White lost a heartbreaker yesterday, 30-26 to Vegas Gold. We blew leads of seven and nine runs, the latter going into the eighth.
Every team in Creaker land is special but White was a very cohesive group this season, win or lose. I was going to skip the usual write-up and instead write a paragraph on each player, but it would have read the same for each and every player: Contributed on both offense and defense, played without any ego, and was a positive influence on the team throughout the season. The only drama we had this season had to do with our pregame habits and it came from outside.
Before I get all teary-eyed, I will launch instead into some highlights.
I have to admit, even though it was a heartbreaker, it was a great game. Every time we threatened to put them away, Vegas Gold came storming back. We won six innings, usually a formula for success - but they won the right three in big fashion. We helped them with some gaffes in the field but that favor was returned in kind. There were some bad calls, but they went both ways. They just won the last inning, and that is why they are moving on to next week.
Rich Brown had an unbelievable defensive game with multiple running catches robbing V. Gold of extra base hits. Without him they may have scored 40 runs.
Mike Saindon knocked down several balls headed to the outfield. Didn't always get the out, but saved extra bases on the hits. How many Creakers have skinned knees from diving after our games?
Speaking of which, so did Clay Kallam - who made a couple of stops on hard liners just inside the third base line. On one he flung it over to first and the first baseman scooped it but it went off his glove and his chest and then he grabbed it before the runner's foot was down. Unfortunately the Gold umpire didn't see it that way.
Seemed everyone playing the hot corner for White had a good game. Bruce Spencer stopped another hot shot, stepped on third and threw a strike to Rover David Partridge covering second for a double play.
There was another great play I think started by Saindon where the throw to first shorthopped Barry Gronenberg, and he skillfully scooped it up.
On offense we were led by Saindon, Mike Guerrero, and Charlie Uhlman with four hits apiece. Saindon's included two doubles good for three RBIs. Uhlman's included the White bomb of the game. He split a couple of really fast Gold outfielders who then had to chase the blast into field five. The two run homer gave us our fourth lead of the game at 18-16 in the fifth. Guerrero was nearly automatic with his four singles, as he has been all season. But the most impressive at bat may have been on the only out he made. Playing with a pulled groin, he hit a double play ball, and hustled to first to stay out of the DP. What a gamer!
Brown, Lisi, Partridge, Kravin, Spencer, Kallam, and Dave Siegel all had three hits. Siegel had a rough beginning of the game on defense, and then with a bases clearing three run double in the second and RBI singles in the fourth and seventh, made up for it and then some. He led the team with the 5 RBIs. Spencer had a really clutch two out hit to put us ahead in the third. Lisi was on base all but one time (he took a walk for the team as well) and that was a liner to left right at the left fielder. Brown had an 'off' game for him, which means 'only' 3-5.
Everyone else had two hits (Dave Rose, Gronenberg, Coach Neil Henry, and Helen Kostoff). Rose's include a deep drive for a triple, Kostoff scored three times as she got on on fielder's choices a couple of times. Gronenberg (and Siegel too) pitched better than the number of runs allowed - we made errors at the worst times in their two comeback innings of seven and nine runs.
As for Coach Henry, it's a testament to his leadership how well we all got along, and what fun we had. And, at times, we played like champions. The only sad thing about Creaker ball is when you have a team put together like this one, at the end of the year, you all go your somewhat separate ways, and can't build upon what you accomplished.
Hmm. Guess I got everybody!
Every team in Creaker land is special but White was a very cohesive group this season, win or lose. I was going to skip the usual write-up and instead write a paragraph on each player, but it would have read the same for each and every player: Contributed on both offense and defense, played without any ego, and was a positive influence on the team throughout the season. The only drama we had this season had to do with our pregame habits and it came from outside.
Before I get all teary-eyed, I will launch instead into some highlights.
I have to admit, even though it was a heartbreaker, it was a great game. Every time we threatened to put them away, Vegas Gold came storming back. We won six innings, usually a formula for success - but they won the right three in big fashion. We helped them with some gaffes in the field but that favor was returned in kind. There were some bad calls, but they went both ways. They just won the last inning, and that is why they are moving on to next week.
Rich Brown had an unbelievable defensive game with multiple running catches robbing V. Gold of extra base hits. Without him they may have scored 40 runs.
Mike Saindon knocked down several balls headed to the outfield. Didn't always get the out, but saved extra bases on the hits. How many Creakers have skinned knees from diving after our games?
Speaking of which, so did Clay Kallam - who made a couple of stops on hard liners just inside the third base line. On one he flung it over to first and the first baseman scooped it but it went off his glove and his chest and then he grabbed it before the runner's foot was down. Unfortunately the Gold umpire didn't see it that way.
Seemed everyone playing the hot corner for White had a good game. Bruce Spencer stopped another hot shot, stepped on third and threw a strike to Rover David Partridge covering second for a double play.
There was another great play I think started by Saindon where the throw to first shorthopped Barry Gronenberg, and he skillfully scooped it up.
On offense we were led by Saindon, Mike Guerrero, and Charlie Uhlman with four hits apiece. Saindon's included two doubles good for three RBIs. Uhlman's included the White bomb of the game. He split a couple of really fast Gold outfielders who then had to chase the blast into field five. The two run homer gave us our fourth lead of the game at 18-16 in the fifth. Guerrero was nearly automatic with his four singles, as he has been all season. But the most impressive at bat may have been on the only out he made. Playing with a pulled groin, he hit a double play ball, and hustled to first to stay out of the DP. What a gamer!
Brown, Lisi, Partridge, Kravin, Spencer, Kallam, and Dave Siegel all had three hits. Siegel had a rough beginning of the game on defense, and then with a bases clearing three run double in the second and RBI singles in the fourth and seventh, made up for it and then some. He led the team with the 5 RBIs. Spencer had a really clutch two out hit to put us ahead in the third. Lisi was on base all but one time (he took a walk for the team as well) and that was a liner to left right at the left fielder. Brown had an 'off' game for him, which means 'only' 3-5.
Everyone else had two hits (Dave Rose, Gronenberg, Coach Neil Henry, and Helen Kostoff). Rose's include a deep drive for a triple, Kostoff scored three times as she got on on fielder's choices a couple of times. Gronenberg (and Siegel too) pitched better than the number of runs allowed - we made errors at the worst times in their two comeback innings of seven and nine runs.
As for Coach Henry, it's a testament to his leadership how well we all got along, and what fun we had. And, at times, we played like champions. The only sad thing about Creaker ball is when you have a team put together like this one, at the end of the year, you all go your somewhat separate ways, and can't build upon what you accomplished.
Hmm. Guess I got everybody!
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