by K	Beat Sweeps Other Guys in Defensive Classic

The city was calm. A typical 3 pm game at Jackson #1 brings gale force winds driving in from left field . . . low scores . . . fly ball death. While the wind may not have been gale force, it certainly made its presence known. And on this beautiful spring day, Jackson Playground seemed to be the only place in the Bay Area with any wind at all.

The situation was exaggerated by a home plate ump who made it clear early in the first inning that the strikezone today would have to be earned. There would be no corners. There would be no deep strikes. The pitchers today would have to put it down the pipe against a strong crosswind and let the hitters hit. Under these conditions, the defense would have to be sharp and focused.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Along with the byline, I was handed the reigns today in the absence of manager Pete Wenner who was saddled with wedding duty. (What is it about Saturdays and weddings? Don't these wedding people understand that Saturday is game day?) Also missing was starting shortstop Mike "Pizza Man" Weiss--another victim of wedding duty.

Pizza was covered by Dave Maxion who came in with a freshly banged up knee, unsure if he would last past the first. Jim "The Thrill" Colletto just flew in from Zurich and boy were his arms tired. John "The Bomber" Palmer made a surprise early return from the IR after injuring his hand just weeks ago. The walking wounded to be sure, but this is a lineup to be reckoned with.

Palmer set the tone early. Though he struggled at the plate including a strikeout on three of the longest foul balls you've ever seen in one at bat, he had a key role in this victory. Early in the first, with runners on, a single was hit to John in left center. John rifled the ball on a rope to shortstop Maxion, and the OGs third base coach wet his pants. He spread the word of the rifle arm in left center and the Other Guys never challenged an extra base all day. That conservative baserunning may have cost them the game.

For the 'Guys' were not without their hits. Following a leadoff line out on a great reaching grab by Mark "MSG" St.Georges at third, the Other Guys proceeded to put up four consecutive hits, yet they scored only two runs. A third single would load the bases, but there they would stay.

The Beat came to bat, down 2-0 in the bottom of the first. With one out, the Beat answered back with four consecutive hits by "Special K" Austin, MSG, D "The Terminator" Moody (2B), and Colletto. The difference came after John's strike out. With two outs, the Beat kicked it in gear again with a single by by Greg "Lucky Luki" Lukoski, and a 2-run double by Gunnar "G-Man" Rosenquist, celebrating his 30th birthday. Dave Maxion followed with a single and the G-Man aimed for the plate. He was gunned down in his tracks by a perfect throw to end the inning, but the Beat now led 5-2.

Following two quick outs in the top of the second, the Other Guys pulled off another 3 hit streak to plate another run. The second sharp comebacker of the inning to yours truly ended the rally leaving the OGs with runners at the corners and a 5-3 deficit.

The Beat struck for 3 more in the 2nd as Brian Arcuri reached on an error at third followed by Mark "M&M" Melin's classic Texas popup and a nice RBI single for BJ Bateman in his second AB. Following a sharp line out to the third baseman, MSG drilled a 2-run triple down the first baseline. Two quick outs ended the threat, but the Beat had logged three more to take an 8-3 lead.

The Other Guys came back to score two more in the top of the third on three hits. It became clear that my pitches, struggling to stay within the strikezone, were no mystery to their hitters. With an 8-5 lead, I opted for the strategy to not let their hitters see the same pitcher 3 times. So I told Denny O'Brien to warm up for the top of the 4th. I was hoping we could buy OB some insurance before then.

Palmer led off the third with a squibbed hit off the tip of his bat that he turned into a double by sheer aggressiveness and speed (how does he do that?). With one out, G-Man singled in his third ribbie of the game moving Palmer from second. G advanced to second on the throw toward the plate. The throw was cut off by the pitcher who then threw the ball into the outfield trying to nail Gunnar's advance. G promptly took third to be sacrificed in by Dave Maxion. This was the second run allowed by OG's errors.

With a 10-5 lead, OB took the mound. He struggled early with the strikezone giving up one walk sandwiched between two singles to load the bases (the Other Guys remained fearful of the Beat's arm strength and continued to run conservatively). This is where the plot thickens. With the bases stoked, no outs, and the meat of the order coming up, would the Other Guys pull off a big rally or would OB hunker down? It was a classic strike out situation, but this isn't baseball, it's softball. Tell that to OB who promptly struck out the Other Guys' #2 hitter for the first out. A single and fielder's choice scored two more runs, but that would be all, for the inning . . . and the game. Meanwhile, the Other Guys had stranded their fourth runner in scoring position in as many innings.

At this point, the entire momentum of the game changed. The long innings of full counts and multiple base runners would give way to fewer pitches and fewer hits. The Beat managed only three more hits scoring a final run on a leadoff double by Donnell in the fifth and an RBI fielder's choice by JP knocking D in. The Other Guys would manage only two more hits and one more walk by OB. But the game was still close enought that a comeback was possible.

With one out and losing 11-7 in the top of the seventh, the Guys #4 hitter drilled a single to left. Two more sluggers were waiting in the wings and this was their second look at OB from the heart of the order. But OB was dealing. The #5 hitter drilled a comebacker to the mound stabbed by OB. OB wheeled to throw to first when 12 players on the field and the bench yelled "SECOND!" OB turned and threw to Arcuri at second. Brian whipped a rifle throw to D at first to nail a runner who was slower than OB's VW bus in a rain storm. Double play. Game over. The Beat wins 11-7.

If there was ever any doubt whether Denny deserved the game ball for his awesome relief performance, it was thrown out on that last pitch. His line over 4 innings of relief: 5 hits, 2 walks, 2 earned runs. A truly awesome performance. But it must be noted that behind myself and OB, this team played a sharp, error-free game on defense. In my opinion, that's what won the ballgame.

On the other side of the ball, the Beat worked well as a team. There were special performances such as the birthday boy (2-3, double, run, 3 RBIs), Donnell (2-3, 2 doubles, 2 runs, RBI), and St.Georges (2-3, triple, run, 2 RBIs); but overall the balance was perfect. Every spot in the order got at least one hit, and 10 of the 11 starters scored a run (remember, there were only 11 runs scored), and 8 players had an RBI.

At 3-1, the team sits alone in second place. First place Mad Dog in the Fog pulled out a 10-7 victory over Mars in the earlier game. Mad Dog and the Beat have yet to meet, and are scheduled for two games, the first of which fell victim to a rain postponement. The second is the last game of the season. We may just see a double header on June 3 to decide the division. Can you think of a better scenario? But don't count out the Cool Dudes yet. The team that reached the City finals last summer may have something to say before this season is over. For the time being, it's still a three horse race.

Yes, it is getting interesting.

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