To better understand our local rules and enhance player safety, we are periodically highlighting one of our local rules.
When a fielder attempts to catch a fly ball, a runner cannot leave the base until after the ball HITS the fielder's glove. (The ball does not have to be caught.)
If the runner leaves the base too early, they have to go back and touch the base before they can run to the next base. If the ball gets to the base before the runner returns to tag up, he/she is out.
"I feel the need, the need for speed." —"Maverick" in Top Gun.
Also uttered by 95% of senior softball players.
The story today at Alga 3 was this; never underestimate underdog teams even though they are down to eleven players and shuffled into unfamiliar positions. So, despite being at a disadvantage starting the game, The Draft acquitted themselves admirably before falling to Worden Williams 17-13.
The game was divided into three parts; the first five innings with WW holding a precarious three run lead and attempting to make it closer, the next three, with the Dubs scoring nine runs and taking a commanding 15-5 lead, and the final two innings when DR scored eight but came up just four runs short.
For WW, the decisive hit was a two run home run by Cord Cameron in the bottom of the eighth to stretch the lead to 17-10 and add to his team high five RBIs. Again, it was a team effort, with each player getting at least one hit, highlighted by Barb Pardo’s sac fly and two RBIs and Bob Porter, Bob Loperena and Robert Tahimic perfect days at the plate. As a side note, it was a ‘but for” day at the plate for Robert Tahimic; but for the fact that both of his hits would have gone for home runs, it only counted as a triple and double and one RBI since it was the fifth run in two different innings. But the most memorable hit of the day, electrifying the fans and his teammates alike, was a solid triple by John Vivrett (JV)
The Draft was led by home runs by Gary McBride who was also 4/5, David Frantz and Vern Blough (welcome back Vern). Jack Schwarzel chipped in with a 4/5 day at the plate and played a solid centerfield.
Special recognition to Donato Domaguin for his adept handling of home plate and the bases. Thanks Donato!
The two teams currently in first and second place faced off in a closely contested, high-quality game at Calavera on Thursday won by That Pizza Place 24-20 over Carlsbad Inn. Each team was missing 5 of their regular players and enlisted the help of two subs, but everybody who showed up – some with lingering injuries – came to play.
In a tight, back-and-forth battle, TPP took slim leads of 4-3 after 2 innings and 8-6 after the 4th, and then things got interesting with neither team able to create any separation from the other. The score was 10-10 after the 5th and 6th innings, 15-15 after the 7th, and 20-20 after completing 8, setting the stage for a tense finale in the 9th inning. As the visiting team, TPP batted first and were fortunate to have the top of their order coming up. Five straight hits and a sac fly brought 4 runs across for TPP, and then it was CBI’s turn to answer. Unfortunately, the hot hitting they demonstrated all game did not continue and CBI was unable to mount their hoped-for rally.
CBI got great hitting production from their big bombers. Gene Smith went 4 for 5 with 2 line-drive HRs to left field that cleared the fence before TPP outfielders could say wow, and he also recorded a team high 5 RBIs and one great assist throwing out a TPP runner at home. Randy Agadoni was 5 for 5 with 4 RBIs despite taking a nasty spill rounding first base in the early part of the game, and Dan Hacker was 3 for 5 with 4 RBIs to go along with some nice plays at shortstop. Rod Johnson and Dale Miller both hit 3 for 5 to set the table for the RBI production by Gene, Randy and Dan H. Every other CBI player had at least 2 hits, and just about every CBI hit during the game was clean and well-earned.
The only way TPP could have won this game was to bring their “A game” to the plate, and today they did just that with every player getting at least 1 hit. Three batters in the middle of the order accounted for 14 of the 24 RBIs. Dennis Rayford went 4 for 5 with a double, triple and 8 (yes - 8) RBIs. Sub Dan Smith also went 4 for 5 with a double, 2 triples and 3 RBIs, and Mike Henderson went 3 for 4 with a double and 3 RBIs. The second half of the order were also major contributors to the hit parade. Each of John McDaniels, Karl Stern, Evelyn Schwartz and sub Roger Tesi got 3 hits and at least 1 RBI (2 for John). In the field, Dave Buck made his season debut in RF and caught every ball that came near him, Karl Stern made his season debut at 1B and performed admirably on one good leg, and Johnny Brand made solid plays in CF despite straining his hamstring mid-game.
CBI thanks their subs Tony Bona and Ed Silva and TPP for providing a catcher, TPP thanks their subs Dan Smith and Roger Tesi, and both teams thank umpire Jimmy Smythe for a well-called, controversy-free game.
In what was probably Hennessey’s best all-around game of the year, behind the complete game pitching of Johnnie Martinez and a relentless offense that saw them score in every inning they batted, the Hens defeated the Gaspar Gang by a score of 22-10.
The Gang jumped out to leads of 2-1 and 7-4 only to see the Hens scratch back with four runs in the home half of the third and added a five spot in the fifth to take a 13-7 lead. A lead that they never relinquished. Gaspar fought back with single runs in the top half of the fifth and sixth only to see the Hens respond with three runs each on the home side of those same innings. The Hens added three more in the seventh to push the game to 22-9. After the flip, Gaspar’s Gang added another run in the ninth that determined the final score.
After the first three innings where Gaspar scored seven of their 10 runs, Johnnie settled in and did an excellent job of keeping the Gang from formulating any kind of significant rally. He also added two hits of his own to spur the Hens offense in the five run fourth and the three run sixth.
There were many hitting heroes for the Hens. Infielders Joe Uribe and Keith Richards along with outfielders Jim Goertzen and Phil Kay took a stroll around the bases with hard hit balls that found their way through the Gaspar defense. Shortstop Steve Doan added four hits and Dario Santana, Michael Hart joined Jim and Keith with three hits each.
For the short staffed Gaspar Gang, Ken Thompson smacked a hard round tripper to deep centerfield. Leadoff hitter Leigh Peterson collected three hits of his own.
The Gang wants to thank Rich Keefer for helping out as a substitute player.
Both teams would like to thank umpire Rick Shaw for taking time out of his schedule to call the game and in helping the home team setup the field.
Pizza Port Brewery jumped out to a 10-2 lead and it held up even though Nucci’s cut it to 3 run deficit in the 5th inning.
Great defense all around by both teams and outstanding pitching by Nucci’s Steve Berry and PPB’s Russell Roopenian, who also had 3 hits.
Leading PPB hitters were Teddy Badillo 4/4, John Symanski 3/4 w/a double & 3 run homer, Craig Wheatcroft 3/4 w/3 runs, Mark Lehman 3/4 w/4 RBI’s, Rich Reynolds and Joel Kudren each 3/4 w/2 RBIs, Dan Frye added a 2-run Homer, David Ward & Rich Lavacot added 2 hits each.
For Nucci’s Super Sub Leo McFall was 3/3 w/2 RBIs, commish David Bentley 3/3 w/3 RBIs and Paul Thomas 3/3
Thanks to Al Cabacungan for Umpiring a professional game.
Bye Teams: Plotkin Group
Village Pie Shop
What started out as a close game in the early innings became a somewhat lopsided 23-6 victory for That Pizza Place over the Draft at Alga Norte.
DR took a 3-2 lead over TPP after 2 innings that suggested the two teams might be in for a low-scoring, defensive battle. TPP then proceeded to score multiple runs in each of their remaining innings, while DR had trouble solving the Mike Endeman pitching puzzle, scoring in only 2 more innings – a 2 run homer by Vern Blough in the 6th followed by a solo shot by Vern in the 9th – leading to the 23-6 final score.
Draft’s hitters were led by Vern going 3 for 4 with 2 HRs and 3 RBIs. Dave Frantz and Jack Schwarzel also hit solidly - each batting 3 for 4. In the field, Jack made a nice grab of a long line drive tailing away from him in RCF, and Nanci Watt vacuumed up just about every ground ball hit near her at Rover.
TPP’s batters put together another excellent hitting performance throughout their line-up. In the second half of the batting order, Ken Auerbach (3 for 3) and Karl Stern (3 for 4, 3 RBIs) swung mighty bats despite each of them playing with a leg injury, while Dave Buck found his youthful swing, going 3 for 4 with 1 RBI. At the top of the order, 4 of TPP’s first 5 hitters batted 1.000 – Johnny Brand (5 for 5, 3 RBIs), Mike Brower (5 for 5, 3 RBIs), Gene LaChimia (5 for 5) and Dennis Rayford (4 for 4, 5 RBIs).
“During my 18 years, I came to bat almost 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. You figure a ballplayer will average about 500 at-bats a season. That means I played 7 years without ever hitting the ball.” – Mickey Mantle
The best way to describe today’s game between Plotkin Group and Worden Williams is that it was a close game until it wasn’t. Through five, only one run separated the teams, 7-6, when the Dubs displayed a sudden burst of energy by scoring four in the sixth and five in the seventh. When the dust had settled, WW was ahead 18-8 going into the ninth and held on for an 18-12 win.
Leading the way for the Dubs was David Hartzog who clanked a hit off of the top of the fence in left field for a triple and, just to demonstrate that the first hit was not a fluke, he clanked one off the light pole, again in left field, for a three run home run. All and all it was a good day at the plate for David, who also knocked in six runs and was 3/4. Not quite as dramatic, but nonetheless with the same result, was a two run home run by Bob Loperena who also scored three times. B-Lo said his other two times at bat were unremarkable. Also sharing hitting honors were Phil Heinz, 4/4 and Bob Porter, 4/5.
On defense, a couple of defensive gems were worth noting. One by Barbara Pardo’s clutch play at home to nip the runner by a step and complete a double play, and one by Robert Tahimic, who caught a dying quail off his shoe tops. Both plays were rally killers and kept the game close.
While PG matched their previous run output of six in the last two innings, it is hard to overcome a ten run deficit in one inning even in a senior ballgame. However, perfect days at the plate by Gary Soper and my old teammate Lou Chartz (3/3), and 3/4 hitting by Oscar Castillo, Steve Newburgh (who put a charge into two at bats) and Leo McFall who also had four RBIs, kept the game close.
Umpire Jim Goertzen, though subjected to a dubious comparison to Angel Hernandez by an unnamed Worden Williams player for one call, officiated flawlessly both at the plate and on the bases. Any disparaging remarks towards him have been duly addressed.
"I never smile when I have a bat in my hands. That's when you've got to be serious." - Hank Aaron
Today at Pine, there were a lot of serious faces with bats in their hands, pounding the ball all over the field as Carlsbad Inn faced off against the dreaded Pizza Port Brewery. The slugfest ended in the top of the ninth on a game-ending double play with the go ahead runs on base, final score CBI 21 - PPB 20.
The Brewers were led by David Ward (5 for 5 with a nice HR down the right field line), Rich Lavacot (in his first game since injuring his hammie, 4 for 5), Craig Wheatcroft (4 for 5), manager Mark Lehman (4 for 5, including a shot over the left fielder’s head which Mark legged out for a stand up double), Teddy Badillo (a perfect 5 for 5, also returning from the DL), John Symanski (a perfect 5 for 5 including a gapper for a triple) and Joel Kudren (3 for 4 with a home run).
The Inners kept up their serious hitting ways which was crucial for today’s win. Hitting stars for CBI included Dale Miller (4 for 5), Gene Smith (5 for 5, including a ground rule double that barely crossed the plane of the soccer goal in right field as he was rounding third), Randy Agadoni (5 for 5 with a home run), Daniel Malchow (4 for 5 with a home run and 6 RBIs), and Dan Hacker (perfect 5 for 5). CBI was ably aided by sub Ron Silverman who batted 3 for 5 with a couple of RBIs and played a superb second base.
Both teams thank umpires Roney Lewis (behind the plate) and the reclusive Paul Thomas (on the bases) for keeping their cool. CBI also thanks PPB for supplying a catcher throughout the game.
Bye Teams: Hennessey's
Nucci's
With another beautiful day at Alga 2, Gaspar and Village Pie Shoppe renewed their rivalry. In a variant of their energy-conservation strategy (wait till late to mount an offense) Gaspar brought out their Italian sports car strategy. When you get an Italian sports car, the first thing you do is rip out the rear-view mirror. (You don’t need a rear-view mirror in an Italian sports car.) This was a variation, because Gaspar wanted to see everything ahead of them, not behind. In this case, it was Village Pie Shoppe who was ahead of them for most of the game.
The Pie Shoppe jumped all over Gaspar with a five-run first inning. Although Gaspar got three in the bottom of the first, the next thing you knew was that VPS was up 9-3 after three and a half innings. Finally, Gaspar’s bats woke up in the bottom of the fourth, sending seven batters to the plate with the first six scoring to tie the game.
From that point on it was nip and tuck with VPS leading 12-9 after five and a half only to see Gaspar tie it after six. And then Gaspar jumped out 14-12 after seven, just to let VPS tie it in the top of the eighth. Finally, Gaspar scored three in the bottom of the eighth and then held VPS scoreless in the ninth with three stellar defensive plays. 17-14 Gaspar.
Larry Weinberger went 4 for 4 with a home run for Pie Shoppe. Efforts by Gaspar before the game to buy Larry an early ticket back to New York fell short. Rick Shaw and Laurie Mills went 3 for 4, and Dan Smith had a monster home run.
For Gaspar, Dave Ash again led the offense going 4 for 4 with five RBIs. Skip Moyer was 3 for 3 plus a walk. Tom Benacka, Bocai, and Brian Turner went 3 for 4. Everyone else in the lineup batted .500. But the real Gaspar highlights were on the defense. Leigh Peterson made two back-to-back running catches in right-center field. But the real star was Skip Moyer who made play after play at second base including several all-out straining line-drive catches, that helped preserve yet another improbable win for Gaspar.
Gaspar thanks VPS for lending a catcher after Larry Treppel fell going after a tipped foul ball. And, thanks to Al Cabacungan for another great job as umpire.
Standings are posted after all scores have been received (in a timely manner)
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