Scores: Week 14

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It ain’t over till it’s over!

The Alga 3 Thursday matchup brought together two teams headed in opposite directions. The visiting Carlsbad Innkeepers had won three in a row, including wins over second-place Plotkin Group and fourth-place That Pizza Place. The host Gaspar Lame Docs were riding in on a five-game losing streak with losses to the best and not-so-best teams. But records go out the window once the first pitch is thrown out.

The game started is a typical senior softball game with many hits but with missed opportunities and lots of players left on base. After the first inning, the game was tied 2-2.

And then suddenly a baseball game broke out. Each team scored only in one of the next seven innings. The Innkeepers drove across two in the fourth and the Lame Docs scored on a solo homer by sub Greg Dehart in the seventh. Heading into the ninth with the Innkeepers up 4-3, the game was up for grabs.

In the top of the ninth, Gaspar began to see a light at the end of the tunnel as Carlsbad Inn managed to get baserunners but also several outs. But then Larry “how do you pronounce your name” Wadalavage smashed a three-run line drive over the right fielder and suddenly the Innkeepers were up 7-3 and that light was now a mere firefly.

After getting the final out in the top of the ninth, the Lame Docs came up not completely demoralized but close. After a leadoff single by David Hartzog, super-sub Greg Dehart slammed a triple to make the score 7-4. Then a patented Randy Baird home run closed the score to 7-6. Gene LaChimia walked and Mark Prior doubled to put the tying run on third and the winning run on second. With the outfield playing in with no outs, Mark Tanner blasted a line drive to right center that would have been a home run had the winning run not already scored. Final score 8-7.

Dennis Kemp and Bob Baptista led the Innkeepers going 3 for 3. Sean Skelton, Larry Wadalavage, and Jack Karson were each 3 for 4. Larry drove in four runs and Randy Agadoni added two more.

For the Lame Docs, Randy Baird and David Hartzog were 3 for 4. Gene LaChimia and Mark Tanner were each 2 for 3 plus a walk. Randy, Mark Tanner, and Greg Dehart drove in all eight runs.

So in the end, both teams only scored in three innings, and three players drove in all the runs for each team. Thanks to Greg Dehart for subbing big time for Gaspar, and Tom Butch and John Symanski for subbing for Carlsbad Inn.

 "Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, refrains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact." — George Eliot 

  OK, so now with a little more time, here is the rest of the story ...

The VPS Pie People hosted the TPP Pizza Phlippers on Alga 2. Here's the scoreline:

TPP‌  5-0-0-2-4-0-5-5-1 = 22‌

VPS‌  2-0-5-2-5-0-0-0-1 = 15

The game was a wrestling match through the 6th, with VPS leading 14-11. Then TPP's bats came alive and 11 runners crossed the home plate line against 1 for VPS the rest of the way. VPS mounted a strong 9th inning rally, scoring 1 and loading the bases with no outs, but TTP turned a clutch double play and were able to close it out at 22-15.  

Leading the hit parade for VPS was Dario Santana (4/5, RBI), Barry Stangl (3/4, 2 RBIs), super-sub Johnny Brand (3/4, BB, 2 RBIs), Robert Kroger (3/5, 2 RBIs), super-sub Dave Erwine (2/4, HR, 5 RBIs), and MJ (2/3, HR, 2 RBIs). 

For TPP it was super-sub Mark Riserbato (5/5, RBI), Bob Tompkins (4/5, towering HR, 7 RBIs), Bill Ginty (4 RBIs, HR, hit for cycle), Dale Miller (4/5, 3 RBIs), John Rosser (4/5, RBI), Roney Lewis (4/5, RBI), 'Honey' Peterson (2/3, 2BB), Al (Beep-Beep) Castaneda (2/3, BB), and super-sub Dale Martin (2 hits).  

Defensive highlights include some nice running catches on both sides, and 3 timely double plays by the TPP infield. 

Pitching for the Pie People was the 3-headed monster that kept 'em guessing: Robert Kroger, Sheree Parsons, and MJ. Mike Berry logged a complete game for the Pizza Phlippers. 

The game was self-umpired with good sportsmanship, and only a little grumbling from the peanut gallery about the highs and lows of Senior Softball. 

VPS wishes to thank Dave Erwine and Johnny Brand, and TPP wishes to thank Mark Riserbato and Dale Martin for subbing.  

'nuf said....

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. . .

— A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens

It was a tale of two halves in the showdown between league-leading Pizza Port Brewery and second-place Plotkin Group Thursday at Pine Field. Plotkin had the best of the first half, scoring in each of the first five innings to take an 8-4 lead. But the second half belonged to the Brewers as they outscored Plotkin 15-1 to notch a 19-9 victory.

The win upped  Pizza Port’s record to 19-3, giving it a 3.5-game lead over Plotkin with five games remaining in the regular season (six for Plotkin).

PPB had timely hitting, as nine of their runs in the key fifth and sixth innings came with two outs. Tom Carney led the way, going 4-for-4. Andy Balas and Tom Redmond each had three hits and drove in three runs. Mark Lecklider had two hits, including a key double that drove in three runs in the sixth inning after Elizabeth Bailey and Pam Stewart set the table with two-out singles. Jim Goertzen, Sub Robert Liles, and Bob Manchester each had three hits. Philip Urbina, Bailey, and Stewart had two hits each.

The Brewers’ defense shined over the last four innings, with two double plays, a couple of running catches in center by Andy Balas, a running catch by Manchester in left, and three tough groundouts to Jack Schwarzel at second base. Sub pitcher Russ Roopenian didn’t give up a walk and contributed some outstanding defense as well. The Brewers faced only 13 batters over the last four innings.

Jerry Smith went 4-for-4 and drove in three runs to lead the Plotkin hitting attack, and Kevin Davidge was 3-for-4. Carlos Cevallos, Pat Steele, Rick Skidmore, and Phil Kay had two hits apiece.

Both teams thank “Donato” (no last name needed) for umpiring a fine game.

Another nail biter out a Calavera today as Worden Williams outplayed Nucci’s for 8 innings before a Tom Benacka 9th inning single once again plated the winning run as Nucci’s outlasted WW 13-12.

It was a typical game for Nucci’s, making it a defensive battle in a 3-2 affair going into the 6th.  Nucci’s threatened early but nice defensive plays by Bob Loperena 3/4, Erin Spoden, and a stellar performance on the dirt from SS Dennis O’Hearn kept Nucci’s at bay. Nucci’s D wasn’t too shabby either with Jeff Ledesma repeatedly digging out balls at first to save runs, Brenda McBarron making a nice catch for a putout at the plate, and Paul Wilson also playing a stellar SS on the Calavera dirt.  But in the 6th Nucci’s big guns got it going, scoring 4 with Wilson getting one of his 4 hits and Jeff Ledesma driving a shot to the fence for 2 RBIs as Nucci’s went up 7-2.

But the advantage was short lived as WW came back with 5 in the 7th and 5 more in the 8th to take a 12-9 lead. Dave Ash 2/3 SF, Cord Cameron 3/4, and Joel Kudren 3/4 all scored then watched as Joe Uribe lasered a 2 run HR to the fence as it looked like WW might pull away.

But Nucci’s hung around getting a couple on Lil Keehan's RBI double (yes, she legged out a double) and then another Lil RBI single to go with Al Cabacungans 3/4 day as Nucci’s stayed close.  And it all came down to the bottom of the 9th with the last three Nucci’s batters due up and down a run.  Brenda McBarron lined her 2nd hit for a big leadoff runner.  An out later Lil got on for the third time of the game with a walk setting up Wilson to tie the game with a single.  After a  walk Benacka poked his 2nd game winner in a week as Nucci’s survived to play another day.

Nucci’s thanks WW for making a lot of difficult, close calls on the bases and coming over to Nucci’s after to support our sponsor.

Bye: Carlsbad Police Assoc

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