Giants Beat Giants in Giant Battle of Giants

In an effort that could only be explained as an "homage pour Mama," the Tiburon Giants destroyed the Mill Valley Giants 15-5 in what is being described as the Mother's Day Massacre.

Billed as the Giant battle of Giants, only one true titan emerged.  The Tiburon version out-hit, out-pitched, out-fielded and out-ran its opponent before one of the largest crowds of the year.  Although the game was sold out, the capacity crowd was late arriving due (hopefully) to an unusual number of breakfasts in bed.  The packed house was unusually raucous, perhaps due to all the caffeine and sugar provide by barista Mark Coopersmith.  

And the team did not disappoint.  Matt Coopersmith had a four hit day, going 4-4 with a walk, and breaking out a soccer induced slump.  Trenton Francis, playing without a chair, made three plays in the outfield, one of which was a game-changer.  On a ball hit deep to right which looked like an easy double, Trenton never quit on the play, chased down the ball and fired to Oscodar as the cut-off who fired to Coop at second just in time to cut down the runner.  Mill Valley's Giants visibly shrunk as their rally ended in the second base dust.

Oliver Krill did it all.  He hit; he fielded, knocking down a hard ground ball that looked like a sure base hit; he caught the first three innings throwing out one running at second; and, he pitched the last two, shutting down Mill Valley and mercifully sending them home early.

Jonny Altman had his best game of the year.  Altman pitched two scoreless innings and hit a towering double to left field.  But perhaps his best effort came on what shows up in the box score as a mere walk.  He worked the count from behind 1-2 to a walk on six pitches with two outs.  That walk set up a Jake Share double bases clearing double, capping a five run first inning, from which the Tiburon Giants never looked back.

The Ross Valley Phillies are next up for the Tiburon Giants on Wednesday at Endriss at 5 pm.   Players will be available for autographs starting at 4 pm.  Good seats are still available.

Giants Dig Deep To Come Back Against TC A's, Take First Place

The Tiburon Peninsula Giants overcame an 8-5 deficit going into the bottom of the sixth inning by scoring nine runs and beating the previously undefeated Twin Cities A's 14-10. The Giants third straight win puts the Giants in sole possession of first place.

Jeff Koltoff, Oliver Krill and George Dalzel-Piper combined to lead the Giants' pitching, with GDP shutting the door in the seventh with the bases loaded. Jake Share, eschewing his MCDS obligations, made a tough catch in left field for the second out. Douglas Pratt, father of pool player Michael Pratt, alertly suggested that Michael, then playing short, communicate with Matthew Oscodar, who was playing second on ground ball responsibilities. The next pitch resulted in a ground ball to Michael, who threw to Matthew for the force. Score that one Dad-6-4.

 In the sixth, the Giants had cut the lead to 8-7 on RBI singles by Oscodar (who in the game walked 3 times and scored three runs) and Terrell. Ryan Dudgen then came to the plate with the bases loaded. After falling behind 0-2, he smoked a fast ball down the left field line for two run double, putting the Giants ahead to stay. "That hit exemplified the heart of this year's Giants team." said Coach Oscodar. "Ryan had to really dig deep to come up with that clutch hit, just as the whole team did throughout the game."  Krill also tripled and stole home in the inning.  He also scored three runs in the game.

Tonight, the Giants take on the unbeaten Ross Valley Phillies under the lights at Albert Park.  First pitch is at 7 pm, with players arriving at 6 pm for autographs.  Please allow extra time for Friday traffic and take public transportation if it exists.

Giants Stay Hot Despite Cold Weather

The TPLL Giants thumped the Mill Valley Cubs 15-2 at Alto Field yesterday to open the season with two victories.  The game was called at the end of the fifth inning due to the umpire's apparent fear that Giants hitters were endangering low flying birds.  Ryan Dudgeon's near grand slam in the top of the fifth encouraged an extremely liberal interpretation of the strike zone in the following inning.

Jeffrey Koltoff set the tone on the hill for the G-Men by limiting the Cubs to two runs on three swings.  He went 3 2/3 innings before leaving the game amid much cheering from the Cubs players.  Trenton Francis then took the hill and showed the Cubs they had nothing to cheer about, shutting them down for 1 1/3 innings and getting the final out on the famous "mystery strike."  Older fans in the stands were comparing this strike to the "phantom punch" thrown in Ali-Liston II.

Chaz Louks had the play of the day.  Playing third, he covered the bag on a steal, snagged tough throw and applied the tag to the runner who was sliding hard into the bag.  Despite being spiked in the leg (and drawing blood), he stayed in the game and completed the inning.

The Giants batted around in the fifth, sending 17 men to the plate and scoring 11 runs.  Oliver Krill led the Gigantes going 3-3 with a walk, four runs scored and too many stolen bases to keep track of.  Trenton Francis hit two more deep shots, collecting another double and the season's first triple.  Ethan Terrell went 2-2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly, knocking in three.  Matthew Oscodar also collected two hits, knocking in one.

Unfortunately, there is no photographic record of the game.  Midway through the Giants half of the fifth, the official scorekeeper's calculator exploded from overuse counting the Giants runs.  Although no one was injured, the official photographer's camera was completely destroyed.

Little Things Make Big Differences in Giants Opening Day Victory

The Tiburon Peninsula Giants finally their season yesterday, shaking off the rust from weeks of rain to defeat the Twin Cities Red Sox 5-3.  After missing two games and at least as many practices from rain and resulting field closures, the baseball gods provide a sunny day and more importantly a turf field, allowing the Giants to finally play baseball.

Terrell rips a hit

Francis goes deep

Notwithstanding their lack of practice, the Giants appeared to be in mid-season form, committing only two errors.  Seven pitchers combined to allow only 2 earned runs on 7 scattered hits, striking out 9.  On offense, the Giants’ 5 runs came on 8 hits spread over 6 players, with Trenton Francis and Ethan Terrell getting two apiece.  Francis doubled in the third to knock in Ryan Dudgeon and later scored on Jeffrey Kolthoff’s sacrifice fly.

Throughout the game, the G-Men successfully accomplished the “little things” and paid close attention to each play.  In the top of the third, George Dalzell-Piper was at the plate with two outs and Terrell at second.  GDP alertly picked up the bunt sign and legged out a great bunt, keeping the inning alive and getting Ethan to third.  Both he and Terrell would score before the inning ended.  Those runs put the Giants ahead to stay, and GDP scored what would prove to be the winning run.

Attention to defensive details consistently frustrated the Red Sox.  Three times the Sox tried to score on passed balls and three times they were out at the plate. 

Coach Oscodar considered walking runners to first and balking them to third in order to set up this play, but  decided against this strategy.  

The play of the day, however, came in the fourth.  Terrell tried to pick-off a runner on first and overthrew Casey Skinner.  The runner ran hard to second and was rounding the bag on his way to third on what looked like an easy two base error.  Right fielder Trenton Francis alertly backed-up the play and without hesitating threw the ball to Terrell as the cut off.  He got the ball to Ethan so quickly, that the runner had no chance of making it to third and was thrown out trying to retreat to second.  

Beyond that play and throughout the game, players hustled and played hard.  

In post game interviews, Trenton Francis was asked about his success at the plate.  He responded that he patterned his game after Ichoro Suzuki.  In some ways, the resemblance is uncanny.

"Anyone seen my orange clipboard?"

Coach Oscodar was also asked if such good play despite so few practices indicated that he was of little use to the team.  Although he did not comment on that question, he did ask several reporters, players and coaches if any of them knew the whereabouts of his clipboard.

The Giants next face off against the Mill Valley Cubs at Alto Field in Mill Valley.  First pitch is at 4:30 with players arriving at 3:30.  Please drive carefully and use public transportation if at all possible.