In the midst of a cross between a sandstorm and a gale yesterday, a Senior softball game broke out between East County and the Walnut Creek Blues. The winds had us singing the blues in the end when we went down after battling into comeback after comeback in a marathon, 40-31.
The East County team is relentless. They had the audacity to show up with only nine players in our back yard, which meant they only had their good hitters and each of them batted about 100 times.
It will sound like an excuse, but it seemed like every time we were in the field the wind would just start howling, and gusting, and blowing dust in our eyes. Poor John Banker and Ken Hensley on the right side. They would camp under a ball and a sudden gust would throw the ball away from them. Time after time.When we would come up, the winds would stop, the sun would shine, waitresses would serve East County Mai Tais and Pina Coladas on the field - who did these guys know?
Still we battled. We scored eighteen of a possible twenty runs in the first four innings, and held a narrow 18-15 lead. Big hits included a two run 1st inning HR by Ray Maradiaga, a two run triple by Mike Carlo, a clutch two out single by Don Clay to finish the scoring in the third, and six straight hits to start off the 4th by John Banker, Jeff Kravin, Tom Occhiogrosso, Maradiaga, Rusty Druba, and Bill Decarsky, and five scored before there were two outs.
Then we made the fatal flaw: we went two innings without scoring. EC kept pouring it on, although luckily they failed to score in the 6th. But at seventh inning stretch time, it looked bleak, we were down 25-18. And yet we dug deep to come roaring back, with especially big hits from John Kirtley (a two run double in the LC gap) followed by a smooth opposite field twister by Mike Guerrero for the last two runs.
And in the eighth, we held the heart of their lineup to one run, and answered with five thanks to seven singles in eight batters rapid fire. We actually held a lead going into the ninth 30-26.
But the EC power turned on again, and they poured on fourteen runs in the unlimited 9th. It took the wind out of our sails, and put it in their batted balls as they flew in all directions. There was nothing we could do, and could only muster one run in the bottom of the ninth to fall 40-31.
We had our heroes: Maradiaga had an awesome day with five straight hits including the home run and a double. Carlo had four hits for RBIs including the triple. EC didn't get Kirtley out, although one fly ball would have to be scored an error if we had a real scorekeeper. But since this is Senior Ball we will say he went 5-for-5 too. And Clay who says he can't hit, went 3 for 4 with a walk. He put one ball so deep in the 5-6 hole that even the vaunted Lee Namanny couldn't corral it. Guerrero and Druba and Decarsky also went 4-for-5. Everyone had at least two hits.
Next time, we will have a seance at Clay's house before the game, and conjure up the magic we can. Two can play at this game.
The East County team is relentless. They had the audacity to show up with only nine players in our back yard, which meant they only had their good hitters and each of them batted about 100 times.
It will sound like an excuse, but it seemed like every time we were in the field the wind would just start howling, and gusting, and blowing dust in our eyes. Poor John Banker and Ken Hensley on the right side. They would camp under a ball and a sudden gust would throw the ball away from them. Time after time.When we would come up, the winds would stop, the sun would shine, waitresses would serve East County Mai Tais and Pina Coladas on the field - who did these guys know?
Still we battled. We scored eighteen of a possible twenty runs in the first four innings, and held a narrow 18-15 lead. Big hits included a two run 1st inning HR by Ray Maradiaga, a two run triple by Mike Carlo, a clutch two out single by Don Clay to finish the scoring in the third, and six straight hits to start off the 4th by John Banker, Jeff Kravin, Tom Occhiogrosso, Maradiaga, Rusty Druba, and Bill Decarsky, and five scored before there were two outs.
Then we made the fatal flaw: we went two innings without scoring. EC kept pouring it on, although luckily they failed to score in the 6th. But at seventh inning stretch time, it looked bleak, we were down 25-18. And yet we dug deep to come roaring back, with especially big hits from John Kirtley (a two run double in the LC gap) followed by a smooth opposite field twister by Mike Guerrero for the last two runs.
And in the eighth, we held the heart of their lineup to one run, and answered with five thanks to seven singles in eight batters rapid fire. We actually held a lead going into the ninth 30-26.
But the EC power turned on again, and they poured on fourteen runs in the unlimited 9th. It took the wind out of our sails, and put it in their batted balls as they flew in all directions. There was nothing we could do, and could only muster one run in the bottom of the ninth to fall 40-31.
We had our heroes: Maradiaga had an awesome day with five straight hits including the home run and a double. Carlo had four hits for RBIs including the triple. EC didn't get Kirtley out, although one fly ball would have to be scored an error if we had a real scorekeeper. But since this is Senior Ball we will say he went 5-for-5 too. And Clay who says he can't hit, went 3 for 4 with a walk. He put one ball so deep in the 5-6 hole that even the vaunted Lee Namanny couldn't corral it. Guerrero and Druba and Decarsky also went 4-for-5. Everyone had at least two hits.
Next time, we will have a seance at Clay's house before the game, and conjure up the magic we can. Two can play at this game.
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