Friday night at New Scotland the finalists in the last three championships squared off in the opener for both teams. The Silver Marlins used outstanding pitching from Darrell Duncan and Phil Gadomski to win the opener 6-0. John Reel missed a grand slam by inches as he hit a key bases loaded single that rung off the top of the left field fence. John was thrown out at second, but drove in two runs with that loud single. Mike Girard drove in three runs and newbie John Wotusik drove in the other run on what was a miserable night for such a key early game. The overcast skies and rain shortened this game to just a 5-inning affair. Too bad for both teams that we couldn't have gone 7 full innings on a night that was warmer and dryer. I guess that will have to wait until we meet again August 6th.
Nice win Mike - Must have been that extra BP you got last week. Good to hear Mash is back on the hill! John Reel must have been admiring that rip from home for awile-
I want to say the O's had a nice comeback erased here. they tied us in the top of the 6th. the umps called the game with their last out. its alwasy a tough decison for them. and I don't now their thought process, or if they know we don't resume these games....but at the 4 1/2 inning point (after 5 at bats for the team behind you have an official game). it was 6-0 at that point. in order to go forward you need to think about nine outs to complete a game like that. Not 6. maybe they thought the O's would go easy as the game had settled from the scoring of the first 2 innings ,,who knows?
this is why we need to start on time and have May games start at 5:45. I think we started at a little after 6 . the O's would have had some time to get three outs against us or us time to get a run to break the tie. and its debateable whether those last few minutes were bright enough to play good baseball anyway. but beware teams this is an issue with games played this early in the season.
the erasure of the 6th inning hides some good at bats by the O's. they came alive after being dormant after Mark Lennox's opening inning triple. seemed like they batted around with some key hits and walks and a lost fly ball to right ......last season's MVP and O's mgr. Paul Scultieri had a booming double to right center to punctuate that lost inning.
but hey, it was good to see old teammates and opponents again. I think of those who can't play for many reasons and am thankful once again for opening day and this league and its great members. ....and I'm sad to say i was runnning full blow Jon. caught between the humilation of stopping at first or being thrown out by feet at second. a game full of tough decisions! JR
