5th Annual Tyler Crooks, Justin Chiavetti Memorial Tournament

     This two day tournament was played on the heals of the all-star game which was won by 'Team Blue', coached by Brandon MacKay and represented by Jamie Lee Hogan and Chris Herbert.  The Blue Angels had a decent schedule, a late start with a big break and a double header late afternoon.  The Blue Angels had a good start, winning their first game then heading off for a BBQ until their late games.  They handily won their next game and had a really good game versus TFCO.  With a tournament best 3-0 record and a +14 run difference, the Blue Angels obtained first in 'A' Pod, the harder of the two pods, and played a Sunday morning game against the second place team.  The winner of that game would go directly to the finals while the loser would play a semi-final game right before the finals.  Fortunately, the Blue Angels would get directly to the finals in dramatic extra inning walk off fashion and eventually win the final to go undefeated for the tournament.

     Every player contributed throughout the weekend.  On Sunday, second baseman #16 Tracy McFee was replaced by #9 Casey Perreault, otherwise, the roster remained the same including the batting order for the entire weekend.  #84 Myles Calvert graciously accepted the role of designated hitter while protecting a knee injury.  Outfielders from left to right were #19 Michael McKenney, #82 Andrew Piluso, #8 Chris Herbert and #2 Melanie MacKay.  They only were adjusted once for the final game, rotating everyone left one position, sending McKenney to right field who ended up making the final out of the tournament.  On the infield, #3 Jamie Lee Hogan played 3rd, #39 Brandon MacKay short stop, #15 Micheal Lavender first, #7 Melissa Borowski catcher and of course #99 Sandi Schellenberg pitched.  #23 Sabrina Piluso was used as a utility player, rotating the 4 female field positions.

     Many players played through injury without so much as a complaint.  #15 Michael Lavender reached for balls so deep at first that he touched ground with crotch at one point.  Clutch plays, including that game winning hit by #23 Sabrina Brown, were made in every game and certainly made the difference in winning the championship.  It was the first championship achieved by the Blue Angels in franchise history.  A regular season first place had been the highest crowning moment until now.

Virgil Fall Bash

     The Blue Angels entered an out of town tournament for the first time not knowing what to expect.  Not having their regular roster, a lower division was requested but, as a result of poor team numbers, there was only a single co-ed division and the Blue Angels were playing against teams that held try-outs to determine their rosters.  Being out of town, newer rules were adhered to including the permission of back to back male batters.  Therefore, the other teams in the tournament played with 4 females and 6 males and batted males back to back twice in their lineups.  The Blue Angels indulged in the opportunity during games 2 and 3 as a result of less female batters but choose to play and equal male and female roster for other games.

     The Blue Angels only managed one win all weekend.  It was terrible conditions to play ball.  Cold, windy and rain made for a daunting task for the weekend's pitcher #19 Michael McKenney.  While there was a consistent offensive production from the Blue Angels' lineup, #84 Myles Calvert dominated the stat sheet with 11 RBIs and 3 inside the park home runs.

     The Blue Angels would bow out in the Quarter Finals.  Finishing 5th of 7 teams with a 1-2 record and plus 2 run differential, they would play the 4th place team while 2nd played 7th and 3rd played 6th.  The first place team received a bye into the Semi-Finals.  It was not a good end to the season but it was a lesson learned about playing so late into the season.