Missed Birthdays

The weather wasn’t quite as hot today, just 92, but a strong breeze made it quite comfortable, unless you were unlucky enough to be playing in the outfield.  Every fly ball became an adventure, with easy outs becoming home runs and sure hits staying aloft until the ball found a waiting glove. Just an FYI, Ron Thompson found a “dental appliance” on the field, just in case you misplaced one.

With just 36 players we played with 4 teams of 9 each which kept everyone busy between fielding, umpiring, base running, score keeping, and coaching.  Oh yeah, the missed birthdays.  Neither JD Davis or Don Witmer (technically yesterday's child) showed up today so we'll have to celebrate 'in absentia'. By the way, they also missed out on the left over beer from pizza day.

On one field we had the Angels, managed by Freddy Gonzales(Torres, Gonzales, Rivera, Toro, Herbie O., Steve Hill, Wells, Marino and Lee Baker) taking on the fielding team led by Freddy Dampier(Constantine, Dampier, Laffoon, Duff, Jacobs, DeRidder, Giordano, Thompson and Gene Baker).  We’ll call this game the Freddy vs Freddy.  

Freddy’s team came out of the gate fast getting 8 hits in a row over 2 innings to jump to a 9 to 0 lead.  In the 3rd thru 7th innings Freddy’s team came storming back scoring 17 runs while yielding just 2.  

The final score was Freddy’s team 21 to Freddy’s team 13.  Well it looks like everyone is a winner today.  For those not keeping track of the Freddy’s, the fielding team led by Freddy Dampier were the victors.

Top Hitters:

Rivera 5 for 6

Toro 5 for 6

Herbie O. 4 for 6

Constantine 4 for 6, HR

Dampier 3 for 5, BB

Laffoon 4 for 6, 2B

Jacobs 5 for 6, 2 2B

Gene Baker 3 for 6

The other game wasn’t quite as confusing.  The visitors managed by Bob Hite(Reagan, Butler, Gonzalez, Schaepler, Hite, Mohan,  Chrest,  Merritt and Gibson) started slow with just 2 base runners and only 1 hit after 2 innings.  The fielding  team managed by Sammy Lopez(Coffman, King, Lopez, Duff Hill, Ayala, Moots, Bess, Barnes and Stract) didn’t fare much better getting the same 2 base runners and only 1 hit after 3 innings.  It really wasn’t the hitters having the problems, but good defense and pitching from both teams.  

The home team had King, Barnes, Hill and Lopez making both routine and great plays in the field and Sammy Lopez keeping hitters off balance with a good effort on the mound.  While the visitors showed they could play defense too, with Butler, Reagan, Chrest and Merritt all deserving of defensive MVP honors and Mickey Gonzalez pitched a heck of a game that produced all but 5 outs on grounders with three of those fly balls snagged by John Merritt.   But, in the end the visitors were able to string enough hits and runs together to win the game 16 to 7.

Top Hitters:

Lopez 4 for 5, 2-3B, 2B

Reagan 4 for 6

Butler 3 for 6, HR, 2-3B

Gonzalez  5 for 6, 2-HR

Hite 5 for 6, 3B, 2B

Mohan 4 for 6

Chrest 6 for 6, 2B

submitted by Bob Hite