Game 3 Ninjas 20 - Crackers 13

Suwanee, GA -- The jokes started flying as the Ninja's piled up runs in the fifth and sixth innings Sunday. "I'd rather get hit by the ball than hit the ball" exclaimed Wade Beacham from center field. The comment by Beacham might be deserving, as an Atlanta Cracker was so desperate to get on base, he refused to dodge a 60 mph curve ball from Nicholson and was granted first base. Call it trash talk if you like, but the Cracker deserved the sly comment.

It was one fun day for the Ninja's at the Atlanta Crackers swanky field. After going down by 6 runs in the first two innings for the second straight week, the Ninja's fought back hard and without mercy. Nick Goldberg hit a two run homer in 5th inning that traveled 390 feet over the center field wall. That set the bar for the Ninja's, allowing them to coast to a 20-13 win over the Atlanta Crackers.

"I had to make up for my base running mistake earlier in the game" said Goldberg trotting to the dugout as he passed home plate. Goldberg not only belted a home run, but had clutch hits throughout the game, finishing the day 3-for-5 with three RBI's and three runs.

Starting pitcher Angus Nicholson gave up eight runs in 2 innings for the Ninja's who are now 2-0. "I didn't make my pitches when I needed" Nicholson said. Although hit well, Nicholson who relies on good defense didn't get much help from his fielders allowing only four earned runs. "You should have been out of those innings much earlier. We didn't help you" Iain White said.

Not willing to fall behind any further, JP Lowen took over duties on the mound. How many languages can "wide eyed" be spoken in? Not enough to remove the stains from the Crackers pants. The first pitch hissed past the batter popping the catchers mitt like a 9mm in the projects. The Crackers hadn't seen a fast ball like this before. Second pitch, a curve ball, buckling the knees like a drunk horse. Batter looks to the dugout, with a dazed look, maybe he's looking for his mom, hoping to find comfort in facing the next pitch. Third pitch, fast ball! Have a seat sir, the bench is getting cold.

It didn't stop there. JP went on to pitch 5 innings, only surrendering two runs and striking out ten of nineteen batters. The game was closed out by Adam Beacham only surrendering three runs (two unearned) in two innings and striking out four. This performance gave the Ninja's time to catch up and take the lead. Seeing a two RBI in the park home run by Tony Lajoe, and a bases loaded triple by Adam Beacham. The Ninja's are now 2-0 and will face the 2-0 Cherokee Dragons next week. Game time - Sunday April 26th, 12:15 at Riverwood High School.

Game Notes -
The Ninja's continue their success even after being moved to the "A" league (premier league) of the Atlanta MSBL. The Ninja's are now 17-2 since the beginning of last season. Chris Hanney did NOT go yard this game. Watching Lajoe leg out a in the park home run was a treat....at least you're faster than me. Wade's one liners from center field and in the dugout kept the team loose all game. Erin Lacy had good a bats and a great bunt....... we forgive him for his base running in the third inning, you too Goldberg. Iain has a .1000 on base percentage for the season, please recognize him for this.

Game MVP's - Nick Goldberg, JP Lowen, and Tony Lajoe

Game 2 Ninjas 11 - Clowns 7

Atlanta -- Disapointed in a week 1 Opening Day rainout Ninja manager Matt Jackson celebrates week two Opening Day almost like Christmas, complete with a big dinner and wine the night before. This year's festivities included some "pretty optimistic" talk that he joked may only have been partly caused by the wine. This will be a different league the Ninja baseball club opens up the 2009 season with. Starting the 2009 campaign against the co-champion Atlanta Clowns came with some concern.

Maybe the expectations aren't so far-fetched.The Ninja's can hit and picked up some great players in the off season. And if they keep pitching the way Ben Collinger and Angus Nicholson did in a 11-7 opening victory over the Atlanta Clowns on Sunday, this could finally be their championship season.

Collinger allowed 4 runs, 1 earned over 3 innings in his Ninja Debut. The Ninja's didn't start off hot at the plate, only scoring 1 run in the first 6 innings.

Nicholson taking over duties on the mound allowed 3 runs in the 4th inning, but sealed the game by holding the Clowns scoreless for 5 2/3 innings. Adam Beacham took over in the bottom of the 9th to pitch a 1/3 of an inning striking out the last batter on a swinging strike out that was snow coned by the catcher.

The Ninja's trailed by 6 runs leading into the 7th inning, but started off hot with a Adam Beacham's lead off single. With a runner on, Chris Hanney who waked his previous two at bats belted a 390 foot 2 run homer with no outs to earn his Ninja jersey, that put the Ninja's within 4 . Getting the spark the Ninja's had been looking for, Nicholson followed with a single up the middle. The hits didn't stop until the Ninja's had a tie ball game.

The addition of Hanney in the offseason who is technically a pitcher proved to be a big one. "The funny thing is, the last time I had a hit, it was a home run" as Hanney smiled. Hanney filled the spot of an injured Mike Licata and it couldn't have worked out any better.

The Clowns and Ninja's followed the 7th inning with a quick 1,2,3, 8th. The 9th inning opened up on a differnet note. With Adam Beacham leading off the inning again, Adam belted a triple into the right field gap. After a Tyler Phillips strikeout, the Beachams kept the momentum in the family with a Wade Beacham double down the right field line to drive in his cousin Adam. Tony Lajoe followed up with a single to drive in Wade. The Ninja's ended up scoring 4 run to go up 11-7 on the Clowns.

Approaching the bottom of the 9th, the Ninja coaching staff decided to stay with the starting defense in the field and keep Nicholson on the mound. With the top of the line up due, Nicholson knew it wouldn't be an easy task against the talented Clowns hitters. Dropping the first two batters on 5 pitches, Nicholson walked and hit the next two batters. With the strong hitting number three hitter up for the Clowns, the Ninja's turned to Adam Beacham to close the game. Beacham walked the first batter and feel behind 2-0 to the Clowns cleanup batter. Battling back, Adam got the upper hand with a 2-2 count. Adam reached back firing a fast ball that was fouled tipped and snowed coned by the catcher to end the game on a strike out.

"This has to be one of the best Ninja wins in the history of the Ninja franchise" Wade Beacham said. "That was fun"

Game Notes

The Ninja's have opened up the last two seasons with a victory. The Ninja's now have a franchise record of 26-12 in just 3 years. The Ninja's acquired six new players in the offseason. Adam Beacham, Ben Collinger, Chris Hanney, JP Lowen, Mike Licata, and Tony LaJoe.

Game MVP

Going 3 for 4, with a triple, a walk, 2 RBI's, a stolen base, 3 runs scored, and the save. Adam Beacham