ROLLINSFORD -- Beacons fans had never been so close to tasting victory this season than they were Friday night at GoldStar Park.
Clinging to a one-run lead with two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Beacons hoped to get their first win over Shirts Happen. Up 15-14, a Shirts hitter struck a line drive toward secondbaseman Molly Palmer that darted off of her glove into rightfield.
The game was now tied at 15 apiece and the Beacons had a chance to score the winning run in the bottom half of the inning, but were unable to get it done.
Beacons starting pitcher Phil Fernald marched out to the hill for the top of the eighth and surrended four runs to give Shirts Happen a 19-15 lead.
With one last chance, Beacons thirdbaseman Todd Young did some aggressive baserunning and managed to score a run. But that same aggressive baserunning led to Beacons centerfielder Jason Claffey getting tagged out at third base by a country mile to make the second out before the Beacons eventually fell, 19-16.
"That was probably the best game we have played all year and the toughest loss we have had," said Beacons Manager Bob Cook, who played rightfield and made a few put outs. "We had our chances to win this one, but we just weren't able to shut the door when we needed to."
The Beacons had no played a game in 10 days before Friday because their previous three games were postponed because of rain.
The rust showed early when Fernald gave up a towering homerun to a lead off Shirts Happen hitter in the top of the first inning. But Beacons fans were immediately lifted when Claffey turned a routine single to right field into an inside the park homerun thanks to his new New Balance cleats.
The game see-sawed for the first three innings before the Beacons broke out with a six-run surge in the bottom of the fourth inning on a combination of erratic walks given up by Shirts Happen pitchers and timely hits delivered by Beacons leftfielder Justin Palmer and Cook, who stroked three hits and knocked in three RBIs.
Fernald suddenly had a 15-8 lead heading into the top of the 5th inning, but little by little Shirts Happen regain their composure and strung together some hits of their own to close to gap to 15-12 heading into the sixth inning.
The Beacons defense remained solid throughout the game and was buoyed by shortstop Steve Clegg and Claffey.
But Beacons fans were understandably nervous when their team went into the bottom of the 7th inning with a three-run lead needing to get three big outs.
"I wish we were able to score a few more runs in the 6th inning," said Justing Palmer. "That's been one of our biggest problems all year, not scoring enough runs."
A fate would have it, neither Fernald, who threw a record 130 pitches in a courageous complete game performance or the Beacons defense were able to get those three outs.
"I really thought we had that game won," said Young in the Beacons clubhouse. "We played so well and everybody contributed. It was our best game."
As he drank another can of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer by his locker, a dejected Claffey blamed himself for preventing the Beacons from making a comeback in the bottom of the 8th inning.
"I know it was a dumb play. I know I shouldn't have tried to take the extra base, but I wanted to make something happen," Claffey said.
Cook said he was still proud of the team's effort despite the fact they were without slugger Sonny Ecker, Bob Dawber and Ray Claverie.
"We had 12 people available and everybody contributed something positive to put us in a position where we had a chance to win the game. That's all you can ask for. If we keep playing like we did Friday, the wins will start coming," Cook said.
Maybe the first win will happen Sunday when the Beacons take on Navy Yard at 2:15 p.m.
Parrotsheads Softball
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Friday, June 26, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Beacons fans weary of rain; hungry for action
ROLLINSFORD -- Beacons fans sat huddled underneath rain coats, umbrellas and plastic tarps in the GoldStar Park grandstands on Monday praying that somehow tonight's game versus Merrill's Radiator would be played.
The Beacons have already been forced to postpone two games last week and were looking at a third wash-out Monday as of 2:45 p.m. Monday afternoon.
As the rain continued to fall, Beacons fans remained steadfast and determined to will those storm clouds to clear.
"I've been here since 8 a.m. this morning and I am not leaving until I see some softball played," said Joe Galasky, one of the Beacons's 10,000 season ticket holders. "This rain has to end sometime. Either that or we'll have to start building an ark."
For Bette Gladstone, the week-long barrage of showers didn't deter her from coming out to support her team, which has yet to win a game and is stuck in the Dover Co-Rec League's cellar with an 0-7 record.
"I love this team and I love these players and I will come out and support them no matter what," said Gladstone.
Some of the team's youngest fans, like Hector Lopez and his sister, Juanita, said they would have skipped school Monday if that is what it took to score some bleacher seats to tonight's game.
"The Beacons are awesome and I don't care if it's snowing outside. Softball is everything to us," said Hector, age 9.
Some Beacons players filed into the lockerroom around 3 p.m. to take some indoor batting practice, watch some game film and see who would be in the starting line-up.
Before he drove his 2009 Cadillac Escalade into the team parking lot, Beacons centerfielder Jason Claffey acknowledged the fans, rolled down his tinted glass driver's side window and waved.
"Our fans are the greatest. They're so loyal and they really give us a boost," said Claffey, who is having another stellar season as the Beacons' lead-off hitter.
Weather permitting, tonight's game versus Merrill's Radiator is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
The Beacons have already been forced to postpone two games last week and were looking at a third wash-out Monday as of 2:45 p.m. Monday afternoon.
As the rain continued to fall, Beacons fans remained steadfast and determined to will those storm clouds to clear.
"I've been here since 8 a.m. this morning and I am not leaving until I see some softball played," said Joe Galasky, one of the Beacons's 10,000 season ticket holders. "This rain has to end sometime. Either that or we'll have to start building an ark."
For Bette Gladstone, the week-long barrage of showers didn't deter her from coming out to support her team, which has yet to win a game and is stuck in the Dover Co-Rec League's cellar with an 0-7 record.
"I love this team and I love these players and I will come out and support them no matter what," said Gladstone.
Some of the team's youngest fans, like Hector Lopez and his sister, Juanita, said they would have skipped school Monday if that is what it took to score some bleacher seats to tonight's game.
"The Beacons are awesome and I don't care if it's snowing outside. Softball is everything to us," said Hector, age 9.
Some Beacons players filed into the lockerroom around 3 p.m. to take some indoor batting practice, watch some game film and see who would be in the starting line-up.
Before he drove his 2009 Cadillac Escalade into the team parking lot, Beacons centerfielder Jason Claffey acknowledged the fans, rolled down his tinted glass driver's side window and waved.
"Our fans are the greatest. They're so loyal and they really give us a boost," said Claffey, who is having another stellar season as the Beacons' lead-off hitter.
Weather permitting, tonight's game versus Merrill's Radiator is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Beacons now own basement; BL Limey cruises to win
ROLLINSFORD -- Two teams came into Sunday afternoon's game with identical 0-5 records and a share of last place in the Dover Co-Rec League, but one team would climb out of the cellar with a win.
Unfortunately, that team was not the Beacons, who lost to BL Limey, 22-9.
What is so remarkable is that the Beacons actually led this one, 5-0, after putting together a string of hits in the top of the first inning. They held the lead for two more innings before BL Limey put together a dazzling array of offense and scored a whopping 13 runs to take a 16-5 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Beacons Starting pitcher Phil Fernald was devastated and Beacons Coach Bob Cook was in a state of disbelief. BL Limey hitters batted around their order twice in one inning and refused to make an out for the first seven batters.
Beacons shortstop Steve Cleff and outfielder Jason Claffey helped stopped the bleeding with some strong plays in the field, but BL Limey hitters kept dropping hits all over the field.
In relief, BL Limey capped their day with a two-run blast off Cook in the bottom of the sixth inning that cleared the left field fence.
The Beacons just didn't have any answers for BL Limey, that was a last place club until they registered their first win Sunday.
"You just have to give them credit for that inning. We didn't make bad plays, we didn't walk anybody, they just hit the ball well all over the field and we couldn't stop their momentum," Cook said following the game at GoldStar Park.
"We had the line-up we wanted and the defensive scheme we wanted to help us win this game and we started out well, but somehow it just got away from us," Cook said.
"Frustrating" was the word that Beacons shortstop and utility man Todd Young used in the clubhouse after the game.
Cook said that work also summed up the umpiring.
He said he wasn't pleased when first the umpire allowed the BL Limey hitter who stroked the homerun to forego running around the bases because technically that would disallow any run scored.
"You have to touch them all or it doesn't count," Cook said.
He also took issue with how the umpire forgot about the league's 15-run mercy rule that states a game can only be ended after five innings if one team is beating the other by at least 15 runs. The Beacons were done by 13 runs at the end of the 5th inning and the umpire wanted the Beacons to end the game.
Finally, the exclamation point of the team's frustrations came when a BL Limey hitter tried to hit Cook with a scorching line drive back through the pitcher's mound. Cook snared it and spiked the ball on the mound in defiance as the third out of the sixth inning was recorded.
Veteran Beacons third baseman Bob Dawber tried to make his coach feel better after the game with some words of encouragement.
"Don't worry, we'll get them next time."
Last season it took the Beacons 10 games before they registered the first win in franchise history. Hopefully, history will not repeat itself when the team takes on P. Hussey again on Wednesday night at 6 p.m.
In their first meeting this year, P. Hussey handed the Beacons a 20-8 loss.
Unfortunately, that team was not the Beacons, who lost to BL Limey, 22-9.
What is so remarkable is that the Beacons actually led this one, 5-0, after putting together a string of hits in the top of the first inning. They held the lead for two more innings before BL Limey put together a dazzling array of offense and scored a whopping 13 runs to take a 16-5 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Beacons Starting pitcher Phil Fernald was devastated and Beacons Coach Bob Cook was in a state of disbelief. BL Limey hitters batted around their order twice in one inning and refused to make an out for the first seven batters.
Beacons shortstop Steve Cleff and outfielder Jason Claffey helped stopped the bleeding with some strong plays in the field, but BL Limey hitters kept dropping hits all over the field.
In relief, BL Limey capped their day with a two-run blast off Cook in the bottom of the sixth inning that cleared the left field fence.
The Beacons just didn't have any answers for BL Limey, that was a last place club until they registered their first win Sunday.
"You just have to give them credit for that inning. We didn't make bad plays, we didn't walk anybody, they just hit the ball well all over the field and we couldn't stop their momentum," Cook said following the game at GoldStar Park.
"We had the line-up we wanted and the defensive scheme we wanted to help us win this game and we started out well, but somehow it just got away from us," Cook said.
"Frustrating" was the word that Beacons shortstop and utility man Todd Young used in the clubhouse after the game.
Cook said that work also summed up the umpiring.
He said he wasn't pleased when first the umpire allowed the BL Limey hitter who stroked the homerun to forego running around the bases because technically that would disallow any run scored.
"You have to touch them all or it doesn't count," Cook said.
He also took issue with how the umpire forgot about the league's 15-run mercy rule that states a game can only be ended after five innings if one team is beating the other by at least 15 runs. The Beacons were done by 13 runs at the end of the 5th inning and the umpire wanted the Beacons to end the game.
Finally, the exclamation point of the team's frustrations came when a BL Limey hitter tried to hit Cook with a scorching line drive back through the pitcher's mound. Cook snared it and spiked the ball on the mound in defiance as the third out of the sixth inning was recorded.
Veteran Beacons third baseman Bob Dawber tried to make his coach feel better after the game with some words of encouragement.
"Don't worry, we'll get them next time."
Last season it took the Beacons 10 games before they registered the first win in franchise history. Hopefully, history will not repeat itself when the team takes on P. Hussey again on Wednesday night at 6 p.m.
In their first meeting this year, P. Hussey handed the Beacons a 20-8 loss.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Posted! Beacons blow lead, bow out to Post 47
ROLLINSFORD – The Beacons found themselves with a slim lead over Post 47 Tuesday night after scoring six runs in the top of the fourth inning only to see it lost in the same frame.
Ahead 7-5, Beacons pitcher Phil Fernald and the Beacons defense couldn’t stop Post 47 hitters from spraying the ball all over the outfield where the setting sun proved perilious.
Beacons centerfielder Ray Claverie had one ball go over his head and roll all the way to centerfield fence when he totally lost sight of it allowing Post 47 to score three quick runs.
“I couldn’t see it,” Claverie said. “Even sunglasses didn’t help.”
Beacons rightfielder Kim Lundquist and short fielder Leslie Bosignani didn’t fare much better as Post 47 hitters consistently launched one fly ball and line drive after another their way.
By the time the Beacons recorded the third out, Post 47 had restored order and took a commanding 16-7 lead they never relinquished.
In relief, Beacons pitcher Bob Cook surrendered another five runs before the game ended in the top of the sixth with the mercy rule. The final: Post 47, 21, Beacons, 7.
The Beacons are now 0-5 and are sitting comfortably in the cellar of the 11-team Dover Co-Rec League with nowhere to go but up.
“They are a really skilled and experienced team who took advantage of our weaknesses and took control of the game,” said Beacons Manager Bob Cook. “I give our outfielders a lot of credit for battling a tough sun all evening and doing everything they could to keep the game competitive. But in the end, it was just too much.”
The Beacons were also under-manned Tuesday and were without the services of stand-out centerfielder Jason Claffey, slugger Sonny Ecker, and several other key players.
“We had 12 players and we played all 12,” Cook said.
Tuesday’s game was actually a make-up game from May 5 when the two teams were rained out.
The Beacons’ quest for their first win continues on Sunday afternoon when they take on B.L. Limey at 1 p.m.
Ahead 7-5, Beacons pitcher Phil Fernald and the Beacons defense couldn’t stop Post 47 hitters from spraying the ball all over the outfield where the setting sun proved perilious.
Beacons centerfielder Ray Claverie had one ball go over his head and roll all the way to centerfield fence when he totally lost sight of it allowing Post 47 to score three quick runs.
“I couldn’t see it,” Claverie said. “Even sunglasses didn’t help.”
Beacons rightfielder Kim Lundquist and short fielder Leslie Bosignani didn’t fare much better as Post 47 hitters consistently launched one fly ball and line drive after another their way.
By the time the Beacons recorded the third out, Post 47 had restored order and took a commanding 16-7 lead they never relinquished.
In relief, Beacons pitcher Bob Cook surrendered another five runs before the game ended in the top of the sixth with the mercy rule. The final: Post 47, 21, Beacons, 7.
The Beacons are now 0-5 and are sitting comfortably in the cellar of the 11-team Dover Co-Rec League with nowhere to go but up.
“They are a really skilled and experienced team who took advantage of our weaknesses and took control of the game,” said Beacons Manager Bob Cook. “I give our outfielders a lot of credit for battling a tough sun all evening and doing everything they could to keep the game competitive. But in the end, it was just too much.”
The Beacons were also under-manned Tuesday and were without the services of stand-out centerfielder Jason Claffey, slugger Sonny Ecker, and several other key players.
“We had 12 players and we played all 12,” Cook said.
Tuesday’s game was actually a make-up game from May 5 when the two teams were rained out.
The Beacons’ quest for their first win continues on Sunday afternoon when they take on B.L. Limey at 1 p.m.
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