by O.B.

The Beat Goes On! BEAT WINS OPENER!

The New Beat displayed skill and enthusiasm last Saturday, beating The Consumers 15-7 to open the San Francisco C-League summer season at Jackson Field.

"We can't get overconfident," cautioned manager Peter Wenner, noting that The Consumers had just come up to C and were missing their starting pitcher. But no one could deny the timely hits and outfield speed that defined the game.

The visiting Beat struck early, and often, batting around in the first inning. Nine hits, including consecutive leadoff doubles by Kevin Austin, Mike Weiss, and B.J. Bateman, resulted in seven runs, a conficence booster as a team starting three-and-a-half rookies took the field.

But the defense needed to gel, and The Consumers would not just lie down. The former Chameleons had never beaten the Boys in Gray, and quickly struck back with four runs. The outfield was tentative, sorting out their depth and throws. But the defense settled down, and would give up no more than one run in any inning the rest of the way. The outfield especially re-asserted itself, constantly flagging down Consumer line drives to stop potential rallies.

The offense, meanwhile, never quit. Donnell Moody drove in two in the second with his first home run of the year. In the third, Frank Green, breaking the Larry Avery jinx, joined the hit parade with a pinch-hit single, a screamer that rolled halfway to third, as the team scored five more. At 14-5, the game was well in hand.

Each rookie also contributed. Brian Arcuri was 2 for 3, Rick Coglio 1 for 3 with two runs scored, and Matt Barber scored a run and drove in another with a sacrifice. Devin Fletcher, who may or may not be a rookie, was 1 for 2 and solid behind the plate.

The final was 15-7, but this story is not final without two intangibles. The first was a ruckus in the middle innings that drew a warning from the umpire. The team was reminded once again of the respect for the game that tempers our emotions.

The second was O.B.'s last at bat, when he pulled the ball over the shortstop's head for a hit after 11 years going the opposite way. "I taught myself in the offseason, " he said, which, as much as anything, led coach Wenner to give him the game ball. With a new blend of youth and experience, it's The Beat who will be learning a lot this year.

Notes: Mike Weiss meritted second star with 2 for 3, a walk, and 2 RBI's.

Rookie status is important, as all rookies must sing at the end-of-the-year party. Pizza Man's rendition of "Reminiscing" has set a standard that will be difficult to reach.

View The BEAT's 1998 Final Batting Statistics

On The BEAT News Archive