Scores: 2025s2 Week 12

---

 While VPS was scoreless in their top of the first inning, PG didn’t waste any time scoring three runs in their bottom of the first inning.  From this point forward, it was all VPS scoring in every inning subsequent to the first while holding PG to the 3 runs through the 6th inning.  

The score beginning going into the 7th inning was 11-3 in favor of VPS.  But wait…  don’t count PG out just yet; PG came alive posting 8 runs in their bottom of the 7th inning bringing the score to 16-11.  However, VPS answered back with 3 more runs in the 8th inning and 2 more in the top of the 9th inning to bring the score to 21-11.  PG threatened with one more run in their bottom of the 9th and putting base runners on 1st and 2nd with then middle of their line-up coming to bat.  But VPS was able to hold on, make some plays to end the game.  

At the plate for PG, home runs by Oscar Castillo and Dave Erwine created some excitement.  [Don’t hit it to] Dennis O’Hern who went 4/4 and made some outstanding catches to the cheers of his family.  Oscar Castillo, Frank Weishaar and Robert Kroger hit 3/4.   

For VPS contributing to a team OBP of just under .700, Tony Coppin slugged a home run deep to the outfield and O2 was waiting for him at the plate.  Dario Santana and Ed Silva each hit 4/4.  Brian Turner, Pat Driscoll, Rick Shaw and Keith Richards each hit 4/5.  Some less than stellar throws to first base were turned into outs thanks to some fine catches by Kirsten Mildbrandt. 

Gratitude from both teams go out to Rich Lavacot for his excellent umpiring. 

A nail biting see-saw battle occurred on beautiful Calavera 2 today, with the 2nd place Eggplants hosting the 4th place (by 0.5 points!) Cops.   

Scoring was challenging in the beginning, with CPA eking out a 2-0 lead after three frames. The action really started in the 4th; CPA tacked on 3, but NU said enough was enough and scored 5 to tie the game. After defensive holds in the 5th and 6th for both teams, CPA plated 3 in the 7th only to be topped by 5 for NU, highlighted by a 3-run over-the-fence bomb by Tom Carney. Eggplants up 10-8. More fireworks in the 8th, this time by the Cops, highlighted by a clutch 2-out over-the-fence 3-run bomb by Jeff Van Siclen. CPA now clinging to a one run lead, 11-10. CPA tacked on an insurance run in the top of the 9th and started praying for a defensive hold 🙏 ... and got their wish. Final score 12-10.

Leading hitters for the Eggplants were Tom Carney (2/3, HR, 4 RBIs), Bob (Crash) Porter (3/3, RBI), Dave Ash (3/3, RBI), Philip Urbina (2/3, RBI), and Robert Tahimic and Greg Lorton (both 2/3). 

For CPA it was Jeff Van Siclen (4/4, HR, 4 RBIs, hit for the cycle!), Rod Johnson (4/4, RBI), Jimmy (don't say Smith) Smyth (3/4, 2 RBIs), and John (Crash 2; but not today) Symanski (2/4, 2 RBIs). 

Calavera is almost always an interesting place to play defense, but by and large both squads held their own with some nice outfield catches and double plays. Excellent pitching was provided by Lil Keehan for NU and Rod Johnson for CPA. Rod took a hard liner off his calf, still soldiered on, and we all hope he's ok.  

Both teams wish to thank Steve Sexton for excellent umpiring, and for leading both teams in honoring all the U.S. military in observance of Veterans Day. 

Carlsbad Inn recorded a decisive 21–12 victory over The Draft on Tuesday, powered by consistent hitting throughout the lineup, 8 home runs, and several key run-producing innings. The win was highlighted by strong offensive performances from multiple players and steady defensive execution in the later frames.

Carlsbad Inn opened the scoring with two runs in the first inning before The Draft responded with four of their own. After falling behind early, Carlsbad Inn quickly regained control with a pair of runs in the second and a five-run surge in the third, taking a lead they would not relinquish.  The Draft scored 4 more runs in the bottom of the 6th to make it close, 11 - 9.  But the Innkeepers continued their HR barrage to score 9 runs in the next 2 innings for a nice cushion.

Jerry Smith led the Carlsbad Inn offense with a standout performance, finishing with three home runs and five runs batted in. Randy Baird also contributed significantly, driving in four runs, including a two-run home run against the LC fence that helped fuel the team’s pivotal third-inning rally.

Carlsbad Inn continued to add to its lead with timely hitting in the middle innings. Mike Gallagher, Linda Wolf (4 for 4), and Tony Trifiletti each added home runs during an eighth-inning stretch that produced four runs and widened the margin. Jonny Brand delivered a two-run home run in the seventh, Rich Reynolds hit 3 for 4 with a triple, Cord Cameron hit 3 for 4, and Dan Smith went 4 for 5.

The Draft was led by Ron Bondshu who went 4 for 4 who also caught any fly ball that came his way.  Mike Brower, Jim Goertzen, Phil Kay and Raul Mateus all hit 3 for 4 with Raul hitting 2 massive home runs, one of which may still be rolling down Harding Street.  Gordon Recht also hit a nice gap shot home run, allowing him to trot easily around the bases.

Note:  this article was partially written by AI, with some editing required (thanks to Tony Trifiletti for trying this out).  

“Economists were put on earth to make astrologers look good”

If there was any consensus today's game,  both  Gaspar and Worden Williams somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory despite the game officially ending in a 12 – 12 tie. The Dubs never trailed in the game but were unable to expand that lead as Gaspar was up to the challenge by tying the game five separate times.  

In the bottom of the ninth, with the score tied at 12, WW had runners at first and third with one out but were unable to push the winning run across.

Leading the way for the Dubs was Kevin Lynch who banged out two triples and smashed a home run that that clanked off of the left center field fence at Alga 2. He finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored and six RBIs.  Bob Buscher wasn’t far behind going 4 for 4 with a two-out, two-run RBI as well as four runs scored. Joel Kudren chipped in with a solo blast in the 7th to put the Dubs one up and the lower half of the order was again up to the task by delivering four clutch hits.

GA fought back all game. Down 5-1 in the 4th, the top of Gaspar's order strung together five singles and a double from Jeff Schneider to tie the game. Down 9-6 in the 7th, Tom Winterbourne's 3-run homer tied the game.  And finally, down 12-9 in the 8th, Pat Steele's 2-run single capped a 3-run rally and tied the score.

A record of sorts may have been set when a total of twenty-nine players showed up for the game; fifteen for GA and fourteen for the Dubs.

Bye: Pizza Port Brewery