SPRING 2012 NHWBL CHAMPIONS!!!
Despite Being No-Hit, Cyclones Top Blaze For Title

Aug 5, 2012 - In the top of the 5th inning Saleem Malik stroked a line drive to right field.  But the right fielder, playing shallow, charged the ball and threw a strike to first base to get the out.  That would have broken up the no-hitter.  But instead, it was just another out in a nine inning game.

One inning later, the Cyclones would get on the board though.  Justin Keith, who had his best season for the Cyclones yet, led off the 6th inning with a walk followed by a walk by #34  Then, Ryan Harris hit into a fielder's choice, as his speed broke up a potential double play.  Clean-up hitter Marc Love hit a fly ball to left center to drive in Justin Keith for the Cyclones first run and bring the Cyclones within one run of tying the game.

That chance would happen in the eighth inning.  Keith Marion, get his first plate appearance of the post-season led off the 8th with a walk.  Buddy Cochran got hit by a pitch next.  Then Justin Keith grounded into what would potentially have been at least a force play, but Blaze 3rd baseman Louie Lee bobbled the ball and all runners were safe.  Next, #34 hit a sac-fly to center field that scored Keith and moved Buddy to 3rd base. With Ryan Harris batting, the Blaze's pitcher uncorked a wild pitch to allow Buddy to score and Justin to move to second base.  After Ryan grounded out to 3rd, Marc Love hit a potentially inning ending grounder to first, but it went through the first baseman's legs and into right field, which allowed Justin to score from 2nd base.  Three runs scored, without the benefit of a hit.  The Cyclones were now up 4-2.

That would become the final score as #34 shut the Blaze down in the final two innings to secure the win.  #34 did what he had done all post-season, not give up any earned runs.  During the season, we have #34.  During the playoffs, we have Playoff #34.  Same person, 2 different people.  Get it.  Although, this past season, #34 had pitched a lot like Playoff #34.  This season, in five starts, #34 allowed a 1.64 ERA. In two playoff starts, Playoff #34 has a 0.00 ERA. 

Today, Playoff #34 was on full display and as usual, no earned runs were scored.  The only hiccup in yesterday's game came in the 4th inning when the Blaze led off the inning with a double to right center field.  #34 got the next two outs.  The leadoff hitter for the Blaze next hit a chopper to third that was not handled cleanly and all runners were safe.  With runners on first and third #34 induced what looked like a potential inning ending grounder to short.  But a short hop throw was not handled cleanly by first baseman Dean Cosme and the runner was safe and run scored.  A single followed and another run scored before #34 got a strikeout to end the inning.

That is how the Spring Cyclones became the NHWBL Spring 2012 Champions!!!

#34 Leads Cyclones To Title Game With Gem

Jun 29, 2012 - #34 was not going to be denied.  Not this time.  Not after the way the game was lost the last time he faced the Zephyrs.  No, this time #34 was going to make sure the results were going to different.  And different they were.  Hard to be better than he was last time, #34 flat out DOMINATED the Spring Klein Zephyrs.  #34 struck out 7 batters, walked two and allowed his only hit to the Zephyrs in the 7th inning and allowed no runs.

#34 also got the scoring started for the Cyclones in the 3rd driving in Gene Kendall with an RBI single to right field.  From there, the Cyclones maintained the pressure on the Zephyrs scoring 5 runs in the 4th taking advantage of passed balls and other miscues to take a 7-0 lead.  The Cyclones would add another run in the 5th when Travis Dean lead off the inning with a double and came around to score on a Ryan Werda sacrifice fly.

The lone Zephyrs run came in the 8th inning after they loaded the bases and an error led to an unearned run, but it was their aggressiveness with one of their best hitters up that would end their night and season.  Justin Keith uncorked a wild pitch and the Zephyrs tried to score from third but the runner was cut down at the plate when Ryan Harris made an accurate throw to Justin at the plate.

Keith, #34 Come Up Big In 14-3 Playoff Win

Jun 27, 2012 - Last night the Spring Cyclones began their quest for another championship by hosting the Conroe Blue Beavers.  It was never close.  Nick Crow started on the mound for the Cyclones and while he only lasted 2 1/3 before he began to feel the effects of the 102 degree heat, he pitched well in the first 2 innings.  Crow shut down the Beavers in the first 2 but cramping set in and he became wild.  A couple of hits and 3 walks later, he had allowed 2 runs to score (1 earned) before being bailed out by his buddy Ryan Werda, who came in and promptly induced an inning ending double play.

Werda himself ran into some trouble a couple of innings later as he also got a little wild before settling back in and again inducing an inning ending double play to end his night with only 1 unearned run allowed. Justin Keith and Ryan Harris also pitched scoreless innings in relief.

But it was the offense led by Justin Keith and #34 that really stood out.  Justin set the tone early with a sharp single to lead off the bottom of the first.  #34 followed with a single of his own and it was on from there.  Ryan Harris walked and Jason Phelps hit a sharp grounder to 2nd that was misplayed by the second baseman to bring in the first run of the game.  2 batters later, Joe Banasik smacked a 2 RBI double to make it 3-0.

In the second inning it was more of the same.  Buddy Cochran reached on a walk and Justin Keith roped another single to bring up #34 with 2 runners on.  He didn't miss.  #34 hit a high deep fly that continued to carry right over the "Chain Link Monster" in left field for a 3 run homer and the rout was on.

Justin would add an RBI triple and another single for a 4-5 night while #34 added a sac-fly in the third for a 4 RBI night.  Up next on the road to Constellation Field, the Spring-Klein Zephyrs.

Offense Sputters Into Playoffs, Fall 4-1

Jun 25, 2012 - In the first 10 games of the season, the Cyclones scored 129 runs.  In the final two, they scored a total of 3 runs, 2 in game 11, 1 in game 12.  Where have all the big hits gone? Sounds like a song.  The offense has gone cold at probably the most inopportune time. 

Needing a win to secure 2nd place and a bye into the second round of the playoffs, the Cyclones started Mgr. Dean Cosme on the mound.  And for the most part Dean delivered.  Cosme ran into his first bit of trouble in the 3rd inning as a pair of singles was followed by a sacrifice to move the runners to 2nd and 3rd.  But a swinging bunt and a base running blunder kept the Zephyrs off the board.

In the 4th inning, The Cyclones got on the board with a sizzling double by Jason Phelps, who missed a HR by maybe an inch after hitting the top of the fence.  Travis Dean added an RBI single to get the Cyclones going.  Unfortunately, that was all they would get the rest of the game.

In the bottom half of the 4th, an error began the inning, Cosme got the next two batter to fly out before allowing a walk.  The next batter then got an RBI single on a gift call from the umpire on a ball that was clearly foul to everyone but the home plate umpire.  The next inning, Cosme created his own trouble once again by allowing an earned run on 3 consecutive singles.  He was helped out tremendously by a great catch by Keith Marion for the 2nd out and Keith threw to second for the double play when the Zephyrs base runner left early and called out trying to return to the bag.

In the 7th inning another two unearned runs were allowed to make the game 4-1 and finish Cosme's day. Although the Cyclones put some base runners on throughout the game, the Zephyrs were able to keep the Cyclones from getting anything going.

Passed Balls & Wild Pitches Doom Cyclones, Fall To Zephyrs 3-2

Jun 17, 2012 (Updated June 25, 2012) - A tightly played game came down to battery defense.  #34, pitching like a man possessed, kept the Zephyrs off balance all game, but in the 6th inning, it all came apart. #34 uncorked 2 wild pitches and battery mate Gene Kendall, who was having a tough day behind the plate catching #34's wicked pitches, along with being unable to handle some of #34's pitches in the dirt, allowed 2 passed balls in the inning to let the Zephyrs go ahead 2-1.

On the flip side, the Zephyrs kept the mighty Cyclones offense at bay even with only 8 fielders and actually 7 for the first 3 innings of the game.  The main offense of the day came from Justin Keith and Marc Love.  Keith smacked a defense aided triple in the first inning and scored in a Ryan Harris ground out. 

Down by one, Marc Love crushed a HR to right field to temporarily tie the game at 2 in the 7th.  In the top of the 8th, the Cyclones allowed the eventual winning run to score from second on a ground ball up the middle that SS Nick Crow kept in the infield but couldn't handle cleanly.  The Zephyrs runner kept running and was able to score the eventual winning run.  The Cyclones mounted a comeback attempt in the bottom of the 8thwith Byron Lewis and Keith Marion both getting singles to keep the inning alive and with an error by the pitcher, almost were given the chance to score, when the ball rolled toward the dugout door, but instead of going in, hit about a foot to the right.  Had the ball entered the dugout, it would have given the Cyclones a walk-off error win.  But it wasn't meant to be.

Cyclones Reel In Sharks, Win 15-2

Jun 11, 2012 - Inspired by NY Mets LHP Johan Santana, Mgr. Dean Cosme attempted to throw a no-hitter vs. the Sharks.  For 2 innings, he was on his was.  The perfect game was gone in the first when he walked the third batter he faced.  But it all came to an end in the 3rd inning when a blooper to left fell in for a hit.  That was OK though.  Cosme would have to settle for a win instead.  Oh well.

The win came courtesy of the regular cast of characters.  Names like Love, Keith, Harris, #34.  Now you can add Phillips to that list of regulars that continue to impress this season.  Rookie Ryan Phillips smacked his third triple of the season, tying Marc Love's record of 3 set only last season.  Marc Love had another record setting day as well as he drove in 7 RBI, breaking Jason Phelps' & Justin Keith's record of 6 in one game.  Justin Keith had just tied the record earlier this season. 

Justin Keith continued his best season as a Cyclone going 3-3, 1 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB and 1 SB.  Ryan Harris continued his hot streak as well, collecting another 3 hits and 2 RBI.

Blaze, Cyclones Battle To 3-3 Tie

Jun 3, 2012 - The much anticipated rematch of opening day lived up to the hype.  The Bayou Blaze with their fierce pitching and the Spring Cyclones with their mighty bats. Which one was going to give?  The answer: neither.  The Blaze did what they do best and that's mow down the competition, striking out 12 Cyclones.  But the Cyclones did what they do best as well and that's hit for power.

The Blaze jumped on starting pitcher #34 immediately from the start.  With the first 5 batters reaching base on singles, the Blaze plated 3 runs before #34 was able to start getting outs and get into a groove.  From their the Blaze basically went silent.  #34 pitched 6 innings in all and stuck out 5.  It wasn't until the 7th and final inning that the Blaze posed any potential threat to score. 

After relieving #34, Ryan Werda came into the game and got the first out.  But suddenly he found himself in trouble.  After giving up a double, Ryan promptly hit the next batter.  A wild pitch moved them over to 2nd and 3rd.  At that point, Jason Phelps, who was managing the game, intentionally walked the next batter to set up the double play.  Although it's not the double play the Cyclones were looking for, the next batter flew out to right field for the potential winning sacrifice, but Buddy Cochran unleashed a rocket to home plate that threw out the tagging runner by several steps for the double play and ending the game at 3-3.

The biggest threat the Cyclones mounted came in the 3rd inning as newcomer Vince Cefalu drew a walk.  Rookie Ryan Phillips then laced an RBI triple to get the Cyclones on the board.  #34 followed with a sac-fly, drawing the Cyclones within a run of the Blaze.  Then Marc Love roped a double, followed by an RBI single by Jason Phelps to tie the game at 3, where the game finally stood.

Down 8-0, Phelps Powers Cyclones Past Beavers, Win 13-11

May 25, 2012 - Jason Phelps was the second player on the Cyclones this season to have "a game."  First was Ryan Harris back on April 1.  Now comes Jason.  When Jason hit his first HR nearly 3 weeks ago, it had been almost a year since he had hit one.  But he didn't have to wait that long to get his next one or the one after that.  For this was Jason's game.  In the bottom of the 3rd inning with the Cyclones trailing 8-2, Jason hit a moon shot into the Tomball night to make it 8-4. 

Two innings later after Dean Cosme gave up another 3 runs, Jason hit another 2-run blast over the left field "Chain-Link Monster" to make it 11-6.  In his next at-bat, Jason launched another blast to left field, only to see the "Monster" contain it and he would have to settle for a double.  One inning later, with the opponent's left fielder playing a couple of steps in front of the fence, Jason this time "blooped" a hit in front of the left fielder and watched it bounce over his head for another double and his 5th RBI of the game.

Speaking of Ryan Harris, he just continued his dominating season by going 4-5 with a double, 3 runs and 4 RBI including the game tying and go ahead runs.  Ryan's still having "a season" so far.

Pitching wise, Justin Keith came up big as he shut down the Blue Beavers after they manhandled Dean Cosme for 11 runs (9 earned).  Justin came on in the 6th inning to promptly halt the Beavers in their tracks.  Cosme pitched very poorly after back-to-back quality starts.

#34 Dominates 45's, Cyclones Win 11-3

May 20, 2012 - Ho hum...just another 10 strikeout, 1 hit performance by #34.  Wait a minute.  That's ho-hum? Well it almost seems that way.  #34 allowed only 1 hit while striking out 10 Colt 45's over 6 innings on Saturday. Just another chapter in the oddity called the Spring 2012 Season. 

Offensively, the Cyclones continued to scored at a torrid pace.  Leading off the second inning, Jason Phelps continued to distance himself from his early season slump and notched another hit to get the inning started.  After loading the bases, the Cyclones struck out twice before newly acquired rookie Gene Kendall laced a 2-out, 2-run double to left center to begin the days scoring. And the rout was on.  All in all, the Cyclones scored 7 2 out runs in the second inning and added 4 more during the rest of the game to finish off the Colt 45's 11-3.

Back to the oddity that is the Spring 2012 Season.  Since the beginning of the season, the Cyclones have had roster issues that can drive any manager crazy.  From broken commitments, to injuries, to scheduling conflicts it's been a struggle to get everyone on the field at one time.  3 out of the last 4 games have been played with only 9 players showing up to the game.  But the oddity has been that each game has really had different guys stepping up and leading the team to victory.  This game it was the newcomer Gene hitting a double in his first at-bat for the Cyclones and #34 with his dominating pitching.  Last game it was Jason and Travis Dean driving in 3 RBI each with Dean Cosme pitching 8 innings to maintain the best on-field defense.  It just seems as though each game has a different person stand out and take charge.

Will it continue in such a fashion?  In the end, what matters most is that team continues to win regardless of the situation and hopefully in the end, the Cyclones are the last team standing.

What A Difference A Season Makes

May 6, 2012 - There are days when a player goes strolling to the batter's box with his team knowing full well he will deliver another hit, another RBI or maybe the knockout blow to put the game out of reach.  That is often times referred to as "having a game".  So and so is having a game!  Ryan Harris had one a month ago against the Tomball Barons.  For the most part, he had another one yesterday again against the Barons.  In two games facing the Barons, Ryan is 9 for 10 with 4 doubles, 7 RBI, 4 runs scored, 2 walks and a stolen base.

But Ryan isn't just "having a game."  At the mid way point of the schedule, he's "having a season."  Harris leads the team in batting (.609), hits (14), doubles (4) and stolen bases (5).  After taking a full season off, Ryan has come back with a vengeance.  There was a rookie by the name of Marc Love whom just least season had himself a "season."  While what Marc did last season was flat out astonishing, what Ryan is doing this season is almost as impressive and we're only half way though.

Barons No Match for Cyclones

May 6, 2012 - On any given week one player will be the leader of the team.  It's very cliché to say it was a team effort or a team win.  But on days like the one the Cyclones had yesterday, you can truly say, it was a team effort.  The Cyclones defeated the Tomball Barons 16-6.  Since the Cyclones only had 9 players show for this game, it meant everyone batted and there were no substitutions.  With that said, everyone in the lineup yesterday had at least 1 hit, reached base safely at least twice, scored at least once and 8 out of 9 players had at least 1 RBI.  That my friends is a complete team effort.  No one was left out.  No one didn't do their part.  No one could say they didn't feel as though they contributed.

Ryan Harris continued his strong season for the Cyclones by reaching base 5 out of 6 times including 3 hits and a pair of RBI.  Jason Phelps launched a shot to near dead center field for his first HR in nearly a year and Dean Cosme got hit by a pitch for the first time since playing for the Miami-Dade Mets in the Fall 2005 season.  Rookie Ryan Phillips continues to impress with another 2 hits, another 3 runs scored and 2 base on balls to go along with his solid defense in left field.

Cyclones Pound Blue Beavers 17-0

April 28, 2012 - The call came in shortly before 11:30am this morning.  It was #34 letting Mgr. Dean Cosme know to count him in to play today even though it may only be for half the game.
     "Can you pitch?" Cosme asked.
     "Sure, if you need me to" replied #34.
And so it was that #34 would start today's game against the Blue Beavers.  What a start it was.  #34 continued his stellar spring season throwing 5 shutout innings while striking out 6, allowing 4 hits and walking none.  After 5 innings he was lifted for reliever Ryan Werda who continued the shutout while giving up only one walk.

Offensively, the Cyclones started slow but the momentum began to build in the 4th inning as Jason Phelps broke out of his slump with a double to left that plated a run and from there the run parade began.  Jason would drive in two more on consecutive singles while Travis Dean, showing no signs of a sophomore slump, ripped a 2-run HR off the left field foul pole in the 5th. Overall, Travis reached base all 5 plate appearances and score 4 times.

Other highlights included Ryan Werda also breaking his slump and lacing a 2 run double in the 4th while newcomer Byron Lewis drove in 2 runs in his Cyclones debut.  Congratulations Byron.

#34, Cochran Lead Cyclones Past Sharks 4-1

April 16, 2012 - #34 accepted his assignment as though he were part of Mission Impossible.  Pitch enough innings and get enough offense to qualify for the win.  #34 not only pitched 6 innings, but he tossed a dominating six innings at that.  #34 struck out 11 batters while allowing only 3 hits and 1 walk.  The run he allowed was unearned as 3 consecutive infield errors allowed the run to score temporarily giving the Conroe Sharks a 1-0 lead.

The lead would only last a half innings as the Cyclones rallied in the bottom of the 5th as Fall 2011 MVP Marc Love, making his return to the lineup, lead off with a single followed by a walk by #34.  Newcomer Buddy Cochran drove an opposite field double into right field to plate Love and #34 and give the Cyclones a 2-1 lead.  A pass ball and a balk later, the Cyclones led 3-1.  Travis Dean hit a long, high double to center field that nearly was a home run to drive in Justin Keith to make it 4-1.

Dean Cosme pitched 2 scoreless innings and Ryan Harris earned the save with a scoreless 9th inning.

Record Setting Day No Joke, Cyclones Win 33-12

April 2, 2012 - 33-12.  No it wasn't a football game.  And yes it's real.  This is not a misprint or an April Fool's Joke.  It was a real game played on All Fools Day 2012.  Looking to make last week's performance seem like an anomaly, the Cyclones wanted to get off to a quick start.  Does 14 runs in the first inning qualify as a quick start?

Ryan Harris led the "Charge of the Run Brigade" by going a 6 for 6, smacking 3 doubles, scoring thrice and driving in 5 RBI.  The 6 hits and 3 doubles are new team records for hits and doubles in a game.  Ryan was tied with 7 others for the previous record of 4 hits in a game.

Also tying records during the game were Justin Keith (6 RBI), and Dean Cosme and newcomer Ryan Phillips, both of which tied the record for RUNS in a game with 5.  This was also the first time that a Dean Cosme led team scored 30 or more runs in a game.  Congratulations to all on a record setting day!!!

Defensively, there are still some question marks, but most of those are because the team has yet to play a game at full capacity.  Marc Love, last season's team MVP has yet to play, Joe Banasik, the starting LF for the Cyclones has only played a couple innings in the field.  That's 2/3 of our regular outfield that still hasn't played together this season.  After the holiday passes the regular season will be in full swing and so will the Cyclones' bats.  Lookout!!!

Upstart Blaze Embarrass Cyclones

March 25, 2012 - 4 months is quite a long time in the world of baseball.  And the older one gets the longer 4 months actually is.  The Spring Cyclones were completely inactive for 4 months.  Having embarrassed themselves by forfeiting out of the playoffs last season, the Spring 2012 season began rather ominously as an unprepared and quite "rusty" Cyclones team took the field against the "expansion" Bayou Blaze.

Called upon on short notice, Ryan Werda took the mound for the Cyclones and quickly retired the first batter with a strikeout.  From there it quickly went in another direction.  For the Cyclones, it was a wake up call that additional practice was needed defensively and offensively.  Gloves were hard from a long winter's non-use.  Bats were cold from lack of use.  Shoulders were rusty from baseball atrophy.  It wasn't a pretty sight. 

As impressive as the Blaze may have been, the Cyclones were just not ready.  But the team makes no excuses.  After staring a 16-2 loss in the face, the Cyclones will regroup and return with a fury of a Category 5 Storm.