Gold Country Buzzards

Gold Country Ol' Buzzards Game Report #2

Game: April 13, 2014

Buzzards stomp Yankees, 17-1

The Gold Country Buzzards home opener was a beautiful day in Auburn with temps in the mid 70's and a nice breeze. The game between the Ol' Buzzards and the Yankees was set for 2 o'clock at James Field. The Yankees brought 16 players, but the talent level was low plus several players were in their late 60's or older. So, the Buzzards with just 11 for the game (10 defensively) were still expecting an easy win.

The Buzzards' starting pitcher for this second game of the season was the tough right-hander, Gregg 'Surf Dawg' Novotny #1. Throwing for the Yankees was lefty Mike 'Rusty' Malloy #24, a recent addition to the Yanks out of retirement and rusty in his throwing mechanics.

The Yanks started the game with three runners in the top of the first, but no one scored. In the bottom of the inning the Buzzards proceeded on an offensive terror with 14 runs that lasted for 21 batters and took over an hour to complete. The record breaking dig was started by Tom 'Tomahawk' Keatley with a sharp single to left-field on a full-count. Next, Dan 'Wookie' Wukmir smashed a hot grounder into right-center field for a hit. Dave 'Evy' Everingham followed with a 3-2 pitch base-on-balls to load 'em up for Pete 'Baron' Von Zboray. The Baron then slapped the first pitch into left for a single that scored Tomahawk with the first run and kept the bases full.

Batting next, Norm 'Burner' Tucker walked in Wookie on five pitches. Jim 'Milli' Milligan followed with a long single to left-field that scored Evy and the Baron. With two runners on, Rick 'Salmo' Salmeri took the base-on-balls to re-load the bases. Up next, Dave 'Mumbles' Kelley hit a flare to short left-field for a run-scoring single to knock in Burner. After eight straight batters got aboard, an out was made to break-up the impressive streak.

The next batter, Mike 'Mickey' Wilson, started a new streak with a two-run single to the gap in left-center-field to plate Milli and Salmo for the sixth and seventh runs of the inning. Tomahawk, batting for the second time, got aboard via a throwing error by the third baseman to load up the bags again. Wookie then walked on a full-count to push Mumbles in for another run. Up next, Evy lined a single to center that drove in Mickey. The Baron followed with a smash down the left-field line to send Tomahawk home.

The Yankees then called time-out and changed pitchers. After a high pop-up for the second out, Milli was then hit in the back with a loud thump by a hard curveball on a 1-2 pitch. Batting next, Salmo launched a 2-1 pitch down the left-field line knocking in Wook and Evy with a long single. Up next, Mumbles singled to left-field to load 'em up for Barry 'Crush' Forman.

In his first game back since the finger-in-the-saw-blade incident in early March, Barry took a full cut at the 1-2 pitch and sent a bleeder to the right of the mound. The ball took a funny hop away from the pitcher while the speedy Barry took first base and the Baron scored from third. Mickey then followed with a looper into right field to score Milli with the 14th and last run of the inning. Tomahawk batted for a third time in the frame, but hit into a ground-out to end the inning. Wow, 14 runs on 12 hits, four walks and an error in a looong first inning.

After a 1-2-3 top half of the second inning for the Yanks, the Buzzards scored two runs in their half to make the score 16-0. With one out, Evy spanked the first pitch into left-field for a single. The Baron then looped a single into left and put runners at first and second. After a strike-out for the second out, Milli hit a screaming line drive into left field to load the bases. Salmo, batting next, walked on six pitches to force in Evy.

Up next, Mumbles hit a flare to left-center-field to score Pete before the inning ended. The Buzzards put one more on the score board in the third frame. With one out, Mickey sliced a looper near the foul line in right-field for a single. After two were out, Tomahawk got aboard via an error. Next, Wook hit a sky high pop-up that drifted from shortstop past second base and headed toward right field before it hit the dirt with a lunging shortstop nearby, while Wilson scored from third base making the score 17-0 at the end of three innings.

The Buzzies got three more hits and a walk in the remaining three offensive frames, but did not score. Yankees' pitching got a lot better after the first inning. The damned Yankees did not give up and scored a run in the six inning to make the final score 17-1 Buzzards.

Buzzard pitching was excellent again. The game plan was to have Surf Dawg pitch for three innings and then turn the game over to Salmo. Since Gregg was throwing a no-hitter through three digs, he was not pulled and pitched the fourth frame. However, he gave up a solid hit into left field with one-out in the fourth inning to end the no-hit streak. Surf Dawg faced 15 Yanks and threw 47 pitches (33 strikes & 14 balls) and gave up one hit with no walks and two strike 'em outs. Salmo threw 41 pitches (30 strikes & 11 balls) in facing 14 batters. Rick gave up one unearned run on three hits with no walks and three K's while pitching the last three innings.

The Buzzard offense eased off of the pedal with the big lead after scoring 17 early runs on 20 hits and six walks. The hit club for the game included: the Baron (4), Crush (2), Evy (2), Mickey (3), Milli (2), Mumbles (2), Salmo, Tomahawk, and Wookie (3). The RBI's were driven in by: the Baron (2), Burner, Crush, Evy, Mickey (3), Milli (3), Mumbles (2), Salmo (3), and Wook (2). The six walks were picked up by: Burner, Evy, Milli, Salmo (2), and Wookie. Milli earned the first bruise of the new season via hit-by-pitch when he was nailed on the back in the first inning.

The Buzzard defense played down to the opponent and netted five errors of rushed throws and sloppy glove work. No worries mate. It was those Yanks, but it is still not the typical solid Buzzard defense.

There was just one double play in the game with a Mumbles to Wookie to Baron (5-4-3) in the fourth frame. The good pitching limited the Yanks to four hits and made it difficult to get a rally going.

The defensive play of the day was in the final inning by the 'no mercy' Buzzards. With two on and one out, a hard hit ball sailed over the head of Mumbles in right field. Hustlin' after the ball, David threw to Pete in the relay. As the Baron caught the relay throw, Mumbles clearly yelled out "home plate" and Pete turned and fired to Milli to nail a sliding Yankee in a close play at the plate for the second out of the last inning.

Next, one quick pop-up out to Evy at shortstop and the game was over. The 2½ hour game ended after the seventh inning due to the 10-run mercy rule. Win number two is in the books. Lots of hits, good pitching, no one got hurt and a victory = good game.

Buzzard Note: No game on Easter Sunday. The following week, April 20th, the game is on the road at C-Bar-C Park in Citrus Heights again. The Astros are the home team for the 2 o'clock game. The team will probably go to Felipe's after the game. More info to come.