Boulder has now claimed their second straight Goldblum Cup.

CHARLESTON, SC – Leonard Strike smashed a grand slam in the second inning that put Boulder up 5-1, and the Bunions never looked back. They went on to beat Charleston 15-7, claiming their second straight Goldblum Cup.

Unlike most of the postseason, this game was never in doubt for Boulder. They amassed a 13-0 lead before Charleston recorded their first hit. That hit did not come until the sixth inning. Charleston’s pitching was utterly torn to shreds by Boulder’s bruising offense. The Bunions tallied 18 hits and scored 15 runs from them.

Boulder’s pitching, on the other hand, was top-notch for most of the game. Things may have seemed grim when starter Steve Reynolds left the game in the first inning with an injured finger, but reliever Jacob Tinley marched in and held the Windjammers hitless for four innings. By that time, Boulder could have already popped open the champagne. Charleston, for the third consecutive game, failed to hit a home run.

No matter how it may have seemed after the Paxton Championship Series and the opening game of the Goldblum Cup, Boulder is still the dominant team in BH Baseball. Now, they perch high atop the mountain with two trophies. This team could be stretching out and reigning over a dynasty.

Boulder now leads the Goldblum Cup 3-1 and is one victory away from repeating as BH Baseball champions. For Charleston fans, however, the championship dream is dangling on a precipice. In the last three games, the Windjammers have led through most of the game but gave it up to Boulder in the seventh and eighth innings. Josh Hughett sees the problem as a strictly pitching issue. “Our lack of depth is showing,” he said. “Our starting nine is just as good as their starting nine, maybe better, but our relief is just inexperienced.”

Charleston hopes to stay alive and win Game 5 on Wednesday. A victory would send the series back to Boulder, where the Windjammers captured their only triumph of the Cup.

In the eighth inning, McElroy hit the tying home run, and he was followed later in the inning by Sergeant Carter, who crushed a three-run shot to put the Bunions ahead for good.

“It was fast-paced, high-offensive game,” Striker said of his team’s victory. “I’m glad we were able to win one of this type. Our team is far from perfect, but we made great strides toward a championship tonight.”

Charleston’s pitching, for the first time in the postseason, let them down. Their offense definitely gave them an opportunity to win by holding a 10-5 through the seventh inning, but the guys on the mound just couldn’t bottle up Boulder’s bruising batters. “We have to make some adjustments defensively,” Josh Hughett said of his team. “We can’t play like this and expect to win.”

Game 3 will be Sunday night from I.O.P. Field in Charleston, South Carolina.

Charleston hopes to hold off Virginia and win their first divisional crown.

With Charleston’s and Virginia’s wins on Monday, the race for the Southern Division remains conspicuously close. The Windjammers (24-11) have a one game lead on the Virginia Opossums (23-12). And yet, Virginia is riding high on a late season swell, amassing an 8-2 record in their last ten games. Charleston, by comparison, is only 5-5. The remaining schedule, however, favors Charleston. They open a three game series with Baltimore (15-20), while Virginia will tangle with Eastern-leading Montreal (19-16).

I.O.P. Park in Charleston was sold out for Opening Day. The Windjammers won over Savannah 3-2.

I.O.P. PARK, Charleston, SC – Charleston struggled, but they won. Granted, the Windjammers are the favorites in the Southern Division, but it took them ten innings to defeat expansionist Savannah on Sunday. Josh Hughett, Spring League all-star and guitar virtuoso, knocked in relief pitcher Terry Clark to secure an Opening Day victory. Hughett went 3 for 5 with a stolen base and a RBI. First-baseman Phil Daulhausser also went 3 for 5. Grant Hughett and John Mayer, two of Charleston’s biggest weapons, however, went a combined 2 for 9.

The win marks the first time the Windjammers (1-0) have been over .500 in BHB history. “I’m proud of my guys,” Josh Hughett said. “It wasn’t easy, but we stuck it out. This win will help us in those tight contests later on.”

John Mayer topped the list of Blue House Baseball All-Stars.

BH HALL OF THE IMMORTALS – As the inaugural Blue House Baseball season reached its halfway point, the league announced its first ever All-Star Team this week. The announcement was accompanied by a ceremony at the Blue House Hall of the Immortals earlier today. Leading the league with the most votes was Charleston Windjammers left fielder John Mayer. Second was Manchester’s right fielder Michael Dawson. The Hawai’i Kats had the most selections with four.

While the league will not have an official all-star game this season, the league is in talks with four unnamed cities regarding expansion franchises. League officials stated that these potential franchises would expand the league into two separate leagues, like the National and American, and therefore, enable a true all-star game. As of now, the all-star team is merely an honor.

Here is the team:

For Manchester, the loss marks their second in a row, and guarantees them a second-place tie in the Eastern Division. The  lead now goes to the winner of the Balitmore versus Montreal game later today. Charleston and Manchester meet again on Tuesday for game two of their three-game series.

The two teams meet again on Tuesday to wrap up a three game series.

All in all, the Ninjas record 17 hits compared to the Windjammers’ 11. Charleston (0-1) debuted in the newly built I.O.P. Park that was described by many baseball critics as “the most beautiful ball park in the league”. The Windjammers’ glorious premiere, however, was undercut by the big bats of Baltimore. Paul Daulhausser proved to be the opening star for Charleston by going 3 for 4 and driving in a run.

“They just played harder,” Josh Hughett, the Windjammers’ manager said following the loss. “They (Ninjas) seemed more prepared for the windy condition than we were.” The two teams meet again on Tuesday at I.O.P. Park.