YOU HAVE ENTERED THE PURE STRAT PLAYOFF ZONE
(July 2013, series game shown in the order played)

First Round, Mick van Valkenburg vs. The Skokie Wolfmen

Game #1

TEAMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R H E Mick van Valkenburg         2             2 4 1 Skokie Wolfmen   3     3     1     7 12 0

W: Vogelsong / L: F. Hernandez Homeruns: A. Jones (Skokie, 1); Heyward (Skokie, 1); Choo (Mick, 1)

In the Wolfmen's first official game in the Pure Strat Skype tournament playoffs, the mighty Wolfmen's bats came alive early when Adam Jones hit a 3 run homer in the second and a two run double by Votto in fifth scored two more and Heyward tripled in Votto. Mick scored two runs in the 4th with a homer by Choo and an RBI single by Ruiz but other than this Vogelsong was unhittable and pitched a complete game. Hitting star for Skokie was Heyward 3 for 4, 2 RBIs, a triple and homer. Skokie stuns the veteran Pure Strat player in game 1.

SKOKIE WOLFMEN'S RECORD: 1 -0

Game #2

TEAMS  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R H E Mick van Valkenburg       1         2   3 10 0 Skokie Wolfmen   2         1 1     4 8 0

W: Valverde / L: Jensen Homeruns: (none)

Parker for the Wolfmen vs. G. Gonzalez for Mick. Skokie broke the game open in the 2nd with three singels that scored two runs (RBIs by Beltre and Scutaro) but three hits off Parker in the 4th including an RBI single by Dirks made it 2-1. The game stayed close as it turned into a pitchers battle until the bottom o the 8th when Cargo hit a triple and with 2 outs Cody Ross got a pinch hit off Jensen to score Cargo for a 3-1 lead. Mick scored two runs in the top of the 9th after a DP with two outs, via three hits with Wright singling home two runs. But with one out, a walk by Votto, a single by Perez and Cargo singling in the winner run game Skokie a slim 4-3 win. We would have to say Cargo was the hitting star helping to score the last two runs by Skokie. Amazing Skokie led 2-0 in the best of 7.

SKOKIE WOLFMEN'S RECORD: 2 -0

Game #3

TEAMS  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R H E Skokie Wolfmen       3   2   1     6 6 1 Mick van Valkenburg 2 1           1 1   5 14 1

W: Alex Cobb / L: Dickey Homeruns: G. Gonzalez (Skokie, 1); A. Jones (Skokie, 2)

This was a most game for Mick to win and in the beginning it seemed so as 4 hits and a Skokie error brought in two runs in the 1st (2 round double by Dirks) and Choo doubled in a round for Mick in the 2nd. However in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded (two hits and an error on Ruiz) and 2 outs, Heyward came through with a 3 run double to tie it.  In the 6th, Cargo hit a two run homer with two outs (Jones HBP) to take a 5-3 Skokie lead. And in the 8th Adam Jones hit his second homer of the series to give Skokie a 6-3 lead. Skokie used their hits, walks, HBP and Mick's error as efficiently as possible. But Mick wouldn't be quite and 3 hits (RBI single by Hill) made it 6-4 in the bottom of the 8th and a WP by Kimbrell after two outs, allowing Wright to score made it 6-5. With two outs and a man on 2nd, Pujol was up and Kimbrell intentionally walked him and then struck out Hill to preserve another close game but gave Skokie a commanding 3-0 lead with just one more win to advance.

SKOKIE WOLFMEN'S RECORD: 3 -0

Game #4

TEAMS  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R H E Skokie Wolfmen     1       1 1     3 5 0 Mick van Valkenburg     3   1     1     5 6 1

W: Vogelsong (Mick) / L: Miley Homeruns: Pierzynski (Skokie, 1)

Another tight pitcher's game but this time Skokie couldn't pull out any miracles - Mick had a walk and three hits in the bottom of the 3rd after Reyes double in a run for Skokie in the top, Wright (single), Gomes (Sac Fly) and a double by Butler accounded for Mick's three runs. A double, ground out and WP by Miley scored Mick's 4th round. Skokie made it 4-2 in the 7th on Perzynski first homer of the series and Cargo's trip in the 8th made it 4-3 but Mick got an RBI ground out with the bases loaded in the 8th for a 5-3 lead and Mott closed out Skokie to keep Mick alive in the series. No hitter stars but a team effort in the win for Mick.

SKOKIE WOLFMEN'S RECORD: 3 -1

Game #5

TEAMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R H E Skokie Wolfmen                 1     1 9 0 Mick van Valkenburg   1 1   4 1         7 12 0

W: F. Hernandez / L: Vogelsong (Skokie) Homeruns: Ruiz (Mick, 1); Hill (Mick, 1)

This game was all Mick as the momentum began to swing to him. Skokie had 9 hits but could only put a run across in the 8th on a double by Butler scoring Beltre. In the meantime Mick score a run in the 2nd (RBI by Hill), another run in the 3rd (RBI by Purholitz), and 4 in the 5th on a two run homer by Ruiz and a two run home Hill. A dboule by Trout brought home Wright in the 6th for a complete 7-1 victory. Ruiz was 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs and Hill was 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs. We go back to Skokie to see if Skokie can stop this winning streak. Vogelsong was unable to pitch like he did in game 1.

SKOKIE WOLFMEN'S RECORD: 3 -2

Game #6

TEAMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R H E Mick van Valkenburg 3       3 6     1   13 18 0 Skokie Wolfmen   2       1   3     6 9 0

W: G. Gonzalez / L: Parker Homeruns: Choo (Mick, 2); Trout (Mick, 1); Gomes (Mick, 1); Heyward (Skokie, 2); Beltre (Skokie, 1)

Based on the 3 run first and hitting spree of Mick's team, it didn't look like Skokie could do anything, Parker was unable to stop Mick in any way and rather then use up his relief for the final game he let Parker stay in for a bombing.  In the first Trout singled home a run, Dirks doubled in a run and Ruiz singled in another to make it 3-0 for Mick, Victorino's two run trip made it 3-2 in the 2nd but this the closes Skokie would come. Dirks killed Skokie in this game as he tripled in two more runs in the 5th and Puholtz knocked him in for a 6-2 lead. But then in the 6th the game blew open as all Skokie could do is watch as Choo hit a 2 run homer, then Trout hits a 2 run homer and Puholtz doubles in two more for a 12-2 lead. Heyward homers in the bottom of the 6th and Beltre finally hits his first home a 3 run shot in the bottom of the 8th for a 12-6 game, but Gomez homers for Mick's 13th run and Norberto shut down Skokie to even the series at 3 a piece. Hitting star for Mick was Trout 3 for 5 with 3 runs and 3 RBIs also Dirks was 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs. Clearly momentum had shifted to Mick, one of the most successful champions of Pure Strat, could the new comer Skokie Wolfmen stop this tide and pull off a rookie upset?

SKOKIE WOLFMEN'S RECORD: 3 -3

Game #7 (who would take the gold?)

TEAMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R H E Mick van Valkenburg 1     1         1   3 7 0 Skokie Wolfmen   1                 1 7 0

W: Dickey / L: Darvish Homeruns: Ruiz (Mick, 2); Quentin (Mick, 1)

It didn't look good for Skokie in the first when Mick loaded the bases with no one out. A double play stopped the rally but the first run of the game scores. In the bottom of the 2nd Skokie tied it 1-1 as Heyward single in Adam Jones but this was all Skokie could do this game against Dickey and the grand relief staff Mick had drafted as Skokie only had 2 more hits for the final 7 innings. Ruiz homered in the 4th for a 2-1 lead and Quentin homers in the top of the 9th for a 3-1 lead. Mott shut down Skokie 1-2-3 in the final inning. So Skokie had put Mick on the ropes but he calmly didn't panic and focused on each game as the Skokie hitters just could come up with a consistent attack in the final four games.  Congratulations to Mick for a very well played series.

CHAMPION OF THIS ROUND: MICK VAN VALKENBURG

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Notes from the Wolfman:  As it turned out, Mick eventually was the champion of the tournament as he added another championship to his long history of victories. I learned a lot as I said watching this veteran and champion players, how they managed their teams, each was very sharp and almost everyone was using the percentages to guide how to play their teams such as when to pinch hit, when to bring in a reliever and so on.  I also learned that playing with Skype made the games feel like I was playing real opponents and it sharped my skills to be more fluent with the table game version using dice and cards as it is called.  I don't get much of a chance to play Dice & Cards and mostly play with the computer which of course takes care of all your stats and make it easy to do your strategies during the game.  I am happy thought, after not doing well in prior Face to Face, Star Tournaments a few years ago that I was able to make it into the playoffs and be competitive. But the bottom line is, there are Strat Gods and when someone gets hot with the rolls and the other person doesn't, there ain't anything you can do.

Please find below a summary of the team statistics for all of the Skokie Wolfmen, our hitting and pitching performance during this round of the Purestrat Skype Tournament:

Skokie Wolfmen Hitting (7 games)
 

Skokie Wolfmen Pitching (7 games)
 

Name	G	W	L	GS	CG	Sh	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA
Cobb	1	1		1				6-1/3	8	3	3		2	3	4.27
Darvish	1		1	1				5	4	2	2	1	1	8	3.60
Kimbrell	3						1	3	5	2	2	1	3	7	6.00
McGee	4							5	3					9	0.00
Miley	1		1	1				6	4	4	4		3	2	6.00
Parker	2		1	2				11-1/3	20	13	13	2	5	9	10.33
Pestano	4							1-2/3	6	3	3		2		16.17
Ross	2							1-1/3	1	1	1	1			6.77
Smith	2							1	3	1	1			1	9.00
Valverde	3	1						3-1/3	3				1	2	0.00
Vogelsong	2	1	1	2	2			17	16	9	9	2	3	11	4.76
Totals	7	3	4	7	2		1	61	73	38	38	7	20	52	5.61

Final Notes from the Wolfman:  I hope that this three part article has given for you a very good overview what it is like to play in an online tournament.  Below, you will find links to Part I and Part II if you wish to review them:

http://www.ultimatestratbaseball.com/USBN-6-2013/Wolfman-does-Purestrat-P1-June2013.htm
http://www.ultimatestratbaseball.com/USBN-8-2013/Wolfman-does-Purestrat-P2-August2013.htm
 

Lastly, as a quick reminder, a lot more information is given about the October On-line SOM Baseball Convention at our main website. We really want to encourage all of you to join us. We believe this event could be a powerful way to bring the SOM Baseball Community together to participate in a very dynamic tourney and have a lot of fun at the same. If you like what we are doing with this free newsletter, which does take a good amount of time for us to put together and your appreciate our efforts plus find value in the articles, columns, interviews and resources shared, we kindly ask for your support, to make the convention a success. We see the newsletter and convention as two key activities for our community. To make all of this happen takes quite a bit of work and dedication. So if there is any way at all you can join us in this new experiment, to bring back a form of the old convention we would be forever grateful. There is a very reasonable fee to participant and you are able to play our tournament in the comfort of your home. Be a part of our team to make this special event happen!!

So why not head over for a quick visit and check the convention out. Its only $10 to join us for a full weekend of an amazing on-line tournament.  We hope to expand the convention in the future to offer multiple tournaments in the future. Be a part of history as a version of the original National SOM convention returns.  To learn more just head over to:

http://www.stratalliance.info

(The convention is brought to you through the joint efforts of
Purestrat, the Star Tournaments & the Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter
represented as the Strat Alliance with various other friends as well)

We also share our gratitude to Adam Rosen at the SOM game company
(see a link for his interview below) for helping us to share with all
Baseball Strat-o-matic Gamers in the world, we are very honored!!