The defending champion Silver Bats finally opened their 70+ season and the long layoff apparently put them in a funk that resulted in the Stars outlasting them 17-9 at Brother Rice in a game marred by an uncharacteristic nine errors by the 'Bats, including four in one inning.
The Stars of Dennis MacDonald and Mark Switalski, last year's Red Sox, scored all the runs they needed in the first two innings, five in each, though four of the total were unearned. With newcomers Gad Holland and Switalski hitting 1-2 at the top of the order ahead of star Gene Baratta, it was a tough batting order for Gary Sovey to overcome. He only walked two in his four innings but they pounded out 15 hits off him, including two doubles and a triple. Ed Klieman was the victim of four runs in his two innings -- but three of them unearned.
The top six batters in the Stars order scored 15 of the team's 17 runs as their record climbed to 3-0. The 0-1 Silver Bats have two games next week, Tuesday against the 0-2 Grays and then Thursday versus the Stars. Only 10 healthy players showed up for the 'Bats opener, indicating a large roster is a necessity in 70+, where injuries can mount. The opener was delated by a week due to a rainout June 9.
The Grays rallied for three runs in the fifth inning off Silver Bats starter Gary Sovey, overcoming a 4-2 deficit for a 5-4 lead but the 'Bats scored in the top of the sixth and the 70+ game wound up in a 5-5 tied.
Gerry Kleehammer and Manager Rick Woodcock began the fifth with singles for the Grays, then Joe Pironello ripped a double, Joe Masching a one-out single and Gary Roediger a two-run single to do the damage.
The Silver Bats knotted the score on a ground-out RBI by Spencer Kraft to score catcher Gregg Housey's courtesy runner, he had singled and Sovey followed with his third single of the day at Hazel Park, the Wally Frontera got a hit.
Fred Krause put the 'Bats up 2-0 in the opening inning with a two-run double after a single by Ray Lemanski and walk to Eddie Kleiman. Sovey singled a run home in the third off Grays pitcher Steve Kosuda following a bloop double by Krause and single by Joe Miscavish. A dropped fly ball in left game the Silver Bats a run in the fifth with Kleiman scoring and Krause getting credit for the RBI, a sacrifice fly and reached by an error.
The Grays scored a pair of unearned runs in the third. Woodcock was safe on an infield error to open the inning. Joe Pirronello had a bunt single and Masching's shot to the outfield plated a run and another scored on a wild throw to third.
The tie put the Grays record at 0-2-1 and the Silver Bats at 0-1-1.
With just eight players available, the Silver Bats managed to utilize what they had to the best advantage, with the help of a rotating right fielder borrowed from their opponent, overcoming an eight-run Stars first inning and getting a fantastic 4.1-inning relief job from Sal Calcagno to take a 21-14 victory at Waterford Mott. It was usual shorstop Calcagno's first-ever Detroit MSBL victory.
Apparently numerous other commitments kept Silver Bats players away and since regular starter Gary Sovey pitched Tuesday, the start was given to Spencer Kraft. But he had control issues and gave up all eight first-inning stars rulns, on five hits and four walks, before Calcagno -- who drives all the was from Okemos near Lansing -- got the last out and went the rest of the way. He suffered a four-run third due to the bombers at the top of the order: Gad Holland, Mark Switalski, Gene Barrata and Bill Wahl. And the Stars got a pair of unearned runs in the fourth.
In the meantime, though, the Silver Bats were booming against lefty starter Switalski and reliever Dennis MacDonald. The visiting team 'Bats scored three runs in the first, five in the third, 12 in the fourth, and one more in the fifth in the time-shortened game. No. 3 batter Fred Krause was 5-for-5, including three doubles and four RBI. Catcher Gregg Housey was also 5-for-5 and drove in five runs.
Also in the hit parade was shortstop Ray Lemanski with two hits, one a two-run double. Cleanup batter Joe Miscavish was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Calcagno had two walks and an RBI single; Kraft a two-run single, and Larry Paladino went 2-for-5 with three RBI.
The triumph was the first for the defending champion Silver Bats, who now have a 1-1-1 record, while handing the Stars their first loss against three victories.
The best defensive play of the otherwise offensive game was a hard-running catch toward the infield by Holland -- playing right in the fourth inning for his opponent 'Bats -- and a quit throw to first to double off the runner and end a rally at two runs. It was a very classy demonstration of integrity to help the short 'Bats.
Eleven hits, 11 walks, 11 players scoring at least one run each -- it was a balanced performance by the Silver Bats as they cruised past the Stars 12-2 behind the six-hit pitching of Gary Sovey and two hitless innings of relief from Sal Calcagno.
The usual hitting stars, Ed Klieman and Fred Krause, did their thing, combining for two triples, a double, a sacrifice fly, not to mention Klieman's deep shot that Gene Barrata caught near the fence. Bill Burke, making his Silver Bats debut, went two-for-three and was one of nine players to knock in at least one run. Wally Frontera, Calcagno, Eddie Harmon and Don Dillon had two walks each.
Mark Switalski gave the Stars a brief lead with a double in the opening inning that scored leadoff batter Gad Holland, who had reached on an error. But the 'Bats got two in the bottom of the inning against Dennis MacDonald. Leadoff man Frontera walked then Kleiman tripled and scored on Krause's sac fly.
Larry Paladino walked in the third, then Frontera singled and Kleiman hit what appeared to be a two-run triple. But the ball went under the left field fence for a ground-rule double, sending Kleiman back to second and Frontera from home back to third and they were stranded.
A five-run 'Bats fourth included walks to Calcagno, Harmon, Dillon and Mike Hendrie, plus hits from Burke and Paladino, plus an error. They iced the game with a four-run fifth that started with Krause's triiple followed by consecutive singles from Sovey, Gregg Housey, Burke and Calcagno; a walk to Harmon; and an infield fly in which two runners scored.
The Stars' other run was unearned in the fith. Leadoff batter Gerry Garcia struck out but reached first on a throwing error and ultimately came home on Bill Wahl's single.
The two teams are now virtually tied for first, but percentage-wise the Silvers 2-1-1 mark is at .625 and the Stars' 4-3 figure out to .571.
The 'Bats scored twice in the first inning off Dennis MacDonald. Wally Frontera opened the inning with a walk and Ed Kleiman tripled him home, then scored on a deep fly ball by Fred Krause. The Stars had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning on Mark Switalski's double that scored Gad Holland, who had reached on an error. The other Stars' run was unearned as well, scoring Gerry Garcia who had also reached on an error and got to third on a hit and a ground out.
Sal Calcagno pitched a strong 4 2-3 innings in relief of Bill Burke and keyed a two-run rally in the seventh inning as the Silver Bats scored twice to break a 5-5 tie to win their 70+ matchup against the Grays 7-5 at Ford Field.
Calcago doubled with one out in the top of the seventh against Steve Kosuda, got to third on a infield hit by Don Dillon, then an infield error scored Calcago and Dillon raced home on an errant pickoff throw to first base. (The Grays had picked off three 'Bats runners in the game.)
The Silver Bats had five mostly seeing-eye hits in the first inning after leadoff man Wally Frontera was safe on an error to start the game. By the end of the fram the 'Bats had scored four runs, with Fred Krause, newcomer Gary Faulkes, Gregg Housey and Burke each getting an RBI. The team added a run in the second inning for a 5-0 lead, with Frontera's ground out to first scoring Ed Harmon's courtesy runner Dillon after Harmon had reached on a single and Dillon moved up on an infield error on a ball hit by Spencer Kraft.
The Grays got their own four-run inning in the third. Burke, getting his first start, struck out Rick Delorme to start the inning but the ball skipped to the backstop and Delorme was safe at first. Gerry Kleehammer was hit by a pitch, Manager Rick Woodcock walked, Joe Pironello singled a run home, as did Bob O'Connor and Joe Masching, knocking Burke from the box. Calcago was greeted by a force out by Kosuda as the fourth run scored.
A two-out single by Ray Shaver in the sixth off Calcagno scored O'Connor, the courtesy runner for Gary Roediger who had opened the inning with a single. The game then was tied 5-5 setting the stage for the 'Bats two-run seventh, then Calcagno got out of a jam in the bottom of the inning, getting the final out on a force play at second with two men on.
The triumph kept the Silver Bats atop the standings at 3-1-1 and dropped the Grays to 1-4-1.
The Stars scored five unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, squelching a Silver Bats comeback bid as they won 9-4 to climb past their opponent into first place in the 70+ MSBL game at Waterford Mott.
Leading 4-2 heading into the inning, No. 12 batter Roger Lara tried to bunt his way on leading off and was safe on pitcher Gary Sovey's throwing error to first. Gad Holland then did the same thing, with the same result and runners were on second and third. Mark Switalski grounded out for a run, Gene Baratta walked, Gerry Garcia was safe on a fielder's choice that didn't get anyone out, and Jim Papineau hit an infield dribbler and it wound up loading the bases. Bill Wahl then doubled two runs home and Dennis McDonald followed with a two-run single.
That took the steam out of the Silver Bats, who managed to score twice in the seventh -- which would have knotted the score 4-4 were it not for those five unearned runs moments earlier.
The Stars (5-3) scored three runs off Sovey in the opening inning. Leadoff man Gad Holland walked, left-handed hitter Switalski doubled him home and scored on a single by Baratta, ,who later came home on a ground out to first by Jim Papineau. The team then added a run in the fourth for a 4-0 lead, McDonald singling home Baratta who had opened with a double and moved up on a ground out.
Joe Miscavish singled in two runs for the 'Bats in the top of the sixth to narrow the Stars' lead to 4-2. Gary Faulkes had walked, Ray Lemanski was hit by Switalski pitch, and Larry Paladino got a bunt single to load the bases. Switalski aggravated a leg injury on the play and Gerry Garcia came in to pitch, getting a forceout and strikeout to dull the rally. Spencer Kraft walked to keep it going, though, before another ground ball out ended it.
Ed Klieman was hit by a Garcia pitch to open the 'Bats' seventh. Fred Krause single and the runners advanced on a wild pitch. Klieman scored on a groud-out to first by Gregg Housey and Sovey followed with an RBI single, but it was too high of a hill to climb.
The lineup for the 'Bats (3-2-1) was not a typical one because a number of players showed up late at the rain-punctuated game and had to be added to the bottom of the order.
Joe Miscavish drove in three runs, two with a critical two-out infield hit, and Sal Calcagno pitched another strong game to lead the Silver Bats to a 5-2 victory over the Grays in a 70+ game at Hazel Park. Calcagno was locked in a pitching dual most of the game with Steve Kosuda and both pitchers saw critical errors behind them.
The 'Bats, who lead the division at 4-2-1, half a game ahead of the Stars' (5-4), scored twice in the opening inning, a lone run in the second, and two in the fourth. The Grays got a run each in the first and fourth in the time-shortened 5.5 inning game. The 'Bats made seven errors and the Grays five.
The Grays drew first blood when Dave Pichan, who had reached on an outfield error in the first, came around to score after a Joe Masching single and a third base error on Gary Parson's grounder. The Silver Bats took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. Dave Lemanski led off with a single; Ed Klieman followed with another (but got picked off by Kosuda); and Miscavish singled home Lemanski. He later scored on a bases-loaded walk to Eddie Harmon after a walk by Gregg Housey and single by Gary Faulkes.
Don Dillon got a hit with one out in the second inning and reached second on a throwing error, then ran into a tag in a long rundown play on Spener Kraft's grounder to third. But a walk by Lemanski and bunt single by Klieman set up an RBI bloop infield hit by Fred Krause for a 3-1 lead.
Ray Shaver walked with one out in the Grays' fourth. A dropped throw at second on a Kosuda grounder put two runners on. Andy Lukacs was safe on another infield error, then a fielders' choice by Curt Sylvester scored a run.
Kosuda struck out the first two batters of the Silver Bats' fourth before Lemanski got to second on an infield throwing error, Kleiman walked, then, rather than face the tough-hitting Krause, Kosuda walked him intentionally. That brought cleanup hitter Miscavish to the plate with two outs and he barely beat out a ground ball, with Lemanski and the speedy Klieman scoring on the infield hit.
The Grays stranded 14 batters in their six innings and the 'Bats left 12 on in five. Calcagno's record climbed to 3-0.
Sal Calcagno scattered eight hits in a complete game to raise his record to 4-0 and his Silver Bats had a decisive six-run sixth inning to break open a 4-3 lead and give them a 10-5 victory over the Stars in their 70+ matchup at Kyte-Monroe. All the Stars' runs were unearned, including two with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, a rally snuffed just before the Stars' big hitters were coming up.
The game was a battle for first place and now the Silver Bats, with a 5-2-1 record, own a one-game lead over the 6-5 Stars heading into next week's challenge of two games, Tuesday versus the 2-6-1 Grays and Thursday against the Stars, both at Novi and both away games.
'Bats leadoff man Ray Lemanski, who had a strong game at second base, had two line drive singles and scored two runs and the next two hitters in the order, Joe Miscavish and Ed Klieman, also scored twice and combined for three hits, one being Klieman's scratch tough-hop double in the opening inning to send Lemanski to third. He came home on a ground out by Calcagno, who had another RBI ground-out in the three-run third off Bill Wahl, which followed a 310-foot two-run double to center field by Klieman to score Lemanski and Miscavish.
The Stars got their first run in the top of the first inning on a single by Dennis MacDonald after Gene Baratta walked with two outs and reached second on an infield error. MacDonald also singled in an unearned run in the fourth that followed a double by Wahl and an error. Trailing 4-2, the Stars pushed across another unearned run in the sixth that scored on an infield error off the bat of Wahl, who pitched five innings before giving way to MacDonald.
In the bottom of the sixth, though, the new pitcher was wild, walking three, hitting one and giving up three singles, one of them a perfect bunt by Calcagno, who now has a 1.88 earned-run-average over 24 innings and 121 batters faced, as a replacement from usual starter Gary Sovey who has been out of commission for a couple weeks.
Mike Hendrie ripped two line drive hits in the game for the winners and Gary Foulkes had another, plus a stellar game at first base. Once again, Gregg Housey caught a strong game. Ed Harmon had two key walks and Don Dillon another, while also playing a superb right field that including some strong backups on ground balls to the right side.
Shortstop Gerry Garcia made a nice leaping grab of a Harmon line drive and Ron Forbes had a nice single to left in the contest. Nearly all the games in the division have been close and the last-place Grays have been close to making the race tighter.
Gregg Housey's bases-loaded ground out to the right side with one out in the fourth inning scored Ray Lemanski to break a 1-1 deadlock and send the Silver Bats to a 2-1 victory over the Grays at Novi in the MSBL's 70+ division.
Leadoff batter Lemanski had opened the inning with a blooper near second base that somehow fell in for a scratch hit. Ed Klieman then beat out a bunt and Fred Krause ripped an infield hit against Steve Kosuda off the bag at third base to load the bases. After an infield fly, Housey grounded out to Joe Masching at first base. The Silver Bats loaded the bases again in the seventh with nobody out but failed to score any insurance runs, but Klieman, who came on to pitch in the third inning, finished out his five-inning shutout performance in the bottom of the frame to pick up his first victory.
The top of the Silver Bats order got all seven hits off Kosuda, who was on his game, striking out eight and walking nobody. The first run off him came in the opening inning when Lemanski beat out an infield hit and the ball was thrown wild to first for an error. Klieman's groundout moved the runner to third and he scored on a bloop single by Krause (who Kosuda walked intentionally in the seventh when runners were on second and third with no outs, but the Grays got a doubleplay on a popout and throw home to nail Lemanski.)
Sal Calcago started on the mound for the Silver Bats but got into trouble each of his first two innings, finally giving up an unearned run in the second when Rick Woodcock reached on an error, a dropped popup at short. Then Andy Lukacs doubled, Sam Adragna was hit by a pitch, and Rick Delorme singled to score Manager Woodcock's courtesy runner.
Klieman struck out four, including the side in the fifth, and Krause made two fine plays in center field, throwing a runner out at second in the third and making a nice catch in the fourth and throwing to second base to double off the runner. Don Dillon, meanwhile, made a nice running catch of a liner in the fifth for the Silver Bats.
Three Silver Bats errors in the seventh inning led to two Grays runs that tied the game 5-5 and relief pitcher Steve Kosuda stranded the possible winning run on third in the bottom of the inning as the 70+ teams salvaged a 5-5 tie. The two teams also tied 5-5 on June 21.
Gary Roediger singled off Silver Bats starter Sal Calcagno to open the seventh. A fly ball to right was droped and, after one out, there was an error at short to put two men on. Manager Rick Woodcock's fly ball to left got apparently lost in the sun and was dropped for the third error of the inning, scoring the tying runs.
The 'Bats had taken the lead off Kosuda in the bottom of the sixth after he relieved Gary Parsons. Don Dillon beat out a bunt single, Ed Klieman was hit by a pitch with two outs, then Fred Krause hit a liner to left that was scored as a triple, putting the home team up 5-3.
The Grays had taken a 1-0 lead in the opening inning on hits by Dave Pichan, Roediger and Parsons and pushed that to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the third on a Roediger double after singles by Gerry Kleehammer, Ray Shaver and Pichan. But the Silver Bats bounced back with a three-run third off Parsons. Ray Lemanski opened with a walk and was triipled home by Klieman, who scored on an infield hit by Krause. He eventually came home on a two-out shortstop throwing error on a force play.
The outcome kept the 'Bats atop the standings with a 6-2-2 record. The Stars are second at 7-5, with the Grays, victims of a lot of close games, trailing at 2-8-2.
The Silver Bats broke open a 5-3 lead with a four-run sixth ining highlighted by Ed Klieman's three-run homer for a 9-3 victory over the Stars in their 70+ game at Kyte Monroe.
Sal Calcago went the distance on the mound for the first-place 'Bats, running his record to 5-0.
Left-hand batter Klieman's homer went to the left field corner and came with two outs following and RBI single by leadoff batter Ray Lemanski after walks to Spencer Kraft and Eddie Harmon at the bottom of the order off Stars pitcher Dennis MacDonald.
The Silver Bats also had a four-run inning off him in the third. Lemanski opened with a single; Klieman beat out a bunt and they rode home on Fred Krause's triple. Joe Miscavish's ground out scored Krause. The first 'Bats run of the game came in the third when catcher Gregg Housey was safe on a missed throw to first. After another infield error off the bat of Calcagno, Wally Frontera singled and Kraft forced in a run on a bases-loaded walk.
The Stars had taken a 1-0 lead in the opening inning with an unearned run. Gad Holland reached to open the game on a dropped popup. Mark Switalski singled him to third and MacDonald drove him in with a sacrifice fly.. The team took a 2-1 lead in the third with a run on a Holland single. It drove in Ron Forbes, who had opened the inning with a single and took second on Tom Kabrovich's sacrifice bunt. After a walk to Switalski with two outs, MacDonald ripped a hit to right field but Holland was thrown out at the plate, Frontera to Calcagno to Housey.
Calcago struck out the first two batters of the Stars' sixth but Holland reached first on a passed ball on the K. A Switalski ground out moved him to second, he took third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by MacDonald.
The victory gave the first-place Silver Bats a 7-2-2 record with five games remaining, while the second-place Stars fell to 7-7 and have only two games left. The third-place Grays have three games remaining and have a 3-8-2 record, five games out of first.
Joe Miscavish went 3-for-3 and drove in four runs and Gregg Housey was 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Silver Bats to a 15-12 victory over the Grays in the Detroit MSBL's 70+ division. The 'Bats pounded out 17 hits and got nine walks, with all 14 batters reaching base as they lifted their record to 8-2-2 and close to a division title with four games left. The second place Stars are 7-7, three games behind, and face the Silver Bats on Wednesday.
The Silver Bats pushed across two runs in each of the first two innings off ironman Steve Kosuda, who gave way to others on the mound after the 'Bats five-run third put the Grays behind 9-0. The Silvers then jumped on Rick Woodcock and Ray Shaver for five runs in the fourth and added one in the fifth -- although it wasn't a rout because the Grays came back.
With reliever Ed Harmon pitching for the first time this season for the Silver Bats, the Grays took advantage of a couple errors and lots of singles, scoring five times in the fourth and seven in the sixth before Ed Klieman came on for the last out to get a save. 'Bats starter Sal Calcagno worked three innings of the six-inning game for the 'Bats and raised his record to a league-leading 6-0, and sports a 1.88 earned-run-average, tops in the divisiion.
Leadoff batter Ray Lemanski of the Silver Bats had a hit, two walks and scored two runs while Klieman, batting behind him, went 3-for-4 with two runs. Each had an RBI. The cleanup hitter was third baseman Miscavish. He singled a run home in the first, his infield single in the third scored two runs (including the speedy Klieman from second), and he had an RBI single in the fourth. Nine different 'Bats had at least one RBI.
Catcher Housey knocked a run in in the opening inning with a ground out; hit a two-run triiple in the third; and led off the fifth with a hit and came around to score. Harmon and Wally Frontera had two hits each for the winners and Lemanski made some sterling plays at second base.
The Grays had 13 hits to keep things interesting.
Center fielder Fred Krause of the 'Bats leads the league with a .750 batting average and Klieman is third at .643. Others in the top 10 are Miscavish (8th) at .519 and Lemanski (9th) at .517. Krause's 18 RBI is second, while Miscavish and Housey ar tied for fifth with 14 each. In runs, Lemanski is fourth with 16 and Klieman fifth with 14. Harmon's nine walks is good for a tie for third, with Frontera and Calcago fifth with seven base on balls each.
Spencer Kraft's two-out, two-run single in the fifth inning numbed a Stars comeback momentum and helped propel the Silver Bats to an 11-5 victory that clinched the team's second consecutive 70+ division title. Pitcher Sal Calcagno worked the whole six innings to raise his record to 7-0.
The Silver Bats jumped on Bill Wahl for five runs in the opening inning, though three were unearned. Lefty shortstop Ed Klieman started things off with his second homer of the season, a shot to the right field fence. Gary Faulks' fielder's choice knocked in a run and two runs scored on a fielder's choice by Gregg Housey, one coming across on a throwing error to the plate. And the fifth run came across on a shortstop error.
The Stars got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning. Gad Holland led off with a walk and was doubled home by Dennis MacDonald, the league-leader in RBI. MacDonald was thrown out at the plate at home trying to score on the error off the bat of Wahl.
Ray Lemanski got a one-out single in the 'Bats second, reached second on a Klieman ground out, third on a Krause infield hit, and scored on a single by cleanup hitter Joe Miscavish.
A throwing error with two outs gave the Stars a run back in the bottom of the second after Gerry Garcia had opened with a single and got to third on a pair of ground outs.
With the deficit 6-2, Wahl got the first two Silver Bats out in the fourth but gave up two runs when a deep fly off the bat of Krause was dropped for an error. It scored Lemanski, who reached on a fielder's choice after Eddie Harmon's single, and Klieman who had a bunt single and raced all the was from first on the miscue.
The pesky Stars, though, mounted a comeback with three runs in the fourth. MacDonald singled and scored on a double by Wahl. Garcia got another single and Bob Homant ripped a two-out hit up the middle for a run. The final one scored on an infield error.
With the score now 8-5 and momentum clearly in favor of the Stars, the Silver Bats had a three-run fifth to put the game on ice. Faulkes beat out an infield hit and Calcagno walked. Faulkes was thrown out at third by the pitcher on a fielder's choice off the bat of Wally Frontera, who narrowly beat the throw to first which would have completed a double play. Don Dillon got a big two-out walk to load the bases and Kraft came through with his two-run hit up the middle. The third run scored on a single by Harmon, with the last out being on Kraft's courtesy runner at the plate on a nice 9-1-2 putout.
A double play quashed a potential Stars rally in the fifth and Calcagno got the side out 1-2-3 in the sixth to end the game on a time limit.
The Silver Bats' 9-2-2 record puts them four games ahead of the second-place Stars (7-8) to mathmatically eliminate them from contention. The 'Bats have three rainout makeups left, two next week against the Grays (3-9-2) and the finale Sept. 6 versus the Stars.
Sal Calcagno ran his record to 8-0, allowing just three singles, and drove in two runs with a single of his own in the five-run third inning to lead the 70 division champ Silver Bats to a 6-1 victory over the Grays at Hazel Park.
The Grays had jumped to a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the second inning. Gary Parsons led off with a single to left and then Steve Kosuda got two bases on a shortstop throwing error. Curt Sylvester knocked Parsons in from third with a ground out to first.
Andy Lukacs, who normally catches for the Grays, made his first pitching appearance of the year and shut out the prolific 'Bats lineup for four innings. But the five-run third was the killer. Gary Sovey led off with a walk for the 10-2-2 Silver Bats. His courtesy runner took second on Randy Root's ground out and then Spencer Kraft laced a shot past third for a hit. Leadoff batter Ray Lemanski followed with an RBI single, his first of two hits, then star shortstop Ed Klieman double in two runs. Joe Miscavish walked with two outs, then Ed Harmon got another walk followed by Calcagno's big two-run single.
The Silver Bats added an insurance run in the fifth off Steve Kosuda on an infield hit by Fred Krause after singles by Lemanski and Klieman.
The 3-10-2 Grays play their final game Thursday at Hazel Park against the home team Silver Bats in the second of two consecutive rain makeup games for the teams. The 'Bats and Stars (7-8) close out the season Sept. 6 at Hazel Park, to be followed by a 'Bats awards party at the home of Manager Larry Paladino.
Fred Krause drove in four runs and Gregg Housey three and the Siver Bats poked 11 hits and got 12 walks off three Grays pitchers in a 15-6 victory Thursday in their 70+ matchup at Hazel Park.
Krause hit a two run triple in the five-run opening inning off Ray Shaver and Andy Lukacs after the Grays had touched Gary Sovey for four runs in the top of the inning, though two were unearned. Shaver walked the last four batters he faced before giving way to Lukacs, who got the last two outs of the inning and then proceeded to walk four in the four-run Silver Bats second inning. That brought in Gary Parsons who got the last two outs and who worked the last three innings of the 5 1/2-inning game.
Parsons shut the 'Bats out in the third and fifth, but the 'Bats exploded for six runs in the fourth on three singles, two walks, a double and an error.
Sovey, who missed much of the season with illness, was making his first start since early in the season and picked up the victory, with Ed Harmon working the final two innings and giving up one run.
Wally Frontera doubled to lead off the first inning for the Silver Bats. Ed Klieman followed with a single and Krause, the league-leading hitter, drilled a triple to the left field fence. Consecutive walks to Harmon, Sal Calcagno, Housey and Mike Hendrie off Shaver scored two more runs and then Sovey got an RBI hit off of Lukacs.
A walk to Shaver followed by hits from Gary Roediger and Steve Kosuda produced the first Grays run, then Parsons and Joe Masching got hits to send in another run before a couple infield errors and a Rick Woodcock hit resulted in two more.
Ed Klieman was 3-for-4 for the 'Bats and scored three runs. Krause, who was 2-for-2 with three runs scored, got a bases-loaded walk in the second for his third RBI and ripped an RBI double in the fourth. Sovey, who had an RBI with a bases-loaded walk in the first, knocked in a run in the fourth with a ground out, as did Don Dillon with a ground out RBI in front of him. Calcagno, playing shortstop instead of his usual role as starting pitcher in place of Sovey this season, played superb defense and had three walks.
The game was a rain makeup and the final game of the season for the division is another rainout makeup, Tuesday, between the Silver Bats and Stars.
The Silver Bats wrapped up their 70+ Detroit MSBL season with a 16-10 victory over the Stars to wind up with a 12-2-2 record and successfuly defend their championship. The finale featured 24 hits that started with seven in an eight-run opening inning off Bill Wahl and concluded with a four-run sixth off Gene Baratta.
Gary Sovey, idled by illness much of the season, bumped his record to 3-2 in his three-inning stint in the six-inning game at Hazel Park, giving up five runs but just one earned, as his teammates played an uncharacteristic poor defensive game against the persistent Stars, who scored five in the third, two unearned in the fourth off Eddie Harmon, another unearned off him in the fifth, and two runs in the sixth off Spencer Kraft.
As usual, the big hitters for the 'Bats were No. 2 batter Ed Klieman, who was 3-for-3, including a double and triple, plus a walk, four runs scored, and two RBI. The No. 3 hitter Fred Krause also was 3-for-3, including a double and walk, plus three RBI. Gary Sovey served as the cleanup hitter, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and three runs. Krause ended up with a league batting title with a .763 average and tops with 26 RBI. Klieman's .651 was good for second and his 25 runs scored topped the league's stats. Krause had eight doubles to lead and Klieman's six was tied for third -- and his two home runs were two more than anyone else.
Leadoff man Ray Lemanski batted .500 and was third in runs scored with 20, while usual cleanup hitter Joe Miscavish's 16 runs-batted-in was tied for fourth. Catcher Gregg Housey was third with 18 RBI.
As for pitching, Sal Calcagno was the runaway leader with an 8-0 record and 1.93 earned-run-average. He also walked a dozen times, second most in the league, and Harmon had 11 bases on balls. For a team, the Silver Bats hit .413 and pitchers had a combined 4.02 ERA.
Other big hitters in the final game were Calcagno, 3-for-3, with an RBI, and Manager Larry Paladino, 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Jim Brake, playing in his first full game back from illness, had a line drive single and an RBI. Don Dillon and Harmon knocked in two runs each.
The team held its annual post-season party afterwards at the manager's house and awards were presented. Calcagno was voted the 'Bats most valuable player and also was named "Gold Glove" winner for his defense, getting a small gold-painted kids glove as a prize. Klieman and Krause tied as runner-up and there were a number of other awards doled out.
Paladino said afterwards that he hopes the 70+ division can remain intact and perhaps someone has the wherewithall to form a fourth team for next season. Inevitably there will be movement next year as some guys retire from the game or have to bow out due to health considerations. Hopefully, he said, players from his team and the Stars and Grays can persuade some newcomers to come out next season. A couple key additions can change everything for a team, including unexpected departures or unanticipated health problems.
Silver Bats Schedule