It was a cold and blustery May Day @ EMLL Senior Field when the Sand Crabs visited the intrepid Crawfords. It was the second game of the young season for the Crabs, but the first for the stalwart Crawfords, who had an extended spring training enjoying the warm, sunny weather of Southern Wisconsin.
On the bump for the Clawed Crusaders was Randy Gaber, staff ace. For the Crawfords, highly touted rookie Keith Murray, who hopped the redeye from AAA Poughkeepsie to get to Madison in time for the start. Battery mates were Brian Buol and Jeff Knight, respectively.
Both squads failed to score through the first 2 innings, but in the 3rd, the Crabs stormed from an angry sea, my friend, erupting for 9 runs on 9 hits, highlighted by a 2 RBI single by SS Mike Schoonveld, and a 2 RBI double by OF Jason Himebauch. The Crabs tallied another in the 4th, when 3B/2b/3B Tim McInernay singled, advanced when first baseman Ward Paxton wreaked havoc with a single, and OF Greg O’Donnell reached on an error. Undaunted, the Crawfords got 2 in their half of the 4th, when Knight scored on a double by SS Andy Winn, who later came home on a single by 3b Mike Starshak. 10-2 Crabs.
Crawfords relief pitcher Jeff Adas kept the Crabs off the scoreboard from the 5th through the 8th, as did relievers Schoonveld and Mike Wallace for the Crustaceans. The top of the ninth was still cold and windy, but the Crabs added a 5 spot on 2 walks and 4 hits, one each by Wallace, 2B Jon Kas, McInernay and O’Donnell.
Leading the Crabs in the box were McInernay with 4 hits, Kas & O’Donnell with 3 each, and Wallace with 2. Crawfords leaders @ the plate were RF Keith Ritchley with 2 singles, and Winn with a double and single.
The Crabs vanquished their collective thirst at Slice’s, with a Schlitz or two. But then we went straight home.
Both teams are off next week, in celebration of Mother’s Day. Awwwww. Brunch it up fellas, brunch it up.
Crawfords
Orioles