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!