Senior softball on the surface is all about offense. Hence scores like the Hayward season opening 25-15 win over the Wolfpack. But under the surface defense matters and it was apparent in this game. The Raiders turned four double plays to break up rallies and threw out a runner at third on a ball to the fence to limit another.
On the latter it was the steal of the draft, Gidget Vaquera, taking a deep gapper, and flinging it to Rover Todd Evans, who threw a strike to third baseman Ray Oducayen to kill the fourth inning. There were two standard SS-Rover-First double plays but the best one ended the game - a line drive snagged by pitcher Gino Ilacqua (who made several good plays) and caught the runner on first going on the crack of the bat.
The Raiders had a balanced attack - four hits by Manager Jay Sankey, Barry Walter, Oducayen, and Vaquera, and three from Evans, Don Ott (three doubles), Mike Mooney, Don Devencenzi, Ed Martinez, and Jeff Kravin. It was mostly small ball with only doubles by Mooney and Kravin to add to Ott's three. Oducayen led the way with six RBIs, getting at least one on every at bat.
Ilacqua provided comic relief when he hit a 70 foot foul ball sacrifice that plated two when the ball was generously thrown around by the Pack.
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