It was an absolutely glorious day at EMLL on Sunday, May 21, 2023 when the home Sand Crabs faced off against the upstart Orioles in the 45+ division of the MSBL of Southern Wisconsin.  Temperature was 75 at game time, under clear skies and a gentle breeze blowing out to left center.  Both teams were ready to Go For the Gusto.  Alas, only one team would Grab the Gusto, as there is no tying in baseball.* 

Pitching for the Sand Crabs was Randy Gaber, and Ely Torres hurled the pearl for the Orioles. The Orioles got on the board first, scoring one in the first when shortstop Gabe Park scored catcher John Disch who had reached on a fielder’s choice.  The Crabs answered back with 3 of their own, with first baseman Brian Buol knocking in one of the runs, and 2B Troy Galston knocking in the other two.  Gaber and Torres silenced the bats of each squad in the second, and then the Orioles added one in the third.  They started the frame with 3 singles, by Disch, Park, and Torres, with the last one bringing Disch to the dish.  Gaber fanned the last two batters to retire the side.  As for the Crustaceans, they put up a 3 spot, highlighted by singles by catcher Chris McGill, Gaber, and third baseman Bernie Albright, and with two runs scoring on a throwing error after Mike Wallace laced a blazing slow roller to the hole.

In the fourth, Gaber and Torres were stingy again, allowing no runs.  The Crabs mounted an attack but were shut down when a runner, who shall remain nameless, was picked off first base.  We’re all just happy he is still here.  🙂  6-2 Sand Crabs.

The fifth inning saw Wallace come in to relieve Gaber, while Torres continued going strong.  The Crabs got two when first baseman Tom Scalissi singled in Gaber, who had also singled. Scalissi later scored on a GIDP by Wally.  This would end the scoring for the clawed squad, 8-2 Crabs.

Wallace had the bender working, fanning five in his 3 innings, allowing two unearned runs and 3 walks in the 7th.  Torres threw a great game, staying strong through the 6th and 7th.  8-4 Crabs.

In the top of the 8th, and up against the clock, things got a little interesting.  Crabs reliever Steve Hill took over for Wallace, and gave up singles to the first two batters.  With one out, Torres was not yet finished for the day, and he stroked a double over the head of the Crabs left fielder to bring the Orangebirds within 2.  The next two batters were retired, and the Crabs exhaled.

Disch, Park, and Torres led the O’s with 2 hits each, while Scalissi and SS Mike Schoonveld led the Sand Crabs with 3 a piece. Torres pitched 7, allowing 15 hits, 8 runs, but only 4 of them earned, and struck out 8 batters, walking only two.

Crabs pitchers allowed 6 runs, 4 earned, on 10 hits, struck out 10, and walked 3, hitting one batter.

You only go around once in this life, so you have to grab for all the gusto you can get.  Gusto was grabbed at Slice’s afterward, with an impromptu celebration for the one and only Ward “Havoc” Paxton, who retired from baseball after a career spanning 7 decades.  Sail on, our friend, sail on.