Supported by fans of dads the U-Albany stands were rocking by the seventh inning of a well played and exciting game. The Black Sox scored three runs on five hits in their half of the first inning. Many in the crowd were not cheering very loudly, as most came to cheer on the Blue Thunder. Rich Garbarino, on the mound for the Blues, buckled down and held the Sox off the board for the next five innings, while his Thunder slowly chipped away scoring a run in the second and another in the fourth. While the Black Sox threatened several times to put more runs on the board , Rich and his team held steady and extinguished each threat. At one point I suggested to my team not to hit balls to centerfield, since Matt Kelly made sure looking hits into outs. Man, he covers a lot of ground. Finally, in the bottom of the sixth Dean Fish reached first on a miscue behind Garbarino, followed by sac bunt from Johnson moving Fish to second. A balk moved Fish to third and Hensel singled driving in Fish, Sarubbi, who reached base 4 times with 2 hits and 2 walks, folowed with another hit moving Hensel to 3rd. Musella sent a fly to center which Kelly snaqgged and his throw home had a bit much height allowing Hensel to score and allowing Sarubbi to reach 3rd from where he scored on a paaed ball. The Sox could breath a little easier now, we thought. Foreman came out in the top of 7th to complete what he had started, having allowed a single earned run through 6 while striking out 5. The complete game was not to be today for Dave, as he tired and was lifted for a reliever after walking the leadoff hitter. Johnson, who had pitched 6 stellar innings on Saturday, took the hill and was greeted by a solid single from Netsoe (sp?). Brown then hit a sharp grounder which Noto grabbed and made the force at third. Groans from the crowd filled the air, but were quickly replaced with cheers when Kelly hit a nubber for a single. Bases loaded and Garbarino follows with single driving in run number 3. The crowd is cheering, and LaFlamme steps to plate with all the sacks occupied. With a patience at bat he works the count for a walk, forcing in run 4 for the Thunder. A pitching change is made and Sarubbi, in what one might consider a pressure situation, toes the rubber to try and snuff out this rally. The crowd cheering, Weitz steps to the plate and slaps the ball toward second and taking a tricky bounce lands him on first and plates the 5th run for the Thunder. The crowd, on their feet and and cheering wildly, the tying run 90 feet away, greet Matheson with "you can do it, man, you can do it." Sarubbi, with the bases full and 1 out, eyes Myers target and fires the ball toward home and as quickly as the ball travels toward the plate Matheson hits it solidly toward second. The crowd, nearly at a frenzy, celebrating the tying run scoring, are suddenly quieted as Hensel fields the ball cleanly, tossing it to Musella, getting the force at second, and making a perfect throw to first ending the Thunder's comeback. Although the crowd was dissappointed by the final score I believe they enjoyed watching a bunch of "Dads" play a solid and exciting ballgame. Reuter continued his hot hitting for the Black Sox with 2 hits and a screamming liner that Hayden snaggked just over first base. Myers made two spectacular catches of pop-ups as he anchors the middle of the defense from behind the plate. A hearty congratulations to Bob Lounsbury and his team for a game well played and knowing the game isn't over until the cheers evaporate. Although one hearty fan insisted the ump made the wrong call at first, which he didn't. I commend he and his cohort behind the plate for officiating in a seamless manner. Thanks Todd and John K. for a professional job well done.
