Scores

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 Pizza Port Brewery jumped out to a 15-1 lead after 3 and a half innings with their pitching, infield and outfield defense plus clutch hitting all thru their lineup and that ended up being the difference of this game.

PPB leading hitters were Dan Melendez 4/4 w/a double & 4 RBIs, Ron Silverman 4/4 w/3 RBIs, Joe Diambro 3/3 w/2 RBIs, Ken Thompson 3/4 w/a double, triple & 3 RBIs, Andy Balas 3/4 w/a couple of amazing catches, Roney Lewis and Brenda Lehman 3/4, Larry Wadalavage 3/5 w/a double, triple & 3 RBIs, Pat Steele 3/5 w/2 RBIs, David Erwin & Mark Lehman 2/4, Super Sub Margo Jacobo had a double & rbi.

VPS leading hitters were Jerry Smith 4/4 w/a double & triple, Dario Santana 3/4 w/a double & triple, Ruby Murphy 3/3, Teddy Badillo 3/4, Rod Johnson & Andy Boyer 2/4, Rick Shaw had a triple.

Both teams thank Gene LaChima, who umpired superbly. 

 In a close first game of the season there was good hitting from both teams at Alga 2 with Nucci’s just slightly better.

CPA got a home run from Bob Loperena and a triple from Elizabeth Bailey.  Also, 4 for 5 days from Steve Wagner and Craig Wheatcroft.

But it was not quite enough as Nucci’s got perfect at bats from Robert Tachimie, Jack Schwarzel, Laurie Mills and Al Cabacungan all 4 for 4 and Mike Weinreich 3 for 3 with a sac fly.

Thanks to Leigh Peterson for subbing for CPA. And thanks to Jimmie Martin for umpiring.

“Never judge anyone shortly because every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.” Oscar Wilde

Wow. Another Hollywood ending for Worden Williams? Can’t be. As if the walk off hit in the championship game was not enough, today’s opening game of season 2025-1 proved to be almost a carbon copy. But this time, it wasn’t a bat that sealed the victory—it was a stellar defensive play in the bottom of the ninth, securing a dramatic 15-14 win over That Pizza Place (TPP).

The stage was clearly set for a nail-biting ending in the bottom of the ninth with batters 2, 3 and 4 due up for TPP and the Dubs leading by one. And as Phil Rizzuto might have said , “ here we go, we got a real pressure cooker here.” (cue Paradise by the Dashboard Light- Meatloaf). With one out and a runner at third, Dave Grull hit a ground ball to pitcher Mike Endeman who threw to first for the second out.

Then came the drama - Jonny Brand, the runner on third, broke for home.

First baseman Karl Stern fired a strike to Bill Mead at the plate. “OUT!” called the home plate umpire. Game over.

A tough loss for TPP who were down three key players but still hung in there. TPP was led by Al Castenada and Jonny Brand, both of whom were 4 for 5 and sub Tony Coppin who banged out a home run.

Defensively, TPP executed an impressive four double plays.

For Worden Williams, the offensive stars included Bob Buscher, David Hartzog and Tom Benacka, who were perfect at the plate. John Symanski crushed a near home run—“but for” the fifth runner crossing the plate ahead of him—and Mark Riserbato knocked in four runs.

What an electrifying way to kick off the season. 

Only 26 games to go!

The Carlsbad Inntroverts and the Plotkin Groupies kicked off the 2025 softball season #1 under dry windy conditions at Alga 3.  The Santa Ana winds were in full effect, disrupting pitches and fly balls, and knocking over the pitching screen once.  If you didn’t like the gusty winds coming in from left field, just wait 15 seconds and they were coming in from right field.

CBI led off with two runs in the first on a Randy Agadoni sacrifice fly, but PG responded with three in the bottom of the first for their one and only lead.  In the next three innings CBI added ten runs while holding PG scoreless.  PG scored two in the bottom of the fifth to come within seven but could get no closer.  Both teams scored three in the eighth which resulted in a 15-8 score.  In the top of the ninth, CBI added seven and PG went quietly in their half for a 22-8 final score that was more lop-sided than the actual game.

For the Groupies, Dennis O’Hern was 3 for 4 and Dan Akers was 2 for 3.  Dave Ash, Keith Richards, Oscar Lara, Rich Keefer, and Dan Griffin all went 2 for 4,

The Inntroverts let their bats do the talking.  Gerald Itkin went 5 for 5 and Gene Foreman went 4 for 4.  Joe Uribe and Steve Sexton were both 4 for 5, and Mark Remas was 3 for 4.  League newcomers Kevin Lynch and Mark Remas both homered in their premiere in the league and accounted for seven RBIs.

Thanks to Rich Lavacot for subbing for CBI and to Steve Newberg for exemplary umpiring. 

Bye: The Draft

         Gaspar