On Saturday, March 23rd from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
at Calavera Hills Community Center.
Please RSVP to sd.ncseniorsoftball@gmail.com
Clinic will be run by Al Cabacungan, who requests attendees to review the local rules prior to the meeting.
Slump? I ain't in no slump. I just ain't hitting. — Yogi Berra
Lasorda's standard reply when some new kid would ask directions to the whirlpool was to tell him to stick his foot in the toilet and flush it. — Steve Garvey
"After witnessing three well-hit balls soar over the fence at Calavera during a heated match between Worden Williams and Carlsbad Inn, someone quipped, 'You're going to need a bigger ballpark.' In the end, Worden Williams clinched a 17-13 victory, largely due to their two crucial home runs. The majority of scoring occurred in the early innings, with Worden Williams holding an 11-7 lead after three innings. The game settled into a defensive rhythm afterward, with both teams scoring six runs each from the fourth inning on.
For Worden Williams, Bob Buscher ("Forget It") and David Hartzog ("Back. Track. Wall. See ya") each smashed a home run over the left field fence, driving in four and three runs respectively, while maintaining perfect batting records. Dan Griffin also contributed with a flawless 3/3 performance at the plate, adding an RBI.
Defensively, Worden Williams' infield was solid, with special recognition going to Oscar Delgado, who flawlessly manned third base, stopping everything in his path.
Carlsbad Inn's offense was led by Dale Miller's three-run homer and Rod Johnson's perfect 4/4 day at the plate. However, it was Margo Jacobo's leadoff triple that stood out, rolling all the way to the fence.
The game benefited from the presence of two umpires, Johnny Brand and Al Cabacungan."
It’s a lot more fun doing the write-up when you win compared to when you tie. But let’s go anyway.
Gaspar and The Draft met on a blustery day at Pine that alternated between calm and pleasant and very windy and cold. When the wind was blowing, it was steadily out to right field, and quite strong and gusty at times. That probably played a factor in the game.
Gaspar jumped out in the first inning to a 4-0 lead while holding their opponent scoreless for the second time all season. They led 9-3 after the top of the third, only to see the pesky little Draft Dodgers climb back to tie the game. Again, after the top of the fifth, Gaspar had a 16-10 lead, only to see the Dodgers tie it at 16 an inning later. Gaspar took an 18-16 lead after the top of the eighth, only to see The Draft tie it again. The Draft played the role of the snotty little brother (or snotty little sister) who was always lurking around ready to tell mom what was happening in the car. They played the role well. It was like that booger on your finger that you just can’t flick off! And then to cap the futility, both teams went meekly in the ninth to end the game in an 18-18 tie.
The Dodgers were led by Dave Ward who went 5 for 5 with a home run, and Walt Webber who was 4 for 4 with a grand slam. Gary McBride played his normal game going 4 for 5.
In their previous twelve games, Gaspar had thirteen home runs, but they added eight more today. In several cases, with the wind blowing to deepest right field, the run had scored before the ball was even retrieved. Dave Ash had two home runs while going 4 for 4. Joltin’ Joe Dimambro also had two home runs. Jerry Galiley was 4 for 4 with a single home run, and Ken Thompson was 3 for 3 with a home run and also a sacrifice fly. Angel Torres was 3 for 4 with a home run, and Skip Moyer also had a home run. Brian Turner and Leigh Peterson were both 3 for 4, but alas, did not hit home runs.
It was a cool and windy morning at Alga Norte, but both team's bats were definitely hot. NU started out the first inning with five runs, including a three-run homer by Paul Thomas. Then they held PG to only three runs in the bottom half and scoreless the next two innings, taking a 10 to 3 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning. At this point the PG bats caught fire and scored seven runs on seven singles and a double without an out until Gene Foreman plated the final run with a sac fly. PG scored five more runs in the fifth inning on seven singles to take a 15 to twelve lead. NU never gave up and scored five runs in the seventh inning to tie the game. PG broke the game open in the eighth inning with the only barrage of homers they had all game. Leo McFall, Steve Newberg and Lou Chartz all hit solo shots for the final 20 to 17 victory for PG. All PG had to do was hold the top of NU's lineup scoreless = something they hadn't done all game, but they got them out with a couple outfield fly outs.
PG had plenty of hitting stars, but the key stat was that everyone contributed at least one hit and either a run scored or an RBI. Leading the pack was Oscar Lara 4 for 4 with 5 RBIs and Oscar Castillo, Steve Newberg, and Pat Driscoll also going 4 for 4. Leo and Gary Soper were 3 for 4 and Gene Foreman. Ed Silva and Steve Wagner were each 2 for 3.
NU hitting stars were the aforementioned Paul Thomas 4 for 5 with 4 RBIs, Marty Topper 4 for 4 with 2 RBIs, Roney Lewis 4 for 5, David Bentley 3 for 4 with 5 RBIs. NU also thanks their subs, Kevin Davidge and Joel Kudren. Joel chipped in a 3 for 4, 2RBI day.
Bye Teams: That Pizza Place
Pizza Port Brewery
This back and forth affair was one for the ages. Or is it for the aged? Hennessey’s quickly found themselves down 5 after the top of the first inning, but battled back to tie the Shoppe at 7 all in the third. The Hens took their first lead in the fourth after scoring four more to take an 11-7 lead. But the Shoppers would not be denied and inched their way back and took the lead in the top of the ninth to take 14-12 lead. But the Hens gathered themselves and pushed two runs across to tie the game on the strength of super sub Mark Riserbato’s triple. VPS pitcher Pat Steele sensing danger, made the strategic move to intentionally walk sub John Symanski and Kirsten Mildbrandt to load the bases with nobody out. Up to the plate strode Phil Kay who lined a sacrifice fly to right center driving in pinch runner Dave Grull from third with the winning run. The final score Hennessey’s 15-Village Pie Shoppe 14.
This was a fun game. A lot of banter back and forth and controversy free. The Hen’s were down to 10 players and Joe Raffa’s Shoppers were more than gracious in loaning a right fielder and a catcher to the home team. Each one of them a quality player in the field. Hennessey’s thanks Joe and his team for the good sportsmanship and playing the game in a way we should all strive to replicate.
The stars for the Shoppers starts with the top of their order. Leadoff hitter Laurie Mills was a clean 4 for 4. Rover Delta Farrington hitting in the two spot was 3 for 4 and laced two wind cheater homeruns to the centerfield fence. Pitcher Pat Steele was 3 for 4, Jeff Schneider was also 3 for 4 and contributed some slick fielding at shortstop. Sub Teddy Badillo was 4 for 4, Donato Domaguin also laced a homerun, and Larry Weinberger drilled a grand slam homerun and went 3 for 4. The league can’t wait for May 6.
For the Hens, Jim Goertzen had 2 hits both coming after he broke his own bat and borrowed his manager’s. Keith Richards, Dave Grull, sub Mark Riserbato, and sub John Symanski each collected 3 hits. Riserbato also bombed a homerun to right field. Harry Peacock was superb in pitching to the potent VPS hitters.
Special thanks to the VPS’s Bob Peters for arriving at the field early and doing the field setup for the Hen’s overworked manager.
Game Cancelled Due To Muddy Infield
Fourth place That Pizza Place faced off against first place Carlsbad Inn on what began as a drizzly Tuesday morning at Pine Park, and the team chasing the league leaders ended up prevailing 19-14.
CBI batters started hot in the first inning, sending 9 batters to the plate and scoring 5 runs, 3 of which came on Randy Agadoni’s long home run down the right field line. TPP responded with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning, and the teams appeared ready for a back-and-forth contest as the sun came out.
After CBI’s explosive first inning, their bats cooled off and TPP’s defense settled in, holding CBI to 3 runs over the next 7 innings. In the meantime, TPP’s batters were productive throughout the lineup, adding runs in all but one inning. By the end of the 8th inning, the score was 19-8 in favor of TPP.
TPP recorded 2 quick outs in the 9th inning and seemed poised to finish the game at that score line, but CBI’s hitters dug in and made a late charge to score 6 more runs with 2 outs to put some doubt in TPP’s minds before the rally ran out of steam.
CBI’s hitters were led by Randy Agadoni (3 for 5 with a HR, double, triple and 6 RBIs), Gene Smith (4 for 5), and each of Rod Johnson, Dale Miller, Pat Steele (sub) and Larry Wadalavage going 3 for 5. Dan Hacker, Sherre Lovick, Jeff Jacobs and Margo Jacobo contributed 2 hits apiece. Gene robbed TPP of a hit with a sliding catch in LCF, Randy stretched to cut off a couple of liners heading to the gap in RCF, and Pat proved he can play anywhere, making several nice plays at third base.
For TPP, Johnny Brand set the pace again from the leadoff spot (4 for 4, 3 runs scored, 2 RBIs), Tom Carney supplied some power (3 for 3, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs), and sub Delta Farrington provided consistent production, going 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs. Each of Mark Riserbato, Mike Brower, Ken Auerbach and Gordon Recht hit 3 for 4 with Mike and Ken contributing 5 RBIs between them. Every TPP player got at least 1 hit, and Evelyn Schwartz and sub Kathy O’Neil each recorded 1 RBI.
CBI thanks Pat for subbing, TPP thanks Delta and Kathy for subbing, and both teams thank Al Cabacungan and Joe Raffa for a well-umpired game.
The weather forecast was for light diminishing drizzle giving way to broken clouds in the morning. But for many of us coming from the east the ability to play seemed in doubt in our commute through steady drizzle to the game. Fortunately, the drizzle did in fact abate, although everything at Alga was wet.
With that said, Hennessey’s and Gaspar met up. The game started off in shocking fashion, with Gaspar holding the Hens scoreless in the first inning (for the first time in Gaspar’s twelve games). Gaspar scored three in the bottom of the first but watched the Hens chip away to take a 4-3 lead by the middle of the fourth inning. Gaspar retook the lead with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. With a defense a bit more sieve-like than in past games, Gaspar maintained a tenuous lead going into the bottom of the seventh when they scored three to take a 13-8 lead. But Hennessey’s was not done, and they scored four to pull to 13-12. Going into the top of the ninth still at 13-12, the Hens got the tying run on base but were unable to get it across.
Hennessey’s was again severely undermanned but was able to pull in a pair of subs that contributed to their highlights. Jeff Payton and Cathy McDonald both subbed, with Jeff going 4 for 4 and Cathy 3 for 4. Of the Hens regular roster, Dave Grull was 4 for 4, and Mark Pedote had the games only home run, a boomer that almost caused the drizzle to start up again. The Hens’ defense pulled off three double plays.
For Gaspar, Skip Moyer and Bocai (also now known as Botai/Bow Tie) were both 3 for 3. Brian Turner was 3 for 4, and Dave Ash, Tom Benacka, Joe Dimambro, and Guy McCord went 2 for 3.
Thanks to Gary McBride for umpiring a controversy-free game, and to Jeff and Cathy for subbing.
Very fast and close game today thanks to Pizza Port defense turning 7 double plays and Nucci’s defense catching numerous fly balls. Nucci’s as the visitors kept taking the lead during the game after Pizza Port would come back as the home team, then in the 8th PPB took a 2 run lead, but Nucci’s scored 2 in the top of the ninth to tie the game and hold PPB scoreless in the bottom of the inning. PPB’s pitcher Russell Roopenian and Nucci’s pitcher Steve Berry were fabulous.
Leading PPB hitters were Teddy Badillo 4/4 w/4 RBIs & a double, Russell Roopenian, Mark & Brenda Lehman were 3/4, Craig Wheatcroft was 2/3 w/a double & 2 RBIs, Rich Lavacot, David Ward, Joel Kudren and Super sub Ed Silva were 2/4 along with John Symanski, who also had a double & homer.
Leading the way for Nucci’s was Elizabeth Bailey with 4 line drive outfield hits, Dennis O’Hern, Marty Topper, Al Casteneda (2 RBI’s), Paul Thomas (2 RBIs) were all 3/4, Robert Kroger was 2/4 w/a 3 run homer.
Thanks to Jimmy Martin, who umpired perfectly.
Bye Teams: Village Pie Shop
Plotkin Group
Standings are posted after all scores have been received (in a timely manner)
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