It was a tense contest between the rejuvenated Vets, one of the original 45 division teams, and the Black Sox Sunday afternoon at New Scotland. Going into the top of the seventh inning the Black Sox held a 2 run lead. The Vets with their competitive spirit and no quit attitude plated 2 to tie the score. In the bottom of the seventh the lead-off batter for the Black Sox reached on an error and was pinch run for by Jim LaTorre. Frank Tarantino laid down a perfect sac bunt to advance the runner. Vet's pitcher John (?) Atwell issued an intentional base on balls, his only walk of the game, to Mike Aiello. Ralph Caputo came to the plate and stung a hit, his third of the game, to centerfield loading the bases. The Vets brought their infield in, and Fred Phillips stepped into the batter's box and with a mighty swing hit a soft bouncing, spinning ball toward the second baseman who was unable to make a clean play on the ball and the Sox scored to win 8-7. Hats off to the Vets and their manager Brad Buchan. We split the series 1 and 1, and who knows, we may meet again in the playoffs.
LaTorre went 4.1 innings and kept the Vets at bay after the second inning.Rich Kreig came in to relieve and with the bases loaded and 1 out induced a pop-up to first baseman Dennis Reuter and a K to end the threat.In the 7th with one run in and a man on second Caputo closed it out for his first win of the season. The Sox pitcher's combined for 11 K's.
Tarantino and Caputo each had 3 hits and 2 runs scored, with Caputo having 3 rbi. Chuck Stanley and Bob Noto each had 2 hits with Stanley adding 2 rbi. Jerry Solomon at catcher chipped in with a hit and 1 rbi.
Atwell,going the distance, pitched an outstanding game for the Vets. Rich Koster and Atwell each had a double, while Ken Zimmer not only had a double but a single, 1 rbi and scored the tying run. Other Vets with an rbi included Bill Kervan, Dave Foreman, Joe Romero and Tony Grocki.
An oddity occurred in the game. One of the Vets batters struck out twice but reached base each time. Sox it's time for some fielding practice.
dbwixon
-- Edited by dbwixon on Wednesday 14th of July 2010 06:14:39 PM
