If Only...

How can a team go from scoring zero runs one week in a slow pitch softball, losing 14-0 to scoring 19 runs in a 19-6 rout in which they only batted in seven innings?

Who are these guys and who played last week?

Well, mostly they are the same (except me, and I will refrain from suggesting that I am the difference, except that I just did). 

It could be the opposition, but no one is so good defensively (as the Hornets last week) that you shouldn't score even one run. It just doesn't make sense.

Except that it it happened. Maybe we were just so embarrassed that we were just that determined.

At any rate, we played exceptionally well on offense and defense, and especially Brian Black's pitching. 

Remember my mantra that if the bottom of the order hits, we win? Well, the first two times through the lineup, Lew Altman, Don Devencenzi, Jeff Kravin, Mark Diaz, and Merrill Leach were a combined 9-9 plus a walk, and scored 10 runs. Yes, that's two runs each (or a proxy runner).

They had help. Brian led the game off with a home run and followed it up with  a three run triple to close out the second and send the last three of those runs home.

In the middle of the lineup in the mean time, Clay LeChe was enjoying a 4-4 day with four doubles, three of which were hustle doubles. Heffe had the other 4-4 perfect day. Black and Leach tied with team leading five RBIs. Leach closed out our third five run inning in the fifth with a booming two run double. Black, Dave Balfour, and Leach contributed three hits apiece.

The defense was steady and sometimes spectacular. Diaz made numerous plays at 2B, getting down more than once to get a fielder's choice at second and spearing a line drive here and there. Tom Wagenseller turned a rover-step on the bag-throw to first double play in the fourth. Balfour made a couple good catches running in in shallow left center.

But the play of the game appropriately enough came on the last ball hit. A Winn/Kia player, who almost always pulls the ball hard, had not done so all day, at least on the ground. Heffe backed up each time at first base, and called for Black to cover the bag. Finally the player, Mike Mooney, obliged and hit it right to Heffe. A slight bobble and I knew I had to get rid of it quickly to get the speedy Mooney. I scooped it up underhanded, and in one motion tossed it very high and very outside to Black. He wasn't expecting THAT, but reached up bare handed and speared it just as he stepped on the bag, beating Mooney by a half a step. I wish we had the video, but rest assured that if Black's pitching and hitting didn't earn him game ball (which it did), that play certainly did.

Why can't we play like this every week? If we did, we could beat the big dogs in this league!

Dark Green Finds the Right Combination, Locks up Purple, 22-15

In a back and forth game which was close early, Dark Green came out on top 22-15. There were six lead changes through six innings, but when Green put up two successive five run innings in the sixth and seventh, the game turned.

My mantra that you're only as good as the bottom of your order was only partly true. Today, Green's top of the lineup was relentless, and the bottom was clutch, and add in some great pitching and just enough defense, and Dark Green beat Purple for a third time.

The top was on fire. Leo Kay (3-3, BB), Jeff Olsen (4-4), Bill Jeha (4-4), Shel Perham (2-4, 3 run 3B), Dick Stanley (4-4, 2B, 3B, 5 RBIs). And then there was switch hitter Robert Dousa (3-4, 3 2B). However, his two baggers were only doubles because the fifth run was scoring whenever he hit the ball onto field one in deepest right field.

That's an .870 clip with a slugging percentage of 1.261 for those that like numbers. Or a grand total of three outs among six hitters.

The bottom was barely outdone. Helen Kostoff was 2-2 plus a walk. Pat ODay, Woody Whitlatch, and Howard Davis were all 2-3, and Whitlatch burned the Purple outfield with two gapper doubles. Mike Howard got into the act with a clutch two out run scoring single in the bottom of the seventh to ignite the five run inning. We had two outs and none on, and starting with a JD Dills single, those five players all had two out hits to net five runs. It gave us a 20-11 lead and we never looked back.

In the mean time, the Howards (Mike and Davis) kept the powerful Purple lineup mostly in check. Each had a strikeout, and Davis held them to two runs in his three innings. Mike did give up a late (eighth inning) grand slam to Mark Pitzlin, but you aren't going to keep him from running around the bases all game. In the ninth, Mike shut them out to preserve the victory.

Next week, a battle for third place with Orange.

Raiders Fall Back to Form, Losing to the Wolfpack 24-18

The Raiders couldn't string together enough rallies early on and trailed the whole way after taking a 2-1 lead after the first. We put together a couple of rallies in the last two innings, scoring 10 to make the score respectable, but it was too little too late.

Defensive highlights mostly featured rover Mitsuyoshi - he made a diving catch in shallow left in the first, and threw out a runner at third base from the shallow outfield in the second. Cobb and Balfour made great catches in the outfield. Don Devencenzi handled a tough chance at 2B in the first as we held the tough top of the Wolfpack lineup to a single run in the first. Too bad we couldn't do that every inning!

JD (Just Doin') leads Dark Green Past Green Gray, 19-17

Approaching the Rudgear field, I see a bunch of players in Green shirts having BP on the first base side. I don't recognize any of them in the distance. Am I dreaming? Did the Placement Committee swap my whole team out and they didn't tell me? I knew I should have been nicer to those guys.

Of course, being a senior, it doesn't immediately dawn on me that we are in fact the home team today, and oh I know those guys over on the other side. I don't have to check into the home just yet.

This is, of course, because whoever is in charge of such things procured new jerseys for my team, and they are exactly the same shade of green. And by the way, I believe Green/Gray, the opponent, is actually Green/White and we are Green/Yellow.

And I am still not sure if we are Forest Green, Dark Green, or if we are actually the New Oakland A's playing Creaker ball.

There was one new player on the Good Guys' side. One JD Dills, whom many of you know. JD had hip replacement and this was his 2025 debut. All he did was go 3-3 plus a SF, including a two run double that put us ahead to stay at 18-17 in the eighth inning. Welcome JD, have the game ball! Oh and he made a nice catch in right field.

Dark Green has this pattern in many games: Take a lead, sit on it, and then let the opposition get a catch up inning and then panic to the win or at times a loss. Today, after giving up four in the first, we scored in every inning in the first five while shutting down Green/Gray/White in three straight innings. We felt pretty confident at 14-6 through six. The bottom of their lineup coming up in the top of the seventh. Being generous, we let them load the bases with no outs, and then let the top of the lineup drive them all in plus more and suddenly it was 14-13. Then we had our first scoreless inning and gave up four more in the eighth. Now we're behind 17-15! Will it be a repeat of last week? Not so, said Dick Stanley, Robert Douza and yours truly. Three straight hits, one run, and all set up for our hero, JD. He plants one of his patented line drives into right field, and it takes a Rudgear Hop right turn with the spin he has on it, and its off to the races. Two runs and when his courtesy runner later scored, we had a two run lead going into the ninth and the hammer.

Douza made sure we did not have to use the hammer as he got routine grounders and flies from the very talented heart of the Green/Gray order, and it was over at 19-17.

Defensive highlights: Michael Callahan had a game's worth in one inning, the sixth, two shots over his head that he tracked down. Bill Jeha made a couple of great stops in the 5-6 hole. Douza snagged a hot shot in his innings off the mound at the hot corner.

Jeha matched Douza at 4-4, and had two doubles and tied Dills with a team high four RBIs. Leo Kay, Stanley, and Heffe joined Dills with three hits apiece. Frank Cappa had only one hit but it was a gapper and he hustled to second with a double. Of note - Helen had a rough day but drove in three runs on fielder's choices as she hustled down to first to avoid a double play.

So you're welcome, Green Gray, we have given up 7 run and 11 run innings in the two games we have played. I hope we won't be so generous if we meet in the playoffs.

Something to Crow About, a 15-8 Winn Win

Sometimes, the team just plays a complete game, and the beer just tastes better.

Winn/Kia and the Crows are pretty well matched. First game was a two run affair, and we needed to get retribution. We fell flat in the bottom of the ninth the first time. Time to write a new script.

We started slow, no runs in the first two frames. But Howard Reeves changed all that with a slicer down the right field line, leading off the third, and he touched them all. Mark Diaz followed with a single and when Brian Black lost one in the far reaches of the endless outfield for a two run homer, the game winner scored, even though we didn't know it. We went on to score five and never looked back. The only thing that made it as close as it was in the end (15-8) was a three run Kia rally in the bottom of the ninth.

That's because Black in the first two and last four, and Reeves in the middle innings had the Kias hitting into the defense and it did not let down. Tom Wagenseller grabbed a hot shot at third in the second followed by Black getting a backward K. Dave Balfour and Black made back to back great catches in the middle outfield positions in the third. Don Devencenzi did his best Willie Mays impression on a shoestring catch in right in the fifth, and then Reeves got his own punchout. He started a 1-11-3 DP in the next frame. Barry Walter got a look-what-I-found out on a stab at third in the seventh.

In the meantime, Black led the way with four hits including the homer and team high four RBIs. Walter also had four hits, and Balfour had three. Everyone had at least one hit, and Wagenseller and left fielder Clay LeChe smashed triples.

Balanced attack, great defense and pitching, and see how easy this game is?

Heartbreak Hotel, Gray Over Green Walkoff, 27-26

The scenario was set: Green had our top two pitchers having medical procedures at game time. A third player had a stent put in and then had complications and was still hospitalized. Yes, we had three players in three different hospitals at game time.

A fourth player was sick and should have been in bed. A fifth was under doctor's orders not to play until at least Friday after getting cortisone shots Monday. He could barely walk yesterday. These two played, against all common sense.

A sixth was on vacation, what a lame reason to miss a game!

Our catcher was a player who had not been active all year after a meniscus tear. He had been removed from our roster, but his replacement was still in spring training in Phoenix or Florida or somewhere, so we got a reprieve to have him play if he felt up to it.

So we couldn't lose, right?

We broke out like gangbusters, but may have given ourselves the curse of the first. Shel Perham's home run blast to center highlighted the five run first. Three more in the second (home run to the Field 3 dirt by Robert Douza), and we thought we were invincible. But we melted down with errors in the bottom of the second, and handed Gray eight runs to catch up. We spotted them five more in the fourth, but in the fifth answered with five of our own - seven straight hits without an out sandwiched around a walk.

Scoring nine more runs while our defense settled down in the fifth through top of the eighth, and we were sailing full speed ahead, 22-13. Douza had Gray eating out of his hand with three straight scoreless innings. But give Gray credit - they never quit, and this time with nine came roaring back to tie us going into the ninth. We nearly batted around in the open ninth, and plated four but left the bases loaded, and ultimately that opened the door just wide enough for Gabe Tenaka to smash his walk off triple.

The hitting stats were crazy. Perham was 5-6 and drove in ten runs! Michael Callahan was a machine, going 5-5 plus a walk and drove in four. Frank Coppa was also in the no out zone, going 5-5. Leo Kay was a nuisance with his five hits as he stretched three of them into doubles. Bill Jeha had two doubles and a triple among his four safeties. Everyone had at least a hit.

The corner infielders both snagged hot shots, and Callahan made a great grab going back in left to keep Gray off the board in the first. But this game was about offense and both teams had plenty to say about it.

It was a crushing defeat after nearly overcoming our adversity. But playing in such a classic Creaker game made it worth it no matter on which side you ended.

Streak! Raiders Bag the Mudcats, 22-14

What does a number of wins become a winning streak?

The Raiders declared last week's win a streak after starting the season 0-5. Well, now we've doubled it with a smartly played 22-14 win over the Mudcats. We spotted the Cats a 7-3 lead through three but then piled on five run innings in three of the next four to get it to 19-8 and then coasted home.

The biggest hit of the game came in the top of the fourth, when Dave Balfour unloaded the bases with a double that gave us our first five run inning and a lead at 8-7 that we never gave up.

David Gerds was 4-5 with three doubles and a home run. Balfour, Gidget Blaquera, Ray Oducayen, David Gratz, Jay Sankey, and Lee Shreiner chipped in three hits apiece but it was the unsung near bottom of the order that made the difference. Don Devencenzi and Patrick Kiesling were each 5-5 to lead the team. Devencenzi hit two doubles and led the team with four RBIs. Kiesling drove in three. Everyone in the lineup had at least two hits, including Ray Watkins with two clutch singles.

Balfour and Gratz made exceptional catches in the outfield. Rover Randy Cobb had a great game, turning one double play stepping on second and firing to first to kill a rally. First Baseman Jeff Kravin hobbled into far foul ground to catch an over the shoulder grab to kill another. That inning relief pitcher Oducayen got a rare strike out. The rest of the game Lee Shreiner kept the Cats off balance.

Watch out - the Silver and Black may just come back!

The Mighty Have Fallen - Raiders 33 Outlaws 27

It became a running joke on the Raider bench - everyone makes the playoffs. We had visions of going 0-20, and heading into the post season with that head of...lukewarm water?

But today, it was different. After losing to each of the other five teams the first time around, we faced the undefeated Outlaws - no brainer right? Not so fast!

We finally put together a complete game, and pushed a relentless offense around the bases and came through at the end when it counted, prevailing 33-27. It was tight throughout. There were seven lead changes through the first seven innings until it settled at 23-23 after those seven. We pushed across three in the eighth on a two run David Gerds double and a sac fly, and the Outlaws only answered with one. But then something happened - in the open ninth we exploded with three straight hits at the bottom of the order, followed after an out by five more hits around a BASES LOADED INTENTIONAL WALK to Gerds and a sac fly. Suddenly it was a ten run lead at 33-23, and even though the Outlaws had the top of their lineup coming up, they could only muster four runs and we had our first win!

The game was all about scoring, but there were a couple of big plays on defense early. Don Devencenzi caught a tough pop up at 2B in the first but it did not stop a five run inning with that top of the Outlaw lineup. Likewise Cary Mitsuyoshi in the second in short right center. But in the fifth, the two of them combined to start a 4-11-3 double play that created a "moral victory": only four runs plated.

Again, it was all about offense and the Raiders had plenty of it.

Gerds led the way at 6-6, including two doubles, two triples, a home run (and yes a single for the cycle) and nine RBIs. Mitsuyoshi was next at 5-5 plus two sac flies and a total of six RBIs. Jay Sankey and Randy Cobb were each 5-7. Dave Balfour, Gidget Blaquer, Ray Oducayen (each four RBIs), David Gratz, Jeff Kravin, and Pat Kiesling added four hits each. It should be noted that Kiesling batting last was a catalyst all game - he was second to Gerds (7) with five runs scored. I have to mention Devencenzi again, because he had a decent 3-6 game and it was remarkable that he was the only one with less than four hits. I can't remember the last time I played in a game where everyone had at least three hits. The team batting average - a nice round .750.

Oducayen pitched all nine, and given the usual assortment of errors, was quite remarkable in holding that Outlaw lineup to 'only' 27 runs.

Now we only owe four teams.

Dumped Them Hornets Right Out of the Nest, 19-12

On Thursday, my Walnut Creek team batted .833 AS A TEAM. We scored the maximum five runs the first four innings and five of the first six. We were so far ahead after the seventh that the other team begged us to flip flop even though we were the home team. In all, we scored 27 in seven innings and won 27-10.

I went 4-4, and picked a ball out of the dirt once as we turned two or three double plays. That's the kind of game it was. And I manage the team. It was very rewarding.

On the other hand, on Wednesday, I went 0 for 4. I could barely get the ball out of the infield. And even though we won 19-12, there was nothing unique about the game. We went up 7-2 in the fourth, 12-6 after five, and although they closed to within three runs in the seventh, the outcome was never really in doubt, except it was the Hornets and you never know when they might break out for ten runs in an inning.

So which do you think was the most fun game?

Well I will tell you. It was the Hated, Feared, and Generally Arrogant Hornets we beat. There is never a softball win as sweet as beating the Hornets. They constantly fill the well with more and more talented Major Plus tournament players year after year after year, and resist every effort to even the playing field in Danville. Sweet indeed.

Granted, they were missing two of their recent all-star additions (who are rumored to have quit because the league wouldn't allow the addition of a couple more underage studs) and probably two of their older all-stars as well. But beating them is like having a really fine meal - you don't care if it is at a Michelin start restaurant or the diner down at the corner. It just tastes great!

And, to boot, we were breaking in three new players in a new season of flux. We lost a lot of talent in Charlie Pastor and Howard Reese, not to mention the tragedy of Anthony Paschal (our best player and favorite teammate and friend), and we were missing mainstays Randy Cobb and Barry Walter, and Ed Cook and Lee Levig have not returned from the injured list. Truly a team in transition.

But you know - so what! We just went out and played. And now we can Caw and Caw and the Hornets can just eat Crow!

We knew something was up when Clay LeChe and Brian Black started the game off with solo home runs. After three innings it was just 2-2 but we broke out for five in the fourth and fifth, and only recorded one out in each inning. Pitcher Black had the Hornets buzzing around but mostly making poor contact, and our defense was stout throughout. It included a couple of dazzling catches in right field by Don Devencenzi, and some tough outs by each of the other outfielders Lew Altman, Dave Balfour, and LeChe. Altman also threw out a runner at home via a strong relay by Rover Aram Boyd.

Balfour led the way hitting with a 5-5 game, followed up by LeChe, Black, and Tom Wagensell with four hits each. Four others had three hits each.

A strong first game from Altman and infielder Mark Diaz and utility defender Merrill Leach. Between them they went 8-12 with seven RBIs. Not bad!

If this is an indication how things can go for the Crows, we will all be happy we saved the Danville league once again (with a huge assist from Tony Camillo). Can't wait for next week!

Raiders Drop a Heartbreaker to the Cardinals, 21-20

This was going to be the week the Raiders broke through our season long slump to get that elusive first win. And for a few innings, it looked that way. We took leads of 5-0, 10-3, and 14-9, but gave up twelve runs in the last three innings, and lost a heartbreaker to the Cardinals on a 21-20 walk-off.

There were plenty of good performances however. Gidget Blaquera went 3-3+BB+SF for a team leading five RBIs. The Davids that played did well: Gerds, 4-4-4+BB, 2B, HR, Gratz, 4-5, four RBIs, and Balfour, 4-4+BB, 3B. Jay Sankey, Cary Mitsuyoshi, Ray Oducayen, and Patrick Kiesling chipped in three hits apiece. Don Devencenzi made a great stab on a grounder for a 4-3 putout in the fifth, and Mitsuyoshi threw out a runner at home from the deep rover position for the final out in the sixth. 

One of these days (Alice), we're going to get that win!

, 

Dark Green Melts Gold 27-10

How hot was Dark Green today?

We scored five runs in each of the first four innings.

We made a total of three outs in those first four innings.

After an inning of only one, we scored five again in the sixth.

We flip flopped after the seventh, even though as the home team we were the team leading by 18 runs. So in all, scored 27 in seven with no open inning.

(Granted, the game was pretty much over and it was Sandy Zimmerman's (and someone else's, Rob Katzer's?) birthday, and everyone was anxious to get to the celebration).

I wish we could bottle the energy we had today.

Here are some stats:

Leo Kay, 4-4

Michael Callahan, 4-4

Jeff Olsen 3-3+BB, five RBIs

Bill Jeha, 4-4, 4 runs, 2B, 3B, seven RBIs

Shel Perham, 4-4, 2B, three RBIs

Dick Stanley, 4-4 in his comeback game, 2B

Jeff Kravin, 4-4, turned a 2B into a single by limping to first.

Howard Davis, 3-4, 2B as he can hit the ball further and can limp faster than I can with our injuries.

Helen Kostoff, 3-3, three RBIs. Started a couple of double plays, including one where the throw in the dirt was picked nicely by Stanley at 1B.

Mike Howard, 2-3

Robert Douza, 2-3

John Banker 'only' was 2-4, but made two great catches in RF on balls tailing away from him plus got a force out at second, on a 'single'.

Woody Whitlatch only had one but at least that meant everyone had a hit, and Woody handled everything hit to him at 2B, including starting a double play.

And the pitching - M. Howard kept Gold at bay most of the game. Howard D. came in and pitched the middle three and gave up just two runs.

And just to put an exclamation point on it - the monster Gold hitter Kevin Naylor had already hit a ball over our version of the Green Monster in dead center, and then Robert Douza requested to pitch to him in the ninth. Smash - a line drive rocket to right center. And Rob turns to me and says - "See, I held him to a single", with a big proud grin on his mug. And a straight face, somehow.

Next week is the big test - the equivalent of the Dubs playing without Steph Curry - both Jeha and Perham will be gone. But next man and woman up - if the rest of us are as hot as today, we will give Maroon plenty of trouble!

The Comeback (Not So Much) Kids Walk Off a Thriller, 31-30 Dark Green Over Orange

There is but one one thing to do when your defense is busy giving the other team extra out after extra out after extra out. Dark Green spotted Orange an 18-6 lead, and ultimately gave up 23 runs in the first five innings. And despite the "Glass half full" Manager, there is no quit in this year's Green team - they stay positive. In a feat rarely matched (if ever in Creaker lore) in all baseball or softball, we nullified that 18-6 lead with twelve runs on zero outs in the bottom of the fourth. That's right - we batted around all twelve players, and since it ended on back to back home runs by Bill Jeha (3-run) and Shel Perham (solo), everyone batted and everyone scored.

So in fact the only thing to do when you are so generous on defense is score relentlessly and often. Orange wouldn't go away - they answered our twelve with a five spot in the fifth, and they repeated that in the eighth, taking a 30-28 lead into the ninth. But we held them scoreless in the open inning, and when our half started with two walks, Green's confidence soared. Three straight clutch singles, by Robert Douza, Leo Kay, and John Banker sealed the deal, and Green walked off happily.

There were no real heroes on defense - how could there be in this kind of game - although I have to say the first baseman dug out a couple of throws and caught a couple of popups in the sun.

But let's talk about the offense! Kay, Banker, Jeff Olsen, Jeha, Perham, and Douza all hit the opposing fields' dirt on one side or the other and made the round trips  - Banker's, Jeha's and Douza's were three run shots. A veritable explosion of power!

And that's not all. Kay (five runs) and Banker slashed five hits each, and Olsen and Superman Howard Davis were 4-4. Jeha (triple besides the HR) and Douza led the way with five RBIs, and Banker was right behind with four. Pat the Bat Oday hit a bases loaded single for three RBIs - if he weren't injured who knows how far he could have run! Everyone had a hit and got on twice or more and scored a run, at least.

Dark Green is on a serious roll - four in a row - we have come a long way since losing 17-2 in Week 4. Watch out!

The Purple People Eaters Have Seconds, Dark Green Wins 21-17

Purple was missing Mark Pitzlin and Green was missing Helen Kostoff, who led the team with thirteen RBIs going into the game and anchors our defense. I'd say that makes it about even. And even it was, with six lead changes and a tie. But six straight hits in the bottom of the seventh with no outs by Robert Dousa, Leo Kay, Michael Callahan, Jeff Olsen, Bill Jeha, and finally a Shel Perham gapper that scored runs 3-4-5 and the game was maybe out of reach at 19-15. We each scored two in the seventh, including a line shot down the line for a homer by John Banker and a Frank Coppa double.

But it was the ninth that made the statement. The first baseman somehow snared a laser headed for his feet and robbed Rick Evans of extra bases. Then there was a hard shot at third that (Superman) Howard Davis, er I mean Clark Kent, somehow stopped and then fired a faster than a speeding bullet to first for the second out. At that point is was all over but the proverbial plus size lady (we can say that again) singing.

In between Dousa was involved in three or four double plays at Rover, most of which were hard grounders at him, step on second and throw to first. Kostoff said she'll never get ill again and miss a game. Olsen threw out a runner at second on a 'single' when Davis alertly covered the second base bag. The first baseman also snagged a couple of low throws to bail out our infielders.

Kay led the way with 4(4 runs)-4 and two doubles. Banker joined him at 4-4 with the HR. Olsen and Perham each had three hits and five RBIs. Jeha also had three knocks plus a walk that I swear was intentional, and also touched them all in the first. Each player had at least one hit as we recorded a team average of .660. Good defense and good hitting, good formula.

Two Old Oakland Teams, Raiders Come Up Short 23-31 to the Warriors

It was another of those games as the Raiders came up short again, this time to the Warriors, 31-23.

There were two Silver (and Black) linings: We turned a triple play in the seventh, SS David Gerds to 3B Cary Mitsuyoshi to 2B Don Devencenzi. But there was an asterisk - the batter thought he was out or that there were already three outs, and headed into the dugout. And then there were three outs, thank you very much.

And we may have found our pitcher, Max Martin. After too much wildness by our first two pitchers, he came in and gave out minimal free passes. Even though the Warriors did break through on him eventually, he gave us a reason to come back, as we closed it to 22-19 in the sixth.

Besides the TP, Cary was involved in a bases loaded smash to third where he stepped on the bag and threw home for an easy double play,

On Offense, Dave Balfour was perfect 5-5 with a double. Davids Gerds and Gratz were each 4-5, and including David DeCarli, the Davids were in total, 15-20 with four doubles. Jeff Kravin led the team with four RBIs.

Day of the Greens: Dark-G Squeaks By G-Gray 22-21 in the Thrilluh at Heathuh 3

There we were, rolling along and building a lead, inning by inning, all the way to 19-8 with just two frames to go. Dark Green had won every inning except the second and was cruising.

(Roll the Twilight Zone theme). Then it happened, Green Gray, which does have some talent, hit a bunch of line drives, bleeders and bloopers and throw in some absent defense by the Dark team, and G-G came storming ALL THE WAY back to tie us WITH NO OUTS in the eighth and it stood 19-19 going into the open inning.

You can never be too comfortable, and you can guess Dark Green was no longer comfortable. We were lucky, we had the bottom then top of the lineup coming up in the ninth, but we could only manage to turn that into three runs.

GG started down the same path as in the eighth, notching two runs and getting the tying run to third and the winning run to first. But Opener and Closer Mike Howard induced a pop fly to Helen Kostoff at Rover, who took a step back and squeezed it for the 22-21 win. There were 14 audible sighs by the visiting team, and the call for the ambulance for the Dark Green Manager was canceled.

It was an instant Creaker classic. Neither team should have lost this game. Kudos to the GGs for staging an incredible comeback, and to DG for digging deep and shouting down the nerves to cement the victory.

There was so much clutch hitting, it was tough to name the best hits.

We scored five runs twice; in the fifth inning rally, Jeff Olsen, Bill Jeha, Shel Perham, and Jeff Kravin got two out RBI hits. In the eighth, we scored all five with one out.

Jeha was perfect at 5-5 with a triple and a double and four RBIs. Right behind him was Perham, 4-5 with two doubles and he matched the four RBIs. John Banker matched the four hits with four of his own, and Michael Callahan and Woody Whitlatch stroked three hits apiece.

But as it is often in a close win, it was the bottom of the order that made the difference. Superman Howard Davis, hit two doubles among three hits to knock in three runs. Pat ODay crushed a two run two out hit in the sixth and knocked in our fifth run in the eighth. And Robert Douza, batting last, went 4-4 to set up the top of the lineup to bring him around.

Leo Kay was a nuisance to the GGs with two hits and drew an important walk in the ninth to get on to score the go ahead run.

Jeha made a couple of impressive catches on liners to SS. Frank Coppa made a great stop on a hot shot at 3B. Pitchers (M) Howard and Howard (D) each tossed a strikeout (If Curly Joe Ragazzo ever comes back from his injury, we might just field a team with all three stooges on it!).

Raiders Raided by the Mudcats 26-10

The shorthanded Raiders couldn't muster much on offense and made some critical errors and fell to the Mudcats 26-10.

Most of the bright spots were held by the Davids: Balfour went 5-5 with a double and Gerds was 4-5 with three doubles and a blast to the fence for a home run. He also turned two highlight plays: In the third he fielded a hot shot at the hot corner, stepped on third and fired to Gidget Blaquera at second to get a double play. In the fifth, he dove to his left at SS, jumped up and threw to first to rob a Mudcat of a hit.

David Gratz smashed two of the best balls hit all day, and the RC and LC respectfully made spectacular running catches to rob him of extra bases on both. That's how it went on this day for the Raiders.

Cary Mitsuyoshi and Max Martin did contribute three hits apiece, but the rest of the lineup just could not follow their lead and we came up short.

Dark Green emerges from the Forest, Tops Gray 18-12

My mantra has always been, "The bottom of the order hits, we win". Today, the bottom four, Frank Coppa, Helen Kostoff, Mike Howard and Woody Whitlatch went 10-13 including a grand slam by Coppa that traveled all the way through the infield on Field 3. They scored eight runs and drove in eight as well.

They were not alone as everyone contributed to the win: Top of the order batters Leo Kay and Michael Callahan had four hits apiece, with Callahan having the "mini-cycle": two singles, a double and a two run triple in the fourth. Middle of the order Jeff Olsen and Bill Jeha had three hits apiece - Jeha blasted one over the left center fielder's head for a solo job in the seventh, the inning Coppa later cleared the bases with his dinger.

The game was a 3-3 tie when Callahan punctuated our first five run inning with the triple. After we were shut out in the fifth, Gray tied it at eight apiece. But we scored the max five in the next two innings to put the game away. Coppa's blast sealed the deal.

Mike Howard pitched the whole game and had the Gray hitters leaning awkwardly this way and that. He got one strikeout swinging. He was helped immensely by some key defensive plays.

In the first Olsen caught a liner moving back for the first out, and Rover Kostoff snagged another liner to keep Gray from getting more than two runs. In the third Whitlatch snared a hard liner at 2B, and flipped to first where the Manager tap-danced and pushed the side of his foot against the bag as he caught the runner who was off and running.

In the sixth, Jeha and Whitlatch combined for the play of the game. Bill dove for a hot shot and flipped the ball to second base from the ground, and Woody, just arriving, snagged the ball bare-handed and did a similar tap-dance to get his foot on the bag ahead of the runner crossing. To complete the fine defense, Shel Perham at 3B grabbed a hot shot in the 5-6 hole with runners on second and third, ran to third base to get the runner from second, and then fired home. We didn't get the double play as the runner retreated back to third, but it saved another run. In the eighth, Jeha dove again for the third out, this time catching it before it hit the ground.

Even though we only had 11 players, everyone had a hand in the win, and that made it a great team win. Helen's shots always taste better after a win.

Raiders Sink a Little Short of Shore, 21-19

The Raiders came roaring back from a shaky start to a loaded Outlaws team to nearly finish the job, but ultimately fell short 21-19. We spotted them an 11-1 lead while shaking off some rust from the long off season, and clawed back to take a one run lead at 15-14 in the sixth. After giving up a five spot in the top of the seventh, and answering with a four run eighth, we went into the ninth trailing by just two runs, And then we shut them out in the open inning. The table was set, but unfortunately the potential winning rally died with the tying run at the plate.

There were some defensive highlights. Cary Mitsuyoshi ended the debate of the best play of the year in the first game as he dove all out in the third to snag a sinking liner in shallow right center from his rover position to rob an Outlaw of a hit. Max Martin made two great plays at 2B, one on a grounder and one on a line drive. In the sixth, Dave Balfour twice in left and Jay Sankey in right made great catches in the outfield for the three outs in a shutdown inning that kept us in the game.

Coach and the best leadoff hitter Jay Sankey was 4-4 with a double. Gidget Blaquera went 3-3 with two doubles plus a walk. Mitsuyoshi joined her with three hits and led the team with four RBIs. Blaquera and Jeff Kravin drove in three apiece. The team managed to hit just .542 although we drew seven walks as the Outlaw pitchers also showed some rust. Not enough hitting but at least everyone got at least one dinger.

Curse of the First, Green Falls 17-2 to Light Blue

We had them right where we wanted them, up 2-0 in the top of the first - no sir, no ma'am, no thee no he no she no they, no curse of the first for Dark Green, so we lightened it up and stopped at two across.

It was so comfortable, and we loved it so much, we simply stopped scoring - for another eight innings.

We had some good defense and pitching, and we held the powerful Light Blue lineup under 20, but if you don't hit in softball, you ain't gonna win, and the final score was 17-2.

Woody Whitlatch played an excellent game, making several plays at 2B, and going 3-4. On one, we turned a 4-11-3 double play to end an inning. The first baseman had to stretch to the limit of his 5'7" frame and keep his toe on the bag. Later Woody caught a hot shot line drive. John Banker made a nice catch in right field that took forever to come down. Leo Kay had three hits in his return from a broken rib suffered in the practice game. Frank Coppa regained his stroke and joined him with three hits.

We had nary a single extra base hit, and that is not going to win a game in slow pitch softball. But the team has great spirit and no one pointed any fingers and still enjoyed our postgame refreshments.

No excuse but we were missing six players, so hopefully going forward, we will get some of them back and put on a better performance.

Green Marooned, 18-8

All decked out in our brand new Green and Gold, the Dark Green Creaker-A's were looking forward to making A's fans everywhere proud. After all the anticipation (and rumors of Forest Green, Silver, and what all else) of getting New Jerseys (see what I did there?), we get the Wandering A's colors. Well, at least now we know where the A's are playing, Walnut Creek, er Pleasant Hill!

And then, we went out and played like the Triple A-s on Thursday. We spotted the Maroon a 9-0 lead through three and it never got close after that. It turned out too much to overcome, and even though the game was pretty even after that, Maroon came out on top 18-8.

A few highlights: Howard Davis made a great stop in the 3-4 hole and stuck a hard grounder in his glove to get the easy out at first in the fourth inning. We turned a nice around the horn double play in the sixth - 3B Frank Coppa to Woody Whitlatch at 2B, who rushed a throw in the dirt to first where the first baseman dug it out backhanded. Likewise Dick Stanley corralled an errant throw at first in another inning.

Shel Perham led the team's meager output on offense, 3-3 plus a walk, including a triple and three RBIs. Michael Callahan, John Banker (with our other triple) and Stanley joined him with three hits. Helen Kostoff continued her torrid RBI pace with two more.

Maybe the manager should be fired. Or the team should step up next game and save his job!

It's a March Wrap! Wolfpack 24 Crows 16

In an emotional day that started with a moment of silence for our fallen teammate Anthony Paschal (very nice eulogy Don), we succumbed to the beefed up Wolfpack 24-16 to end our winter season. In many ways it resembled the season - we were short players (I won't even say how much we miss Anthony on and off the field), and we just didn't hit our best, so we came up short. You have to have your best game against the likes of the Wolfpack and the Hornets.

There were a few highlights. In the second, Howard Reese made a great catch on a little flair over his head on the mound, and when the Pack runner ran halfway home assuming the ball would drop, Howard threw to third for an easy double play. Two innings later, Don Devencenzi came in hard for a sinking line drive in right field, followed by 2B Lamont Thompson ranging far to his left to snag a grounder ticketed to right field to get the third out and keep the damage that inning to two runs.

On offense, Charlie Pastor led the team with four hits. Barry Walter hit a three run homer in our first five run inning. Reese hit a line drive beauty down the right field line with the bases loaded in the sixth and ended up standing on third base in our other five run inning. All in all not a terrible offensive game - everyone had at least two hits - but other than those two innings and the ninth when we started with five straight singles before making three straight outs - we just couldn't string together enough rallies. In five innings we scored a grand total of one run.

The good news is that this team has fun win or lose, and no one gets on each other's case. We will press on with a few new players in the summer, and the Crows will keep cawing and clawing.

Gold turns Green Green

How do you lose a game when Frank Coppa hits a ball to the next field - practically to the third base dugout, Helen Kostoff hits two doubles, John Banker goes 3-4 with a triple (and only missed his fourth hit when he was robbed by the left fielder), and makes a catch for the ages on a smash that was right at him but was dropping like a deer taking a buckshot hit. He grabbed it out of the air like a Ricky Henderson snatch catch.

And that's not counting Jeff Olsen's perfect 5-5 with a double, and yours truly turning a triple or homer over the right fielder's head into a sciatica double.

Gold played better, that's how, and came out on top 20-15.

No excuses, but when you're missing three of your top players, in this league it gives the Manager extra challenges you don't really need.

We cursed ourselves in the first, with Banker's triple and Kostoff's two run first two bagger providing the highlights. In the second, Coppa's HR led us off and Olsen clobbered a two run double. We had a 9-4 lead at that point but Gold answered with two five run innings to take the lead. They won the middle innings but in the eighth back to back doubles by Kravin and Kostoff gave us our last five as we tightened it to 19-15, but that's as close as we came.

Olsen made a couple of nice running catches in LC. Coppa snagged a hot shot at 3B, batting it in the air but recatching the ball. Pat O'Day, turned a very head's up solo double play. A Gold batter, with the bases loaded, dropped a batted ball right in front of home plate. Catcher O'Day picked it up with his foot on the plate, and smartly tagged the batter, who was too shocked by what was happening to run. O'Day could have tried for the game's second triple play (we hit into one), because the other runners were madly dashing to go back to their starting bases. But in the excitement he was worried he would throw it away and decided to hold the ball. As it turned out we got the third out without a run scoring, so smart call. The other defensive highlight was Dick Stanley making a diving catch in RC to end an inning, which he seems to do every game.

Michael Callahan, Banker, Kostoff, Woody Whitlatch and O'Day all had three hits, Every Green batter had at least one. We will get back on the winning track next week.

ND: Unknown Shade of Green 31, Purple 20

For the second year, I am managing a team that has only the promise of new shirts as the season begins. Forest Green, Dark Green, or as the Handbook says, Silver - the color doesn't matter if we hit the ball the way we did today, winning going away 31-20 over a feisty Purple team.

It didn't look good in the first couple of innings, as Green threw the ball away and misjudged fly balls. We spotted Purple a curse of the first five - their hitters looked like Goliaths next to ours. But in the second, on a grounder to second, with Frank Coppa yelling "throw to second", Pat O'Day made a savvy veteran play, chased the runner down going by, and flipped to first for the DP. Suddenly we discovered defense and when Brian Connell took over 2B in the third, we turned a 4-11-3 double play with Helen Kostoff in the middle for another shutdown inning.

In the meantime our bats came alive. In the fourth, with two outs and nobody on, Bill Jeha's triple started a string of six consecutive hits by Dick Stanley, Jeff Olsen, Connell, Heffe, Howard Davis, and Kostoff, sandwiched around a walk to Coppa and we had five runs. In the fourth, more of the same, hits by O'Day, Michael Callahan (his second triple), John Banker, Shel Perham, Jeha and Stanley again, plated five more.

Suspect defense and the strong Purple lineup kept it close - it was a seesaw battle that saw six lead changes. Again in the seventh we scored five (Jeha had a three run triple), but we led just 22-19 going into the ninth.

Mike Howard, closer extraordinaire, took a flat pitch ball four that wasn't called with two strikes leading off the top of the ninth. After a walk and a flyout, we had nothing going. Then once again the two out heroics started. The next ten batters reached safely. After we scored a comfortable six runs, Kostoff strode up to the plate with the bases loaded and still two outs. She deposited a slicing line drive to right center, beating the Purple shift, and by the time she landed on second base three more had scored as we made it 31-20. All that was left was Howard shutting  Purple out in the bottom half and the celebration began.

Callahan with his two triples was 4-4 plus a walk. Kravin was also 4-4+BB. Coppa was 3-3 with two walks. Perham, Olsen, and Connell were 4-5. Jeha was 3-5 and all his hits were three baggers. "Superman" Davis had two doubles out of his three hits, and Banker, Stanley and Kostoff also all had three hits. Kostoff and Jeha led the team with six RBIs.

Not a bad start at all!

Practice Makes Imperfect

Well, since Team Green had a practice game, I thought I should do a practice writeup.

The final score was 18-15. It's too bad we couldn't pull it out - Howard (Superman) Davis would have been quite the hero. All he did was go 5-5 with a couple of clutch RBI hits and pitched well enough in the middle innings to have won if we didn't stop hitting while he was at the mound.

We built a lead of 10-6 through four innings, thanks to a five run fourth that featured back to back two run doubles by Leo Kay and Michael Callahan after the bottom of the order loaded the bases with no outs.

But Team Gold kept getting three run innings when we couldn't quite shut the door - in all they had six such innings to account for all their runs.

After falling behind, we closed to 15-14 with a four run seventh that featured seven straight hits by Dick Stanley, Heffe, John Banker, Frank Coppa, Helen Kostoff, Woody Whitlatch, and Davis.

In a good start defensively, we turned three double plays in the first few innings - Rover Kostoff was in the middle of all of them including one she took herself to the bag and then fired to first. Kay made a diving catch in the first - it may or may not have been worth it as he had sore ribs the rest of the game - we hope he is ok. In the second we prevented a run from scoring on a throw in from Stanley to SS Shel Perham to Whitlatch at the plate.

In the eighth, even though Gold scored three, the outs were loud. Callahan made a sliding catch for the first out. Later, Coppa snagged a hot shot at the hot corner, and Perham snared a shot at SS that seemed headed to LF to keep Gold from getting five.

Davis had the five hits, and Callahan had four, including a double and a homer good for a team leading four RBIs. Kay (two doubles), Stanley, John Banker, and Kostoff contributed three. Kravin had two and also walked three times - the starting pitcher wanted nothing to do with him.

We were missing some components, so it was a good start all in all. We will see next week when the games start to count.

BS Redemption in the Last Winter League Game, Wins 23-21 Thriller.

In one of the best games of the season, Team BS wouldn't be denied and rallied back from deficits of 5-1 and 10-5 and ultimately with a six run ninth and good pitching and defense toppled Team Blue 23-21.

There were many heroes. David Peterson thwacked the ball around for four hits, His blast in the first went to never never land in left field in the first but found a misplaced soccer goal so he was held to a ground rule double. After that shot, the other team played him deep so he put three liners into the outfield and drove in three runs.

Fill in Curt Wade also hit four crisp line drive hits. But it was the unlikely pair of Sandy Camp and David Thompson, also each with four hits, that made the difference. Camp had four clean hits, and to top things off, drew a bases loaded walk in the ninth to kick start the winning rally. She also pitched a couple of shutdown innings in the middle of the game to allow us to get back in the game when we were down 10-5.

All Thompson did was drive in six runs on four hits. His bases clearing, bases loaded triple in the fourth brought us back into the game right when Sandy came in to pitch. His two run single in the ninth, again up with the bases loaded, proved to be the game winner as he gave us a 22-20 lead.

Johnny G doled out his usual three hits and made a great falling down catch in left field in the second. Mike Nichols joined him with three hits and followed Johnny's catch with an equally difficult catch in right field for the third out that inning but didn't fall down!

Finally Steve Sloat and Chuck Corich filled in from the Green team and each also contributed three hits. Corich, in six innings minimized the damage done by the potent Blue lineup, getting the good hitters several times on lazy flies and easy grounders. Thanks go to the pair and Wade for helping us out.

Art Minor and Helen Kostoff were on each end of a deep flyout to center to second base double play (with Peterson as the cutoff/pivot in the middle) in the fourth.

Ken Gurgone had a rough day at the plate but came up in the ninth and drove in the last run with a line drive single to end the BS scoring.

And finally, yours truly finally got in some game action (for the first time since December) as I pinch hit in the eighth and played first in the ninth after Thompson's leg stiffened up. You see, I had had a dream the night before that I took BP and just whiffed and whiffed over and over again. I had to prove at least I could make contact! I went 0-1 but at least I hit a hard grounder!

Can't wait til next year. BS forever!

Nine Shades of Gray, BS Toppled 30-25

We've all been there, a close game where you are the home team, and you just keep saying, keep it close, we have the hammer. Well, Team BS did everything right, coming back from an initial 7-2 deficit to take early 11-8 and 16-11 leads, then answering two straight late five run innings with a five of our own in the eighth to send it into the ninth as a one inning game knotted at 21.

And then the roof fell in. Team Gray ran nine across the plate, and even though we gave it our best shot in the bottom of the ninth, we ended up on the wrong side of a 30-25 defeat.

Despite the high score, there were some strong defensive performances. Steve Rousso made a bunch of plays at rover, chasing pop ups in the sun, catching a liner headed to center field and getting a force out on a tough shot in the fourth. Dave DeWitt made his once a game putout from right center on a 'single' to get a force out at second. Ken Gurgone had a nice game behind the plate, lunging far to his left to catch a pop up in the sixth, and scooping a one hopper from Dan May at SS on a bases loaded grounder. Johnny Gutierrez made a fine catch on a sun fly in the third. And Mike Nichols did likewise in the sixth in right field.

For a while, we owned Gray's big hitter Mike Herrera. Sandy Camp got him out twice, by pitching just close enough to the strike zone that he lost his discipline. But then he put one over Brian Black's head in deep right center that ended up beyond the foul line fence on Field 2 - quite impressive.

We had enough offense that on another day would have been enough. Gutierrez led the way with a 6-6 day, and drove in six runs with those hits. DeWitt and May each went 5-6 and scored 10 runs between them at the top of the lineup. Art Minor hit a triple and a home run and led the team with seven RBIs. Frank Coppa showed extreme patience at the plate, walking four times in five plate appearances. I guess they were afraid of him. Black also showed a good eye, walking three times and scoring five times altogether. David Thompson got the last hit in our first five run inning in the fourth when we had six singles, a walk and then his hit.

I guess all things must end and there goes my one game winning streak as fill in manager. Come back Dave Rose!

Bombs Away! Crow Power Ousts the Devil, 27-25

The Diablos must have felt pretty good about themselves after their first two at bats. In the first the Crows gifted them at least six outs, and the visitors gave themselves the Curse of the First, taking advantage and scoring five. In the second, after Charlie Pastor got us on the board with his first home run in our half of the first, they slammed line drive after line drive and plated another five. 10-2 is a good start.

But the Crows kept hammering back, and the power onslaught overcame the lead and then helped stave off their comebacks, and we ultimately won 27-25.

We hit six bombs - I looked it up, and in the short time I have been a Crow, we had never hit more than four in a game.

The team has a never say die attitude. The individual stats are impressive, but everyone contributed greatly. Charlie had two HRs and three doubles, and drove in eight runs altogether. Brian Black was 6-6, scored five runs, hit one of the four-baggers, and drove in five - not bad for a leadoff hitter. Aram Boyd made the most of his two hits, adding a three run and a two run job for five RBIs in just two of his at bats. Somehow his bomb to left center in the fourth seemed like the statement shot of the game. It only gave us a 15-14 lead at the time, but in fact it was the game winning RBI as they never came all the way back after that. Dave Balfour rounded out the power with a two run shot the next inning.

Everyone had at least two hits, Clay LeChe and Lamont Thompson each counting a triple among their hits. Howard Reeves led the rest of the crew with four hits, also including a triple. He also came in to put out the fire on the mound in the third, pitching the last seven innings and 'only' allowing 15 runs, which is pretty good on a Danville sun field.

The Diablos did help us out with their own sloppy fielding but we actually had some pretty good defense. Charlie hopped off the mound in the first to nail the speedy Mark Pitzlin on a dribbler in the first. Center fielders Brian and Dave made a couple of big catches in the tough sun in the third and eighth respectively, and right fielder Barry Walter in the sixth. Don Devencenzi had a nice stop on a shot at third before he moved to second base. Tom Wagenseller and Aram talked about a 6-5-3 double play in the fourth - and then the Diablo hitter obliged by hitting the ball in the 5-6 hole just as they drew it up. Aram later turned a rover step on second and fire to first double play. He also gets the comic relief award. On a ball way over his head he leaped higher than anyone could believe, just got a glove on it enough to go gather the ball, and then heave it onto field four way over LT's head, even though the runner had already passed first base.

It was a close game in doubt until Clay fielded the ground ball and took it to second base to get the last out. This was the defining game that we are right in the middle of the pack. But if we can minimize the errors and hit like we did yesterday, we can beat anyone in this league (and have shown it). Starting next week against the Wolfpack.

Camp Black Shines in the Sun, Team BS Dominates the Tie Dyes 15-4

Home Team Tie Dye made the call to have the batters face the sun on Danville's Field 2 instead of the outfielders on Field 3 which we knew would result in a lower scoring game. Some players struggled all day with trying to hit a ball that they couldn't see at all, or just at the last second.

After seeing our outfielders struggle with the winter sun game after game on Fields 3 and 4, I was willing to accept that idea until I got to the field and saw and remembered who the pitcher is for the Dyes - Mike Howard. Howard kept the ball at his usual 11 feet 11 inch height, and we struggled to get hits off of him. We managed a lot of infield singles though, and at the end of the day, we won 15-4, nearly matching our average this season of 17 runs. The game was close through six innings (we led 5-4), but five spots in the seventh and eighth put away the Dye.

That was because pitchers Brian Black and Sandy Camp simply outdueled Howard and company. They may not have Mike's finesse, but they held Tie Dye to three runs in six innings and one run in three innings, respectively. They were helped by solid defense, including a few outstanding plays. Art Minor started things with a diving catch on a sinking liner to left center to end the first inning. It kept the opening inning to two runs; little did we know it turned out to be the opponent's biggest inning.

David Peterson took his turns next in the second and third, making diving stops on hard grounders at SS. Camp made her contribution off the mound in the fourth to snag a short pop up. Dan May stopped a couple of hot shots at the hot corner later that inning and later in the game.

But the clutch catch of the game came in the seventh when Mike Nichols hustled in from right field to rob a hitter on a shallow fly ball. We had just scored our first five run inning, and his catch signaled "un unh, no way are you coming back on us."

As the team is undoubtedly sick of me saying, the bottom of the order hits, we win. But Camp, Nichols and Ken Gorgone were collectively 9-12, and I rest my case. Camp had four of those hits (4-4), and Steady Eddy (Dan) May was 4-5. Black drove in Helen Kostoff, Camp and Ken Gorgone with a grand slam in the eighth, and behind him May made it back to back jacks to get our fifth run of the frame. Then Black shut out the Dyes in the last two innings to complete the win.

Steve Rousso, David Thompson, and Gorgone contributed three hits each. Everyone had at least one hit, and all but two scored a run and likewise drove in a run.

We won the battle of pride - the battle for last place in the non-standings. More importantly we broke a seven game winless streak. Feels good, don't it?

Stung Again, 30-19

"One of these days, Alice." We need to channel Ralph Cramden. One of these days, Hornets, we will channel the beginning of last winter, when we beat them twice in a row.

We stayed with the Hornets this time for five innings of perhaps the slowest game in the history of slow pitch softball. Rittenhouse even wanted to quit after seven innings in a close game. At the end of the fifth, the score was 16-15 Hornets. But they plated five in the sixth and we couldn't keep up after that, losing 30-19.

It took the air out of some otherwise good performances. Charlie had five straight singles en route to a 5-6 day with three RBIs. Coach Don was 4-5. But the hitting star of the game was no doubt Dave. All he did was go 5-5 with our only home run and six RBIs, a three run job that brought us close in the second when we ultimately tied it up after the Hornets scored the maximum ten runs in the first two innings.

Ultimately, we just hit into too many double plays (and I wasn't even in the lineup!). It happens.

By the way - kudos to Coach Dandy Don for calling us out when we started the game lackadaisical on defense the first two innings. For a while it worked, and our defense was much better after that. Maybe he should have yelled at us about our offense too!

Next (due to the fabulous scheduler in Danville), we have the Diablos two weeks in a row. We should win against them; it is an opportunity for us to get better, but they are no pushovers exactly. Hopefully we get Anthony and Barry and Ed back, and we are whole.

Go Johnny Go, Johnny Be Goode

I haven't posted since October 22. At the time, we were 2-1 and looking good. I've been a little busy since then - Moving. Hosting my extended family for Thanksgiving. The Rest of the Holidays. And it didn't help that Team BS went into tailspin - after that win we tied the next week and have since lost six in a row. Not like this team, yet there it is. The offense and the pen dried up.

And of course my leg/back situation kept getting worse and worse until I found a doctor who said shut it down for at least the winter. It's not the worst pain I have ever endured, but it just keeps coming back over and over again, and now I know what is like to live with pain. And worse, I felt like I was hurting the team, since I couldn't push off to hit, and in the field I could barely get to first base to cover the bag.

Enough about me. This is about how Johnny Gutierrez picked the best time to enjoy a great game (to get ink!), even if we lost a heartbreaker by a run, 17-16 (because I am finally calling out the highlights). There have been a lot of great individual performances in the last seven games, but they got neglected by this pundit. I apologize deeply to you who have starred in the interim.

Johnny and I have a running conversation about when to throw to the lead base to try to get a runner, and when to just "keep the force on" and not let runners move up. Play it safe (we also argue about how deep to play various hitters but that's for another time). Well today, he won the argument in spades. He threw out two runners at third base who foolishly tested his arm. I had no idea what a cannon he has.  And but for a tough skip on a ball that barely eluded Helen Kostoff at second, he would have had a third. Nice game Johnny! Oh and he was 2-2 plus two walks at the plate.

Those plays were not the only ESPN highlights. Dave DeWitt went into a full dive from right center after calling Steve Rousso off in shallow right field to rob a hitter. He went back on a ball playing left center later and caught it falling down, and nearly concussed himself but hung on. Dave also started a double play from right center, flinging the caught ball to Reymundo Aguilera at the mound who wheeled around and nailed a would be run at the plate.

All in all we turned five double plays. The other two were nearly identical - hard shots up the middle to Steve, who stepped on second and fired to first, leaving no doubt about the outcome.

And Dan May made a couple of diving stops in the 5-6 hole at SS to get outs.

All in all, not a bad day in the field, and it should have been enough. But we just couldn't finish, and didn't score in the last two innings to salt away the game when we had momentum from coming back  twice to take a lead.

The team's defense was not the problem and in general has been relatively good compared to the other teams'. There were some offensive highlights, just not enough. Art Minor collected three RBIs on a two run homer in the first that set the tone (if not for long) and a sac fly. But the Big Clutch was a two out bases loaded bases clearing monster shot by David Thompson over the right fielder's head in the bottom of the seventh. At the time, Team Blue had just scored their first five run inning to take a 15-11 lead. Big Dave's bomb gave us our only five run inning and the lead back at 16-15. It gave us the momentum back, but unfortunately we shut down the rest of the game.

DeWitt was 4-4. May, Aguilera, and Kostoff pitched in three hits apiece. Rousso set a personal high by walking three times.

Nothing stood in the way to have the best post game of any of the teams, and that's what I love about this team. All we can do is say we will get them next week or next time!