Wednesday evening, the DC Comics staff was treated to an office-side concert by Sir Paul McCartney. Apparently the man who sang of being a Paperback Writer gave the Bullet softball team a charge, as they came out swinging against Random House at Thursday evening’s softball game.

(more…)

Last Friday afternoon, the DC Bullets had a chance to make a big move in the New York Media Softball League standings, as they matched up against the High Times Bonghitters on the Great Lawn in Central Park.  Just two weeks prior, the Bullets had come up big in a 5-4 nail-biting win over the High Times gang.  Things didn’t go so well in the rematch.

(more…)

The Bullets came into Thursday evening’s game against The Onion playing some of their best softball of the year, coming off back-to-back gutty wins over High Times and Vanity Fair.  Vastly improved defense, with a focus on making routine plays, cutting of balls in the alley and hitting the cut-off man, has been the biggest reason for the Bullets’ strong play this summer, a marked improvement over last year’s inconsistent play.  Fortunately for The Onion, the 2009 edition of the DC Bullets still has a little of 2008 left in it.

(more…)

The DC Bullets softball squad returned to action Tuesday against Vanity Fair in Central Park’s North Meadow making a fashion statement with their new uniforms, sporting a Batman/baseball design (seen above) created by Andy Kubert (thanks, Andy)! As the game started, the preponderance of June rainouts may have left the Bullets’ bats in a funk, but some solid defense and a couple baserunning blunders by the Variety crew opened the door for the Bullets to seize an extra-inning victory. If they could just get the bats on track…

(more…)

Written by Sal “The Bagman” Cipriano

After a frustrating loss to the Wall Street Journal a couple of weeks ago, the DC Bullets were anxious to get back on the field and redeem themselves. Unfortunately, the next week and a half turned into a scene from Blade Runner as rain constantly poured down on NYC, consequently canceling the next three games. Hurt and deflated, the Bullets could only wait for the weather to provide any sort of opening. Finally, after even more rain made a mess of their home field earlier that morning, the DC team were back to New York Media League action this past Thursday; this time against a vaunted, talented High Times team. Considered one of league’s two best teams (along with BusinessWeek) the Bullets were wary, but came in ready for the challenge. And a challenge it would be, too, as they were missing two of their power bats: Third Baseman Mike Lorah and rookie DH LP Vollano. They also started the game with 9 players instead of the required 10, and by the time the second inning was over the sweet leaf-loving Bonghitters were up by three runs.

The Bullets got it going in the bottom of the second, though, as Left Fielder Andrew “The Armadilla” Arnold (1-3, Run) and Second Baseman Christine “CNAP” Napolitano (1-2) got on with one-out base hits. Arnold then scored on a single to centerfield by Catcher Sal “Bagman” Cipriano (2-2, RBI, BB).

The Bullets were on the board, and now had a full complement of players, which allowed their defense to close up tightly. From the third inning on, DC’s favorite sons and daughters did not commit an error, a frequent thorn in their sides, with Team Captain Adam Schlagman (3-3, 2 runs, triple) leading the way with one spectacular play after another at short! The third inning ended with two crazy plays as Right Fielder Rickey Purdin (1-2, double) snagged a sun drenched ball at the last second, followed by a sliding catch from the Bagman on a foul pop by the Times’ best hitter!

Those outs seemed to fire DC up as the Bullets loaded up for their biggest offensive inning of the evening. The Captain started it off with a single, and immediately scored on Left Fielder Vince Letterio’s (1-3, run, RBI) hard hit triple over the opposing left fielder’s head! Right Fielder Pat “Two Scoops” Brosseau’s (1-2, 2 RBI, sac fly) RBI grounder scored Letterio, and a third run was added by Third Baseman Joel “The” Press “Man” (1-3, RBI) scoring Rover Dougie Harrison (1-1, run). The Bullets led after that third inning, 4-3.

Both teams put up goose eggs in the 4^th, but in the top of the fifth, a Bonghitter smoked a solo home run, tying the game. Ace Bullets Pitcher Larry Ganem (1-3) shook it off though, and retired the next batters. The bottom of the fifth showed off the Bullets resilience with Schlagman lacing a triple, and scoring one out later on Brosseau’s sac fly.

The Bullets again led by one going into the sixth, but the two teams traded off zeroes for a third time in the game. The pressure was now on as Ganem took the mound in the top of the seventh, 3 outs away from DC’s biggest win in the last couple of years. The first out came easy, but the second required Captain Schlagman to make the web gem play of the game with a diving stop of a smashed grounder that was destined for center field, but instead found itself in his glove and consequently into First Baseman Laura Demoreuille’s (0-1) sure handed mitt! One out away, but the Bonghitters seemed determined to do what they do best, no not that, win! The next two men got on second and third, but they were going no where else as a fly ball fell into Center Fielder Neil Hiremath’s (0-2) glove! Put it in the books, the Bullets win!

Final score:

5-4 for the DC Bullets over the High Times Bonghitters. A hard earned victory for a gritty, gutty team that’s gelling well under pressure, and truly beginning to put a disappointing 2008 season behind them. The Bullets pull up at .500 (4-4, 2-2 in league games) and will look to improve that further in their next game.

Game notes:

The pitching and defense in this is game were stellar. Captain Schlagman continues to show the way in the field playing a superb short stop. The tandem of Ganem pitching to Cipriano has also meshed well over the last year, and this year they’ve really shown it holding the Daily Beast to 5 runs, and High Times to 4. If the team can continue this way, they can easily make it to the playoffs.

This Thursday, July 2^nd, DC are home against the Seamless Web. Can the Bullets break through their web? Come find out at Central Park’s North Meadow, field 2, at 5:30PM!

Defense wins pennants, but the DC Bullets found evidence that you still need to hit during Saturday morning’s game against the Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal put up a three spot in the second inning, but only managed to add on three more runs during the entire game. Needing only to average a run per inning, the Bullets found their offense sputtering in an untimely manner.

Despite two first inning singles by 3B Mike Lorah (1-3) and DH Larry “LP” Vollano (1-3), the Bullets were turned away without scoring. In the second, back to back singles by SCF Nel Yomtov (2-3, run) and LF Andrew Arnold (2-3, run) set up SS Adam Schlagman’s (2-3, 2 RBI) two run triple. With none out, Schlagman was held at third. A pop out to short, a line to third and a soft fly to left stranded the inning’s third run. In the third, C Sal Cipriano (1-4, run), P Doug Harrison (1-3) and RF Pat Brosseau (2-3, RBI) sandwiched singles around two outs, pushing across a third run.

(more…)

It’s been suggested to me that perhaps readers might like to know what roles the members of the DC Bullets play in readers’ favorite comics, so I’ve cluttered this week’s write-up with an abundance of people’s titles.

The DC Bullets were scheduled for a split squad game on Thursday, June 4^th, but nasty weather during the week turned Central Park’s North Meadow into an inhospitable mud pit. Fortunately, the Bullets’ second game of the day, their second game of their New York Media League schedule, pitted them against The Daily Beast at the recycled tire-based Baruch field.

(more…)

Lots and lots and lots of extra softball.

If nothing else, the Bullets are getting lots of practice as they warm up for the summer months. Complementing their usual Thursday games, the Bullets opened the New York Media Softball League season on Monday against New York Public Radio’s WNYC. After Thursday’s nine-inning affair against Scholastic, the Bullets were looking to put this one away early to get their NYML season off to a strong start.

With two outs in the first, the Bullets put together a quick two-run rally, with singles by LF Jay Kogan (3-5, 2 runs) and 3B Mike Lorah (2-4, 2 runs, RBI) setting up DH Larry “LP” Vollano’s (2-5, 5 RBI) two-run double. WNYC knotted the score at two in the bottom of the first, but Lorah’s sacrifice fly scored SS Adam Schlagman (2-5, 2 runs, RBI) to retake the lead after three innings.

Both teams traded four spots in the fourth inning, with a single by CF Andrew Arnold (2-2, run, double), double by RF Pat Brosseau (1-2, run, double) and a walk to 2B Christine Napolitano (0-4, BB, run) loading the bases with only one out. SCF Brian Cunningham (0-1, RBI) lofted a sacrifice fly, and LF Rickey Purdin (2-2, run, RBI), P Larry Ganem (3-5, RBI) and Schlagman all wrapped two-out RBI singles to pick the Bullets up.

However, single runs by WNYC in the fifth and sixth innings gave the radio team a one run lead going into the seventh and final inning. After a pop out, single and fielder’s choice set up a tying run on first base with two out scenario, back-to-back two-out singles by Kogan and Lorah loaded the bases. Seizing the spotlight, LP Vollano crushed a double to deep center field, clearing the bases and spotting the Bullets a two run lead. In the bottom of the seventh, WNYC found themselves in similar straights, down to their last out with runners on second and third. Unfortunately for the DC squad, WNYC’s top hitter was due up, and his smoking line drive down the left field line easily tied the scored. However, a quick Purdin to Arnold (who’d rushed over from center field to assist with the play) to Schlagman to C Sal Cipriano (1-3) cut down WNYC’s slugger at home plate, preserving the tie.

Yes, for the second consecutive game, the Bullets were going into extra innings. Alas for our valiant heroes, the extra baseball seems to have worn them out. Over a four inning span from the eighth through until the final inning, the eleventh, the Bullets mustered just three measly singles (Purdin, Ganem and Cipriano) and never advanced a runner past second base. Leading off the bottom of the eleventh, one of WNYC’s speedsters got into a floater and hammered it into the right centerfield gap for a walk-off, game-ending home run.

Final tally: DC Bullets 10, WNYC 11.

The Bullets record is 2-3 (0-1 in NYML play)

Game Notes:

Despite the late-game offensive funk, the Bullets showed impressive defense. Two runners cut down at home plate on relays from the outfield, a headlong diving catch in left field by Andrew Arnold, a lunging line drive snagged by Lorah, and a juggling, “seat” catch by Brosseau kept the team in the game late into the evening.

Please check out the gorgeous graphic that will adorn the back of the new DC Bullets jerseys (which I’m promised we’ll have before the season ends), courtesy of Mr. Andy Kubert. Thanks a ton, Andy!

Local fans are encouraged to see the Bullets next in action in one of TWO locations! Can the team that can barely win with all their players handle the rigors of a split squad game? Come see Thursday evening at 5:30, as the Bullets take on The Daily Beast in NYML action at the Baruch field (somewhere in east Hell, down in the Houston/FDR vicinity) or against Abrams Books at Field 2 in Central Park’s North Meadow.

The Scholastic softball team is nicknamed “The Red Dogs”, in reference to their famous cartoon icon Clifford, though at Thursday’s misting, overcast softball game, perhaps they’d be better nicknamed the “Captain Cliffords”. Once again, the Bullets massive roster came to the rescue of a short-handed opponent. With Scholastic’s squad decimated by this weekend’s impending Book Expo and an apparent fear of wet weather, four Red Dogs were joined by Bullet stalwarts Jeff Boison, Adam Staffaroni, Erin Dawald, Rickey Purdin and Jerry Cerza.

The Bullets team proper jumped to an early lead, with 3B Mike Lorah (4-5, 2 runs, 3 RBI, triple) looping a two-out, opposite field triple onto the right field line to score CF Vince Letterio (1-5, two FC, 2 runs) and SCF Doug Harrison (3-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, home run). After the Red Dogs tied the score in top two, P Larry Ganem (3-5, 1 run, 3 RBI, double) doubled, 2B Doc Lauren Fries (3-5, 2 runs) singled, and both came around to score later in the inning. Later Fries and C Sal Cipriano (2-5, run) opened the fourth with singles. Lauren came home on RF Neil Hiremath’s (1-5, run, RBI) fielder’s choice grounder when the throw home was late. Sal then scored on SS Adam Schlagman (3-5, 2 RBI, sac fly) sacrifice fly. Three more singles from LF Andrew Arnold (1-6, run, RBI), Letterio and Lorah produced two more runs. In the last of the sixth inning, Harrison cranked a home run with Vince on first base, and Lorah and 1B Joel “Happy 40th, sorry we couldn’t win one for ya” Press (2-5, run, double) later touched the plate on Ganem’s two-run single.

(more…)

It’s been a long-standing tradition of the DC Bullets softball team to fail both offensively and defensively early in games, setting the stage for inspiring, late-inning rallies that often come up a few runs short. During last Thursday’s game against The Nation, the Bullets broke type with a fast start, but would they still need a late run to pull out a victory?

The Bullets struck quickly in the first, with center fielder Andrew Arnold (2-3, 2 triples, 2 runs, RBI) hammering a one-out triple, and Doug Harrison (3-3, HR, 3 runs, 3 RBI) – just activated from the DL and patrolling short center – launched a mammoth two-run homer in his first AB of 2009. Third baseman Mike Lorah (3-3, triple, 3 runs) tripled and scored on a foul pop by outfielder Vince Letterio (2-2, Sac Fly, HR, 2 runs, 4 RBI). Four consecutive two-out singles produced one more run, and the Bullets were out to a quick 4-0 lead.

After Lorah (pitching the first when both of the scheduled pitchers were late to the field) and Dan Didio (1-3) retired The Nation 1-2-3 in the first two innings, the opposition strung together three hits in the third, trimming the Bullet’s lead to 4-1 after three full innings.

Larry Ganem (2-2, Sac Fly, run, 2 RBI) took the mound from the tiring Didio and shut down The Nation in the fourth, setting the stage for the Bullets to add to their lead. Harrison, Lorah and Letterio led off the bottom of the fourth with singles, and Adam Staffaroni (3-3, 3 runs, 2 RBI) cashed in two runs with a base knock of his own. Ganem’s sac fly and back-to-back singles by OF Joel Press (3-3, triple, run, 2 RBI) and C Sal Cipriano (2-3, RBI) tacked on a fourth run.

Leading 8-1, the Bullets surrendered another run to The Nation in the fifth; however, true to form, a late offensive run by the DC bats put the game out of reach. Too many offensive stars in the bottom of the fifth to name them all: RF Brian Cunningham (2-2, HR, run, RBI) whaled a solo homer, Arnold added a second triple, Letterio blasted a three-run roundtripper, and Press punctuated the onslaught with a two-run triple. The fourteen-run explosion marked the Bullets’ best inning of the young season. After quickly turning away The Nation in turn in the top of the sixth (and with time expiring on the field permit), the Bullets headed to the bar with a stunning 22-2 rout of The Nation.

The Bullets record stands at 2-1 (0-0 in league play)

Game Notes:

An impressive 18 Bullets made it to Thursday’s game, including Harrison, Rickey Purdin (1-2, run), Cunningham and Laura Demoreuille (1-2, run, RBI) who made their 2009 in-game debuts. Demoreuille’s sterling defense at first base was welcome.

The Bullets are above the .500 mark for the first time in the tenure of manager Adam Schlagman. Have the Bullets finally responded to Schlagman’s “leadership,” or has Schlagman simply learned to front-load the schedule with winnable games?

And finally, a reporter and photographer from The New York Times covered the Bullets’ game against the Paris Review several weeks back. Though there’s little mention of the team in the article, there were pictures of the team in The Times (see above for the most self-promoting image).

Area fans are encouraged to come out to Central Park’s North Meadow Field #2 to watch the Bullets take on the undefeated Scholastic Red Dogs this Thursday evening at 5:30pm.

The grey sky threatened rain most of the day, and perhaps trusting the evidence at their fingertips, most of the Popular Science squad elected to remain ensconced indoors. As a consequence, Thursday afternoon’s softball game became more of an intramural effort, with three members of Popular Science joined by a whopping six Bullets and one good Samaritan who happened to be present at the field. The Bullets still fielded a full ten-person squad.

Despite both teams’ line-ups being from the DC roster, the Popular Science team continued a trend of early inning offensive onslaughts against the Bullets’ pitching. The Bullets’ own Adam Staffaroni highlighted Popular Science’s first inning with a two-RBI triple. One of the Science’s own players slammed a two-run homer in the second, and the Bullets quickly found themselves in an eight-run hole after two innings, trailing 8-0.

In the third inning, however, Popular Science’s fill-in starting pitcher, one Dan DiDio, began to tire. Perhaps it was the jetlag from his trip to Bristol. Perhaps it was those achy old limbs. Whatever the cause, the Bullets surged back with a three-run home run from Joel Press and two-run jack from Adam Schlagman. DiDio helped his cause, getting back one run for Popular Science when he notched an RBI single in the fifth after the Bullets’ third baseman (who may have been the author of this post, but he did go 3-3 with 2 runs at the plate, so there!) threw a possible inning-ending groundball into right field to extend the frame.

Going to the bottom of the fifth, with time of the Bullets’ field permit dwindling, the Bullets trailed 9-8. The bottom of the fifth opened with back-to-back-to-back singles, loading the bases with no outs and bringing up the top of the Bullets’ order. Lead-off hitter Schlagman’s fly ball to deep left field allowed runners to tag up from both second and third bases, tying the game and leaving the winning run only feet away. Left fielder Vince Letterio decided that Schlagman’s strategy worked once, and so he followed with a fly to deep left field. The throw home was late, and the Bullets rallied for their first win of 2009.

Final score: DC Bullets 10, Popular Science 9. DC Bullets record 1-1 (0-0 in league play).

The DC Bullets softball squad showed a little early-season rust at the start of their 2009 opener against the Paris Review on Thursday, April 30. After a sluggish offensive start, third baseman Michael Lorah (2-4, RBI, run) drove home their first run with an RBI single, chasing home second baseman Erin Dawald (2-4, RBI, 2 runs) in the third inning.

In the fifth, the flood gates opened up, with three consecutive run-producing plate appearances. Dawald drove in pitcher/outfielder Sal Cipriano (4-4, double, 2 runs) with an RBI double. Shortstop Adam Schlagman’s (4-4, run) base hit pushed outfielder Heather Einhorn (2-4, run) across, and outfielder Adam Staffaroni’s (0-2, two fielder’s choices, sac fly) sacrifice fly brought Dawald home for the inning’s final tally.

Additional offensive highlights included run scoring triples by pitcher/outfielder Joel Press (2-4, triple, 2 RBI, run) in the sixth and outfielder Pat Brosseau (3-4, triple, 2 RBI, 2 runs) in the seventh. Catcher/outfielder Larry “LP” Vollano (1-4, home run, 2 RBI, run) capped the scoring with a two-run bomb to finish a five-run seventh inning rally. This makes LP the early leader for 2009 Rookie of the Year.

Alas, the Bullet’s sluggish start was both offensive and defensive. The ten runs scored by the Bullets in the final three innings look nice on paper, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the 16-1 deficit the Bullets found themselves in after the fourth inning. Final score: Paris Review 20, DC Bullets 11.

Game Notes:

At least one error can be attributed to nearly every single Bullet in the first four innings. The Bullets set a new standard for their ugliest half-game in a long history of ugly half-games.  No defensive stars worth nothing this time around!  Unless you count a couple excellent plays by the opponent’s left fielder.

Big thanks for injured stars Fletcher Chu-Fong and Doug Harrison for showing up to provide moral support, and a shout out to DC’s VP-Manufacturing Alison Gill for trekking out to cheer on the Bullets.

Still no sign of the super soldier Nel Yomtov in the early going this season. Perhaps he’s trying to hook on with a “better” team. Good luck with that!

Tips o’ the hat to rookies Jerry Cerza (1-4, RBI, run, FC) for stepping in at first base, and Jeff Boison (1-4, FC) for splitting time with LP in the outfield and behind the plate.

Fans can come watch the DC Bullets softball team in action this Thursday at 5:30pm at North Meadow, Field #2 against Popular Science.

The DC Bullets softball squad is through with their spring training!

Coming on the heels of a successful 2007 season, in which they made the playoffs during the inaugural season of the New York Media softball league, the Bullets regressed during a frustrating 2008 season. Perhaps it was the managerial change, going from the calm hand of long-time head coach Joel “It’s easier to make pot shots at the coach when it’s not me” Press to the high energy antics of Adam “Stop picking on me” Schlagman. Perhaps it was a series of debilitating injuries, with stalwarts Fletcher “Switch-hitting” Chu-Fong and Dougie “Let’s test that pitcher’s fielding” Harrison both missing chunks of time. Or perhaps they’re simply not very good.

But it’s a new season, 2009, and the Bullets will unveil some new rookies, new uniforms (!), and a rejuvenated fun, yet winning attitude at the North Meadow, Field #2 in New York’s Central Park on Thursday, April 30, against the Paris Review.

For the 2009 season, the New York Media league will have six teams: defending champions BusinessWeek, Wall Street Journal, High Times, Daily Beast, WNYC and the Bullets, and at least another half dozen non-league games are scheduled to keep the team sharp during the long summer months.

As the Bullets prepare for 2009, here are some of the statistical leaders from last season’s 5-13 (1-9 in league, 4-4 non-league) finish:

AVERAGE
Adam Schlagman = .635
Joe Hughes = .619
Nel Yomtov = .600

HITS
Adam Schlagman = 33
Michael Lorah = 25
Nel Yomtov = 24

RBIS
Michael Lorah = 20
Patrick Brosseau = 17
Nel Yomtov = 11
Jay Kogan = 11

RUNS
Andrew Arnold = 17
Adam Schlagman = 14
Jay Kogan = 14

Among the season’s big games: April 30, season opener against Paris Review; June 1, first League game against WNYC; June 11, first game against defending champion BusinessWeek; August 6, vs. Marvel Comics.

So if any fans are in the area, stop by Central Park’s North Meadow, Field #2 on Thursday, April 30, at 5:30 pm.  The Bullets guarantee a spectacle, though hopefully the 2009 squad can avoid 2008′s comedy of errors.