Scores

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Well, now I know why they say that "Ties in sports are like kissing your sister, not very satisfying for either side".

This was a close game throughout with plenty of hitting. Aside from the first inning when VPS took a four-run lead, the score was never more than three runs apart. VPS led the first three innings, then PG took the lead for the next four innings, when VPS put up a five spot in the 8th to take the lead. PG put up two in the bottom of the 8th to tie it, then held VPS scoreless in the 9th, then left the winning run on base with the final out.

Dario Santana and Teddy Bedillo were each 4 for 4 with Teddy driving in three runs. Bob Cairo and Sheree Parsons were each 3 for 4. Barry Stangle had a productive 2 for 4 day with four RBIs. The defensive highlight was a seldom seen triple play.

For PG nearly everyone had at least one hit with David Hartzog and Mike Brower leading the way with four hits each. Jeff Ledesma was 3 for 4 with 4 RBIs, with Rod Johnson, Larry Wadalavage, Dave Erwine, Gary Conway and Sheree Lovick each chipping in three hits. PG was missing five players and thanks Steve Newberg and Tony Coppin for filling in. Steve had the game's only home run with a blast to the left field fence to score the final two runs of the second inning.

And thanks to Jack Schwarzel for umping a fine, quick game.

In their first game on the road, the Carlsbad Coppers traveled to beautiful Alga 2 to face the always dangerous Nucci’s Lingweenies.  The Coppers came in 1-2 while the Lingweenies were 1-3, but their losses were to the top three teams in the standings.

The game was a back-and-forth contest with neither team leading by more than four until the ninth and both teams suffering four-inning droughts.  In a portent of a high-scoring game, both teams scored five in the first inning, but then things settled down.  After three innings, Nucci’s had a 9-6 lead, but then went silent.  The Coppers rebounded in the fourth and fifth to take an 11-9 lead but then went silent themselves.  The Lingweenies shook off their cobwebs and scored one in the bottom of the eighth to narrow their deficit to one run before teeing up the ninth inning fireworks.  The heart of the Coppers lineup scored four runs on five hits before being abruptly snuffed on a fly out and double play to hold a 15-10 lead.  Then the Lingweenies lined up their own heroics starting at the bottom of their lineup.  Three runs were plated and the tying run was at bat when their half of the inning also ended abruptly on a double play.

Rich Reynolds led the Lingweenies going 4 for 4 and slamming one of his famous slow-motion triples.  Newbie Paul Wilson led off the team going 4 for 5, and Ron Bondshu and Kevin McBarron both went 3 for 4.  Kevin’s better half (more like two-thirds) Brenda got two hits to welcome her into the league.  Bob Porter was only 3 for 5, but always expects to be in the writeup anyway.  On the defensive side, Tom Benacka and Delta Farrington had stellar days in the infield, and Steve Sexton’s pitching kept Nucci’s in the game.

Dan Miserany and Laurie Mills led the Coppers each going 4 for 4.  Jerry Smith and Jeff Payton both went 3 for 4.  The Coppers exceeded their total of home runs in the previous three games with dingers by Kevin Davidge, Jerry Smith, and Jimmy Smyth.

On defense the Police implemented their new Keystone Koppers defense, but dropped that after three innings and a 9-6 deficit, only allowing four runs in the final six innings.

And both teams thank Johnny Brand for umpiring the game.

With the sun in our eyes and a song in our hearts, the visiting Carlsbad Inn heavy hitters faced off against the home team ‘greenie gang’, aka The Draft.  The game got off to a big offensive start with the power hitting CBI sluggers putting 4 across in the first, with the ‘greenie gang’ rolling out a base on balls and then seven out of the next eight batters hitting singles to push across a 5 spot.  Each team scored a few more runs with the score remaining 7-6 into the 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 10-10 in the 7th, and then back and forth into the 8th when the Draft put up another fiver in the bottom half to take a 15-13 lead going into the top of the 9th.  After getting the first two outs in the top of the final frame, ‘speedy’ Dan Smith punched one down the right field line and just kept running for a two-out triple.  After another double, the final play was a hit in which the final out of the inning was recorded at second base just a microsecond after the tying run crossed the plate. The Drafters came up in the bottom half needing to just push one run across and had the bases loaded with two out when the tap finally ran dry and a tie score was assured.  Of note, the Draft made an amazing play in the 7th on Randy Agadoni’s bomb over the center fielder’s head.  The ball was run down at the fence by Robert Tahimic who started a series of perfect relays to Jeff Schneider, and then to Dave Ash who threw a one-bounce strike to Steve Wagner to rob Agadoni of a two-run homer.

Doing most of the damage for the visiting Inners were Dan Smith (4/5 with aforementioned triple), Randy Agadoni (5/5), Joe Dimambro (4/4), Anthony Reynoso and Dan Griffin each going 3/4. 

For the Draft, Jeff Schneider (4/4) led the way, with Robert Tahimic (3/3 and a walk), Dave Ash (3/4 4 RBIs), Leigh Peterson (3/4) and Oscar Delgado (2/4 HR, 4 RBIs) all putting up big numbers.

Many thanks to Russell R for umpiring an outstanding game! 

“You know what the happiest animal on Earth is? It's a goldfish. You know why? Got a 10-second memory. Be a goldfish, Sam.”

– Ted Lasso

After some uncharacteristically shoddy defense, Worden Williams had their backs up against the wall. But LF Joe Uribe had a short memory when the game was on the line. With two outs in the top of the ninth and the tying run on second, Uribe scooped up a line drive and his throw to third nailed the runner, ending the game as the Dubs escaped with an 11-10 win over That Pizza Place at beloved Calavera Hills.

WW started fast with a five-spot in the first inning, but then their bats went silent. The Pepperonis scored solo runs in the first and second innings, and then a three-run fourth closed the gap to 6-5. Pizza had some timely hits and capitalized on WW defensive lapses in the fifth to take a 10-7 lead.

WW scored four in the seventh to regain the lead, 11-10. From there, Steve Berry kept dropping in strikes, and the WW defense settled down to preserve the win.

Bob Buscher went 3-for-3 and scored three runs, and Bob Loprena went 3-for-3 with three RBI to lead the WW attack. Pat Steele, Uribe, Joel  Kudren, and Philip Urbina each had two hits, with Kudren knocking in three runs and Urbina two in the low-scoring affair.

That Pizza Place was led by Robert Kroger’s four hits and three RBI, and Commissioner Linda Wolf’s four hits and two RBI. Roney Lewis switched pizzas for the day, jumping from Pizza Port to That Pizza Place, and contributed three hits. Pitcher Gerry had three hits, and Rick Shaw and Keith Richards each had two hits. 

Bye: Pizza Port Brewery