The over-62 Pirates showed up at Watervliet High for their Wednesday August 2nd contest against the Americans undermanned, with just ten guys, tired after two games played in two days (one a heart-breaking late-game loss), facing a third contest in three days, and, if that weren't enough, limping.
(Kevin McCauley at third and Howard Becker at second both had sore, sore feet, yet the two pulled off two double plays; and catcher EJ Seney's arm was still attached after three straight games but it talked sore to him. Even so, some nice tosses to second.)
Other players looked on the pained side, too, but it didn't matter after Jim Dalton's crew disassembled the rather pokey Americans by an 11-4 score and, more importantly, won their first game of the year.
(For the psychic health of everybody, I've long thought that no team should go winless during a season, and equally, no team should win them all. Victory can bring an earned, leaping joy, which players anticipate at the season's start, in April, and defeat can straighten spines, inserting there renewed determination and hustle.)
The Americans were on the sore and tired side too, having played three games in five days, beating the Cardinals, 5-4, on Friday in Saugerties and then same Pirates, 10-8 on Monday, coming back from a 7-0 deficit in the third inning.
Jim Dalton and Jack Brock pitched for the Pirates and did fine work. Jim's teasing high floaters were hit, but often right at people. Jim kept the Americans pretty much off balance through four or five innings (using memory again; don't have the book). Then, over the remaining innings, Jack's good fastball and sinker offered sharp contrast to Jim's pitches, making any hit or run hard to come by.
The Americans' three pitchers had a rough go of it, as the Pirates smacked the offerings over the plate and ignored the others. The Americans as a team hit the ball, going 10-for-34 (.294), but too often not at unclaimed spots on the field. Gil Travis and Mike Hart each went 2-for-3 for the Americans.
The regular season is near its end. The 6-7 Americans have two games left, against the 5-7 Cardinals on August 9th in Saugerties and finishing out against the 2-10 Peppers on August 11 at New Scotland.
Meanwhile, the Pirates have three games to go: Monday, August 7, v. the first place, 12-1 Yankees at Watervliet, Thursday, August 10, v. the Peppers at New Scotland, and Tuesday, August 15, v. the second place, 10-1 Arachnids.
Great thing about this game? Even among the 62 and over crowd, it can produce post-game yelps of joy.
-Mike
P.S. Hats off to Dennis Lane at WHS. The field was in terrific shape: Lawn green and mowed, dirt soft and dragged, and white lines chalked to eternity.
-- Edited by mikehart on Thursday 3rd of August 2023 05:04:29 PM
Congratulations to the Pirates on a well deserved win. I will never forget playing for a couple of teams that almost never won a game. Its tough. I respect you guys more than you know.
Don't much pay attention to standings anymore, but I was SHOCKED that the Pirates hadn't won a game till they beat us.
They swing the bats with authority, run the bases well and are solid defensively. They play hard and for all 7 innings. Jimmy Jazz, Jack Brock, Rick Knipper, EJ Seney, Jim Ansel and Paul Peters (IMHO one of the very best players in the 55s and 62s) are guys to build a contender around. I don't know all the players, but there are others also. I just couldn't believe we are the only team they beat this year.
Take 'em lightly in the playoffs and you might be going home early.
