2008 Clodbuster Cup

The Clodbusters welcomed five teams to Dayton for the Clodbuster Cup on Sunday.  Despite temperatures in the low 90s, it was a beautiful day for base ball.  The rain did not appear and a constant breeze cooled the field.  The Clodbusters were pleased to host the Somerset Frosty Sons of Thunder from western Pennsylvania and the Rochester Grangers from Michigan.  The Champion City Reapers from Springfield, Ohio, and, from Indianapolis, the Blues and Hoosiers also made the short drive. 

In their first games, the Blues met the Clodbusters.  As the Blues attempted to mount a ninth inning rally, the players and cranks were shocked as a line drive came back at the Clodbuster hurler, Mark “Mule” Willis.  The shot hit him in the chest and ran up his face, dislodging his spectacles.  Fortunately, Mr. Willis was just scratched by the hit and easily restored the lens to his eyeglasses.  He recovered to pitch the rest of the day's matches for the home squad.  Just as surprising was the presence of mind of the third base tender, Randy “Gen’ral” Schuyler (Sky-ler), to dive and cradle the ball before its second bounce, crippling the Blues rally and giving Mule an assist on the play.
First round games: Clodbusters 7, Blues 5; Hoosiers 8, Grangers 2; and Sons of Thunder over the Reapers 12-2

The Blues and Reapers met in a tightly contested match after the midday meal.  The Blues stole victory from the Springfield club when they pushed three runs across the plate in the three final innings.  The match was officiated by Brian “Hambone” Shively with the help of his two-year-old daughter in period dress who proudly called “striker to the line!”
Second round: Blues 6, Reapers 5; Frosty Sons over the Hoosiers 6-5, and Clodbusters 13, Grangers 5

Fortune smiled upon the schedule makers when the two remaining undefeated clubs met on the field.  For the third and final round of matches, both the host Clodbusters and Frosty Sons of Thunder sat at 2-0.  (A majority of the Somerset Frosty Sons of Thunder last year played on a club called the Rockwood Mainliners.)  The Sons of Thunder stormed to two aces in the first frame and held the Clodbusters scoreless through two innings.  However, the Clodbusters exploded in two different innings and climbed to a 12-2 lead that proved decisive despite rallying in the late innings by the boys from Pennsylvania.
Also in the final round, the Reapers and Hoosiers collided and hit numerous long flies and deep line drives.  This observer was shocked to learn that JUST seventeen runners crossed the plate over the nine innings as it seemed as though each squad tallied several aces each frame.  In the end, the Reapers tallied the decisive run to earn a victory for the day.
Final round: Reapers defeated the Hoosiers 9-8; Clodbusters over the Sons of Thunder 12-5 and Blues 4, Grangers 1.

Many thanks go out to the teams for traveling great distances for our tournament, the players and volunteers that put together food for over 100 players and family members, and Mr. Boll Weevil himself, Scott Treon, and his family for driving up from North Carolina to be with his old team.

The final records for the day were:
Champion City Reapers, Won 1, Lost 2
Indianapolis Blues, Won 2, Lost 1
Rochester Grangers, Won 0, Lost 3
Indianapolis Hoosiers, Won 1, Lost 2
Somerset Frosty Sons of Thunder, Won 2, Lost 1
Clodbuster Base Ball Club, Won 3, Lost 0