(Watervliet, NY) - After 34 days between games due to rainouts, the 55-Pirates took to beautiful Watervliet HS field to square off against the Americans. Both teams were looking to get off the duck! Co-Managers Jim (Lou Costello) Ansel and Jazzy (Bud Abbott) Jasiewicz conspired to a version of "Who's On First?" in the absence of a late arriving Manager Dalton. What ensued was a well played game, with Wayne Newcomb, twirling as good a gem as you will see in any division, putting the Pirates on his back with a Complete Game, 7-inning,3-hit shut-out! The Pirates defense was rock solid, with only 1-error, and turning 2 double-plays.
"Newk" came out firing, returning the first 6 American hitters, spotting a good fastball and change of speeds. He was one over the minimum, before Ben Petrone laced a 2-out single on the 4th. The Pirates meanwhile scratched out singletons, sandwiched around a two-spot in the 3rd to go up 4-0. Abbott and Costello, er - Jazzy (3-3 with a run, rbi and 2 sb) and Ansel were the linch pins in the Buccos offense, combining for 5 of the 7 Swashbucklers knocks, and Ansel's wheels (5 stolen bases and 3 runs scored - on the back of courtesy runner Paul Peters). Rick Knipper, a single and ribby, and a resurgent Mike Hart with his 2nd double in as many games accounted for the Pirates hits, and Newcomb helped himself with an rbi ground out.
After Ben Phillips open the 5th with a clean single, Jazzy had the defensive gem, snagging shallow fly to to right center (stat cast: distance covered 42' in 4,6 sec.) and delivering a strike on the run (stat cast: 64 mph) to turn a 8-1-3 double play and thwart the rally.
Newcomb caught a second wind, and had a 1-2-3 6th. A Boomer Hartman single led of the Americans, but was quickly erased on a slick 1-6-3 double play. Dalton then made a mound visit as if to take the ball, and the look on Wayne's face was priceless (see illustration below). He then got a comebacker to complete brilliant outing! New formula for the Pirates - play 1 game every 5 weeks and pitch Newcomb!
R H E Americans 0 3 2 Pirates 5 7 1
WP Newcomb (1-1) LP Durback
-- Edited by jdalton on Friday 23rd of July 2021 10:01:03 AM