Gold Country Buzzards

Gold Country Ol' Buzzards Game Report #2

Game: March 29, 2015

Buzzards stomp the Yankees, 29-6

The second Sunday of the new baseball season put the Ol’ Buzzards up against the older Yankees in a 2 o’clock game on a warm afternoon at James Field in Auburn. In spite of the mixed-up world of today, it still seemed bizarro-backwards that the undefeated Yankees (1-0) would be playing the yet to win (0-1) Buzzards. The Gold Country Buzzards would not take long to settle the pecking order of the division with the Yanks.

The starting pitcher for the pumped-up Yankees was veteran lefty, Jerry ‘Dealin’ Whelan #11. On the bump for the Ol’ Buzzards was the tough right-hander, Gregg ‘Surf Dawg’ Novotny #1, who was anxious to get back on the hill after last week’s loss.

The Buzzards jumped on the score board in a big way in the first inning with seven runs crossing home plate. Kevin ‘Flash’ Krantz started it off by getting hit by the third pitch of the game. Flash then stole second base before Dan ‘Wookie’ Wukmir hit a soft liner up the middle for a single. After a fielder’s choice, Mark ‘Thunder’ Weathers walked to load the bases. Up next, Pete ‘Baron’ Von Zboray was nicked by a 3-2 fastball to push in the first run of the game. Tom ‘Tomahawk’ Keatley followed with a base-on-balls, and then, so did Jim ‘Milli’ Milligan to force in two more runs. With the score quickly 3-0, the Yankees changed hurlers and brought in right-hander, Randy 'Dented' Dettman #28 to stop the early rally.

Kelly ‘Cagey’ Garcia then greeted the new pitcher by lining a 2-1 pitch into left-field for a two-run single. With two outs, Flash got on base via a misplay by the shortstop, and the runners advanced to second and third before Wookie hit one into the left-center field gap, with his second hit of the inning, to score both runs. The score after the first frame was 7-zip, Buzzards.

The raging Buzzards were nearly unstoppable in the second inning as they showed ‘no mercy’ to the Yanks. The inning started with a long double by Thunder to left-center field on a 2-2 pitch. The Baron was hit by a pitch again to earn first base. Tomahawk followed with a single to left to score Thunderman. One out later, Cagey knocked in the Baron with another run on a sharp single to left. Batting next, Mike ‘Mickey’ Wilson drove a 3-1 pitch into left-field for a run-scoring single. Flash then hammered a single to left-center to drive in two runs.

The runners then moved up to second and third on a wild pitch, before Wook crushed the first pitch for a double that rolled to the right-center field fence to score both runs. Up next, Dave ‘Evy’ Everingham knocked in Wookie with a single to left-center. Batting next, Weathers got his second hit of the inning with a line-drive to right. The Baron followed with a shot to left for a hit. Tomahawk, batting next, hit a high fly to center-field for a sacrifice fly that scored Thunder with the 15th Buzzard run of the game.

The Yankees scored four runs in the top of the third on a walk, infield error and four hits to tighten the score to 15-4. The Buzzards answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the third inning.

Flash led off the inning with a walk. After a fielder’s choice, Evy singled to right putting runners at first and second. After an infield-fly-rule play for the second out, the Baron hit a rope down the left-field line for a two-run single. The score after three digs was now 17-4.

The Ol’ Buzzards scored in every inning of the game. In the fourth frame, the Buzzies ran around the bases two more times. Milli started it off by getting nailed by pitch number two squarely on the upper left arm. Up next, Barry ‘Brooklyn’ Forman singled to right and Mickey walked to fill the bases with Buzzards. After an out, Wook, on a roll, knocked in a fifth run of the game with his fourth hit, a liner to right, in the fourth inning. Evy then got nailed by a pitch, after quickly backing away and into the pitch, for a free ride to the bag before the inning ended with the score Buzzards 19 – Yankees 4.

The still hungry Buzzards went for the batting buffet in the fifth inning and feasted on Yankee pitching to score seven more times. Tomahawk led-off with a single to center. Milli then hit a flare to right for a base hit. Two outs and a couple of Yankee errors later put Surf Dawg at the plate with runners on. Gregg walked on five pitches to load the bases. After an E-4 on a hot grounder by Thunder, the Baron knocked in two RBIs with a single to left-field. Next, Tomahawk slapped a run-scoring single to right-center for his second hit of the inning. Milli then followed with a sharp single to left for his second impressive hit of the fifth. The score through five frames was 26-4.

The Yanks scored twice in the sixth inning to the excitement of the Yankee fans. Lefty Mickey Wilson #21 took the mound in his 2015 Buzzard debut. After two outs were quickly recorded on nice plays at third base by Surf Dawg, the plate and strike zone seemed to vanish. The next five batters got on base via walks or HBP to score two runs and make the score 26-6.

With time still on the clock the Buzzards batted in the bottom of the sixth and added the last three runs. Mickey and Flash started the inning by walking. After an out, Surf Dawg laced a solid single to left-center to drive in Mickey. Thunder followed with his patented line-drive to right-field to plate Flash. The Baron ended the scoring with a single up-the-middle for his fourth hit of the game and his sixth ribbie.

The Yanks did not score in the seventh inning as Wilson mowed 'em down, so the final score of the seven-inning, three-hour game, was 29 to 6.

Buzzard pitching and defense held the Yankees to six runs, while the offense went to town getting 24 hits and with nine walks to dominate the game early. Surf Dawg pitched five innings and threw 79 pitches (46 strikes & 33 balls) to 21 batters. Gregg gave up four runs (3 earned) on five hits with one walk and two strike-outs. Mickey pitched the last two frames and faced 12 Yankees and threw 49 pitches (21 strikes & 28 balls). Wilson gave up two runs on one hit with four walks, one hit batter and one strike-out.

The Buzzards brought their hittin’ sticks to this game and knocked around five Yankee pitchers for 29 runs on 24 hits. The hit club for the game included: the Baron (4), Brooklyn, Cagey (2), Evy (2), Flash, Mickey, Milli (2), Surf Dawg, Thunder (3), Tomahawk (3), and Wookie (4). The always important ribbies were knocked in by: the Baron (6), Cagey (3), Flash (2), Mickey, Milli, Surf Dawg, Thunder, Tomahawk (4), and Wook (5). Every Buzzard scored at least twice (in batting order): Krantz (4), Wukmir (2), Everingham (2), Novotny (2), Weathers (4), Von Zboray (3), Keatley (3), Milligan (2), Garcia (2), Forman (2), and Wilson (3). Four Buzzards joined the 2015 bruise club with one batter earning double entry by taking two for the team. The bruised boys in this game were: Evy, Flash, Milli and the Baron twice.

The Ol’ Buzzards were solid on defense, but only pulled-off one double play. In the fourth with runners on first and second and one out, a sinking liner was hit to center field. Flash charged hard and quickly closed on the ball and caught it just above his shoe laces, while the runner was on his way to second base. Kevin then fired a bullet to Weathers at first base to gun down the sliding runner for the inning-ending double play.

This was an easy win for the Ol’ Buzzards and we’ll take it. It was a nice offensive showing and no one got hurt. Evy continues to amaze the team with his recovery and fine play at shortstop. And now he is running the base paths and sliding, so even the sky is not a limit to an Ol’ Buzzard. As another famous Buzzie once said, “Infinity and beyond …” by Buzz Lightyear.

No game this Sunday, while we all enjoy Easter. The next game is April 12th at 10 am at James Field versus the Astros. The NABA schedule is being corrected this week and should be available soon. We start playing the younger division, 42+ teams, on April 19th.