Dramatic come from behind win in last inning snaps gkv’s seven game losing streak

The incredibly hot Wednesday evening game seemed to be going the same way most of gkv’s season has gone. The team had already lost its first game by a score of 11-8 and had just surrendered the lead in the last inning of the second game. That’s when the unlucky streak finally came to an end.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, gkv had just given up five runs in the top of the inning to fall behind, 10-12, facing its eighth straight loss. Needing base runners to mount a comeback, gkv’s first two batters popped out and grounded out, respectively. gkv was down to its final out. Next at bat, Todd Schaefer, Account Executive, earned a walk. Now up to bat was the strength of the gkv batting order, Brian Cox, Digital Production Artist. With a 2-2 count, Cox crushed the ball deep to left field with Schaefer easily scoring. Cox slid into third base.

Down by one run and with two outs, Johnny Vo (who just came off the disabled list with a broken collar bone) was up to bat. Swinging with the strength of only one arm, Vo hit a high pop fly to center field. The center fielder misplayed the ball and it went over his head.

Cox easily scored from third base to tie the game as Vo ran around the bases trying to score the winning run. As he approached third base, Vo slowed down only to be encouraged by his entire team to run home. The center fielder threw the ball to his cut-off man, who relayed the throw to home plate, but … it was too late, Vo was safe and gkv won, 13-12!

It was an exciting ending for a team that needed an uplifting win. A special shout out to pitcher Suzy Vo and catcher Brittany Rallo, who played through both games with no rest. gkv’s record now stands at 2-8.

Player Profile:
Name: Brian Cox
Years with gkv: 3
gkv position: Digital Production Artist
Years with gkv softball: 3
Softball position: Third base
Favorite MLB team(s): Baltimore Orioles
Favorite MLB player(s): Growing up I loved watching Ken Griffey, Jr. make those amazing plays in center field. Other than Griffey I would have to say that Frank Thomas was one of my favorite players. I mean with a nickname like “The Big Hurt” how could you not like watching him play the game? That is how I selected my number.
Most memorable gkv softball moment: Coming onto the team my rookie year about midway through the season and being part of winning the championship. I have been playing sports all my life and have to say that it was the best time I’ve ever had on the field.
If I had $1 billion: I’d buy a home, pay off bills and travel the world.

“I wasn’t thinking that it needed to be a big hit and definitely wasn’t even trying to hit a car. I just hope the cars the ball bounced off of didn’t belong to any gkv players.”

-gkv teammate, Brian Cox, on his game-changing triple that bounced off a few cars in the parking lot beyond the outfield

Poor defense and underwhelming offense extend gkv’s losing streak to six

In a season where gkv softball has yet to get going on all cylinders, June 30 was no exception. Consistently poor defense and an inability to string together base hits has resulted in a six-game losing streak for gkv.

Having lost seven of eight overall, gkv was again challenged in the field by an even offensive attack from the Comcast Spotlight team. When gkv had opportunities to put runs on the board, the offense failed to get runners home destroying any momentum gained in the field when the defense stepped up.

The first game of the doubleheader lead to a 13-3 loss for gkv in five innings. In the following game, gkv attempted to battle back in the last inning, but ultimately failed in its comeback losing 13-6. Top offensive performers included Jon Gregory, Account Executive and Brian Cox, Digital Production Artist, each of whom contributed home runs in the second game.

If there is one bright spot for gkv’s remaining schedule, it’s that three of the four teams gkv has faced this season are currently the top three teams in the American Advertising Federation of Baltimore (AAFB) league. Hopefully if the team can pick up a few much needed wins in the second half of the season they stand a chance to make the playoffs.

Player Profile:
Name: Jason Knapp
Years with gkv: 6
gkv position: Interactive Search Marketing/Broadcast Media Buyer
Years with gkv softball: 5
Softball position: Center field
Favorite MLB team(s):  Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates. Nothing like loving two of the worst teams over the past decade.
Favorite MLB player(s): Past players include Andy Van Slyke, Tony Gwynn and Ken Griffey Jr. Out of current players, I’d go with Nick Markakis.
Most memorable gkv softball moment: Winning our first AAFB Championship in 2008. We were the last seed in the playoffs that year, too.
When I retire, I plan to: Not work.

“At 1-7, I can’t blame the 100 degree weather for me being on the ‘hot seat’ anymore. I better watch out, or gkv is going to bring in Dave Trembley to manage this team.”
-gkv Softball Coach, Todd Schaefer

Home runs doom struggling gkv team

I am a softball. I have a solid polyurethane core with a nylon-stitched, leather cover. I am currently being released from the pitcher’s hand, and am now traveling toward the catcher at an arc no higher than 10 feet. I’ve reached home plate. The batter twists his body, shifts his weight and follows through with a mighty swing. The bat hits me and I’m now travelling at a speed approaching 98 miles per hour. Down below I can see the pitcher, now the shortstop, and now the outfielder running at full speed through knee-high grass. I land well beyond his reach. I have traveled more than 250 feet. I am a home run.

If the above story were a movie (followed by a few sequels), gkv softball would be the team with home runs sailing over their heads in last Wednesday’s doubleheader against SHE10 (8-0), a team made up of various Baltimore businesses. Facing a team that has yet to lose since its debut in the American Advertising Federation of Baltimore (AAFB) league last summer, gkv kept both games close until the middle innings, at which point SHE10 broke away with a mighty lead. Although gkv tried to counter the big hitters of SHE10 with home runs of its own from infielder Andrew Robinson, Vice President, Account Supervisor at gkv, and pitcher Todd Schaefer, Account Executive at gkv, SHE10 ultimately walked away with two lopsided wins.

gkv hopes to turn its season around with the return of several key players next week that should allow the team to gain momentum heading into the playoffs. Next up for gkv (1-5) is Comcast Spotlight (3-1) on Wednesday, June 30 at Carroll Park.

“I feel Bruised and Battered.”

-Softball

Shorthanded gkv pummeled by The Baltimore Sun Media Group (BSMG)

Unfortunately for the gkv softball team this past week, business came first. And no, that business was not dominating softball. In its June 2 softball games, the gkv softball team found themselves at nearly one-third capacity as many co-workers had prior work obligations that kept them off the field. Facing The Baltimore Sun Media Group (BSMG) with only eight players (with a total of 21 players on the roster) seemed like a daunting task, and it proved to be just that.

The first game in the doubleheader was kept close by a motivated gkv crew. Through the first three innings, gkv trailed by only one run. Sadly, that was the closest gkv would get to BSMG for the rest of the night as they eventually lost both games by a score of 17-6 and “something high” to zero, respectively.

The night did have a pair of highlights for gkv. First, it marked the rookie debut of Joey Helsel, Account Executive for gkv REACH. Having not played since high school, Joey admitted she was a bit rusty. But thoroughly enjoyed the games even though she did get gunned out at home plate.

“Our team captain got a big hit with me on base and eventually caught up to me while running the bases,” said Helsel. “He kept yelling ‘Run! Run! Run!’ and I did just that, but then I got thrown out at home.”

The other highlight came in the second game when Amber Bradford, Public Relations Senior Account Executive and Katey Clark, Public Relations Account Executive, teamed up to return the favor and threw out a greedy BSMG player at the plate.

gkv’s record now stands at 1-3. gkv’s next game is on Wednesday, June 23 at Carroll Park.

“I thought about sliding into home, but I remembered I had a wedding to be in this weekend, so I scratched that idea.”

-gkv teammate Joey Helsel, in reference to getting tagged out at home plate

First basement drives in four, including two-run home runs

Looking to rebound from a first-round playoff loss last season in the American Advertising Federation of Baltimore (AAF) Softball League, gkv started opening day with a doubleheader split against the Mighty Chucks (Carton Donofrio Partners).

A rusty gkv squad took an early loss in the first game of the doubleheader, 14-7.  Staked with a five-run lead in the first inning, the Mighty Chucks never trailed at any point during the game. gkv rallied when first baseman John Acquavita hit an inside-the-park home run over the left fielder’s head, driving in two runs.  Unfortunately, one run down was as close as gkv would get in the first of the two games, as the Mighty Chucks blew it wide open in the later innings.

The first-game loss served as a jolt to the gkv team, as the opposing team captain was supposedly overheard saying, “I’m afraid we have awakened a sleeping giant.” He may have been right, as gkv went on to return the whopping en route to a 14-4 victory in the second game.

“I’m not a singles hitter anymore.”
-gkv teammate John Acquavita

Sloppy defense leads to seven-run inning against gkv; Offense bails out team with another come-from-behind win

For a team that is usually buoyed by excellent defense, gkv came out of the gates Wednesday evening looking more like a Little League team than a defending Advertising Association of Baltimore (AAB) league champion. Sloppy defense was at fault for a seven-run inning in the first game of a doubleheader against The Baltimore Sun team.

Trailing 7-3 in the bottom of the third inning, gkv went on to score nine unanswered runs, while the defense calmed down and secured a 12-7 win in game one. Despite some shaky defense early, both Brian Cox and John Acquavita were perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 and 2-for-2 with a walk, respectively.

The offensive flood gates opened in game two as gkv scored 18 runs through five innings, winning the game by the “Mercy Rule,” 18-2.

And I, as team captain, admirably showed the team I am not the superstar my paparazzi entourage claims, as I struck out swinging in the top of the fourth inning.

Next week’s games pit gkv against winless Comcast Spotlight.

“I was shocked at all the errors we were making in the field but then our bats came alive and I forgot about all the errors. We scored 18 runs in the second game. My little legs were tired from rounding the bases so much!”
– gkv teammate, Joey A. O’Connell

gkv wins two-game sweep against undefeated BSMG

gkv 2008 AAB Champions

Faced with a 5-2 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning, gkv - reigning champions of the Advertising Association of Baltimore (AAB) league - completed the improbable comeback, scoring four runs in its last at bat to defeat the previously undefeated Baltimore Sun Media Group (BSMG), 6-5.

The inning got started with three consecutive singles by Johnny Vo, Brian Cox and Suzy Vo and a double by Andy Vollmerhausen. After Jason Knapp knocked in the tying run, Amber Bradford stepped up to the plate and hit the game-winning single to secure the come-from-behind victory.

Riding the wave of momentum from the first game, gkv scored 12 runs en route to its game two win. Homeruns by Brian Cox and Jason Knapp were just two of the highlights from the second game of the double-header.

The two wins on July 8 against BSMG increase gkv’s win streak to four games and improves its overall record to 7-3, moving the team into third place in the Advertising Association of Baltimore (AAB) league standings. The top two teams currently are SHE10 (10-0) and BSMG (8-2).

gkv will face off against another Baltimore Sun team on July 15 at Baltimore’s Carroll Park.

“I didn’t even know I had gotten the game-winning RBI. After the hit I saw Andy score and said ‘Game over?! Woo!’ And then I did a little dance.  A victory dance.” - gkv teammate, Amber Bradford