Booze on First Season Preview Served by Lovie’s Frosty Twist
The back to back to back champions are set to return for their fourth year in the WILL. They open their journey to their fourth consecutive league title on Sunday (June 2) at 4:30 pm when they face the Roman Noodles in the first round of the Opening Day Tournament.
Roster: Booze on First has had a different roster for all three championship teams, that continues this year. Jordan Castelli is the captain for the second straight year. Over the winter months he came to an agreement with Mike Graziani to join the team. Graziani has bounced around a couple teams over the past couple years and has 2 championships (‘14 & ‘15) to his resume. The lone original Booze member, Josh Palma is returning for his fourth year on the squad. Palma has been a key factor in all of Booze’s playoff runs and won playoff MVP in 2016. Rounding out the 2019 roster is Matt Mish. Mish enters his third year as a team member after he joined them in 2017 following a loss to Booze in the ‘16 championship.
Fielding: Captain Castelli is one of the most reliable left fielders in the WILL. He notably controlled the outfield in 2017, his first year with Booze, when the team went through the regular season with two players for the large majority of the season. Palma is usually the go to guy in right field, but Mish could be thrown out there as well. Palma is known for his spectacular catch to save the 2016 championship series that sent him to the hospital and Booze on their way to their first title.
Pitching: Booze’s ace from last year, Jacob Davey, has departed this season to form a new team. Davey pitched 82 of the 95 innings for Booze last year. Therefore the pitching role is in question for ‘19. The pickup of Mike Graziani should be the answer to that question. Graziani split time between two teams last year, the CBG Doughboys and Barton’s Bombers. Across those two teams he totaled 41.1 innings pitched, 18.2 with CBG and 22.2 with Barton, and had a 5.33 ERA. Palma tossed the outlying 13 innings for Booze last season and ended with a 6.54 ERA. Castelli took the rubber for one intentional walk last season, he could see some action versus the Plumbers.
Batting: Booze is the most powerful offensive team in the league and there isn’t a question about that. They consistently lead the league in home runs. In 2018, they were second in the league in average at a .562 mark, just .010 behind the league leaders, and they were the top home run hitting team in convincing fashion. They knocked 122 homers last year, a cool 57 more than the next best team. Jordan Castelli is the reigning Silver Slugger, he will lead the offense this year as well. Castelli is the biggest power threat in the league, hitting 53 home runs last season which was 23 more than the next player on the home run leader board. Who is that next guy? Matt Mish. Mish, 2nd, along with Palma, 4th, notched the top of the home run leaderboard in ‘18. Graziani is a historically quality bat to add depth to the lineup. To wrap it up, Booze on First has 3 out of the top 4 in the league home run hitters from last year, they will be tough outs.
Other: Due to Graziani and Palma on the road for the NCAA DIII National Baseball Championship, look for Castelli to add some free agents to the roster as Opening Day fill ins. Booze on First can be followed this season on Twitter @BoF_WILL.
This preview was served by Lovie’s Frosty Twist. Stop down to Lovie’s on South Main Street in Houston for some of the best ice cream you’ll have this summer.
