Monday, May 2, 2005
GAME#14: ANGELS (9) - YANKEES (0)

ANGELS KNOCK OFF YANKS
The Angels had a strong performance both at the plate and on the mound, beating the Yanks 9-0 in 6 innings. The A-Team (it really should be the J-Team since 6 out of the 12 players' first names start with "J") came out strong in the first inning and kept the pressure on throughout the game. Our pitchers threw shutout baseball, giving up no walks and combining for 12 strikeouts.

The Pinstripes did come up with some hits, but left men on base without ever being able to cross the dish. Great game, except for those base running errors (gotta work on that).

Wednesday, April 27, 2005
GAME#13: ANGELS (12) - INDIANS (2)

1 LITTLE, 2 LITTLE...
...Well only 2 Indians scored in this game as the Angels brought out the bullpen, pitching 4 pitchers in 5 innings of play. Angel bats were red hot as we brought in 5 in the first inning. The second time around the lineup 4 more scored, and in a final push in the 5th inning, the 3 final runs came across to cut the game short for the Tribe.

Angels face off next against the Yankees on Monday. Last time the Yanks played a tough game so be prepared to go our and play well.

Saturday, April 16, 2005
GAME#12: ANGELS (2) - ATHLETICS (1)

THE MINI SERIES
Twice now during the season the Mustang Angels of Long Beach and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have faced the same opponent at the same time.

So far, at the pro level, the A's and the Angels have faced each other 4 times, with 3 of the games being decided by one run. It was only fitting then that the mini versions of the teams would do the same. I was at the Angel game last night as I watched the pros blow a 1 run lead in the top of the 9th with their ace closer on the mound. Don't think it wasn't in the back of my mind how life tends to imitate art, or in this case, life imitates life. The A's have been doing well this year and take them lightly we were not about to do.

The game was played quickly, only 1 hour 20 minutes, but to us it seemed as if we were playing in slow motion. The A's drew first blood as they put 1 up in the first inning. We did not respond. Through three complete innings, we found ourselves feeling flat and still down by one run. Fortunately, the top of our lineup came through this time with a good at bat that resulted in a walk, some great base running and timely hitting followed by a steal of home that put us on top 2-1 going into the 5th.

6 outs later, our pitching had held and we walked off the field with another "W". Maybe the Mustang A's didn't watch the Angel game the previous night. Good thing for us, or they might have gotten the best of OUR closer.

Saturday, April 16, 2005
GAME#11: ANGELS (3) - RED SOX (2)

WEST COAST PREVAILS
The game many had been waiting for finally arrived. There must have been at least 100 people surrounding the little Mustang field at ELB. It was expected to be a pitching duel, for the most part, the Red Sox with their strong pitching and undefeated record, against the Angels with their strong pitching and one loss.

Our goal was simple, play well for 6 innings. That's all we were looking for, and that's what we got. We were up 2-1 until the 6th inning...then IT happened. With two outs and runners on first and second, the Sox hit a ball up the middle that was sure to go through, but somehow, some way, the ball found itself in our shortstop's glove. A quick thinking dive forced the runner at second to end the game...or so we thought. The call did not go our way and so we found ourselves in a 2-2 tie going into the bottom of the sixth.

It would be tough to get to the top of our line-up in the last inning, but tough does not mean impossible. We found ourselves with two outs, two men on and at the top of our lineup up in the bottom of the 6th. What happens in games like these is really amazing. Every kid steps up their play, passions are heightened for fans, players and coaches alike. And it seems like it never fails that a game like this will come down to simply who will flinch first. In this game, they flinched...and we won.

Enjoy the win, but let's not forget how hard it was not to flinch.

Saturday, April 9, 2005
GAME#10: WHITE SOX (7) - ANGELS (3)

WHITE OUT.
Bette Nesmith was the mother of Mike Nesmith of the Monkees fame. But Bette's claim to fame was a little concoction she mixed up using white tempera paint and nail polish to correct her typing mistakes. You might know it better as White-Out or Liquid Paper. It's great for erasing mistakes on paper...unfortunately, it can't erase our first loss of the season against the White Sox.

As Yogi Berra would say, "It's like deja vu, all over again." Seems like this scenario played itself out last year too when we lost our first game to the White Sox. Not to take anything away from the White Sox, because they played great, but our kids were flat out flat! Our pitching lacked punch, our hitting lacked...well punch, and our defense was like we were punch drunk.

I think coach Mike put it best when he said that what this game taught us is that we've got some things to work on. So let's get back to work!

Friday, April 8, 2005
GAME#9: ANGELS (11) - CARDINALS (5)

IT JUST WASN'T IN THE CARDS.
The Angels continued moving in the right direction as they worked the bats to score 11 runs against the Cardinals on Friday. The Angels came out with 4 runs in the first inning in what looked like it would be a quick game. But the Cards were looking to deal a different hand, when they posted their own run to let us know they were in the game. The second inning went scoreless for both side, but in the third, the Halos put up 2 runs. But the Cards played a better hand in the same inning scoring 4 runs to come within 1. But in the fifth, the Angel's bats came alive, dropping hits to left and right and running around the bases, touching home 5 times to bring the final score to 11. That tough Angel pitching then held strong in the sixth to bust the Cards hopes of any comeback.

Tomorrow's game will test Angel resolve as we face the White Sox.

Wednesday, April 6, 2005
GAME#8: ANGELS (10) - REDS (0)

REDS SEE RED.
The kids continued to look good at the plate by putting up 10 runs against the Reds Wednesday. Base running was excellent, with the little Angels mimicking the Pros with their aggressive running game. Some fantastic defensive playing also helped in the outfield, with a 7-5-6 combination put-out to shut down a potential triple. The pitching once again held strong with 3 Angel pitchers combining for 5 innings of scoreless Reds baseball.

Two games down, two to go in this jam-packed week. I like what I see so don't let up Angels, keep the pressure on with the bats and the pitching.

Monday, April 4, 2005
GAME#7: ANGELS (12) - DODGERS (2)

PROS AND MUSTANGS IN SYNC.
The regular baseball season is about to start. The final series of Spring for the Los Angeles Angels was but a freeway's drive away apart. The LAA (Angels) were playing the LAD (Dodgers) in a 3 game weekend series. The Angels pulled out the broom against the Dodgers taking all three games.

So here we were, the day after, playing our own freeway series. Only this time it was the Long Beach Mustang Angels (LBMA) against the Long Beach Mustang Dodgers (LBMD). Would this game be any different? Unfortunately for "Los Dodyers", the Angels brought the bats out. The first three innings were quiet, although we were ahead 2-0. But in the 4th, the Angels brought out the Halo sticks and posted 5, with the Dodgers answering back with two of their own. But then in the 5th, 5 more Angels runs put it out of reach for the Blue Crew as we ended it in 5 by a score of 12-2.

I guess we were just pumped up by the "big" Angels and had to "reprizent"!

Wednesday, March 23, 2005
GAME#6: ANGELS (4) - CUBS (1)

CUDDLY CUBS ENDED UP BEING A BEAR.
I've always heard you should mess with cubs because the mother is always sure to be near by. Well this time it was the cubs themselves who gave us trouble. The Cubs pitchers were tough, holding the Halo bats to only 6 hits and 4 runs. But the Angels pitching had their best stuff as well, allowing only 1 run and combining for 15 strikeouts. Angels, we're still waiting for the team we know we have to bust out! Come on guys!

Monday, March 21, 2005
GAME#5: ANGELS (4) - TIGERS (2)

TIGERS PROVE FIERCE COMPETITION.
As the skies cleared long enough for us to get a game in, the lag in play time seemed to be taking it's toll on the Angels. The Tiger pitching was tough, challenging our batters with pitches over the middle and with a little sauce. Unfortunately, the bats seemed to be tucked away in the cave since we only put up 4 runs, thanks to the middle of our lineup - good job guys. Once again the pitching held up with Chad, Jared, Adam and Jordan combining to tame the Tiger lineup and hold them to just 2 runs. For now it doesn't seem like we've hit our stride, but at least we're managing to keep the ticks in the "W" column.

Thursday, March 11, 2005
GAME#4: ANGELS (3) - ASTROS (2)

NO SHOOTING STARS...
As the Astros brought out their top pitching, holding the Angels scoreless for the first 3innings. But the Angel pitching was just as tough, keeping their stars at bay for the same. It seemed like just a matter of time and the 4th inning proved to be the time for both teams to break out. The Angels managed to squeeze in 3, while the Astros could only muster up 2 runs. Although it didn't seem like it at the time, 1 run proved to be enough as the Angels' closing pitcher brought down the lights, retiring the last 6 batters in a row. Kudos to the Astros for bringing their 'A' game to the City of Angels.

Wednesday, March 2, 2005
GAME#3: ANGELS (12) - RANGERS (1)

ANGELS WIN SHOOTOUT WITH THE RANGERS.
The Angels bats were back again today as they managed to continue increasing their lead inning by inning. Angels drew first blood scoring 1 in the first, but then kept hammering away to bring in 2 in the second, 4 in the third and then 5 in the fourth. Good pitching and defense kept the Rangers' holstered as they were only able to put up on tick on the scoreboard.

Monday, February 28, 2005
GAME#2: ANGELS (8) - YANKEES (1)

HALOS OUTSHINE PINSTRIPES...
Despite some great pitching from the Yanks in the first half of the game as the Angels outscore the Bronx Bombers 8-1. It was beginning to look like it would end up close as the Yankees' pitching held the Halos to only two runs in the first five innings. But the bats awoke as our kids posted 6 in the sixth to put the game out of reach for the stripes.

Saturday, February 26, 2005
GAME#1: ANGELS (19) - TWINS (1)

TWINS SEE DOUBLE (DIGITS)...
As the Angels brought out the bats during the first game of the 2005 season. Opening day was a smashing success for the Angels. Tired of all the So Cal rain, the kids were so anxious to play ball and play ball they did. Great hitting got the season started off right, but there is still much to work on. We're really looking forward to a great season with a new group of kids!