The Key West Citizen

Mike's Fleet Sonar School
Take Diamond Tilts

Mike's Hardware has practically clinched the first half championship in the Island City Winter Baseball League.

Mike's won a close 2 to 1 decision from Cable Vision yesterday afternoon in the seven-inning nightcap of the Sunday doubleheader.

In the opener of the double bill played at Wickers Field, the Navy Sonar School club won its first league game, registering an upset in beating Budweiser, 8 to 4.

A good crowd watched Sonar School win the "big one" in a thrilling pitchers' duel between Mike's Gibby Gates and Cable Vision's "Viti" Vidal.

This battle between the two rivals was a bang-bang affair.

Mike's went in the fifth when Julie Santana lined a run-scoring single, scoring teammate Robert Lastres.

Hurlers Gates and Vidal both hurled air-tight baseball. All three runs scored in the game were unearned.

Following yesterday's two games, here's the standing of the clubs at the moment in the Island City Winter Baseball League:

School Tuesday night, at 7:30 p. m. at Wickers Field - Fleet Sonar School vs. Navy Bluejackets.

As stated, the two hurlers in the big game yesterday afternoon - Gates and Vidal - had the hitters well under control.

Vidal, who had been relying completely on his fast ball in previous outings, mixed up his deliveries yesterday. He gave up seven hits including a double by Don Cruz.

"Viti" walked just one hitter and had no strikeouts. He was particularly effective with runners on the basepaths.

Gates gave up but three hits, all singles. He struck out three and walked four.

Three errors were marked up against the losers, while Mike's committed a lone miscue.

Vidal gave Gates a fit at bat, hitting two singles in three official trips. Angueira got the other bingle for the losers. For the winning Mike's nine, Cruz had a perfect day, with two for two, and Roger Bean had two for three.

Vidal gave up a run in the opening frame. Pazo reached on an error and was on second with two down. Moe Henriquez drilled out a single to score Pazo. Bean followed with another single and Cruz worked Vidal for a walk, loading the sacks.

Eloy Rodriguez was retired on a grounder and Mike's led, 1 to 0.

Cable Vision tied it up in their second without a hit. Two walks and an error allowed Georgie Lastres to cross the plate.

N. Y. Giant farmhand Julio Santana's safety won it in the fifth.

Cable Vision got a runner aboard in both the sixth and seventh innings but Gates bore down to retire the side both times without damage.

In the opener, Budweiser manager Al Smith figured it was a fine opportunity to launch Alice (Fly) Alice on a pitching comeback.

He was wrong.

Alice, one of the top hurlers in the city a few years back, had been idle for some three years.

Ambitious Sonar School hitters ruined his comeback try early, batting around in the first frame to score four runs. The Navy team scored three more in the second to nail down their first league win.

Danny Lastres relieved Alice in the second and held the winners in check for the rest of the game, but a 7-0 lead was a fine cushion for Sonar hurler Reh and he was able to chalk up the victory.

Reh, a slight lefty, looked good on the hill. He held the Budweiser nine to six hits and exhibited fine control, walking just one and striking out five.

Sonar School got four in the opening inning on three walks and hits by Schwoeble, Potts and Lynch. A walk, a hit batter and singles by Weeks and McCarn gave the winners their trip in the second frame.

Potts, Weeks and Hurley got successive hits in the sixth to plate the eighth run for the Navy club.

Budweiser broke into the scoring column in the fifth when they scored twice on hits by "Do-Do" Villareal, Danny Lastres and Howie Barnwell. Kaki Rodriguez and "Bunsy" Villareal, on with single crossed the plate as a Navy fielder erred on Al Leon's drive.

Mike's Hardware appears certain to win the first half title, being scheduled this week against the Sonar School and Bluejacket nine.

Gob Shop is slated to oppose Cable Vision Wednesday night.

League president Bill Cates has announced that he will ask clubs to open the second half schedule next Sunday should Mike's clinch the first half title this week.

Cates' intention is to schedule as many games as is possible in order that top players are in shape to form a team to give the Miami Marlins some fast opposition in April when the triple A International League club visits here while undergoing spring training. Present plans call for the city's best to take on the Marlins in a three game series here.

Yesterday's box scores:

Fleet Sonar School (8) McCarn, cf, 4-2; Wade, 2b, 3-0; Schwoeble, 3b, 2-1; Potts, ss, 4-2; Weeks, 1b, 4-2; Hurley, rf, 4-1; Hord, lf, 3-1; Lynch, c, 3-1; Reh, p, 4-1.

Budweiser Beer (4) Barnwell cf, 4-1; Leeberg Knowles, ss, 3-1; Nunez, 2b, 3-0; Kaki Rodriguez, c, 2-1; Bunsy Villareal, rf, 3-1; Do Do Villareal, lf, 3-1; Leon, 1b, 3-0; Carey, 3b, 3-0; Alice, p, 0-0; Danny Lastres, p, 3-1.

2BH - Bunsy Villareal, Potts.

RBI - Barnwell, Do Do Villareal, Schwoeble, Weeks 2, Hurley, Lynch.

Cable Vision (1) Butler, ss, 4-0; Acevedo, 2b, 2-0; Portier, c, 2-0; Clay Stering, 1b, 3-0; George Lastres, rf, 1-0; Gabe Lastres, 3b, 3-0; Oropeza, lf, 3-0; Angueira, cf, 3-1; Vidal, p, 3-2.

Mike's Hardware (2) Al Pazo, 3-0; Robert Lastres, 1b, 3-1; Julio Santana, ss, 3-1; Moe Henriquez, c, 3-1; Roger Bean, 3b, 3-2; Don Cruz, cf, 2-2; Eloy Rodriguez, rf, 3-0; B. Casas, lf, 3-0; Gates, p, 2-0.

2BH - Cruz. RBI - Oropeza, Santana, Henriquez.

Umpires: Raul Rodriguez, Bill Cates. Official Scorer: D. Mallard.

Monday, November 4, 1957