Division: 45+ Division

Sunday League for players 45+

Sand Crabs vs Grays

It was a beautiful day on Sunday, May 15, when the 2-0 Sand Crabs met the 0-1 Grays @ EMLL in the 45+ division of the MABL of Southern WI.  The pitching matchup featured brother vs brother, Randy Gaber for the visiting Crabs, and Greg Gaber for the home Grays.

The Crabs struck first in the top of the first, grabbing 3 runs on 5 singles.  The Grays narrowed the lead to two by getting one in the bottom half when Greg Gaber doubled and scored on a single by Kevin Mack, as both found the same spot in the right-center gap.

The Sand Crabs grabbed another in the second, then another 7 in the 3rd on 8 hits, whilst the elder Gaber silenced the bats of the Grays until the 4th when Jim Dorn knocked in Mack who had reached on a fielders choice. Just prior to this in the top of the 4th, Ward “Havoc” Paxton and rookie Dewey Walz singled and scored for the Sandy Crustaceans.

In the 5th, the Crabs catcher Brian Buol brought some Purple Rain with a home run off reliever Mike Darwin over the right field fence, and tipped his Raspberry Beret to the crowd as he crossed the dish. It brought back memories from 23 years ago.

The top of the 6th saw the Crabs claw for 6 more on 4 hits, highlighted by a 2 RBI single by relief pitcher Mike Wallace.  The Grays garnered 2 in the bottom of the 6th on 3 hits, and the Crabs managed 2 more in the 7th, and a few more in the 8th on a 3 run blast over the left field wall by SS Jim Pliner.  The Grays tallied 3 in the bottom of the 8th on singles by first baseman and leadoff hitter Glen Griffin, Darwin, and Gaber, along with a 2 RBI single by Dorn.  The third out ended the match due to time limit, with a 25-7 final.

Parched from the battle, the Crabs clambered over to Slice’s to rehydrate.

By the way, they are out of Schlitz*

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Sand Crabs vs Crawfords

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.

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