I just remembered (miracle I remember anything at this age) that Dave Van Wormer preferred that I publish the game results last year, so I'll assume nothing has changed.

This was the opener for both teams. But the defense and pitching were in playoff form. Each team had 13 players and everyone was in the lineup for both teams. Reds were without Ed Class and Alex Marin or they would have batted 15!

VanWormer's motivational speech prior to game time: "OK guys, everyone is batting and if we win, we win; if we lose, who cares. It's the first game of the season.''

My speech: "Don't run the bases like we did last year: Like we took a course at Girard's School of Baserunning. If we win, we win; if we lose, who cares? Everyone is hitting and it's the first game of the year.''

Then John Martin delivered the first pitch of 2012 for the Reds and that pre-game cavalier attitude turned to playoff intensity. Defensive gem after defensive gem, clutch pitch after clutch pitch and the difference was the Giants getting key hits in a 3-run second inning that propelled them to a 4-2 victory.

Defensively, the Reds' Joe Burns made a diving catch to his left at 2B to take a hit away from Mike Kane to start the third inning. That ultimately saved a run because the Giants went on to score once in the inning.

Chuck Handford at 3B made a Web gem when he dove to his left to snare a blistering drive off the bat of Wayne Phillips, who had doubled in the middle of the Giants 3-run second inning.

For the Giants, shortstop Mike Labanowski continued his defensive prowess with 5 assists and a put out. And with him giving way to Ron Smaka for innings 5-6, Smaka then robbed Jay Trembly of a hit with a diving catch to his left in one of the hardest hit balls of the day.

After the Giants took a 3-0 lead, Ron Massaroni came on to pitch and allowed a single run in the third before shutting down the Giants on just 4 hits the rest of the way.

For the Giants, Mike Kane pitched the first two, allowing no hits, but walked one and hit a batter. Kane had pitched a complete-game win for the 35 Pirates three days before. Bolt, the playoff MVP a year ago, came on in the third and was touched for 2 runs in the 4th when the Reds threatened to take the lead. Singles by Ron McCarthy and Ron Massaroni put runners on 1st and 3rd with one out. McCarthy then scored on Joe Burns' key 2-out single. After a walk to Pete Geanellis, Bolt enduced a pop-up to first to end the rally.

Both teams mounted threats in the 7th. In the top half, Smaka singled with two outs and Doug Reisinger followed with his second hit of the game, a line shot to right-center to put two on, but Massaroni enduced a ground out to end the threat.

Meanwhile, Bolt retired 7 of the next 8 batters before the Reds mounted another threat in the 7th. After a harmless leadoff grounder to short to start the inning, Massaroni singled sharply to center. Bolt then struck out the next batter for the 2nd out. Burns then got his second consecutive hit to put runners on first and third. Then on a 3-2 pitch, which would have been Bolt's last, he struck out the next batter on a low, outside breaking pitch to end the game.

For the game, Burns, Ron McCarthy and Massaroni each had two hits to lead the Reds. For the Giants, Reisinger and Mario Arduini each had two hits, both with key hits a run scored during the Giants 3-run second inning.

Steve Lounello, Bill Smith, Wayne Phillips and Jim Whitford each drove in a run for the Giants.

This Reds team is talented and deep. They have a new player in Jay Trembly (sp?) who doesn't get cheated on hs swings. Trust me, NS Town Park will not hold some of the balls this guy is going to hit.

And I have to proudly say, the little ole City of Rensselaer was highly reprsented in this game: VanWormer, Handford, Trembly, Nardacci, Arduini, Whitford, Mark Dabney (Giants) and JimK.

Perhaps a City of Rensselaer team in the Labor Day Tournament?
JimK
Giants