Erik Green has become a pivotal player in the Bleu Ballers roster.  After holding for the beginning of the season, and sporadically showing up to games towards the end, Green has come to terms with the Bleu Ballers management and has signed a one year contract agreement, which both parties involved are relieved to have out of the way.  In classic Erik Green fashion, betting 4th in the lineup, Erik went 3 for 3 today including 2 home runs a single and a total of 5 RBIs.

Green’s power though, was not enough to ward off the determined and destined S&V Construction.  After falling behind in the top of the first, by 3 runs, S&V bounced back with 1 run of their own, followed by a 1-2-3 defensive 2nd inning.  Adding another run in each of the next two innings, S&V had completed their mid-game comeback, bringing themselves and their fans back into the belief that they would win this game.  The Bleu Ballers were up to the challenge, adding a 4th inning run, off of a Joe Cleary single that scored Frank Green from 2nd.

Members from the Scorgasms, were on hand today, cheering on the Bleu Ballers.  They were quickly quieted in the 5th inning when the heart of the S&V order drove in 2 runs to take their first lead of the game 5-4.  A single by Renee Basile, a clutch double by player/coach Danny Migliorisi, and a second moonshot of the day by Erik Green, accounted for 3 more runs and the games 5th lead change.  Fans went wild, roosters were crowing, and the cows were spinning circles in the pastures, Bleu Ballers were leading by 2 heading into the bottom of the 6th which is where it all went down hill.  A defensive change brought Kara Scandaglia into right field and Ant Arcuri to first, replacing Michele Williams and AJ Basile respectively.  With this change, the Bleu Ballers defense failed Ice Box and lead to a heartbreaking, unearned, walk-off error.

Every fairytale must come to an end, and although this Cinderella story didn’t end with a glass slipper mystery solved and a ‘Happily Ever After’, the Bleu Ballers wont let this disappointment negatively effect them in the upcoming Labor Day Tournament, or the following Fall Season.  Instead, this will leave them hungry next season for the title.

As a Bleu Ballers tradition, the following awards will be presented in the form of praise and honor from manager Danny Migliorisi.

• Cy Young Award – Renee Basile – As the Bleu Ballers progressed through the season, Basile played an important role atop the coveted pitchers mound.  Renee worked this team from the bottom of barrel to the highest possible plateau.  With Renee in the organization, the Ballers will never be taken lightly again…not to mention shes got a great behind.
• Gold Glove Award – Frank Arcuri – Although Arcuri has been known for some wild tosses to first, at shortstop Frank has beenthe most defensively sound player on the squad all season long.  Frank has some room for improvements in the batters box but expect him to explode in the coming seasons…all over your face.
• Silver Slugger Award – Frank Green – Green had a difficult time at the plate in the Southeastern Division West Northern Championship game, but he has attributed his strength to the team in many past plate appearances.  Frank has knocked in, a team leading, 22 RBIs this season.  Frankie “The Wolf” Green plans to work on his fielding abilities and add more power to the lineup next season.
• Conn Smythe Award – Erik Green – The Conn Smythe award is given to the player showing the most value to a single team throughout the playoffs. Having gone 3-3 with 5 RBIs and 2 home runs, there is no doubt that Erik Green is deserving of the award.  Having put his differences aside, Erik has agreed to terms with the Bleu Ballers for a 1 year extension and will join the 12-man roster for the fall season.

Congratulations to the above winners, and thank you to all who made it out to the games this season.  Stay tuned on BleuBallers.com for updates on Applebees Team Trivia Challenge, tournament results, and the Fall Season warmup reports.

The bracket breakdown may be a bit confusing to some, so I will make it as simple as possible below:

Since the Bleu Ballers won (via forfeit) in the first round, and Space Cadets defeated Deuces Wild, Bleu Ballers become the top ranked seed and enter the weekend as the top team. If the Ballers beat SNV Construction and Space Cadets beats Victorious Secret in the American Southeastern Division West Northern, then the Bleu Ballers go to the LLLCC Championship against the Cadets, however, if Victorious Secrets can upset Space Cadets while the Ballers beat SNV, then the Ballers would play Victorious Secrets.  In another scenario, if the Bleu Ballers win and the American Southeastern Division West Northern Championship ends in a tie due to inclimate weather conditions, SC and Victorious will compete in a blind choice round robin. And if no clear winner emerges from all of this, a two-man sack race will be held on consecutive Sundays until a champion can be crowned.

Fairly simple, right? LETS GO BLEU BALLERS!

Gametime: 2:00pm Sunday.

The red shirted-big mouths called out Ballers ace, Renee Basile.  Coming in for relief in the second inning, Renee was having a hard time getting outs as her defense failed her similar to the way they failed starting pitcher Erik Green.  Reporters asked Renee how she felt after the game and how she would bounce back from a less than stellar performance in next weeks championship series, here’s what she had to say:

“I’m not commenting on this, ’cause you’re just gonna make up your own shit anyway” – Renee Basile

There seems to be a conflict between Renee and the rest of the team.  In the midst of a team trivia competition, Renee referred to her fellow teammates as “friends“.  Most would think that this is a heartfelt remark, full of appreciation for her new teammates [especially Danny], but center fielder, Frank Green, took offense to this remark.

“Bleu Ballers are family, not friends!” – Frank Green

Management assures the media that Renee will make a public apology to Green and the rest of the Bleu Ballers, let’s just see if this effects the Ballers in next weeks potential double header, on their quest to win the Lord Larry Lombardi Commissioners Cup.

In other news, the Bleu Ballers trivia streak comes to an end, as the team finished third in this weeks Applebees Team Trivia Contest.

The Bleu Ballers will take the field on Sunday at 3:30 pm at South Beach Psych, hosting once again the Lost Angels.  The Ballers have been on cruise control since mid June going 6-1 and barely breaking a sweat.  Many critics think that the team may be rusty heading into the off season but player/manager, Danny Migliorisi, doesn’t seem to agree.

“We know its been almost too easy getting to this point thus far, but that doesn’t mean we’ll try any less.  We are the best team in this league, and we WILL win this championship.  Ladies and gentleman, prepare to embark on a journey of a lifetime, a dynasty, for the Bleu Ballers will conquer all!”  - Danny Migliorisi

When it comes to heart, the Bleu Ballers have got the biggest, when it comes to muscle, the Bleu Ballers are the strongest, and when it comes skill, the Bleu Ballers surely have the most.  Migliorisi’s guarantee is not just a clever tactic used to instill fear in the opponents.  No, this guarantee is backed by solid facts.

In game 1 of the season, it looked as if the Bleu Ballers were going to be at the bottom of the standings.  Losing 18-0 to Deuces Wild, bookies were writing them off as a 63-1 long shot to win this years Lord Larry Lombardi Commissioners Ball Trophy, but shortly after that, the teamed turned it all around and are now the 2-1 favorites to win it all.  Much of the success through the season is attributed to ace pitcher Renee Basile, who came out to the mound 3 games into the season and earned her role in the 1-man starting rotation.  Additionally, Natalie Ross has been swinging the bat much better than her stint with League of Adonis last year, increasing her OBP 10-fold.  New comers, Michele Williams and Kara Scandaglia have also attributed to great defense, tag teaming in the outfield.

All-in-all it has been a wonderful inaugural season for the Bleu Ballers, but now it’s time to get down to business.  Time to bring home the bacon.  Let’s Go Bleu Ballers!

Names like John Adams, Albert Einstein, Socrates, and so on, were more relevant to the brains that took part in the Bleu Ballers second Applebees trivia night victory.  This weeks prize was kind of weak, a $50 Apple-cash card, which made it a lot more affordable to drink, eat, and celebrate AJ’s birthday.

If there are any trivia experts out there, wishing to dethrone the Bleu Ballers as champions, we welcome the competition.  Bring your team down and try your luck.  Every Sunday at the Staten Island Mall Applebees, 7:00 sharp!

Following a team practice this Sunday, there was some confrontation between the Bleu Ballers and two unknown teams.  It seemed as though the Ballers batting practice was far too explosive for the likings of the lesser athletes at the other end of the field.  When asked about this weeks post game brawl, heres what Renee had to say “softball brings out the best in people..50 steroid abusers/old men vs 7 bleu ballers, we couldve done real damage, we let them off easy.”  The whole scuffle was started when centerfielder, Michael Clark Duncan, attacked Joe Egan in a fit of roid-rage, claiming that Egan summoned the flying softballs upon the centerfielders skull. In the post game conference, with a smile on his face, Joe Egan proclaimed “I love getting into softball fights”.

More importantly, the playoffs will begin next Sunday, and hopefully the Bleu Ballers will be able to finally get back onto the field and show the island why they are the favorites to win this summers Fun Leagues Championship!

Check back later this week for more information on the playoff game.

Captain and acting player/manager of the Ballers, Danny Migliorisi, guarantees victory this weekend as well as throughout the playoffs.  “It will take more than my pep talks and guarantees.  We’ll need a strong showing from [Joe] Cleary, as well as Frank Arcuri and Frank Green” – Migliorisi.  Aside from the aforementioned key players, the Bleu Ballers will need Anthony Arcuri to make some big plays at first, something he hasn’t been able to do all season.

First pitch is scheduled for 12:30pm, Sunday August 8th.  Renee Basile will be making her 6th consecutive start, on the mound for the Ballers, seeking out her 7th win of the season.

Scoring a grand total of 117 points of a possible 125, Frank Green, Frank Arcuri, Natalie Ross, and DannyMigliorisi represented the Ballers in grand fashion, finishing in first place of the 12 teams competing.  As a result of this victory, they were awarded a sweet New York Yankees fold-up tailgate chair/cooler set.

If you are interested in partaking in future trivia nights, join the rest of the team at the Staten Island Mall Applebees location every Sunday at 7:00pm.

Congratulations team!

Well this is it, it’s here, the Bleu Ballers Softball Organization’s official website.  Beginning with the Fall 2010 Fun Leagues co-ed Sunday Softball season, all your Bleu Ballers stats, news, player bios, and more can be found here at BleuBallers.com!

The site is still in development stages but should be completed by the start of the season, September 12th.  Keep a lookout for some interesting updates in store for the site.

“That game was all Cliff Lee,” Young said. “You can’t say enough about the job he did. Their starting pitcher threw the ball really well, but Cliff dealt for nine innings.”

The Rangers just needed 10 innings to pull it out as Cruz’s home run off Athletics reliever Michael Wuertz gave Texas a 3-1 victory before 28,124 fans at the Ballpark. The Rangers have now won nine of 12 games since the All-Star break.

“That one was great, considering the way we were playing and the way Cliff is throwing the ball,” Cruz said. “He didn’t get the win, but we got on top — that’s the most important thing.”

Lee didn’t get the victory. Closer Neftali Feliz picked it up with a scoreless 10th, but Lee still had a night to remember in allowing just one unearned run on five hits over nine innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out 13.