It was an absolutely picturesque day at EMLL Senior Field on Sunday, August 11, when the first place Sand Crabs battled the second place Rangers in the regular season finale of the MABL of Southern, Wisconsin 45+ division.  The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the humidity was lower than North Korea’s medal count in the Paris Olympics.

Topping the mound for the visiting Crabs was Randy Gaber, and for the home Rangers, Dan Hendrickson.  Battery mates were Brian Buol and Tom Kersten, respectively.

To make a long story short, unbeknownst to the Sand Crabs, someone had snuck into their locker room on Saturday night and replaced their gloves with cast iron skillets.  They managed to come away with a victory, but only due to the stellar pitching of Gaber, and the team effort at the plate.  The Crabs finished with no less than 10 (ten) errors, getting them out of their system for the playoff run.

Gaber went the distance for the Crabs, scattering 11 hits, and 4 unearned runs over 9.  He did not walk a batter and struck out 3.  Leaders at the dish for the Rangers were Jason Witt, with a 4 hit performance, knocking in 2 of their 4 tallies.  Kersten, Lou Rodriguez, and Scott Storck collected 2 each, including a double from Storck.  Witt also starred in centerfield, catching everything hit his way and assisting in corralling a number of balls that were thought to be gappers, including one to straightaway but sun-splashed right field.

Rangers pitchers, Hendrickson and Jeff Kunkel in relief scattered 19 hits, walking 6 and plunking one.

The Crabs were led by Buol and first baseman Tom Scalissi, with 3 each, then Pete Mand, Randy Olivares, and Bernie Albright with 2 each.  Albright had the only entry in the daily dinger diary with a solo blast to right in the 8th, knocking himself in.  He was greeted with a chorus of silence, much to the delight of the 3 fans that had assembled near the backstop.   Rumor has it that the fan total for the day swelled to near double-digits in the mid-innings, though this cannot be confirmed.

Thirsts were satiated at Slice’s afterward, and the Crabs were delighted to find out that the nationwide Schlitz shortage has ended.  It was, of course, the Sand Crabs who were responsible for this shortage, but nevertheless they were happy it came to an end.

Both teams play next week in the first round of the playoffs at EMLL.  The Sand Crabs host the Orioles at noon, and the Rangers visit the Crawfords at 3.  Season ticket holders will be treated to the Greg O’Donnell talking bobblehead, which sources say says “I’m at Club 51”