by K	'97 SPRING WRAP HOT BATS BEAT COOL DUDES!

There's something to be said for familiarity. In two meetings in 1996, Cool Dudes pitcher Jorving Munoz held The BEAT to four runs and three runs for a pair of BEAT losses (and let's not forget two runs on only six hits when Munoz filled in for the shorthanded Tornados for another BEAT loss). In the first meeting of 1997, The BEAT was held to only six runs and nine hits but pulled out a close 6-4 victory in a defensive battle featuring four double plays by The BEAT. So down 1-2 in the series and tied at 2-5 in the standings, this last game of the season would determine which team would finish fifth or sixth, with the loser facing the possibility of being sent down for summer.

It was "Africa Hot" for the 10:00 a.m. start at Jackson Playground, without a trace of the usual incessant wind out of left. In this fourth meeting between the teams, The BEAT finally broke out against the Cool Dudes scoring 18 runs on 15 hits in the first four innings, knocking Munoz from the game. The 18-10 thrashing by The BEAT wasn't even as close as the score.

The Cool Dudes opened the game with a single, but one putout and two assists by shortstop Mike "Dorothy" Laffey and The BEAT was coming to bat. With two quick outs to open their side, The BEAT struck first blood on a single by Chris Young and an RBI double by Donnell 'D' Moody before heading into the second.

Cool managed three consecutive hits in the second but came up empty as The BEAT defense once again held the Dudes scoreless. The BEAT came out hard in the bottom of the second batting around and striking for ten consecutive runs before Cool could manage an out. Mark St.Georges and Peter Wenner reached on singles followed by a walk of Wilfred Spoon. Mike "Pizza Man" Weiss and the new, aerodynamic Jeff Ricketts lined RBI singles to left. When Rocks' single was picked up by the left-fielder, he held the ball and stared down Wilf at third. Spoon took off for the plate forcing an errant throw that allowed all runners to advance and prompting Wilf to spout off "If he ever looks at me like that again, I'll do the same thing!" Mike 'Dorothy' Laffey picked up the remaining runners with a 2-RBI single. Dennis O'Brien reached on a single, and Kevin Austin and B.J. Bateman reached on infield errors scoring Laffey. All three advanced on an overthrow scoring O'Brien. Young stepped up for his second single of the day for 2 RBIs and advanced to second on the throw to the plate. Moody picked up his second ribbie scoring Young on a single and also advanced to second on a throw to the plate. The BEAT had sent 11 batters to the plate without an out before Mike Buttafuso popped to left field. Moody was caught leaning off second for a double play that put a quick end to the rally.

The Dudes picked up their first run in the third on two singles and a misguided throw from the outfield. But that's all they could manage. The BEAT came back with a 1-2-3 skid but spirits remained high considering their 11-1 lead.

Cool opened the fourth with two singles but then went down 1-2-3 on outfield flies, unable to advance the runners. The BEAT bounced back, coming one short of batting around for the second time, and scoring seven runs on six hits. Laffey, O.B., Austin, Bateman and MSG all picked up their second runs while Young got his third with a walk, scoring on an infield overthrow. If it wasn't over before, it was over now and the fat lady was singing for The BEAT. The boys in gray led 18-1 and Coach Spoon broke out the reserves for the fifth.

Cool took advantage of the freshman outfield and picked up a quick six runs (three unearned on a rightfield error). The BEAT went down quickly with only one hit in the bottom of the inning, unable to use up the clock and allowing Cool Dudes one more at bat. Cool picked up three more in the sixth on four hits, but it was too little, too late as The BEAT rolled to a 18-10 victory in a game that was never closer than eight runs after the second inning.

Offensive highlights go to Chris Young (2-2, 3 runs, 3 RBI), 'D' Moody (3-3, double, 3 RBI), Mike Laffey (3-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and MSG (3-3, 2 runs). The BEAT finally got the clutch hitting they've needed as ten starters got hits, 11 scored runs, and five had two or more RBIs. The BEAT stranded only one runner in scoring position and took full advantage of Cool's unstrung defense that allowed numerous BEAT runners to advance on careless throws.

'D' Moody

Spring leaders can be wrapped up in one word, "Moody", as Donnell took over where John "The Defector" Palmer left off. 'D' recovered from a midseason slump to take back the batting title in the last game with 16 hits and a .615 average. Moody led the team in six of eight major categories driving in 12 runs, with five extra-base hits, a .923 slugging percentage and .731 on-base percentage. Kevin Austin, struggling the last two games dropped to second with 14 hits and a .560 average but extended his team record hitting streak to 26 games. Austin and Wilfred Spoon led the team in runs scored with seven a piece, followed closely by seven BEAT hitters all tied with six. Spoon led the team in homers with two and took the #2 RBI spot with seven, followed by Austin with six and five others with five each. MSG and Pete Wenner took the three and four hitting spots tied with 13 hits and .520 averages. Mike Butts took the five spot with nine hits and a .474 average, but jumped to second in extra-base hits with four and slugging at .737. Slugging was rounded out by Spoon (.650), Austin (.640) and MSG (.640). Greg DeMaestri (7-12, 4 runs, 3 RBI), and Chris Young (6-12, 3 runs, 4 RBI) have looked good playing part-time and B.J. Bateman has picked up four runs and five RBIs in just ten at bats. Mike Laffey, Greg Lukoski, Jeff Ricketts, and Mike Weiss are all showing signs of breaking out come summer.

Coming off the first season in 'C' league in '96, The BEAT looked battered; the victims of many lopsided blowouts. In the Spring of '97 they showed competitiveness and proved that they are acclimating themselves to the tougher league, playing close games consistently with the toughest of teams. The BEAT closed out the Spring at 3-5, disappointing in that three of those five losses were by two runs or less. Games that, turned around, would have left the team riding high at 6-2. The team will now prepare for summer with hopes of obtaining that 6-2 record (or better) at the expense of HGA and Connecticut Yankee, who they have yet to beat. With a couple months to fine tune and practice, The BEAT will enter the summer as underdogs with something to prove, but with the motivation to go far. Look for big things to happen for this team next season.

View The BEAT's 1997 Final Batting Statistics

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