Division: 45+ Division

Sunday League for players 45+

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Sand Crabs at Crawfords

It was a muggy and hot day at the Verona 5th Quarter Field when the first place Sand Crabs visited the second place Crawfords in the 45+ division of the MABL of Southern Wisconsin.  It was humid, no breeze, and one of those days when you sweat just thinking.  So we didn’t do any of that.

Mike Starshak and Paul Meyer were the P/C battery for the Crawfords, with Randy Gaber and Chris McGill for the Sand Crabs. The Crabs struck first in the top of the first, when Tom Scalisi hit a 3-run line-drive homer over the left centerfield fence, then slapped a snowman on the Craws in the top of the second to put things out of reach early, sending 13 batters to the dish.  The Crawfords got back one run in the bottom of two when Jason Foskett reached on an error and was knocked in by Andy Winn’s single.

Both teams didn’t score in the 3rd, but the Crabs got 5 in the 4th off reliever Shad Fanta, and the Crawfords got 2 in the 6th off reliever Mike Wallace. 16-3 Crabs.  Wallace got stingy after that, allowing no more runs, and the Sand Crabs tacked on 3 in the top of the 9th when The Legend of Billy Grahn was born on a 2 run triple to right field just out of the reach of a diving Eric Selje, hit off reliever Rob Grether who had silenced the Crabs bats for 3 innings prior to this.   Grahn scored moments later when McGill scored him on a sacrifice fly to deep right.  19-3 Sand Crabs.  This would be the final, we had all sweated enough.

Selje led the Crawfords with two hits, a double and a single, with one RBI.  Starshak, Jeff Knight, and Sean Michael Dargan had their remaining hits.

The Crabs had 24 hits, with Grahn and Troy Galson taking SPOG honors with 4 hits each, Grahn just a homer shy of the cycle. Gaber not only pitched a gem for his 5 innings, but he also had 3 singles and a *stolen base for good measure. Scalisi, Wallace, and Tim McInernay each had 2 knocks. XBH were Scalisi’s dong, Grahn’s triple, Grahn, Wallace, and Randy Olivares with doubles.

Gaber went 5, allowing one unearned run, walking no one, in a 2 hit performance.  Wallace went 4, allowing 2 runs, 4 hits, a walk, a strikeout and two hit batsmen.

Both squads rehydrated at Verona’s 5th Quarter Bar and Grill https://5thquarter.biz and while they don’t carry Schlitz, we all did OK.  Their pizza is really good.

Next week is the regular season finale, if I am not mistaken.  The Crabs face the Rangers and the Crawfords meet the Orioles.  Check your TV guide for local listings.

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Sand Crabs at Rangers

It was another muggy, breezeless day at EMLL on July 28 when the first place Sand Crabs visited the second place Rangers in a matchup for the ages (?) in the 45+ division of the MABL of Southern Wisconsin.  The wind was not blowing out.  Nor was it blowing in.  It was just stagnant, as still as a Cubs fan watching a game against the Brewers.

Pitching for the visiting Crabs was none other than Mike “Wally” Wallace, and for the Rangers, Jeff “Kunky” Kunkel.  I just made that up.  I don’t know whether they call him Kunky, but they could.  Think about it.

Wally was simply masterful on this day.  He went 7 strong, much stronger than the 6 run 7th would lead one to believe, until they notice that only one run was earned, as the Crabs had a bit of trouble fielding the ball that inning.  Some might say they were still entranced by the smooth sounds of Christopher Cross’ song, “Sailing”.  It was Yacht Rock night on Friday at American Family Stadium, and that ear worm was plaguing the Crabs all day.  But like the Players they are, Baby, they Came Back and pulled it all together, after giving a chance to make themselves see that they’ve used up all the gaffs in their game, that was enough for me.  That’s enough, enough for me-heeeee!

Final score was 14-7 Crabs, with the Rangers mounting an attack by carrying the ball to the RedZone in the 9th, only to fall short on a 4th and 2.

Anyhoo, the Rangers were led by Jason Witt, with three hits and a ribeye, and Sean Finnel with one hit but two ribeyes.

The Crabbies were led by Tom “Fiddy/50” Scalissi and Mike “Hot Coffee” Kauffman, with 3 hits each, with Michael knocking in 2 and Thomas knocking in one. Chris McGill lived up to his name “Big Slugger” with a two hit and two RBI performance in his first ever start at 3B in his illustrious career.  But Wally, Oh Wally….he helped his own cause by scoring 3 runs and accounting for a total of 4 with two RBIs, one of them on his first dinger of the year.  Stat Track estimated it to be a non-wind-aided 305 foot blast to left center.

Thirsts were quenched at Slice’s after the game, but the supply of Schlitz was unexpectedly low, so the Crabs pivoted and enjoyed some Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain.  Oh, What a Fool Believes.

Both teams continue the grind next week, but at the Verona Senior LL diamond in…you guessed it….Verona.  The Crabs visit the Crawfords at noon, and the Rangers host the Orioles at 3.   Premium tickets are still available.

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