Different Strokes

In a game marked by key contributions, Kapsch prevailed over another team of youngsters for the second time in a row, 16-12 over the East Bay Long Strokers.

We didn't hit all that well, team average was only .419. But we got the key hits when we needed them and took advantage of everything the Strokers handed us.

It started out with a 10 run first as we batted around plus two. It was a bunch of singles and three walks including two with the bases full that fueled the rally. DJ finished it off with a two run triple for the only extra base hit of the inning. DJ was one of the key contributors - he added two doubles including a two out clutch hit in the last rally that put the game on ice. 

After the 10-0 lead, as we are want to do, we relaxed too much, and didn't score again until the fifth. In the mean time, there were some stellar defensive plays. Cage made one of his best catches ever, going to the fence in dead center, catching a deep shot after being twisted around twice by the swirling wind. Pauly followed that up with a great stop at third and when his throw pulled Bert off the bag at first, he made one of the quickest swipe tags I have ever seen.

In the second and third DJ made two stops backhanded in the 5-6 hole, and Monty made a great catch of a pop up behind the plate. In the fourth, Cage tossed home one of his patented long throws, and Monty made a nice pickup of the one hop laser to keep the runner from scoring. Tom followed that up with a strikeout to end the inning.

The last two plays were vital because the Strokers were in the middle of a rally that netted eight runs to take an 11-10 lead. We had blown another big lead, but this time it was different. In the next frame, after a one out single by Cage, Mr. Big Moment Bert put the ball in the trees in left and we had the lead back.

And then Big D came riding in on his white horse to the mound in the bottom of the fifth. He not only cooled down the Strokers, he shut them down completely. In the top of the sixth, the bottom of the order kicked in, and set the stage for a huge add on inning. Tom walked, Heffe followed suit, and Monty hit a blooper to shallow left. Once again DJ came through, and brought home two with his second double. Hama followed with a grounder to second but when the baseman airmailed the throw another two came in, and we had the insurance we needed. There were only two minutes left and even though D had some trouble in the bottom half, the Strokers could only manage one more run and fell short.

DJ led the team with the three extra base hits, and four RBIs. Tom gets the win and Big D the save. It was a good win.

Milestones:

Pauly         300 r (#8)

Rusty         20 2b (#23)

Scarlet Over the Machine, 32-16

I wish my team would give me something to write about. They barely cause any drama. Can't we have a little dissension or something?

Scarlet rampaged on today, even though Paul Lisi lost track of the time of the early game. By the time he arrived in the second inning, he had missed his first time up batting last, and we were up 10-1.

Sneering at the curse of the first, Scarlet scored the maximum of five runs in six of our eight innings batting, and ran away with the battle with Green 32-16. We got our share of luck - a lot of balls were just out of the reach of Green fielders; still, we hit a lot of balls hard, and put it in play.

Gary Namanny hit a three run bomb in the top of the first and it was off to the races. He ended the day 5-5 with six RBIs to lead the team. Poor Gerry Dasey - he also had five hits but only could show one RBI, because he has the mis (or good) fortune of batting behind Namanny. The other Gary, Booth, drove in five with a perfect 4-4 day with two doubles. Roc Lumley rounded out the perfect players also with a 4-4. Three times his hits came with two outs and they drove in runs; the other time he led off to spark a five run inning. Art Miner did his usual thing with four hits including a double and our other home run, a three run blast in the fourth. And Chip Sharpe was at his nuisance best with four singles.

Believe it or not, the prolific offense is not what won the game however. Our defense shined on this day. The Green team has a great offense, and we held them to nine runs through eight innings.

Defensive heroes abounded. In the first Lumley fielded a high hopper and fired to first to get a speedy runner. Tony Gorgone then made a tough play at rover and Booth backhanded a shot to the 5-6 hole for the third out. In the third, Namanny threw out a runner at second on a 'single' by Don Devencenzi. Dasey turned a grounder to rover, step on second and fire to first in the fourth. In the fifth, Booth started a double play and Dasey's throw was wide to first; but Bob Carver deftly came off the bag and swiped the runner out. In fact, he later had another swipe tag on a wide throw; after the game, he said he never had had that opportunity before and he had two of those this game. Carver also scooped a throw in the dirt later in the game.

In the sixth 'Psycho' Gorgone, playing second, positioned himself in short right field. The batter obliged by smoking a ball right to him that Gorgone turned into a force out for the third out. Finally, in the seventh, Lisi ran in on a ball and tumbled over and caught it and held on. He knocked the wind out of himself on that one. We all held our breath as he lay on the ground, but it turned out maybe Paul really wanted to just sleep in some more.

Next week we accept the next challenger, Navy.

Kapsch Gets Tipsy

It was just like we wrote it up. A couple of hits, a walk, and Bert goes yard. Grand, Slam, four zip, and we never looked back.

In the second, we got a walk and five straight hits, and suddenly it was 10-0. Game over. In the fifth, we had eight singles, and it was another six spot. Final score 19-7.

JT had a game in right center, tracking down a couple of deep flies in the second. Dave had a couple of great picks at third for force outs at second base.

Brian was a perfect 4-4 with a double. Hama went into auto Hama mode, flaring line drive singles to all fields four times. Bert led the way with five RBIs, and Cage followed him up with three on a 3-3 + Sac Fly night. Coop also had three hits. Dave had two of our four extra base hits, a double and a triple.

I don't know how those guys beat the first place defending East Bay team, but they did in the first game, and perhaps it bodes well for this week.

In the Big News, Tom was 2-2 and owned a backward K. However, that is not the Big News. In a milestone among milestones, he doubled his career doubles total to...2. Look out Nick, he is only 162 behind you. At this pace, if you retire tomorrow, he will catch you in roughly 12,150 games. I'm sure we will all live to see that. Should be in about the year 2500. AD. I hope Climate Change doesn't interfere.

Speaking of Milestones, I have neglected them all year but here they are, up to date. Don't let them overshadow Tom's great performance.

Milestones:
3/26:
Cage        600 r (#2)

Cage        650 h (#3)

Pauly       800 ab (#8)

Hama      10 sf (#15)

Bert         200 h (#16)

4/2:

None

4/9:

Coop        130 bb (#2)

Tom         30 bb (#12)

Hama       450 ab (#15)

4/16:

None

4/30:

Derek      400 h (#10)

Derek      200 g (#11)

Gregg      100 ab (#39)

5/7:

Pauly       40 bb (#9)

5/28:

Cage       70 sf (#1)

Bo           100 ab (#40)

6/4:

Heffe       1550 ab (#2)

6/11:

Monty      250 rbi (#8)

Pauly       50 2b (#8)

Hama       300 h (#12)

6/18:

Heffe       160 bb (#1)

Coop        350 rbi (#5)

Tom         450 ab (#14)

6/25 Game 1:
Derek      70 2b (#3)
Derek      650 ab (#11)
Bert         100 g (#17)

6/25 Game 2:

Cage        1150 ab (#4)

Tom         250 h (#14)

Brian       200 h (#17)

Fall Season:

7/16:

Coop       30 sf (#4)

Cage        350 g (#5)

Tom         150 g (#13)

Bert         350 ab (#16)

Bo           50 r (#35)

JT            100 ab (#41)

7/23:

Heffe        500 g (#1)

Derek       60 bb (#6)

Hama       200 r (#12)

Brian       350 ab (#17)

Coneheads Turn Red(s)

First we had the Bermudah Triangle (more on that later).

Now we have:

The Best Keystone Combination in All Recreational Softball.

That would be Sting at SS and Gene at 2B.

I think it was Bruce who said it, when he came into the dugout after he scored the game's first run: "Well this one is over". I am sure I have the facts wrong, but you get the gist. So by the sixth, up 14-0, the outfield was on the infield and vice versa. There was a ball to Gene where the two of them sort of just stared at each other, trying by mental telepathy to figure out who was actually going to go to the bag to get the force. Then on another play Sting made a great stop up the middle with a dive. And Gene was on the base! And then Sting decided to play in the sandbox, only there was no sand, just turf, and the ball to play pinball with, and he just could not pick it up to toss to Gene.

Let the record show that the overweight slow footed jet-lagged first baseman went to right field and on his only play ran (!) in and kept a dying pop fly to shallow right from hitting the ground. Out number one on the sixth.

Earlier I was playing first and a ball went up into the open spaces of the Berjudah Triangle, and in a rarity these days, it was the three Judahs at the mound and first and second. Joe didn't move. Larry didn't move. Damn lazy bastards, I have to get this one before it goes off the radar. Luckily it was high enough that I had time to get in the praying position to catch it on my knees.

Well, enough of the hilarity. There was one very legitimate ESPN moment, and perhaps the defensive highlight of Chopper's career. He also played some first, and chased a pop up down the first base line with his new found Weight Watcher speed. I don't remember if it was fair or foul but he somehow plucked it out of the air with his back to home plate, and all were in awe. Nice Play Chopper!

On offense, just another Wilder night at the office. Sting, Lefty and Chauncey went Wilder hops and gappers for home runs. Gene is quietly having a career season, and he had two doubles and a triple. Joining him with three hits were Randy, Sting, Bruce, Larry and Chuck. You can take away Chuck's legs but the man can still hit.

A win this week against the Areolas and it sets up a battle for the regular season bragging rights and an undefeated regular season against the Cal Broncos in the last game. Let's take care of business.

Milestones:
7/8:
Haze        20 bb (#21)

7/15:
Gerry       250 g (#10)
Bruce       200 h (#23)

7/22:
Stink Eye 1350 ab (#4)
Lefty        250 rbi (#17)

Double the Misery

Subtitle: Who are these guys and where have they been all season?

The Coneheads set two team marks this season at least for the Modern Era (the years I have been chronicling the JFT/Coneheads, since 2006).

Both a little dubious. The first is that it was the first season in the last 14 we finished under .500 at 6-7-1.

The second is that we set a team record for the number of players used, 23. Since it isn't a real database, my Stats program only can handle 23 as it turns out, so I had to put Dr. Larry into the 'Others' bucket. Poor Larry, that's what he gets for not making a game this year.

Related? Hmmm.

Well many of the 'regulars' (not sure who they are) returned for the season finale, and it showed. Nothing against the Skips and Charlies and Chaunceys we added this season, they are all fine players. But the old guys returned and the result was we doubled the Pit of Misery to death. As in, 12 of our 26 hits were doubles, and that doesn't count late in the game when many players were just taking first on a hit because we were so far up. D had three, and Sting, Chopper and Gene all had two. D's, Chopper's, and Gene's produced four RBIs to co-lead the team.

Final score was 21-5, and it wasn't that close.

The defense was solid. Johnny made a nice stop up the middle for an out, and Gene made a fine catch coming in on a blooper in the second. But the play of the day had already happened. In the first with a runner on first and one out, there was the first blooper to right, in front of Gene. He looked startled and called out, "I can't see it", and the runner on first took off. Gene then caught the ball and fired to first for the double play. They say it's the Okey Dokey play, and I guess Gene Okeyed that Dokey pretty good.

Nice game to build up momentum for the playoffs, which will be killed by having a bye the last week of the season. But luckily most of us will be playing together in Orinda, so there's that. In the mean time, don't get yourself Okeyed, and stay safe.

Milestones:
6/30:
Randy        200 h (#11)

7/7 G1:
Haze          250 h (#9)
Gene          150 r (#10)

7/7 G2:
Lefty          600 ab (#3)
Gene          450 ab (#8)

7/14:
Lefty          200 g (#3)

Johnny       100 h (#16)

7/21:

D                 150 rbi (#9)

Randy         20 bb (#13)

D                 300 ab (#13)

Scarlet and the Roc'n Bobs over Orange 20-18

The Roc 'n Bobs. That would be second baseman Roc Lumley, Rover-2B Bob Shipley, and 1B-Rover Bob Carver.

One of the stories of the day was more great defense by Scarlet. Second baseman Lumley made several tough stops at second base, Shipley did likewise in his inning at 2B late in the game as well as vacuuming up several balls up the middle at Rover earlier. But perhaps the play of the game came with two outs late when Carver snared a line shot off the bat of Brian Black that killed a comeback rally. It also meant the dangerous James Little led off the next inning with no one on base. The ball rattled around in Bob's glove for a bit but he held on for the third out that inning.

Raymond Aquilera performed a rare Creaker feat - a complete game victory on the mound. That is because we were missing three of our stalwart players and only had 12 so a few players had to stay in the heat for nine innings. Ray hit corners most of the time and the front edge, forcing a lot of Orange players off balance. He had a flareup of wildness in the ninth - I guess he had trouble because we had given him a six run lead, the game's largest, heading into the ninth. But he settled down and got the last three outs before Orange could get the tying run across.

Paul Lisi had a monster game with four hits including a double and two triples. Chip Sharpe was his usual nuisance self with four knocks and a walk in the leadoff spot. Art Miner, Charlie Uhlman, Mike Nichols, and Helen Kostoff all contributed three. Gary Booth also had three and his included two triples. He called his first one in the dugout before he was even on deck. Yours truly woke himself up from jet lag (finally) in the eighth and hit a two run double to extend our lead and increase the pressure on Orange going into the open inning.

We have won a lot of close games and it is a testament to the character of every player on our roster.

Magic Number

Seventeen runs allowed in the fourth. That's all I got.

The Coneheads, Walnut Creek Division, gave that up to the Big Feet, and squandered a chanced to move up in the standings Sunday, losing 20-10. We won the rest of the game 10-4.

There were some hitting heroes. D, Ol' G, Chopper, Lefty, and Haze did not make an out between them. But it was not enough to overcome the Big (Feet) Inning. And that's all she wrote.

Doubleheader coming up to atone.

See you in a few.

Milestone:
Randy        200 h (#11)

Waitlisters Waitlisted

Playing shorthanded and with a lot of power missing, the Coneheads took care of business with great defense and pitching and relentless and timely line drive hitting and beat the hated Waitlisters 15-7. The official score was 16-7 as even the umpire generously gave us an extra run.

The Waitlisters may have been a player or two short, but we were missing Derek, Chopper, Sting, and Charlie and that's a lot of power. The rest just stepped up, and the game was not even as close in the end as the score.

We shut down the top of their order in the first. Bruce made one of his patented over the shoulder catches on a deep ball to left center. The other dugout couldn't believe it but I just had to laugh because we are so used to it. Then after an ahem, error at first, David made a great diving stop of a hard grounder up the middle and flipped it to G for the final out.

Then we answered by scoring four in the bottom half, stringing together a bunch of hits. The inning could have gone longer but Skip got forced at second on a 'single' to right by Haze; she shouldn'ta oughtn'ta done that, because Karma got him when the same thing happened to him twice later in the game.

Nonetheless, we built an 8-1 lead by the fourth. The Waitlister finally answered in the top of the fifth with three to make it a game and then shut us down in our half. Again the top of the lineup came up (actually 2-3-4 hitters) and Larry got them to make three easy outs, a comebacker and a couple of easy flies.

In the bottom of the sixth, we put them away. Lefty led off with a gapper homer. After we scored a couple of times, Larry came up with the bases loaded and hit a two run single. But the next hit was the killer - Chauncey gapped them with two on and lumbered all the way to third on his surgically repaired knee. It made it 15 or 16-4 and that turned out the lights. The three they got in the top of the seventh were of no consequence.

Ol' G was relentless: 4-4 with an RBI each time he batted. Gene, installed in the two spot, was a menace and also 4-4 with three runs scored. Bruce had three hits and even drove in a run on his nineteen hop fielder's choice with the bases loaded. Chauncey and Haze also had three knocks.

All in all a great win against the very solid and much hated Waitlisters. They've been waitlisted until the playoffs.

Milestones:
Gene        500 r (#6)
Lefty        350 h (#17)