albany academy takes some getting used to - it's has a grass infield with openings around the bases - but it's pretty and charming, especially with the green leafy maples behind home, shading the benches, the pines in the far outfield and the brick and stone school beyond that, with its bright white georgian arches and cupola. playing there, you feel like you've dropped back close to 100 years - about the time i started in the game - and i liked that.

we could take some solace in the perspectives beyond the field, but on it, the view was a little harder. mike meiello dominated for the blue jays, pitching six fine innings - game was called for darkness; it's that time of year, now - allowing only 5 hits and striking out six. (?) Gatcha (sorry, don't know first name and spelling of the last may be off) tripled a good 300-plus feet to right for the blue jays and al hart and paul celantano slammed rbi doubles for the birds. catcher dan mcgwire went 2-for-4. for the peppers, mike bintz went 2-for-3. greg hoin started for the first time and did well but was the victim at intervals from odd hops on the infield grass; ken boudreau relieved, also for the first time, getting the only two batters he faced. the peppers fielded just 9 players - vacationitis has struck, which fortunately ends sunday, and in that preserves what few strands of hair i have left. - mike

linescore: - 1 2 3 4 5 6 -- r h e
Blue Jays - 0 3 1 2 0 0 -- 6 8 2
Peppers -- 0 1 0 0 0 1 -- 2 5 3