West Coast Fantasy Baseball Association

2006 BASEBALL LEAGUE

FROM THE STANDS
San Leandro Ballpark

July 23, 2006

by Jim Realini

             WHEW!!  We all know the “Beer Game” in LODI is a hot game day, but this last Sunday was three “Beer Games” WITHOUT the Beer.  You must love the game to have endured the triple digit temperatures in San Leandro.  Many kudos and awestruck unbelievable thanks to the umpires and the two Giant knuckleheads who played all three (and lived!!)

GAME #1

St. Louis Giants (Weishaar-Hughey) 7    Yomiuri Giants (Miller-Schmuck) 5

           

            The morning tussle started with a pitching duel between Heath Keller and John Haines.  John baffled the St. Looie boys with an array of Noah Lowry-like slo-speed stuff while Heath messed with the Yomiuri Giants (particularly Mike Miller) using hi-speed stuff.  Mark Gemello relieved John after he suffered Heath’s fate in the fifth when he was betrayed by the leather gloves around him as the St Louis batters started whacking the ball.  After six innings, the score was tied until coach Mike Hughey (one of the Giant 3-game knuckleheads) ripped a double for one of his five hits on the day.  Mark Bruzzone got the win in relief of Keller after he found out that hot weather does not automatically warm you up.

            Mark Gemello led Yomiuri with three solid singles while Matt Schmuck slapped two of his own to go with Doug Rusch’s two loud bingles.  Don Dewitt, Ruben Doing, and John Haines each stroked a single, too.  This marked the last game for Adam Schneider who is moving to N’york and we will miss him.  Lorne Johnson was found missing after getting picked off first by the other Giant 3-game knucklehead, Jim Realini.

            Doug Meyer led the St Louis team with two booming doubles; one almost cleared the right field wall.  Heath Keller, Mark Bruzzone, Frank Weishaar, and Moochy each powered two hits apiece while Keith DaCosta, Dave Decruz, Steve Bennett, and Jim Realini smacked singles.

 

GAME #2

 

Philadelphia A’s (Luis) 5    Fresno Giants (Terra-Realini) 3

 

            The nooner was the most heated affair of the day highlighted by Joe Gagliardo’s excellent retirement from the game after claiming the home plate umpire was missing an eye… truth is I don’t know how anybody could see through the heat and sweat in this game.  Joe started on the mound for the Giants and survived several heat-induced errors yielding to Dave Chilcote in his MSBL refugee uniform in a wild 6th inning for the A’s.  Sil Krevocheza threw six shut out innings in front of a solid Philly defense and Mike Byron saved the final three innings.

            Mike Byron’s four base hits and Eddie Conteras two loud doubles and a sharp single led the A’s on the day, but it was Ken Calloway’s base clearing, monster triple that won the game for Philly.  Dave Gayner made two singles; Ed Glover ripped a double with Mark Rowell and Erik Hoffman chipping in singletons each to round out the A’s attack.

            Jim Realini and Mike Hughey (those knuckleheads again!) led the Giants with two bingles each.  Don Hahn, Dave Decruz, Angie Simon, Keith DaCosta, and JC Penney slammed singles to round out the Giant effort.

 

GAME #3

 

Oakland A’s (Mello) 13    San Francisco Giants (Bennett-Lee) 11

 

            Oakland outlasted the San Francisco Giants in a thrilling three-hour test of endurance and survival.  Michael Simon very nearly melted in his umpire togs while John Haines was unable to avoid a scorching line drive off Bobby Hartkop’s bat and took a big hit on his throwing arm.  We sincerely hope they recover in time for their next games.  Mark Fitzpatrick started for the A’s giving way to we can’t remember it was so hot.  Bobby Hartkop began for San Francisco and wilted early letting Sugar Ray Miailovich come on with a truly inspiring performance as he rallied the Giants from an 11-3 deficit.

            The A’s were solar-powered on the day by Kevin Zimmerman’s two doubles, while Steve Dennis and Mike Mello each blistered a double.  The loudest double of the day belonged to Mark Fitzpatrick who broke open the game with a monster shot to deep left center that even the fleet Steve Bennett couldn’t track down.  Pat Macias, Gordie Yost, Eddie Conteras, and Gary Hopper also banged singles to drive the A’s attack.

            Steve Bennett’s four base hits (unfortunately erased by Jim Realini’s four fielder’s choices) and flat-out diving catch led the San Francisco Giants.  George Parsons ripped a big double and a single, as did John Haines before being struck out by Hartkop’s liner.  Terry Lee, Bobby Hartkop, and Sugar Ray Miailovich stroked two hits each to stoke the Giant rally hopes.  Don Dewitt and Mike Hughey each cracked a single to round off the day for San Francisco.

 

 

Next games are at Washington Park in Burlingame.

 

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

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