On a gorgeous afternoon, the Whiz Kids came out to play ball against Blue Thunder. In remembrance of Flag Day and Fathers Day, the game started off with the playing of the National Anthem by special guest singer Whitney Houston as both teams were lined up on the first and third base lines. Then behind to 6-hit pitching of Rich Garbarino, the 2 for 2 performance of Matt Kelly, Blue Thunder walked away with an hard fought 5-1 victory. It was a scoreless pitchers duel between Garbarino and Ed Klopfer going into the fourth inning. Blue Thunder broke through the scoreless game by getting three runs in the fourth, highlighted with a 2 run triple from Kelly and then a base hit from Larry Pape closed out the scoring in the fourth. But the Whiz Kids were not to be shut down. With three consecutive hits in the top of the seventh, from Klopfer, Pierce and Abrey (Big Poppy ? ? ? ), the Kids put one on the board and were threatening for more. But Garbarino settled down and was able to get three groundouts to end the inning. Thank you to the Whiz Kids who, as always, played a terrific no holds barred game with sportsmanship and intensity. All the players walked away (no injuries, no sores, no broken bones) as it should be. Thanks again to the Whiz Kids for a terrific game on a terrific day. See you Whiz Kids next on 7/17/08. Wish it was more often. Submitted by Bob Lounsbury, General Manager of Blue Thunder.
Thank you to all the players on both teams. not only was it a perfect day for baseball,but I got to be a whiz kid for a few hours playing with some of the greats of the league. I then played a second game for my team the Yankees for my best day to date. 4 for 6 with 3 RBI's.what a great fathers day, I can't thank everyone enough for All the support and coolness from teammates everywhere.
Just a note: Matt Kelly, who perpetrated that "two-run triple," is an old-time Hummingbird. Interesting to see him in a different uniform. But I guess that's part of the fun of the 46's, scrambling things up. Kelly's triple was a broken-bat job, bat head flying toward the flinching first baseman while the ball bounced, rolled, then died down the RF line, barely fair, breaking up a scoreless game.
And so it goes.
After the game Kelly confirmed my suspicion: It was his first broken-bat triple.
