How We Play Today
Chanhassen Storm 13U AAA Blue · June 13 doubleheader · 11:15 AM & 3:45 PM
The one number that matters
Limit walks. Throw strikes and catch the ball.
We're a strong-hitting team (team OPS 1.035) whose results swing entirely on run prevention. When we walk people and give away outs, good teams bury us — we issued 12 walks in the 8-17 Eastview loss. Our bats keep us in any game; we lose by handing out free baserunners.
Who we are today
Deep, high-contact, high-on-base lineup (.404/.499/1.035). Eight regulars hit .378+. Bogucki, Duda, ONeill and Downey almost never strike out — a real edge vs strikeout pitchers. Work counts, put the ball in play, force the defense to make plays.
Nolan Johnson (#2) and Ben Duda (#34) are our two best strike-throwers by a wide margin. Everyone else either walks too many or gets hit hard. Matching the right arm to the right opponent is the most important decision of the day.
Pitching plan (two-game day)
- Save Nolan (#2) and Duda (#34) for Eastview. They're the most patient lineup we'll face; our two strike-throwers are the antidote. Don't burn them on IGH in the morning.
- Use the middle of the staff against IGH. Mobley, Jones, ONeill or Downey can handle an overmatched 3-18-2 team. Even if they give up hits, our offense should carry it.
- Keep the walk-prone arms away from Eastview. Halek (and Mobley if he's wild) — Eastview won't chase and will turn walks into crooked innings.
Game by game
They are 3-18-2. We beat them 17-12 on May 2. Very beatable.
Wild pitching and a leaky defense — but the top of their order (Cayto C #2, River M #26, Charlie L #18) can hit. Don't get sloppy.
Use the middle of the staff: Mobley, Jones, ONeill, or Downey. Save Nolan Johnson (#2) and Ben Duda (#34) for Eastview — do NOT burn them here.
- Their pitching is wild and walks the ballpark — be patient and take your walks.
- Strike early; big innings are clearly there against them.
- Run the bases aggressively against a leaky defense.
- Keep their leadoff catalyst Cayto C (#2) off the bases.
- Don't get loose on defense — they can still hit. Plan to win something like 14-7, not a shutout.
They are 15-5 — the real test. They beat us 17-8 on May 2 on the back of our 12 walks.
Deep, patient lineup (five .430+ hitters, team OBP .453) and two genuine arms (Matthew E #99, Blake L #48) who throw strikes and miss bats. They run aggressively.
Start our two strike-throwers — Nolan Johnson (#2) and Ben Duda (#34). They are the antidote to a patient lineup. Keep the walk-prone arms (Halek, and Mobley if he's wild) far away from this game.
- Against their aces, our contact guys (Bogucki, Duda, ONeill, Downey) earn their keep — put the ball in play and make their defense work.
- If they burned an ace in their morning game vs River Falls and we reach their #3-4 arms (Declan T, Tate L, Diesel S), get aggressive — that's where their staff falls apart.
- We'll need to score in volume. Plan to win a high-scoring game.
- Respect Diesel S (#89) with runners on; keep leadoff catalyst Blake L (#48) off the bases.
- Control the running game — they steal aggressively.
Bottom line
Throw strikes, catch the ball, and trust the bats. Limit walks and errors and we're live in both games today.