vs. Bayside Cafe, June 11, 1988

vs. Bayside Cafe, June 4, 1988

vs. The Pride Guys, May 21, 1988

Transactions

The Team to BEAT

Bayside Cafe, June 11, 1988

The BEAT gained a bit of respectibility by finishing the 1988 Spring Season at .500 and by being the only team in D-8 to win their last three games in which they outscored their opponents 54-24. The BEAT came home to Lang Field, the sight of the team's first win back in April, and drubbed a pitiful Bayside Cafe for the second week in a row, winning this one 12-6. The lowly Bayside had to acquire Monster rival and BEAT coach Dennis "The Menace" Harvey just to field a team but still managed two three-run innings over the course of six.

The BEAT's Spring '88 Murderer's Row: John Palmer, Eric Meyer, Jim Harvey, Kevin Austin Bat Order Player Hits Runs RBI XBH BB Avg leadoff Austin 10 12 3 1 8 .455 second Harvey 10 11 6 2 0 .385 third Meyer 10 10 8 2 1 .385 cleanup Palmer 15 17 23 12 0 .652

The BEAT came out of the box roaring with Kevin "Don't Knock the Walk" Austin's lead-off triple against the same pitcher used by Bayside the previous week (giving up 19 in that one). Jimbo "Mighty Mouse" Harvey followed that with a deep fly to right field sacrificing the run in and giving Jimbo his first game winning RBI.

The BEAT jumped out again in the second with "The Intimidator" Hesselgren's lead-off double followed by a Willie Doyle triple and Michael "Bam Bam" Harvey's single for two more runs. They struch hard again in the third picking up four more runs on RBI singles by John Palmer and "Bam Bam" along with Hesselgren's two run triple.

All this time Bayside was being held scoreless, with only two hits, by Dennis O'Brien's formidable knuckleball and a tight BEAT defense topped of by Austin's two inning-ending 6-3 double plays with runners in scoring position.

The momentum changed a bit in the fourth as The BEAT went down 1-2-3, all on infield groundouts. Anna Sandoval, pitching in relief of an ailing O'Brien, was racked for four hits and three runs in the bottom of the fourth on some solid line-drive base hits. The BEAT defense kept it interesting with another great relay from Dan "The Man" Ullmann to Willie Doyle to Big Dave Hamner who blocked out the plate as the runner came barreling in looking for another run but becoming just another out.

But The BEAT is on a tear and they matched Bayside's at bat with singles by Jimbo and E. Gwangwa Meyer and a two run double by "The Bomber" Palmer who scored on the same play when Denny Harvey left the bag at third. The pitcher cut off the throw from the outfield and tried to gun down Palmer at third by throwing to an uncooperative third base coach.

Bayside tagged Anna for three more runs in the bottom of the fifth with five hits, including four consecutive singles, but is was too little, too late. The BEAT struck for two more in the sixth as Gary "Offline" Rothlein and Ullmann scored on back-to-back RBI singles by Sandoval and Austin.

The BEAT defense ended this one the way it started, by seeing only four batters in the bottom of the sixth inning and holding Bayside scoreless.

Five Homers Lead Hot Offense

Bayside Cafe, June 4, 1988

The BEAT continued to scorch its opponents again this week, pounding the Bayside Cafe into submission 19-8. For the second week in a row, the game was called after 4 and a half innings due to relentless BEAT rallies. In their four innings, The BEAT scored five, four, five and five runs respectively from all ends of the order in their romp in the first of two consecutive meetings with Bayside.

Home runs were the order of the day, with John "The Bomber" Palmer and Tim "The Intimidator" Hesselgren belting two each and Jim Harvey contributing with his second two run shot of the season in the first inning. The five home runs last Saturday fell one shy of the total BEAT home run production of the season. But offensive production was not limited to home runs. Kevin Austin walked four times in four appearances, scoring all four times. Gary Rothlein went 2 for 2, Tim Hesselgren had two doubles to complement his two homers in four trips. John Palmer went 3 for 4, Eric Meyer went 2 for 3, knocking in three runs (including the game winner), and Harvey singled in a run to give him three RBI's on the day.

If any one moment reflects The BEAT's emergence as an offensive threat, it came not in any at bat or run scored, but in the moment after the top of the first in the Bayside game. Bayside had just scored four runs to start the game, and The BEAT came off the field showing nothing but a pumped and determined "our turn" look. The whole team exhibited a new confidence, an assurance about their ability to score runs. And as sure as The BEAT felt, they promptly scored five runs and took the lead, never to fall behind again. And if confidence is the key to hitting, The BEAT shall look forward to more and more offensive explosives.

BEAT Humbles Pride Guys

The Pride Guys, May 21, 1988

The BEAT surprised the Pride Guys with an offensive show, chalking up their second victory in six games. Again displaying what seems to be a club pattern, The BEAT scored quickly and often. Having scored six in the first versus High 'N' Dry and five in the first versus the Van Ness Monsters, The BEAT surpassed their own early outbursts with 11 runs in the first inning against the Pride Guys. The first nine batters scored, driven in by Willie Doyle, John Palmer, Eric Meyer, Gary Rothlein and Roy Nelson. Both Willie Doyle and Jim Harvey scored twice in the inning.

Unlike previous weeks, The BEAT's defense held off their opponents and kept scoring. Although the Pride Guys scored in each inning, the closest the score got was 17-9 after 3 and a half innings. Then The BEAT put the game away with six runs in their half of the fourth, thereby giving the Pride Guys their last at bats in which the humble-pied guys scored only one run for a 23-10 final. Offensive standouts include Gary Rothlein (2-4, walk, 4 runs), John Palmer (3-4, triple, 3 RBIs, 3 runs), Michael Harvey (3-4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs), and Dennis O'Brien (2-4, 2 RBIs).

The BEAT also came up big on defense in threatening situations. Michael Harvey ended a Pride Guys rally with an unassisted double play to hold the score at 17-9. Another Pride Guys rally was quelled in the top of the third when an Ullmann to Doyle to Nelson relay nailed an overconfident Guy at the plate. Both plays ended their respective innings and kept the Pride Guys at a safe distance.

Transactions

The BEAT is pleased to report the signings of two new ballplayers. At the urging of 2nd Baseman Willie Doyle (obviously bucking for a finder's fee), The BEAT acquired the rights to Peter Wenner and Mark St.Georges from the infamous "Ad League". Peter is sure to add some much needed lefthanded punch and Mark has all the tools for becoming a major contributor with his sharp bat and versatility in the infield. Both are recent transplants from the East Coast and are anxious to make their mark on The BEAT.

In the biggest surprise of the season, Dave "The Rifleman" Hamner filed for free agency and was picked up by our arch rivals, the Van Ness Monsters. Dave struggled at the plate this spring, sporting a .235 batting average but shined as one of the best defensive catchers in the league with numerous runners tagged out at the plate.

Mark Chan was reported missing in action after the third game of the season. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Chan is requested to inform the coaching staff so that they can initiate the court-martial procedures.

View The BEAT's 1988 Batting Statistics

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