It was a beautiful day on Sunday, May 15, when the 2-0 Sand Crabs met the 0-1 Grays @ EMLL in the 45+ division of the MABL of Southern WI.  The pitching matchup featured brother vs brother, Randy Gaber for the visiting Crabs, and Greg Gaber for the home Grays.

The Crabs struck first in the top of the first, grabbing 3 runs on 5 singles.  The Grays narrowed the lead to two by getting one in the bottom half when Greg Gaber doubled and scored on a single by Kevin Mack, as both found the same spot in the right-center gap.

The Sand Crabs grabbed another in the second, then another 7 in the 3rd on 8 hits, whilst the elder Gaber silenced the bats of the Grays until the 4th when Jim Dorn knocked in Mack who had reached on a fielders choice. Just prior to this in the top of the 4th, Ward “Havoc” Paxton and rookie Dewey Walz singled and scored for the Sandy Crustaceans.

In the 5th, the Crabs catcher Brian Buol brought some Purple Rain with a home run off reliever Mike Darwin over the right field fence, and tipped his Raspberry Beret to the crowd as he crossed the dish. It brought back memories from 23 years ago.

The top of the 6th saw the Crabs claw for 6 more on 4 hits, highlighted by a 2 RBI single by relief pitcher Mike Wallace.  The Grays garnered 2 in the bottom of the 6th on 3 hits, and the Crabs managed 2 more in the 7th, and a few more in the 8th on a 3 run blast over the left field wall by SS Jim Pliner.  The Grays tallied 3 in the bottom of the 8th on singles by first baseman and leadoff hitter Glen Griffin, Darwin, and Gaber, along with a 2 RBI single by Dorn.  The third out ended the match due to time limit, with a 25-7 final.

Parched from the battle, the Crabs clambered over to Slice’s to rehydrate.

By the way, they are out of Schlitz*