BAJA softballers play with heavy hearts

Special to the Green Valley News

The week of March 2, the games just weren’t as much fun, as the teams played with heavy hearts after they learned that Chris Portmann, the retired sweetheart of BAJA, had lost her five year battle to cancer on March 1.

Her beloved husband, Dick, was with her as she slipped out of her world of pain and into a place of peace. The world has lost a courageous fighter, one gallant lady.

In the featured battle, the Inn at San Ignacio took two from 2 Girls Pizza and climbed within one-half game of first place. The Inn won game one, 19-12, with standouts Jim Larsen, Bill Land and Bob Fluecher scoring half of their team’s runs.

Game two was a lot tighter. It was tied at six after the first five innings.

The Girls failed to score while the Inn put five runs on the board. The Girls came back with four in the seventh but the game ended with a fly ball to John Houghton, as the Inn prevailed, 11-10.

Defense was the key to both wins, as Rich Wood, Larson and Tom Burns played tough “D.” Woods and John Weaver turned a double play to kill a rally in game one. Nick Muccicelli, Jim Antoniono, Houghton and Chuck Catino played really well. For the Pizzapeople, Glen Carter, Steve Rankins, Wally Towne, and George Hetherington led the hitters. Pitcher Bob Schwankl helped his cause with a three-bagger in a losing cause.

In the afternoon contest — and was it ever hot! — Jim Click downed the Arizona Family Restaurant, 17-16 and 17-2.

The Family crew just wouldn’t go away in game one, but the Clickers scored three runs in the bottom of inning six, and then held their opponents to two runs in inning seven to pull out the “W.”

After a sloppy performance in game one, Jim Click’s defense really came to life in game two and along with Bruce Peters pitching, the margin of victory was much greater. Billy Kerr, Norm Brooks, Mike Sommer, Peters, Bob Royes, Dave Cowan and Bill Hartnett let the hit parade, with Hartnett plating three runs with a bases-loaded double.

The Cow Palace, playing without five regulars, lost to 3 1/2 Barbers, 16-4 and 18-10, causing manager Dick Fryan to echo the feeling of the day: there was no joy in Mudville.

For the Barbers, Mike Willingham and Mark Haskoe were the winning pitchers, while 24 of their 34 runs were scored by Dave Ahner, Jerry Sutherland, Bob Hoyler, Nick Charles, and Haskoe.

On Wednesday, March 4, the first forfeiture of the year took place as the Cow Palace, depleted by injuries and out-of-town folks, could not field a team and gave two wins to Triple Play.

Two Girls Pizza maintained their half-game lead over San Ignacio Inn by defeating Jim Click, 12-9 and 11-7.

Game one saw the Piemen build a nine run lead, only to stall and have to withstand a six run rally by the Clicksters.

Game two was 2 Girls all the way. Glenn Carter, George Hetherington, and Greg Pettet were outstanding with the bats by getting on base all but once in the two games. Carter, DeWayne Schmidt, and Terry Charney stuffed any thoughts Click had about rallying by making great defensive catches.

Manager Bryon Taylor had a home run to go along with his nifty base running. Mike Sommer led the rather quiet Click bats with five hits, while Norm Brooks, Jack Naughton, Bruce Peters, Dave Erickson and Dave Cowan chipped in with four each. The final double-header saw San Ignacio Inn still breathing down the necks of 2 Girls by winning both games with Arizona Restaurant, 16-5 and 19-7. 3 1/2 Barbers received the bye on this beautiful day!

GV Insurance stays hot

With four games left in the season, GV Insurance is keeping pace with Keagy Edward Jones and the Insurers promise to make it a tight race.

Hickey Automotive stayed with GV Insurance for the first four innings of their double header last Friday thanks to the bats of Fred Searle, Dale Madsel, Terry Charney, B. O’Malley, Bob Epstein and John Houghton.

In the last three innings, however, the Insurers laid on some lumber scoring 12 times with two home runs by Mike Ianichino (four HR’s on the day) and solid hitting by Tom Liedtke, John Fawcett, Bill Allord, Jim Sladky, Jerry Brotz, John Brassell, Craig Burgess and Mark Haskoe to win handily, 16-9.

In game two, Hickey Automotive scored eight runs in the first two innings, but were held scoreless the rest of the game while GV Insurance trotted 23 runs across the plate for a mercy-rule ending in five innings.

The highlight of the contest was a triple play nearly pulled of unassisted by Randy Higa, coach and outstanding short stop for the Insurers. Tommy “Big Smooth” Liedtke took one ball deep and ran down a whole lot more in left-center field for GV Insurance and was aided by great hitting from John Fawcett, Randy Higa, Jim Sladky, Mike “Bubble Gum Man” Sommer, Bill Allard, Johnny Brassell, Gil Massey, Craig Burgess, Mark Haskoe and Dick Fryan.

Providing the offensive spark for the Auto Boys was Dale Madsel with four hits and Arly Lyons, Terry Charney and Fred Searle.

Comfort Inn of GV and Keagy Edward Jones always play each other tough and last Friday was no exception.

Game one was won by Keagy 18-15 but it wasn’t decided until the last frame as both teams played great defense and hit solidly.

For Comfort Inn in game one, steady hitting, Dave Ahner, and Lu Smith, Bill Land, Dennis Dion (one home run), Bob Barry, and Harley Thompson (one home run) provided the offensive catalyst with left-center fielder Lu “The Glove” Smith repeatedly demonstrating why you never want to hit the ball anywhere near him.

Providing the pop for Keagy were Steve “It’s Only A Flesh Wound” Heath, Claude Labarre, Jim Molsen, Stan Musial (his real name), Gale Van Hoorn, Rick Keagy, Steve Rankens, Steve Wentz (one home run) and Wally Towne. Game two seemed to be in the bag for Comfort Inn as they took a six run lead into the top of the seventh inning.

But, as the trite, yet apt, metaphor foretells, “It ain’t over until the fat lady sings,” Keagy tallied eight runs in the top of the seventh thanks to a bases clearing triple by Bill “The Thrill” Kerr and a whole bunch of hitting by the entire Keagy squad.

Comfort Inn needed two runs to tie and three to win in their half of the last inning. A long drive to deep left field by Comfort Inn’s lead-off hitter was speared over the shoulder, Willie Mays style, by Steve Heath back in Keagy’s lineup after a broken wrist.

Comfort Inn pushed one run across and had the tying run on third base with two outs but a routine fly ball to Claude Labarre in right center closed out the scoring for the contest, Keagy over Comfort Inn 18-17.

Rec League standings

2 Girls Pizza: 21-8

San Ignacio Inn: 22-10

3 1/2 Happy Barbers: 18-12

Jim Click: 18-14

Triple Play: 15-15

Cow Palace: 11-20

Arizona Restaurant: 2-28

Select League standings

Keagy Edward Jones: 13-3

Green Valley Insurance: 11-5

Comfort Inn of GV: 6-10

Hickey Automotive: 2-14

Norm Brooks and Steve Wentz are the faithful BAJA correspondents for the 2009 season.