Scores

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Today's game at Alga 2 was the battle for the cellar, that is trying to stay out of it. PG was at nearly full strength for only the third time this season and made all the difference. The defense was mostly solid holding GA to only three innings that they scored in, and an offence that scored in five of the eight innings. DR broke on top in the 1st scoring 2 runs, but PG came back with 3 runs in the bottom half to secure a lead they would not relinquish. PG scored 4 runs in the 5th and 5 in the 8th to put the game away.

Dennis O'Hern had a monster game going 4 for 4 with three doubles and 5 RBIs. Dave Erwine was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs that would have been more if his "woulda been" homer to the fence hadn't driven in the fifth run. Joe Uribe, Robert Kroger, Oscar Castillo, Jeff Ledesma, and David Surh were all 3 for 4. Dave also pitched a lock-down game. Every batter had at least one hit and all but three drove in at least one run.

For DR, Mike Brower and Ron Bondshu were each 3 for 3 and Phil Kay Rich Keefer, and Raul Mateus were each 2 for 3 including a monster homer by Raul. DR had three double plays that kept the PG score down. Delta to Elizabeth to Andrew was one and another was of the outfield variety started by Mike Brower to Raul to Andrew.

Thanks to Mike Berry for a fine job umpiring, and this writer thanks his PG teammates for keeping the scorebook in my absence, making this writing task easy. 

The Worden Williams Legal Beagles hosted the Nucci’s Eggplants (rhymes with “faceplants”) at beautiful Alga 3.  The Beagles came in mired in a one-game losing streak while the Eggplants were exultant amid a one-game winning streak.  This game was the rubber match to determine head-to-head bragging rights.  But the Beagles were missing their star pitcher, Mike Endeman, and the Eggplants mercilessly took advantage.

Nucci’s hit the ground running (figuratively, not literally.  this is senior softball after all.)  With five runs on only one out, their attention then turned to Worden Williams in the bottom of the first.  The Beagles scored three before their rally was snuffed.  Then the game turned into a boxing match.  Every inning that Nucci’s scored, Worden Williams responded up until the eighth inning, and Nucci’s never trailed.  The scores were 5-3 after one, then 8-6 after four, and 12-9 after six.  Finally, in the eighth inning, the Eggplants sent six batters to the plate to score five and then held the Beagles scoreless in that inning.  Heading into the ninth with Nucci’s up 17-9, both teams scored once and the marathon ended at 12:20 with a score of 18-10.

Mark Riserbato and Ken Auerbach both went 4 for 4 for Worden Williams.  Kevin Lynch hit three doubles in four at-bats.  Bob Buscher and Leigh Peterson were both 2 for 3 plus a walk.  Mike Carey was 2 for 3 without a walk.

Philip Urbina returned from a week off to pace the Eggplants, going 4 for 4 with two home runs.  Dave Ash was 3 for 3 plus a walk.  Reinvigorated from two week off, Tom Carney was 3 for 4.  Crash Porter was 2 for 3 plus a walk.

So the respective streaks continue and Nucci’s takes the series to the shocked wonder of the rest of the league.  Thanks to Jimmy Smyth for a fun-filled umpiring job.

VPS started the scoring, but left too many runners on base during the game. PPB had a great hitting day batting .800 for the game even though Jimmy Martin was pitching well for VPS, who also had Rick Shaw hitting 4/4, Evelyn Schwartz 3/3 and Teddy Badillo 3/4, Sheree Parsons also played a great all around game.

Leading hitters for PPB were Leo McFall 5/5 w/2 doubles & 4 RBIs, David Buck & Steve Doan were both 4/4, Ken Thompson & Tom Benacka were both 4/5, Eugene Smith, Rich Lavacot, Anthony Reynoso, Tom Redmond and Marty Topper were all 3/4, Dale Miller & Mark Lehman were 2/4 w/3 RBIs apiece.

Both teams thank Skip Moyer for doing ann excellent job umpiring.

The up and coming Carlsbad Inn challenged second place Gaspar at Pine today in what turned out to be a closely fought battle, finally won by CBI 15 - 13.  CBI got off to a fast start by scoring 9 runs in the first 2 innings then went scoreless for the next three while Gaspar scored 5 to trail by 4 going into the 6th inning.  Gaspar had a big inning in the bottom of the 7th, scoring 5 runs on the strength of a bases-clearing single by Russ Roopenian (or as Barry put it, a “grand slam single”).  That made the score 13 - 11 with 2 innings to go.  CBI scored a couple of runs in the 8th, as did Gaspar, leading to the final 2 run lead to close out the game.

Gaspar's hitting was led by 3 for 4 days from Oscar Delgado, Laurie Mills, Andy Balas, and Jeff Schneider (including a homer) along with Russ’ big hit.  

CBI was led by 3 for 4 days by Jonny Brand (including a game leading off HR), Dan Smith, Joe Dimambro, Mike Gallagher,  2 for 3 by Tony Trifiletti and 4 for 4 by both Randy Agadoni and Larry Wadalavage, including triples for each.

Both teams thank Donato Domaguin for umpiring a clean game.

Bye: Carlsbad Police Association