The Crows started the season alarmingly with three hits in eight at bats with the only highlight being newcomer Al Banisch's solo home run in the second inning with two outs.
In the first inning, Dan May, being the gentleman he is, volunteered to play SS for shorthanded Danville Gold and made a play to end the inning. Well, I had to put an end to that. Pronto. I refuse to lose our opener to ourselves. I forced the issue - Gold had to put an outfielder in right field and we would only supply a catcher, as it should be. Returning former Crow Ed Cook generously said he would play for the other team so he played first base the rest of the game.
In the mean time, our own good defense limited Gold to four runs over two innings. In the second, they loaded the bases with no outs, but we held them to two runs. Could have been worse.
In the third, the bottom of our order came to the rescue. Consecutive singles by Tom Wagenseller, Lew Altman, Bob Fulgham (also his first Crow AB), Don Devencenzi, and Jeff Kravin brought in three runs to tie it and set up leadoff hitter Clay LeChe who hit a double that provided the last two runs of the inning and the ultimate game winner.
Charlie Pastor came in and shut Gold down in his three innings, literally shut them out. Starter and closer Tom Gonzales pitched well too, and the two may just be the best pitching duo in the league.
In the fourth the top of the lineup made sure they weren't left behind. Pastor's single and Joe Silva's double set up a two run hit by Bob Gatehouse and eventually May and Wagenseller drove in runs to give us our second five spot. Next inning more of the same, the bottom set up the top but we did leave the fifth run on second.
It was getting out of hand at 15-4, but Gonzales provided the proverbial icing on the cake. Singles by Dave Balfour and Banisch and a walk to May set up Gonzales with a bases loaded no out situation. He slashed a line drive to left that managed to elude the left fielder's glove and it was off to the races, ultimately ending in a grand slam to finish our scoring.
Gold wanted to flip flop and despite a two run home run, they went out meekly after that and the final score was 19-6.
Pastor and Fulgham were 3-3, May and Kravin were 2-2, and LeChe, Silva, Gatehouse, Banisch, Gonzales, Wagenseller, and Devencenzi were all 2-3. Gatehouse tied Gonzales for the team leading four RBIs.
There were several good plays but the highlight was a pop up on the infield that 2B May chased down and lunged for to catch and easily doubled off the runner at first, who rightly (but not smartly) assumed no way would Dan get to it. Ah ye of little faith.
Good start against an overmatched opponent. Don't tell anyone, but the brilliant schedulers in this league accidentally gave us an extra game against Danville Gold and one fewer against the Hornets. Oh well.
