Tuesday, February 14, 2017


For Love Of The Game
We had a sweetheart of a game for Valentines Day between the (Gonzalez) Angels and the (Matta) A’s. If you, the reader, will extend me a little mushy latitude, I will explain today’s game using words associated with this lover’s holiday.
The Angels came out of the box in the first inning shooting cupids arrows for hits and scoring 3 runs. The A’s returned the favor and added 3 of their own. You might say Dave Shirer had a crush on the ball, even better, Dave crushed the ball. He delivered a box of chocolates, in the form of a HR, over the left field fence. Matta followed with a towering shot to right center but his heart was broken, when he saw Tim Thiry run it down, making a great catch.
In the 2nd inning the Angels added some forget-me- nots, with a five run inning. Morty, Wise, Elmer, Ship, Vidal and Brock all reached base safely. Vidal’s single almost left the park. We were all so busy watching it sail close to the left field fence, thinking it was a HR, that we were moonstruck to see it fall just short. By that time all Vidal could get from the hit was a single. It still scored a few runs. I was beginning to feel like no one on the field loved me, after Vidal, on defense, backhanded a laser line drive that I hit to short center, in the bottom of the 2nd, to end our rally. AT the end of 2 innings the score was Angels 8-A’s 6.
The next big inning was in the 5th, that is when the Angels delivered another FTD bouquet, special delivery, a 4 run inning. Ship, Brock, Busch, Witmer and Reponen sent the flowers. After 5 innings of play the score was Angels 12- A’s 9.
In the bottom of the 6th the A’s showed their passion for hitting, you might say; “the ball was smitten, as we kept hittin.” We knocked in 5 runs when Coffman, (who was on fire the whole game), Jose, Goose, Stier, Shirer, Matta and Quinones all wrote a love poem to the softball. “How do I love hitting thee. Let me count the ways. I love hitting thee to center, right and left. I love hitting thee with a Miken, Dudley or Addidas.” At the end of the 6th inning the A’s lead for the first time in the game, Angels 12- A’s 14.
In the 7th and 8th inning the Angels had abandon their bats just like a couple abandons each other after a bad blind date. They were shut out, while the A’s added a solo run in the 7th and three runs in the 8th. The three run 8th inning had a little pizzazz; the 3 runs came from 3 triples hit by Stier, Matta and Essenmacher. Shakespeare said; ”Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind.” That’s Ok for love, but for softball you need to follow this advice, Coach Matta said; “see what you hit, hit what you see.” Angels 12- A’s 18.
In the ninth inning the Angels had a mini rally, scoring 2 runs. With the bases loaded and one out, Jeff Stier turned a darling DP, on defense, that ended the game. Roses are red, violets are blue, the A’s won this one, when the game was through. Angels 14-A’s 18.
 
Leading Hitters for the Angels:
Shipley: 4/5.
Vidal: 4/5.
Brock: 5/5 with a triple.
Witmer: 3/4 with a triple.
Reponen: 3/ 4.
Wise: 3/ 4.
 
Leading Hitters For the A’s:
Goose: 3/5.
Stier: 3/ 5 with a triple.
Shirer: 3/4 with two doubles, HR and SF.
Essenmacher: 4/5 with a triple.
Book: 4/5.
Coffman: 4/4 with a double and a triple.
Write up by Nick Matta

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