TEAM NOTES
Old Times...
Turn back the clock, 1 Bad Apple is back! It has been a few seasons since I saw 1 Bad Apple respond to a playoff game the way they did against Rude Dog 2. The highlight of the night was Big Defense followed by an 11-run first inning explosion. The gloves were all over the field, and it was amazing to watch.
Geoff Chuang set the pace getting 2 hits in the first inning and Benny Aguilar also got 2 hits in the first inning. Jim Fish's bat stayed hot as he capped the trio of 2 hits in one inning to open an 11-0 lead before Rude Dog even picked up a bat--talk about pressure! Oustanding defense kept Rude Dog off the board until the 4th inning when they finally managed to advance a runner past 2nd base and score their would-be only run of the game. They later got another runner past 2nd, but he was stranded on 3rd with a double play.
Jeff Saito hit a blast in the gap to drive in 2 with a triple and later scored on a Jim "Sac" Fish flat footed fly to DEEEEEP left.
A satisfying 15-1 route and revenge game against a team which thought we wouldn't hit like the previous game with them.
Pressure--what are you made of?
I have often said that early runs on the board puts tremendous pressure on the opposing team and a "rookie" team usually folds. However, there are those teams that will step up to the plate and respond when challenged. It was one thing to score 11 runs early, but it was another thing to play 1 Bad Apple ball and take away any hope Rude Dog may have had of getting back into the game.
It takes me back to our Milpitas Championship game a few years ago in which Joe Melo Ruled. We were home against M & B Plumbing and they came out hitting scoring 5 runs in the first on some hard hit balls. How did 1 Bad Apple respond? 1 Bad Apple responded by putting up 7 runs and going on to win it all by the score of 21-7.
Upset-minded W.V.P.C...
In our playoff semi-final game we will once again face W.V.P.C. In our earlier meeting we were missing half our team and we managed to win 16-4. Since that loss to us, W.V.P.C. has been playing much better. They will be better than the previous game, but then again so will we! This should be a good one!
Quotable Quote!
Jeff Saito gets the quote of the week as he stood at the plate in the 5th inning with runners at 1st & 2nd and one out. Jeff stepped out of the box and asked for some words of encouragement from his 3rd base coach (Coach). Coach told Jeff to just hit the ball hard and not worry or think too much. Saito responded with a big blast in the gap for a 2-run triple. Nice shot!
Defensive Gems
Jeremy (SS) may have won a gold glove with a single game. Jeremy was diving all over the place forcing runners and turning double plays. Benny Aguilar and John Mapes were also part of double plays as the infield was almost perfect. Joe Melo shut things down in the middle and great communication came from behind the plate from Pat Rubacaiva. As far as 1st base goes, Raul Rizo almost dug one out. The outfield was equally good making every play in the field! Great job from all the gloves.
Shinning Apples!
Geoff Chuang set the pace going 3-3, scoring 3; Jim Fish also went 3-3, scoring 1, driving in 2; Benny Aguilar went 3-4, scoring 2, driving in 2.
On Deck...
?? Spring 2004 ??
Archive Notes
Coach