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Recent 10A - Black News

Black Tigers Season Ends

07/18/08

By Ima Homer

Top: Morris Kantor, Baseball at Night, 1934, oil, 37×47 1/4 in., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Morris Kantor, 1976.146.18.

Tigers End Season with Classy Effort

When you romanticize about baseball thoughts of a perfect summer night under the lights with the lush green grass under your feet and the smell of baseball in the air come to mind. Memories of your youth come back, the pure love of the game, the boyish enthusiasm the hustle and old friendships. Thursday night the Black Tigers returned to those Rockwellian times if for only for a few hours for their final game together. The boys of summer ran into a hot Bloomington Twins team, and as is the case with the game of baseball more often than not, were unable to overcome the momentum created by the opponent. The Tigers showed great attitude, effort and enthusiasm throughout the contest even though they were down by many runs. The boys also showed their class and maturity by focusing on the game and ignoring many possible distractions.

It was fun covering this group of Tigers over the course of the season. We were able to witness the personal growth of each player not only as an athlete but as a person. We were able to watch as the team come together and show its support for each other through its success and failures. And we as adults were able to recapture, if only for a moment, a part of our childhood.

Not to say the season was without its share of controversy. From the “A-Todd” scandal to the childish picketing of the assistant coaches to the many unfounded attacks on the esteemed Manager by his assistants.

No, this season was not without controversy, but for a brief time on an ideal mid-summer night, under the lights with the sights and sounds of our youth and our future all around us we were able to escape from worries of the economy and the tedium of our daily routine to enjoy America’s pastime played by our children.

Tag(s): 10A - Black

Black Tigers Hurl Complete Game Shutout

07/16/08

By Ima Homer

Black Tigers Gather at Hayden's House for GH3 Competition

The Farmington Black Tigers Shut Out the Rosemount Royals for a First Round MBL Playoff Victory

With Temperatures exceeding 200 degrees, the Farmington Black Tigers played cool as cucumbers Tuesday night at the dust bowl known as Middle School West #3. Tiger hurlers, Will Ristow, Connor Olson, Max Barthel and Mike Chupurdia held the Royals scoreless throughout the evening, with Chupurdia turning in a “Snapper-mow-‘em down inning” in the sixth. Helping the cause was “steel curtin” like defensive plays. Jay Burditt, Connor Olson, Barthel and Tyson Koch combined to take care of the sweltering catching duties throwing out several Royal steal attempts. In the early innings, center fielder, Alex Burrell, made a spectacular diving catch in the ally to end a Royal threat and Marshall Heyda tracked down several balls at short. Later, the Tiger’s executed an unusual double play cut and relay. With a runner on first the Royals singled to right, Ristow alertly saw the Royal runner trying to advance to third and delivered a strike to Koch for the tag, Koch then threw to Robert Samson at Second base to tag out the trailing runner ending the Royal threat. Later in the game Tiger second baseman Jake Schwartz ranged far to his left to rob the Royals of a sure hit, ending another threat. When asked about how the heat affected their play, all Tiger players responded that the cool air Nate Knoepke brought from the hockey rink was the key to victory.

At the plate the Tigers were led by Hayden “Guitar Hero” Kendall’s record breaking day. Kendall finished the day with two three run home runs for a combined six RBI. When reached for comment Kendall said, “See ball, hit ball…Guitar Hero!”

The Tigers travel to Bloomington Thursday to take on the Bloomington Twins under the lights at Kent Hrbek fields.

Tag(s): 10A - Black

Black Tigers Pick up First Round State Tournament Victory

07/16/08

By I.M Sizzlen

Coach Barthel Checks Temperature

Strong Pitching and Defense Key to Victory

With temperatures hovering near 150 degrees and the economy taking a severe hit due to lack of employee production, as no one was at work on Friday, the Black Tigers won their opening round state tournament game against Rosemount Gold before an announced crowd of 357 people. The Tigers and Gold were scoreless through two innings due to the strong pitching by Mike Chupurdia and stellar defensive plays turned in by Jay Burditt, Robert Samson, Tyson Koch and Max Barthel. In the third inning the Tigers erupted for four runs sparked by a leadoff triple from Burditt and clutch at bats from Connor Olson and Heydan Kendall. The Gold responded in the third and fourth but again the Tigers turned in great defensive plays by Will Ristow and Marshall Heyda to extinguish any Gold threats. The Tigers added three more runs over the final three innings led by a double and triple from Alex Burrell and extra base hits from Olson and Burditt. Max “Joe Nathan” Barthel held the Rosemount hitters in check to earn the save. The Tigers suffered a scare in the fifth when Jake Schwartz was injured warming up between innings, an aspirin was taped to the injury and Schwartz was able to return to the game and provide some great hustle and enthusiasm. When reached for comment Schwartz stated “It was strange, I got hit in the chest and Robert’s Dad kept trying to pull my teeth, I appreciate the help but come on man.”

Despite the “A-Todd” scandal the Tigers were able to get back on track. When reached for comment Coach Garey Burditt responded “I am really proud of our players, with all the poporotzi following “A-Todd” around this has really turned into a media circus.” Coach Barthel added “I don’t know what all the fuss is about, I have never seen “A-Todd” at Madonna’s, and I am there often.”

In related news Black Tiger Director of Marketing Ima Sellout announced that the Tigers secured another corporate sponsor by signing Depends Undergarments to a long term promotional contract. Becky Burrell declined to jump for joy.

Tag(s): 10A - Black

Black Tigers Take Second in League Play

07/08/08

By Ima Homer

Becky Burrell Looking for Missing Gold Fish

Look Forward to Opening Round of State Tournament on Friday

The Black Tigers dropped a tough one on Tuesday night to a hot hitting Eastview team. The Black Tigers were led on the mound by Mike Chapurdia and Alex Burrell while Max Bartell and Marshall Heyda secured the catching duties. The Tigers jumped out to an early lead in the first when Jake Jensen hit a two run home run to deep center field. Eastview rallied in the early innings but was quickly cut down by a smartly executed cut and relay play from Robert Samson to Chapurdia to Heyda. The strong hustle of Heydan Kendall and Will Ristow and some smart fielding plays from Jay Burditt kept the Lighting runners from advancing extra bases in the middle innings. With the Tigers down by five in the fifth Jake Schwartz sparked a two out rally with a walk and a couple of stolen bases eventually being hit in by Brandon Cecchettini who later stole second and scored on an errant throw. The Tigers pulled within two but couldn’t stop the hot Lightning hitters in the bottom of the fifth.

The Tigers showed great hustle and enthusiasm throughout the contest and held their heads high as they look forward to the 12:30 Friday tilt against a tough Rosemount Gold team to kick off the state tournament.

In related news Becky Burrell celebrated her 25^th birthday at El Patio after the game. In a tragic twist of events Becky mistook her present from Greg, a bowl of gold fish, for her drink. Greg Burell and Fish are resting comfortably.

The Tigers were without the services of Connor Olson, Nate Kneopke and Tyson Koch. Kneopke was attending a work out for the Minnesota Wild before they decide whether or not to sign him as a free agent. Koch was attending the Olympic trials with his mom Heidi and Olson was reportedly seen heading up to Madonna’s penthouse in New York. Olson would not confirm or deny rumors, but dad Todd was quick to point out it may have been him not Connor.

Tag(s): 10A - Black

Coach "Clark Griswold" Burditt Earns Much Needed Vacation

07/01/08

By Chevy Chase

Coach Burditt Shows off His New Wagon Queen "Family Truckster"

Wally World, Chance Meeting with Red Ferrari on the Itinerary

With little fanfare, but much anticipation, Coach Garey "Griswold" Burditt has loaded up the Burditt Family Truckster and headed out on the open road.

All kinds of vacation hilarity and hijinks are expected. Police scanners and newswire services will be monitored closely.

Coach Schwartz approved the time off saying that Burditt needed a break and was acting "Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs".

While at Wally World, it is expected that Coach Burditt will keep gunplay, hostage-taking, and other violence to a minimum.

Tag(s): 10A - Black