Bounding to the Top

By Merimas Tussock

BYWATER - They say a change is as good as rest, and Bywater proved the point this week with a 4-2 romp on the road, putting them at the top of the Hobbit Division. Grikak Dryadpoker reminded the league that the Bounders aren't just a hitting team with an ERA of 1.13 for the week and a shutout in one of his two victories, earning him the esteemed Shire Conference Player of the Week award. Gorodoc Golleon also silenced his critics by winning the Shire Conference Pitcher of the Month award, too, thanks to a 1.48 ERA and a 3-0 record this season.

Gwulas Gream started the week badly after being ejected during the 8-2 win over Rivendell, and Nifur Ringbearer followed a couple of games later. Hitting Coach Jefferson Catoe said, "The ump was a joke! The guy had to play to the home crowd and kept calling strikes! Even my grandma could see they were balls. I wanted to wrap a bat 'round his neck."

Having won the first game 8-2 Catoe wasn't the only person wondering what happened as the Bounders lost the next two games 2-6 and 0-2, totalling a 2-8 defeat. The team could still see the light side of matters when Gream put in his best performance of the week the day after his ejection; he was heard to joke that "if getting thrown out helps my game this much I'll try it more often."

Luckily the team calmed down during the journey to Moria and managed to avoid further troubles and managed a run of great games including Nudak Gnomechewer striking out 11 Miners in the first game and Grikak Dryadpoker's shutout in the last. The second game was more about reminding everyone how Bywater have earnt the highest batting average in the league and the second highest run total by knocking in 11 runs including 3 homers.

Not all the action happened in the ballparks this week though with star left-fielder Haleogrin Grolas taking the short trip down the road to set up home in the Old Forest and taking budding reliever Woprak Trollraper with him. Making the return trip were hot young stars Pork Halflingbasher and Sortai Guril who both have a good future ahead of them and should bolster the outfield, although both need a little more experience before they're ready for the majors.

Bywater also picked up pitchers Erirag Bugsmasher and Lawrence Baize; both add a new depth to the starting rotation and should keep the established guys on their toes after the slow start this season. When asked how Halflingbasher was settling in his coach David Mcquaid said, "He was upset that Tom [Bombadil] traded him and insisted on playing at AAA, which he's not quite ready for. But he's young, and we thought it best that he learns from his mistakes. Now he's settled a bit and calmed down, he's happy to spend a bit more time at AA."

Leonard Roderick, who will be taking Pork under his wing from next week, was enthusiastic about the newcomer. "He's a great asset and we're happy to have him onboard. All that fuss about his family and the name just distracted from the potential the kid has. Obviously it's upset a few of the fans but we've bashed many halflings in the diamond before, and Pork looks like the orc for us. Once he remembers what our uniform looks like, there shouldn't be any problems. Until then our mages have made sure there shouldn't be any accidents."

Posted at October 2, 2003 11:14 AM | more from Bywater