by O.B.

BEAT COMBACK! by Dennis O'Brien (transcribed from bar notes)

In the most emotional comback since the 1991 playoffs, The BEAT defeated The Consumers, 16-13, to take a firm grip on first place in San Francisco DD-11.

Facing a six run deficit against the team most likely to challenge for the championship, The BEAT scored five runs in the sixth and six in a perhaps-gift seventh, to survive a series of scares, strange plays, and turmoil.

The team took an early lead in the top of the first with Ricketts and St.Georges scoring on hits by Palmer and Green. But The Consumers shut the machine down, allowing only one run for the next nine outs while scoring six themselves.

The game at a glance from the pen of O.B.

But The BEAT offense began to wake from its slumber. Mark St.Georges hussled home from first on a long single by Young in the third. In the fourth, Moody and Wenner scored on singles by Laffey and Lukoski. But Luki was thrown out at third on a shot by Ricketts, and Laffey's tying run didn't count. It was a dire omen.

Although the team had contained The Consumers, O.B. had been knocked silly by a play off the mound, landing awkwardly on his back. "I feel kinda funny" was all he could say as teammates helped him off the field. Wilfred Spoon took over in the fourth, off a good outing the week before, but The Consumers pounded him for five runs.

The slime bellies made a karmic mistake when O.B. was called back, having mostly recovered while both offenses thrashed it out. Coach Leo Sayer yelled "Knock the pitcher out!" They would not score again until the issue was decided as The BEAT retired six of the next seven to stay in the game.

In the top of the fifth, consecutive hits by Young, Palmer, Green, and Moody made it 11-8. Laffey, Luki, and Austin added to the hit parade with Kevin drilling in the 10th run. But the rally fell short at 11-10, with time running out.

"Five minutes!" called the umpires as The BEAT took the field. And although The Consumers managed two hits, they did not score. The umps looked at their watches, consulted the gods of baseball, and decided to give The BEAT one last chance.

Ricketts led off with a single down the line, and St.Georges followed with a triple. That quick, the game was tied at 11. In the ultimate sacrifice, Chris Young followed with a deep fly ball scoring the lead run. The heart of the order then added insurance as Palmer, Moody, Wenner, Laffey, Luki, Austin, and O.B. strung together eight hits, with Laffey launching a poodle over the fence that sealed the deal. The BEAT led 16-11.

The Consumers mounted another rally in their half of the inning, but the momentum had turned. Two runs scored, but The BEAT was not to be denied. Appropriately, Leo Sayer made the last out, a fly to J.P. at rover, and the celebration began.

View The BEAT's 1995 Batting Statistics

On The BEAT News Archive