Gold Country Buzzards

Gold Country Ol’ Buzzards Game Report #12

June 13, 2010

Dragons burn Buzzards on hot day in Folsom

The Buzzards found themselves on the road again. This Sunday the game was at Lembi Field in Folsom against the third place Dragons. At 10 am game time the day was already warm and it would get down-right hot by the end of the game. The grass was long, the infield base path was powder on top of hard pan with nuggets, the mound was low and the temperature was high at 97° by the afternoon, just a perfect setting for a NABA game.

Ten, mostly healthy, Ol’ Buzzards came to take on the tough Dragons on their home turf. On the hill for the visiting Buzzards was southpaw Dave “Keppie” Kephart #21, while the Dragons countered with their big righty Jeff “High Socks” Hansen #11. This would be our first game with only one umpire this season.

The first defensive inning started out well for the Buzzards; a nice catch by Barry “Brooklyn” Forman in left field to open the game and then after a base hit, the runner tried to steal second with Scott “Donut” Reeves behind the plate. Donut is not the regular catcher, nor the back up, but today Scottie was the man shooting down Dragon runners all day from behind the plate and showing that donuts are a good breakfast. The Big Donut nailed the first runner for out number two with a strike to Taylor “Welzy” Welz covering the bag from his shortstop position.

Irritatingly, after the two outs, the Dragons scored three runs. An ugly combination of three hits - mostly the bloop type, first to center then right then left field - a walk and an error delivered the three run lead. The Dragons added one run in the third inning on three hits, a wild pitch and another error. Meanwhile, the Buzzards got runners on base in every inning except the seventh, but could not get a key hit to knock in some runs until late in the game. Two running miscues were costly, but the Buzzard had plenty of chances to score runs.

The Buzzards finally put two runs on the board in the top of the eighth inning. With one out, Welzy singled to right field and then stole second base. Dan “Wookie” Wukmir then laced a 2-2 pitch down the right field line for a double scoring Welzy. Wook moved to third on a deep fly ball to left and scored when Charles “CJ” Jackson smashed a grounder over the third base bag and down the left field line for a nice double.

The Dragons scored two more in the bottom of the inning on a double, an error and two singles. With the Dragons leading 6-2, the Buzzards had one more at bat to add some runs and tie or win this game. Four runs is definitely doable. As Pete “Baron” Von Zboray stepped into the batter’s box, the umpire called time and said he wasn’t feeling well and needed to sit down. Well, John was assisted to a shaded corner by the back stop for awhile before he had the strength to leave the field and sit down in a chair. The game was called and everyone shook hands, picked up their stuff and left the field with a couple of Buzzards staying with John, the ump.

Due to the circumstances and with plenty of time remaining, the Buzzards requested that the league declare the game suspended and continue it on July 27 when the teams play each other again. The league has received our formal request and will rule on the issue after researching the matter with national NABA. I figured, what the hell, let’s play nine full innings.

The Dragons are a good team with pitching depth. We have not beaten either pitcher yet this season. Game three will be a different story. The Buzzard pitching was excellent, Keppie got ticked at those dying quail base hits and later kicked the bats in frustration entering the dugout, but the pitching was fine. Now the fielding and hitting part; that needs some work. Kephart faced 39 Dragons in throwing 131 pitches, 82 for strikes with 49 balls. There were seven strike outs and two walks to go along with 13 Dragon hits.

Teams always like versatile players like Donut, but this day behind the plate was special. Scottie gunned down a runner trying to steal second base in the first, fourth, and fifth innings, then they stopped trying to steal second. He also picked-off a runner at first base in the seventh. Donut nailed one more runner at third in the eighth inning, but the catch and tag part didn’t work very well this time. Keppie picked-off a runner at first base with a nice tag by the Baron in the sixth frame. All excellent defensive plays to pump up the team. Those Dragons sure were jumpy and aggressive all game. It appeared the Dragons downed some amphetamines or double energy boosters, yet the Buzzards nailed them five times on the base paths. That part was fun to watch. Great job behind the dish, Donut.

The Buzzard offense consisted of nine hits and two walks with one hit batter. Bob “Woody” Wooden got plunked pretty good by a fastball in the middle of his lower back in the first inning by the amped-up pitcher. At the time the team was worried ‘cause it was a loud thump, but Woody made us laugh when he returned to the dugout later and said he was fine and that he’d been hit harder by his mother. Maybe he meant dropped by his mother. Anyway, the ball was taken out of play due to the bruise to the ball by the hard-bodied, Bobio Wooden.

The nine hits including two doubles were hit by only six candy-corn orange jerseys. The multi hit players for the game were Barry, CJ and Welzy. The RBI’s were knocked in by CJ and Wook. Important Buzzard Announcement: Bring your hittin’ sticks next time. We must score more than a couple of runs to win in this league. We score more, we win more. Now slowly, watch the watch, watch the swinging watch and repeat after me, we score more, we win more. Good.

Buzzard Note #1: Next game on June 20 is Father’s Day. The game is at 10 am at Antelope High against the Astros. Hopefully, most of us will have a little time after the game to enjoy a cold one before heading off to family plans to make the Dads - king for the day.

Buzzard Note #2: August 1st is the KAHI radio game at James Field in Auburn at 3 pm. Mark the date on your calendar and invite the family and bring a radio. BBQ after the game in the picnic area with the Coyotes.