vs. Beyond Control, April 6, 1991

vs. Yet Wah Diamond Heights, April 13, 1991

vs. The Swiss Hitters, April 20, 1991

Game One

Beyond Control, April 6, 1991

The Beat opened the 1991 season in beautiful McCoppin Field against a very familiar opponent. Beyond Control and The Beat had split their four previous meetings and most had been low-scoring, high-drama affairs. Not so today as The Beat grabbed a quick 3 run lead in the top of the 1st and never looked back. The top of the third showed how deadly this lineup can be, as The Beat sent 13 men to the plate and scored 9 times, putting the game out of reach. Eric Meyer, Dan Carroll and Frank Green had three hits each; with Meyer and Carroll also driving in three apiece. Doug Butler made his Beat debut an impressive one, going 2 for 4, with 2 RBIs and two runs scored.

However, the real story in this game was pitching and defense. Dennis (O.B.) O'Brien spun a web against Beyond Control, allowing only four hits, one after the second inning. O.B. blanked Beyond Control for 5 2/3 innings, but lost his bid for a shut-out when sometimes outfielder Jim Harvey misplayed a third out line drive in left, scoring the runner from second. Harvey, however, made up for his miscue with a dazzling over the shoulder catch in the left field corner in the bottom of the seventh. Final score: The Beat 15, Beyond Control 1!

Game Two

Yet Wah Diamond Heights, April 13, 1991

Still smarting from two losses dating back to Spring of 1990, Yet Wah Diamond Heights earned a measure of revenge playing eight Beat errors into nine unearned runs crushing The Beat, 15-4.

Yet Wah scored three in the first, six in the second and led 10-3 after three innings. The Beat managed 12 hits off Yet Wah starter, Lee King, but couldn't string them together to get back in the game.

The Beat had defeated Yet Wah twice during the 1990 season and it was apparent that Yet Wah had spent the off-season improving their ball club, emphasizing fundamentals. Yet Wah took advantage of both fielding and mental errors that made this day at Rossi Field one of the longest in Beat history.

Anne Spoon summarized the game melodically with the refrain, "Stink, Stank, Stunk!"

Game Three

The Swiss Hitters, April 20, 1991

Riding on superb three hit pitching, The Beat cruised to an easy 10-1 victory over the Swiss Hitters at Rolph Park. Dennis O'Brien and Mike Laffey combined to hold the opposition to one run on three hits and the offense scored in bunches to improve their D-9 record to 2-1, a game and a half behind front running Yet Wah and Vincent Chinn.

The Beat scored early with singles by Doug Butler, Eric Meyer and Dan Carroll. Frank Green added a sacrifice fly and Peter Wenner beat an infield RBI single to put The Beat up 3-0 after their first two at-bats.

The Swiss Hitters (aka Squib Hitters) countered with one in the bottom of the second, on a two-base error by Meyer and a single to right. That, however, would be all they would get.

The Beat put it away in the fifth with a five run rally. Scott McKee doubled to lead off the inning, scoring two batters later, with a John Palmer single to right. Butler then deposited the next pitch high and deep over the left field fence for his first home run of the season and the first four-bagger for the team. A retaining screen behind the fence saved the ball from doing damage on a Highway 101 on-ramp.

The Beat added three in the sixth, with a double by Wenner (2-3 with an RBI), an RBI double by McKee (who was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple), a seeing eye double down the third base line by Mark St.Georges, a double to right by Palmer and an RBI single by Butler (4-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs).

View The BEAT's 1991 Batting Statistics

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