The game was evenly matched up to the bottom of the 6th inning with Nucci's taking the lead 17-11.
Rich, Sheree, Ron, Steve and Jerry all hit singles in the 7th to score another five runs. VPS answered back in the bottom of the 7th with 4 runs. 22-15. At the top of the 8th Dennis O'Hern starting the 8th off with a homerun. Paul, Marty, Rich and Sheree scored four runs to bring the score 27-15. VPS had 3 more hits but couldn't catch Nucci's.
Nucci's: Al, 3/5 1 RBI, Dennis 4/5 1 Homerun, Roney, 4/5 1 RBI, Robert 3/4, Paul 4/5 3 RBI's, Sheree was a all star hitting 5/5 1 homerun, 4 RBI's, Ron 3/3 3 RBI's, Steve 3/4, 2 RBI's, 1 homerun. Jerry 3/4
VPS: Larry W great defense in the outfield plus 1 homerun 4/5, Dan Smith 1 home run 3/5, Bill Mead 1 home run. Delta, Roger, Jeff P all went 4/5.
Good sportsmanship all around. Thanks to Al Cabacungan for awesome job umpiring!
Pizza Port and Gaspar met on a blustery winter morning at Alga 2 for mortal softball combat. Managers Leigh Peterson and Mark Lehman agreed early that the players should get the full benefit of their $40 entry fee, and play a full exciting nine innings. Similarly, get the most hits out of the softball as possible.
And thus began a back-and-forth, often even game of offense. Both teams scored five in the first with only one out recorded. Pizza Port led 9-6 after three, but the game was tied at 10 after Gaspar batted in the top of the fifth. Pizza Port scored five to lead 15-10 after five. Gaspar then revived, scoring one in the sixth, five each in the seventh and eighth and three in the ninth. Trailing 24-21 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Pizza Port threatened but Gaspar pulled off a game-ending double play to keep the final score at 24-21.
For Pizza Port, Rich Lavacot and David Ward went 4 for 4 with a homer each, Craig Wheatcroft was 4 for 4 with three doubles, and Mark Lehman was also 4 for 4. Teddy Badillo went 3 for 4. Pizza Port also welcomes their new player, Ed Silva.
For Gaspar, Jerry Galiley was 5 for 5 and Joe Dimambro was 4 for 4. Bocai, Skip Moyer, and Greg Lorton were all 3 for 4 with Skip adding a home run with what seemed like a thirty-second home run trot (inside the park)!
Thanks to Jonathan Brand for umpiring a loud but controversy-free game, and to Mike Endeman for subbing as a pitcher for Pizza Port.
The above phrase, “Astonish me” was uttered by Sergi Diaghilev to Vaslav Nijinsky (you can look them up), much like Bob Baptista who three times came through with a hit to bring up the top of the order and as Bob Porter did, who made a key shoestring catch in the bottom of the ninth inning to “astonish” its manager in a taught 16-12 victory over Hennessey’s Tavern. While not reaching the legendary status of great sports finishes (Flutie to Phelan’s miracle in Miami, Bobby Thompson’s “shot heard round the world”, N C State’s last second victory over Houston’s Phi Slama Jama and Bill Mazeroski’s home run in the 7th game of the World Series again the Yankees), a sweet victory nonetheless.
WW was led by the top of the lineup that scored thirteen of its sixteen runs and who accounted for fifteen RBIs, BUT, BUT, were ably assisted by the bottom half of the lineup, especially Bob Baptista who batted last (and “kept the line moving”) and a clutch two out RBI by Dennis Kemp in the top of the eighth. Bob Porter emerged as a standout performer, excelling both offensively and defensively by going 4 for4, with a home run and two RBIs, as did Bob Buscher 3/4 and 5 RBIs, David Hartzog 4 RBIs, Cord Cameron, 2 RBIs and a non-homerun, home run because he knocked in the fifth run of the inning and Bob Loperena 3/4, 2 RBIs. WW’s defense again played a major role in securing the win.
HEN showed off its power lineup by clubbing four well placed home runs by Joe Uribe, Steve Doan, Mark Pedote and Jim Goertzen and exhibited a tough defense by limiting WW to two runs in five innings. WW was glad to see Pat Steele had returned and who was placed on temporary assignment to HEN. Pat went 3/4.
Much thanks to Mark Riserbato who subbed for HEN and played a flawless first base and to Gene LaChimia, for umpiring and keeping the game moving.
Only 34 more to go
Byes: Carlsbad Inn
That Pizza Place
Playing the game at Calaveras this morning was very much in doubt, what with the overnight rain, threatening forecast, and cold winds. But the managers decided to give it a go and by game time the clouds had moved on and we were able to play under bright blue skies. It appeared that The Draft was more ready to play than Plotkin Group and scored nine runs in the first two innings to take a 9 to 3 lead. PG scored six runs in the third inning to tie the score. They then proceeded to score in every inning, five in three of them, to take a commanding 24 to 13 lead going into the final two innings. DR scored seven runs in those final innings, but it was too little too late.
PG's defense was the other side of the coin, with two double plays that thwarted DR rallies. Steve Newberg at 2nd base stretched, leaped and speared a line drive headed for a gap in the outfield and Lou Chartz in left field made a diving, rolling catch of a line drive that had extra bases written all over it. Other than David Frantz, Gary McBride, Dave Hempy, Tony Coppin and Jack Schwarzel going 4 for 5, DR hitters were stymied by Rich Keefer's pitching and the PG defense.
PG had five players bat 5 for 5 with leadoff hitter Pat Driscoll being one of them and scoring five times. Others were Cathy McDonald with four scores and two RBIs, Oscar Lara also scored five runs, Rich Keefer with four RBIs and Lou Chartz, hitting in the number nine spot in the order, with five RBIs. Leo McFall and Oscar Castillo each drove in four runs.
Bottom line though was that it was a team victory with all players getting at least one hit, one run or one RBI.
Thanks to Mike Henderson for umping a very long game.
Both teams had excellent defense with some outstanding hits. There were some nail bitting innings as the game showed Gaspar trailing by one run in three innings.
Unfortunately, in the third inning Angel Torres (Gaspar) fell in the outfield with some injuries and the game was delayed. Both teams wishing him a speedy recovery.
Nucci's:
Dennis O'Hern was 5/5 with 6 RBIS's including two homeruns and one of them was the winning win in the bottom of the 9th. Along side of him was Roney Lewis 4/4 with 3 RBI'S and Marty Topper 4/4 3 RBI's.
Robert Kroger, Paul Thomas,Ron Silverman all hit 3/4 with RBI'S.
Great pitching by Steve Berry and Ken Thompson of Gaspar
Gaspar:
Brian Turner was 4/4 with 1 homerun followed by Dave Ash 3/4 1 homerun, Ken Thompson and Guy Cord 3/4, Greg Lorton 2/3
It was Carlsbad Inn second base-woman Margo Jacobo's 55th birthday again! And could there be a better way to celebrate one's birthday than to play 55+ softball at a cold but sunny Alga 2 against Village Pie Shoppe?
Why yes. One could, as did Margo, lead their team to a back-and-forth victory by a score of 16-14, by collecting 2 base hits, including a double, playing an electric second base, and running the bases so deftly that Village Pie Shoppe manager Joe Raffa checked Margo's Drivers License.
The finish was positively nail biting. Trailing Carlsbad Inn 16-13 in the top of the 9th, resilient Village Pie Shoppe batters put together 3 straight hits with no outs to bring the potential lead run to home plate. But after a ground out to cut the lead to 16-14, Carlsbad Inn pitcher Rod Johnson enticed a ground ball, that Carlsbad Inn turned into an around the horn game-ending double play, thus insuring that Margo's birthday balloons would not be popped.
The Village Pie Shoppe was led by Larry Weinberger's home run as part of his 4-for-4 day. Also homering was Jeff Schneider. And the Smiths combined to notch 7 base hits.
For Carlsbad Inn, all 12 batters contributed hits, and defensive star Bill Codner hit the team's first home run of the season. Rod Johnson led the way at 4-for-4. And collecting 3 hits were: Dan Hacker, Gene Smith, Randy Agadoni, Dale Miller, Larry Wadalavage, Rick Skidmore, and Jeff Jacobs. Hacker and Smith both had 3 RBI's.
Happy Birthday Margo!
Going into the bottom of the 8th Draft had a 14-11 lead, then PPB scored 5 and then Super Sub Pitcher Bob Baptista and PPB defense shut out the Draft in the 9th for the victory. PPB offense was lead by Super Sub Cord Cameron, who went 4/4 with a 3-run homer & 7 RBIs! Teddy Badillo was 4/4 along with Phil McCabe, who is now 10/10.
John Symanski, Bob Baptista, Ken McGehee (2 run scoring hits), Rich Reynolds (triple & 3 RBIs) were all 3/4. Rich Lavacot & David Ward added 2 hits. Great defense by shortstop Craig Wheatcroft.
Hitting leaders for the Draft Steve Sexton 4-4 HR, Tony Coppin 3-4 HR, Dave Frantz & Gary McBride 3-4. Jack Schwarzel, Nancy Watt, Jimmy Martin & Kathy O’Neil were 2/4
Great game and good sportsmanship by all players.
Byes: Worden Williams
Plotkin Group
Hennessy's was hosting That Pizza Place on a sunny, but cool day at Calavera Park. TPP started the scoring with 3 in the 1st. Hennessy's answered with 3 in the 2nd to tie the game. This would become a pattern.
TPP crept ahead to a comfortable 12-4 lead heading into the bottom of the 6th. Hennessy's then exploded with 7 to get within a run. In the 7th, they added 3 more to take a 14-13 lead. TPP responded with 4 in the 8th to regain the lead and set up an exciting bottom of the ninth. TPP recorded outs with two of the first three batters, but the next two had clean hits to tighten the score to 17-16, the tying run on base, and the winning run at the plate. There was a big exhale of relief as TPP got that third out.
The big hitting star of the game was Hennessy's Dave Grull who was a perfect 5 for 5.
For TPP, Mark and Mike H. each had 4 hits. Dennis had 3, Tom had 3 with 4 runs, Gene had 3 with 6 big RBI's. John added 3 RBI's.
The outcome was very unclear until the last play.
Thanks to "Big Al" for umpiring.
Standings are posted after all scores have been received (in a timely manner)
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