Diamond State & Athletic Play to Throng

DSBBC’s 1st Baseman Kenny “Buzzsaw” Bonsall makes the grab at first, denying Athletic’s Scott “Smoothbore” Alberts a hit. (photo by Frank Brevoort, III)

July 8, 2012 – The Diamond State Base Ball Club visited old friends yesterday, the Athletic Base Ball Club of Philadelphia, for a match of 1864 base ball at Bala Cynwyd Park in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, just outside of the city. The two clubs enjoyed providing a demonstration of 19th ball to a throng of enthusiastic spectators on this hot and muggy July Sunday afternoon. As is always the case when the Athletic and Diamond State meet, the day featured gentlemanly comportment, genuine camaraderie and fine play by both ball clubs.

In the first match of the day, exceptional fielding and pitching by both nines kept the score at a thin 4-0 margin in favor of Diamond State through 6 innings. The bats of the Blue and Black woke in the 7th and 8th frames, when the visitors plated 6 aces in each inning. The Athletic tallied its lone run in the bottom of the 8th inning. The visitors tacked on 2 more in the final inning and held the Philadelphia nine scoreless to post the win. The Delaware club was led at the plate by center fielder Andy “Zombie” Lynch (5-6, 1 HR, 6 SB’s, 3 Aces), shortstop Rob “Lightning” Zappaterrini (4-6, 1 Triple, 2 SB’s, 3 Aces) and right fielder Logan “Lobo” Medkeff (a perfect 3-3, 3 Aces). Pitcher Dan “Mini” Minutola kept Athletic strikers off balance, surrendering just 6 hits. Diamond State’s defense was bolstered by terrific fielding from Lightning, catcher Frank “Dutch” Brevoort, IV, left fielder Matt “Black Bart” Bartnicki, first baseman Kenny “Buzzsaw” Bonsall, second baseman John “El Jefe” Medkeff, and third baseman Brian “Anchor” Betts.

Diamond State’s willows picked up their fierce onslaught in the second game of the day. The Blue and Black tallied 4 aces in each of the first 3 innings to jump out to a 12-1 lead after 3 innings. Despite hitting the ball with more authority in the second game, the Athletic could not overcome the Delaware nines offensive attack in a 23-4 loss to the visitors. Dutch (5-6, 2 Triples, 1 Double, 1 HR, 4 Aces), Lightning (6-6, 2 Doubles, 5 SB’s, 5 Aces), Buzzsaw (5-6, 4 SB’s, 2 Aces), Black Bart (4-6, 1 Double, 1 HR, 4 SB’s, 4 Aces), Jefe (3-4, 2 SB’s, 2 Aces), and Zombie (4-6, 2 SB, 2 Aces) led the way for Diamond State strikers. Mini pitched a second gem of the day with fine play behind the plate from Dutch. Diamond State defenders turned in a second strong performance.

Diamond State returns home to Fort DuPont State Park this coming Saturday (7/14) to play host to the Resolute Base Ball Club of Elizabeth, New Jersey.  The match begins at 1:00 p.m.

STRIKER STATISTICS
Game 1 (Diamond State- 18; Athletic- 1) 1864 rules
Lightning 4-6, 1 Triple, 2 SB’s, 3 Aces
Dutch 2-6, 2 Doubles, 2 SB’s, 2 Aces
Zombie 5-6, 1 HR, 6 SB’s, 3 Aces
Black Bart 3-6, 1 Double, 3 SB’s, 2 Aces
Mini 2-5, 2 SB’s, 2 Aces
Buzzsaw 3-4, 1 BB, 1 Double, 2 SB’s, 3 Aces
Anchor 2-5, 1 SB
Jefe 1-5
Mr. B. 0-2, 1 BB, 1 SB
Red 0-2
One Finger 2-2, 1 Double, 1 SB
Lobo 3-3, 1 SB, 3 Aces

Game 2 (Diamond State- 23; Athletic- 4) 1864 rules
Lightning 6-6, 2 Doubles, 5 SB’s, 5 Aces
Dutch 5-6, 2 Triples, 1 Double, 1 HR, 4 Aces
Zombie 4-6, 2 SB, 2 Aces
Black Bart 4-6, 1 Double, 1 HR, 4 SB’s, 4 Aces
Mini 2-5, 3 SB’s, 1 Ace
Buzzsaw 5-6, 4 SB’s, 2 Aces
Anchor 1-5, 1 Double, 1 SB, 1 Ace
Jefe 3-4, 2 SB’s, 2 Aces
Mr. B. 0-3
Red 1-2, 1 Ace
One Finger 1-4, 1 Ace