by Pete

The Beat Bags 1st Summer Win MSG & Colletto lead 24-hit attack in spirited 18-13 win over The Other Guys.

Game 3 of the Summer Season was a big game for The Beatniks, arguably the biggest of the year. We were in the hole 0-2 following a bitter 7th-inning loss to Mars, in which we blew a late 7-run lead to lose 15-14. And this after having looked brilliant for the 1st 6 innings. We needed this one to stay in the race of a very evenly-matched division. Every team had at least one loss after old nemesis The Other Guys, this week's Beat opponent, upset the Martians 8-7 on August 7. The grizzled OG's, whom we hadn't faced since back in our D-league days of the early '90s and who still featured a white-haired knuckleballer and 1st baseman who looked like Santa Claus, were sitting in 1st place atop C-6 with a 2-1 record.

A loose and spirited Beat squad, coming off a well-attended Thursday-night practice at West Sunset, showed up superstitious. Hit-man Mark St. Georges arrived resplendent in badly-ripped baseball pants--safety pins not included. As the Cottonmouth King pulled out the duct tape and kneepads, he was pointedly asked by a teammate when he was going to buy a new pair. Mindful of Mark's .692 average at gametime, I answered, "For Godsakes, don't change anything now." Crap, I had on my own raggedy good luck Camden Yards inaugural t-shirt from 1992 with a ripped neckband, which I hadn't worn in 2 years. And if OB were there he would have had on his swiss-cheese underwear. In fact, I'd have tried anything to change our luck.

As it turned out, MSG will have to wear the tattered jodhpurs for another week as he (4 for 4, 3 runs, RBI) and Jim "The Thrill" Colletto (4 for 4, run, 2 RBIs) paced a potent Beat attack for an 18-13 victory. "Big Daddy" Donnell Moody, who on Friday the 13th became a daddy for the 2nd time, went 3 for 4 and scored 4 runs with a ribby. Speedy BJ Bateman was explosive out of the leadoff slot with a 2 for 4, 2 run, 3 RBI day, featuring a 2-run double off the right-centerfield wall at Jackson #2. Nothing wimpy about that, Beej (BJ used to think walks were wimpy)!!

The other sleep-deprived new dad, Kevin Austin was hit hard early as the swirling Potrero Hill wind wreaked its customary havoc and forced Kev to groove pitches. However, the K-man settled down in the final 3 innings to notch the win. The Beat defense was solid for the second straight game, committing only 2 errors. Chris Young did a superb job of running the outfield, moving fielders and deploying the rover when necessary. Use of the short-fielder may loom large for the Nicoya game given their propensity for dunking base hits up the middle.

In dire need of another player in view of 4 prospective absences for the 8/28 Nicoya rematch, The Beat welcomed free agent walk-on Kevin Doyle, a Chris Young recruit from Live105, who had dazzled the Beatniks with his hitting and defense in practice on Thursday. Kevin, this year's Larry Avery, since we couldn't get him on the roster in time, contributed a 2 for 2 day and was rudely introduced to the notorious Jackson gales in left-center field.

With 2 out, the visiting Beatniks scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st on consecutive singles by MSG, Moody, Colletto and Young (2 for 4, 2 RBIs). But the Other Guys answered back with their own 2-out rally, jumping out to a 6-2 lead after one.

We could have gotten defeatist after that, but no. In the top of the 2nd, Greg (Lukie) Lukoski led off with a single. With 1 out, I worked a 2-2 count before singling to left center to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Then, after a Gunnar Rosequist fielders-choice grounder to short, the hit parade started, again with 2 out. BJ's RBI single made it 6-3. Beej advanced to 2nd on the throw attempting to get the gritty G-man at 3rd. Following that aggressive baserunning, 2 runs scored on an overthrow by the 3rd baseman on Austin's grounder to close the deficit to 6-5. Consecutive singles by MSG, Big Daddy and Jimbo (the first of 3 Will-the-thrill-like opposite field dunks down the left-field line) vaulted the Beat out to an 8-6 lead.

However, The Other Guys were not ready to be outdone as they came back for 5 runs off Austin in their half of the 2nd. The leadoff man Somner hit a flyball to left-center that got up in the Jackson jet stream and soared way over the rookie Doyle's head for a homer to cut it to 8-7. 2 walks and a single loaded the bases before 3 straight RBI-singles and a sac fly put the OG's back out in front 11-8.

The Beat was game to stay in this slugfest, taking advantage of OG errors and timely hits to blow out to a 16-11 lead in the top of the 3rd. We wouldn't relinquish it this week. The shortstop "Pizza Man" Michael Weiss led off with a single and was followed by Lukie's base hit to right-center. Both runners advanced on the throw putting runners at 2nd and 3rd with none out. Brian Arcuri scored Lukie with a sac fly to make it 11-9 before back-to-back singles by Doyle (hitting in my spot) and Gunnar.

Enter the left-handed hitting BJ, who teed off on a fat knuckler launching a deep fly off the top of the tall screen fence in left center. Two runs scored on BJ's double to tie it at 11. Opportunistic singles combined with OG infield errors fanned the flames and when the dust cleared, we were up 16-11. We never looked back as Kevin Austin got stronger as the game went on, wiggling out of a bases-loaded, no out situation in the 4th, to seal the deal.

Game balls went to MSG and Jim, who paced a relentless Beat attack that put us back into the division race. Nicoya, now tied for 1st place with Mars at 2-1, are up next on 8/28 and we owe them big time after our 14-4 loss in the opener. We just wish we didn't have to wait 2 more weeks. Damn this wacky schedule...

Once again showing the resilience that exemplified our 5 win 3 loss Spring Season, we came out loose, confident and hungry following a tough loss. This time we stayed poised throughout the game and closed down a big win. Sending a message to the division that this team is once again gelling after two more veteran departures after the Spring, everyone contributed and cheered each other on in what was truly a team effort. I haven't heard our bench this loud in years!

We are once again renewed and determined, but taking it realistically, one game at a time.

View The BEAT's 1999 Final Batting Statistics

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