And Plays Senior Softball !!
After steady rain fell most of Wednesday night, That Pizza Place and the Draft woke up wondering whether Calavera would be playable Thursday morning. Both managers arrived early and found that considerable improvements had been made to the field, including an additional layer of dirt on the infield that leveled it with the outfield and absorbed much of the rain. Players soon found out that the new, soaked dirt also caked onto their cleats, requiring old and tired legs to work even harder. After a bit of helpful field maintenance conducted by a few veteran players in and around the batter’s box, it was Game On!
Both teams were shorthanded and played with 11 players – Draft missing 5 of their regulars but adding super-sub Roney Lewis, and TPP expecting 12 until Dave Buck experienced truck trouble on his way to the game. Each team supplied a catcher to the other until Mr. Buck showed up late and graciously filled in as catcher for both teams for the remainder of the contest.
The Draft started strong with 3 runs in the top of the first inning to take a 3-2 lead after one. After that promising start, stellar pitching by Mike Endeman and solid defensive play all around by TPP held the Draft scoreless in 6 of the remaining 8 innings. In the meantime, TPP’s consistent hitting resulted in runs in all but one inning, which allowed them to pull away until the game ended 16-6.
The Draft’s hitters were led by Roney Lewis (3 for 4, 2 RBIs), Dave Frantz (3 for 4), Jack Schwarzel (2 for 3, 1 RBI), Tony Coppin (2 for 4, 1 RBI) and Steve Sexton (2 for 4, 1 RBI). Several nice plays in the field, including Tony throwing out a TPP runner trying to advance to third and line drive snags by infielders Frantz and Sexton, thwarted TPP rallies.
For the second game in a row, the latter half of TPP’s lineup produced big results at the plate, collectively hitting over .500 and recording 6 RBIs with each of John McDaniels, Mike Endeman and Gordon Recht going 3 for 4 (Gordon contributing a double, triple and 3 RBIs). Not to be outdone, the top half of TPP’s batting order also hit well, led by Johnny Brand’s 4 for 5 from the leadoff spot and Tom Carney going 4 for 4 with a HR and 4 runs scored. Mike Henderson had a HR and 3 RBI’s, Mark Riserbato went 3 for 4, and each of Gene LaChimia and Mike Brower chipped in 2 hits to round out the solid hitting performance.
The Draft thanks Roney for subbing, and both teams hope they didn’t take too much of the new infield dirt with them on their cleats after departing the game.
After a rainy night this game at Pine was treated to a cool, clear morning to play a crisply played close game until the final innings. WW broke on top scoring five runs in the top of the first inning, but then scored only one run in the next five innings. Meanwhile PG scored two runs in each of the next five innings and took a 10 to 6 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning. Then the PG batters in the bottom of the order scored five runs in the 6th and four more in the 7th for a comfortable 19 to 9 lead. WW was held scoreless in the 8th but then put up two runs in the flipped 9th and were threatening to score more when outstanding catches in the outfield by Lou Chartz and Michael closed out the game with PG winning with the final score 19 to 11.
After struggling to score runs in Tuesday's game all of the PG batters contributed to this game with all but one getting a hit and all but two driving in at least one run. Leading the hit parade with 4 for 4 days and two RBIs each were Oscar Castillo, Steve Newberg and Michael. Steve also had a home run. Leo McFall was 3 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs. Oscar Lara and Rich Keefer were each 3 for 4 and Gene Foreman was 3 for 3.
Great pitching by Gary Soper and Rich Keefer and solid defense by PG minimized the damage that a powerful WW lineup could inflict. Only Lloyd Thorne was 3 for 3 and Cord Cameron was 3 for 3 with the team's only home run.
Thanks to Al Cabacungan for umping.
Two powerful teams played some great playoff senior softball today and it came down to the final out in the 9th inning. Superb pitching by CBI’s Rod Johnson, who had 3 hits and PPB’s Russ Roopenian, who had 2 hits & an rbi.
Lots of great defense by both teams. Hitting leaders for PPB were Craig Wheatcroft, who hit for the cycle plus an extra triple & 4 RBIs, Rich Reynolds 4/4 w/2 rbis, Teddy Badillo 3/3 w/3 RBIs, Joel Kudren 3/4 w/a Homer & 2 RBIs, Rich Lavacot 3/5, Phil McCabe had 2 run scoring hits, John Symanski 2/4 w/ an rbi, Dan Frye 2/4 w/ a triple.
For CBI Randy Agadoni 4/4, Sherre Lovick had a Grand Slam, Larry Wadalavage 3/4 and Eugene Smith hit one off the fence.
Great game for the fans and excellent sportsmanship by all. Quality umpiring by Jim Goertzen.
Bye Teams: Hennessey's
Nucci's
Mother Nature took a break from her relentless wet February and March long enough to take in the comedy that is senior softball between Village Pie Shoppe and Gaspar at Alga 3 on Thursday morning.
Gaspar started off tamely, loading the bases in the first and then stranding them. Then in the bottom of the first, they reverted to their celebrated “lull them into complacency first-inning defense” after a two-game hiatus, giving up four runs. Gaspar’s offensive anemia continued in the second and third, as they amassed a total of three hits and two walks in the first three innings. Pie Shoppe piled on with five more in the bottom of the third.
Down 9-0 heading into the fourth, Gaspar’s official scorekeeper Christine Peterson slammed down her scorebook and administered a severe talking-to to the team, much of it in Mandarin and including a not-so-veiled threat to take over managing the team. Staring terror in the face, the Gaspar players collectively resolved that “maybe we should hit the ball”.
At that point, Gaspar turned up both the offense and defense, slowly and inexorably climbing back into the game to take a 14-12 lead after seven. Three more runs in the eighth and ninth added a bit of insurance, although insurance is not in their vocabulary and no amount of runs is a safe lead for Gaspar. But Pie Shoppe went quietly, scoring no runs in their last four innings. At 17-12, Gaspar ended their three-game skid with a goal of surprising some people in upcoming games.
Pat Steele and Dan Smith led Village Pie Shoppe, both going 4 for 4. Jeff Payton and super sub Robert Kroger both went 3 for 4. And Laurie Mills went 4 for 5. On defense, criminally underrated Larry Weinberger made a number of phenomenal tumbling catches in the outfield, and temporarily running out of stars to hang in the press box and stalling several Gaspar rallies.
For Gaspar, Ken Thompson went 4 for 4. Tom Benacka went 4 for 5 and would have hit for the cycle if he had extended one of his two triples into a home run. Joe Dimambro was also 4 for 5, and was just a double, triple, and home run short of hitting for the cycle. Dave Ash went 3 for 4.
Thanks again to Robert Kroger for subbing for Pie Shoppe.
After moving their game that was originally scheduled for Calavera, Plotkin Group and That Pizza Place came ready to play an early contest at Alga 2.
TPP came out firing with 4 runs in the top of the 1st, only to be matched by PG’s hot bats in the bottom half of the inning to tie it at 4. Both teams then settled in defensively behind strong pitching from Mike Endeman and Rich Keefer, respectively, with neither pitcher issuing a walk and rarely even getting to 3-ball counts.
The difference in the game came down to TPP’s ability to score 5 runs in each of 3 separate innings (twice after PG got the first 2 outs of the inning), while PG was only able to muster 5 additional runs after their strong first inning.
PG’s batters were led by Leo McFall (4 for 4, 3 RBIs), Oscar Castillo (3 for 4), Rich Keefer (3 for 4) and Ed Silva (3 for 4).
For TPP, Mike Brower, Ken Auerbach and John McDaniels each went 4 for 4 with Mike scoring 4 runs and Ken and John racking up 4 RBIs each. Mike Henderson was 4 for 5 with 3 runs scored and 1 RBI, and Tom Carney was 3 for 4 with 2 HRs and 6 RBI.
Both teams appreciated Rick Shaw getting his day started early to umpire before playing in the later game.
"Today I felt like I was 70 again" was the response from Hennessey's star southpaw hurler Harry Peacock when asked about his pitching performance in the Hen's 17-11 victory over the brew crew from the Draft. With a swarm of reporters surrounding his locker after the game, Peacock went on to point out the huge contributions his outfield made both at the plate and in the field. "You know, someone wise once told me that softball is a simple game", Peacock went on. "You throw the ball, you hit the ball and you catch the ball".
Well, today the quintet of Dave Grull, Jim Goertzen, Phil Kay, Keith Richards and Ruby Murphy made all the plays and made the game look simple in the field and contributed 16 hits at the plate as well. Goertzen, Richards and Grull each had 4 hits. Goertzen had a homerun and Richards added two round trippers. Not to be outdone, super sub Skip Moyer added 4 hits of his own and turned some nice pivots at second base from the rover position. Kay and Frankie Burns also added three hits each.
The Hens jumped out to an early 8-3 lead in the second inning and never gave up the lead. The Draft narrowed the score to 10-7 in the fifth behind the clutch hitting of Gary McBride, Jack Schwarzel who were each 4 for 4, and sub Tom Benacka who was 4 for 5. But Peacock bore down and the Hen's offense took off in seventh and eighth innings to extend the lead to 17-7. The resilient Draft bounced back with 2 in the eighth and 2 in the ninth highlighted by a booming homerun from Steve "Sexy" Sexton who had a hit in 3 out of 5 plate appearances. But that was as closed as they could get.
Both teams want to thank Skip Moyer and Greg Lorton who subbed for the Hens and Tom Benacka who subbed for the Draft. With star players like this, it is hard to understand why Gaspar, their regular team is not in first place.
A hot dog at the game beats roast beef at the Ritz. — Humphrey Bogart
The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until the ball stops rolling and then to pick it up. — Bob Uecker
Anybody who grew up in the east knows the saying “In like a lion, out like a lamb. Referring to the month of March, early March snow generally, and I emphasize generally, retreats and the long anticipated spring is upon us at the end of the month. The saying is just as true in senior softball as demonstrated by the game between Worden Williams and The Village Pie Shoppe. VPS came roaring out of the gate with a five spot in the first but when the dust had settled, they found themselves on the short end of a 21-8 score. Every team in the league has experienced this type of turnaround, including WW. The trick is to maintain the momentum throughout the game; easier said than done.
WW chipped away at VPS’ lead until it put five runs on the board in the fifth to take a three run lead, 8-5, and never looked back, adding five runs in the seventh and the ninth along with 3 runs in the sixth and the eighth. The scorebook told the story; every player contributed to the win. WW was led at the plate by Bob Porter who went 4/4, knocked in four runs and made an over the shoulder catch of a ball hit almost to the left center field fence by Dan Smith. Home runs by Robert Tahimic, Oscar Delgado and WW’s newest addition, Pat Hourigan, capped off the scoring. But let’s not forget the supporting cast. Robert T (4/5), Pat H, Dan G, Lloyd, Bob B and Barb P (on base 3 times with 2 RBI’s) might not always steal the spotlight, but they’re the glue that holds the team together. Outfield and infield play was solid holding VPS under ten runs.
VPS was led by Pat Steele, 3/3 and four other players who were 2/3; Payton, Schneider, Weinberger and Shaw who also contributed a home run.
And in the midst of it all, Johnny Brand's keeping the peace, calling balls and strikes like a seasoned pro.
Yet another fine, spring-like day at the old ball park. CBI continues to roll with good hitting, pitching and defense across the entire lineup. As Yogi Berra once said, “We have deep depth”.
Nucci’s jumped out to the early lead after 2 innings, 4-3 on the strength of Robert Kroger’s 2 run HR shot down the third base line. But CBI revved up the scoring machine in the 3rd inning and never looked back. Gene Smith led the way, going 4 for 5 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs. Everyone on CBI had at least one hit in the game including Rod Johnson (another fine pitching performance) going 3 for 5 - almost hitting for the cycle, Dale Miller was 5 for 5, Randy Agadoni 4 for 5, Larry Wadalavage was 3 for 4 with a solo HR and Dan Akers had a 3 for 4 day.
Nucci’s highlights included the aforementioned Robert Kroger going 2 for 3, Sheree Parsons 2 for 3 with a triple over the left center fielder’s head (and her new bat is not even broken in yet - league beware) and Elizabeth Bailey went a perfect 3-3, including a shot down the third base line.
A big thanks to Al C. for calling a clean game.
Bye Teams: Pizza Port Brewery
Gaspar
Standings are posted after all scores have been received (in a timely manner)
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