It was a beautiful day for a ball game at East Madison “Stadium”.  The second place SandCrabs were taking on the first place Grays in a battle for the top of the 45+ division of the MABL of Southern Wisconsin.  The Sand Crabs were looking to avenge a previous loss to the mighty Grays from earlier in the season.  How did it turn out?   Lets take a look…..

The starting pitchers were Randy Gaber for the home Sand Crabs, and Brian “Doc” Dostalek for the visiting Grays.

The Grays went semi-quietly in their half of the first, after Glenn Griffin led off with a single to the left-center gap.  Whilst attempting to stretch this into a double, he was gunned down at second base, and the next two batters were retired.

The Crabs bats were angry this day, my friends.  They tallied 10 runs on 10 hits and a couple of bases on balls in their half of the first.  Randy Gaber and Chris McGill managed two of the 10 hits.

The Grays roared back for one in the second, and one in the third.

The Sand Crabs got 2 more in the third, and 6 more in the 4th to announce their presence with authority. The Grays added one in the 5th as Glenn Griffin smacked a double and scored on a single by Greg Gaber. So if you are scoring at home, that would end the scoring for the day.  And also, if you are scoring at home, good for you man.

Steve Hill and Mike Wallace came in for scoreless relief for the Crabs, as did Greg Gaber for the Grays, with no runs after the 5th in this time-shortened 8 inning match.

The Grays were led at the plate by Griffin with a 3 for 3 performance, and Greg Gaber added 3 singles as well.  Brian Dostalek and Tom Hopkins added two singles.

The Crabs leaders were Randy Gaber who went 3 for 5 with one ribeye steak, and McGill, Wallace, Jim Pliner, Tim McInernie and Jason Himebauch all thumped 2 hits, with Wallace, catcher Brian Buol and Hill each cranking a double.  McGill, Troy Galston, Michael Kauffman, Wallace, and Buol each knocked in a pair.

The Sand Crabs are off next week to attend to their ailing parts, while the Grays are back in action versus the Rangers.

The Sand Crabs sought post-game refreshment at Slice’s, and by the way they are now out of Schlitz.

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