Gold Country Buzzards

Gold Country Buzzards Game Report #18

August 9, 2009 

Buzzards Shot Down By Reds, 10-5 

On a hot 100-degree afternoon in Davis, the Ol’ Buzzards faced a fired up Reds team that was playing a must-win game to stay ahead in the American Division race with the Free Agents.  Since the Buzzards had already clinched first place in the National Division, the motivation was different against the only team the Buzzards have not beaten this season.  In addition, the normal pre-game warm-up routines for the team were disrupted with all the late arrivals due to the terrible traffic jam leaving Sacramento at the I-80 interchange.   

The pitching match-ups were righty, Danny ‘Former Dragon’ Harvey #25 throwing for the Reds and southpaw, Dave ‘Keppy’ Kephart #21 on the mound for the Gold Country Buzzards.  Keppy is throwing with a pulled quad muscle in his left leg, but insisted he could go nine even in this heat. 

The visiting Buzzards batted first and got off to a good start.  With one out, Dan ‘Wookie’ Wukmir walked on a full count, and then stole second base on the next pitch and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  With two outs, Jim ‘Milli’ Milligan walked for the first of three times in this game.  Running for Milli, the catcher, was Bob ‘Woody’ Wooden who then stole second base putting runners at second and third.  Next, Keppy came through on a 2-2 curve ball with a nice swing and a big hit up the middle to drive in the first two runs of the game. 

The Reds bounced back with a lead-off double.  Two ground ball outs later, the clean-up hitter singled to drive in their lone run in the bottom of the first inning.  The second and third innings were scoreless and both teams scored in the fourth to tie the game at 3-3. 

The Buzzards scored one run starting with a lead-off walk to Milli.  Woody, running again for Milli, stole second base and advanced to third on a passed ball.  Keppy followed with a sacrifice fly out to center field scoring Woody to take a 3-1 lead. 

The Reds struck back with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth.  The inning started with a double to right field.  The next batter hit a long shot to deep center field.  Jim ‘Wags’ Wagner made a great running and leaping catch for the out.  After catching the ball and before tumbling to the ground from the jump, Wags tried to toss the ball to the trailing right-fielder, David ‘DK’ Kelley to relay the ball back to the infield.  Good idea and looked great, but the toss was too far from DK.  While DK chased the ball down, the runner scored from second base on the sacrifice fly.  The next batter singled and then moved to second base on a passed ball and then to third on a wild pitch.  After a walk, the next Reds’ batter grounded out to Woody at third base, but scoring the runner from third to tie the game. 

The Reds took the lead in the fourth inning with three runs on a walk and three hits.  All three runs scored with two outs.  The Reds scored three more in the sixth inning on a walk and three hits.  Several of the hits in these two innings were flares off the end of the bat or dinkers that found a hole for base hits.  Very frustrating for Keppy and the Buzzards.   

The Buzzards were also not enjoying the umpire’s moving and seemingly large strike zone, especially with two strikes.  The offense seemed to have to be on the defensive with their bat when at the plate.  In the seventh inning, the Buzzards scored a run when Wags was nicked by a pitch across the chest.  With two outs, Ray ‘Bull Dog’ Henry, batting left-handed, hit a looper down the left field line for his second of three hits and moving Wags to second base.  Next, Pete ‘Baron’ Von Zboray hit a grounder to the shortstop, who then threw wildly to the second baseman covering the bag, allowing Wags to score from second base to make the score 9-4 Reds.  

The Reds bounced right back and scored one in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Keppy clipped Danny Harvey, the opposing pitcher on the left shin, with a curve ball to open the inning.  A walk, a misplayed high and deep fly ball to left field for a third out, followed by a single made the score 10-4. 

The Ol’ Buzzards went down fighting and scored once more in the ninth.  Milli led off with his third walk of the day, with Woody then running for Milli.  With one out, Wags, taking a mighty swing, dropped a spinner between the pitcher and first baseman, for an infield hit and two runners on.  After a fielder’s choice out, Bull Dog then knocked in Woody with his third hit of the game, this time a deep flare to right field to make the final score 10-5. 

The Buzzards did play good defense and the pitching was strong, but the offense was off-balance all day against the tough Danny Harvey.  His velocity is not his strength any longer, so he used his off-speed pitches, especially his curve, to set up the fast ball.  With the large strike zone, Harvey’s curve ball was working for him.  The Ol’ Buzzards got only eight hits in the nine inning game, three of the hits were by Bull Dog.  The multi-hit group for this game consists of Bull Dog Ray.  This is the first game this season without multiple Buzzards being in the multi-hit group.  This was also Ray’s first Buzzard game since mid-July.  Nice Hawaiian tan there, Bull Dog.  Danny Harvey for the Reds struck out six and walked five Buzzards plus he hit Wags. 

Keppy pitched a strong game, especially with that bum left wheel.  He faced 43 batters and threw 160 pitches, 105 for strikes and 55 balls.  The strong hitting Reds team got 15 hits, but 12 of them were by the top five guys in their 10-man batting order.  Six Reds struck out and four walked with one hit batter.  160 pitches is a lot of pitches on a nice mild day, but Sunday was a scorcher, even so, Keppy hung in there and pitched well.  Milli also hung in there behind the plate catching those 160 pitches.  Late in the game, Milli could be found laying on the ground behind the dugout in the shade looking for some relief while the Buzzards were on offense.  Tough ol’ birds those Buzzards.   

The offense did not do their part with only five runs in this game, and Keppy knocked in three of them.  The Buzzards lit up Ol’ Harvey when we last faced him back on May 31with nine hits and six runs in his five innings.  Anyway, he pitched well and we played a little flat at times.  Based on what we saw on Sunday, it is likely the Reds will represent the American Division in the NABA Championship Series.  The Buzzards need to prevail in the division finals on August 30^th, but it is likely we will see them in the championship games.  Buzzard revenge is the plan.  

Buzzard Note #1: As a reminder, the remaining 2009 season schedule is August 16 – game at the Astros, followed by the playoff bye of August 23.  The division finals will be on August 30.  No games during the Labor Day weekend.  The championship series (best of three) will start on September 13 with a double-header.  The ‘if necessary’ game will be the following Sunday, September 20.  

Buzzard Note #2:  This Sunday’s game is in Roseville at Mahany Park at 10 am.  There will be cold drinks and munchies after the game. 

Buzzard Note #3:  Notice from Management and Sponsors: Get healthy by September.