|
DATE |
FIELD |
OPPONENT |
RESULT |
|
May 24 |
Field 8 |
Biohazards |
rainout |
|
May 31 |
Field 7 |
Zoned Out |
L, forfeit (won 19-15) |
|
June 7 |
Field 9 |
Artisoft Ringers |
|
|
June 14 |
Field 8 |
Contractors |
|
|
June 21 |
Field 1 |
The Pits |
|
|
June 28 |
Field 1 |
Biohazards (double-header) |
|
|
July 12 |
Field 7 |
Zoned Out |
|
|
July 19 |
Field 7 |
Base Pairs |
|
|
July 26 |
Field 9 |
The Pits |
rainout |
|
August 2 |
Field 9 |
Why Bunts |
|
|
PLAYOFF: |
Field 1 |
Zoned Out |
|
Schedule/field
map |
Well, only eight Clippers showed up for our first game of the season (after the May 24 game was unaccountably called off despite the fact that it had stopped raining hours earlier). But in true Clipper spirit, we cheerfully forfeited the game (like we had a choice!), borrowed a catcher from Zoned Out, and proceeded to fashion a thrilling if completely unofficial victory.
After posting a big crooked number (nine runs) in the second, the Clippers let the other guys creep back. Zoned Out tied it at 10 with a homer to lead off the sixth. However, Robert sealed the victory with a grand slam in the 7th.Eric Lindblad and Garrick followed with solo shots, making for one of the few if not only back-to-back-to-back homers in Clipper history. Meanwhile, the team slung a little leather as well, with a 1-4-3 double play (Frank to Dan to Lisa) in the fourth, and a nice tag-out by Dan in the third when a Zoner tried to stretch a single.
The minor-league Clipper roster promises to keep expanding; Nelson and Gretchen had a baby last April, Zeke and his wife became parents in December, and two other "little" leaguers are on the horizon: one from Alice and Ben (expected July 23!) and another from Eric Cook and his wife Deanna in October.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clippers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zoned Out |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A tough first inning where center-fielder Neal and others were battling a brutal sun in their eyes was a big factor in an eventual loss for the Clippers, though they fought back and made a game of it.
The Ringers recorded seven runs in the first, though their per-inning output declined thereafter, and the Clippers put up a seven-spot of their own in the sixth. They also got five in the second, even though a panting Zeke had to be recalled to the plate after running out what initially appeared to be a grand slam but was actually a foul ball (D'OH!). Notwithstanding the sun, the defense was generally solid, featuring strikeouts by Frank in the second and fourth, as well as an unusual 6-3-5 double play in the third (Shortstop Garrick to first baseman Eric Cook to Robert at third). The Clippers were down by a far-from-insurmountable four runs going into the seventh, but a three-run homer by the Ringers put the game away.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artisoft |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clippers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Once again, the Clippers spotted their opponents an early lead, but this time they emerged victorious, thanks to some timely hitting by all and excellent pitching by Frank.
The Contractors, featuring their unmistakable white-haired pitcher with the herky-jerky motion, put up four runs in the opening frame, though the Clippers scored a few of their own; it was 9-7 after three, aided by a two-run homer in the second by newcomer Richard Parnigoni. But then the Clippers pulled ahead and away as Frank pitched three scoreless innings and the team put up nine unanswered runs (in addition to the three in the bottom of the third) to make it 16-9 after six. They scored four more in the sixth, and although the Contractors got two across in the seventh, it wasn't enough to prevent the Clippers' first 2000 (official) victory.
There was some more good defense along the way, as when Barry tracked down a smash to deep left-center to end the fourth, then caught, juggled and held onto another ball to start the fifth. Zeke likewise snagged a long smash to right and Frank flipped to first on the next batter to complete a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth. And in the seventh, all three outs were on grounders to third (Garrick) throwing to first Dan).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contractors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clippers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On a spectacularly windy evening, the Clippers finally hit their stride playing The Pits, and scored in every inning of a 28-9 "blowout." (Actually the wind was blowing in...)
Even with a 15-person roster, every Clipper had at least 4 at-bats and the team nearly batted around in the 6th. And despite the fast artificial turf, the job was done mainly with singles -- 26 of them. The Clippers also whacked 7 doubles (Zeke-2, Will Jeffers-2, Neal-2, Barry) and three triples (Richard, Garrick, Eric Cook), before capping off the game with two 3-run homers in the 7th (Dave and Lisa Loveland).
In addition, leadoff batter Robert went 4-for-5, Steve went 3-for-4, Eric L. and Frank 3-for-3, and newcomer Will A. 2-for-4.
Defensive highlights: in the bottom of the 1st inning, Neal fired a strike to catcher Lisa Damtoft who applied the tag, and in the 2nd and 6th, pitcher Frank deftly fielded both a swinging bunt and a hard-comebacker, respectively, for outs. In the 3rd inning Frank threw just four pitches for a lightning-quick 1-2-3 inning.
It was also Family Night for the Clippers, as the team was roundly encouraged by a contingent of Little Fans in the persons of Eva Jeffers, Madison Schaefer and Eli Barrera, along with their cheering moms. Rounding out the youth element was the evening's umpire, the young son of the commish, who called a great game all the while sucking on a big sourball that progressively turned his lips an arresting shade of turquoise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clippers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In the first game of a doubleheader (making up for our Opening Day rainout), the Clipeprs charged out of the gate with five runs in the first inning, highlighted by a three-run homer by Garrick (5 RBI in the game).
The other big offensive outburst was in the third, when the team scored four runs aided by back-to-back-to-back doubles by Will Jeffers, Garrick and Robert. The Clippers' best defensive inning was also the fourth, when they turned a double play (Eric Cook fielded the ball at second, stepped on the bag to force the runner and then threw to Dan at first), followed by Barry's great catch of a deep fly to the hedge in left-center. (That hedge made for a lot of ground-rule doubles!) On the other hand, after an opening single by Garrick, the Clippers themselves went down in order in the sixth inning -- all on fielder's choices to second base.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Biohazards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clippers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In contrast to game #1, the Clippers started out slowly on offense but gradually built steam, scoring more runs in each successive inning until the sixth, when they put a seven-spot on the board. A tireless Frank pitched both games of the double-header, holding the Biohazards to no more than two runs in any inning of the second game.
The Clippers' many big innings demonstrated both power and patience, with four straight doubles in the fourth (Will Jeffers, Garrick, Robert and Richard), as well as three straight walks n the sixth (Richard, Lisa Damtoft and Frank). The bottom of the fifth featured a Biohazard foul pop out of play into the Kresge lot, which landed on a car's roof and set off its car alarm; and a 10-4-3 double play where Eric Cook in short center threw to Will Anderson at second who relayed to Richard at first.
Both games featured a season-high turnout (14 and 15 players), including Ben's 2000 sandal-clad debut in game #2, plus the expert and enthusiastic umpiring of commissioner Mark Throops' son, who made his calls at prepubesecent top volume.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clippers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Biohazards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With the Tall Ships in town, the Clippers perhaps wished that they had gone down to the sea again and mingled with the brigs and yawls rather than with the muscle and brawn of Zoned Out.
In a spirited, umpireless game against a relaxed and amiable team, the Clippers got off to a promising start in the first inning, when pitcher Frank set down the Zoned ones on four pitches. But ultimately the Clippers came up short, particularly in the final two innings when they couldn't score at all after fighting for a 12-11 lead after five innings.
Offensively, their big inning was the fifth, which featured a 3-run home run by Garrick, a two-run homer by Dave, and a triple by Will A. which would've been a homerun save for a painful slip as he dashed between 2nd and 3rd. In addition, leadoff batter Robert singled twice and scored twice; Dan doubled, Barry was a homerun short of the cycle, and Garrick tripled. Frank, Neal and Zeke hit singles, and Eric and the Lisas each reached first base via either walks or a fielder's choice.
Defensive highlights: Catcher Lisa L. was responsible for 2 outs in the top of the second, catching a pop foul and then applying a tag on a runner trying to score. In the top of the fifth, the Clips turned a double play when Eric L. caught a pop-up at 2nd and alertly threw to first, where a runner was caught straying from the bag.
The Clippers also heaved a sigh of relief early in the game when outfielder Will A. got crossed up with left-fielder Barry and the two collided, leaving Barry dazed on the field before he returned, good as new, back to the game.
The game ended with another patented Clipper cheer: "Zoned In, Zoned Out, you're the best, no doubt!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zoned Out |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clippers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Clippers could not get it going in their game against the Base Pairs. The Clippers scored their fewest runs since 1997, and only got their defense in gear for the last two innings, when their opponents only scored one run -- but by then the damage had been done.
On the bright side, Dwayne's, Zeke's and Will's kids seemed to enjoy playing and cooing along the third-base line. The team also welcomed rookie Jonathan and re-welcomed Dwayne, playing his first game of the season for the Clippers with an RBI double and a run scored. Pitcher Frank's arc was awesome and he induced some tough-looking Pairs to swing right through his pitches. And virtually every Clipper had at least one hit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clippers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Base Pairs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Clippers entered the final day of the season needing to win at least one of their two five-inning games (including a rain makeup against The Pits) to have a chance at the playoffs. We were missing key players Garrick and Barry, but fortunately the day saw the 2000 debut of Nelson (cheered on by Gretchen and four-month-old Taylor), who went a perfect 6-for-6 on the afternoon.
Game 1 started promisingly with a 1-2-3 inning by stalwart pitcher Frank on two flies to Eric Lindblad in left and a strikeout. The game was still scoreless after an inning and a half, but the Why Bunts put up a five-spot in the second, which proved to be all they needed. The inning ended on a throw to Lisa "Pudge" Damtoft at home plate by shortstop Nelson. Lisa valiantly blocked the plate and tagged out the runner trying to score, sustaining an ankle bruise but staying in the game.
The Clippers scratched back with three in the fourth on a double by Nelson, a triple by Frank (only his scond extra-base hit of the year, despite a healthy .630 average) and a single by Robert. The fifth and final inning saw two quick outs by Lisa Damtoft and Will, then hits by Steve, Zeke and Nelson to score a run and bring the Clippers to within one, but Frank lined out sharply to first to end the game with the Clippers coming up just a bit short. Our non-rhyming cheer: "Why Bunt, Why Bunt, Why Bunt when you can hit like that?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clippers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Why Bunts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
August 2 vs. The Pits (July 26 rain makeup)
The second game of the night ended in perhaps the most exciting victory of the year, especially considering it was a must-win for any hope of post-season Clippers play.
The lead seesawed back and forth, with each team scoring in every inning until the Clippers failed to plate a run in the third, leaving the score 6-5 in favor of The Pits. But Frank (who again pitched two complete games in the double-header) then held The PIts scoreless in the top of the fourth while the Clippers scored four in the bottom half of the inning, making it 9-6 going into the final inning.
In the decisive fifth, the Clippers couldn't hold the lead despite two quick outs (a grounder to Nelson at short and a strikeout). The Pits got several singles in a row (though Neal almost tagged out a runner at third) and scored three runs to tie it up before Frank recorded the final out on a whiff.
However, the Clippers didn't lose hope. Eric Cook, winner of the DIrty Uniform Award, noted that he sustained a very small scrape on the elbow during the top of the fifth and observed, "Every game I've bled in, we've won." The team needed just one run in the bottom of the fifth to win, and it came easily on a leadoff triple by Robert that was almost a home run, followed by a game-winning RBI single by Nelson. We paid tribute to a worthy opponent with the cheer, "Pits, Pits, the greatest hits!" before adjourning en masse to the Muddy for game rehashing and post-season speculation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Pits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clippers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
August 9 vs. Zoned Out (playoff game)
As Alice and Ben welcomed Sarah Edith Ella Dubrovsky into the world, the Clippers embarked on a loss rivaling in pain that of Alice's 17 hours of labor.
The Clippers had their usual slow start as they could only muster one run in the first five innings. Fortunately, the Clipper gloves were not as silent as their bats, as Dave and Will, subbing for our usual starter Frank, combined to hold Zoned Out to just six runs over the first five innings. The Clipper defense was solid, highlighted by Dan Langdale's nifty fake to home on one play. The Zoned Out runner on second was suckered into making a break for third, when Dan spun around and executed a textbook rundown to get the out.
Clipper bats finally awoke in the sixth. Four runs came across that inning, and when Zoned Out could manage just one run in the bottom of the inning, the Clippers went into the 7th down only 2, at 7-5. That's when things got interesting.
Dan, Neal, and Steve all singled, loading the bases. Lisa Loveland then hit a chopper up the middle. The second baseman stepped on second, then threw home to try to get the lead runner. Dan took one for the team, as the ball caromed off him and smacked against the fence. The ball should have been dead, but the umpire hadn't seen where the ball had gone. In the confusion, Neal scored the tying run, Lisa went to second, and Steve, not sure whether he had been called out or not, wandered out between second and third. Zoned Out threw to the third baseman, and Steve was called out for a second time.
Robert then singled, and Lisa turned her ankle but scored on a close play at the plate to give the Clippers the lead. Then confusion broke out for several minutes. The umpire had called Steve out twice on the same play. He then reversed his call, and called Lisa out retroactively, arguing that Steve had improperly failed to clear the basepath, and that by drawing another throw, had committed interference. Several minutes of philosophical debate as to how Steve could be called out twice on the same play proved fruitless, as the call stood. The next Clipper flied out, and the game went into the last of the seventh tied at seven.
Then came an ending only the Clippers could manufacture. Zoned Out loaded the bases with one out. With the outfield drawn in, the next batter popped out, sending a sigh of relief amongst the Clipper faithful. But after that, Mookie Wilson hit a little dribbler down to first, the ball went between Buckner's legs, and...oh wait, wrong game, same sensation. The Zoned Out batter hit a line drive to left. Barry came charging in, reached down with his glove...and the ball hit off the tip of his glove and fell to the turf. Game over. Season over.
As any good Clipper team would do, the squad then headed over to the Muddy, where there was an animated discussion on the Aristotelian vs. the Platonic conception of umpiring. In keeping with Clipper tradition, a person who couldn't make the game, Garrick, was blamed for the loss.
But with the birth of Sarah Edith Ella Dubrovsky, there is hope for future Clipper teams. She may not run well by next year, and she won't have a lot of power, but she'll sure have a small strike zone, and should draw lots of walks. Congratulations, Alice and Ben!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clippers |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Zoned Out |
|
|
|
|
||||
2000
Roster/Stats
1999
Roster/Stats
1999
Games
1998
Games
1997
Games
1996
Games
1995
Games
Clippers
home
