Scores

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Carlsbad Inn and a short-handed Hennessey’s played today at Pine. HEN only had nine team members, including substitute Jim Davis, so CBI loaned them two players. HEN Manager Dan Miserany led off the game with a home run in the top of the first, but that turned out to be the only lead HEN would have all game. CBI scored five runs in the bottom of the inning, with the first seven batters getting hits. HEN rallied for five runs in the top of the third to tie the game 6-6, but CBI came back to score four in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead at 10-6.

HEN was able to stay close the next few innings as the team quickly ran through their short batting order, and in the middle of the seventh HEN had narrowed the lead to 14-12. However, in the bottom of the seventh, the first two batters got on base and Randy Baird came up and hit a towering home run that went over the left field fence! CBI followed up with three more in the bottom of the eighth and won the game 20-12.

Jerry Smith and Dennis Kemp lead the CBI hitters, both going 4 for 4. Randy Baird and Randy Agadoni both went 3 for 4 with 4 RBIs. Ken Thompson, Jack Karson, Gordon Recht, Rick Skidmore and Ron Silverman also went 3 for 4.

The CBI defense turned three double plays today to keep runners off the bases and help maintain their lead.

The HEN hitting attack was led by Dennis O’Hern, who went 6 for 6. Rich Lavacot went 4 for 6 with a home run and Carlos Cevallos went 3 for 6 with a home run. Due to the HEN player shortage, Dan Miserany stepped in to pitch the entire game and did a fine job.

Beethoven can't really be great because his picture isn't on a bubble gum card. — Charles Schulz

The challenges of playing at Calavera were on full display today as both Worden Williams and Pizza Port Brewery struggled defensively, but in the top of the ninth when only one run separated the two teams, the Dubs defense stiffened and came away with a 19 -18 victory. More on this later.  

Early on, it looked like WW might cruise to a win as it built a 9–2 lead going into the fifth inning. But PPB responded with 7 runs to tie, turning the game into a back and forth battle. As much as WW tried to distance themselves by opening up consecutive four run leads, PPB came roaring back to tie and take a one run lead into the bottom of the eighth. The Dubs then struck for three to open up a two run lead going into the top of the ninth.

In the top of the ninth, after two quick outs—a tough infield catch by Mike Endeman and a running grab by Dario Santana in right-center—things got tense. PPB managed to score one run and had the tying run on third, but WW held firm and ended the game with the runner stranded.

The Dubs offensive surge was led by Bob Loperena, who broke out of a long hitting slump, by going 5/5, Dario Santana 4/4 with 5 runs scored and Tom Benacka with 6 RBIs.

For PPB, six hitters batted a collective .667, led by Vern Blough 5/5, Al Castenada with 4 runs scored and Mark Riserbato , 3 RBIs.

The game also featured standout performances from the league’s two top shortstops, Tom Carney (3-for-5) for PPB and Bob Buscher (4-for-5) for WW, who showed why they are considered elite with impressive displays at the plate and in the field.

Much thanks to Leo McFall for umping while nursing a very sore shoulder.

On a beautiful sunny day with sun in your eyes at the plate at Alga 3, the bottom dwellers came in with a chip on their shoulders and ready to “Chip Away at the Stone” with Aerosmith in the background. TPP mumbling something about having not won a game since the turn of the century (keep in mind that for most of us this was 1900…however, not the case anymore) and Nucci’s determined to get out of the very bottom of the rankings.

TPP being disgruntled for a MUCH longer period of time, jammed on the gas pedal early on with 4 runs in the first and 5 in the second to take a 9 – 2 lead in the top of the third. A rested Bocai joined the team in the third and Nucci’s scored 5 in the 3rd and 4th inning to gain a 3-run lead, if only for a brief period as TPP scored 3 in the top of the 5th. The scored remained tied through the top of the 7th, with both teams wondering if a ½ a win is better than no win. The bats came alive for Nucci’s in the bottom of the 7th with 4 runs and 5 more in the 8th. Nucci’s went on to a resounding victory 21 – 12.

The depleted TPP warriors started with 11 players and ended up with 10. Dan Smith hammered a HR, went 5 for 5 and had 4 RBI’s for an impressive offensive outing, while Bob Porter (Al and Bob had what sounded like a moose mating call going…but I am not going there) and Pat Steele went 3 for 4 and Oscar Delgado with 5 (yes FIVE) RBI’s.

Nucci’s had two double plays, one an outfield shoestring catch and catching the runner off second and a Mike/Al/Guy standard double play. Steve “Rocket Man” Sexton was the defensive star handling the rocket line drives, rocket grounders with throw to first and some pop ups. Offensively things came together, Al Cabacungan had 4 RBI’s, Eugene Smith went 4 for 5 with 2 HR’s and 6 RBI’s, Karen Smith (no relation) going 3 for 4, and the 1000% club was Frank Weishaar going 4 for 4 with 4 RBI’s, Gene La Chimia going 3 for 3 plus a walk with 2 RBI’s and Mike Brower going 5 for 5 scoring all 5 times at bat with 3 RBI’s.

Plotkin Group started this late game at Alga 2 with a familiar hot start by scoring four runs in the top of the 1st inning and holding Gaspar to a single run in the bottom half. But then the game took an unfamiliar turn with GA scoring five runs in the second inning and holding PG to a single run through the next four innings to lead by a 7 to 5 score at the end of the fifth inning. Finally, the PG bats got hot starting with a two-run homer by Rich Reynolds in the sixth inning and a lead-off homer by Donato Domaguin in the seventh to start a five-run rally that put PG ahead by five runs and a lead they would not relinquish. GA managed three more runs in the eighth inning, but it proved to be too little too late.

In addition to the two homers several PG batters had perfect days at the plate going 5 for 5, Keith Richards, Joe Uribe and Rich Reynolds. Additionally Pat Driscoll, Oscar Castillo, Teddy Bedillo, and Robert Kroger were all 3 for 5. Robert also played the hot corner at third base like a pro, spearing three hot shots that were bound for extra bases down the line.

Most of GA's hitters were stymied by the PG defense but Dave Ash and Marty Topper managed to get three hits apiece.

GA was missing four players and thank Steve Newberg and Linda Wolf for subbing for them. A side note is that a few players (Steve Newberg,  Teddy Bedillo, Linda Wolf, and Dennis Rayford) played a double header playing in both the early and late games.

We also thank Rick Shaw and Joe Raffa for umpiring.

I don't have any historical records, but to my recollection this was the first time that a team swept a round with nine straight wins. If anyone knows otherwise, please feel free to correct me.

Today got off to a decidedly slow beginning.  Due to an 8:30 start, many players were driving to Alga Norte before sunrise.  The player-starved Draft only had seven players from its own roster on the field until the necessary eighth player arrived just prior to game time.  VPS started off with four runs in the first and they held the lead through the fourth inning.  Just about then the Draft alarm clock went off and the now wide-awake brew crew scored fourteen runs in the next three innings while the Villagers answered with only three.  One run was added by VPS in the eighth to end the scoring.  

With each fielder's choice counting as a hit, the VPS batting statistics include Rick Shaw and Dan Menendez at 4/4 and Dave Ward, Jeff Schneider, Rich Keefer, David Hartzog, Delta Farrington and Linda Wolf all at 3/4.

 The Draft had Barry Stangl and Teddy Badillo hit 4/5 and Andy Balas and Dave Erwine hit home runs.  The Draft thanks subs Dennis Rayford and Teddy Badillo and to VPS manager Joe Raffa for lending two defensive players.  

Barry Anderson served as umpire and lent the game his professionalism and good humor.  Barry, our thanks!

Halloween is only a week away.  Party goers are reminded to always go in costume.  Showing up in street clothes is almost as gauche as attending a regular party dressed up as the Flying Nun.