Well, not recently but in 1972 the Oakland A's won their first World Series with a 3-2 triumph over
the Cincinnati Reds in Game 7. It was the first championship since 1930
for the franchise,when they were the Philadelphia Athletics.
ServiceMaster
Field
Both teams
tried to master the art of hitting, so they could take a "W" home today. The game
action included big hits, squeaky hits, some great fielding and some tin
gloves.
The Visiting
team had the following players: Rivera, Coffman, Hamilton, Jacobs, King, S.
Hill, Hartley, Schappler, Simon, Leverque and Matta.
The Home
team, consisted of Gonzalez, Lafoon, Jacobson, Duff, Giordano, Butler, Grabb,
Oesterreid, Wells, Mohan and Lopiccolo.
The Home
team took an early lead scoring 5 runs right off the bat. Five of
their first six players scored on a plethora of hits. In truth, many of the
hits were short pop flys, that just managed to find the open slot. Hey we all
know that in the scorebook, a hit, is a hit, is a hit and 5 runs is cause for
concern. Credit Gonzalez, Lafoon, Jacobson, Duff, Giordano, Butler, Grabb and Oesterreid for a quick start.
After 1
inning the score stood: Visitors 2 - Home team 5.
We all know. it's not how you start, but how you finish, that can earn you a win. The 1st inning was the
only inning the Home team would win. The Visitors would tie the game in the 3rd
inning and they never fell behind again. The 3rd inning Visitor’s rally started
with a Tommy Hamilton single, followed by consecutive hits off the bats of
Jacobs and King. After the next two batters flew out, Schappler, Simon , and Leverque
grabbed hits and Matta walked. The next batter flew out to end the rally. The Visitors actually loaded the bases twice in
the 3rd inning, but they only managed to score 4 runs, as they stranded
3 runners.
After 3 innings
of play the score stood: Visitors 7- Home 7.
Here is a
riddle for you, what has 18 legs and catches flys? The answer is supposed to be
a baseball team. In this case the answer is Jose Rivera, who runs like he has
18 legs and catches everything. Jose made a great catch, in the outfield, to kill
off a 5th inning rally. Charlie Giordano hit a towering fly ball to
deep LC, Jose ran back at full speed, stuck out his glove and caught the ball
over his shoulder. The play ended the inning and stranded Chuck Duff at 3rd.
The 5th
inning catch seemed to inspire the Visitors, because when they came up to bat in
the top of the 6th, they were ready to rock. In a peculiarity of
softball, the player who made a great defensive play to end the previous inning,
is now leading off the next inning. Rivera singled and Coffman, Jacobs, King,
Hill and Hartley all followed with hits, pushing 5 across the plate.
At the end
of six innings the score was Visitors 13 – Home 10.
While it was
still anyone’s game to win, or lose, the Visiting team did not let up. They
loaded the bases twice in the 8th inning, with hits from Jacobs,
King, Hill, Hartley, Schappler and Simon. Matta came up with the bases loaded
and one out, he hit a sac fly, to center,
to score Hill, giving the Visitors 5 runs.
The Home
team went down 1-2-3 in their half of the 8th.
With
the Visiting
Team now leading by 8 runs, the plan was to try and get a double digit
lead and keep the dangerous Home team at bay in the 9th. Russ King and
Frank Jacobs were on board with the plan, both players hit triples.
Hamilton scored on Jacob's shot and Jacobs walked in, on King's
conquest.
The
Home team came up to bat, down 10. They managed to score two runs,
when Lafoon, Jacobson and Duff all reached base on hits. Then 3 of the
next 4 batters were retired, ending the game.
Visitor Stats:
WP: Matta
Rivera: 3/6
Coffman: 3/6
Hamilton: 2/5
and a walk
Jacobs: 5/6
with a double and two triples
King: 5/6
with a double and a triple
S. Hill:
3/6
Hartley: 3/5
Schappler:
4/5
Simon: 3/5
Leverque:
2/5
Matta: 2/3
with a walk and a Sac
Home Stats:
Gonzalez:
2/5
Lafoon: 3/5
Jacobson:
4/5.
Duff: 4/5
with two doubles and a triple
Giordano: 1/
3 with a walk and a sac
Butler: 4/5
Grabb: 3/5
with a HR
Oesterreid:
1/5
Wells: 1 / 4
Mohan: 1/ 3
and a walk
Lopiccolo:
1/ 4
The mixed league game was played on Gessler Field. The final outcome
saw Marshal Bloom's team beat Rich Moots' team 21-9. Both teams were evenly
matched with Marshall's team being made up of Bess, Merritt, Chrest,
Zelazny, Constantine, Hill, Miller, Bloom, Witter, Baker, and Holder. Moots
countered with Reagan, Fulton, Dampier, Mundy, Marino, Moots, Smith,Hepworth,
Hite,Mills, and G Baker. The difference in the game was some strategically
placed singles by Team Bloom and two big hits by Duff Hill.
The game started off with Bob Reagan getting on and scoring the only
run that inning for the visitors. The home team scored the maximum allowed five
runs as seven batters went to the plate. Neither team managed to score in the
second or third inning as the infielders on both teams played spectacularly.
Unfortunately the third was a repeat of the first inning with Team Moots scoring
one lone run and Team Bloom getting five.
In the fifth and sixth innings, Team Bloom outscored Team Moots 5 -2 in
each inning opening up a substantial lead. It could have been closer but in
those two innings Team Moots stranded five base runners.In the seventh, Team
Moots scored twice, but again stranded two runners. Team M
Bloom went four and out. In the eighth inning Bobby Reagan scored
again for the visitors (his third of the game), but were matched by Team
Bloom.
With the score 20- 8, Rich gave his team a rousing pep talk as he tried to
rally his troops to overcome the deficit. Alas, enthusiasm was not enough
to overcome the defensive plays by Frank Miller and Chris Constantine and they
were only able to score one additional run. Jerry Witter was the winning pitcher
in his inaugural game as he just got into town late the night before.
Key Performances
Bob Reagan 4 for 4
Ray Hepworth 3 for 4
Richard Marino 3 for 4
Fred Dampier 3 for 4
Larry Chrest 5 for 5
Bob Zelazny 4 for 5
Chris Constantine 5 for 5
Duff Hill 5 for 5 with a double and home run
Frank Miller 4 for 5
Jerry Witter 3 for 4 plus winning pitcher
Dennis Holder 3 for 4
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