2008 Palm Springs II

RUPP'S WORST NIGHTMARE AND SO CAL HUSTLERS BEAT THE HEAT IN PALM SPRINGS

Upper Division Report by Fred Hanker

In the finals of the Palm Springs 2 Upper Division The undefeated Long Beach Black Sox squared off against Rupp's Worst Nightmare. It was only fitting that the two pitchers were Gerald Pyle and Ron Rupp who have been playfully sparring all year in The Fast Pitch West Forum. The two teams on Saturday played a thrilling 3-2 game in 8 innings which Long Beach prevailed. This game would be completely different as Rupp's Worst Nightmare would win the championship scoring 11 runs.

The game was 0-0 after one as Gerald Pyle got out of a 1st and third jam in the first inning inducing Chris Minogue to hit into a double play after Fred Hanker and Andy Martinez singled. In the second Rupp's Worst Nightmare would get on the board when Javier Fierro doubled and scored on a single. In the third Rupp's Worst Nightmare got 3 off Sox ace Ron Rupp when Sonny Perkins singled followed by another single and a Javier Fierro RBI single. Gerald Pyle than tripled to left scoring 2 more making the score 4-0 after three. Fred Hanker pulled Ron Rupp after the inning and replaced him with Dave Blackburn. The Sox rallied in the 4th scoring 3 when Fred Hanker singled and Chris Minogue homered to left center. Ron Rupp than singled and advanced to second on a passed ball. Dale Lopes than delivered an 0-2 pinch hit single driving in Rupp. Lopes made his 1st Sox appearance in 2 years in the at bat.  

The game was broke open in the bottom of the 4th off Dave Blackburn. Sonny Perkins led off with a walk and Troy Parker singled. Javier Fierro followed a triple with a RBI single his third hit of the game. The score after 4 innings was now 8-1. In the 5th The game was esentially put away by Rupp's Worst Nightmare scoring 3 more and ending the game on a run rule. Sonny Perkins hit a long home run to center to highlight the inning making the final 11-3. Gerald Pyle went 4 innings for the win striking out 5 and also going 2-3 at the plate with 2 RBI. Javier Fierro was 3-3 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored. Troy Parker was 2-3 with a RBI and a run. For the Long Beach Black Sox Chris Minogue was 1-3 with a 2 run home run. Ron Rupp and Fred Hanker each added 2 hits and scored a run each.

Coming Soon, the A Division report