(Wednesday 7/24, New Scotland,NY) - As is usually the case, save for this season, a Pirates-Peppers match-up is akin to a heavyweight fight with punches traded until one boxer is left standing. It has been such a history going back to their 55-Division days, before graduation to the 62-Senior Circuit. The norm has been last team to score wins, and Wednesday, at Swift Road Town Park was no different, as the Pirates nipped the Peppers 11-8. Both squads had run into the typical late July roster scramble, to pull together enough able bodied players, needing to overcome injuries and work/family commitments.
The Patchwork Pirates sent Jimmie Dalton to the bump (who was supposed to be on a wife date nite to see Earth, Wind & Fire with Chicago), after he had worked Monday, 3 innings and Tuesday, 1 frame, out of the bullpen. The immediate result looked disastrous, as Bob Bolt led off with a booming double in the left center gap, followed by an even louder shot to the right center field fence by Charlie Freer for an inside the park HR! Two singles, and two errors had Dalton on the ropes, and the Pirates in a 4-0 hole.
A little hope that the Bucs could chip back, when lead-off man Rick Knipper, and then Jim Jasiewicz singled against the always tough Bob Bolt. Bolt then went to work, fanning two, and proceeding to retire eight in a row to quiet the Black and Gold bats.
Dalton got nicked for one in the 2nd, by Bolt and Freer again, on a single and FC, before the Pirates played a little kick ball with two errors. Following a scoreless 3rd, the Red Hots got back at it, with Freer reaching on an error, followed by Dan Durback and Tony Mogavero singles, plating two more. Further damage was averted when Jim Ansel turned a 6-5-3 Double Play to end the inning.
The Peppers with a comfy 7-0 advantage turned to Durback to keep the Bucs shut down. A Jim Jazz knock, followed by a 2-base gapper by ex-Pepper Brad Maione got the Pirates on the board. Kevin McCauley followed with a bingle, plating Maione. Durback would have no more of it and retired the side. Dalton would breeze through the 5th, with a 1-2-3 to keep the Swashbucklers with a fighter's chance.
The Pirates started to close the margin in the 5th, using a Greg Warner infield single, a Ken Shaw (a ball magnet defensively in LF) base knock, a Jazz hit by pitch, Maione ribby single, and a clutch 2-out double, by Bill Reagan, (who was stellar at 2B) to get to chasing a singleton at 7-6 after 5 stanzas.
After Shaw garnered the first two put-outs in the 6th, an error and stolen base, chased home the 8th tally for the Peppers, on a Frank Kerbein single.
The bottom of the 6th proved to be the turning point of the game, as Dave Plew came on in relief of Durback, with a 2-run cushion. Again, little things being alot, Cos DiBari was dotted by Plew, on the knee but stayed in the game. Amber Ring, our Warrior, who had caught a full 7-innings in 4 of 6 nites since Friday, laid down a perfect sac bunt to set the stage, for a Warner single, followed by a two-base rocket by Shaw, to knot the score at 8s. Knipper, Jasiewicz, Maione, McCauley and Reagan all singled to close out the 5-run frame, and an 11-8, Pirates lead!
Dalton answered the bell for the 7th round. A quick 6-3, and the Buccos were two outs away from (borrowing a term from horse racing) "getting off the duck". However, there's no quit in this gang of Habenaros, and an error and Fielder's Choice gave them life. A compressed line-up K, and a skyed ball to Jazzy, who flashed leather all nite, ended the threat and the game!
R H E Peppers 8 9 0 Pirates 11 16 6
IP H R ER BB K HBP Bolt 3 2 0 0 0 3 0 Durback 2 7 6 6 0 0 1 Plew (LP) .1 7 5 5 0 0 1
