Make-Up Game More Dark Comedy Than Fans Hoped For.

Maybe Petaluma was a little peeved that they had to drive an hour and a half to Acalanes in some rain, play four outs, and then drive another hour and a half home after a torrential atmospheric pineapple river express rained out their non-league matchup with the Acalanes JV a month ago. Facing a 1-0 deficit after two innings, thanks to a booming double to left center by Jasper Stewart that scored Jimmy Cusumano, the visitors threw up three runs in the top half of the third, then tacked on two more in the fourth and two more in the sixth.

Those innings were not well played by the Acalanes defense. One suspected that if he was to take a look into the home dugout during any of these innings, the ugly display of errors, passed balls, and misplayed bunts would have driven Coach Jim Burleigh to do his best Coach Morris Buttermaker impression. In fact, he could have been drinking any of the six favorite beers of Coach Buttermaker for each of the six errors by the Dons fielders on Saturday.

The Dons bats did little to support the efforts of starter A.J. Hastings and relievers Brendan Miles and Gavin Beers. They had a paltry .190 batting average on balls in play, not striking out much, but continually hitting it either not sharply enough, or right into the strength of the Petaluma defense, the left side of their infield. No glove support, and no run support. Even a lead off customary hit-by-pitch by David Roux in the bottom of the second resulted in him withering on base that inning.

While the Dons’ bats looked like they were still hung over from Spring Break, the defensive play of 1B Jasper Stewart caught the attention of the scouts in the crowd. A couple of phenomenal stretches on balls thrown from the hole on the left side made people wonder if they were seeing the next Keith Hernandez.

The team finishes their non-league schedule with a 6-5 record, and now rolls into the league schedule, gloves re-laced, the sun ready to shine on them, with Northgate visiting Tuesday afternoon before the Dons return the call on Thursday in Walnut Creek.