Before I get to the game notes, I want to say that as badly as the Bears need wins, it really sucks to win in the fashion in which we did. Yes it was exciting, yes it was a walkoff; but it was only the sixth inning of a game that started at 5:45. I'm not sure what the league can do about it, but the fact that we had to wrap a game up due to a time limit because a few people in the village of Scotia whine and complain about the lights at a baseball field being on after 11:00 p.m. really sucks. The Diamondbacks deserved a better fate last night and deserved an opportunity to win that game in the full amount of innings. It's not like that game was a festival of pitchers who walked a ton of guys or an error-fest either; both teams played solid defense (in fact the D-backs 3B and SS played GREAT defensive games) so the game moved along about as quickly as could be expected. We got to discussing after the game that the time limits at Bob Moore are ridiculous for double-headers. If you factor in the "no new innings after 7:40" rule, that means, in theory, you could have a LESS THAN TWO HOUR TIME LIMIT for a game that starts at 5:45 which a lot of guys struggle to get to because it's so close to the end of their work day. So coming back to last night's game, I had no idea of the time when the walk off was hit - I was still yelling at my guys to hustle and take extra bases because I thought we still had one more inning to play. I had to be informed by the D-backs SS that the game was over and I was dumbfounded as to why. I truly feel badly for Hank and his entire roster of players last night. That's no way to lose what was an excellent game to that point. Both teams deserved to have that game decided in the seventh inning.
But the Bears did manage to win with no outs in the bottom of the sixth for the 7-6 victory. The Bears scored twice in the 2nd to open the scoring on an RBI single by Madison Goldfischer and a sacrifice fly by Darren Foote. The Diamondbacks scored one run in the 3rd (RBI single by Hank Mora scoring Andy Pedone) and one run in the 5th (RBI fielders choice by Mora scoring Nick Kearns) to tie the game at 2-2.
The Bears break the tie in the bottom of the fifth with three runs. Darren Foote led off with a single and subsequently stole second. Jeff McQuide then reached on an error (could've been a hit, though) and stole second on the next pitch. After a fly ball to center (not deep enough to score the run, the D-Backs would intentionally walk cleanup hitter Rob Bialkowski (who already doubled and tripled in the game) to load the bases for Austin Blum. Blum would hit a sharp liner to right field scoring Foote for a 3-2 Bears lead. A wild pitch would score McQuide and Kevin Bondi delivered an RBI fielders choice to score Bialkowski and the Bears led 5-2.
The D-Backs came storming back when five consecutive hitters would reach with one out. Back-to-back doubles by Alex Trionfo and Dave Zebrowski plated the first run. A walk and then a series of passed balls by Goldfischer who struggled in the late innings due to heat exhaustion led to two more runs and then a Bears error would score the last run and the D-Backs led 6-5. It was then noted that no new inning would start, this was the last chance for the Bears - although, I was never notified.
But the Bears would come back and win with a leadoff single by Kevin Gallagher and then a double ripped down the line by Madison Goldfischer. With two on and no out, Kevin Barbaro laid down a squeeze bunt but the runner from third never broke for the plate, but Barbaro beat out the throw and the bases were loaded. Darren Foote would again single to plate Gallagher and Jeff McQuide crushed a booming double to end the game.
I know that part of the problem lies with the Bears and other teams who can't help secure fields so we have more options for scheduling. I will work with my guys this off-season to see if we can get a field and give the league more options so we can avoid this next season. I live in Scotia, and if I knew the names of the people who were complaining to the Village about the lights at Bob Moore I would go speak with them directly and see what we can do to get those lights to stay on later so we can avoid forcing a team to lose a game without first getting their fair shake.
Do we feel good about a win? Yes. But this one rings a bit hollow.
-- Edited by The_Hurricane on Friday 8th of July 2016 08:14:34 AM
Rob - Your statement about getting more fields is dead on. It isn't as easy as it sounds by any means and we are willing to consider any and all options.
As far as the neighbors go their complaints are not limited to lights on the baseball field. For years gas augers for ice fishing were not allowed.
I'm not sure if it is true but i heard the mayor ice fished and rescinded that regulation.
In all fairness i think many other parks have time limits as well. I believe Dutchman Field has a timer that shuts lights off at 10:45 and no one onsite has the ability to over ride it.
It's funny 4 or 5 years ago we secured Central BR and it gets used some by the 18 Div. Last year our team paid for a permit to play games at Legion Field which I think is used by the Rake team. Relationships were establiblished with these fields by working Field Days etc...the focus of fields in the Bears Div seems to be in Schenectady area. Cook Park was also in play and probably could be again with some effort.
There is also a field out here in Rotterdam that looks to be up to the quality. Its my plan to approach the local league board as our season winds down. Hoping we can add it for next year.
