Gold Country Buzzards

Gold Country Ol' Buzzards Game Report #9

Game: June 29, 2014

Buzzards fly high on airwaves, beat Miners 5-2

KAHI Radio was setting up early in the stands behind home plate for the annual Radio Game as the teams warmed up and field prep continued. The day was a hot one with the high temperature in Auburn on Sunday at 96°. This Radio Game followed the Oakland A's victory over the Marlins in Miami. The morning broadcast of the A's game, allowed KAHI to schedule the three-hour block for the Gold Country Battle Royale at James Field between the youngsters and the oldsters for baseball bragging rights of the Sierra Foothills from 2 to 5 pm.

The Miners are having a good season and have only lost to the A's twice for their 7-2 record, matching the Buzzards 7-2 record for the season. The highly anticipated game brought out a good crowd to add to the fun atmosphere. A little added pressure was on the Ol' Buzzards team since previous Buzzies have not lost a Radio Game to their opponents (five years), and have beaten the Miners a couple of times in past broadcasted games to include last year's Radio Game.

The pitchers for the Radio Game were both tough veterans that would go the distance for their teams in this game. The visiting Buzzards sent righty, Rick 'Salmo' Salmeri #6 to the hill, while the Miners sent lefty, Mike 'Smiley' Vargas #11 to the mound to open the game.

The Buzzards struck first with a run in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Dave 'Evy' Everingham bounced one between third and short for a base hit. Evy then stole second and alertly took third on the wide throw that deflected into short center. Meanwhile, at the plate, Pete 'Baron' Von Zboray was up to a full-count before he smashed a liner into right-center for a run- scoring single to take an early 1-nothing lead.

Because the game's pitching and defenses were up to the task of shutting down their opponent, the 1-0 score stood until the seventh inning. The Buzzards had two runners on in the third and sixth frames, but that was the extent of the scoring threats.

In the third, Mike 'Mickey' Wilson led-off with a sharp line-drive single to left-field. After Mickey was erased by a fielder's choice at second, Paul 'General' Lee was at first. Batting next, Taylor 'Welzy' Welz earned a full-count walk to put runners at first and second. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position before the frame ended without the key hit. The Buzzards had another scoring opportunity in the sixth when Dave 'DK' Kelley led-off with a base hit. One out later, Welzy singled to put two Buzzards on base with one out. However, the next two batters popped-out and flied-out to end the rally.

Meanwhile, the Miners were putting runners on base in every inning except the fourth. There were two runners on board in the first with a single and a walk, and two on in the second with a single and hit batter. The two runners in the third inning were on base via another hit batter and then a goofy grounder, a spinning come-backer to Salmo, that alluded his grasp and then tripped him up for an awkward crash landing near the mound.  In the fifth frame, the Miners had two runners on-base due to a base hit and an infield error. And in the sixth, hit batsman number three was the runner.

The Buzzards broke through with two runs in the top half of the seventh. The Baron started it off with a full-count base on balls. Up next, Tom 'Tomahawk' Keatley hit a flare to short center-field that appeared headed for a base hit. The Baron went half-way to second on the play, but the center fielder was able to scoop up the hit and throw out the Baron at second. Jim 'Milli' Milligan followed with a blast to the left-center-field fence for a double and knocked in Tomahawk hustlin' from first base. Pete then ran for Milli at second, as Jim tweaked his right hamstring on the double.  With one out, Fred 'Freddie' O'Donoghue slapped a single to left-field that put Buzzards at the corners. Batting next, Norm 'Burner' Tucker lined a 1-1 pitch into left-center to score the Baron and take a 3-nothing lead.

The Miners answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning on a leadoff single, a stolen base, then advancing on a ground-out before scoring on a sacrifice fly-out to tighten the score at 3-1 Buzzards.

The Ol' Buzzards put two more on the score board in the top of the eighth. A leadoff single by the General was followed by another hit by Welzy. After a fielder's choice play put runners at the corners, Evy slammed an 0-1 pitch to right-field for a double to score General Lee. The Baron, batting next, hit a long fly ball to left for a sacrifice fly to drive in Wookie from third with the fifth run of the game and to add some run-cushion going into the last inning.

The Miners did not go quietly in the bottom of the ninth. A one-out double down the left-field line was followed by a base hit to score the second run. The exciting finish included a two-out wild-pitch strike-out with the runner getting to first safely. There is nothing like a four-out, ninth inning with the tying run at the plate for exciting drama.

The 52+ Buzzards held on with their renowned defense for a 5-2 victory over the 42+ Miners in their only meeting of the season. The game lasted for 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Even though there were lots of Miner runners with 12 left-on-bases, the pitching performance and low pitch-count merited the complete game. Rick had a shutout going through six inning against a very good hitting team. Salmo threw 9 innings and faced 40 batters in throwing 118 pitches (83 strikes & 35 balls) in winning his second game of the season. Rick gave up seven hits with one walk but had three hit batters (Brett McCourt was hit twice) to go with five strike-outs - four for outs. Salmo leads the Buzzard pitching staff in hit batters with five. The next closest is a three-way tie at zero.

The Buzzard offense consisted of 13 hits and two walks, but was short a key hit or two early in the game. The quick, two-hit run in the first inning and then the clumped hits in the seventh and eighth innings proved enough to beat a good Miner team. The hit club for the game included: the Baron, Burner (2), DK, Evy (2), Freddie (2), General, Mickey, Milli, and Welzy (2). The five ribbies were knocked in by: the Baron (2), Burner, Evy, and Milli. The always important runs were scored by: Burner, Evy, General, Tomahawk, and Wookie. The two Buzzard walkers to earn a free pass to first base were: the Baron and Welzy.

The Ol' Buzzard defense played like young Buzzards and made several fabulous plays at critical times to kill a Miner rally. The solid D, that made all the plays except for some infield sun balls, was very impressive. There was only one double play, but it was very timely in the first inning.

With two of the first three batters getting on base, the clean-up hitter then smashed a lined shot toward second that was snagged by Welzy and quickly followed by a strong throw 'on the money' to Evy covering second base to end the inning. Not to be out done, Milli made an unbelievable catch and went a long way to snag a foul ball near the dugout screen to end the fifth with two runners on base.

Welzy was all over the field with three far-ranging and impressive catches in the second and third digs. Taylor made another impressive play in the eighth. With no outs and a man on second, Will Boulware hit a ball far to Welzy's left. Taylor hustled over near the edge of the outfield grass and then went into a pop-up slide while quickly scooping up the ball. T-Welz then made a strong throw to first for a big first-out of the eighth inning. In the game, Welzy had five put-outs and three assists at second base. Evy was rock solid, as usual, with four assists and one put-out at shortstop. The Buzzard defensive toughness is due in large part to having the best middle infield in the league with Evy and Welzy.

The outfield battled the sun and made every play, and none of them were easy fly-ball outs. Tomahawk had two nice put-outs of deep line drives to center-field. Mickey had one huge put-out in left in the fifth frame. The first two Miners got aboard via lucky breaks - an infield sun ball and a hot grounder right down the third base line that glanced off of the fielder's glove and into foul territory. A three-pitch strike-out followed for the first key out. Next, slugger Alton Cooper sent a screaming line-drive to left-field. While fighting the sun and chasing the sinking liner, Mickey strained his hamstring while making the sliding, reaching catch of the ball just inches from the ground. The next out of that inning was Milli's great catch in foul territory.

The General moved to left-field after Wilson was injured and played the field without sun glasses. Lee made three excellent catches of deep drives in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings to keep those pesky Miners off of the bases.

The Ol' Buzzards put on quite a show. By beating the tough and younger Miners on the radio with a good-sized audience made for an extra sweet victory. Good job, Buzzards.

The after-game team gathering with the barbecue ribs, brisket, cole slaw and that excellent potato salad with rolls worked out well. The food was picked up from Bam Dazy BBQ in Auburn. The food tables were set-up by the gazebo and the hungry gang plowed through the serving trays in good order with plenty to drink. The good, competitive and fun victory was followed by good food and better fellowship. It was just another day to show: It's good to be a Buzzard.

Buzzard Note #1: The broadcast will be available soon to be downloaded from KAHI's web site for recording to disk or saved for later listening, especially when we are in the old folks home.

Buzzard Note #2: Thanks to the sponsors for making the 2014 Radio Game possible. Barry and Back To The Drawing Board, Taylor and Welz Financial Services, Gregg and Mount Pleasant Farm and Gardens, Paul and Felipe's Mexican Restaurants, Pete and Keys Plus, and his wife, Kelley's 'Those Were The Days' vintage clothing shop in Auburn, and Diane's Costumes. Norm talked the Strike Zone batting cages and Knee Deep Brewing into also being game sponsors.

Buzzard Note #3: This was the last game against the youngsters this season. The remainder of the season will be against teams in the 52+ division. The next game is July 13th at 10 am at a new field to the Buzzards. The game against the Yankees is at the Tri City Little League fields located at Johnson-Springview Park in Rocklin near where Whitney Blvd and Sunset Blvd cross.

Buzzard Note #4: The NABA All-Star game for the 52+ division has been moved up from later in July to Tuesday, July 8th. The plan was to have ballots for voting at the next game, but now there is no time since the game is next Tuesday. Ballots will be e-mailed to you soon. Please send them back quickly. It looks like seven players can go, plus the manager. The game is at 7 pm at Playfields Park in Davis.