With temperatures close to the 90-degree mark, two hot pitchers, Jim Konstantakis and Rick Loffredo, dueled it out at New Scotland on Tuesday night, but in the end, it was the gloves of Jerry Hawkins and Read Shepherd, and the big bat of Paul Watson that made the difference, as the 55+ Nolan Propane Cardinals defeated the Whiz Kids, 4-3 in 8 innings, for their fourth win of the season.
The Whiz Kids struck first, scoring three runs in the first two innings. Only a heads-up double play in the first, started by Cardinals third baseman John LaTorre, prevented any further scoring.
Loffredo settled down after a Cardinals-style luke-warm start and from the third through the eighth, allowed only three hits while striking out five. Jimmy K was just as effective, giving up just six hits despite a rough fourth inning that saw the Cardinals score three times on just two hits and two damaging errors.
With the score tied at 3-3, shortstop Jerry Hawkins went to work handling seven chances flawlessly over the final four innings, including a couple of throws from deep in the hole that nailed the runner.
Complimenting the super strong defensive abilities of the Cardinals came the most important defensive play of the evening in the top of the 8th. With two outs and runners on second and third, the Whiz Kids Jesse Braverman hit a sinking line drive down the left-field line. Read Shepherd, who insists he's not an outfielder, made a diving-with-a-half-twist-in-mid-air-sliding catch to end the inning and keep the score tied at 3-3.
In the bottom of the inning, Mark Josefski singled and went to third on a throwing error. After two intentional walks to load the bases, mighty Paul Watson stung the first pitch over a drawn-in infield to give the Cardinals a hard-fought victory.
It was a great game, and a good time was had by all.
Next up for the Nolan Propane Cardinals: the Damn Yankees on Thursday night at New Scotland.
Susan 55 Site admin
-- Edited by Player on Wednesday 8th of June 2011 07:31:29 PM
