Scores

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A defensive gem of a game was played on a pleasant morning at Pine Park. 

Both teams started slowly with zeroes in the 1st, and through the 5th the score was incredibly low with the Dodgers holding on to a 3-2 lead. In the 6th the Dodgers pushed 2 more runs across and stretched the lead to 5-2; but the Dubs answered back with 2 in the 7th and 2 more in the top of the 8th to go up 6-5. The Dodgers made 2 quick outs in the bottom half but then put their 2-out rally cpas on and sent 7 more to the plate, scoring 4 to bring it to 9-6. The game ended there, as the defense held firm in the 9th. 

Margo Jacobo for the Draft and Mike Endeman for WW both pitched outstanding games, and both teams supported their pitchers with fantastic defensive play. Both teams chalked up 4 double plays! 

Every hit and every extra base taken was important today. The Dubs were led by Bob Buscher (2 RBIs), and Bocai Cairo, Karl Stern, Gordon Recht, and Lloyd Thorne each logged an RBI. The Draft was spearheaded by Steve Doan (3/4, HR, 3 RBIs); Gene LaChimia (3/4, RBI); Jeff Schneider (4/4); and Jeff Payton (2/3, BB, 2 RBIs).   

WW wishes to thank Phil Kay and Rich Lavacot for subbing, and both teams thank Bob "Crash" Porter for a fine job umpiring. 

For the slumping Carlsbad Inndecisives who last won on March 4, it was almost like déjà vu almost all over again.  Going into the late innings with a nine-run lead, they were not able to hold it for a win for the second time in a row.  This time, however, they salvaged a tie.  CBI never trailed, but finished the seventh and ninth innings in ties. And to bolster the ignominy, they drew the short straw and had to do the write-up (well, not really).

The Inndecisives scored early and led 10-3 going into the bottom of the third, but That Pizza Place stuck around like that hard piece of gum under your theater seat to trail 10-8 after five.  CBI bats reawakened to lead 17-8 after the top of the seventh and 21-17 after the top of the eighth, but TPP never gave up.  TPP scored nine in the seventh to tie and three in the bottom of the eighth and held CBI scoreless to trail 21-20 going into the bottom of the ninth.  TPP knocked in one run, but the game ended in a ground out for the tie with two runners on base.

Both sides hit the crap out of quite a few softballs.  That Pizza Place Pepperonis came in short-handed with nine players but were aided by sub Dennis O’Hern.  Jonathan Brand and Dan Smith both went 6 for 6 with Johnny scoring six times with four RBIs while Dan scored four times with six RBIs.  Al Castaneda went 5 for 6 and Larry Weinberger went 4 for 5.  Dennis O’Hern went 3 for 4, and Brian Turner drove in four runs.  Gary Soper pitched well for the Pepperonis forcing 15 groundouts and fielders’ choices in the 23 outs they recorded.

With manager Randy Agadoni lollygagging in Maui with his .886 batting average, the first four batters for the Inndecisives (Gerry Itkin, Joe Uribe, Oscar Delgado, and Kevin Lynch) combined to hit for the cycle in both the first and third innings.  The game ball lasted about eight pitches and exactly four hits.  Gerry, Joe, and Oscar all went 4 for 5.  Kevin homered in his first two bats and wasn’t allowed to hit again, receiving two intentional walks in his remaining at-bats.  Jim Goertzen and Greg Lorton went 4 for 4.  Lou Chartz and Steve Sexton were both 3 for 4.

Thanks to Dennis O’Hern for substituting for short-handed TPP and to CBI for loaning two players each inning.  And thanks to Bruce  Meyer  for a smooth umpiring job.

Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics. Gaspar Physical Therapy Manager Barry Stangl had three home runs but only scored two runs in The PTers 18-15 victory over Carlsbad Police Association. Damn the five-run rule!

Barry’s first home run came after Cord Cameron had cleared the bases with a grand slam, so he only scored his run and got credit for one RBI. His second and third home runs both went to the fence at Alga 3, but each time the fifth run was in scoring position, so Barry didn’t actually score and got credit for only a single RBI. If the five-run rule were not in effect, he would have accounted for four runs and seven RBI on the day. For good measure, Stangl also contributed defensively with a sliding catch in the outfield to kill a CPA rally.

The game was tight throughout. CPA scored three in the fifth to take a 6-3 advantage, but Gaspar countered with five in the bottom of the inning  to take an 8-6 lead. Gaspar put up another five-spot in the fifth to extend the lead to 13-8. CPA rallied for four runs in the seventh to get within one at 13-12, but Gaspar put up its third five-run inning of the game in the eighth and played solid defense in the ninth to secure the victory.

The win was Gaspar’s fourth in its last five games, and the Pters jumped two spots in the standings to seventh place at 4-8-1, a half-game ahead of both CPA and That Pizza Place.

The top half of the lineup  was potent for Gaspar as Paul Thomas, Oscar Castillo, and Gene Smith each scored three runs, and clean-up batter Cameron had two as did No. 5 hitter Stangl. Thomas, Smith, and Stangl were all 4-for-4, and Cameron, Philip Urbina, David Bosque, and Dan McGuire each had three hits. Castillo had two home runs and Barb Pardo was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Jerry Galiley led CPA with a 4-for-4 outing, including two round-trippers, four RBI and four runs scored. (Much better timing than Stangl.) Bob Loperena and Sheree Parsons each had four hits. Dan Miserany, Craig Wheatcroft, Mark Pedote, Elizabeth Bailey, and Marty each had three hits.

CPA outhit Gaspar 30-29, but Gaspar bunched its hits well and had some timely defense to keep CPA from putting up any five-run innings.

Thanks to Barry Anderson for umpiring the game.

2 of the top 3 teams teed it up at breezy Alga 2 with a hint of competitive juices runnething over. Both teams were coming off victories over the previously undefeated CBI’ians and brimming with undeserved confidence. What pray tell would ensue?

Nucci’s rang the bell in the top of 1stplating 3 runs to set things in motion. The action proceeded to see both teams’ score and the difference between the squads never more than 2 to 3 runs through eight innings. In the top of the ninth, the Nukin’ Nucci’s said “enough is enough” and put up a 5-spot to open a comfortable(?) seven run margin. The gap proved too much for the beer swillers and they went down in the bottom of the ninth with nary another run. The formula that has proven to be a success so far this season played out again for Nucci’s – good pitching, timely hitting, strong defense. Russ (Speed Burner) Roopenian and Slingin’ Lil Keehan kept the potent PBB offense off-kilter and the Nucci’s offense contributed strong output up and down the line-up. In the top of the 9th, a confusing play at third involving Al Cabacungan and Ken Thompson colliding lead to a rare protest being filed by PBB – stay tuned for the adjudication. The Supreme Court has not weighed in if they’ll hear the case.

The offensive load for Nucci’s was led by Kevin Davidge 4 for 4 with a HR and 3 RBI, Laurie Boom Boom Mills 4 for 4, Al Cabacungan 4 for 4 & 2 RBI, Jack Schwarzel (using the magic wandoo to break a batting slump) 3 for 4 & 2 RBI, Official Mike Weinrich 2 for 4 including a HR & 3 RBI, Russ Roopenian 2 for 4 with a screaming TRIPLE and Karen Smith 2 for 4. Tom Carney was treated like Barry Bonds in his prime – receiving 3 walks. The San Diego Chicken was in the stands pleading for justice for Tom.

For the Pizza loving, beer guzzling team, game stats were not provided as of the print deadline. An update will be provided if the fog clears.

With today’s win, Nucci’s runs their record to 13-2 and retains the top spot in the standings.

PBB thanks Dan Griffin for subbing and Rick Shaw for keeping the enemy combatants focused on the task at hand.

Bye: Plotkin Group

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