05/01/2023
April 30th - St. Helena Highschool
The REBL Wine Country Blue Jays opened their home schedule Sunday with a strong 7:4 victory over the REBL 45+ Rockies. Played in front a vocal home crowd, the game was an even affair until the local favorites pulled ahead for good in the 7th.
The Rockies jumped out to a 1:0 lead in the first on a single by John Grech followed two batters later by an excuse me flare to right field by the badly fooled hitter Scott Beiswanger, scoring Grech.
Blue Jays starter Christopher Hill (St. Helena) settled down from there, and aside from a booming double by Rockies Keith Lederer to lead off the 2nd, Hill did not give up any further hits until the 7th inning.
The Blue Jays tied the game at 1:1 in their half of the 3rd. Tom Kemper (Windsor) led off with a walk, followed by the lefty Hill, who executed a run and hit with a hit down the first base line on a pitch out of the strike zone, sending the running Kemper to third. Next batter St. Helenan Troy Watters promptly lifted a sac fly to center, scoring Kemper easily.
The score remained tied at 1:1 till the 6th when the Blue Jays scored three. Hill led off with a drive down the right field line, which one-hopped the fence for a double. Watters followed with a single to center, stole second, and both runners scored when highly regarded rookie, Calistogan Keegan Barrett boomed a double to left. The hit parade continued with Calistogan Brian Harlan singling to left, and Napan Karl Gonsalves driving home Barrett with a single to right. In the process, Rockies starter Monty Barnard was replaced by Alan Maciel, who brought the inning to an end with no more scoring.
In the 7th, lead off Rockies hitter Billy Dodson grounded to short and Watters was unable to make the play. A hit batter and two singles later by Eric Pennes and Maciel ended the day for Hill after 6 1/3 innings of 2 ER ball. Kemper came in in relief and after settling down and the two inherited runners scoring, brought the inning to a close with the score tied 4:4.
But the Blue Jays weren’t done. In the 8th a lead off hit by pitch on Watters started things, who then stole 2b. Barrett continued his strong start to the season with a single, putting runners on the corners. Following a Barrett steal of second, Gonsalves hit a grounder up the middle for a fielder’s choice driving in Watters. Which brought up St. Helenan Jason Loring, fresh off the injured list and playing a week earlier than expected following a meniscus surgery. After having hit the ball hard in his previous at bats but each time finding a glove, this time Loring ensured that no one would catch his double to right center field, driving in Barrett and Gonsalves and expanding the lead to 7:4.
Kemper pitched two clean innings to close out the game and the Blue Jays’ first victory of the young season.
In the process, they defeated the previously undefeated Rockies who were sporting a .398 team batting average and had just beaten their previous opponent 28:3.
It was Hill’s best outing of the season, and where as in his previous starts he had begun each game in dominating fashion until losing his command in decisive innings, yesterday saw Hill overcome the few blips behind him and effectively use his curveball to keep hitters off balance, while not issuing a walk.
Watters and Kemper each made tough catches into short outfield on multiple pop ups. Overall, the D was a solid unit.
Next week, the Blue Jays (1-2) host the first place team in the 55+ division, the Dragons (3-0), led by Calistoga pitcher Earl Dunckel.
The Blue Jays rotation will be at full strength as perennial All-Star starting pitcher/OF Ryan McClelland will make his first appearance.
The game will host a silent auction, food truck, game emcee, first pitch by a St Helena Little Leaguer, and certainly a loud and raucous local crowd.
Attendance is free, and the community’s support is welcome!
