Scores

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In the late morning tilt at Alga, two evenly matched teams met on the breezy turf. How can a match with two teams sporting records of 15-2-1 and 5-9-1 be a toss-up? Cuz the Massage Parlor boys waxed the Guidos in their last battle, blackening the I-ties eyes and gouging holes in their confidence. This time around, the rematch was reminiscent of a heavy-weight boxing match, each team giving and getting their best shots.

Resembling the famous “Thrilla in Manilla” between Smokin’ Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, neither team seemed capable of delivering the knock-out blow, but spent plenty of time landing body blows and getting up off the canvas. An early 5-spot by Nucci’s didn’t quell the Physio’s thirst for blood, and after 5-1/2 innings, the score stood 8-8. But remember, this is a Nucci’s squad well-accustomed to lulling their prey into a fall sense of security using the ‘rope-a-dope’ strategy. A fiver in the bottom of the sixth by Nucci’s temporarily made the other squad GASP – but they responded with four in the top of the 8th to bring things to 13-12 Nucci’s lead. The pasta eaters responded by heating up their bats faster than a George Foreman grill with a four-run rally screaming “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” to open a comfortable five run margin heading to the ninth. The impact of this sent the PT’s to the sauna to bring a conclusion to the goings’ on.

For the 1st place Burgundy Bombers, Lil Keehan pitched a complete game, a day after throwing a no-hitter in the championship game of a tournament for the Sisters of Never Ending Mercy in Mesquite, Nevada. Defensively, Tom Carney continued to make a case for no one else needing to be on the field to shut the opposition down. The offensive contributions from Nucci’s bats(wo)men were extremely balanced across the lineup with five hitters recording 2 RBI’s. But heavy lifting honors go to the aforementioned Carney-dude (3/4, HR, 4 RBI), Laurie (Milli Vanilli) Mills 3/4, Loquacious Robert Tahimic 3/4, Aloha Al Cabacungan 3/4, and Tomahawk Jack Schwarzel 3/3. 

For the gray-clad Physios, Gene (Red Line) Smith went 4/4 but was kept in the park. Clean-up hitter Cord Camerron bagged 4 RBI with his 2/4. Phil Urbina, Dennis Rayford and David Bosque chipped in, each going 3/4. Tatboy Paul Thomas went 3/5 from the lead-off spot. 

Both teams thank the incredibly well-tanned Randy Agadoni, who graciously left a half full Mai Tai in Maui to referee the contest.

Who sneaked this early game in on us?  Just like last Thursday, a groggy Carlsbad Innexplicables team crawled onto the field to host the well-rested Village Pie Shoppe Tarts that had played two previous late games.  But unlike last week, the Inexplicables shook the cobwebs off early.  CBI wanted a cakewalk over the Tarts, but were ultimately disappointed.

The Tarts opened the first scoring a run, and held that lead until the Innexplicables’ second batter drove in the tying run.  Six batters later the Innexplicables led 5-1.  The pattern continued for the next five innings with CBI having two more five-run innings and leading 20-1 after six.  A lesser team would have phoned in the rest of the game, but that’s not the Tarts.  They scored two in the seventh and seven in the eighth, coming just a run short of avoiding the flip.  Alas, but they could draw no closer in the ninth and the game ended 20-10 for the Innexplicables.  Although the Pie Shoppe started slow (perhaps forgetting to preheat the oven), they finished strong.  The Tarts proved they weren’t creampuffs!

Jerry Smith, David Ward, and Pat Driscoll led the Pie Shoppe hitting each going 3 for 4.  Jerry’s hits included a home run, and Pat’s hits included several of his signature swinging “Bundt” singles (get it!).  Phil Kay hit the Tarts’ other home run, picking on the Innexplicables’ third baseman.  Kathy O’Neal went 2 for 3.

Randy Agadoni and Joe Uribe led the hitting for Carlsbad Inn with four singles each in four at-bats, but Randy broke the tie with four RBIs to Joe’s three.  Jim Goertzen and Kevin Lynch both went 3 for 4 with all but one of their combined hits for extra bases.  “Hank” Erin Spoden, Double-Down Donna Engleman, Walt Webber, and Greg Lorton all were 2 for 3.  While Erin smashed a triple, where she really shined was in left field, making many improbable catches, including a rally-snuffing diving catch to her left.

Both teams were short of players, and Rich Lavacot subbed for the Tarts and Ken Auerbach for the Innexplicables.  Both teams appreciate Al Cabacungan umpiring, and the Innexplicables not-so-secretly hoped he’d tire himself out in his role as rover for league-leading Nucci’s in the follow-on game. 

WHEW!!!! That was the audible sound heard from the visiting defensive squad in the bottom of the 9th today under foggy conditions at Pine Park, where the 11-5-0 (3rd place) Pizza Port-ers hosted the 10-6-0 (4th place) Draft.  

So here's the story: Right out of the gate The Dodgers scored 5 to the Port-ers' 0. After 5 it was 8-3, and after 7 it was 11-5. Not a barn burner, yet, and defense and pitching was good on both sides. In the 8th the Dodgers pushed 4 more runs across ... it would have been 5 if not for a well performed PPB relay and resulting OUT! call at home plate. The Port-ers added 3 in their half to bring it to 15-8. The favorability forecast for DR at that point was "mildly optimistic;" but no lead is safe in this league and that was certainly true today. After the Dodgers tacked on an insurance run in the top of the 9th to make it 16-8, PPB said "Not So Fast!" With 1 out, they loaded the bases, scoring 3 with a single and a sac fly. With 2 outs they pushed 4 more across, leaving the score at 16-15; but the (stress inducing 😵‍💫) rally ended there, and now we have two teams at 11-6-0 in a tie for 3rd place. 

Margo Jacobo for DR and Ken Thompson for PPB both pitched strong complete games. Both teams had some hard luck with solid line drives getting snagged by the infield. 

Offensively the Port-ers were led by Pat Steele (HR) and Andy Balas (both 4/5, 4 RBIs); Ken Thompson (4/5, HR, 3 RBIs); Roney Lewis (4/5, 2 RBIs). 

The Dodger attack was spearheaded by Bob Tompkins (HR) and Jeff Scheider (2 HR) (both 5/5, 4 RBIs); Steve Doan (4/5, RBI); Jeff Payton, super-sub Rich Keefer, and Mike Berry (each 3/4, RBI), and Dale Miller (2/5, 2 RBIs). 

The Draft expresses thanks to Rich Keefer for subbing and holding down 2nd base, and PPB thanks The Draft for supplying a right fielder. 

It was a great day to have a softball game. TPP broke out to a 3 to 1 lead in the first inning. CPA took the lead in the 6th at 6 to 5. Both teams played solid defense. TPP's Evelyn Schwartz was making catch after catch in center field to put a stop to CPA's push. That Pizza Place finally got their bats going in the 7th and 8th with 5 and 3 runs. CPA had a tough outing against TPPs solid defense which only allowed 3 runs in 8 of the 9 innings. 

Dan Miserany and Craig Wheatcroft were both a perfect 4 for 4 at bats for CPA.

TPP had solid 3 of 4 batting from Johnny Brand, Dan Smith, Jeff Van Siclen, Rich Reynolds, Gary Soper. Triples from Al Castaneda and Rich Reynolds pushed the team to a 13 to 7 win.

We would like to thank Cathy McDonald and John Symanski for subbing. And also the great and wonderful Bob Porter for calling a perfect game with no challenges to any of his calls.

Bye:  Worden Williams

          Plotkin Group