TriValley game vs. Ports on June 28, 2003

We beat the Ports 12-1.

With temperatures in the 90's and not a cloud in the sky, we had a "rain delay" of an hour and a half at the beginning of the game. Actually, we started the game on time. Julian Lopez pitched the top of the first from an overwatered mound that was a mud-hole. While sliding around he walked the leadoff hitter, gave up a base hit, a hit batter, and an infield out that scored a run.

As we came to bat in the bottom of the inning, the Ports complained that the mound was unusable. After some discussion, including a phone call to the league president, we decided to wait until the mound was useable and then play a shortened game. Dave Hamilton, baseball coach at Cal High, came over and provided directions about how to fix the mound. After about 1.5 hours, we were finally ready to go.

Phil Montes walked and stole second. Denny Brown drove him in with a hit to right. So we got back even right away. Zach Jones walked with one out and Frank Bower stroked a two-out base hit to drive in two more runs. Mike Rezzonico, Augie Torres, and Gus Manning each singled to score Frank. We were ahead 4-1 after the first inning was finally over.

With the mound in better shape, Julian cruised through the next few innings. After giving up a couple of base runners in the 4th, he struck out two batters and got a come-backer to stifle the threat.

We scored another run in the third with help from the Ports. Zach reach on an error, stole second and moved to third on a pickoff attempt that went into center field. Frank got his third RBI on an infield out.

We broke the game open in the 4th. Augie led off with a hit, stole second, moved to third on an infield out, and scored on Dutch Van Wey's groundout. With two out and nobody on, we started a rally. 7 hits and a Ports error resulted in 6 more runs. Dan Rowan started the rally with a double. The Ports error on Sandy Speier's grounder kept the inning alive. Then Phil, Denny, Tom Squier, Zach, Jim Gardner, and Frank got successive hits. Frank's 4th RBI capped the scoring.

Meanwhile, Julian finished the near-shutout by escaping trouble in the fifth and sixth innings. In both innings the Ports got a hit and we contributed an error. But both times, we were able to get out of the inning without giving up a run.

The umps called the game after the top of the 6th on time limit.

Here are some pictures taken during and after the game. Each link opens a new window. Just close the window to return here.