Actions heats up at BAJA softball

Two Girls Pizza continues to lead the BAJA Recreational Softball League, even though the best they could do this week was play .500 ball.

The squad had a bye last Monday (Feb. 2). Following the bye, manager Bryon Taylor’s troops split with the San Ignacio Inn last Wednesday, winning 20-13, but dropping the second game, 10-2.

3 1/2 Barbers remains in second place, bouncing back from a disastrous Monday to win a pair on Wednesday, downing the Cow Palace, 12-7 and 21-17. Monday, they were shut out — yes, sports fans — shut out, by the San Ignacio Resort in game two, 12-0, after dropping the first game 19-7. Jerry Sutherland showed his versatility by playing all over the place on defense, while Mark Haskoe and Mike Willingham shared pitching duties in the opener and Nick Charles picked up the win in the nightcap. Dave Ahner, Arly Lyons, Charles, and Bob Hoyler were the force on offense. Manager Jim Reedy fired his pitching coach after Monday’s game — at least that was the rumor.

Jim Click, managed by Bob Royes, bounced back to win three in a row after a five-game losing streak.

The Clickers split with Triple Play on Monday, losing 9-8 and winning 19-18. On Wednesday, they downed Arizona Restaurant, 20-16 with five runs in the seventh, and 17-5 in game two. Norm Brooks, Mike Sommer, Jack Naughton and Craig Burgess led the Click hitters, while Bruce Peters and Royes shared the pitching duties.

The Cow Palace, managed by Dick Fryan, split with the Ivan Allison-led Arizona Restaurant crew, winning 20-13, and losing 23-21. Triple Play rested on Wednesday with the bye, so manager Marty Camacho hit the golf links. The week’s actions left Art Janssen’s San Ignacio squad in third place.

All games are played at Sauarita Park on Mondays and Wednesdays, with two double-headers beginning at 10 a.m. and one at 1 p.m.

Rec league standings

Two Girls Pizza: 11-4.

3 1/2 Happy Barbers: 12-6.

San Ignacio Inn: 11-7.

Jim Click: 10-8.

Cow Palace: 7-10.

Triple Play: 6-10.

Arizona Restaurant: 2-14.

Friday select leage

After a Week Three rain-out, the BAJA Friday League returned to the fields this past Friday.

Keagy Edward Jones continued their early domination of the league by winning two over Green Valley Insurance, 15-10 and 10-7. Outstanding pitching by both Jim Molsen of Keagy’s and Gil Massey of GV Insurance, along with a tough wind kept both team’s bats relatively quiet until late in both games, when Steve Wentz’s two three-run homers made the difference for Keagy.

Mike Ianichino’s opposite-field home run in Game One and strong hitting by Craig Burgess, John Fawcett, Jerry Brotz, John Brassell and mark Haskoe were not enough to overcome the absence of two key players from GV Insurance.

Keagy played flawless defense and Claude Labarre, Steve Garcia, Steve Heath, Steve Rankens, Dick Purdy and Wally Towne all contributed key hits in both contests.

On field No. 2, Comfort Inn of Green Valley moved into second place by beating Hickey Automotive Repair 22-13 and 34-17. Comfort Inn’s hard-hitting duo of Dennis Dion and Bill Land both deposited two home runs each into the desert.

Adding to Comfort Inn’s runaway victories was Husten Pettet, a scarred veteran of more than 70 years of diamond wars, who hit his second inside-the-park homer of the season.

Dave Ahner, Bob Barry and Harley Thomspon each enjoyed multiple-hit games, as Comfrot Inn pushed 56 runs across the plate int he twin billing.

Defensively, left fielder Johnny Ledford made a catch Willie Mays would’ve envied and Jim Larson, Lu Smith, DeWayne Schmidt and Art Janssen displayed their usual glove gems in both games.

For Hickey, Dave McKinley, Fred Searle and Joe Wilson each had big days at the plate in the losing cause.

Select league standings

Keagy Edward Jones: 6-0.

Comfort Inn of GV: 3-3.

GV Insurance: 2-4.

Hickey Automotive: 1-5.

Norm Brooks and Steve Wentz are members of the Born Again Jocks Association. Brooks covers the Monday/Wednesday recreation league, while Wentz covers the Friday select league.