KEY WEST -- The Roncos, still stinging from their previous week's loss to the Snappers, entered their game against the Jaibas with something to prove. After a first-inning onslaught in which the first seven batters reached base to stake a four-run lead, the Roncos never looked back to capture a 22-6 victory over the Jaibas in Jewfish League action at DeWitt Roberts Field in the Wickers Complex.
Tommy "Lapp Dogg" Lapp's double plated the first two runs and it was off to the races for the Roncos. The Jaibas bats were not nearly as hot and were held to one run in the first. The Roncos hitting continued as Randy "Smoke 'Em" Oakum did just that with his first at-bat of the night, a towering three-run home run onto the roof of the fire station. That swing of the bat led off an eight-run fourth that effectively put the game out of reach of the struggling Jaibas, whose only hitting bright spot was Bobby "They Call Me Bobby" Lopez's 3-for-3 night at the plate topped off with an inside-the-park homer in his last at-bat.
Okum added a double and base hit for three RBI, Hugo "Papa Smurf" Valdez Jr., stroked a pair of two-base hits and two base hits, Shaun "Turbo" Niles drove in three runs on a double and three singles, John "Schleppy" Childs also sent four home via a double and two base hits, Ricky "The Washing Machine" Gonzalez singled three times and roped a two-base hit, Tom "The Avocado" Haas mashed a pair of base hits, Lapp Dogg added a base hit and two RBI, "Diamond" Dave Sweeting drove in two runs on two hits, Chris Cassidy (And the Sundance Kid) singled twice as "Shoeless" Jose Jackson and Jimmy "The Big Tuna" Hake nailed one single apiece.
In addition to his in-the-parker, Lopez singled and doubled, Nick Hogan cracked a two-bagger and a base hit, Matt "Whopo" McLellan ripped a double, Mike Rivera singled home two runs and Mike Ferrell and Fatz Yaniz each singled.
SNAPPERS 25, MORAYS 11
The night cap was a battle between the team with the best and the team with the worst record. The Morays, determined to change their fate, drove home three runs on as many hits highlighted by new pick-up Scott Russell's double in the first, but the Snappers produced nine runs with the team hitting solid singles and batting through the line-up.
Dale "Big D" Bittner was the highlight in the Snappers' second, rocketing a lead-off homer over the left centerfield fence. The Snappers piled up three more runs in the bottom of the fourth trying to put the game away, but the plucky Morays mounted a comeback led by Chuck "The Wall" Malby's one-run triple in the fourth, and Harry "Did I Miss That Call" Milliken's two-run triple in the fifth to pull within a three-run deficit, but the Snappers would not go gently into the night. A poor pitching performance by the Morays allowed five walks in the sixth paired with Scott McCollum's three-run triple which scored 11 runs and secured another victory for the first-place Snappers, who now sport a 7-2 record.
McCollum was 4-for-4 with a triple and three singles and five RBI, Nick "Oscar" Myers singled four times in the leadoff spot, Javier Ferretti drove in three runs on three hits, Bittner added a triple to his dinger, Dean Thompson doubled twice and singled for two RBI, Hugo Valdez Sr. and Jay Hall each ripped a pair of base hits as Tony "El Bigote" Mendez, "The Colombian Comet" Jeremiah Periard, Tony Alfonso and Don Anderson slapped one hit apiece.
The Morays' Jim "Crazy Legs" Guynn slugged a trio of base hits, Russell added a single to go with his double, Jeff "I Need a Hip" Kurkowski, Brant "Butters" Voss and Bobcat "Rally Killer" Matthews each singled twice and Dylan "The Cornhusker" Kibler, "The Fabulous" Al Difabio and Benny "Pocholo" Aleman cracked one single apiece.
Compiled by Ron Cooke