Today at Heather Farm Field Three, there was a new distraction at the Walnut Creaker game between Green and Red.
No it wasn't Mark Pitzlin's Grand Slam in the first that wasn't. Nor was it the pitchers' duel that developed between Red's Bob Muegge and Green's Don Clay.
There was a reporter named Elizabeth Rusiecki covering the game for the Walnut Creek Magazine. Her business card reads, "Let me put words in your mouth," I am not making this up. Well, that's all you need to say to a bunch of old guys playing softball on a Tuesday morning. The bleachers had more guys lined up than the batting team's bench at times. They were pouring out their life stories to Elizabeth, and some of it was even true. She ate it all up and took it all down in her notes, I can't wait to see what she writes.
Oh, and there was a ball game played too. Green loaded the bases with no outs in the first and that brought up Pitzlin. He promptly crushed a ball over the fence...and sadly it counts as an out, because this is Senior ball, and then we got out of the inning with two more outs and no runs scored. A new type of curse of the first.
And then a funny thing happened, a pitcher's duel broke out. The game was scoreless through two, and then Red won three straight innings to go up 12-4, in this game a commanding lead. Muegge and Clay were dealing, and getting just enough help from the defenses to keep it a low scoring affair. Sliding catches in the outfield by Pitzlin for the green-eyed Green (twice), and a great catch by Ray Maradiaga kept us at bay. But we managed 4 straight hits with two outs in the 3rd and 3 in the 4th and 5th to give us what proved to be the insurmountable lead. Green came back with 3 in the 6th and shut us down for two straight innings to make it close but in the end our pitching and defense closed the door, and the game finished 13-7.
George Sayatovich had a great sliding catch early, as did Hank McDermott on a ball headed for Steve Alvarez, that Steve graciously gave to Hank so he could look good making the dive. It was a huge out. Steve did make a nice catch on a ball headed for the gap in the ninth as Green tried to make a run, and getting that first out proved crucial and took the wind out of their sails.
There were no real hitting stars. Everyone contributed - in fact all but one in our 15 man lineup got at least one hit. Bob Eddy, Mike Fragoso, Alvarez, and McDermott had three hits. I had the only hit that scored more than one run, a two RBI single that was one of the two out hits in the 3rd.
The most exciting moment was on a foul ball that our umpire called fair. Green started complaining, causing our runners to return to their bases in the confusion, and then they turned and claimed a 'force out' at third base. Pandemonium ensued. In the end Creakers got to argue, which is at least their second favorite activity, and then the consensus was it should be a do-over, since no one could remember what happened any more. I am just glad that Elizabeth was gone by then, having left to meet her deadline...or maybe not...what else could have been better to report on?
No it wasn't Mark Pitzlin's Grand Slam in the first that wasn't. Nor was it the pitchers' duel that developed between Red's Bob Muegge and Green's Don Clay.
There was a reporter named Elizabeth Rusiecki covering the game for the Walnut Creek Magazine. Her business card reads, "Let me put words in your mouth," I am not making this up. Well, that's all you need to say to a bunch of old guys playing softball on a Tuesday morning. The bleachers had more guys lined up than the batting team's bench at times. They were pouring out their life stories to Elizabeth, and some of it was even true. She ate it all up and took it all down in her notes, I can't wait to see what she writes.
Oh, and there was a ball game played too. Green loaded the bases with no outs in the first and that brought up Pitzlin. He promptly crushed a ball over the fence...and sadly it counts as an out, because this is Senior ball, and then we got out of the inning with two more outs and no runs scored. A new type of curse of the first.
And then a funny thing happened, a pitcher's duel broke out. The game was scoreless through two, and then Red won three straight innings to go up 12-4, in this game a commanding lead. Muegge and Clay were dealing, and getting just enough help from the defenses to keep it a low scoring affair. Sliding catches in the outfield by Pitzlin for the green-eyed Green (twice), and a great catch by Ray Maradiaga kept us at bay. But we managed 4 straight hits with two outs in the 3rd and 3 in the 4th and 5th to give us what proved to be the insurmountable lead. Green came back with 3 in the 6th and shut us down for two straight innings to make it close but in the end our pitching and defense closed the door, and the game finished 13-7.
George Sayatovich had a great sliding catch early, as did Hank McDermott on a ball headed for Steve Alvarez, that Steve graciously gave to Hank so he could look good making the dive. It was a huge out. Steve did make a nice catch on a ball headed for the gap in the ninth as Green tried to make a run, and getting that first out proved crucial and took the wind out of their sails.
There were no real hitting stars. Everyone contributed - in fact all but one in our 15 man lineup got at least one hit. Bob Eddy, Mike Fragoso, Alvarez, and McDermott had three hits. I had the only hit that scored more than one run, a two RBI single that was one of the two out hits in the 3rd.
The most exciting moment was on a foul ball that our umpire called fair. Green started complaining, causing our runners to return to their bases in the confusion, and then they turned and claimed a 'force out' at third base. Pandemonium ensued. In the end Creakers got to argue, which is at least their second favorite activity, and then the consensus was it should be a do-over, since no one could remember what happened any more. I am just glad that Elizabeth was gone by then, having left to meet her deadline...or maybe not...what else could have been better to report on?
What kills me is you make deadline before I do. AND you've got a couple years on me.
ReplyDeleteImpressive. Hats off to you, though I betcha I've got more hair. Thanks for the smile.