It was a bright and sunny day at East Madison “Stadium” on Sunday when the Crawfords battled the Sand Crabs in a meeting of two previously* unbeaten teams.  *= Both teams were undefeated at the start of the season. But today one would emerge victorious.  Who would it be?   Let’s take a look……

The  Crawfords struck first in the top of the first when Bill Nowak singled and stole a base.  He was knocked in on Dave Wiedenhamer’s single, but that was it for their half of the first.   The Sand Crabs answered with 3 of their own in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by singles by Chris McGill, Randy Gaber, and Mike Wallace, and a double by Michael Kauffman who promptly stole 3^rd base despite it being occupied by Crabs runner, Jim Pliner.  When asked for comment, Pliner said “Baseball is a funny game.  Every time you come to the park, you could see something you’ve never seen before.  But yeah, I hope I never see that again.”

Gaber started on the bump and kept the Crawfords silent at the dish from the 2^nd through the 5^th, while the Crabs snuck in a snowman.  Not to be outdone, starting Crawford’s pitcher Mike Starshak helped his own cause by leading off the 6^th with a single, stolen base, and trotted home on Sean Michael Dargan’s single off crafty Crabs reliever Mike Wallace.  60 Minutes and 3 innings later, Wallace’s pitching outing was done, with the Crabs in the lead 11-2.  In came Troy Galston to shut the door in the 9th, when the Crawfords picked up one more on a well-placed left center gap double by Widenhammer.

The Crawfords were led at the plate by Wiedenhamer, who went 3 for 4 with a double and a coupla ribbies.   Dan Ketter clubbed two singles, and Bill Nowak was not hit by a pitch for the first time ever in his storied career.

Chris McGill led the Crabs with a 5-hit performance, Galston had 3 knocks, and Randy Olivares had 2 hits with 3 RBI.  Gaber, Wallace and Tim “Mackles” McInernie also had two hits apiece.

Olivares also led the team in pulled groin with one, and Jason Himebauch pulled his hamstring for good measure.  This brings the injured player total for the Crabs to 25, with a roster of 16.

Both teams had great pitching control, with the Crabs staff walking none and the Craws combo, including reliever Jeff Adas, walked only 4. Both teams quenched their respective thirsts at Slices after the game, and FYI, they are out of Schlitz.

Attendance: 10   Temperature: 80

 

The Grays jumped out to an early lead over the Crawfords on Sunday, leading 12-1 after their half of the fifth inning, only to see the Crawfords battle back to make it a close game.  In the end, the Grays prevailed 17-12 to improve to 8-1 on the season and retain their first place position in the division. The Grays pounded out 22 hits in the game, led by Mike Darwin, Tom Hopkins, and Kevin Mack, who each had three hits in the game.  Kevin Brunner hit his second home run of the season and drove in three runs.  Greg Gaber and Mike Darwin also drove in three runs apiece.  The Crawfords also hit the ball well, with twenty hits as a team, led by Bill Nowak, Paul Meyer, and Sean Michael Dargan with three hits apiece.  Greg Gaber earned the victory for the Grays, pitching a complete game, striking out four, and walking two.