by K	. . . AND THE BEAT GOES ON . . . First Place BEAT Extends Winning Streak to Five Games!

Saturday, September 6, 1997. Another beautiful day at Jackson #1 in San Francisco, as The BEAT sent their 4-0-1 record against the speedy TMJ. The game fell just days after the passing of Dennis O'Brien's father Charles for whom The BEAT's resounding 12-6 victory would be dedicated. Due to the circumstances, O.B. was scratched from the line-up and Kevin Austin took the mound for his first start of the season.

Austin started off struggling against the strong wind and a merciless ump, walking TMJ's leadoff batter. A single and a grounder that squibbed by shortstop Mike Laffey scored the game's first run. A sacrifice fly sent the second run across and TMJ was up 2-0 with The BEAT coming to bat.

Austin led off The BEAT's side with a little redemption by drawing a walk of his own. Mark St.Georges followed with a single, then the inning broke open as Chris Young scorched a two-run triple to tie the game. Donnell Moody doubled in Young to put The BEAT up 3-2 before the first out was on the board. Greg DeMaestri and Mike Laffey both singled for RBIs and the game went to the second with The BEAT up 5-2.

Both teams went down quickly in the second. In the third, TMJ's first baseman Pon led off with a shot between first and second. MSG dove for the ball just inches off the ground but it popped out of his glove; the throw to first from his knees was late by a hair. A follow-up single advanced the runner to third. Second baseman Parker drilled a grounder off Austin's toe (it stills hurts as I write this, by the way) to Laffey at short. The Laffman tagged the bag at second. His throw to first was just a half step short of an inning ending double play, giving TMJ their third run. The BEAT answered back in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases for 'D' Moody. Donnell hit a dribbler up the third baseline giving The BEAT their sixth run on a fielder's choice.

TMJ came back again with two singles and a sacrifice fly for their fourth run. The BEAT managed two hits in the bottom of the fourth but left runners at the corners when B.J. Bateman hit a fireball to pitcher Leong's left. Leong made a great stab for his second inning-ending linedrive catch of the game. End of four, The BEAT 6, TMJ 4.

Following a lead-off groundout to MSG in the fifth, TMJ's shortstop Goon drilled a grounder right through Loafey's legs at short. Parker stepped up and tripled in the run. "#6" then gave up his third walk of the game and TMJ had a rally brewing. The BEAT tightened up their defense as the next batter drilled a liner off Austin's glove. Mike "Pizza Man" Weiss, the beneficiary of many surprise outs at rover against this team of quick singles hitters, scooped up the ball and raced to second for the force. Laffey then made the redemptive play of the day as he actually left his feet (I know, I couldn't believe it either) and knocked down a sure single, flipping the ball to MSG at second to end the rally. Still, the damage was done and the game was now tied at six. The BEAT went down with only a hit and a walk to end the inning. O.B., who arrived just before gametime from PA, inspired the team as the defense took the field in the sixth.

TMJ was sent down 1-2-3 on a handful of pitches and The BEAT would get another chance to break it open. And for the first time this summer, that's just what they did. Following a lead-off out, Greg DeMaestri and Pete Wenner went back to back with their second hits of the game. An error by second baseman Parker and suddenly the bases were loaded and the sky was falling on TMJ. Jeff Ricketts drilled an RBI single. Mike Weiss followed with one of his own. B.J. Bateman stepped up and drilled another hard comebacker to the mound. This time Leong couldn't hang on. Another run in and the bases still full for Wilf Spoon. Wilf lined a single for an RBI and Austin followed with a hit off the left-fielders outstretched glove, scoring two more. As the throw went into the plate, Spoon made for third sliding headfirst and safe. Interference by the base coach rung up Wilf as out number two. A quick ground out ended the inning, but The BEAT had rallied for six runs and had the insurance they needed.

Heading into TMJ's last at bat with their 2-3-4 batters coming up, The BEAT had a comfortable 12-6 lead. A pop-up to Laffey at short gave the boys their first out. Austin struggled with his control against number three batter Pon, taking the count full before Pon watched the third strike for their first and only 'K' of the game. Up stepped Goon who hit a deep fly to Bateman in right. B.J. battled the wind as he had all day and pulled in his fourth put-out. But this one was the most important, ending the game and keeping The BEAT undefeated still at 5-0-1.

The BEAT had finally broken out of their season long slump as the team hit a season high .441 at the plate. Ten BEAT batters got hits, five had two each. The scoring was well dispersed as ten different players scored and eight had RBIs. Deuces were wild for "#6" today as he picked up his second game ball of the season for his second win (five earned runs on eight hits) in two appearances on the mound, while going 2-2 at the plate with two walks, two runs and two RBIs.

The BEAT holds on to their narrow lead of C7 as Cool Dudes and Granada both pulled out come-from-behind victories. Granada had the morning game against the floundering Connecticut Yankees, who struck early, taking a 14-1 lead. But typical of the Yankees season, Granada battled back and won the game 17-15. Cool Dudes followed against Kezar Rhinos who took an 11-8 upset lead into the last inning against Cool. But with the bases loaded in their last at bat, Cool hit a deep fly to right which was tipped by the right fielder over the fence for a grand salami giving Cool the 12-11 victory. Cool remains still only a half game behind The BEAT with Granada a full game back. Both teams face off next week as The BEAT takes a bye. So when The BEAT returns September 20th against rival HGA, only one will be left in the running to unseat The BEAT's season-long lead. Of course, The BEAT's destiny is in their own hands. If they win the last two, there's nothing anyone else can do.

View The BEAT's 1997 Final Batting Statistics

On The BEAT News Archive