Announcement
Gold Country Ol’ Buzzards Game Report #10
June 14, 2009
Buzzards Beat Free Agents, 10-3
Sunday’s double-header was a mid-season match-up of last year’s NABA championship series opponents. The Buzzards have not faced the Free Agents since they swept the three-game series to end last season as champs. On a picture perfect day in Colfax, the ol’ adversaries warmed up before taking the field for a 10 am first game. On the mound for the Buzzards was Gary “Stoney” Stonebrook #13 and for the Free Agents Tim “Big Man” Burkitt #27.
The Free Agents were looking to score early and put some pressure on the home team, Buzzards. The first batter was hit by Stoney on a 0-2 pitch. After a strike out, the next batter hit a single putting two runners on first and third. The clean-up hitter, Tim Burkitt, then hit a grounder heading for the whole between shortstop and third base. Dan “Wookie” Wukmir playing short dove for the ball, knock it down to keep it in the infield and prevented the runner on third from scoring. The next Free Agent hit a sharp grounder to Jim “Milli” Milligan playing first base. Milli fielded the ball and turned to throw to second base for a potential double play. While Wookie was running to cover the bag, Milli threw a bouncer to the base. On a nice snag, Wookie took the second bounce on the short hop, stepped on second base and threw to first. The runner standing-up, ran into Wookie as he released the ball causing the ball to hop to Milli a couple of times preventing the double play and allowing the runner to score. After a brief protest and a reminder to the umps about runner interference, the game continued. The inning ended with just one run for the Free Agents when the next batter hit a come-backer to Stoney.
Big Tim Burkitt started the game throwing effectively for the Free Agents and cruised through the first two innings - only facing six batters. The starting catcher, Charles “CJ” Jackson, was the first to get on base. After fouling off four pitches, CJ hit a grounder to shortstop that was bobbled allowing CJ to beat the throw to first base. With his quad muscle injury still affecting his running, Ray “Bull Dog” Henry ran for CJ. Bull Dog stole second and also pulled a leg muscle, this time a high hamstring pull, forcing him out of the game after he limped to third. After two outs, Taylor “Welzy” Welz hit a line drive double to left-center scoring Pete “Baron” Von Zboray, running for Bull Dog, to tie the game at 1-1. Wookie then hit the next pitch to left-center for a double scoring Welzy and taking a 2-1 lead.
Stoney was holding down the potent offense of the Free Agents. They had runners in all but two innings. The Free Agents out hit the Buzzards today in both games, but it is the runs scored that counts. Good pitching and good defense held the FA’s until they scored two more in their last at-bat. In the seventh inning the Free Agents scored the runs on an infield throwing error, a walk, and a double followed by a single.
The Buzzards scored five runs in the fifth inning to give us some breathing room in the seven inning game. CJ started it off again with a hard infield ground ball to the left side. The Baron, running for CJ, then stole second base before Mark “Ronnie” Wronski walked on a full count. Steve “Cookie” Cook, batting left-handed, then failed to bunt on the first two pitches before driving the 1-2 pitch to left field to load the bases. Welzy then hit a bases clearing double to left-center field and advanced to third on the throw home attempting to get the trailing Cookie. A huge hit by Welzy to knock in three important runs. Welzy then scored on a failed pick-off play by Big Tim throwing to third. Bob “Woody” Wooden followed with a screaming double to left-center on the first pitch. Woody scored on the wild throw from the shortstop of Milli’s grounder for a 7-1 lead.
The Ol’ Buzzards scored three more in the bottom of the sixth. The inning started with Ronnie hitting a high bouncer to third. The infielder rushed his throw and Ronnie was aboard on the error. Cookie then hit into a fielder’s choice and replaced Ronnie on the base paths. Barry “Brooklyn” Forman then got on base when the second baseman muffed Brooklyn’s bouncer. Welzy then knocked in Cookie on a liner to center field. The fielder made a strong throw to second making Welzy hesitate and head back to first, putting himself into a pickle with Barry at third. After the second throw of the pickle, Brooklyn broke for home. A good throw beat Forman to home plate, but the catcher was reaching for the throw and Barry used an old Brooklyn trick – don’t slide and kick the ball out of the glove. Well, it worked and Barry scored, while Welzy was now standing on second base. Wookie then sent a 1-2 pitch to right-center field scoring Taylor with a double and ending the scoring at 10 runs.
Stoney pitched a superb game against a tough team. He faced 33 batters and threw 122 pitches (81 strikes & 41 balls) in scattering nine hits for three runs (one earned) with two walks, eight strike outs and one hit batter. The defense helped with some noteworthy plays. Welzy’s hard charging catch in center helped to stifle a Free Agent rally in the second inning. Milli’s fine work at first base in the third inning including blocking an errant pick-off throw and his leaping catch of a hot liner to end the inning with two runners on.
Stoney kept the ball in the infield for most of the outs in the game. There were three fly ball outs in the game – all to Welzy in center (2nd inning), right-center (3rd inning) and left-center (7th inning). Two of the infield outs were come-backers to Stoney. The rest were spread out to: Milli at first base with seven put-outs and one assist; Cookie with a grounder in the fourth and a pop-up in the seventh; Wookie had a sweet put-out in the first by scooping the bouncing throw on the run near the bag and stepping on second base before being smacked by the oncoming runner. This play was right after Wookie came up limping after a diving stop to knock down a grounder and hold the runner at third. Rough first inning for Ol’ Wookie. He also had a 6-3 to open the fourth inning and a pop-up in the sixth. Ronnie at third base handled Mark “Big Dude” Vendiero #21’s hot smash in the third inning. And CJ behind the plate threw a strike to Cookie covering second base to nail an attempted stealer for the first out of the sixth inning.
The Free Agents got three hits in the fifth, but with CJ gunning down the first runner on an attempted steal of second, a strike out and Milli’s play at first prevented the frustrated Free Agents from scoring. Welzy also made a fine running catch in the left-center field gap to end the game. The Buzzards played relaxed and had only one error during the game, while the Free Agents were tight and threw the ball away four times. Side note: Tim Burkitt was 4-4 and three Free Agent batters had multiple hits. Mark Vendiero was 3-4 with a double. Tim and Mark were pretty unstoppable offensively today.
The Buzzard offense scored 10 runs, but only had seven hits as Big Timmy kept the team off-balance at the plate. The Buzzards took advantage of the six errors and two walks to produce the runs. Four Buzzards had hits against the 52-year old Burkitt. Welzy had three hits (two doubles & a single) and Wookie had two doubles for five of the hits. Woody and Cookie were the other Buzzards to get a hit off the Free Agent All Star pitcher.
A solid game by the Buzzards made the difference in the first game of this double-header. The next game will start in 45 minutes.
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