April Fools Day

Some folks must have thought my announcement of an early start time was an April Fool's joke, so we had more than a few stragglers show up late. The good news was that they indeed showed up and we were able to field  six very competitive teams.

 

Gessler Clinic Field

The American contingent played on Gessler field. The visitors (Rivera, Gazarak, Wiltshire, Wolfe, Hamilton, Davis, Pepin, Constantine, Dampier, Andrews, Lopez, and Droulliard) were managed by Tommy Hamilton.. Donnie Witmer managed the home team of Gonzalez, Busch, Witmer, DeRidder, Carpenter, Jacobs, Smith, Zelazny, Hill, Hartley, wells, and Borrelli. The visitors started strong by scoring ten runs in the first three innings. They accomplished this by precision hitting as they hit fifteen singles during that period. They had an eight run lead before the home team scored their first run and it looked like it was going to be a long day for team Witmer. But in the bottom of the third, Team Witmer put together a couple good hits including a home run by John Carpenter to close the gap and make it a one run game.

 

Unfortunately for team Hamilton their bats went cold and they were shut out over the next four frames .Meanwhile, Team Witmer put up thirteen unanswered runs to build a substantial lead. Key hits were John Carpenter's second home run and Bob Zelazny's second double  with every batter in the line up getting at least one hit. The eighth started strong for team Hamilton as the first two batters reached base and scored. Unfortunately the inning ended too soon as they stranded three. With Team Witmer unable to score it was Team Hamilton turn to score some runs and get back in the game. Unfortunately for them they were four and out so Team Witmer did not have to bat to preserve the 22 to 12 victory.

 

Key Performances

 

Mike Wiltshire    3 for 4

Fred Dampier      4 for 4

 

Freddie Gonzalez    4 for 5

John Carpenter        3 for 5 with two home runs

Terry Smith             3 for 4

Bob Zelazny             3 for 4 with two doubles

Steve Hill                 4 for 4

Dave Hartley            3 for 4

Josh Wells                winning pitcher

..

 Gold's Gym Field

This turned out to be a great and close game but it did not start that way.  The visitors, managed by Taylor, scored 5 runs in the first inning on doubles by Marino and Torres.  The home team, managed by Simon, responded with only one run.  The visitors scored twice in the second and two more in the third frame to take a 9 to 1 lead.  The home team scored 4 runs in the bottom of the third on a D'Herin double to tighten the score to only a4 run deficit.  In the top of the fifth inning the visitors scored five times and featured a grand slam by Torres.  The home team managed only one run in the bottom of the fourth.  

 

After four innings of play the visitors held an eight run lead.  The lead did not last long.  After the visiting team went three and out in the fifth inning, the home team bats finally caught fire.  They scored eight runs to tie the contest at 14 apiece featuring power doubles by Hite and D'Herin.  The visitors responded with four runs of their own in the top of the sixth to regain the lead.  In the bottom of the inning Simon,s team scored three  times and only trailed by one run.This was shaping up to be a real tifght contest.  Both teams scored twice in the seventh inning and the Taylor's visiting squad continued to hold onto a slim one run advantage.  

 

Both teams played excellent defense in the eighth inning and neither team scored.  Taylor's visiting squad went down in order in the top of the ninth and with  the home boys trailing by a single run it was do or die in the bottom of the ninth.  The leadoff hitter, Miguel Gonzalez, smashed a home run to tie the contest.  The next batter, Poke reached first base and represented the winning run.  The next hitter, Duff Hill, smashed a gapper and Poke scored the game ending final run.  

 

The final score was 21-20 and Simon's home team won a squeaker.  Miguel Gonzalez was the winning pitcher. 

 

Leading hitters for Taylor's visitors were Schaeffer 4-5, Torres 3-5, Butler 3-5, and Hanbaker 4-4.  

 

The leading hitters for Simon's home team inc.  Herbie O  4-5, Simon 4-5, D-Herin 4-5, Bess 3-5 , Poke 3-5, D. Hill 3-5  

 

It should be mentioned that the lineup for the visitors was Schaeffer, Burns, Torres, Marino, Butler, McLellan, Pinneck, Zaklowski, Mohan, Ota, Taylor, and Hanbaker.  The home team inc. Herbie O, Simon, Reagan, Coffman, Schapler, D'Herin, Hite, M. Gonzalez, Bess, Poke, D. Hill, Witter.

 

 

Servicemaster Field

A great day for a ball game.  Let's play two, oh, Ok we'll play 9 today.  The visitors traveling from the north liked the conditions with blue skies and the temp somewhere in the low 70's.  

 

Barnes managing the visitors consisting of Michigan or former Michigan players Michalski, Ducham, Miller, Thompson, Miller, Morey, and LaMay with a lot of help from Fulton, Marinacci, Merritt, Barnes, Gene Baker and Mills.  

 

The home POWER team managed by Moots had Stepp a M. man, Black, Fabian, Kline, Altemose, Moots, Bloom, McPartlin, Bowley, Gibson, Lee Baker and Walt Leggett. 

 

Visitors manage a hit from Michalski in the first.  Stepp, Black, Fabian, Kline, and Altemose all single for the home team.  After a fielders choice and an infield out, home team has 4.  Visitors out 123 in the second inning.  Homers lead off with Gibson who has his first of 3 hits.  Leggett and Stepp follow suit.  Then an infield out followed by singles from Fabian, Kline and Altemose bats in the 5th run of the inning.  

 

Here come the V guys, Barnes, LaMay and Gene Baker all single, and Mills ground ball brings in the second run of the game for the Vees.  Home team scoreless.  After 3 it Home 9 - Visitors 2.  Visitors warm up scoreing 2 in the forth and 3 in the fifth inning.  Home team got one in the 5th. Home team adds 3 in the 6th on singles by Bloom, Gibson, Stepp and Black.  Visitors score a single run in the 6th and 7th inning.  

 

After the V's got 3 in the 8th on singles by Fulton and Miller, Hector Marinacci triples and Morey.  At the end of 8 the score is Home team 16 Visitors 12.  9th inning LaMay lead off with a single, then two infield outs later 5 straight singles from Michalski, Ducham, Fulton, Miller and Marinacci, and a walk to Thompson, Merritts singles in the 5th run of the inning.  Visitors are now up by a run.  Kline singles to lead off the last of the 9th, after two outs Bloom reaches on a double to right field.  Runner now on 2nd and 3rd with two out.  Jim McPartlin at bat and he lines a hit to left center scoring both runners for the win.  

 

Final score Home team 18 Visitors 17. 

 

Hitters

Michalski  3 for 5

Ducham 3 for 5

Miller 4 for 5

Marinacci 4 for 5

LaMay 3 for 4

Black 4 for 5

Kline 4 for 5

Altemose 3 for 5

McPartlin Game winner hit

Gibson 3 for 4

 

Submitted by Don LaMay