This Week's Comic
Thursday April 27th
Plotkin Group 18 Nucci's 9
Village Pie Shoppe 18 The Draft 13
Village Pie Shoppe 18 The Draft 13
Verily it is written "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first," and for today at least these words have come to pass. Speaking on behalf of last place Plotkin Group I say "Hallelujah!" We have been the guys with the shovels at the back of the horse parade all season so you will forgive us for celebrating a victory over league leading Lil Keehan and her Immortals.
How did we do it? The short answer is we hit a ton and they didn't. At the end of the first inning Plotkins led 5-1. After five it was 10-2, and so it went. Both pitchers played excellent defense with PG's Harry Peacock snagging two screaming line drives with his excellent reflexes.
For Nucci's, Jim Davis was 2 for 3 with a walk and Kirsten Mildbrandt was 3 for 4.
Plotkins got 4 for 4 hitting from Larry Weinberger (all doubles), Brian Turner and substitute Phil McCabe, with Brian and Phil hitting homers. Jack Schwarzel and Marty Topper were 3 for 4 today.
We extend our thanks to Phil McCabe for filling out our roster and to Roney Lewis for officiating the game.
Finally, we bid farewell to Larry Weinberger who returns home to Long Island, NY. We look forward to your return in the fall, big guy.
Village Pie Shoppe 18 The Draft 13
Village Pie Shoppe 18 The Draft 13
Village Pie Shoppe 18 The Draft 13
Have you seen how much the Draft's line-up has improved since the start of the season? It's got no holes in it at all! Their lowest-rated player would bat in the middle of the order on many teams. On looking at their order, the Village People were just hoping to keep the score close. And after 2 of their top hitters were called out on strikes in the first inning on pitches that were just over 6"--er, I mean 6'--high, their fears became all too real. The Draftees--led by solid hitting from Al Casteneda (5 for 5), Tom Bernacke (3 for 4), Phil Kay (3 for 4), and Dan Smith (3 for 4, including a homer)--had leads of 3-2, 9-8, and finally 13-12 going into the 9th inning. But in the top of the 9th, the Villagers' big hitters--Mike Maltinsky (5 for 5 with 4 doubles and a homer and 7 RBIs), and Dario Santana, Keith Richards, super sub Mike Henderson, Dennis O'Hern, Bo Cai, and Ken McGehee (all of whom had 4 hits, including walks) pounded Draftee pitching for 6 runs to take a 18-13 lead going into the bottom of the 9th. And led by outstanding play all game from the Villagers outfield--Dennis, Mike M., Bill Mead, Gene LaChimia, and Dario--the Villagers orange-hair--opps, I mean orange-shorts--pitcher shut down the Draftees in the bottom of the 9th for a 18 to 13 victory for the Village People.
Thanks much to Rick Shaw for calling strikes and strikes--er, I mean, balls and strikes--and to Mike Henderson and Skip Moyer for subbing.
Hennessey's 26 Worden Williams 12
Pizza Port Brewery 15 Carlsbad Inn 15
Pizza Port Brewery 15 Carlsbad Inn 15
Today's game at Calaveras started out like it was going to be a high scoring affair with both teams scoring four runs in the first inning. But then the defenses took over and kept the score to an 11 to 8 advantage for HEN at the end of the 7th inning. The defensive play of the game was a throw from the right field fence by Mike Brower to Dan Miserany who fired a strike to Barb Pardo to cut down Gene Foreman trying for a home run.
The HEN bats finally woke up in the 8th and 9th innings, scoring 5 runs in the 8th, then batting around in the open inning, top of the 9th scoring ten runs to put the game away. This was a total team effort with everyone having multiple hits and all but one driving in multiple runs. BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY THE LADIES GAME TODAY with Donna Engleman blazing the trail & Barb and Cathy making their presence known too!!
For HEN and Leading the onslaught were Mike Brower 5 for 5, Oscar Lara, Pat Driscoll, Dave Erwine, new-comer Cathy McDonald, and Steve Berry all 4 for 5. Dan Miserany was 3 for 5 with the team's only homer. Team On Base Percent was .750.
The top of the WW batting order gave HEN plenty of headaches with Phil Heinz going 5 for 5 and Gene Foreman and Teddy Badillo going 4 for 5, including Teddy's bomb over the fence in left center.
Pizza Port Brewery 15 Carlsbad Inn 15
Pizza Port Brewery 15 Carlsbad Inn 15
Pizza Port Brewery 15 Carlsbad Inn 15
Sometimes the best team on the field that day does not win. Sometimes the worst team on the field that day does not lose. Sometimes a Senior Softball game breaks out with all the twists and turns we have come to expect and a tie is the result. Today was that day.
Carlsbad Inn took charge early taking an 11-4 lead with Robert Kroger and Randy Benge hitting HRs. CBI also played smothering defense holding PPB to a 2 run double by Dale Miller and a HR by Kevin McBarron to take the 7 run lead.
In the seventh inning Rich Reynolds hit a bases loaded “single” to deep center that cleared the bases and CBI was rolling at 15-7. But after 7 innings of the yips the PPB defense tightened and held CBI scoreless over the last two. In the meantime PPB started finding their range on offense.
PPB scored 5 in the 8th to get within three with the big hit being a 3 run HR by Rich Lavacot. Then in the 9th inning, Steve Newberg tattooed a deep shot for a 2 run HR to get PPB within 1. Steve Sexton followed with an even deeper tattoo HR that he gracefully turned into a triple before John McDaniel’s drove him in with the tying run. PPB threatened to take the lead but could not pull ahead going into the bottom of the 9th at 15 all.
CBI had one last chance. Rich Keefer and Tim McNary each got their 3rd hits of the game to lead off. Margo Jacobo then delivered her 3rd hit but a strike from CF Gordon Recht cut down the runner at third for the second out. PPB then escaped a bases loaded jam snaring the last out to preserve the tie.
The teams thanked Bob “the Brilliant” Baptista for a fine job umpiring today.
Tuesday April 25th
Pizza Port Brewery 22 Plotkin Group 21
Pizza Port Brewery 22 Plotkin Group 21
Pizza Port Brewery 22 Plotkin Group 21
Plotkin Group came out banging by scoring 5 runs without an out in the 1st inning to set the tone for what was going to be a long day on the dirt fields of Calavera today. Brian Turner and Bill Garner both had 4 hits to spur the rally. PPB came back with 5 of their own without an out with Rich Lavacot pounding out 4 hits and Michael Juditz getting on and scoring 4 runs from the lead off spot.
But PG had their starting lineup together today and when they are all there…they are tough! Dave Grull hit his 4th hit, a triple over CF, and Gary McBride 5/5 put a dent into the LF fence and PG was up 15-11 after 5 innings.
PPB put together some runs with Steve Newberg 3/4 and a HR and John McDaniel’s getting 4 RBIs off his 3 hits. It was 19-16 in the 7th. Then with 2 runners aboard Kevin McBarron hit a Calayard HR over The Bob Porter Memorial Fence to tie the score.
It came down to the 9th inning when Larry Weinberger 4/5 stepped in with two outs and two on and drilled a clutch gapper giving PG a 21-20 lead going into the bottom of the 9th . Then McBarron came a few feet from ending it with a game tying shot against the fence setting up Mark Riserbato who stroked the game winner for his 5th RBI of the day and a PPB win.
The teams thank Jim Goertzen for umping this 3 hour, 12 walk, 12 Calaverror's marathon of a game!
The Draft 24 Gaspar 9
Pizza Port Brewery 22 Plotkin Group 21
Pizza Port Brewery 22 Plotkin Group 21
It was not Gaspar's day Only One run in the first 4 innings. And a total of 9 for the whole game. Vs the Drafts 5 runs each of the first 2 innings, and 10 more in the 6th and 7th innings. Plus 4 more in the middle of the 5'''s. With the flip The draft scored 24 in 7 innings. AWESOME!
To add to that offensive play The Draft defense was catching most everything Including Marlons Imitation of Willy Mays over the shoulder catch of Al Galavese LOOng fly ball. Poor Al made the last out 4 times today.
Thanks to Dan Griffin for subbing And Rick Shaw for Umpiring.
Marlon made The great catch, hit 2 HRs, had 5 RBIs, and scored 3 runs. Bob, Pat, Leigh, and David were 4 for 4 and played great defense. Leigh also had 4 RBIs. Al was 4 for 5 with 4 RBIs and 3 runs scored.
For Gaspar Bob Baptista was 5-5 Dan Hackee 4-5 And Ron Silverman 3-4.
Carlsbad Inn 20 Nucci's 9
Village Pie Shoppe 21 Hennessey's 14
Village Pie Shoppe 21 Hennessey's 14
This league is fun on days like today. Clean play, good sportsmanship and a very good umpire moving things along.
Dan Menendez did a good job at shortstop filling Tom Carney’s big shoes and the Nucci outfield ran down some tough catches. For CBI, Paul Thomas made several good plays in right center and the rest of the CBI defense was very good in support of Rich Keefer. Rich and Rod Johnson did not walk a single batter today.
On Offense for Nucci’s, Al Cabacungan hit 4 for 4, Frank Weishaar and Dan Menendez hit 3 for 4 and Jim Davis drove in 4.
For CBI, Oscar Castillo hit 4 for 4 and Paul Thomas hit 3 for 3. Randy Benge, Randy Agadoni, Robert Kroger, Rich Keefer, David Hartzog and Martin Wai all hit 3 for 4. Martin also hit a home run. Oscar, Randy A. and Robert each drove in 3.
Roney Lewis did his usual excellent job calling balls and strikes.
Village Pie Shoppe 21 Hennessey's 14
Village Pie Shoppe 21 Hennessey's 14
Village Pie Shoppe 21 Hennessey's 14
Most of the readers of these summaries have played dozens--if not hundreds--of senior softball games, and thus they know that when the bottom of the order hits well, the team usually wins. Well, the bottom of Hennessey's order hit exceptionally well: Cathy McDonald 3/4; Steve Berry 4/4; Jeff Jacobs 3/4; and Donna Engleman 4/4. Coupled with Dan Miserany going 3/4; Mike Brower 3/4; Oscar Lara 4/4; and Dave Erwine 3/4, the Hen Men shoulda won--right? But somehow, the Village people triumphed 21-14. Why? First of all, defense: the Villagers turned 3 [or was it 4] double plays, and consistently got the lead runner out even after a couple of hits. Secondly, offense: the first 5 Village hitters--Daria Santana, Keith Richards, Mike Maltinsky, super sub Bill Codner, and Gene LaChimia--went 16 for 17, with 14 runs and 15 RBIs. And Keith, Mike, Gene, and Ken McGehee [3/4] all had homers. Thirdly, a never-say-die attitude: the Villagers would go ahead and the Hen Men would comeback; the Villagers would go ahead again, and the Hen Men would make it close; and finally the Village people got up 21-8 going into the 8th, but even 6 runs in the last 2 innings for the Hen Men wasn't enough. Finally, no fist fights; no cussing out the manager; no collisions on the base paths: how rare is that???
2023 Season 1: STANDINGS AS OF 4-27-23
Standings are posted after all scores have been received (in a timely manner)
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