Scores

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“It’s like déjà vu all over again.”  — Yogi Berra

Pizza Port Brewing again had some solid hitting and timely defense to post a 19-7 win over Village Pie Shop Tuesday, upping its record in the young season to 3-0. The two teams had the coveted 8:30 game and escaped before the August heat set in. 

The Brewers scored three in the top of the first and never trailed. They put up a five-spot in the third inning for a 9-3 advantage and scored three in the fifth and five in the sixth to take a comfortable 17-4 lead. Village Pie still had some fight in it, scoring three in the bottom of the sixth, but PPB pitcher Jack Schwarzel and the defense took over from there, shutting out VPS over the final three innings and allowing but five baserunners.

Pizza Port’s attack was spread throughout the lineup as ten hitters had at least two hits in the game. Defensively, the Brewers threw out two runners at the plate and Elizabeth Bailey snagged a hard shot to her at 2B and was able to get the force at second to quell a VPS rally.

Tom Carney returned from fishing in the cold of Alaska with his usual hot bat, going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Jim Goertzen had three hits in the leadoff spot and Tom Redmond was three-for-three and scored four runs. Andy Balas had a double and triple among his three hits, and Philip Urbina was 3-for-4 with three RBI. Rookie Bob “Goose” Manchester was three-for-four, and it took a great defensive play by VPS to keep him from a perfect day at the plate. 

Manager Mark Lehman returned to the lineup from a long stretch on Injured reserve and drove in five runs with two hits and a sacrifice fly. Mark Lecklider, Schwarzel, and Bailey each contributed two hits to the 27-hit Pizza Port attack.

Dario Santana led the Village Pie attack with a home run among his three hits. Robert Kroger was 3-for-4 and Barry Stangl, Kevin Lynch, Robert Liles, Martin Wal, and Sheree Parsons each had two hits for Village Pie.

Both teams thank Al Cabacungan for umpiring. 

 Another warm August day at Pine Park with That Pizza Place hosting Worden Williams. The Dubs started a bit slow but landed some gut punches in the 4th, 6th and 7th for 14 of their 15 runs. Meanwhile the Pizza Phlippers chipped away, scoring once or twice in the 1st 5 innings, then broke out for 5 in the 6th, 7th and 8th. 

The Dubs offense was led by Joe Uribe (3/4, 4 RBI), Dave Ash (4/4. 2 RBI), Dan Akers (4/4, RBI), Bob Loperena (3/5, RBI), and Erin Spoden and Linda Wolf (both 2/3 with an RBI). 

The balanced TPP attack was led by Roney Lewis (5/5, 4 RBI), Zack Taylor (4/5, 3 RBI), Bob Tompkins (3/5, 5 RBI), Blaine Bromwell (4/5, 2 RBI), Al Castaneda (3/4, 2 RBI), and MJ (3/3). 

Defense ... well ... highs and lows. Some excellent running catches on both sides, some strong infield throws, and some nice double plays ... surrounded by some blooper reel stuff. 😲 

Handling the mound was the two-headed monster of Dave Suhr and Russ Roopenian for the Dubs, and Mike Berry for TPP. 

Both teams wish to thank Steve Sexton for umpiring behind the plate, and mediating any issues when runners randomly chose which bag to run to at 1st, and what happens when the choice is neither. Another month or two and we might figure it all out! 😎  

Nucci’s jumped out to a 3 run lead in the first as Tom Benacka continued his perfect start to the season (12/12) with a 3 run HR. Then pitcher Steve Berry settled in and retired 11 in a row while also helping his cause with a 3/3 day as CPA came back to take a 5-3 lead. The heart of the CPA lineup, Craig Wheatcroft, Keith Richard, and Jeff Payton all had 3/4 days.

Then Nucci’s D got stingy. Al Cabacungan anchored a strong defensive effort while coming up with 3 big hits driving in important runs. Jeff Ledesma drove his third hit, a triple to the wall for 2 RBIs and Lil Keehan and Mike Endeman had 2 hits apiece and were on board when Julio Maraver mashed a run scoring double as Nucci’s came back to take a 13-5 lead.

The Nucci’s outfield made play after play as Oscar Delgado, Kevin McBarron, and Paul Wilson (3/4) all made nice catches then watched as RF Dan Menendez made a couple of sizzlers to keep the rallies down.  Even so, a Mark Riserbato 3 run HR to deep CF made it close as Nucci’s hung on for the win.

Thx to a tandem of Jimmie Martin and Jim Goertzen for helping ump on this toasty day.

This morning at Alga two of the unbeaten teams vying for first place early in the season met in what turned out to be a tight game with PG holding off CBI in the ninth inning for a 13 to 10 victory. CBI struck first putting up three runs in the top of the first and shutting down PG in the bottom half with only one hit. The rest of the game was a complete switch-around with PG holding CBI scoreless in the next five innings while they scored in every inning but one.  Once again PG's defense carried them with three double plays and solid fielding in the outfield.

PG scored in every inning but two thanks to a balanced attack that had the bottom half of the lineup scoring seven of the thirteen runs. Pat Steele led the way batting 3 for 4 with a home run and 3 RBIs. Carlos Cevallos and Jerry Smith were also 3 for 4. Dennis O'Hern was 2 for 4 with a leadoff HR in the 4th inning. In that bottom half of the lineup, Cathy McDonald was 3 for 3. Rick Skidmore was 2 for 3 with an RBI and Phil Kay, batting in the 11th spot was 2 for 3 with 4 RBIs. three coming on a gapper HR in the decisive 7th inning.

As mentioned, CBI's batters were often frustrated by outstanding defense in the infield and outfield, Manager Randy Agadoni and pitcher Ken Thompson were both 4 for 4 with 2 and 1 RBIs respectively. Frank Weishaar was 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs and Larry Wadalavage was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs.

Both teams appreciated having Gene LaChimia as the ump and he made a couple unusual calls, both outs and safes, that needed to be explained, correctly, by him.

Bye: The Draft

         Gaspar