Scores

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Worden Williams and Carlsbad Inn, number one and two in the current standings, squared off today at Calavera. WW took an early 4-3 lead after one, but CBI tied the game 4-4 in the second. Then the CBI hitters came alive and the team scored five runs in each of the next two innings to take a 14-5 lead after four.  WW scored four runs in the top of the fifth to narrow the lead before CBI came back for one in fifth and four more in the sixth for the largest lead of the game at 19-9. WW rallied for five more in the seventh to close the gap once again at 19-14.

CBI did not score in the next two innings, so WW came up in the top of the ninth needing another big rally. With one out, they scored three quick runs. Then Dario Santana hit a long drive to right center that went over the head of Randy Baird, but he raced to the ball and made a great throw to Randy Agadoni, who relayed it home to get the runner out. The next batter, hit a grounder to the right side that pitcher Ken Thompson fielded, then slipped and was still able to make the throw to first for the final out and a 19-17 win. It was a tremendous game between two evenly matched teams, and CBI now takes over first place in the standings.

Larry Wadalavage led the CBI hitting attack, going 5 for 5. Jack Karson went 4 for 4 with five RBIs and Ken Thompson went 4 for 4 with four RBIs. Randy Agadoni went 3 for 5 and Lloyd Thorne went 3 for 4.

Bob Buscher led the WW hitters, going 5 for 5. Tom Benacka went 4 for 5 with four RBIs, Ken Auerbach went 3 for 5 with five RBIs, and Bob Loperena and Vern Blough also went 3 for 5. Bob Buscher made play after play at shortstop to keep runners off the bases.

Each team had a substitute today. CBI thanks Nanci Watt and WW thanks Sheree Parsons. CBI also thanks WW for loaning a catcher for the game.

Both teams give a big shout out to Gary Soper for an excellent job of umpiring. His loud calling of strikes could be heard all over the field and we always knew the count.

Nobody likes ties very much, but in this case both teams were probably disappointed they didn't win but appreciative they didn't lose.

It was a close game throughout, with ties and lead changes, good defense and not-so-good, that came down to the final play in the bottom of the ninth inning. Trailing 8 to 10 going into the ninth inning, PG put up four runs capped by super-sub Oscar Lara's three run homer to take a 12 to 10 lead. But NU wasn't done and put two of their first three batters on base. Laurie Mills drove in a run and Mike Brower advanced a runner on a fielder's choice bringing up NU's sub Leo McFall who lined to right field driving in the tying run, but a relay from Lou Chartz to Joe Uribe to Jerry Nuanez shot down the potential winning run at the plate. Final Score 12 to 12.

NU's hitting stars were the aforementioned Laurie Mills and Mike Brower each going 4 for 4 plus a walk, Gene LaChimia went 3 for 3 plus a walk and Bob Cairo was 3 for 4. 

For PG all but one player had at least one hit, led by Keith Richards going 4 for 4, Pat Driscoll, Robert Kroger and Rich Reynolds each 3 for 4 with one of Rich's being a home run.

Thanks to Al Cabacungan for a fine job umpiring.

This game, originally scheduled for Alga 3, was moved to an early time slot at Alga 2 due to the old rubber pellets being replaced by new ones at Alga 3.  Heads up for higher bounces next week outfielders!  The Draft was missing players to meet the minimum requirement, so Gaspar manager Leigh Peterson graciously agreed to delay the start by fifteen minutes.  The players arrived and the fun game began.  

Visiting Draft started fast with four runs in each of the first two innings and scored at least one in every inning thereafter.  Gaspar did not score more than two runs in an inning through the first eight.  The Draft finally put up a five spot in the sixth giving them a ten-run lead.  After a flip going into the ninth, Gaspar pushed across three runs to end it.  The Draft's two subs, Kevin McBarron and Joel Kudren, both added immensely to the offense.  Kevin was 5/5 with a homerun and Joel batted 3/4.  Roney Lewis was 4/4 with a home run, Johnny Brand was 4/5 and David Erwine was 3/4.  Jack Schwarzel hit a monster homerun to left.  

Dan Hacker led Gaspar with 4/4 hitting.  Dennis Rayford and Steve Doan were both 3/4 and Dennis scored three runs.  Al Castaneda subbed for Leigh's team and turned left center into a "no fly zone."  We also thank Margo Jacobo for helping out a short handed Gaspar.

Our thanks to Kevin and Joel who all really impacted the game.  Our thanks also to Barry Anderson who flawlessly umpired the contest.  We all hope to see you back on the mound real soon Barry.  Until then we have nobody fun to shoot at  ;-) !

As the score would indicate, it was a pitching/defensive struggle between two evenly matched teams. Hen’s pitcher Johnnie Martinez and VPS ace Rich Keefer matched pitch for pitch for most of the game and were each supported by stellar defense from Dennis O’Hern, Carlos Cevallos and Ruby Murphy of the Hens and Jeff Schneider and Dave Ward from the Pie Masters.

Each team started well, scoring two runs a piece in the opening frame. But then a sheriff’s helicopter started circling Pine Field looking for a 70-year-old male wearing a green shirt. The description matched about half of the Hennessey’s team. Hen males remained on edge until the voice said that the person they were seeking was driving a 1997 Honda CRV. A quick look around the parking lot created some relief which was not fully felt until the helicopter left the area.

By then, VPS had added a run in the home half of the third, with the Hens countering with two runs of their own in the top of the fourth. Both teams went into hibernation offensively until the top of the seventh when Hen’s chased three runs across the plate. But Joe Raffa’s Pie Masters had no intention of leaving their plate empty and sent three runs home in their half of the same inning.

With Hennessey’s clinging to a 7-6 lead in the top of the eighth inning, Hen’s catcher Ruby Murphy led off the inning by legging out a single to spark the start of a rally. Consecutive singles from Dennis O’Hern, Kevin Davidge, Craig Wheatcroft, Carlos Cevallos, and John Symanski netted five runs and extended the Hen’s lead to 12-6.

Johnnie Martinez then pitched two shutout innings to complete the game, Hennessey’s coming out on top 12-6.

Hitting starts for VPS were pitcher Rich Keefer and shortstop Jeff Schneider with three hits each. Outfielder Linda Wolf rejoined the team and added two hits of her own. Welcome back Linda.

The hitting stars for the Hens were Carlos Cevallos with four hits, Craig Wheatcroft and Rich Lavacot with three hits each. Dennis O’Hern, Kevin Davidge and John Symanski added two hits each.

Before the game started, Rick Shaw asked both teams to line up along the foul lines, remove their caps and take a moment to remember the tragedy and the lives lost on September 11, 2001. Thanks to Rick and everyone at the game for the solemn gesture.

Bye:  That Pizza Place

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