West Coast Fantasy Baseball Association
2006 BASEBALL LEAGUE
FROM THE STANDS
Archbishop Riordan High School
May 21, 2006
by Jim Realini
WCFBA League play closed out another great season series at Archbishop Riordan High School pretty much the way we started . . . the third game was postponed due to rain. Coach Ron Isola, our gracious host, again worked hard to accommodate our play by whipping the infield into playing shape. He stocked plenty of re-runs of “Love-Boat” in case we wanted to wait out the rain. Those of you grateful for the support from Riordan can drop a thank you note or donate to the school athletic fund to show your appreciation.
San Francisco Giants (Bennett-Lee) 1 Philadelphia A’s (Luis) 0
In one of the best ever games in the history of WCFBA dating back to 1991, The San Francisco Giants bested the Philadelphia A’s on the strength of Bobby Hartkop’s Home Run to deep right center, the only score of the game. Carl Vargas and Bobby combined for the nine-inning shutout over the equally stingy pitching of Sil Krevocheza and David Gayner of the A’s. All round fielding was the key to the game as both teams stifled rally attempts with heads up catches and fundamental play, in other words hitting the cutoff man.
Bobby cracked a double before smacking the homer while Dr. Guy Peabody, who almost missed the game thinking that the weather in Santa Cruz was the same as San Francisco, smacked a double. Carl Vargas chipped in a single to round out the Giant hitting. The A’s could only muster singles by Erik Hoffman, Eddie Contreras, and Craig Alexander who also crunched a double.
St. Louis Giants (Weishaar-Hughey) 6 Fresno Giants (Terra-Realini) 5
The St Louis Giants escaped with a narrow 6-5 win over the charging Fresno Giants who look like their getting their act together in spite of a Oh-fer start to the season. The rain gods intervened (or maybe followed Chilly from GG Park?) to halt the game after the top of the eighth. Mark Bruzzone pitched five shaky innings saved by some terrific fielding and Jim Realini’s first inning rally killing blunder getting thrown out by thirty feet at home on a great relay to catcher Doug Rusch. Frank Weishaar pitched one inning igniting a Fresno rally that was snuffed by the rain.
Michael Simon pitched five gutty innings, having to get 19 outs due to some errors behind him. Joe Gagliardo took over and was pitching for a win when the rains came. St. Louis bashed 11 hits off the Fresno guys with Heath Keller’s two doubles and a single leading the way. Doug Meyer and Dr. Guy Peabody both spanked two singles each while Mike Hughey, Steve Bennett, Doug Rusch, and Bill Pederson each clouted a single. Rolly Hofstedt, Joe Gagliardo, and Michael Simon scorched two hits each while Dave Decruz slammed a double. Angie Simon, Greg Terra, Lynn Harkrider, and Mark Travis sliced gritty singles for the Fresno Team.
The Fresno Giants were glad to get out of the game and go to the warm dry confines of Billy Wineberg’s sports lounge just up the street after the game and wash the oh-fer start out of their system. These guys are ready to go on a south bay tear!
Next games are at VALLEY CHRISTIAN in SAN JOSE.
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.