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Welcome to the Official home of the GraysJune 22nd - So a lot has happened recently as the Grays just wrapped up a stretch of 6 league games in 8 days. GC managed to make through by winning 4 of the 6 contests. A game was added to the schedule as well for this Friday night as the Grays will travel to Milaca to take on the Stingers with a 6:00pm start time. Our next Lakewood tilt will see the Cold Spring Springers pay a visit on Wednesday July 1st at Dick Putz Field. ----------------- Up Next: GC will travel to Avon to face the Lakers on Wednesday night, and coincidentally, the third time in four games they will face the "Lakers". After that, the Grays will face a stretch of six Lakewood League games in 9 days starting Saturday night against the Orthopedic Ice. -------------------------- June 8th, 2009 - Another St. Cloud Tournament weekend gone, and another SCT weekend runied by rain. Friday night games were played with no problem, but the rain started coming down in the 5th inning of game 1 on Saturday morning and by 3:00 it was too wet to play. The Grays were fortunate enough to get their first game in and beat the rain, but game 2 was pushed back to late Sunday afternoon which resulted in the championship portion of the tournament to be cancelled. GC took on the Lake Henry Lakers in their first game of pool play and came out with a 2-1 victory. GC's offense once again was too much for Lake Henry to handle as they pounded out 5 hits in 7 innings. For the offense, the 3rd inning was all they would need. Brace Hemmelgarn led the inning off with a double and stole 3rd base. Phil Imholte then walked and stole 2nd. Brett Hemmelgarn came up and ripped an RBI single to push the first run of the game across. Nick Hengel then got the 2nd run home at the expense of double play, but the Grays took a 2-0 lead that starter, Collin Stiongel would not relinquish. Stinogel worked a complete game picked up a win to move to 3-0 on the season. Lakers hitters were limited to 5 hits and kept off balance all day. Game 2 of pool play saw the Grays matchup with the St. Paul Roosters. On a cold, miserable Sunday afternoon, the Roosters bested GC 1-0 as the high-powered Grays offense was held in check by three Roosters hurlers. Brian Anderson was the hard luck loser for the Grays as he only gave up 5 hits on the days as the winning run was scored in the bottom of the 7th on a wild pitch after back-to-back singles started the inning. It was a tough end to a miserable weekend (weather-wise anyway) that saw the Grays 8-game winning streak come to end. -------------------- June 5th, 2009 - The St. Cloud Tournament starts today and the Grays will be in action (weather permitting, it always rains during this tournament.... seriously, like every year) twice on Saturday. In pool play they will face Lake Henry and the St. Paul Roosters at Joe Faber Field. --------------------- June 3rd, 2009 - Wednesday the Grays traveled to Clear Lake to face the Lakers and in front of a large pro-Grays crowd, they were able to push 2 runs across in the top of the 9th to pick up a 3-1 victory. Dave Carlson did the damage with a 2-run double as a pinch hitter in the top of the 9th to give the Grays a lead and subsequent victory. Leading off the 9th inning was Brace Hemmelgarn who laced a double to the left-center gap and then moved to 3rd when Eric Schwinghammer was able to reach on a sac bunt attempt. Schwinghammer stole 2nd and then Carlson ripped a fastball to the base of the wall in right field scoring Hemi and Schwing. With GC scoring 3 runs in the game, it goes down as an offensive explosion for them as they definitely brought the bats with them as they pounded out 9 hits and put up a gaudy 3 runs to pick up the Lakewood League victory. Phil Imholte and Nick Hengel led the way with 2 hits apiece. On the mound was Peter Burg who was making his triumphant return after moving into a new college house the previous weekend. Completely reenergized, Burg was able to keep the Lakers offense in check holding them to 3 hits and an unearned run while throwing a complete game to pick up his 2nd victory of the year. ------------ May 31st, 2009 - So, I'm 3 game summaries behind. They will be coming in the next couple days... but for those who want the quick version. GC 4 - Freeport 1. GC 2 - Sauk Rapids Cyclones 0. GC 2 - Becker 1 (11 innings). I also got around to updating the roster page.... have fun! Here we go.... May 31st, 2009 - GC took the field for yet another home game on Sunday afternoon and this time it was Becker Bandits who paid a visit. Year in and year out the Bandits find a way to give the Grays a game which is never decided until the end. 2009 was no different as GC squeaked out a 2-1 victory in 11 innings. Collin Stinogel got the start on the mound for the Grays looking for his 3rd victory of the year and he pitched well enough to get it, but the Grays couldn't put up enough runs to make it stick. Stinogel went 10 strong innings, giving up only 3 hits and striking out 7 while giving up only 1 unearned run during his outing. Phil Imholte came on to throw the 11th and was able to pick up his 2nd win of the season after getting the Bandits to leave the bases loaded to end the top half of the 11th. At the plate, the offensively challenged Grays could not push runs across as they left 14 guys on base and were 2-16 on the day with runners in scoring position. An RBI single in the first by Dave Carlson was all the Grays could muster until the 11th when Nick Hengel came though with a 2-out RBI single to give the Grays the victory. In addition to getting the victory on the mound, Phil Imholte was the lone offensive weapon for the Grays going 4-6 and scoring both GC runs. -------- May 24th, 2009 - It didn't get any easier as the newly placed Class "B" Sauk Rapids Cyclones rolled into Joe Faber field on a sunny Sunday afternoon. In front of a packed house at Faber, the fans were treated to a great baseball game in which both teams played good baseball. Both teams went a quick 3 up and 3 down in the first before the Cyclones loaded the bases off of Grays starter Collin Stinogel with 1 out in the top of the 2nd. Stinogel was able to induce an inning ending 5-2-3 DP to get out of the jam and there wouldn't be much trouble after that. In the bottom of the 3rd, the Grays offense came alive. Back-to-back..... walks and a fielders choice on a sac bunt attempt loaded the bases for Phil Imholte to laced a shot at the SS who booted the ball allowing 2 Grays runners to score. The offensive explosion was done there though until the 6th when Imholte and Brett Hemmelgarn opened the inning with singles and a SB each putting runner on 2nd and 3rd with no out. The 'Clones made a pitching change and got out of the inning with no damage. That was the last real threat that either team mounted on a day which saw pitchers dominate. Stinogel threw a complete game 3-hit shutout for the Grays, while the Grays offense only managed 2 hits off Cyclones pitching. A big win though for the Grays to cap off a tough weekend by going 2-0 against some very good opponents. ------ May 22nd, 2009 - It was a battle with another division rival, this time it was the Freeport Black Sox at Dick Putz Field. Coming off a Lakewood League win against Sauk Centre in which Collin Stinogel made his 2009 debut, Peter Burg was back in town to make his 2009 Grays debut after pitching for the Rochester Honkers in the Northwoods League last summer. Burg was sharp from the beginning and the Grays offense did all it needed with a 4 run 2nd inning which saw the first three Grays hitters reach base via single, walk, single. A bases loaded walk, a sac fly, pushed the first 2 runs across and that was followed with a two out walk and a then single by 1st basemen Nick Hengel which score 2 more Grays to take a 4-0 lead after 2 innings. From there on out it was a pitchers duel. Burg gave up a leadoff double in the 7th and the Black Sox pushed their lone across on a passed ball with 2 outs in the inning. Neither team threatened much in the game and the Grays moved to 2-1 in Lakewood League play after beating a talented Black Sox team. Burg threw a complete game giving up 5 hits while striking out 7. Offensively, Nick Hengel has the big 2 run single, and Brett Hemmelgarn was 2-3 with a BB. ---------------------- May
17th, 2009 - Granite City was back to Lakewood League action on Sunday
night against division foe Sauk Centre. Coming into the game the
Grays were feeling good about winning two games in a row after dropping
a tough one to Brainerd to open the season. More importantly, the
Grays actually had more than 9 guys for the first time in 6 games
dating back to the end of last season.... what would they do with
themselves!
Onto the baseball. Collin Stinogel was making his '09 Grays debut on the mound and after an error, an infield single when no one covered first base on a sac bunt attempt, and a walk loaded the bases with no outs, Stinogel was able to induce a 5-2-3 DP and then K the 5-hole hitter to get out of the jam with no damage. GC was able to push a run across on an RBI single by Dave Carlson in the first, but didn't do anymore damage until the 4th when Grays DH, Mike Kessler, led off with a solo homer to left. Brace Hemmelgarn followed 2 batters later with a double to the base of the left field wall and later scored on an error. With a 3-0 lead going to the 5th, GC was able to push across 3 more runs as the inning started with 2 singles, then Stinogel stepped to the plate and drilled a double to the right center gap to give the Grays a 4-0. Brace Hemmelgarn followed with a sac fly to center, and Josh Janzen delivered an RBI single to give the Grays a 6-0 lead. Stinogel was very impressive in his first outing of the year, as he went 5.1 innings giving up only 2 hits (well, one) as only one single, and one fly ball left the infield in his outing. If not for an error extending the 6th inning, Stinogel probably goes longer but a few bases loaded walks brought on reliever Billy Sommers to get a strikeout with the Titans threating to make it a close game. After that it was smooth sailing for Sommers and the Grays offense as the were able to tack on a few runs in the 7th, and then Brace Hemmelgarn belted a 3-run HR in the 8th to put the game out of reach and give the Grays an 11-2 lead and subsequent victory. Brace Hemmelgarn and Mike Kessler were the offensive stars today as Hemmelgarn went 3-4 with a 1B, 2B, HR, SF, 3 R, and 4 RBI and Kessler going 2-3 with a solo HR and 2 R. Pitching wise Stinogel and Sommers kept the Titans offense in check by only allowing 2 hits and combining to strike out 10 on the night. ------------------- May 13th, 2009 - Granite City didn't know what to do with themselves after pulling off a rare non-league win, but they decided the best way to follow it up was to try to win another one. This time, they went on the road and took on a very talented Eden Valley team on a very windy Wednesday night. Brian "BA" Anderson was on top of his game on the hill, throwing a complete game while keeping Eden Valley hitters off-balance with his mix of slow cuves, straight heat, and a knuckleball every so often, just to keep them guessing. BA scattered 8 hits and held EV to one earned run on the night while looking masterful in his first appearance of the year. Offensively, Josh Boom carried the Grays offense with RBI singles in the 5th, and the game winning RBI single in the top of the 9th. What makes this more significant for Boom, is he equaled his 2008 season total of 3 hits with his RBI single in the 9th! Congrats to Boom on on only needing 3 games to pick up his 3rd hit this year! ---------------------- May 9th, 2009 - It took a little help and a late inning comeback, but the "exhibition game challenged" Grays got the 2009 non-league schedule started off on the right foot this year and picked up a 7-5 win over the visiting Minneapolis Rocks. It looked like it could be a long day after the Rocks took a 2-0 lead after their first 3 batters, but Grays starter Nick Hengel was able to settle down and get out of the first with no more damage done. Hengel lasted 5 innings giving up 5 runs and left the ball game with the Grays trailing 5-2. In the bottom of the 6th, GC was able to string together a couple hits, a walk and a Rocks error to push two runs across and cut the deficit to 5-4. In the 7th the Grays batted around and took advantage of RBI singles from Steve Rindelaub and Dave Carlson, and got an insurance run when Josh Janzen walked with the bases loaded to take a 7-5 lead going into the 8th. Phil Imholte picked up the win in relief of Nick Hengel going the last 4 innings and only giving up 2 hits in his first appearance on a mound since legion ball in the summer 2008. ----------------------- May 3rd, 2009 - If it wasn't for Brett Hemmelgarn stepping in-between the foul line and runners lane and Brian Anderson keeping his batting gloves in his back pockets during the 7th inning against Brainerd (only time they did each action throughout the game), the Grays might have started the season with a victory over the Lakewood Leagues Brainerd Bees. After getting out to a 7-3 lead, the Grays fell apart in the 7th inning and let Brainerd tie the game on a series of defensive miscues, bloops and seeing eye singles. From there, all it took was a Sac Fly in the bottom of the 10th inning for the Bees to secure the win and give the Grays the season opening loss. Billy Sommers started on the hill for the Grays and deserved to pick up a win in his first outing. Sommers threw 9 innings striking out 10, and giving up 4 ER. Offensively for the Grays, Brace Hemmelgarn was 2-4 with a BB, 2 SB, 2 R and an RBI. Nick Hengel was 2-4 with a BB and a R, and Mike Kessler was a 2-3 with 2 BB and 2 RBI. Next up for the Grays is a battle with the Minneapolis Rocks on Saturday May 9th at 1:00 at Dick Putz Field. ----------------------------- March 12, 2009 - On behalf of the Grays baseball team, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to the Imholte family, you are in our thoughts. ------------------------------ March 4, 2009 - 2009 Schedule has been posted and should be finished. Possibly adding one, maybe two more games if they fit in the schedule. ------------------------------ Feb. 18, 2009 - It's still cold outside but its never too early to start thinking about the 2009 amateur baseball season. Schedules are being finalized, rosters are being set, and those of us that aren't playing college baseball at the moment are still sitting on the couch watching TV and playing videogames telling ourselves we should start to get in shape!
August 2008 - Well, in case you hadn't noticed, the Grays season is over. A couple unfortunate bounces led to the Grays dropping 2 Lakewood playoff games thus ending the season. In a season that saw many ups and downs, the Grays look ahead to next year with what should be a very young, yet talented team. While the roster should stay mostly intact, we'll look forward to the return of Peter Burg, who threw for the Rochester Honkers in the Northwoods League this summer where he compiled a record of 5-3 in 12 starts with a 2.09 ERA. Burg was also a participant in the midseason All-Star Game in Madison, WI, as well being named to the Postseason All-Star Team. Besides the stellar pitching numbers, Burg also made a statement to the Grays front office to be the teams 3-hitter next summer by going 2-2 with 3 RBI's in 2 AB's in the Honkers last game of the year. Along with Burg, the Grays will look to some youngsters who should be around full time next summer after legion commitments took priority this year. Phil Imholte (.407 avg), Adam Theis (.300), Brace Hemmelgarn (.294), Steve Rindelaub, Tom Spaniol, and Colin Stinogel will be key contributors for the Grays next year and give us some much needed depth after a summer in which the Grays struggled to get 9 guys to way too many games. Look for periodic updates throughout the off-season with any important news that might occur.... -----------------------------
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