Jim Porter walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th to force in the winning run as the WhizKids defeated the Americans 3-2. The decisive 9th inning was played Tues. night after the two teams battled to a 2-2 draw after 8 innings Monday night. Winning pitcher Jim Konstantakis set down the Americans in order in the top half of the 9th, then led off the bottom of the frame with a single. Ed Klopfer reached on an error, and both runners advanced on a groundball by Dave Palmer. Anthony Torre was walked intentionally to load the bases, and Porter worked the count to 3-2 before taking ball 4. Ed Rogers (does anyone in the entire CDMSBL pitch more innings than iron-man Ed?) went all 9 innings for the Americans, keeping the Whiz off balance for most of the game. Ed Klopfer struck out 9 in his 8 innings of work. Anthony Torre had given the Whiz a 2-0 lead with a 2-run double in the 3rd, and Ted Witting tied it up with a 2-run single in the top of the 5th for the Americans. A great game between 2 evenly matched teams. Congratulations to manager Tony Scanu and all the Americans for a fine season. No rest for the Whiz as they travel to Ichabod Crane tonight to take on the #2 seed Platinum Marlins. Jim Porter-Manager-WhizKids 55+ Division
Certainly, Ed Rogers gutted it out for a 2nd straight night despite being really banged up.
Ed Klopfer was our stalwart in getting us to Tuesday night. He didn't have his best control Monday, but continuously worked out of jams to hold the Americans to 2 runs. It could have been much worse. But Ed never waivered and never wanted to come out. Two gutty performances by two gutty pitchers and and a well-played game by both teams. It was a lot of fun.
As is always the case, there is a "play of the game.'' This Web Gem came Monday night by Whiz Kids 2nd-baseman Joe Torre. With runners on 1st and 3rd, an American player lined a drive heading toward center field. Joe raced over to knock down the liner, then had the instinct to pick up the ball, touch 2nd and throw to first for the DP. Without that play, there is no Tuesday night.
Also, if I am going to criticize, the I also need to compliment. Don Dunham was brilliant umpiring Monday. Period. He hustled out from the plate to see every play in the infield and his zone was flawless. (We have just one ump for 55 games). And it was always nice to see Mike LaDuke on Tuesday, who was also brilliant in that one inning. Hope it was worth the travel for old-man baseball, Mike. Great job, guys.
