Scores

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Behind pitching and strong defense, Gaspar won their third straight with a convincing 15-9 win over Carlsbad Inn.  Going into the 9th inning CBI had only scored 3 runs, all in the 4th inning.  CBI's bats came alive in the 9th with 6 runs but Gaspar's lead was too much.  Dennis Rayford and Jim Goertzen were 4-4, Dave Ash had two home runs and 6 RBI's.  Dan Hacker was 3-4.  

For CBI, Randy Agadoni, sub Andy Balas, and Jerry Smith were 3-4 including a home run.

CBI thanks Andy Balas and Andy Boyer for subbing.

 Gaspar thanks Paul Thomas and Bill Mead.  

Both teams thank Bob Baptista for umpiring in his return to Alga 3.

Both teams bats were hot in the first inning which ended tied at 5. TPP continued with their hot bats in the second with additional 5 to 1 for VPS. TPP increased their lead to 5 runs and maintained that lead through the rest of the game, but it was much closer in the end than was comfortable for TPP.  Game ended with an infield pop out with bases loaded. 

VPS had home runs from David Hartzog and Jeff Payton. David Ward, Rick Shaw Rich Keefer, Delta Farrington, Kirsten Mildbrandt, and Linda Wolf were all 3 for 4 at the plate. 

TPP matched VPS with home runs from Bob Porter and Pat Steele. Bob Porter was 4 for 4  with 6 RBIs and 4 runs scored. Pat Steele was 4 of 5 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Kevin McBarron, Dan Smith, and Oscar Lara were all 3 of 4.  Everyone on TPP had at least one hit and contributed at key times. Pat Steele and David Buck pitched a great game for TPP. 

All it took to get Plotkin Group back on track was for Manager Janet to return from her Election Poll duties as PG dominated Pizza Port Brewing from beginning to end with a 17 to 6 victory. PG scored in all but two innings while a stellar defense held PPB scoreless except in two innings.

PG started the game with a first inning, first pitch home run by Pat Driscoll. He didn't stop there and went 4 for 4 with a grand slam homer in the 4th inning to stake PG to a 12 to 0 lead. PPB put up four runs in the bottom of the 4th on back-to-back homers by sub Roney Lewis and Vern Blough to close the gap a little. But four more runs by PG in the 5th inning essentially put the game away. Defenses took over at that point and held PG to a single run and PPB to two runs.

In addition to Pat's outstanding game, PG had three other 4 for 4 hitters - Joe Uribe, Teddy Bedillo, and Rich Reynolds. Oscar Castillo was 2 for 4 including a homer and David Bosque and Lou Chartz were each 3 for 4. Jimmie Martin gave up his only walk in the first inning and with some solid defense behind him pretty much kept the PPB hitters under control.

PPB was missing a couple big hitters, but Roney Lewis filled in nicely with a 3 for 4 day and the aforementioned homer. Mark Riserbato and Vern Blough were also 3 for 4 and Karl Stern was 2 for 3.

Thanks to Barry Anderson for taking time out of his busy schedule to umpire the first six innings of our game. 

“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the War room!” Merkin Muffley

How do you spell MONEY? CATHY MCDONALD AND ERIN SPODEN. That's how! Try as Nucci’s might to target Cathy in Right and Erin in Right Center, it was to no avail. Nothing got by these two, starting with a stunning running catch by McDonald in the bottom of the first and continued with stellar defense from both players throughout all nine innings. And it just wasn’t defense, as Cathy delivered on offense going 4/5 with two RBIs and a double while Erin went 2/5 with a two bagger and two RBIs. All of which contributed to a 21- 12 win by Worden Williams over Nucci’s.

After a two-game slump in which they scored just 14 runs, the Dubs exploded with 34 hits and 21 runs in this game.  In addition to Cathy and Erin’s contributions, two perfectos (5 for 5) by Dan Griffin and Robert Tahimic (who added two home runs) and clutch hitting by Ken Auerbach fueled the offense.

For NU, their bats were unexpectedly quiet until the eighth and ninth innings when they scored seven of their twelve runs. Leading the way for NU was Gene LaChimia, Al Cabacungan and Eugene Smith (3/4) who also launched one over the left field fence at Calavera and pulled off an impressive sliding catch in left center.

A big thanks to John Vivrett of WW for stepping in at the last minute to fill in for a late scratch. As he ran out to his position, his team could hear him saying, “put me in Coach, I’m ready to play today. Look at me, I can be centerfield”. J V then backed up his words by snagging a fast-rising line drive in centerfield.

Also thanks to Johnny Brand who called balls and strikes and the bases.

Bye:  Hennessey's

         The Draft

Wind of Change by the Scorpions

On a beautiful Santa Ana wind predicted day, Nucci's and VPS came out to change the course of their season...and the winds would only assist one of them. As the game began the Santa Ana winds blowing relentlessly at 3 MPH propelled VPS with 5 runs in the first as they held the lead through the second inning. The onshore breeze kicked in in the third with a powerful 2 MPH gust for Nucci's and with the wind under their wings they scored 5 in the third. The game teetered back and forth (mainly forth for Nucci's) with light winds through the 8th. Gale force winds of 4 MPH pushed Nucci's into a 9 run ninth (yes NINE, probably the most runs in any inning all year for Nucci's). The bottom of the ninth ended in a stare down between Al and Rick Shaw as he ran...sort of, to first, with Al knocking down the last out to give Nucci's the win. While the score may indicate a "Blow Out" (just had to use that for the wind reference), the game was very close going into the ninth.

VPS did score 15, representing a lot of bat action. David Ward went 5 for 5, while scoring 3 times, Delta Farrington pounding out a 4 for 4 day, Rich Keefer and David Hartzog both going 3 for 3, Jeff Payton and Dan Menendez going 3 for 4 and Rick Shaw powering through with a 4 for 5 outing. The big dog home run hitter was Phil Kay for VPS.

Nucci's swingers were Bob Cairo (Bocai) and Greg Lorton going 5 for 5...IMPRESSIVE. Mike Brower went 4 for 5, scoring 4 times,  Eugene Smith 3 for 4 with a walk and scoring 3 times, Frank Weishaar going 3 for 4 and scoring 3 times and Al Cabacungan scoring 3 times as well. 

Mike/Al/Guy blew through their standard Double Play in the game.

Nucci's now with the wind at their backs sailing forward.

Gaspar plated 5 runs in the top of the first inning and never trailed on their way to a 21-11 win over Pizza Port.  It was one of Gaspar's best hitting games as 10 of their 12 players had 3 hits or more.  

Jim Goertzen 5 for 5 with 3 doubles, Dave Ash and Skip Moyer 4 for 4 were perfect at the plate.  Dan Hacker and Dave Ash homered for Gaspar.  

Pizza Port was able to close the gap after 5 innings at 13-10.  But in the top of the sixth, Gaspar plated another 5 runs and to go up 18-10 and held PPB the rest of the way.  Frankie Burns pitched well and Gaspar completed three double plays including one that went from shortstop to third to first and back to third.  

For PPB, Jim Davis and Martin Wai were 4 for 4, Sub Randy Agadoni was 4 for 5 with a home run.  

PPB thanks Randy for subbing and both teams thank Barry Anderson for umpiring.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Ferris Bueller

If you’re a fan of low scoring games, solid defense, minimal hitting and tight finishes, then you have come to the right place my friend. Even the sparse crowd was on the edge of its seats as the outcome was uncertain until the very last out was recorded. In the end, Worden Williams came away with the 9-8 squeaker over Hennessey’s Tavern.

The Dubs and Hens were never more than two runs apart with the Hens trailing by one going into the bottom of the ninth. Dan Miserany led off with a Texas leaguer that just missed being caught by Robert Tahimic, advanced to third with one out but there he remained as the Dubs defense stiffened.

Leading the way for WW was Robert Tahimic belting a home run and collecting 3 hits, Bob Buscher also chipped in with three hits and three runs scored. Ken Auerbach was perfect at the plate and drove in three runs. 

For HEN, Dennis O’Hern and Bill Codner each had three hits. Two outstanding catches, one by Bill Codner at his shoe tops and Bob Loperena, who ran down a deep fly to left center field, helped both teams avoid big innings.

Finally, welcome back Bob Baptista, who after a period of recuperation, was back behind the plate calling balls and strikes.

After winning its last game Team Draft found that they had somehow climbed into one of the elite playoff spots, but in order to hold on to its 4th seed they would have to play and beat the 3rd place Plotkin Group.  PG is an awesome squad with so many elite players that an opposing batter struggles mightily to find a soft spot to aim for.  

Two Plotkins, Pat Driscoll and Rich Reynolds, can hit from either side of the plate.  I mean they're both amphibious!  Then there's Teddy "Roosevelt" Badillo who, like his namesake, speaks softly and carries a BIG stick.  

The Draft was again short of players so Pat Steele and Larry Wadalavage joined today as subs.  The game started slowly, as attested by the score of 5-5 after the 4th inning.  At that point DR began having big innings while PG did not. In the sixth, The Draft's Bill Mead stepped to the plate and drove a screaming line drive just inside the left field foul line and it sped all the way to the fence.  His thundering charge all the way around to third base was one of the most exciting two minutes in the annals of sports!  After eight innings The Draft had taken a commanding lead at 19-9 and this proved to be the final score.

Draft's biggest contributors were Jack Schwarzel and David Erwine who made nary an out, and Paul Thomas, Johnnie Brand and Pat Steele who made only one.  Johnny also hit a huge home run (the Yankees are scouting him).  

The Plotkins had Robert Kroger who made no outs, and Donato Domaguin and Jimmie Martin who made only one.  

Our thanks to Pat and Larry whose quality play was a huge help to The Draft and to umpire Russ Roopenian for his low-key expertise.

  Bye: Carlsbad Inn

          That Pizza Place