Gold Country Buzzards

Gold Country Ol' Buzzards Game Report #3

Game: April 12, 2015

Buzzards shoot down Astros, 16-6

The first morning game of the new season was a beautiful 70° day in Auburn. The third home game to start the season matched the 0-2 Astros against the 1-1 Buzzards. The Astros tied and almost beat the Buzzards in a game last season. The Buzzards have always enjoyed beating this team because the current and past league presidents of the NABA league, George Bettencourt and Barry Spiller, play on the Lastros.

The starting pitcher for the visiting Astros was the gritty right-hander, Rankin 'Fire Plug' Lyman #01. On the hill for the Gold Country Buzzards was the tough righty, Rick 'Salmo' Salmeri #6, making his first start of the season.

The Astros opened the game with a surprising five hits in a row. The ball had eyes on a few sharp grounders and the two outfield flares to drive in four runs.

No worries, mate. The Buzzards then batted-around in the bottom half of the first inning to put a nice crooked number (6) on the score board. The inning started with Taylor 'Welzy' Welz getting an infield single. Welzy stole second on the first pitch to Dan 'Wookie' Wukmir. Wookie then hit a real high chopper to second that he beat out for a hit, while speedy Welz turned on the jets and scored from second on the play. After an out, Mark 'Thunder' Weathers singled on a 1-1 count to drive in Wook.

With two outs, Jim 'Milli' Milligan singled to left and put two runners on. Up next, Tom 'Tomahawk' Keatley hit a short infield pop-up near the first base line that ticked off of the pitcher's glove. Rankin made a good play to get there, but by not getting that third out, he allowed the inning to continue. Batting next with two outs and the bases loaded, Kelly 'Cagey' Garcia hit a liner to left to knock in Thunder and keep the bases loaded for Mike 'Mickey' Wilson. Mickey worked the count to 3-2 before blasting a rocket shot over the leaping left-fielder for a bases clearing, three-run double. That play ended the scoring for the Buzzards with the lead 6-4 after one inning of play.

The Astros fought back in the second with two to tie the game. A two-out rally produced the runs with two hits and an infield error after a nice double play by the Buzzard infield, 5-4-3 that cleared the bases earlier.

The Buzzards added six more runs in the second to take early control of the game. Wook led-off with a first pitch single up the middle. After second was stolen, Dave 'Evy' Everingham punched a single to left putting runners at first and third. Batting next, Thunder then wacked a single to right to score Wookie from third. Two outs later, Tomahawk got to first with a shortstop misplay on a bouncer. Cagey followed with a run-scoring single to center. After Cagey stole second, Mickey slapped a single up the middle to drive in a hustlin' Kelly. Welzy followed with a full-count smash to deep left field for a stand-up double to knock in Mickey for the final run of the second dig.

The score after two innings was Buzzards 12 and Astros 6. The third inning was scoreless for both teams. The Ol' Buzzards added two more runs in the fourth. Mickey started the frame with a shortstop misplay to get on base. Mickey stole second with Welzy at the plate. Taylor then nailed an 0-1 pitch and sent it on a line with a sizzling hiss for a base hit to left field to knock in Wilson. Up next, Wook walked on four pitches before Evy singled to drive in Welzy. With two outs, Flash hit a flare for a single to put two runners on, but the dig ended with just the two runs scored to make it a 14-6 ball game at the end of four.

The Buzzards changed hurlers in the fifth and righty Gregg 'Surf Dawg' Novotny #1 took the mound and shut down the Astros for the remainder of the game. The Ol' Buzzards, however, were not done scoring and put another run in the book in the last half of the fifth. Tomahawk led-off with a sharp single up the middle. Tommy stole second before Cagey walked. A passed ball then moved up the runners to second and third. Welzy crushed a 1-0 pitch to left, but the fielder was playing deep and caught the sacrifice fly to send Tomahawk home.

In the last offensive inning, the Buzzies scored one more in the sixth. After two were out, Milli laced a shot to left for a hit. Flash then ran for Mill-dog at first. After Flash stole second base, Tomahawk followed with a single to center to drive in Krantz with the 16th run of the game.

If the Buzzards could hold the Astros to no runs in the top of the seventh, the game would end early with the 10-run mercy-rule.

Surf Dawg mowed 'em down in the final inning, 1-2-3, to end the game at the 2 hour and 35 minute mark with the score 16-6.

Buzzard pitching got off to a rough start with the first five batters getting hits, but the seeing-eye hits by the Astros stopped after the second inning. Salmeri pitched four inning while facing 21 batters and throwing 69 pitches (45 strikes & 24 balls). Salmo got the win and gave up three earned runs on seven hits, no walks and four strike outs. Surf Dawg took the bump in the fifth frame and finished the game with three innings of work. Novotny threw 31 pitches (20 strikes & 11 balls) in facing 11 Astros. Gregg gave up no runs on two hits and no walks with two strike ‘em outs.

The Buzzard offense was up to the challenge of hitting slower Astro pitching. The mighty Buzzies peppered four Astro pitchers for 18 hits and five walks to score 16 runs. The hit club for the game included: Cagey (2), Evy (2), Flash, Mickey (2), Milli (2), Thunder (2), Tomahawk (2), Welzy (3), and Wookie (2). The always important ribbies were knocked in by: Cagey (2), Evy, Flash, Mickey (4), Thunder (2), Tomahawk, Welzy (3), and Wook. The Buzzards showed off their legs by running around the bases for 16 scores. The responsible Buzzies (in batting order) are: Welzy (2), Wookie (2), Evy, Thunder, Flash, Milli (2), Tomahawk (3), Cagey (2), and Mickey (2). The eagle-eyed Buzzards that were awarded first base were: Cagey, Flash, Milli, and Wookie (2). There were 10 stolen bases, but none bigger than Evy’s steal in the second inning to remarkably show that he is coming back stronger every week from his major leg injury at the end of last season.

The Buzzard defense was solid, as usual. There was only one fly ball out in the game. It was a nice catch by Mickey in left-field of a line-drive smash that he charged, then he caught the sinking liner sliding on his knees in the sixth. For a time early in the game, the Astros were picking on our new first baseman, but the Weatherman showed how cool he can look in grabbing hot shots in the second and third innings. Mark had four consecutive unassisted outs at the bag. After that display, the Astros hit the ball mostly the other way. Thunder came out of the game defensively with a sore knee in the fifth and was replaced by Garcia. Kelly was greeted with a hard hit by the first-batter for his wake-up call and unassisted out. There were 11 put-outs at first base (7 by Thunder and 4 by Cagey).

There was only one double play in the game. In the second inning with one on and no outs, Rankin hit a grounder to Surf Dawg at third. Gregg fielded the ball and threw a strike to Welzy at second, T-Welz completed the play with a nice easy turn at second and strong throw to Thunder for a good looking 5-4-3 double play.

This was technically a come-from-behind victory over the feisty Astros. A victory with no injured Buzzards is always a good win.

In the next four games, the Buzzards will be playing the 42+ division teams in the league. Next Sunday’s game is at 10 am at James Field against the young Dodgers.