Eight days is a long time in this media climate.
Does anyone remember those games against Tranås?
“What?! I have no idea,” Coach Edgren says.

Sadly, this reporter was not at all great at performing in his main task following the games against the Tranås Royal Cranes (e.g. Tropical Thunderstorm) last Sunday. Not being able to post even a quick recap in eight days is just disgraceful.

“It can’t go on like this,” an anonymous source told Hajarna.se.

Anyway… the Sharks started their home opener with ace José Martinez (2-2) last Sunday and he was up to the task. While maybe not being at his sharpest, he did perform as the Sharks won the first game of the double header 16-6 in in six innings.

He earned the win going the distance, giving up six runs (four earned) on seven hits, while walking four and striking out four. As always, he was backed by the stellar backstop named Toofan Khazal who now might focus more on the softball side of things.

Earnest the younger, on his way to steal second.

On the other side of the ball, the Sharks wasted no time at all as they put up three runs in the first and second inning while holding the Tropical Thunderstorm scoreless through the first two frames.

Göteborg Hajarna (4-4) actually kept things interesting, not putting up more runs on the board, all game long but closed it out in the end. With the score at 10-6 in the bottom of the sixth, six Sharks swam across the plate to end the game on mercy rule.

In the second one, it would be the other way around.

As Shervin ‘Shervinator’ Shakki came back from the DL, he got the nod from coach Edgren in the second game but the rust was showing. That rust, however, was not from Shakki himself but from the Sharks defense that practically handed Tranås the game, making costly error after costly error.

Edgren, to no avail, explained why winning is better than losing.

Marcus Bernander, the legendary Sharks scorekeeper, had to score eight runs on Shakki but only two of them were earned in the end. While Shakki didn’t have his usual pinpoint command (walking five), he did only allow five hits and notched four strikeouts.

Offensively, the Sharks were hapless in the second game of the day and even juggernaut José Munoz couldn’t figure out Tranås starter Nils Bergehed (3-0). Instead, the offensive force was lead by veterans Klas Brinkfeldt and Erik Earnest who both went 2-3.

Brinkfeldt is sort of cute.

In the end, the Tropical Thunderstorms drowned the Sharks 15-5 in six innings.

“We should be better than this, we should be working harder during the weeks,” coach Edgren says after the game.

Notables:

Martin Sundh was (almost) flawless umpiring the game.

Martinez went 4-5 and Lars Karlsson went 4-4 in the first game.

Chu Li Heng stole six (!) bases in the first game.

Daniel André was scored for an outfield assist, probably because his walk up song was Aqua’s Barbie Girl.

From Jose Munoz being named player of the month for the Swedish regional league to the club’s annual home run derby, a lot has happened this week.

Jose Munoz: player of the month
Jose Munoz is one of the very best players in Swedish baseball. Week after week, the Sharks’ Nicaraguan shortstop is out there providing solid hitting and highlight-reel fielding for the team. Congratulations Jose on winning the player of the month award for May!

Jose Munoz, Sharks MVP for 2017

Johan Weidolf: off to a blazing start
This might be Johan Weidolf‘s 29th season, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down, at least when it comes to hitting a round ball with a round bat. Four games into the season and Johan is 16 for 20, with a batting average of .800. Asked what is behind his hot start, Johan mentions two things; he is no longer playing with back pain and he has changed his approach to hitting: “I’m much more relaxed, not trying to do too much with the pitch I am given.”

First baseman Johan Weidolf

Home run derby: swinging for the fences
We have three new home run champs this year with Gillan André, Tina Atkins and Molkhlad “Momo” al-Ghanimi taking top honors in their respective categories. Momo has been eyeing that short and high home run fence (Gothenburg’s version of Boston’s Green Monster) at Shark Park since he first picked up a bat for the Sharks. Wednesday, the former Iraqi national team star pitcher finally hit one out,  winning the men’s baseball category in spectacular fashion.

Tina, Momo and Gillan, this year’s home run derby winners

Robbed in Karlskoga
The Sharks were robbed of a split against a strong Karlskoga team last Sunday, reinforced with imports from the US and borrowed players from Sölvesborg. They were obviously taking no chances after being swept the last time they faced the Sharks.

A late recap is better than none.
Winning should have been better on Sunday when the Sharks lost to Karlskoga.
“I want this one back,” bench coach Joel Earnest says.

The tough task of facing Karlskoga(/Sölvesborg) was not made easier when Göteborg Hajarna (3-3) made the trip with basically nine players. Sure, the lineup card had eleven names scribbled down but Joel Earnest was basically there as a bench coach and this reporter should probably not have been there at all.

José Martinez (1-2) got the nod from the interim manager since skipper Jonny Edgren was absent and Martinez fought admirably. Going up against former national team pitcher Kent Karlsson, Martinez held his own and battled the heat, his own arm and some questionable calls.

Karlskoga took an early lead after the Sharks made some defensive mistakes and went up 2-0 in the bottom of the first. Martinez kept on fighting but was erratic on occasion and walked a whooping five batters, which is not at all like the Sharks ace.

Martinez was also robbed of two runs when José Muñoz made a great catch at shortstop only to not get the call from the umpire. That catch would have been the third out and the end to a scoreless bottom half of the fourth inning with the Sharks on top 6-5. Instead, the Karlskoga Bats (6-1) went on to score two runs for the lead before the Sharks could get the fourth out of the inning.

Martinez fought to no avail.

The Sharks did fight back thanks in part to an inside the park home run from Muñoz and the second coming of Johan ‘Wheels’ Weidolf and went in to the bottom of the 7th with a 9-7 lead. After a run scored for the Bats, the Sharks turned a double play to get the last out and end the first game with a W.

No. That’s not what went down at all.

It really should have ended there, but the close play at first was called safe, the inning continued and and the Bats could get away with the win in the first game with a score of 10-9.

Martinez did go the distance and was charged with the loss. He ended up giving up the ten runs on ten hits and the five walks while adding eight punchouts.

Offensively, the Shark that really stood out was Weidolf who went 4-4 with a double and four runs batted in.

“I’m seeing the ball really well. Plus, I like winning better than losing,” Weidolf says.

Weidolf is playing like it is 1999.

With Shervin Shakki on the DL, Erik Earnest (1-1) took the mound for game two and pitched well. While he only struck out two in his 4.1 innings of work, he also only walked one and kept the game pretty close. Unfortunately for Earnest, this reporter decided to put himself in right field to start the game. In doing so, he committed two errors (although the official scorer did not score them) and looked awfully silly at the plate. Thankfully, he took himself out after the second at bat.

Things unravelled with those errors and some good batting from the Bats as they took a 7-1 lead after scoring five runs in the fifth. Chu Li Heng relieved Earnest and did not have his best stuff this day as he gave up three runs in the fifth and sixth inning over one inning of work.

After some discussion, Mokhlad al-Ghanimi made his 2018 debut on the mound in the seventh inning and started off with trowing twelve straight balls. After that, he did settle down and allowed one run while striking out two in his 0.2 innings of work.

Sadly, this game was pretty much lost as the Sharks could not get to Bats/Firehawks starter Anton Calson. Neither, it should be said, could they get to the Karlskoga/Sölvesborg pitcher Samuel Siddall who was overpowering the Sharks hitters in relief.

Weidolf kept on raking in the 7th and hit a triple to knock in three runs to make the final score 10-4.

“That first game eluded us. We definitely deserved to win that,” the interim manager said before denouncing himself of any future coaching duties.

Next, the Sharks play Tranås on Sunday June 10th in their home opener. First pitch at 12.

Notables:

Weidolf is hitting is hitting .800 on the season. With a .1879 OPS. Hello.

Muñoz and Eric Marquez is a pretty good double play combo.

Karlskoga/Sölvesborg will probably promote to the Elitserien this season.

Billingslaget saw a young Hajarna team take the field for the first time in… well, we’re not sure but, ever before? Due to some late injuries, Hajarna was short in the head count to make a complete team, but went to Skövde to develop, play baseball and have a great time.

Hajarna face off against Sundbyberg Heat

The five young Sharks representing the club as play began Saturday were Leo Sandgren, Carl Adkins, Gabriel Wargswärd, Gillan André and Heloisa Castro on the first day with temperatures of close to 30 degrees Celsius at the time of the first pitch, at 10:30 in the morning. But before that, there was more heat to come, as the team of Sundbyberg Heat showed up, lending players to the Sharks so that Hajarna could play with a complete team on the field throughout the tournament.

Catcher Leo Sandgren, flashing the fast ball sign

Hajarna played really well, being patient at the plate and improving their focus on the field as the tournament progressed. ”We have a young team for a U15 tournament, but I am amazed by the effort and the desire to learn more”, says coach Rickard Kronqvist. ”Playing against more experienced teams, and also having the opportunity to have some very experienced players from Sundbyberg on our team, was an inspiration to us. Both as players and coaches.”

Carl Adkins, ready to take a pick-off throw from pitcher Gillan André

On Sunday, there was a slight breeze, but the temperature was still well in the thirties, and that little breeze very rarely reached the field. Daniel Diaz was added to the Hajarna roster on Sunday, and it was great to play with a complete infield as a team, while Sundbyberg now only had to add outfielders.

Heloisa Castro in the outfield

Gabriel Wargswärd and Carl Adkins warming up

Göteborg Hajarna played the Skövde Saints, Sölvesborg Firehawks, Nyköping Knights, and Sundbyberg Heat over the week, and ended up with a record of 1-3.

”We executed well, learned a lot and the baseball world just got a glimpse of some hungry sharks waiting to attack,” were the final words from Kronqvist before walking off into the blazing sunset, humming the theme from ”Jaws”.

The Sharks fought heat, Bats and other things. In the end, they came up empty.

Playing at Karlskoga is not an easy task. With scorching heat and a skeleton crew it’s even harder.

Behind the battling starter, ”El Gallo Negro” José Martínez, the Sharks were on the verge of taking the first game. In a back and forth game, Gothenburg was up two runs in the bottom of the 7th but the Bats walked off with a score of 10-9.

The heat got to the Sharks as they looked like Sharks would on land. Still, a stellar start from Erik Earnest in game 2 had them believing before this one got away from them.

Final score of the second game was 10-4 in favor of Karlskoga.

In what hopefully will be a series of old friend-articles, we continue with pitcher and infielder Jack ‘Birdman’ Warwick. The Australian was a Shark during the 2015 season and memorably homered in his first game in Karlskoga.

What are you up to these days?

“Not much, coaching a lot of baseball and training for a strongman competition. I miss the baseball in Sweden a lot, especially the comradeship among all the players!”

Do you follow the Sharks adventures at all?

“I still follow the Sharks and try to stay up to date on what’s happening in Swedish baseball. I See how much you guys do with the youth team and am always inspired to go out and coach afterwards.”

Warwick (left) back in the Gothenburg days with Erik Earnest.

Are you still actively playing baseball?

I still play baseball, playing outfield for a state team. I also play for another team very similar to the Sharks.

What’s your best memory of your time in Gothenburg?

“I miss the baseball van trips, especially when I didn’t have to drive. But mainly I miss helping the guys out and having an enjoyable time at the games. Four games per weekend was awesom! Also, helping young kids like Joakim [Melin] get his work in to compete with the best in Sweden at the All-star game.”

What are your thoughts on the upcoming games at Karlskoga?

“Look, Karlskoga will always be a challenge. I remember they were a force when we played them [back in 2015]. My first game actually, under the weather and I manage to hit a home run over the fence. That gave me the confidence to compete that season.”

I’d also like to thank the Sharks again for having me that season. I’ll always remember the hospitality they showed me, the support they gave me in fixing my arm, and the patience they showed for my anger when we’d lose. Because as you know, winning is better than losing.”

Sharks ride with a skeleton crew to Karlskoga for a very hard fought double header on Sunday. First pitch is at 12.