In a season opener once removed, the Beat came out on top of a hard fought 11-8 battle over Flor de Cana on a chilly Saturday morning on Jackson #1. Last week's true season opener was forfeited by the Onsters who didn't realize the season had started already. So with a victory but no game under their belt, the boys in gray were tasked with chasing their opening day butterflies against their nemesis and last summer's city champs Flor de Cana de la Libertad who held an ominous 7-1-1 record against the underdog Beat. To add insult to injury, the Beat was without last year's MVP Mondo Lopez and starting shortstop Derek Rey (on DL for the season), last year's rookie phenom Tim Smith, and two key infield acquisitions Brett Goldstein and Mike Moriarty. To shore up the sagging infield, Pete dropped a line to ex-Baller Rob Riggs (2-2, BB) to shut down the hot corner at third. When the dust settled, the Beat walked away with a league leading 2-0 while the reigning champs start the season off at 0-2.

The Beat, opening the season on a 5-game roadie (if you count last week), led off the first with two quick, weak infield outs. Mark St.Georges (0-4, run) reached on an infield error to keep the inning alive for Jacque Wilson (2-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI, HR) who launched some 2-out lightning through the left-center gap for a two run rounder. Flor answered back with a couple two out hits of their own to shrink the Beat lead to 2-1.

Brian Greenblatt (2-3, 2 runs, 3 RBI, HR) and Riggs reached on a hit and a walk in the top of the second then Gunnar (1-3, RBI) came through with a clutch 2-out hit to right scoring Lightning. Rob attempted to go first to third but got nailed on the throw to end the inning. The Beat's 3-1 lead was short lived as Flor started the second with two singles and an error at second. With one down, leadoff hitter Carlos drove a ball to Lightning in left center. Brian lost his footing, dropped to the deck then recovered to get his glove on the ball only to have it shoot through for a 2-run error and a 4-3 Flor lead. The battery stopped the bleeding as G-Man behind the plate turned in the play of the day with a diving grab of a short pop in front of the plate and Special K snared a comebacker to end the inning.

The Beat found their mojo in the third when Pete (1-3, run) singled and Jacq Wilson (0-4, 2 runs) reached on an infield error advancing the runners to second and third. Kev (2-4, 2 RBI) drove the first pitch he saw into right scoring both and putting the Beat on top for good with a 5-4 lead. After two quick outs and Q on first, Jim Colletto (1-4, run) and D Moody (2-4, 2 runs, RBI) singled upping the score to 6-4. Greenblatt stepped up with redemption in his eyes for his second inning slip and launched a ball deep over right center and to the fence. Jim and D scored easily as Lightning bolted around the bases. The ball was waiting for him when he got to the plate but the catcher missed the tag and BG walked off with a clutch 3-run dinger putting the Beat up 9-4.

Heading into the fourth the Beat had a chance to put the nail in the coffin but instead went down in order without a ball leaving the infield. Flor managed two singles in the bottom of the fourth but K fed #2 hitter Segueira three straight knucklers and struck him out swinging to end the inning.

The Beat led off the fifth with two quick outs again. Q reached on an error at third but Big Jim committed the most cardinal of sins, striking out looking to end the fifth to become the Beat's first Beer Beatch of the spring. Flor fought their way back scoring two runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth to close the score to 9-6.

The Beat chipped back in the sixth with singles by D and Rob. With two out yet again, Gunnar chopped a grounder off the pitcher putting the Beat up 10-6. Flor fought back with two more runs on a couple singles and an infield error to cut the margin to 10-8. The Beat answered back again when Jacq led off with an infield error and K and Q singled him in.

So here we are...bottom of the 7th. Beat up by a mere three runs against the reigning city champs, a traditional late inning power team; a team the boys have only beaten once in four years. Special K reached deep into his bag of tricks mixing double backspins with knucklers; Flor suckered on the knucklers for a quick outfield pop and a sharp grounder to third that Rob snagged and rifled to D for the out. With two down, second baseman Fito singled then loudly challenged his team to step up. Lopez grounded back to the mound and K turned his third inning-ending assist of the game to put this one in the books.

The Beat put on a clutch hitting clinic scoring 8 of their 11 runs with two out while leaving only 6 on base and only one in scoring position. Special K, coming in with a career 12.74 era against Flor, threw everything including the kitchen sink allowing only three earned runs while leading the defense with 5 assists and a strikeout.

Brian Greenblatt took home the game ball for pacing the offense with a 2 for 3, two run performance and coming up big with the 2-out, 3-run jack in the third that became the difference in the game.

So just when we thought game three would be a breather, here comes the new Old Clamhouse. Last summer's doormats opened the season with a huge upset victory over Monte Carlo and led Ronin all day on Saturday until some last inning heroics gave Ronin a come from behind one run victory. Clearly this Clamhouse is no team to be taken lightly. Luckily the Beat will be back to full force next Saturday at 12:30pm on the launching pad that is Jackson 2. 

Onsters Forfeit Season Opener

Doesn't that bite?!? And they weren't just shorthanded, they didn't even know there was a game. That is unacceptable at this level of play...flat out bush league.

If I may quote Rogers Hornsby: "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Well spring is here and after five long months of waiting, the Beat will have to wait one more week to lace 'em up for a game that counts. 

This is the Beat's 11th win by forfeit, but never in 20 years has this happened to open a season before. And for the record, the Beat has played 326 league games (368 counting tournaments and playoffs) and have never forfeited a single game.

In other games...yes, there were other games...Ronin pulled off an opening day upset of Flor de Cana beating the incumbent City Champs 13-7.

On The BEAT News Archive