Cats Hold off Pirates-Sport Chalet celebrates more bat sales
With two of the league's premier pitchers on the mound, Mike Maglione for the Tigers and Rich Brito for the Pirates, it was no surprise at least 3 bats found their way to the Grant trash cans. The more important number though was 5: the number of double plays the Cats turned to support a great effort by their hurler Maglione.
The Tigers struck early, taking advantage of the random bounces on the half muddied, half dry infield with a first inning lead-off, bad hop single that put Tim "Mayhem" O'Hair on first. An infield out advanced him to second and while attempting to steal 3rd, he just kept going on another infield grounder to score the Cat's first run.
The Tigers struck again in the 4th with singles from Troy Combs and Vic Acosta who were soon driven in by a clutch double from Sean Donnellan. Singles from Allen Wilson and Rudy Beltran brought in two more. Two more runs in the 5th gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead.
The Pirates wouldn't go down without a fight. They scrapped for a run in the 7th. Two runners on in the 8th brought Rich Thorne from the bullpen, who fought out of the jam, giving up only one.
But the Pirates still weren't done. They loaded the bases in the ninth with no one out. A force got the first out for the Tigers though the Pirates now had the tying run on deck as clean-up hitter Dennis Oliver came to the plate. A smashed, slicing drive to right looked to clear the bases when Bryan Vick nabbed the liner and doubled the runner off second to seal the victory for the Cats.
Special kudos to Tiger catcher Jerry Aebi who caught a magnificent game including 2 runners thrown out stealing, despite having major back problems before and during the game.
More kudos to Tiger shortstop Stefan Marks who took a wicked hop ground ball off the infield slop that smashed off his cheek (the one on the face) yet he insisted on staying in the game. (The lovely little pond at short, with its shimmering waters in the morning sun will now be known as Marks' Lagoon).
| BOX SCORE |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
R |
H |
E |
| Verdugo Tigers |
1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7 |
11 |
1 |
| Fairfax Pirates |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
3 |
13 |
5 |
Date: May 31, 2015
Time: 9:30am
Venue: Grant HS
| Verdugo Tigers |
| Hitters |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
K |
| Jerry Aebi |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Don Bixby |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Tim O'Hair |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Stefan Marks |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Troy Combs |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Vic Acosta |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Bryan Vick |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Sean Donnellan |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| Allen Wilson |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Rudy Beltran |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Rich Thorne |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Michael Maglione |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Doug MacKenzie |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Totals |
42 |
7 |
11 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
2B: Donnellan (2)
SB: O'Hair (3), Combs
|
|
|
| Fairfax Pirates |
| Hitters |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
K |
| Frank Gonzalez |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Antone Henley |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Twitt Gibson |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Dennis Oliver |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Ron Anderson |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| Rich Brito |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Rod Arancibia |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Simone Wyatt |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Ken Rise |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| David Mango |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| John Petrocelli |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Michael Pedote |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Ray Bunch |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Totals |
33 |
3 |
13 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
HBP: Gonzalez, Mango
|
|
| Verdugo Tigers |
| Pitchers |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
PT |
| Michael Maglione (W) |
7.0 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
| Rich Thorne |
2.0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
HB: Maglione (2)
|
|
|
| Fairfax Pirates |
| Pitchers |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
PT |
| Rich Brito (L) |
9.0 |
9 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
