As the other two teams were pummeling each other with 50 total runs on field one, Team One turned timely hitting and great defense into an 11-10 squeaker over Team Four. Team One was like the little engine that could, I think I can I think I can, I think I can, and ultimately I knew I could.
The teams were locked in a pitchers' duel through three innings, with Team Four taking a 3-2 lead in the first that stood up through the first third of the game. Our big hit in the first was a gap double by Art Miner. In the middle innings our clutch hitting and shutdown pitching by Chip Sharpe enabled Team One to increase the lead to 5-3 and then 7-3. RBI at bats came from Mike Natali, Julia Gillette, Paul Lisi, and Chewy Little. Bob Muegge came back in to close it out, and held the Four juggernaut to nothing more through eight.
Defensive highlights included a nice stop and force out by Charlie Pastor at 3B, and a great running catch in right field by Gillette. Little made a controversial double play when he received an offline throw and swiped the second base bag and nailed the runner at first. Art Oller made a good catch in right center in the sixth.
In the bottom of the eighth we broke through with five runs, finally, on a one out hit by Natali, and then consecutive hits by Ed Fieszli, Muegge, Sharpe, Lisi (a two run bloop double), Little, and Miner.
It was all we needed as it turned out, but barely, as we enjoyed a 11-3 lead going into the ninth. The Four finally broke through themselves in the top of the ninth with eight runs, but alas. In the end Oller went from hero to goat - he made an error that set up the tying run at third and the lead run at second, and then finished the game with a great stop on a hot grounder to the hot corner - he willed that ball into his glove and stepped on third for the final out. Contrary to what my esteemed colleague wrote, we had it all the way. Well, at least we had the hammer if it came to it.
A very good game, and when you retire Lee Namanny twice in a game, you know you did something right!
In the bottom of the eighth we broke through with five runs, finally, on a one out hit by Natali, and then consecutive hits by Ed Fieszli, Muegge, Sharpe, Lisi (a two run bloop double), Little, and Miner.
It was all we needed as it turned out, but barely, as we enjoyed a 11-3 lead going into the ninth. The Four finally broke through themselves in the top of the ninth with eight runs, but alas. In the end Oller went from hero to goat - he made an error that set up the tying run at third and the lead run at second, and then finished the game with a great stop on a hot grounder to the hot corner - he willed that ball into his glove and stepped on third for the final out. Contrary to what my esteemed colleague wrote, we had it all the way. Well, at least we had the hammer if it came to it.
A very good game, and when you retire Lee Namanny twice in a game, you know you did something right!
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