It was another nice Sunday on June 4, 2023 when the 2-0 Sand Crabs met the 2-0 Rangers in a battle for the top spot in the 45+ division of the MABL of Southern Wisconsin.  The venue was the parched patch, aka EMLL Senior field which was clinging to life after 3 weeks of Sausalito Summer Night-like blazing hot and dry weather. 

Serving eggs for the home Crabs was Randy Gaber, and for the visiting Rangers, southpaw Jeff Kunkle.  Battery mates were Chris “Big Slugger” McGill, and Dale Doebert.  

The Rangers got one in the first when Kunkle scored on a Jason Witt single. Unfortunately, this would end their scoring for the day.  The Crabs fought back in their half to get two, when Gaber hit a sac fly to Centerfield, and Brian Buol knocked in McGill. From this point on, the Crabs found every open patch of green (well, brownish-green) as they dinked and dunked 22 hits all over the place, and even had a few line drives, highlighted by a rare EMLL triple by SPOG Dewey Walz.  Rumors were that baseball was Walz’s Hair of the Dog this day, after having been over-served the day before.  While previously Plowed, Dewey, you showed Your Love in the Outfield with a 9-6 assist.  And for that, we Can’t Stop praising your SPOGgedness.  Hopefully, you went straight home, and Sandman Entered and you got a good night’s sleep after such a productive day at the ballpark.

Crabs pitching was not hiding behind an Eminence Front.  This was no put on.  Gaber threw 6 innings in his best performance of the young season, striking out 4 and walking none.  He allowed only 5 hits and no earned runs to a tough Rangers lineup.  He did hit a batter though, so lets not get carried away.   He was relieved by Mike Wallace, who did equally well in his one inning, allowing no hits, walking one and striking out 2.  

The Rangers fought Tooth and Nail to Get a Little, but their hits just found gloves this day.  Jason Witt, Paul Yurkovich, Lou Rodriguez, Pete Olsen, and Chris Gustaf collected hits for the Rangers, and Doebert won the hustle award for the year with a gritty, gutty performance in the Dust Bowl.  

The Crabs feasted on mini-tacos and tater tots, and shared a Schlitz or two at Slices afterward. They left refreshed. 

The Rangers defeated the Crawfords by a score of 14-3.  Hit leaders for the Rangers included Jeff Kunkle (2 doubles and 3 hits), Chris Gustaf with 3 hits, and Sean Finnel with 5 rbis including a homerun.  Jeff Kunkle worked 6 innings allowing 3 runs.  Jason Witt finished up the 7th inning before the time limit expired.

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.