Tuesday night in the midst of the heat wave, the Pirates and Shaskeys met at West Albany Babe Ruth. No lightning, no thunder no rain. Hot night, hot pitchers and cold bats. The return of the Pirates Richie Knaupp to the mound, saw him pitch a complete game with a shutout. Richie gave up only 4 hits. Oh yes, there was one hot bat owned by Fred Phillips of the Shaskeys going 3 for 3. Knaupp was aided by the Pirates turning 2 double plays and getting out of a bases loaded nobody out jam in the 2nd with 2 consecutive ground balls to Carlo Agneta at 3rd, who forced 2 Shaskeys out at the plate and Knaupp proceeded to strike out a major league film maker to end the threat. Excellent game pitched by Rich Cooney who scattered 6 hits and who made a very good fielding play, barehanding a bunt, by evidently a not so fleet footed Pirates manager. Enjoyable game, with you guessed it, a much improved Shaskeys team.
That was a very nice post that described the game very well. It was our first game at the Albany West Field, and I really love the field. The ambiance of the park is great, with all those Little Leaguers wondering "who are these guys?". The passing of freight trains and I90 out beyond left field create a din and a feel that reminds me of playing ball in New York City, where the Harlem Shaskys used to play at 127th St. with major elevated highways circling the field. I actually find the highway and the trains very relaxing. It's not pastoral baseball in a field of dreams, but rather a very exciting and energized place to play.
I think it's a great coup for our league and I wish we could play more of our games there. The mound could be reduced from it's current height of about three feet, but other than that the field itself is in pretty good shape. Also, a major plus is that the complex, located minutes from the I90 Everett Road exit, is centrally located and easy to get to. Kudos to the league for securing this field!
