-3 with 2 doubles, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI all while playing a solid center field for the Cyclones. Tom West, Alfredo Rivas and Rudy Casanova also all had multiple hits on the afternoon.

CYCLONES BLANK RANGERS 11-0
Justin Putnal hurls complete game shutout to start season
 

Justin Putnal delivers a fastball vs. Rangers  August 29, 2022

August 29, 2022 - With most everyone from the Spring season returning, the Houston Cyclones decided it was time for a change.  New unis, new hats (coming soon), but most importantly, a new attitude. It's that new attitude that will have the biggest effect on the team. Having now been together for the better part of 3 season, these Houston Cyclones are determined to win it all.  But before that can happen, there are 12 games that need to be played, 10 regular season games and potentially 2 playoff games. 

First up was the upstart Rangers, a new team to the HHL Sunday 35+ Division. As the visiting team for this match up, the Cyclones were up first and struck first as they plated 3 runs in the top of the first inning. The scoring continued on the 2nd as the Cyclones score another 6 times to take a 9-0 after to complete innings. The Cyclones added 1 run in the 4th inning and another in the 7th to complete the scoring at 11.  On the other side of the ball, Justin Putnal, was dealin'. Putnal hurled 8 innings of shutout baseball, striking out 7 Rangers en route to the opening day victory.

Other Cyclones of note, Guy Koenig continued his hot hitting from last season with a 4-4 day, scoring twice and driving in 1.  And Hector Rios had 3 hits, driving in 2 and score twice as well.  

NEW SEASON - NEW JERSEY?
Fall 2022 Season begin August 21, 2022