Scores: 2025s2 Week 10

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The Nucci’s Eggplants hosted the new and improved Plotkin Groupies at everyone’s favorite, Calavera Hills field 2.  In the earlier cycles, Nucci’s had adopted the motto, “Calavera is our friend.”  Today it was, “Calavera is family.”  In this particular case, Calavera was that crazy uncle the blurts indiscreet comments at the Thanksgiving dinner table.

On the warm day, the game was consistently close with Nucci’s holding small leads outside of the second and third innings.  The Eggplants led 4-3 after the first inning, but the Groupies grabbed the lead back 5-4 in the second.  Nucci’s got their only five-run inning in the third to lead 9-5, but the game tightened after that.  From then on, it was a punch-drunk bout with Plotkin tying the game in the top of the fourth at 9, but The Eggplants scoring one to lead 10-9 after four.  Each team scored no more than two runs in any inning after that, with Nucci’s leading 14-12 after eight and holding that through the ninth.

The bats were as hot as the weather for both sides.  For the Groupies, Dave Surh was 4 for 4 while pitching an Ohtani-like game.  Robert Kroger was 4 for 5. Dennis O’Hern and Oscar Castillo were 3 for 4.  Roney Lewis was 2 for 3 plus a sacrifice fly.

The Nucci’s Eggplants again came in with a depleted lineup that required shifts in the infield and outfield.  But they did manage to turn four inning-ending double plays.  Jack Schwarzel pitched his third win in three starts.  On offense, Robert Tahimic, Bob Porter, Dave Ash, and Jack Schwarzel were all 3 for 4.  Pat Steele, on loan from Gaspar, went 2 for 2 and added two sacrifice flies.  Ruby Murphy went 2 for 2 plus a walk.

Thanks to Steve Newberg for umpiring and Pat Steele for subbing for Nucci’s.

On this very warm Thursday, this was a game of inches.  Each team inched forward inning by inning. The DR came out strong in their [top] of the first putting 5 runs on the board.  VPS answered back with 4 runs.  Holding the DR silent for the next 4 innings, VPS was able to add 3 runs in their 2nd inning followed by 5 runs in their 4th and 6th innings.  Not to go down without a fight, DR added 2 in their 6th, 3 in their 7th and 1 in their 8th inning.  At the end of the 8th inning, the score is VPS 20 and DR 11.  The DR bats came alive, threatening to take command of the game by adding 6 runs in their top of the 9th.  Thanks to some fine VPS defense and close-out pitching in the top of the 9th by Jimmie Martin, VPS was able to hang on to the 3 run lead and end the game.  

Fine defense by both teams including (for DR) 3 double plays and a Mike Brower leaping catch to grab a hard-hit ball off the bat of Rick Shaw which if not caught, would have possibly rolled to the left field fence, or at least a deep outfielder. VPS also posted some DP's as well.

At the plate for DR;  Mike Brower hit 5/5, Raul Mateus hit 4/5.  Rich Keefer hit 3/5 including a triple, yes this says a triple.  

At-bat VPS highlights today include a team OBP of .710.  Brian Turner and Teddy Badillo were 5/5 on the day.  Pat Driscoll,  Kevin Davidge, and Keith Richards were 4/5.  Jimmie Martin hit 4/4.  VPS gratitude goes out to Gary Soper and Dan  Hacker for subbing today.  Thanks to the DR for loaning VPS a player throughout the game.  Lastly, thanks to Mike Berry for sticking around after his game to umpire for the bottom half of our game.

CPA hosted WW on this warm morning on Alga 2. Extra fluids needed today. 
 

This was a relatively low scoring affair, with both teams struggling to push runs across the plate; through 3 innings the score was 3-1 CPA. The bats woke up a bit in the 4th with 3 for the Dubs to 4 for the Cops. Thereafter, the Dubs, playing without stars Bob Buscher and Mike Endeman, scratched out 2 more runs against CPA's 6 for a final tally of 13-6. 

Leading hitters for the Dubs were Kevin Lynch with 4 hits and Bob Loperena with 2 hits. CPA was led by Jimmie Smyth (3/3, 2 RBIs), Jeff Payton (3/4, 2 RBIs), Jeff (from Nowalkie) Van Siclen (3/4, RBI), Craig Wheatcroft (3/4), and Mike Berry (2/2, 3 RBIs). 

Defensively there were ups and downs, but some nice outfield catches and infield double plays were made by both sides. CPA's Rod Johnson pitched his usual excellent game and also snagged 4 grounders for putouts. Ken Auerbach and Leigh Peterson handled the mound duties for the Dubs.  

Both teams wish to thank Skip Moyer for a fine job umpiring. 

On yet another blistering day at Pine park, the Pizza Port Brewers hosted the Carlsbad Innkeepers for a game that had fans buzzing and scouts hovering to see who would come out on top.  In the last two rounds, PPB used the big run scoring innings to defeat CBI.  The Inners deployed the same tactic this time around to finally defeat the Brewers by a score of 20 - 10.  

The game started out quietly, with excellent pitching (by Ken Thompson for PPB and Steve Berry for CBI) and defense keeping the bats quiet.  After 5 innings, PPB was leading by a score of just  7 to 5 on the strength of Ken Thompson’s 3 run HR to the gap in right center and a towering shot to left field by Gene Smith for a triple.  In the top of the 6th inning, CBI finally put a 5 spot on the board to claim the lead they never relinquished.  On to the ninth inning with CBI clinging to a 2 run lead, the Innkeepers batted around, scoring 9 runs to take a big lead.  PPB scored 1 run in the bottom of the ninth to finish the game.

Key hitters for PPB:  Tom Benacka went 3 for 4, Ken Thompson 3 run HR, Gene Smith 3 for 4, Mark Lehman 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs and Steve Doan 3 for 4.  

For CBI:  Jonny Brand 3 for 4, Dan Smith 3 for 4, Randy Agadoni 3 for 4, Randy Baird 4 for 4 including another towering shot to the left field fence for a 2 run HR, Joe Dimambro 3 for 4 plus a 3 run HR, Jerry Smith 3 for 4 with 2 HRs (3 run shot and a solo) plus 5 RBIs, Cord Cameron 3 for 4, and finally Big Dennis Kemp went 3 for 4.

Both teams thank Gene LaChimia for a fine job of calling balls and strikes.  PPB thanks Steve Doan for subbing and taking shots at 3rd base (hope you’re OK).

Bye: Gaspar