There are many unwritten rules. Don’t chew with your mouth open. Don’t leave your shopping cart in the middle of the aisle. Don’t get on a train before people get off. Don’t stand on the left side of an escalator. Don’t propose at someone else’s wedding. Don’t use the urinal right next to someone if another one is available. Don’t replace a washer without also replacing the dryer (this one is debatable). Don’t come to watch a game with a “clapping” device as annoying as the vuvuzelas banned at the World Cup. Don’t pitch before the batter is ready to hit. Don’t talk about laundry when writing JV baseball articles. I am not going to say which of these rules were broken during the game on Friday, but I am going to express my dismay that the laundry one is even on the list.
The Dons offense bounced back after only scoring 2 runs in the 2 games against Benicia, scoring 5 runs on 7 hits. Augie Martinez was walked and led the team with 2 hits.
Ben Pecci, Wyatt Cooper, Brady Quinn, Dominic Patitucci, and Hank Bauer also had hits. Pecci’s infield single in the bottom of the 5th inning officially began his new hit streak. Cooper led the team with 2 runs scored, and Bauer led the team with 2 RBIs.
The Dons defense was a different story as they gave up 8 runs on 6 hits, 10 walks, and 6 errors. Jake Colaco got the start on the mound. He went 4 solid innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks.
Colaco was followed by Isaac Copen who went 0 innings giving up 3 runs on no hits and 4 walks, Cole Gwaltney who went 2 innings giving up 2 runs on 1 hit and 2 walks, and Hank Bauer who went 1 inning also giving up 2 runs on 1 hit and 2 walks. 6 different Dons were charged with an error in the game.
The troubles for the Dons began in the top of 5th inning with the game tied 1-1. After the first 4 Crusher batters walked, Gwaltney took the mound in a familiar situation with bases loaded and no outs. Although two of the inherited runners scored, one on a walk and the other on an error at the plate, he turned a double play on a ball rocketed back to him on the mound, and then induced a flyout to end the inning to limit the damage. Unfortunately, the Crushers scored another 4 runs in the top of the 7th inning that put the game out of reach.
Get to know Coaches: Jim’s biggest pet peeve is chewing with your mouth open, and Dan’s is insensitive people.
The team returns to league play on the road against Clayton Valley Charter on Tuesday, April 25 @ 4pm