Scores

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After maneuvering another challenging game at Calavera field 2, Carlsbad Police pulled out a close game to win 12-8.

Carlsbad Inn was led by Dan Miserany (4/4, 2 RBIs), Larry Wadalavage (3/4, 1 RBI) and Randy Agadoni (4/4).  Dan Smith hit a home run to the right field fence and threw 2 strikes to home plate where Barb Pardo made great catches for outs.  Barb also hit the ball well today, driving a nice line drive down the line for a base hit.  Jack Karson and Nicki Branch each had 2 hits.

Carlsbad Police was led by Laurie Mills (3-4), Craig Wheatcroft (3-4, 2 RBI's), Keith Richards (3-4, 2 triples and a double, 5 RBI's), Mark Riserbato (1-3, walk, 3 RBI's). Dave Erwine, Dan Griffin, and Karl Stern each had 2 hits. CPA's defense work through some very strong hitters and got several put outs at third base to cool developing rallies.

 On the last day of the first round neither team could field a complete team even with subs, but they helped each other out providing defensive players. One of PPB players really helped out WW by robbing a PPB player of a 3-run homer that ended the 2nd inning.

WW took a 8-3 lead going into the bottom of the 3rd inning, then PPB’s bats came alive  scoring 18 runs with 27 hits in the next 4 innings with only 8 outs. The game ended after WW hit in the top of the 7th.

Leading hitters for PPB were pitcher Mark Lechlider, Jim Goertzen, Mark Lehman and Jack Schwarzel all going 5/5 with 2 extra base hits apiece and 2 or 3 RBIs. Super Sub Bill Rubin was 4/5 w/4 RBIs and played a great defensive game at 2nd base in his first game of the year. Andy Balas (Homerun & catch of the day) & Tom Redmond (3 RBIs) were both 3/5. Phillip Urbina (2-run rbi double), Elizabeth Bailey (great catch in Center Field & Brenda Lehman all hat 2 hits.

Leading hitters for WW was the still famous David Ash 4/4. Cord Cameron hit a long 3-run homer. Bob Loperena added a homerun. Brian Turner, Joel Kudren, David Suhr, Sub Cory Coast and Linda Wolf were all 2/3. Russ Roopenian pitched well.

Both teams thank Roney Lewis for umpiring. 

In a battle of 5-3 teams trying to hold on to a share of 3rd place in the standings, TPP squeaked out their second one run victory in a row, this time over NU in 8 1/2 innings. 

NU wasted no time in the 1st, putting up 5 quick runs including a scorched lead off homer by Paul Wilson. TTP fought back with 3 in the 1st and 2 in the 2nd to pull even at 5-5, then edged ahead with an Al Castaneda homer in the 4th. TPP pushed 5 more across thanks mainly to a 3 run blast by super-sub Robert Liles, to go up by 6. After a quiet 6th, NU erupted for 6 to pull even, and TPP answered with 2 in the 7th to retake the lead 13-11. More zeroes in the 8th. The NU 9th was led off by The Margonator, who promptly racked up her third walk for a triple! She scooted home on a ground out … and the nail biting started drawing blood. But the TPP defense held firm and secured two more outs for the win. 

There was a lot of good defense today on both sides. Many nice running catches including a dandy by TPP’s Ed ‘Snowcone’ Silva, solid infield play, and a nice relay play by NU to nab a runner at home trying to score. 

Pitching duties were managed by super-sub Margo Jacobo (pitched a double-header today!) for NU, and Mike Berry for TTP. 

Both teams wish to thank Rick Shaw for umpiring. 

The Plotkin Groupies came into this game looking to go undefeated in the first round of the season, but the Gaspar Docs had a bit of a say in that and gave PG quite a scare. GAS scored first with two runs in the top of the first, but PG responded with three runs in the bottom half. PG added a couple more runs in the third inning while holding GAS scoreless for the next four innings. GAS put two runs across in the sixth and four more in the seventh, but PG scored four in the sixth to maintain a narrow 9 to 8 lead. Lots of good defense and great pitching by Rod Johnson and Jimmie Martin with only 3 walks by Jimmie and an intentional one by Rod (more on that later).

PG scored three in the bottom of the eighth for a 12 to 8 lead going into the 9th and facing the bottom three in the GAS batting order.  Looking pretty confident, but "Not so fast" said the Groupies. who got those runners on for the top of their order who knocked them in. PG uncharacteristically intentionally walked the power-hitting Randy Baird, but it backfired on them when GAS scored five runs to take their first lead at 13 to 12. PG then showed why they managed to go undefeated by plating two runs for the 14 to 13 win.

Every PG batter but one had multiple hits and the 14 runs were batted in by eight different batters. Leading the team was Pat Steele at 4 for 5 and 3 RBIs including the game winner in the ninth. Jerry Smith was also 4 for 5 and Rod Johnson was 4 for 4. Mike Carey, Kevin Davidge, Dennis O'Hern, Rick Skidmore and Ruby Murphy each reached base three times.

For GAS, the Marks (Tanner and Prior) were 4 for 5 and Gordon Recht and Randy Baird were each 3 for 4 plus an RBI sacrifice fly. Gaspar  thanks Tony Coppin for subbing (and going 3 for 5). 

Both teams would like to say thank you and goodbye to their temporary players, Dennis O'Hern for PG and Andy Boyer for GAS, that are moving on to their permanent teams for the rest of the season. 

TBA