Gold Country Buzzards

Gold Country Ol' Buzzards Game Report #16

Game: August 24, 2014

Buzzards claw Solons, 7-1

The Ol' Buzzards were up early and landing at James Field for a Sunday morning match-up with the second place Solons. The Gold Country Buzzards were facing the Sacramento Solons for the fourth and last time of the regular season. The Buzzards stomped the Solons in the Opening Day game on April 6th, 21-4, at C-Bar-C Park. The Buzzies also whopped the Solons at James Field in the morning on May 4th, 11-4; and recently on August 3rd, 9-2, at home. The Solons brought a large contingent of players and they got to the field early and eager.

The morning was fabulous with game-time temps in the low to mid 80s for the battle of the top two teams in the ol' man's division. The starting pitcher for the visiting Solons was their all-star MVP and tough righty, John 'Freckles' Hagen #24. On the hill for the Buzzards was veteran right-hander, Fred 'Freddie' O'Donoghue #32.

The Buzzards jumped on the scoreboard first with a run in the opening inning. Taylor 'Welzy' Welz led-off with an infield bouncer for a hit. Welzy then stole second and moved to third on a grounder to the right-side by Dan 'Wookie' Wukmir. The hard hit ball was heading toward the hole between first and second, when the big Italian, Frank 'Mafia' Smith, playing first base, stuck out his over-sized right (bare) hand to knock down the sizzling ball. Big Frank then made a nice play for the out as Welzy moved to third. It was nutty to use a bare-hand on the play, but it shows the Solons were pulling out all-the-stops to beat the Buzzards.

Batting next, Dave 'Evy' Everingham pulled a 1-2 pitch into left-field for a line-drive single to score Welzy. Evy was thrown out in a close play trying to steal second base by the new Solons catcher, Jurg 'Chiseled' Ramal. Pete 'Baron' Von Zboray walked before the inning ended with a 1-0 Buzzard lead.

The Gold Country gang of 12 struck for one more run in the second dig. With one out, Freddie walked on a full-count. Tom ran for Fred. One out later, Paul 'General' Lee walked on five pitches to put two runners on with two outs and Welzy coming to the plate. On a 2-1 pitch, Welzy lashed a single to left to score Tom 'Tomahawk' Keatley and make the score 2-zip.

In the bottom half of the third frame the Ol' Buzzards put a nice crooked number, 5, on the scoreboard to add some breathing room to the score. Evy started it off with a hot grounder through the left-side for a base hit. The Baron then smoked one at the shortstop. The lefty, Tom DeFazio filling in for the regular shortstop, misplayed the bouncing bullet to put two runners on. One out later, Jim 'Milli' Milligan hit a laser right back at the pitcher for an almost double play. Out of self-defense on the mound, Freckles caught the heater, and then turned to throw to second base to try to get a hustlin' Evy. Evy was safe on a close play at the bag, but the Baron was off first base by a long way still. The Solons did not quickly take advantage of the Buzzard predicament and threw too late to first to get the retreating Baron. On the throw, Evy advanced to third leaving Buzzards at the corners. The Baron stole second base before Freddie walked again on a full-count.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Kelly 'Cagey' Garcia stepped into the batter's box. On a 2-2 pitch, and after fouling-off another offering, Cagey laced a low liner into left-field for a big single to score Evy and Baron. Up next, the General took a stroll to first base via a base on balls to load 'em up for Welzy at the top of the order. Taylor did not disappoint when he crushed the second pitch into the left-center field gap for a long double. The hit and tough relay cleared the bases sending all the runners home to complete the five-run inning. The score after three innings was 7-0 Buzzards.

After the third frame, the Buzzard bats suddenly got quiet. Freckles found his stride and struck-out seven Buzzards while facing only four batters over the minimum, with 19 during the last five innings. The Buzzards did not come close to scoring again after the third frame.

Meanwhile, the Buzzard pitching and defense were putting on a historic shutdown of the Solons offense. The Solons had gone down 1-2-3 in each dig through the first seven innings. There were four hits, so the innings were not perfect. However in each case, the Buzzards were able to effectively erase the transgressing Solon with: 1) a stolen base attempt in the second; 2) a pick-off at first base in the third; 3) a stolen base attempt of third base in the fourth by Bruce 'Radio Man' Maiman; and 4) another stolen base attempt at second in the seventh.

The Solons brought four batters to the plate in the eighth to break the 'three and out' pattern. And they finally scored in the ninth on a lead-off single, walk, strike-out, and walk to load the bases. Left-hander, Ken 'Wrong' Wright then hit a grounder to short for a force-out at second as the lone Solon run of the game scored. Two batters later the game was over with a pop-up to short. It took a little more than 2 1/2 hours to beat the Solons, 7-1, in the nine inning affair.

The Buzzard pitching was superb. Freddie handled the first four innings and threw 52 pitches (32 strikes & 20 balls) to 12 batters. O'Donoghue gave up no runs on four hits with no walks and four strike-outs from the bump. Welz covered the fifth and sixth frames from the mound by throwing only 18 pitches (14 strikes & 4 balls) and facing just six batters. Taylor gave up no runs and no hits and struck-out two in the quick two digs. Gregg 'Surf Dawg' Novotny was the game's closer and got the three-inning save from the hill. Surf Dawg threw 49 pitches (34 strikes & 15 balls) in facing 14 Solons. Gregg gave up one run (unearned) on three hits and two walks while striking out three batters.

The Ol' Buzzard offense looked good early, but did not adjust well to John Hagen finding his groove. After the third inning, the Buzzards struggled to put runners on base. Four batters went to the plate in the fourth; only three in the fifth and sixth; four batters in the seventh; and five in the last frame. The hit club for the 11-hit game included: Baron, Cagey, Evy (3), General, mMumbles, Tomahawk, and Welzy (3). The seven ribbies were courtesy of three Buzzards: Cagey (2), Evy, and Welzy (4). The all-important runs were scored by: Baron, Cagey, Evy, Freddie (2), General, and Welzy. The three eagle-eyed Buzzards receiving free passes to first base were: Baron, Freddie (2), and General (2).

The Buzzard defense was excellent and held the Solons in-check for most of the game. Of the 27 outs, there were 9 strike 'em outs, leaving 18 put-outs required. There were three fly-ball put-outs in the game. A can of corn hit to the Baron in right-field to end the first frame. Tomahawk caught a deep fly to center in the fifth, and a high fly for the first out in the eighth inning.

After narrowly avoiding a Solon double play in the third frame, the Buzzards pulled one off in the fourth. With runners on first and second with no outs, Bruce was dancing far off of second base. He then decided to try and steal third. Milli, behind the plate, threw a one-bounce strike to Surf Dawg in front of the bag for the tag out. Bruce could have slid to the outside of the bag and may have been safe, but he slid into Gregg's ankle and shin with his metal cleats for the out. But leaving the Nike cleat pattern on the shin. With one out, Welzy snagged a liner then threw-out the runner at first before he could get back for the easy double play to end the inning.

The two dangerous pop-ups were handled without incident. A high pop-up at shortstop to end the sixth was caught by Evy, and the last out of the game was a pop-up to Wookie at short. There were two come-backers in the game. They just happen to be the first two outs of the game with dribblers to Freddie, half-way up the first base line, for easy put-outs.

Infielders were playing out of position in the game due to injuries and Burning Man, but the group was solid. Cagey had six put-outs at first base, one great pick-off throw and tag in the third (Freddie to Kelly), and the rest were throws from the infield. Welzy had one assist and three put-outs playing second base. Evy had two assists and the pop-up put-out for a slow day at the office. Wookie played second, third and short in the game and had two assists and one put-out, all at shortstop.

Three Solons tried to steal a base and three Solons were thrown out by the Buzzard catching corps. Milli had two notches added to his belt with throw-outs at second for the first out in the second inning, and at third base for the first out in the fourth. Freddie O nailed the runner at second for the first out in the seventh frame. Impressive stuff, including good jobs by the pitchers holding the runners on - it does help.

Evy made a nice grab at short of a tough bouncer in the fifth. In the eighth, Wookie playing short made a surprisingly slick short-hop snag of a wicked low liner hit by lefty, Phil 'Speedy' Gunther. As Wook made the throw, howls of 'come-on' and 'give us a break' and others were heard. Wook responded light-heartedly by saying his eyes were closed. In returning to the dugout, one of the nicest compliments from a teammate when Milli said, I thought for a minute that Evy was playing shortstop. Good stuff and a good team with a bunch of great guys.

Beware the Buzzards. 

Buzzard Note #1: No game on Labor Day weekend. The next, and last regular, game of the season is on September 7th at 2 pm at James Field versus the Astros. A team photo will be taken, so showers and shaves are encouraged on that day.

Buzzard Note #2: The Buzzards have a playoff bye on September 14th and no game that day. The championship game will be on the 21st. The time and place to be determined.

Buzzard Note #3: The team party is still on for September 28th at the Salmeri's in Rescue. The plan is lunch at 1 o'clock catered by Felipe's with margaritas, cold drinks and more.