COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - The day couldn't have been more beautiful.

"It doesn't get any better than this, does it?'' Wayne Newcomb of the Dodgers said as he walked on to Doubleday Field and headed toward the Dodgers dugout along the third-base line. Smiles were as bright s the sunlight as the players filed into the field.

A 10 a.m. start with temps around 75 and not a cloud in the sky. Fans from both teams sitting eagerly in the stand awaiting a Giants-Dodgers confrontation. Town streets already bustling with tourists stopping inquisitively as we gray-haired men proudly donned our jerseys as they did back when Abner Doubleday invented the game right here in Cooperstown at the ripe old age of 20 in 1839. Baseball fans from all over, donning their favorite team's hats: We saw Indians, Giants, Phillies, even a gal wearing a Mariners' hat!

But for Saturday, July 16, 2011, it was the CDMSBL version the heated Dodgers-Giants rivalry. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the day turned to gloom rather quickly. For Newcomb, his day started just as perfect as the day he described as he entered the ballfield. For the Giants' Jim "Whit'' Whitford, his day started, and ended, even better.

Whit started on the hill for the Giants and promptly got the Dodgers out 1-2-3.
Tony Nardacci led off the Giants bottom of the first with a long blast headed toward the fence in center off starter Brett Conlin. And with the padded wall 390 feet away, that gave room for Wayne Newcomb to re-create the "catch'' by Willie Mays in the 1954 World Series against the Clevaland Indians. Newcomb ran - and ran and ran and ran - finally looking over his left shoulder to snare the drive and rob Tony of at least a double and more likely a triple as the throng around the diamond cheered in awe.

"How old are these guys?'' one fan quipped who was standing along the entrance gate by the first-base dugout.

But to no one's anticipation, the show was just beginning. And as the Dodgers would soon realize, what goes around, comes around. In the Dodgers half of the second inning, all-league power-hitter Nick Kanellis blasted a Whitford pitch to the deepest part of center as well. You could hear the crowd begin to roar with the sound of the crack. But not to be outdone by his counterpart, Paul Scutieri turned his back and ran - and ran and ran and ran - reaching out fully stretched just left of the center-field wall and speared the drive for the first out of the inning to a thunderous applause from even the Dodgers faithful.

Unfortunatley for the Dodgers, by that time, they were already facing a challenging deficit. In the bottom of the first, the Giants weren't discouraged by Newcomb's catch of Nardacci's blast leading off the inning. Scutieri and Steve Lounello followed with sharp singles before Doug Reisinger was hit by a pitch. Ron Smaka made them pay. Smaka lined a pitch to the gap in left-center that rolled all the way to the wall and the Giants had a 3-0 lead. Wayne Philips, who had a big 3-hit day with friends and family looking on, then delivered Smaka with a line single to left. Mike Labanowski singled Philips to third. Labs was then gunned down trying to steal second on a perfect throw from Dodger catcher Mike LaBarge before Bill Smith singled and Whitford was hit by a pitch. Mike Kane followed with a single in front of a walk to Jim Konstantakis. Nardacci then got even with a 2-run double to cap an 8-run first and a deficit the Dodgers were not able to overcome as the Giants went on to a 13-2 win at Doubleday Field.

Whitford earned the pitching win with two innings of shutout ball. But his day at the plate was even more interesting - and fan pleasing. Whit, as mentioned who was hit by a pitch in the first, was also plunked again in the third, this time by Jim Kisselberg. Whit just got under a pitch in the 5th and popped high toward the deep blue sky to third. Then in the 7th, Whit, among the classiest guys in the league, brought the fans - and his daughters, Casey and Carly, to their feet yet again. He got into a Wayne Newcomb delivery and crushed it into the cloudless blue sky well beyond the wall just to the left of the 336-foot sign to a rousing applause with onlookers from the next game staring at each other in amazement.

"How old are you guys,'' one fan asked after the game. "Where you from?'' another wanted to know. A young man, likely in his mid 20s who was there from North Carolina, couldn't wait to shake Whit's hand. He also made it a point to shake the hand of Billy Smith and said, "you inspire me.''

With all the sparkling plays, Smitty, a young 60 who caught five innings of the game, also made his presence felt. Not only did his line-drive single plate a run to help open up the big lead in the first, he also got into the web gem action, gunning down perhaps the fastest Dodger runner. In the top of the 7th, Gino Rodriguez lead off with one of his patented infield slap singles between short and third. Trailing 12-2, he took second on defensive indifference, then stole third. With two outs and Gino prancing and dancing around at third with a big lead, Smith took a Lounello fastball on the inside part of the plate, stepped back and fired a strike to third to pick him off in what was a fitting end to the game.

The post-game gathering took place down by the lakefront where we had subs, salads (courtesy of Michele Scutieri), desert (coutresy of Lounello; great brownies!) and refreshments of the non-alcohilc type because we were in a public area. Gorgeous views, gorgeous day and baseball. Wayne was right, it doesn't get any better than this.

As always, it's fun to play the Dodgers, who are having an off year considering the success they had just a year ago. Tough to figure with all that talent they have, though it's equally as tough to see Kanellis limping around and not at 100%.

For the Dodgers, Newcomb, Ed Rogers, Conlin, Frank Kerbain, Jim Kisselberg and Rodriguez each had singles for the Dodgers.

The Giants were led by Smaka and Philips, who each had three hits and scored a run. Philips added 2 RBIs. Nardacci, Scutieri, Lounello, Labanowski and Kane each had two hits to help lead the Giants 18-hit attack.

Whit pitched the first two to earn the win. Jim K. gave up an unearned run in innings 3-4. Nardacci pitched the 5th and enduced three straight ground balls to Labanowski at short before Lounello closed up, allowing a run via a walk, hit batter and two fielder's choice grounders.

The Giants, now 6-3, next play the unbeaten Marlins in a doubleheader Sunday July 24.

It's well worth the little effort it takes to organize this trip. Every player should experience this taste of historic Americana at least once. Great facility, very good umpiring, excellent crew taking care of the field, fan-friendly, clean village ...

The only drawback is parking. No longer can you park on the streets. There is a two-hour parking limit in the residential areas. We parked for the day right in the ballpark's parking lot for $10. Or you can pay $2 an hour.

JimK