2009 Rapid Transmission Team

The Groupies came into this game knowing they were going to be challenged by a solid TPP team. It didn't disappoint and was fairly close throughout with the largest margin for PG being seven runs in the 7th inning. PG was relentless scoring in every inning but one, but only one inning of five runs. Meanwhile their defense held TPP scoreless in four innings and never more than three in any other inning. Final score was PG 19 and  TPP 12.

The top of the PG lineup did most of the damage with leadoff hitter Pat Driscoll going 4 for 5 and scoring 5 runs, Carlos Cevallos, Kevin Davidge, and Jerry Smith were also 4 for 5 and drove in eight runs. Pat Steele followed them with a 3 for 4 effort including a grand slam homer and six RBIs. Dennis O'Hern rounded out the top half with a 2 for 4 day including a home run. The bottom half of the PG lineup weren't exactly slouches with everyone getting on base at least once with Cathy McDonald and Phil kay each going 3 for 4. Pitcher Rod Johnson was only 1 for 4 but the one was an RBI double to the fence that would have been a homer if he had any wheels. 

For TPP, Zach Taylor, Al Castaneda, Mike Berry and Michael Juditz were each 3 for 4, but PG's outfielders and Infielders made several outstanding "hang-a-star" catches that minimized the damage.

Thanks to Rick Shaw and Greg Lorton for umping a quick early game

HEAT, HITS & HAMSTRINGS: CPA COMES OUT SHOOTING. 

At 10 a.m., the thermometer was already climbing into the low 80s, the humidity was stifling, and the sun was shining with the kind of glare usually reserved for interrogations. It was the sort of morning when a 55 and over softball player looks at the field and thinks, “Maybe I should have taken up shuffleboard.”

The two teams arrived on opposite sides of the winning column, with a combined total of just two victories in 12 games. In other words, this wasn’t exactly a matchup between the Yankees and Dodgers. It was more like two teams competing for the coveted title of “Best of the Rest Home.”

The home team, Carlsbad Police Association (CPA), may not yet have played their way to detective pay grade, but they certainly came out of the gate like the Parking Meter Pool had issued The Draft a warrant. CPA started shooting first and asking questions later, scoring early, often and with considerably more urgency than a senior softball player usually displays before his second cup of coffee.

Leading the charge for CPA was Craig Wheatcroft, who went a perfect 4/4 with a home run and 2 RBIs. Mark Risabarro added a 3/3 performance with a home run and 3 RBIs, while Keith Richards apparently forgot he was eligible for the senior discount, going 3/3 with 3 RBIs. John Symanski chipped in 2/3 with 3 RBIs, and Teddy added 3 more RBIs to the CPA offensive ledger.

Across the field, the Draft kept the greenies flying. And there were plenty of them. The Draft's parade of well placed singles was enough to make any leprechaun proud, probably happy enough to throw back a few green beers while watching them. Unfortunately, some of those green beer celebrations may have started a little early, because the Draft repeatedly managed to turn promising 3 and 4 run rallies into frosty cold inning ending double plays. Nothing says senior softball quite like putting together a beautiful rally and then ending it with 2 outs before everybody can remember where they left their gloves. Still, there were some defensive gems.

Draft left fielder Rich Reynolds made a spectacular do or die catch, charging down a fly ball and making the kind of play that causes teammates to cheer and doctors to quietly reach for their blood pressure cuffs.

Rich's glove, incidentally, is rumored to double as a two person patio hammock on weekends. After watching that terrific catch, nobody could explain where the hammock went but for one glorious moment, it was definitely a baseball glove.

At the plate, Bob Porter and Rich Lavacot were the Draft's golden boys, both going a sparkling 5/5.  Rich Reynolds was 4/5. And Donato Domaguin, Scott Carter and Al MCGhee were all 3/4. Margo had a mighty new swing as if blasting out of a sand trap to lob a perfect loft hit over the head of the shortstop to punch in a greenie. 

Rich and Lloyd also produced a couple of laser perfect shots down the 3rd base line, hits so precise they appeared to have been guided by GPS.

For both clubs, however, the real story may be that the season is still young. With plenty of games remaining, neither team has any reason to surrender the idea of becoming a contender. Then again, either team could just as easily become a spoiler.

A special thanks to Jimmie Martin, who handled the game by barking out balls and strikes with the authority of a man who knew better than to let either team argue too long, probably because he had seen enough senior softball to know that every argument eventually turns into a discussion about somebody's knee replacement.

It’s early. The contenders haven't separated themselves from the spoilers yet. And on a hot, humid morning like this one, simply making it through nine innings without needing roadside assistance deserves at least a participation trophy.

“The best hood is mother and fatherhood”

With no disrespect to either team, it was the battle of the “zeros”—two winless teams, The Village Pie Shoppe and Worden Williams, battling to see who would finally put a “1” in the win column. But by the time this one was over, who got that first win was almost secondary to how it happened.

It was the bottom of the ninth, with the Dubs trailing VPS, 10–9, and the bottom half of the order coming to the plate.

Leadoff batter Linda Wolf coaxed a walk and was eventually forced at second. Russ Roopenian, who always seems to come through in the clutch, followed with a single. That’s when things got a little messy.

Dan Akers lined a shot toward Bocai at third, who made a terrific catch just off his shoetops for the second out. But Brian Turner, running for Russ, took off for second. An errant throw followed, and suddenly the Dubs had runners at second and third.

Stepping to the plate was Donna Engleman. She may not be the league’s most feared hitter, but she is unquestionably one of its most patient—and she had already walked twice in the game.

Donna worked the count to 3–0. Then two strikes blew by. With the game hanging in the balance, Donna watched what appeared to be another strike coming out of the pitcher’s hand.

But she didn’t bite.

With the patience of Job, Donna let it go by.

“Ball four!” the umpire called.

And under the league’s newly adopted rule, Donna was awarded three bases, bringing home both the tying and winning runs.

Final score: Worden Williams 11, Village Pie Shoppe 10.

A bitter defeat for VPS, which came within one pitch of recording its first victory of the season. And had it not been for the rule adopted in response to high-rated players being intentionally walked, the outcome might very well have been different.

But that takes nothing away from Donna Engleman’s heroics. Earlier in the game, she also made a nice putout at home plate to prevent a run from scoring.

Both teams played solid defense, as the final score suggests. But this game also demonstrated that hitting, running, fielding and throwing aren't the only attributes of a good ballplayer.

Donna Engleman has added another to the list:

Patience.

And when the ratings are handed out, Donna gets a perfect 5.0 in that category.

Two incredibly similar teams played a tight one out at Pine today with Nucci’s coming on late for an 18-12 win.

Tom Benacka should have been the story of the game with another 5/5 day stretching his streak to 25/25 to open the season and getting into league record rarified air territory. His 3 RBIs helped Nucci’s take a 3-0 lead only to see CBI come right back with Dan Smith and Randy Agadoni both going 3/4 and helping CBI tie it up at 3-3.

It was a defensive battle into the 4th.  Nucci’s overcame some early game yips and put up another 3 as Oscar Delgado’s 3 hits and key Sac Fly made it 6-3 only to see CBI immediately respond in the bottom frame.  Ken Thompson taught the Nucci outfielders a lesson on playing too shallow by ripping a HR over them.  Sean Skelton liked that lesson so much that he tossed aside his normal 4 other hits and taught the Nucci’s outfielders that deep is not deep enough for his big bat.  You know it’s hit a far way when the outfielders don’t even turn to retrieve the ball on his HR. Another of Frank Weishaars three hits drove in a run as CBI took its first lead at 7-6.

This time it was Nucci’s who responded.  Kevin McBarron and Al Cabacungan both had 4/5 days, and the CBI returned the yips favor as Nucci’s held a 10-9 lead into the 8th. The aforementioned Benacka should have been the story of the game until the Nucci’s lower lineup showed up in a big way.  With the bases loaded and two outs Brenda McBarron, Lil Keehan, and Julio Maraver all came thru with clean well-hit singles to score 3 runs and provide some breathing room.  Up 13-10 in the 9th Nucci’s put the game on the brink with 5 runs.  Two never before seen events led the way as Oscar Castillo “pulled the ball” deep into left field for 2 RBIs.  This was followed by the ever-entertaining Dan Menendez who gapped his 3rd HR of the season…until he ran thru the wrong line….then went back and missed 2nd base…then went back and tripped over the bag on his way to an instead 3rd triple of the year.

Nanci Watt had a nice busy day at second and she and Nicki Branch both went 2/3 at the plate. For Nucci’s the McBarron’s  were kept busy in the OF with Brenda making several nice plays. A Dan Miserany HR ended the scoring with a 2 run shot in the 9th as Nucci’s survived with the win.

The teams thank Phil Urbina for umping a nice game and for scheduling a trip for next week when Nucci’s plays his team.

Bye: Pizza Port Brewery

         Gaspar