Scores: Week 10

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After suffering their first two losses of the season, the Groupies were ready, willing and able to get back on the winning track against the Coppers. We were able to get the game started early and agreed to play only seven innings in an effort to avoid the heat. PG pretty much handcuffed CPA through the first five innings allowing only five runs, two of which came from Keith Richard's home run in the 4th inning. Meanwhile, the PG bats were hot, scoring in every inning and building a 17 to 5 advantage in the 6th inning. CPA mounted a comeback in the bottom of the 6th, scoring six runs to cut the lead to six runs. However, PG scored five runs in the top of the 7th on the strength of a 3 RBI homer by Carlos Cevallos followed by solo shots by Jerry Smith and Pat Steele.

For CPA, Keith Richards was 2 for 2 including the aforementioned homer before leaving early because of a bad hop smash that found his throwing hand rather than the glove, John Symanski was 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs, Teddy Badillo was 3 for 3 with a triple and 2 RBIs, and Dan Griffin and Dave Erwine went 2 for 3. PG's defense returned to normal for this game, with Carlos moving to shortstop and playing solid defense, making all three outs in one inning and making hang-a-star catches on a couple plays. Mike Carey snagged several hard line drives at 3rd base.

The PG bats were hot, particularly at the top of the order. Pat Driscoll was 5 for 5 with a homer and scored every time he was on base. Pat Steele was also 5 for 5 including the homer and 4 RBIs. Carlos was 4 for 5 with the homer and 3 RBIs. Jerry Smith was 4 for 5 with the homer and 6 RBIs. PG thanks Barry Stangl for subbing in and also going 4 for 5 with 2 RBIs. The bottom half of the order did a fine job as well, with all but one contributing multiple hits and 6 RBIs. Rick Skidmore was 4 for 4.

 A very close game 10-9 heading into the bottom of the 6th inning, then PPB put 5 runs on the board followed with a 3 and added 5 runs in the 8th while holding TTP to 3 runs in the last 3 innings. With the temperature at 100 degrees last 3 innings I’m glad everyone was able to walk out to their air conditioned vehicle after the game. Who said old people can’t play softball in the heat?

Leading hitters for PPB were Andy Balas 5/5 w/5 RBIs and Bob Manchester 5/5 w/4 RBIs. Mark Lehman was 4/4. Tom Carney was 4/5 w/2 doubles & 3 RBIs. Outfielders Jim Goertzen & Super Sub Sean Skelton were both 3/5 and each made a couple of nice fly ball catches along with Super Sub Center Fielder Ron Bonshu, who was 3/4 w/2 doubles & 3 RBIs. Brenda Lehman was 3/4 w/2rbis. Mark Lecklider, Tom Redmond & Complete Game Pitcher Jack Schwarzel all had 2 hits. PPB hit 36/50 .720

Leading hitter for TPP were Robert Thompkins & Bill Ginty were both 4/5. Saul Gilbert (Homerun), Blaine Bromwell, Leigh Peterson and complete game pitcher Mike Berry were all 3/4. Albert Casteneda was 2/3. Super Sub Ken Thompson added 2 hits. Super Sub Bob Baptista added a hit, lots of ice cold waters and helped up the field. It was great to see him play the entire game. Everyone in TPP’s lineup got at least one hit.

Both teams thank Super Umpire Bob Buscher for taking some of the suffering away from the rest of us by calling a perfect game that we didn’t play.

On a day with temperatures and humidity expected to soar, both coaches agreed to start at 8:30 and play a 7-inning game. Little did anyone realize that the 8:30 start time would put the sun directly in line with both pitchers. Reminiscent of the Springsteen/Manfred Mann hit song “Blinded by the Light” we were all reminded that …’And Mama always told me not to look into the eye of the sun, but Mama that’s where the fun (and SOFTBALL) is…’ Or, as the first batter of the game loudly declared, ”I CAN’T SEE THE F---ING BALL!” There were many more swings and misses than the average game, but at least all that whiffing added a much-needed breeze.

In a game of two offensive juggernauts, this game was all about defense. After giving up one run in the second, The Draft were able to get out of the inning by turning a nifty 6-3-5 double play, one of three double plays they turned during the game. In the top of the second Cory Coast clubbed a certain home run, but unfortunately the trailer he was dragging behind him limited him to a triple. He later scored on a double by Rich Lavacot, who got knocked in by a Steve Sexton fielder’s choice. The Draft would add on 2 runs in the 3rd and 2 in the 5th and would never look back playing stellar defense highlighted by a solid infield, as well as Bob Porter (channeling his inner Willie Mays) making an ESPN Top Ten Plays-worthy running grab in right center field. Heading into the final inning, it was a 6-2 Draft lead with the heart of the Nucci lineup due to come to the plate. Nucci was able to mount a rally, but one of the previously mentioned double plays gave the Draft two quick outs and a comebacker to Margo ended the threat to knock down the 6-3 victory.

Leading the offense for Nucci was Kevin (does anyone ever get this guy out?) McBarron going 3/3, Tony Coppin, Oscar Delgado, Jeff Ledesma, and Oscar Castillo each going 2/3.

The MVP for Draft was ‘The Margo-nator’ Margo Jacobo. Margo expertly pitched the ball right into the sun and went all 7 innings without giving up a walk, AND was 2/2 at the plate (single, double, RBI). Also chipping in were Cory Coast (2/3 1B, 3B), Ron Silverman (2/3). Oscar Lara had a single with RBI, and a beautiful catch in right field. 

Mike Endeman and Lil Keehan did a nice job of also pitching into the sun, keeping the Draft batters off balance all day. 

Thank you to Jimmy Smyth for a fine job umpiring. 

Facing yet another day with an extreme heat warning forecast (just like their last matchup in August), the powers that govern the Gaspar Lame Docs and the Worden Williams Barristers agreed to a shortened game and an early start. Alga 2 was already a toasty 89° at the 9:00 start.

The game started anemically with neither team scoring in the first inning. The Barristers put up three in the second and the Lame Docs scored one. The Barrister were again held scoreless in the top of the third and things started looking like a baseball game. But in the bottom of the third, normalcy returned and things looked like a real senior softball game.

The Lame Docs scored five in the bottom of the third to lead 6-3, but the Barristers rallied for five to lead 8-6. In the bottom of the fourth, the Lame Docs scored five to take back the lead, 11-8, but the Barristers responded with four to take back the lead, 12-11. Gaspar got four of their own to go ahead, 15-12. Five lead changes in three innings. Worden Williams was held scoreless in the top of the sixth and Gaspar added three more for a seemingly comfortable 18-12 lead. With the top of the lineup heading to bat in the top of the seventh, the Barristers were only able to push across one more run for an 18-13 final score.

Worden Williams highlights out for delivery.

The Lame Docs broke out of a three slump where they batted .358 and lost by a combined score of 54-20. Mark Tanner went 4 for 4 and drove in three runs on one single. Robert Tahimic went 3 for 3 plus a walk. Gene LaChimia and Gordon Recht were both 3 for 4. Randy Baird, Evie Schwartz, and Jimmie Martin were all 2 for 3, while Randy also had a walk (intentional) and the team’s only home run. Greg Lorton was a mere 1 for 1 but “drove” in four runs including two forced in by two walks. Today the team hit .667.

Thanks to Randy Agadoni for a totally uneventful day umpiring.

Bye: Carlsbad Inn

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