West Coast Fantasy Baseball Association
2006 BASEBALL LEAGUE
FROM THE STANDS
Valley Christian High School
June 4, 2006
by Jim Realini
WCFBA League play traveled to the hilltop environs of the Mighty Valley Christian Warriors in South San Jose. After a long climb up the hill from the “seniors” parking lot, our inaugural double-header on a first-ever artificial surface began. We all hope we can return for many more to this beautiful baseball stadium.
Oakland A's (Mello) 12 San Francisco Giants (Bennett-Lee) 7
The morning game saw Mark Fitzpatrick tame the Giants before reliever Gary Hooper staved off the Giants in this seven-inning tussle. Bobby Hartkop submarined through four and two-thirds innings in front of a leaky Giant defense hitting three batters before giving way to a hard throwing mop-up job by the veteran Carl Vargas.
Steve Dennis pounded a single and triple that turned into a little league homer by some Giant missed throws. Pat Macias and Gordie Yost each crashed two singles while David Vigil, Kevin Zimmerman, and David Gamson each added bingles to top off the many on base opportunities the San Francisco Giants provided.
Terry Lee, thanks to his chauffeur, smacked two loud singles with Carl Vargas and Heath Keller each stroking a double and single each. Mike Shaffer and the ageless Doug Penney whipped a bingle apiece. Bobby Hartkop hit a single and his courtesy runner, Rick Venegas got credit for a rare stolen base.
Yomiuri Giants (Miller-Schmuck) 12 Kansas City A's (Luis) 7
The Yomiuri Giants powered by team spirit bested the Philadelphia A’s who had the best-looking fans. Both teams staggered through a strange squibbling, dribbling, nibbler-nubber of a second inning that saw the Giants scratch out several runs, batting around with only one ball hit out of the infield. The Giants returned some of the favor learning that an infield fly ain’t an infield fly unless the umpire calls it!
Rob Weber pitch four innings getting 17 outs and discovering that on this day it was not a good idea to throw strikes, sometimes. Lorne Johnson came in and settled down the A’s with a flawless inning. It helps when your defense catches the ball! Mark Gemello, the crafty veteran finished with four solid innings. Sil Krevocheza pitched a lot better than the defensive support backing him for six innings and David Gayner finished up almost getting a win.
Ruben Donig, Lorne Johnson, and Matt Schmuck led the Yomiuri hit parade with two singles each, while Adam Schneider, John Haines, Mark Gemello, Mike Miller, and Ray Miailovich each scratched singles. The A’s had FIVE multi-hit players with Dave Gayner and Mike Hilton leading with a double and single each. Don Luis, Mike Mello, and Erik Hoffman each added a pair of singles. Craig Alexander, Mark Rowell, Chris Dorn, and Bruce Gilliat each scored base hits.
Next games are at WILCOX HIGH SCHOOL in SANTA CLARA.
Reminder to all regular players, do not forget to tell your coach by Thursday morning, before NOON if you are going to play or you will lose your spot on the team for the weekend to a pool player.