On Saturday, March 23rd, a NCSS umpires clinic was held at the Calavera Hills Community Center. It was run by Al Cabacungan.
It was attended by 25 players and managers. Most of those attending have been in the league over 2 years and a good portion are players already on the league umpires list. It was a great learning experience for all.
Good umpires make our games conflict free and faster paced. If you are interested in umpiring our games, look for the next umpires clinic. As one attendee commented: " After reading the rules, it was equally, if not more important to visually see everything in person in a classroom setting. "
Below are some pictures of the event courtesy of Joe Raffa.
It was a very exciting game today.
Nuccis's came out swinging the first inning bringing in 4 runs. VPS followed taking the lead with 5 runs. David Bentley had a home run in the 3rd scoring 3 runs. Both teams scored in most of the innings followed by a tie in the 7th inning 14-14
In the eighth inning for Nuccis's David Bentley , Ray Sutton singled with Ron Silverman coming up to bat hitting a 3 run homerun with 3 RBI's.
Leading the team 17-14
At the top of the 9th Nuccis's scored 4 runs but VPS couldn't catch up. This was a exciting win for Nuccis's who have been in a slump.
Great team defense and offense.
For Nuccis's:
5/5 were Al Castenada,,Robert Kroger, Paul Thomas
Dennis O'Hern 4/5 , Roney Lewis 3/5 4 RBI's, David Bentley 3/5 1 HR, 3 RBI's, Ron Silverman 2/4 1 HR, 3 RBI's
VPS:
Rick Shaw 4/5 1 HR, Laurie Mills 4/5, Pat Steele 4/4
Players hitting 3/4: Delta Farrington, Dan Smith, Donato Domaguin, Jeff Payton, Jeff Schneider and Bob Peters.
Our thanks to Al Cabacungan and Jimmie Smyth for umpiring.
Gaspar seems to be a team of streaky trends. For the last several games, the trend is to score a lot early, go radio-silent in the middle innings, and then rally to make it close at the end (sometimes successfully, sometimes not). This contrasts from the early part of the season where they charitably gave up four or five runs in the first inning of every game and then climbed back. And so they were on to their new trend against a battle-weary and depleted Pizza Port on Thursday at Calavera.
And so in line with their new strategy, Gaspar scored five in the first and five more in the top of the third to lead 10-0. But Pizza Port responded with five of their own in the bottom of the third. Pizza Port continued to chip away with two runs each in the fourth and fifth to close to within 10-9. Gaspar scored four in the sixth, but Pizza Port got three of their own to stick around, once again evoking that booger on your finger analogy. Finally in the eighth, Gaspar did a little chipping of their own, scoring twice and then once more in the ninth to lead 17-12. Pizza Port rallied valiantly with two in the bottom of the ninth but fell short with a comebacker to the pitcher with the tying run at bat to end the game.
Both teams brought out stellar offensive stats. Dave Ward and Russ Roopenian were both 4 for 5 with three RBIs each for Pizza Port. Russ also had a home run. Two of Dave’s hits were a triple and a homer. Craig Wheatcroft, Teddy Badillo, and Ken Auerbach were each 3 for 5, with Ken hitting a pair of doubles.
Brian Turner and Joe Dimambro were both 4 for 4 for Gaspar, with Joe hitting another of his trademarked triples (11 this season), and Brian knocking in five RBIs and hitting two home runs to take the season lead (5) for the team. Tom Benacka, Leigh Peterson, Skip Moyer, Dave Bosque, and Bocai were all 3 for 4.
Thanks to Randy Agadoni for an excellent job of scouting his next opponent (Gaspar) while ostensibly providing umpiring services. Well umpired and no complaints.
A man once told me to walk with the Lord. I'd rather walk with the bases loaded. — Ken Singleton
So I'm ugly. So what? I never saw anyone hit with his face. — Yogi Berra
“Not available” was Craig Wheatcroft’s response to Manager Dan Miserany’s request to have Shohei Otani sub for Hennessey’s against Worden Williams for Thursday’s game at Pine. A sigh of relief could be heard from the WW dugout. Jim Goertzen, however, did his best to replicate the big bat of Otani’s with two long flies to the fence at Pine, one fair and one foul and a wicked line shot to the shortstop. Unfortunately such show of power was not enough as WW came away with a 14-7 win.
Through four, the game was shaping up to be a pitcher’s duel with WW leading 5-3, but in the fifth, WW posted a five spot to lengthen its lead to 10-3 and never looked back. HEN did hold them to four more runs in the last four innings but HEN was only able to muster five runs.
Offensively, the Bobs (Loperena, Buscher and Porter) and David (Hartzog) were in fine form at the top of the order rattling off the following hits RBIs and runs - 3/3 and 4 runs; 4/4; 4 runs, 1 HR and 5 RBIs; 2/4 1 run and 2 RBIs; and 3/3, 4 RBIs, 2 runs and a HR.
Both teams were sharp on defense, but 3 defensive plays by WW, one a leaping catch of a line shot off the bat of Jim Goertzen by Bob Buscher and two shoe string catches by Porter and Hartzog stood out. HEN’s infield was flawless making stop after stop of hard hit ground balls that were turned into outs.
HEN’s bats were also active, led by Keith Richards 3/3 and 2 runs, Dave Grull, a home run and Dario Santana 3/3.
Thanks to Gene LaChimia for calling a quiet game.
Today at Alga a nearly full-strength PG took on a seriously depleted (missing six players) DR team. DR had two subs, Michael Henderson and Karl Stern, plus a loaner catcher from PG that resulted in a fairly close back and forth game until the late innings when PG was able to take the lead and then hold off DR for the 16 to 11 win.
The entire PG lineup contributed to this victory with scoring in every inning but one, but never more than four runs in an inning. PG had the only home runs of the game with Oscar Castillo hitting a two-run shot in the third inning, Steve Newberg a solo shot in the sixth and lead-off hitter Pat Driscoll capping a four for four day with a three-run shot in the seventh. PG's Oscar duo of Castillo and Lara were each 3 for 4 with five total RBIs. Lou Chartz continued his hot hitting with a 3 for 4 day.
For DR, David Frantz and sub Mike Henderson were each 4 for 5 and Gary McBride was 4 for 4, but PG's pretty much solid defense and Rich Keefer's pitching held them to only one four-run inning and four scoreless innings.
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Thanks also to the injured Gary Soper for showing up and umping
Bye Teams: Carlsbad Inn
That Pizza Place
For Gaspar, it was like déjà vu all over again. It’s a lot more fun doing the write-up when you win compared to when you tie. But let’s go anyway. For the second time in three games, Gaspar managed to pull a tie away from a victory against a team below them in the standings.
The morning started off drizzly at Alga 3, but the rain managed to stay away once the game started. Gaspar jumped out quick in the top of the first with five runs, and then followed with four more in the second to hold a 9-1 lead after two. Profoundly comfortable in their obvious awesomeness, they decided to give their bats a well-deserved rest. That rest lasted for five innings, including four in which they were “three up and three down”. True, there were a few hits in there, but also a couple of double plays. During those five innings, Nucci’s came alive and led 12-9 after seven. Gaspar shook off the cobwebs with two in the eighth while Nucci’s added one to take a 13-11 lead into the ninth.
With renewed confidence, Gaspar was bringing the top of their lineup, while the bottom of Nucci’s was coming to bat. Gaspar got its first two batters on base before the wheels more or less fell off and they kind of ran themselves out of a rally. A late single drove in two to tie the game before Gaspar shriveled up. In the bottom of the ninth, the bottom of Nucci’s lineup befuddled Gaspar, and they had bases loaded with one out, including the winning run on third. Unfortunately, for them, they hit into an unusual 1-2-3 double play to end the game. Nobody ended up very happy, although you can’t complain about playing softball with a bunch of friends on a Tuesday morning.
For Nucci’s, Al Castaneda, Dennis O’Hern, and Roney Lewis all went 4 for 4, including a home run by Dennis. Ray Sutton and Ron Silverman were 3 for 4. For Gaspar, Greg Lorton went 3 for 3 while Leigh Peterson and Tom Benacka were 3 for 4. Skip Moyer and Guy McCord went 2 for 3.
Thanks to Jimmy Smyth for umpiring!
On a blustery, spring day at Calavera, Village Pie Shop squared off against Carlsbad Inn. The Piesters started off fast and furious with 5 runs in the top of the first while the Inners answered back with 4 of their own. After a scoreless second, both teams struck again in the third with VPS scoring 2 and CBI maxing out with 5 to take the lead for good. As the game progressed, CBI built a 10 run cushion going into the top of the ninth, where fine catches by Jeff Jacobs and Gene Smith sealed the win with a final score of CBI 20 - VPS 11.
Hitting stars for VPS included Larry Weinberger, Pat Steele and Jeff Schneider all going 3 for 4. Both Larry and Pat hit shots to the fence that eluded this author’s glove. For CBI, pitcher extraordinaire Rod Johnson was a perfect 5 for 5, super sub Bob Loperena hit 4 for 5 with a double and a bases loaded triple, Gene Smith and Larry Wadalavage both hit 3 for 4. Margo anchored the bottom of the lineup with a 4 for 4 day and Randy Agadoni added a 3 run HR to boot.
Big thanks to Bob Baptista for umpiring, Rick Shaw for setting up the field and Bob Loperena for subbing.
Cold and windy to start the day at Pine. Draft vs PPB. The draft was Missing 5 Players, not to be outdone PPB was short 7. Great time to play them as we never trailed for all 9 innings. The best they could do was tie at 4-4 in the second. Final score 14-13 Draft wins. The Draft loaned PPB 2 players every inning while we only borrowed a catcher. Kudos to Mr Big Al for his usual stellar job umpiring.
David Ward was 4-5 with 2 hr Our sub MR Pat Driscoll was AWESOME 5 singles, With 5 round trips to score. Gary Mcbride was his usual self at 4-5 with lots of rbi's. Other notable hitters Dan Griffith and Phil McCabe were 3-5 as was Dave Frantz. Kathy O'neil and Tom Winterbourn both at 3-4. The Royal ladies of the draft were Also AWESOME with their gloves. Donna Engleman made a couple of good catches in right field. Kathy was a vacuum at second, And last but not least MS Nanci Watt made several great plays and catches as well.
Bye Teams: Worden Williams
Plotkin Group
That Pizza Place and a resurgent Hennessey’s engaged in a hard-fought defensive battle for much of the game, but in another strong finish, TPP pulled away late for a 17-10 win over HEN.
TPP batters started fast and jumped out to a 7-2 lead after 3 innings. The HENs then tightened their defense and chipped away at the plate to move ahead 8-7 after 6 innings. Looking at the game in 3-inning segments, TPP won the 1st segment 7-2 and HEN won the 2nd one 6-0. For the final 3-inning “game-within-the-game,” the momentum shifted again with TPP plating 10 runs in their final 3 innings and the HENs scoring only 2.
HEN’s hitters were led by Dan Miserany (4 for 4), Keith Richards (3 for 4) and Jim Goertzen (3 for 4). Mark Pedote hit 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, and the ageless Harry Peacock went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored. Steve Doan and Dario Santana also contributed 2 hits apiece.
For TPP, Mike Brower, Tom Carney, Dennis Rayford, Ken Auerbach and Mike Endeman each hit 4 for 5, while Mike Henderson, Gene LaChimia and sub Bob Porter each smacked 3 hits. Tom and Gene both homered at crucial times for TPP, and Tom, Dennis, Gene and Ken collectively racked up 14 of the team’s 17 RBIs.
TPP was missing 5 of its roster members and thanks Bob Porter for subbing and HEN for providing a catcher after Dave Buck was an unexpected late scratch from the lineup. TPP also thanks HEN for supplying a right fielder after Gordon Recht strained his calf muscle at the end of the 5th inning and limped off the field.
Finally, both teams appreciate Bob Buscher’s willingness to umpire the game on his bye day and keeping the contest free of controversy.
Standings are posted after all scores have been received (in a timely manner)
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