Scores

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Conditions were great at Pine today for a well played ball game between Carlsbad Inn and Gaspar.  Gaspar jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top half of the first and CBI answered with 5 of their own with no outs, capped by a shot to the outfield by Jack Karson that would have been a home run without the 5 run rule (stupid rule 🙂).  The game stayed close through the first few innings, with CBI up 8-7 at the end of 4.  CBI started pulling ahead in the 5th with another 5 run outburst, and then added 5 more runs over the last few innings for a final score of 18-8.

Gaspar was led by Jim Goertzen who hit 4/4, Dan Hacker and Tom Winterbourne both 3 for 4, and the donut fueled Marty Topper who hit 2/4 with a strong home run to right field.  

CBI put on a home run exhibition today with Jack Karson hitting another home run that counted, Gordon Recht (3 / 4) hit a long home run to center, Ken Thompson (4/4, 4 RBIs) hit a long shot over left center to the fence, and finally Randy Baird hit a moon shot over the left field fence, avoiding the truck that was parked and may still be rolling down Harding street.  Other notable performances include Russ Roopenian, Dennis Kemp and Ron Silverman all 2 for 3 and Randy Agadoni 4/4.

Gaspar thanks Joe Dimambro and Ruby Murphy for subbing today, CBI for loaning a fielder and we also thank Dave Hempy for doing a fine job calling balls and strikes.

 On the dreaded Calavera field today, two teams played a very competitive game of softball.  This was a battle at the plate.  TPP hit for an OBP .720 and VPS outhit TPP slightly with an OBP of .730.  

While the very poor condition of the field contributed to some “errors”, overall, both teams demonstrated some good defense.  In little league, players were taught to try for two runs in their first at bat.  We did better than that; we’re better than little leaguers if you can believe it.  Between both teams, nine runs crossed the plate in the first inning (5 for TPP and 4 for VPS).  From this point on, VPS took the lead and never looked back scoring in every inning but two.  

TPP, however kept the pressure on making for a competitive game.  Some good defense by TPP included good running catches in the outfield by Bob Porter.  Not to be outdone, VPS’s Ron Bondshu made some fine catches to save some TPP batters from reaching a base.

 Going into the bottom of the 8th, VPS posted 4 runs to bring the score to 24 to 12 in favor of VPS. In the TPP bottom of the 8th, TPP threatened to take command of the game by putting 9 runs on the board bringing the score to 24 to 21.  With bases loaded in the bottom of the TPP 9th, VPS was able to secure two outs.  Then the final out; Nancy Watt threatened to earn some RBIs with a rocket shot to the glove of Jeff Payton at third base for the final out and the threat and the game ended there.  

For TPP, the standout hitters included Brian Turner and Dan Smith both hitting 4/5.  The bats of Dan Smith, Bob Porter and Oscar Delgado each slugged three RBI’s.  

For VPS, Rich Keefer, Dave Hartzog and Linda Wolf went 5/5 at the plate.  Phil Kay, Jeff Schneider, Dan Menendez and Rick Shaw hit 4/5.  Rick Shaw had an in-the-park home run.  And not to be forgotten, in the VPS 7th, Linda Wolf had a “sacrificial” home run hitting in the fifth run of the inning by slugging a long ball to left-center to clear the bases but stranding her at 2nd. 

For the fourth game in a row, PG plated four runs in the first inning and looked like it might be another high scoring game, but PPB's defense stiffened and held PG to seven runs over the last seven innings. Meanwhile PG's pitcher, Jimmie Martin held PPB to a single run over the first six innings. The score was only 7 to 1 at the end of the 7th inning. Then PPB put a scare into PG with four runs in each of the 7th and 8th innings while holding PG to only four runs total for a close 11 to 9 game in favor of PG. That became the final score when PG held PPB scoreless in the 9th.

PGs leadoff hitter, Pat Driscoll, was 4 for 4, all infield singles, and scored three runs. Oscar Castillo was also a perfect 4 for 4, and David Bosque and Robert Kroger were each 3 for 3. Keith Richards was 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs and Lou Chartz was 2 for 3 including a key two RBI triple to the left field wall in the 7th inning. 

Tom Carney led PPBs hitting with a 3 for 4 effort including a double and triple. Karl Stern and Gary Soper were each 3 for 4 and sub Bill Codner had the game's only home run.

Both teams thank Johnny Brand for a fine job umpiring.

“The hardest thing to do in baseball is to hit a round baseball with a round bat, squarely.” Ted Williams

As the announcer said in the ninth inning of today’s playoff game between Houston and Detroit with the score 3-1 in favor of Detroit and the Astros threatening; “this is playoff baseball, you can’t score enough runs.” The same could be said in senior softball and it was especially true in today’s game between Nucci’s and Worden Williams as the Dubs eked out an 18 – 17 win. Despite WW leading by five runs twice, NU battled back in the seventh to tie the game and go ahead by one, However, it was Dub batters five through ten ( Dario 3/3, Ken 3/3, Jimmy 3/3, Dan 3/3 and 4 RBIs, Cathy 2/3 and Erin 2/2) who delivered the key hits to tie the game and set up a sac fly by Barbara Pardo that drove in the go ahead run thanks to smart base running by Cathy McDonald.  

Also worth mentioning were two “but for” home runs by Ken and Dan, i.e., “but for” the fifth run scoring as a result of their hits, both would have been home runs.

NU’s offense was led by a strong performance by Mike Brower, 4/4 and 4 runs scored, Gene LaChimia, Al Cabacungan and Bob Cairo who claims no relationship to Joel Cairo, all of whom were 3/4. Gene, Bocai and Frank Weishaar also homered for NU.

Special thanks to Roney Lewis for umping.

  Bye: Hennessey's

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