Team Insights after six games

A brand new season of church softball has begun, and that means that I'm back at work calling Covenant softball games for my first full season!  Covenant began the season on May 17 in dominating fashion by getting two mercy rule wins at the expense of Neshannock Alliance, with Eric Bombeck pitching a no-hitter in game one.

On May 19, Covenant got its first major test of the young campaign, as First Assembly touted their new claims from Grace Chapel Black in the dispersal draft, among them pitcher Geri Truog, the best female pitcher the league has to offer.  But Covenant passed the test with flying colors, coming from behind in game one to win 11-9 with Jeff Newell's 3-run home run being the turning point of the game.  Covenant then went on to win game two by the score of 14-6.

With First Assembly behind them, all attention turned to the showdown from yesterday between Covenant and reigning league champion Lebanon B, who put a 30-game win streak dating back to the beginning of last season on the line.  The game was moved from First Assembly Field to Wheatland Field due to a conflict with First Assembly practice.  In game one, Covenant only trailed once, but that came before they even came to bat.  Thankfully, Lebanon B scored only one measly run.  Covenant would end Lebanon B's winning streak by winning game one by the score of 10-7.  Game two was a slugfest, with Covenant winning by the score of 12-9, holding off a late rally by Lebanon B, who now has a two-game losing streak.

The above photo is yours truly in action during the opening doubleheader against Neshannock Alliance at First Assembly Field.  Now, all game podcasts can be found on Soundcloud!  Just log onto www.soundcloud.com and query Covenant Sharon softball and you can access all the podcasts as the season goes along!

Now that I have given team insights on the young campaign (Covenant is now 6-0 to start the season), I shall give some individual insights after six games.  Jordan "Puppy" Davis has played in one game as a catcher, but he has not yet had an at-bat.  Regular catcher Julie Norris is mired in an early season slump and she is still pressing on.  If the rules had been changed before the season began to allow girls in the league to use a girls' bat, then her numbers would not be what they are.  Keep in mind during last season's tournament that Norris had a .333 batting average with two RBIs.  There is no question that the stars of this squad are Jeff Newell, Tay Robinson, Matt Durisko, Dan Vanderslice, and Gray MacKenzie.  Key contributions have come from Ryan Zippie, Randel Veccia and Sean Zippie.  Eric Bombeck, David Dalessandro and Bob Mariotti have been the trio of workhorses on the mound for Covenant, sparking the squad to its six wins while along the way, showing no signs of stopping their momentum.  This team has bought into their head coach Jim Bombeck's system emphasizing speed.  This is one reason why this team is dubbed "TS4" because it's the fourth consecutive year that the team has been dubbed "Team Speed".

The next doubleheader on June 2 will see Covenant take to the road for the first time in the young campaign as they travel to White Chapel Field to take on a New Wilmington team that finished sixth in the league standings last year and lost to New Life in the losers bracket quarterfinals in the 2015 tournament.  If the weather permits, then before the week is out, I will take a drive to White Chapel Field to scout out the field for myself.  This is the first of a stretch of six out of the next seven matchups will be on the road.  They will square off against rival St. John's at C.O.G. on June 7 before returning to First Assembly Field on June 9 to play last season's league doormats, Grace Chapel Burgundy.  They return to White Chapel Field on June 14 to play New Life (this is the doubleheader that I am slated to miss due to a volunteer commitment at historic Oakmont Country Club for the U.S. Open golf tournament).  I will return for a June 21 doubleheader at Lackawannock Park against Bethany.  On June 23, Covenant travels to Jefferson Township Field to play Grace Chapel Blue.  Wheatland Field will be the site for the June 30 doubleheader against Lebanon C.

Those are the Covenant Sharon softball team insights after six games.  Until next time, farewell and fair balls.

How I became a better podcaster thanks to Lanny Frattare

Last June, when I got banned for two games due to using choice language in a podcast, I sought the advice of Lanny Frattare (yes, the former Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster; yes, the host of the Mercer County Hall of Fame; yes, the professor at Waynesburg University) on how I can become a better podcaster.  Lanny, who is pictured below, gave me these eight tips:

 

 

1. Baseball and softball are the most difficult sports to broadcast for.  You need to prepare for at least four hours prior to the games.  85% of a broadcast's success is determined before the broadcast even begins.
2. Cursing has no place in any broadcast.
3. During the games, call the plays that are occurring on the field.
4. Keep track of the score and the inning.
5. Keep your audience updated with how the game got to certain points during the games.  Lanny recommends recaps during the third and sixth innings.
6. Involve the audience of the storyline during the games.  If it is the first games for both teams, recap what happened to the teams last season.  If it's a midseason or a late season game, are there first place implications?  Are the two teams cellar dwellers?  If it's the tournament, remind the audience what is at stake for both teams (advancement in the tournament, a spot in the finals, e.g.)
7. Keep score during the games.
8. And finally, try to weave stories into your broadcasts, but do not let them get away from the action taking place on the field.  You are not Bob Prince, never have been and never will be.  Don't try to emulate Prince or Frattare or Greg Brown.  Do it your way.  (Don't forget that Frank Sinatra put it to music!)

 

I keep a page with these tips in my media guide.

 

Until next time, farewell and fair balls.

State of the Team

Before practices even began, Jason Minter, who had a .944 OPS (on base percentage plus slugging percentage) in the 2015 tournament, was called by our Lord and Savior to lead His people in McDonough, Georgia.  It was also announced that Gina Riel would not be returning as team manager for 2016 following her graduation from Grove City College.

Recently, I found out that elder statesman Tom Phillips, who was part of the pitching rotation last season, would not be returning to the team.  This is a move that infuses more of a youth movement into the team.  Although we lost Minter, Riel and Phillips, we did gain four new players in Jacob Albright, Jeremy McNeill, Robert Mort and Ethan Davis (no relation to Jordan Davis, pictured below in action against New Wilmington last July).

 

 

I was at Panera for lunch on Wednesday before work and while I was waiting to enjoy a bowl of broccoli cheddar soup, I caught sight of Jordan Davis, but I don't know if he recognized me or not.

 

I have not seen a game schedule yet, but as soon as I see the schedule posted, I will input that information into my media guide which will go into a three-ring binder that I purchased recently for that purpose.

 

For those of you who are seeing these posts for the first time, you may be asking yourselves:  "You are giving great insight to this church softball team; but who are you and why are you doing this?"

 

Good question!

 

 

 

My name is Michael T. Mondak.  Although I am a member of Church of Notre Dame in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, I am the "Voice of Covenant Softball".  I always live for the period between mid-May and mid-July because that's when I take on my role as a church softball podcaster.  In the coming weeks and months, I will give insight to this team, post game audio footage, and even give some statistics on a periodic basis!  Everyone has or has had a mentor, and I have been blessed to have many of them.  When it comes to my role as the "Voice of Covenant Softball", my mentor is the former Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster Lanny Frattare, who is a professor at Waynesburg University.  I will post in the future what Lanny tells his students in each of his classes.

 

Until next time, farewell and fair balls.