It was an overcast and actually somewhat blustery late spring Sunday at EMLL, on June 12, 2023 when the 1-2 Crawfords hosted the 3-0 Sand Crabs in the 45+ division of the MABL of Southern Wisconsin.  A light rain had fallen earlier in the day and the night before, but this was just enough to soften the ground, not rain out the parade.  

Atop the mound for the Crawfords was Dan Ketter, the veteran lefty making his 400th start in his long and illustrious career.  Chucking for the Crabs was Wally, a man strong enough to go by only one name.  Today he would walk tall, like Buford Pusser, knocking in 3 with his hickory stick, on 3 hits.  With his glove, he covered the mound better than the tarp the night before.  He had 7 assists, snatching any ball that dared get within 20 feet of the rubber, like a cat snatching mice at Chuck-E-Cheese. 6 of the assists covered consecutive innings, with a strikeout wedged in between for good measure.  He went 8 strong innings, allowing 3 runs, 2 earned on 8 hits. He walked two and hit one, striking out two.

Not to be outdone, Crabs rookie outfield phenom Rich Rydecki stole the show at the plate for the Sand Crabs, with a 5 for 5 performance, including a 2 run blast over the LF wall into the teeth of a gale force wind that would have made Gordon Lightfoot write a song.   His day at the dish earned him his first SPOG award, and when reached for comment, he just smiled and said “I’m just happy to be here. Hope I can help the ball club. I just want to give it my best shot, and the good Lord willing, things will work out.” 

The Crabs pounded out 17 hits against the pitching firm of Ketter, Grether, and Meyer.  Crabs outfielder Jason Himebauch was just 4 hits shy of the cycle.  The Crawfords banged 11 off Wallace and Troy Galston, led by SS Andy Winn, Pitcher and OF/Catcher Rob Grether and RF Keith Richley with 2 each.  Richley had a steal of home plate in the 4th that sent the crowd of 2 into hysterics.  Bill Baldon turned in a defensive gem at second base, with a diving snare of a liner off the bat of Galston.  

Galston pitched the 9th, and effectively shut the door for the day. Crabs 11, Crawfords 3.

From the infirmary: The Crabs lost slugging rookie corner infielder Bernie Albright to injury.  He strained a right hamstring trying not to strain his left hamstring.  He’ll be out for 1-2 days, according to team witch doctor Jim Pliner, who recently returned to the Crabs after a long bout of Borborygmus.  When asked what it was like Pliner said “It feels out there. I’m… It’s a major rush. I mean it doesn’t just feel out there, I mean it feels out there. You know? Um, kinda radical in a kinda tubular way. You know? But most of all it’s out there.”

Both squads quenched their respective thirsts at Slice’s .  A good time was had by all.  The Crabs shared a Schlitz and went straight home.