Bomber Press Releases

Bomber third baseman Eric Shroeder led his team with two hits, two runs and three RBIs in a 22-12 rout of last year's quarter-finalist Raiders. Contributing to big third and fifth innings were veterans Marc Diaz, Vince De Quattro and captain Chris Stately, who collectively banged out six hits, scored six runs and had five RBIs.

New additions to the Bombers proved to be the difference in the game, as Bonnie Ricca, Linda Siegel, Jesse Russell, Scott Taylor, Neha Wickramasekaran, contributed timely hitting in the victory.

Solid fielding by OF Russell and OF Doug Griffin, backed up the excellent pitching efforts from starter Wickramasekaran and closer Duncan Sutherland, (last year's ILM Cy Young Winner), who combined to limit the Raiders to 12 runs over seven innings.

The Bombers trailed by a run going into the fifth inning, 12-11, but turned the game around when the next seven batters reached safely, eventually posting an overwhelming 10 runs by the end of the inning.

Tonight's contest will take place at Lucas Valley Field, at 6:30pm. The Bombers have placed the following personnel on the 15 day disabled list due to vacation plans:

3B Eric Shroeder

2B/C Linda Siegel

C Neil Lim-Sang

1B/SS Bonnie Ricca

Sherry Wangenheim

OF Mike Conte

Bombers Rally, Edge Sir Lance's Lot, 14-13

June 4, 1999
AP Lucas Valley, CA

BOMBERS RALLY IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH

Bomber CF Jesse Russell smashed a no-out double into center field and scored 3B Donald McCardle from second, as the BOMBERS went on to edge TEAM 10 by a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Back-to-back singles by McCardle and OF Mark Diaz set up the improbable come-from-behind victory.

Russell added his game winning RBI to a stellar 2-for-2 outing, collected two sacrifice flies, and made a diving catch in the top of the fourth inning to stop a Lance's Lot rally.

Pitcher Duncan Sutherland got into trouble early, and trailed 8-0 in the bottom of the second inning. The Lot managed to put together a string of hits, but several Bomber miscues led to extended rallies.

Bomber catcher, Vince De Quattro, said, "We're working with Sutherland to improve his location. I mean, this is the guy that won 15 games last year. You don't just tinker with perfection."

Sutherland scattered hits over the next few innings, as the BOMBERS were able to pull within reach by the bottom of the fifth. Trailing by four runs, OF Scott Taylor lanced a single into center to start the inning. OF Chloe Chao and McCardle reached on infield errors and were cashed in by OF Mark Diaz's single into the right field gap, who took second on the throw home. Russell sacrificed Diaz to third, and the "Freight Train", Todd Krish, banged a double into left field to score him. Successive singles by Sutherland, SS David Weitzberg, and OF Jason Patnode scored Krish. 2B Erin Judson bounced to the shortstop to end the rally.

The five-run rally gave closer Neha Wickramasekaran (WICKRA'-mas-eh-KAR-an) the lead, which she would hold through two innings to secure the victory. Wickramasekaran limited the TEAM 10 batsmen to four runs over the four innings she pitched.

"Neha pitched brilliantly today," said team Captain, Chris Stately, in the clubhouse after the win. "She kept us in the game. It was just a matter of time before our bats came to life."

Stately's comment was an understatement. Stately, Diaz and Krish combined to contribute 12 of the BOMBER'S 14 runs by either bringing them across the plate or driving them in. Stately smashed an inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the sixth, knotting the game at 12.

"The real heroes in this game were the hitters slugging it out at the bottom of the line-up. They were the people that made this win happen, " said catcher De Quattro who went 0-3, stranding four runners in scoring position. OF Doug Griffin, Taylor, Judson and McCardle collected six hits and three RBIs to give the BOMBERS another tally in the win column.

The BOMBERS were without sluggers Eric Shroeder, Linda Siegel, Mike Conte and Bonnie Ricca who have been placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Next up for the BOMBERS is TEAM 5, Roswell, this Tuesday, 6:30pm, at the Lucas Valley Complex. The BOMBERS split their two games with TEAM 5 last season.

Bombers Obliterate Roswell, 23-11

June 11, 1999
AP WIRE Lucas Valley

The BOMBERS blasted yet another LUCASARTS rival, 23 - 11, last Tuesday night, as CF Jesse Russell had an MVP outing, going 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring two and driving in five. Russell pounded out two doubles and a ground-rule triple in the contest, sending a handful of BOMBERS scampering around the basepaths.

"Jesse was as hot as I've seen him last night," BOMBER first baseman, Todd "Freight Train", Krish said in the clubhouse after the game. "When he starts smoking the ball, we all get a lift."

Russell's bomb came in the top of the third inning with bases loaded. Pitcher Neha Wickramasekaran (WICKRA'-mass-eh-KAH-ran) and OF Marc Diaz stood at the corners after reaching on infield errors, while team captain Chris Stately stood at second after collecting an RBI single.

"When he hit it, it sort of caught on fire and rocketed out into the pasture near the horse," said BOMBER defensive MVP, Linda Siegel. "I looked over and the blast had knocked my one of my kids down."

Siegel, SS Vince De Quattro and Russell had hooked up on an impressive 8-6-2 put-out at home plate in the bottom of the second inning, stalling a TEAM 5 rally. Russell had fielded a clean single and fired the ball to De Quattro at mid-field. De Quattro sent the play to catcher Siegel who was in perfect position to apply the tag. In the top of the first, DeQuattro and 2B Erin Judson had connected on an inning-ending double-play.

Despite some fielding heroics, the BOMBERS made an team-record ELEVEN errors Tuesday night, prompting captain Stately to call the team into a closed-door meeting after the game.

Explained OF Sarah Peacock, who appeared for the first time this season in BOMBER uniform, "Yeah, there was a bit of frustration expressed in there, but we respond as a team to that kind of tough talk."

Defense or no defense, the BOMBERs continue to produce runs. The top eight batters in the BOMBER lineup contributed 16 runs on 11 hits and accounted for 14 of the team's 19 RBIs.

Said last year's MVP, Pitcher Duncan Sutherland, "Who needs a glove when you've got a bat?" Well said, Mr. Sutherland.

Last year's MOST IMPROVED PLAYER runner-up, 2B David Weitzberg, and newcomer, OF Jason Patnode, have turned their respective hitting games around, getting a combined four runs on three hits and pushing across three RBIs in the slugfest.

The BOMBERs go up against last year's co-season leader, TEAM 4, on Monday night.

Bombers Top Ranch Team, 17-14

June 23, 1999
UPI
Lucas Valley

Infielder Bonnie Ricca hit a bases-clearing shot in the top of the first inning to start a rally that eventually produced eight runs and set the tone for a game that ended in another BOMBER victory, 17 to 14 over the Ranch MAULERS. Ricca, playing first base, combined with 3B David Weitzberg and 2B Linda Siegel to drive in seven runs and score four.

In typical BOMBER fashion, runs were driven in all through the line-up with SS Eric Schroeder, 1B Todd Krish, OF Doug Griffin, OF Jason Patnode, OF Scott Taylor, P Neha Wickramasekaran and OF David La Tour contributing to the score.

With the loss of team Captain Chris Stately, and injuries to Todd Krish and Jesse Russell, the BOMBERs will have to resort to manufacturing runs a single at a time. For the first time in two years, the BOMBERS did not have an extra-base hit. Instead, they pounded out 19 singles over seven innings.

"We're definitely going to miss the big bats of our power hitters," said starting pitcher Wickramasekaran, "but we've been putting good wood on the ball all season long. We're hitting our stride."

Wickramasekaran and Duncan Sutherland combined to limit the hot-hitting MAULERS to 14 runs. Sutherland pitched shutout ball in bottom of the sixth and seventh innings to preserve the victory.

A sensational play was turned in by center fielder Russell and shortstop Schroeder in the bottom of the first inning. With one out and MAULER Joe Vasco on second, Adam Fisher sent a line drive up the middle and into center field. Russell fielded the ball cleanly and threw home. Schroeder cut the throw and gunned it to catcher Neil Lim Sang who applied the tag to Vasco for the out.

Once again, strong offense carried the game for the BOMBERS. Weitzberg, Russell, Ricca, SS Vince De Quattro, Siegel and OF Doug Griffin collected two hits each in the contest.

The BOMBERS match up against another ILM team, "Where's My Pants" tomorrow night at the Ranch. The BOMBERS are 4-0 in league competition.

BOX SCORE

BOMBERS         AB   R    H    BI   BB   SO   AVG
__________________________________________________
Diaz LF         3    3    1    0    0    0    .462
Russell CF      2    1    2    0    0    0    .900
Weitzberg 3B    3    2    2    2    0    0    .444
Schroeder SS    2    1    1    1    0    0    .714
Ricca 1B        3    1    2    3    0    0    .500
Krish 1B        3    1    1    1    0    0    .364
Sutherland P    2    2    1    0    1    0    .300
De Quattro SS   2    1    2    0    0    0    .545
Siegel 2B       3    1    2    2    0    1    .556
Griffin RF      2    1    2    1    0    0    .600
Patnode OF      3    1    1    1    0    0    .417
Taylor OF       3    1    1    1    0    0    .364
Wickram. P      3    0    1    1    0    0    .300
La Tour RF      1    0    0    1    0    1    .167
NL Sang C       2    0    0    0    0    1    .250
Chao OF         1    0    0    0    1    0    .000
Judson 2B       2    1    0    0    0    1    .143
__________________________________________________
TOTALS          40   17   19   14   2    4    .427

INNING          1   2   3   4   5   6   7
_________________________________________________________________
BOMBERS         8   0   1   0   3   3   2    17
MAULERS         1   3   3   1   6   0   0    14
_________________________________________________________________

LOB--BOMBERS 9. RBIS--Weitzberg 2 (3), Schroeder (6), Ricca 3 (3),
Krish (6), Siegel 2 (4), Griffin (2), Patnode (4), Taylor (3),
Wickramasekaran (2), La Tour (2). SAC--Russell, Schroeder, De Quattro,
Griffin, La Tour.

Bombers Wear Out Pants, 14-11

June 25, 1999:
UPI Lucas Valley

Playing without power-houses Chris Stately, Todd Krish and Jesse Russell, the BOMBERS found offensive thunder elsewhere as they pounded out 20 hits, including a home run, two triples and four doubles. 1B Vince De Quattro stepped-up his game, nearly hitting for the cycle, with a double, triple and an inside-the-park home run. SS Eric Shroeder, OF Doug Griffin and OF Scott Taylor contributed eight hits, five runs and five RBIs, including two doubles and a triple.

Game MVP, 2B David Weitzberg, made two outstanding plays in the bottom of the seventh inning to shut down the PANTS and preserve the win for right-handed pitcher Neha Wickramasekaran, who scattered five runs over three innings, lowering her ERA to a staff-best 2.66.

"I feel relaxed out there this year," said Weitzberg. "I'm getting in alot more playing time and it's really boosting my confidence. Our entire infield is looking sharp."

Weitzberg has raised his batting average to an impressive .500 for the first time in two years, as he contributed two hits, two runs and an RBI to the BOMBERS effort. Wickramasekaran and 3B Don McCardle also went two-for-three in the contest.

Injuries have sidelined several of the BOMBERs, including OF Russell (throwing arm), C Neil Lim Sang (left thumb), and 1B Krish (hamstring). The team trainer predicts that they will be out for at least two games on the disabled list.

In a surprise development last week, Stately (last year's LDL Championship MVP) was traded to the American League for two minor-league pitchers. He declined interviews with reporters after the game.

The BOMBERs will meet TEAM 5 next Wednesday at the Ranch in their final regular season matchup.

BOX SCORE

BOMBERS         AB   R    H    BI   BB   SO   AVG
__________________________________________________
Diaz CF         4    1    1    0    0    0    .412
Ricca 1B        1    1    0    0    0    0    .429
Conte LF        4    1    0    0    0    1    .143
Schroeder SS    4    2    3    2    0    0    .727
Weitzberg 2B    3    2    2    1    0    0    .500
Sutherland P    2    1    0    1    0    0    .250
Taylor SS       4    2    3    1    0    0    .467
De Quattro 1B   4    2    3    3    0    0    .600
Griffin RF      4    1    2    2    0    0    .571
Judson 2B       4    0    1    1    0    0    .182
Patnode OF      4    1    1    1    0    0    .375
Mc Cardle 3B    3    0    2    1    0    0    .364
Wickram. P      3    0    2    0    0    0    .385
__________________________________________________
TOTALS          44   14   20   12   0    1    .433

INNING          1    2    3    4    5    6    7   RUNS
_________________________________________________________________
BOMBERS         3    2    4    0    1    0    4    14
PANTS           0    0    6    2    0    2    1    11
_________________________________________________________________

LOB--BOMBERS 10. RBIS--Schroeder 2 (8), Weitzberg (4), Sutherland (3),
Taylor (4), DeQuattro 3 (6), Griffin 2 (4), Judson (2), Mc Cardle (2).
SAC--Weitzberg.

Bombers Coast Over Roswell, 15-9

July 1, 1999
AP LUCAS VALLEY

In a game that wasn't as close as the score indicates, the BOMBERS pounced on Roswell for nine runs in the bottom of the first, banging out five hits and capitalizing on a walked batter and five errors.

Pitcher Duncan Sutherland limited the opposing hitters to four runs in four innings and allowed only one hit into the outfield during his tenure on the mound. Roswell rallied for three runs against reliever Neha Wickramasekaran in the top of the fifth, but she was able to regain control and shut them down over the next two innings.

The infield turned in a defensive gem, making several key plays to turn away Roswell rallies. 3B Donald McCardle SS Eric Schroeder and 2B Erin Judson had outstanding games for the BOMBERS.

CF Marc Diaz had a rough night, losing several pop-flies in the lights. "I'm gonna go have my eyes checked," he quipped, "as soon as I finish this beer." Diaz was shifted from left field to center when regular CF Jesse Russell went on the disabled list.

"Marc's making the adjustment. He's a big contributor for us. He'll be fine," said interim team captain, Vince De Quattro.

Offensively, 1B Bonnie Ricca, 3B McCardle, SS Schroeder, and C DeQuattro had big nights, collectively with 9 hits, 6 runs and 5 RBIs.

The BOMBERS next face TEAM7 on July 8th at the RANCH.

Bombers Ambush Cavaliers, 20-5

July 8, 1999

BOX SCORE -- JULY 8, 1999

BOMBERS         AB R   H   BI BB SO AVG
_________________________________________________
Diaz CF         4   3   2   2   0   0   .375
McCardle 3B     4   4   2   1   0   0   .444
Patnode RF      4   2   1   1   0   0   .348
Schroeder SS    3   3   2   2   0   0   .765
Sutherland P    3   1   2   3   1   0   .333
Krish 1B        4   1   3   3   0   0   .412
Griffin LF      4   1   1   1   0   1   .500
Conte 2B        3   1   1   0   1   0   .231
Taylor RF       4   1   1   3   0   0   .364
NL Sang 2B      4   1   1   0   0   1   .250
Chao C          4   0   0   0   0   0   .000
Russell 1B      2   2   1   0   1   0   .833
_________________________________________________
TOTALS          43 20 17 16 3   1   .418

_________________________________________________
BOMBERS 7 5 6 0 0 2 - 20
CAVALIERS 0 0 0 2 3 0 - 5
_________________________________________________

LOB--BOMBERS 6. RBIS--Sutherland 3 (7), Krish 3 (10), Taylor 3 (7),
Diaz 2 (7), Schroeder 2 (12), McCardle (3), Patnode (7), Griffin (5).
SF--Schroeder. 2B--McCardle (3), Schroeder (5), Sutherland (1),
Taylor (2), Neil Lim Sang (1).

Waggle Drops Bombers, 18-15

July 14, 1999
AP Wire Lucas Valley

Down by three runs and hoping for a repeat of last year's comeback victory, the BOMBERS sent in the top of the lineup against TEAM2 last night. The BOMBERS first three batters, CF Marc Diaz, 3B Donald McCardle and 2B David Weitzberg had collected 6 runs on 5 hits and had driven in 5 RBIS in a wild comeback effort that left them poised to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

But the vaunted BOMBER offense failed to reach base, and fell short 18-15, losing their first game of the season, and suffering only their third loss in twenty-three games dating back to the beginning of last season.

"We were in a perfect situation to turn this one around. The bottom of the lineup had fought hard to get us there. The breaks just didn't fall our way," said Captain Vince De Quattro.

Indeed, a bit of bad luck stopped a potential game-winning BOMBER rally in the bottom of the sixth inning. With bases loaded and one out, OF Chloe Chao hit a soft line drive to the second baseman who misjudged it. The ball bounced off his mitt and over to the shortstop who stepped on second base, doubling-up OF Mike Conte and ending the inning.

1B Jesse Russell was fuming after the game. "That's a pretty easy call for the umpire. Any other day that's an infield fly rule dead ball. Chao's out and we bring in the top of the lineup to start a two-out rally."

Upon review of the video tape, Russell appeared correct. Umpire Sherry Rogers offered a brief statement through the league office. "The arc of the hit ball was not high enough to judge it a sure out. I called it as I saw it."

The game served a measure of revenge for WAGGLE, who lost to the BOMBERs last year in the championship tournament, 14-12.

The BOMBERS were without ace Duncan Sutherland, who will be unavailable for the next two games. Though pitcher Neha Wickramasekaran allowed only six earned runs, the usually solid BOMBER defense faltered for a season high eleven errors, opening the door for big WAGGLE rallies in the second, third and fifth innings.

3B McCardle who made a career high four errors by the fifth inning, sat by his locker after the game and refused comment.

"I think Cardy (McCardle) is pretty mad at himself right now. Hey, he's not alone. We wanted to give Neha some big support for her solo effort and we [messed] it up," commented SS Eric Schroeder.

On a positive note, game MVP Jason Patnode collected a career high, 2 runs on 3 hits and pushed across 3 RBIs. Patnode raised his batting average to .423 in the effort.

"We need to get past this game and get ready for TEAM4 next Monday. No team can win every game. The great teams bounce back big from losses like this one. The BOMBERs will come back big," said De Quattro.

BOX SCORE -- JULY 14, 1999

   BOMBERS         AB R   H   BI BB SO AVG
   _________________________________________________
   Diaz CF         4   2   1   2   0   0   .357
   McCardle 3B     4   2   2   1   0   0   .455
   Weitzberg 2B    4   2   2   2   0   0   .500
   Schroeder SS    3   1   2   2   0   0   .750
   Patnode OF      3   2   3   3   0   0   .423
   Russell 1B      3   1   2   1   0   0   .800
   DeQuattro SS    3   0   2   2   0   0   .650
   Taylor RF       3   0   1   0   0   0   .360
   Griffin LF      3   1   2   0   0   0   .524
   Krish 1B        3   1   0   0   0   0   .350
   Siegel C        3   1   2   1   0   0   .533
   Conte LF        2   2   1   0   1   0   .267
   Wickram. P      3   0   0   0   0   1   .278
   Chao C          3   0   1   0   0   1   .071

_________________________________________________
TOTALS 44 15 21 14 1 2 .425

   PITCHING
                   IP H   R   ER BB SO ERA
   _________________________________________________
   Wickram.        7   18 18 6   1   1   6.00

   _________________________________________________
   BOMBERS         0   2   5   0   6   2   0   15
   WAGGLE          1   4   4   2   5   2   0   18
   _________________________________________________

   LOB--BOMBERS 10. RBIS--Patnode 3 (10), Diaz 2 (9), Schroeder 2 (14),
   De Quattro 2 (10), Weitzberg 2 (6), McCardle (4), Russell (8),
   Siegel (5). 2B--Griffin 2 (2), Russell (5), Patnode (1).
   E--McCardle 4 (4), Schroeder 3 (3), De Quattro (1), Weitzberg (1),
   Wickramasekaran (1), Conte (1).

Maulers Edge Bombers, 13-12

July 22, 1999
UPI Lucas Valley, CA

In the bottom of the seventh inning, with the tying run sixty feet away, the BOMBERS' number five batter, Todd "Freight Train" Krish, popped meekly to third and ended a spectacular three-run come-from-behind bid, falling to the MAULERS 13-12 Monday night.

Plagued by base-running errors, a depleted pitching staff, and the game-ending injury to OF Marc Diaz, the BOMBERS limped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh down four runs, 13 - 9.

After OF Scott Taylor popped to left for the first out, back-to-back singles by 1B Bonnie Ricca and P Neha Wickramasekaran set the stage for the top of the BOMBERS' order. CF Jesse Russell singled Ricca home, but Wickramasekaran was caught rounding third base for the second out. 3B Don McCardle's single advanced Russell to third. Power-hitting OF Eric Schroeder then stepped up to the plate and blasted a towering drive over the left fielder's head. Schroeder's hesitation rounding second base may have cost the BOMBERS the game, however, as the relay throw was bobbled by the shortstop. Schroeder reached third on the triple, but remained sixty feet away from knotting the score. Krish's pop-out ended the rally.

"You can't look at Schroeder's triple and say that he should have scored there. The left fielder and shortstop threw four people out at third base tonight. You've gotta play that one conservatively, and Eric did the right thing, " said team captain Vince De Quattro.

In fact, base running errors by the BOMBERS and great plays by the MAULERS stopped BOMBER rallies all night, picking off six potential runs.

In the first inning, 2B Erin Judson lined to short center and Schroeder was doubled off second. When asked about the play, Schroeder angrily responded, "I was day-dreaming, I don't know. You weren't out there. There's deer and horses and stuff. It's very distracting."

In the third inning, Russell was doubled off first after McCardle lined to the first baseman. In the fifth, with two out, Ricca failed to break on Wickramasekaran's ground ball which had gotten through the shortstop's glove. She hesitated rounding second base and was thrown out when she made an attempt at third.

In the sixth, two base runners were gunned down at third. McCardle tried to take an extra base after Schroeder's single with none out. With one out, De Quattro ran into Judson trying to stretch his bases-clearing double into a triple.

"You can blame base running, but it was just bad luck. If [LF Marc] Diaz is in there, he gets two more at bats in the sixth and seventh and we probably win the game," commented Russell.

The BOMBERS can't argue with the final result, however. They could have used any one of those six base runners in the loss.

Pitcher Wickramasekaran, who threw six superb innings on three days' rest, caved in the sixth, giving up six runs and two crucial walks to the bottom of the MAULER order. Wickramasekaran hurried off the field and refused interviews after the game.

"I think she was pretty upset with herself. She pitched a great game and simply had a bad inning. She's just not used to going seven," said C Linda Siegel. Pitcher Duncan Sutherland returns from vacation in two weeks. The BOMBERS will have to promote a couple of minor league pitchers for next week's game against TEAM3 (1-6), as Wickramasekaran will not be available.

The BOMBERS' record fell to 6-2, putting them in a tie for second place with TEAM2 in the league standings.

Despite the loss, the BOMBERS hit for a season high .583 against MAULER pitching, banging out 21 hits in 36-at-bats.

BOX SCORE -- JULY 19, 1999

    BOMBERS         AB R   H   BI BB SO AVG
    _________________________________________________
    Diaz CF         2   1   2   0   0   0   .400
    Russell 1B      4   3   2   1   0   0   .789
    McCardle 3B     4   1   2   2   0   0   .462
    Schroeder SS    4   1   3   3   0   1   .750
    Krish 1B        4   1   2   1   0   0   .375
    Judson 2B       3   1   1   0   0   0   .235
    DeQuattro SS    3   2   3   2   0   0   .696
    Siegel C        3   1   2   1   0   0   .556
    Taylor RF       3   0   0   0   0   0   .321
    Ricca 1B        3   1   2   1   0   0   .538
    Wickram. P      3   0   1   0   0   1   .286
    _________________________________________________
    TOTALS          36 12 21 11 0   2   .440

    _________________________________________________
    BOMBERS         2   2   0   0   1   4   3   12
    MAULERS         2   1   0   2   1   6   1   13
    _________________________________________________

    LOB--BOMBERS 2. RBIS--Schroeder 3 (17), De Quattro 2 (14),
    McCardle 2 (6), Russell (9), Krish (11), Siegel (6),
    Ricca (6). 3B--Russell (2), Schroeder (1). 2B--Krish (2),
    De Quattro (3), Siegel (1). SF--McCardle (1).

Bombers Smash Zeroes, 20-9

August 2, 1999
UPI
Lucas Valley, CA

BOMBER batsman Jesse Russell led all hitters with an impressive 4-for-5 outing and Neil Lim Sang and Jason Patnode drove in 6 runs enroute to a twenty run blowout of last-place TEAM 3, stopping the BOMBER's two-game skid last Friday night.

LF Marc Diaz, sidelined with an ankle injury sustained in the BOMBER's disappointing loss to TEAM 4 two weeks ago, said, "This was a big win for us. Any time you snap a losing streak, it's a big, big win."

Without their pitching staff of Duncan Sutherland (7-0) and ace closer Neha Wickramasekaran (0-2, 7 saves), the BOMBERs moved second-baseman Erin Judson to the mound against the ZEROES last week. Judson responded by limiting her opponent to nine runs over seven innings, pitching three scoreless frames and striking out two.

Neil Lim Sang took the place of Linda Siegel behind the plate, and stepped up his game, banging out two hits and collecting three RBIs. Defensively, Lim Sang was intrumental in two big plays at home plate, stopping ZERO threats in the fifth and sixth innings.

Once again, the bottom of the BOMBER order produced potent offense with OF Patnode and OF Scott Taylor powering a five-hit, five RBI attack.

OF Doug Griffin commented at a post-game interview at Chevy's of Greenbrae, "Scott and Jason are swinging the bat well for us. When these guys are streaking we can't lose."

The BOMBER defense came up with huge plays all night. In the bottom of the third, on a ZERO double into the right field corner, 3B Vince DeQuattro ran a fake tag on the lead base-runner and caused him to stop at third. The hitter tried to stretch his double into a triple, resulting in two ZERO runners occupying third base. When the lead runner broke for home, 2B David Weitzberg threw to De Quattro who made the tag at the plate, preventing the run. Collectively, the BOMBERS made two big inning-ending double plays and erased two potential scoring runs at the plate.

CF Russell made several sliding catches in the outfield to shut down the ZERO long-ball attack.

In other team news, OF Mike Conte was designated for assignment to the BOMBERS triple-A club in Petaluma. Conte will play out the rest of the season in the minor leagues.

Shortstop Eric Schroeder was not able to suit up last week, citing personal reasons. Catcher Linda Siegel took some time off to be with her family.

The BOMBERS take on TEAM 10 this Wednesday, when they expect to get P Sutherland, P Wickramasekaran, and SS Schroeder back into the lineup.

BOX SCORE -- JULY 30, 1999

BOMBERS AB R H BI BB SO AVG
_________________________________________________

    Russell CF      5   3   4   2   0   0   .792
    McCardle SS     4   1   2   0   0   0   .467
    Krish 1B        3   1   0   1   0   0   .333
    Weitzberg 2B    3   3   1   0   1   0   .474
    DeQuattro 3B    2   1   1   1   1   0   .680
    Griffin LF      3   2   1   1   0   0   .500
    Patnode RF      3   1   2   3   1   0   .448
    Ricca 1B        2   1   1   2   0   0   .533
    Diaz OF         4   2   1   0   0   1   .382
    Judson P        4   3   1   0   1   0   .238
    Taylor RF       4   2   3   2   0   0   .375
    Chao C          3   0   1   1   1   1   .118
    Lim Sang C      3   0   2   3   0   0   .364
    _________________________________________________
    TOTALS          43 20 20 16 5   2   .443

    _________________________________________________
    BOMBERS         1   4   6   3   1   3   2   20
    ZEROES           0   0   1   1   4   3   0   9
    _________________________________________________

    LOB--BOMBERS 7. RBIS--Lim Sang 3 (3), Patnode 3 (13),
    Ricca 2 (7) Russell 2 (11), Taylor 2 (9), Griffin (6),
    De Quattro (13), Krish (12), Chao (1). 2B--Russell 2 (7),
    DeQuattro (4). SF--DeQuattro (2), Griffin (2), Krish (2),
    Ricca (1). DP--BOMBERS 2 (Juson, DeQuattro, Ricca),
    (McCardle, Krish). A--Weitzberg 2.

August 3, 1999: Retraction

Neha Wickramasekaran wrote:

Hey what's up with my pitching record??? I'll admit that those 2 losses are mine, but why don't I get any wins?

> Vince De Quattro wrote:

> > Without their pitching staff of Duncan Sutherland (7-0) and ace closer Neha Wickramasekaran (0-2, 7 saves), ...

Neha's right! I must admit that it sounds better to have a starting pitcher that's 7-0, but unfortunately, it's simply
yellow journalism. I went back over the stats, and if you aren't already burned out on useless softball stats, here's the corrected data.

My apologies to our winningest pitcher, Neha Wickramasekaran. (you try typing that.) Congrats to the entire pitching staff for a great season.

GAME 1 vs. RAIDERS

Going into the top of the fifth inning, Neha having pitched the first four innings, we were ahead 11-7. Sutherland finished the game in which we won 22-10, but did not get the save, since the tying run was not on deck when the game ended.

BOMBERS       IP H R ER BB SO NP   ERA
NEHA W (1-0)   4 7 7 5 1 0 52 8.75
SUTHERLAND     3 4 3 0 1 1 25 0.00

GAME 2 vs. LANCE'S LOT

We were tied going into the bottom of the seventh inning, 13-13. Because Neha was the pitcher of record when McCardle scored the winning run, 14-13, Neha gets the victory.

BOMBERS       IP H R ER BB SO NP   ERA
SUTHERLAND     4 8 6 3 1 2 44 3.00
NEHA W (2-0)   3 10 7 3 1 1 38 8.00

GAME 3 vs. ROSWELL

Because Neha was the pitcher of record when we racked up 17 runs in the first three innings, she gets the victory, 23-8. No save
opportunity for Sutherland.

BOMBERS       IP H R ER BB SO NP   ERA
NEHA W (3-0)   3 8 4 1 2 1 37 6.30
SUTHERLAND     4 6 4 2 1 2 56 3.18

GAME 4 vs. MAULERS

Duncan finished the game where we came from behind to beat team 5, 17-14.

BOMBERS IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
NEHA 3 4 7 6 0 0 40 8.07
SUTHERLAND W (1-0) 4 4 7 2 1 1 42 3.26

GAME 5 vs. PANTS

We rallied to put four runs on the board in the top of the seventh inning to beat them 14-11. Neha was the pitcher of record.

BOMBERS       IP H R ER BB SO NP   ERA
SUTHERLAND     4 10 8 4 2 1 55 4.05
NEHA W (4-0)   3   7 3 0 0 1 23 6.56

GAME 6 vs. ROSWELL

Duncan left the game with a 13-2 lead and we ended up winning the game 15-9. Duncan gets the victory

BOMBERS               IP H R ER BB SO NP   ERA
SUTHERLAND W (2-0)     4 3 4 2 0 1 36 3.95
NEHA                   3 5 5 2 0 0 33 6.26

GAME 7 vs. HONG KONG CAVALIERS

Duncan pitched a complete game victory, 20-5 over TEAM 7.

BOMBERS IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
SUTHERLAND W (3-0) 7 6 5 1 1 2 70 3.26

GAME 8 vs. WAGGLE

Neha pitched valiantly, but errors in the field led to a loss 18-15.

BOMBERS IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
NEHA L (4-1) 7 18 18 6 1 1 81 6.19

GAME 9 vs. MAULERS

Neha pitched perfectly until the sixth inning, when she ran out of gas in a game that saw six of our base-runners picked off, and we ended up losing 13-12.

BOMBERS IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
NEHA L (4-2) 7 10 12 8 5 2 92 6.57

GAME 10 vs. MAGIC ZERO

Erin Judson pitched a complete game victory, 20-9 over TEAM 3.

BOMBERS IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
JUDSON (1-0) 7 10 9 2 3 2 51 2.00

BOMBER PITCHING STAFF SEASON TOTALS

            IP H   R   ER BB SO NP   W-L ERA
JUDSON       7 10   9   2   3   2 51   1-0 2.00
SUTHERLAND 30 41 37 14   7 10 328 3-0 3.26
NEHA        33 69 63 31 10   6 396 4-2 6.57

Bombers Smoke Lance's Lot, 16-3

August 9, 1999
AP Sports Lucas Valley

Last Wednesday night, In the shortest game of the LFL season, the BOMBERS breezed by TEAM 10, 16-3.

Cheering crowds lined the roads to the Lucas Ranch Diamond to welcome home the Bomber's future Hall of Fame Pitcher, Duncan Sutherland. Sutherland (4-0) didn't disappoint his fans as he limited the opposition to one run over four innings and went 3-for-3 at the plate, drove in one and scored two.

"When he's on the mound, we're invincible," said co-staffer Neha Wickramasekaran, who followed Sutherland in the fourth to pitch a strong three innings, holding Lance's Lot to a total of three runs in the contest. "It takes the pressure of the rest of us."

The BOMBER infield of Ricca, Judson, Mc Cardle and De Quattro kept the opposing lead-off runners off base all night contributing to the fast pace and low score. Only four balls left the infield, prompting OF Jesse Russell to complain of misuse. "Hey, with Sutherland throwing, we [the outfield) don't see anything. I mean, move me to first base before I grow a cobweb or something."

With the defense smothering the opposition, the offense came alive. MVP performances were turned in by OF Jason Patnode, 2B David Weitzberg and SS Eric Schroeder, who collectively drove in five runs and scored four on six hits. Schroeder bounced a pitch over the left field fence for a mammoth ground-rule double in top of the seventh. BOMBERS rallied for fifteen of their sixteen runs with two outs in five of seven innings during the contest..

Surprise standouts, RF David Latour and C Neil Lim Sang, collected four hits and drove in four runs. "Neil and Dave were hitting as well as I've seen them hit all year. I think that Dave should bring his wife and kids to every game," said 3B Vince De Quattro, who drove in two runs on a double in the the BOMBERS big third inning, when the BOMBERS moved seven runners across home plate, sealing the victory. Nearly every BOMBER hitter joined the fray, with big contributions from the entire line-up.

Tonight, the BOMBERS will go up against TEAM-1 in a rematch of the first game of the season that saw the BOMBERS come out on top, 22-10. It will be 2B Erin Judson's final game with the BOMBERS. She is being traded to the Chicago White Sox for a minor league outfielder next week.

Unavailable for tonight's game: Linda Siegel (SIGG), Todd Krish (SIGG), Bonnie Ricca (DL), Chloe Chao (SIGG), Doug Griffin (SIGG), Marc Diaz (ankle), Neil Lim Sang (DL).

TEAM	RF	RA

BOMBERS	194	120
RAIDERS	146	76
PANTS	137	98
MAULERS	133	81
WAGGLE	128	113
LANCE'S LOT	117	152
ROSWELL	106	173
SWINGERS	82	110
HK CAVALIERS	80	156
MAGIC ZERO	79	123

TOTALS	1202	1202

The BOMBERS are living up to their nickname, leading the league in runs scored (194).

BOX SCORE -- AUGUST 5, 1999

BOMBERS AB R H BI BB SO AVG
_________________________________________________

    Russell CF      4   1   2   0   0   0   .750
    McCardle SS     2   2   0   0   0   0   .438
    Weitzberg 2B    3   2   2   2   0   0   .500
    Patnode RF      3   1   2   3   0   1   .469
    Griffin LF      3   1   1   0   0   0   .481
    DeQuattro 3B    2   2   1   2   1   0   .667
    Krish OF        3   1   0   0   0   1   .300
    Sutherland P    3   2   3   1   0   0   .429
    Ricca 1B        2   0   1   2   1   0   .529
    Taylor RF       3   1   1   1   0   0   .371
    Judson 2B       2   0   0   0   1   0   .217
    La Tour RF      2   0   2   2   1   0   .375
    Wickramase. P   3   0   0   0   0   0   .250
    Chao C          2   1   0   0   1   0   .105
    Schroeder SS    2   1   2   0   0   0   .769
    Lim Sang C      2   1   2   2   0   0   .462
    _________________________________________________
    TOTALS          41 16 19 15 5   2   .443

    _________________________________________________
    BOMBERS         1   3   7   0   3   0   2   16
    LANCE'S LOT     0   1   0   0   2   0   0   3
    _________________________________________________

    LOB--BOMBERS 10. RBIS--Patnode 3 (16), De Quattro 2 (15),
    La Tour 2 (4), Lim Sang 2 (5), Ricca 2 (9), Weitzberg 2 (8),
    Sutherland (8), Taylor (11). 2B--De Quattro (5), Patnode(1),
    Russell (8), Schroeder (6). SF--McCardle.

PITCHING

    BOMBERS               IP H R ER BB SO NP   ERA
    SUTHERLAND W (4-0)     4 2 1 1 0 0 36 2.95
    NEHA                   3 2 2 2 4 0 33 5.26

Bombers Sweep Raiders, 17-13

August 10, 1999
AP WIRE
LUCAS VALLEY, CA

The top LFL softball teams collided for the second time this season in a showdown that could presage the tournament championship game in September. Coming into Monday night's game, the BOMBERS were the league's highest run producer with 194, while the RAIDERS held claim to the best defensive team, allowing only 76 runs in ten games.

Yet when push came to shove in the clash of the titans, the BOMBERS banged out 21 hits for 17 runs to record their tenth victory, 17-13, over the RAIDERS.

Pitcher Duncan Sutherland recorded his second complete-game victory, fifth overall, as he shut down the RAIDERS' big bats. Despite allowing a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth inning, Sutherland was able to hold the Raiders scoreless in the six and seventh innings. Fine defensive plays by outfieldiers LF Eric Schroeder, CF Jesse Russell and OF Jason Patnode combined with the sharp infield combination of SS Don McCardle and 2B Erin Judson helped turn away RAIDER rallies in the final innings.

A minor miscue in left led to an early RAIDER run when Russell and Schroeder collided in the second inning. "Jesse and I are getting used to each other's range out here. With his speed, he can cover alot of ground." Schroeder has been moved into left while OF Marc Diaz and IF Bonnie Ricca are on the disabled list. Schroeder normally plays shortstop for the BOMBERS.

At the plate, Sutherland contributed to his own cause on his way to a five-for-five performance, raising his batting average to a season high .429. Sutherland collected 4 RBI and scored twice on the overcast, cool evening at Lucas Field.

Sutherland has gone 8-for-8 at the plate with five RBI and four runs scored since his return from vacation in Europe. "We're encouraging everyone to take a few weeks off in Europe after seeing the effect it's had on Duncan's bat," said team captain Vince De Quattro.

Judson finished her season by going 2-for-4 and driving in a run. Judson will leave the team for the New York Yankees next week. "We'll miss Erin at second,"said RF Scott Taylor, "and we'll miss her enthusiasm in the clubhouse." Judson turned an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the sixth, stopping a potential RAIDER rally.

Next week, the BOMBERS take on the last-place ZEROES. Sutherland will assume the coaching chores as De Quattro will be vacationing in Hawaii. Marc Diaz is expected to return from the disabled list if the team doctor agrees that his ankle is healthy.

BOMBERS AB R H BI BB SO AVG
_________________________________________________

    Russell CF      5   3   3   1   0   0   .727
    McCardle SS     4   3   2   4   0   0   .444
    Weitzberg 1B    5   3   2   0   0   0   .481
    Schroeder LF    5   1   2   2   0   0   .710
    DeQuattro 3B    4   3   2   3   0   0   .645
    Sutherland P    5   2   5   4   0   0   .538
    Patnode OF      4   0   0   0   0   0   .417
    Judson 2B       4   0   2   1   0   0   .259
    Taylor RF       4   1   2   1   0   0   .385
    Wickramase. C   4   1   1   0   0   0   .250
    _________________________________________________
    TOTALS          44 17 21 16 0   0   .448

    _________________________________________________
    BOMBERS         3   3   2   5   3   0   1   17
    RAIDERS         1   3   5   1   3   0   0   13
    _________________________________________________

    LOB--BOMBERS 9. RBIS--McCardle 4 (10), Sutherland 4 (12),
    De Quattro 3 (18), Schroeder 2 (19), Judson (4),
    Russell (12), Taylor (11). 3B--Russell (3).
    2B--De Quattro 2 (7), Russell 2 (9), Schroeder (7),
    Sutherland (3). SF--De Quattro, McCardle, Patnode.

PITCHING

BOMBERS IP R BB SO ERA
SUTHERLAND W (5-0) 7 13 0 1 8.70

BATTING LEADERS

AB R H PCT

    J Russell      33 17 24 .727
    E Schroeder    31 15 22 .710
    V De Quattro   31 17 20 .645
    L Siegel       18   4 10 .556
    D Sutherland   26 14 14 .538
    B Ricca        17   8   9 .529
    D Weitzberg    27 18 13 .481
    D Griffin      27   9 13 .481
    N Lim Sang     13   2   6 .462
    D McCardle     36 18 16 .444
    J Patnode      36 12 15 .417

HOME RUNS - De Quattro, Stately 1.

RBI - Schroeder 19, De Quattro 18, Patnode 16, (Krish,
Russell, Sutherland) 12.

RUNS - Diaz 20, (McCardle, Weitzberg) 18, (De Quattro,
Russell) 17.

HITS - Russell 24, Schroeder 22, De Quattro 20, McCardle 16,
(Patnode, Taylor) 15.

DOUBLES - Russell 9, (De Quattro, Schroeder) 7, (Patnode,
Sutherland) 3.

TRIPLES - Russell 3, De Quattro 2, Schroeder 1.

Bombers Outlast Zeroes, 14-12

August 26, 1999
AP News Service
Lucas Valley

BOMBER clean-up hitter Todd "Freight Train" Krish turned in his best offensive performance of the year last week as the BOMBERS held on to edge the MAGIC ZEROES (2-10), 14-12.

Fielding just nine players in the contest, the BOMBERS survived a seven-run ZERO rally in the bottom of the sixth inning. "Without a rover, their bats found holes in our defense that inning. It was amazing," said outfielder Marc Diaz, who had just returned from two games on the disabled list.

OF Jason Patnode was converted to a second baseman and OF Jesse Russell covered the hot corner for a BOMBER defense riddled with injured and vacationing athletes. 2B David Weitzberg was moved to shortstop to cover for a sick Donald McCardle. Winning pitcher, Duncan Sutherland (6-0) commented, "We held up really well under the circumstances. Some of those guys haven't seen an infield grounder all year. They responded to the challenge."

Diaz, hampered by an ankle sprain in mid July, found the gap in right-center for a bases-clearing triple in the fifth inning and scored on the late throw to the plate. "It appeared as though the second baseman was caught completely by surprise," said 2B Patnode, who, along with RF Scott Taylor, added four big hits and four runs batted in to the offensive effort.

SS David Weitzberg continued his hot hitting, turning in another impressive 3-for-4 hitting performance. Krish, batting clean-up, seems to prefer the number four position in the line-up. As the clean-up hitter, Krish is batting a hot .615, compared to .220 when batting elsewhere in the order.

Speaking over the phone from his beach bungalow in Honolulu, captain Vince DeQuattro was exuberant, "This team is awesome. Put any nine players out there and we can best the best of the league!"

The BOMBERs are currently holding onto first place by two games in the loss column over the Maulers.

The BOMBERs go against Waggle tonight in the second game of the seasonal series. Waggle took the first contest, 18-15, in July.

BOX SCORE
BOMBERS 14, MAGIC ZERO 12

BOMBERS AB R H BI BB SO AVG
_________________________________________________

    Russell 3B      3   1   1   1   1   0   .727
    Diaz LF         3   2   1   2   0   0   .444
    Weitzberg SS    4   2   3   2   0   0   .481
    Krish 1B        2   1   1   3   1   0   .710
    Sutherland P    3   1   1   2   1   0   .538
    Wickramase. C   4   1   2   0   0   0   .250
    Taylor RF       4   1   2   2   0   0   .385
    Griffin CF      4   1   1   0   0   0   .481
    Patnode 2B      4   2   2   2   0   0   .417
    Lim Sang 2B     2   2   1   0   1   0   .462
    _________________________________________________
    TOTALS          33 14 15 14 4   0   .446

    _________________________________________________
    BOMBERS         0   8   0   3   3   0   -   14
    MAGIC ZEROES     2   0   1   1   1   7   0   12
    _________________________________________________

    LOB--BOMBERS 6. RBIS--Krish 3 (15), Diaz 2 (11),
    Patnode 2 (18), Sutherland 2 (14), Taylor 2 (13),
    Weitzberg 2 (10), Russell (13). 3B--Diaz (1).
    2B--Krish (3), Patnode (3), Taylor(3). SF--Krish,
    Russell.

PITCHING

BOMBERS IP R BB SO ERA
SUTHERLAND W (6-0) 7 12 0 0 9.70

Softball Standings as of August 26th, 1999

Team 9 9 - 2 (.818) +2 (8,1)

Team 4 9 - 3 (.750) +1 (3)

Team 1 8 - 3 (.727) +2 (8,9)

Team 2 9 - 4 (.692)

Team 8 7 - 4 (.600) +3 (1,6,9)

Team 6 5 - 7 (.416) +1 (8)

Team 5 4 - 8 - 1 (.333) +1 (7)

Team 10 4 - 8 - 1 (.307)

Team 7 2 - 10 (.166) +1 (5)

Team 3 2 - 10 (.166) +1 (4)

Waggle Drops Bombers, 16-11

August 30, 1999:
UPI

The chase for the first round LDL Tournament bye heated up last Thursday as the second place WAGGLE outdistanced the first place BOMBERS in six innings, 16 - 11. Four teams, the BOMBERS, WAGGLE, RAIDERS and MAULERS are knotted at the top of the league with nine wins apiece. The top two teams will play the winners of the first two games between the four teams with the worst records in the LDL League.

In a darkness-shortened game last Thursday, WAGGLE beat up on a depleted BOMBER team, registering an eight run knockout punch in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the BOMBERS leading by a run, WAGGLE managed the big rally on a scattered attack which included two bases-clearing triples and several walks.

Attempting to go the distance in the absence of injured BOMBER starter, Duncan Sutherland, Pitcher Neha Wickramasekaran was relieved by 2B Linda Siegel after giving up her fourth walk in the fifth. Said team captain 3B Vince De Quattro, "It was a long game and Neha put everything she had into that inning, but she ran out of gas. It was the hardest thing I've had to do all season." Siegel, who hadn't seen action on the mound all season, was able to get the next two outs after walking a batter and allowing successive bloop singles.

CF Jesse Russell, at a press conference after the game admitted that a few mistakes were made in the field during the big WAGGLE inning. "Hey, if we make those two shoe-string catches, we're out of that inning and still in the ball game. That's the breaks."

Russell and LF Marc Diaz tried desperately to glove several tough soft line drives hit into the gap, but came up inches shy of making the out. Diaz is still recovering from a debilitating ankle sprain he suffered in a win over the RAIDERS two weeks ago.

Highlighting the BOMBERS' disappointing loss was another MVP performance by Russell, who collected three hits in as many at-bats and drove in a season-high five RBIs. Hot hitting OF Scott Taylor and Diaz contributed a combined six hits and four RBIs in the effort.

OF Jason Patnode, the hottest BOMBER hitter in the lower part of the order, was a surprising 0-for-3, and fielded questions from reporters after the game. "Dave [Weitzberg] and I just slumped tonight. I won't comment about the umpiring, but the strike zone was all over the place tonight and I think that threw us off."

Weitzberg, who's batting average had swelled to an impressive .500, struck out on a foul ball in the top of the fifth. Sitting in front of his locker long after the rest of his teammates had left the ballpark, he said, "With the weird calls behind the plate, I swung at a high pitch that I'd normally lay off of. I got jammed inside. It was really frustrating."

Frustration was the feeling echoed by most of the team after the game. With power-hitting Eric Schroeder and Sutherland sitting out for the second match-up against WAGGLE this season, key run production fell to other members of the batting order. WAGGLE pitching wavered in the fourth, but before the BOMBERS could put up an insurmountable lead, veteran pitcher Nelson Hall was called back in to stop the bleeding. The bottom of the lineup was a collective 3-for-12 with a single RBI.

Veteran BOMBER 1B Todd Krish, coming off a big game against TEAM3 last week, promised a strong finish. "Hey, when we're healthy, we're unstoppable. With Russell, Schroeder, Sutherland, De Quattro and myself driving the ball, I guarantee that we won't drop another game the way we did tonight."

A big promise that the BOMBERS will have to deliver if they want the first-round bye.

The playoff picture is still unclear. With a forfeit coming from the SWINGERS this Friday, the BOMBERS will have a 10-3 record with two make-up games to play, both against teams that the BOMBERS have not lost to this season: the PANTs and the RAIDERS. The PANTS may end up forfeiting their game to the BOMBERS so that the highly anticipated match-up versus the RAIDERS can be played next week, possibly Thursday, to avoid playing a game the day before the tournament.

"We're working to get this make-up thing straightened out. It's proving a little more difficult than the League anticipated, what with the three-day weekend coming," said De Quattro.

In head-to-head match-ups this season, the BOMBERS are 2-0 versus the RAIDERS (TEAM1), 1-1 versus the MAULERS (TEAM4), and 0-2 versus WAGGLE (TEAM2). In a case of a tie at the end of the regular season, season series results will be taken into account.

WAGGLE 16 - BOMBERS 11
BOX SCORE

BOMBERS AB R H BI BB SO AVG
_________________________________________________

    Diaz LF         4   2   3   2   0   0   .415
    Weitzberg 2B    4   0   0   0   0   1   .457
    Krish 1B        3   2   1   0   0   1   .314
    De Quattro 3B   2   2   2   0   1   0   .667
    Russell CF      3   2   3   5   0   0   .718
    Wickramase. P   3   0   0   0   0   0   .257
    Taylor OF       3   1   3   2   0   0   .435
    Patnode OF      3   0   0   0   0   0   .395
    Siegel 2B       2   0   0   0   1   0   .500
    Lim Sang C      2   0   0   0   1   0   .412
    Ricca RF        2   1   1   1   1   0   .526
    Mc Cardle SS    3   1   2   0   0   0   .462
    _________________________________________________
    TOTALS         34 11 15 10   4   2   .448

    _________________________________________________
    BOMBERS         2   0   0   3   4   2   -   11
    WAGGLE          5   0   0   3   8   -   -   16
    _________________________________________________

LOB--BOMBERS 9. RBIS--Russell 5 (18), Diaz 2 (13),
Taylor 2 (15), Ricca (10). 3B--Russell (4).

Game called due to darkness.

PITCHING

    BOMBERS                    IP       R BB SO ERA
    WICKRAMASEKARAN L (4-3)     4 1/3 16 5 0 16.70
    SIEGEL                      2/3     0 2 0   0.00

Bombers Lynch Swingers, 18-1

September 7, 1999
UPI Lucasland Valley
Staff Writer

Behind the blazing bats of CF Marc Diaz and RF Doug Griffin, the BOMBERS are roaring into the final week of the season after posting an 18 - 1 dismantling of the SWINGERS last Friday night. After a disappointing road loss against WAGGLE two weeks ago, the BOMBERS needed just such a victory to prepare for tournament play this weekend. "This was as big a game as any this year," said right-fielder and Game MVP Doug Griffin, after posting a 3-for-4, three-run, four-RBI outing. "We were focused. We needed this victory to stay in the race for top tournament seeding."

With a four-way tie for first seed a possibility, the BOMBERS need to win one of their last two games to keep a shot at second seeding in the tournament. They can control their own destiny by winning the last two games against the RAIDERS (10-3) and the PANTS (8-4) to insure a top seed throughout the tournament.

The game was not as close as the score might indicate. Minus a base-running error, the BOMBERS might have reached 30 Friday night. The entire line-up was on fire.

In the bottom of the third inning, with two-out and a runner on second, Griffin lined a shot past the right fielder who was slow getting to the ball. Griffin was waved around third and scored under a weak throw from the cut-off at second base. In the bottom of the sixth with none out and a runner on first, Griffin drove a double into the gap in right. This time the throw from the second baseman was on the money and Griffin was cut down.

Eight hits and two three-base errors contributed to the BOMBERS big second inning rally, as ten runners crossed the plate and the BOMBERS never looked back. Diaz, SS Don Mc Cardle and LF Eric Schroeder had big games, collectively hitting 8-for-11, with six RBIs and seven runs scored.

Sidelined with a neck injury, dugout jokester and catcher Neil Lim Sang laughed about a base-running error committed by De Quattro in the bottom of the fourth inning with none out. "After last week's loss, I promised Neha [Wickramasekaran] at least twenty runs. Instead of tagging up and scoring on Schroeder's deep fly to left, De Quattro starts walking off the field and gets doubled off third. We're putting him under psychiatric observation."

Instead of one-out and another run scored, there were two outs, and the rally was over before it began.

"I telegrammed an apology to both Eric and Neha," laughed De Quattro. "I've asked the team physician to refill my Prosac prescription immediately." Despite the basepath antics, the BOMBERS played an excellent game, both offensively and defensively. Behind dominant returning pitcher, Duncan Sutherland (7-0), outfielders Diaz and Griffin made spectacular catches to keep SWINGER runners off base. Sutherland allowed only one extra-base hit in seven strong innings of work.

In related play-off news, the MAULERS will host the last-place ZEROES tomorrow night, the RAIDERS will be up against the PANTS Thursday night, and the BOMBERS close out the regular season with a final make-up game against the PANTS Friday night. De Quattro voiced his concern with the flurry of make-up games in such close proximity to the all-day tournament this Saturday. "I'm urging everyone to stay loose and stretch as much as possible. A potential six games in eight days is a pretty heavy workout for any team."

CURRENT STANDINGS PCT GAMES TO PLAY

Team 1 10 - 3    (.769) (2) - v. TEAM 9, TEAM 8
Team 9 9 - 3    (.750) (2) - v. TEAM 1, TEAM 8
Team 2 11 - 4    (.733)
Team 4 10 - 4    (.714) (1) - v. TEAM 3

========================================================

BOMBERS 18 - SWINGERS 1
BOX SCORE

BOMBERS AB R H BI BB SO AVG
_________________________________________________

    Diaz LF         4   4   4   1   0   0   .467
    Griffin RF      4   3   3   4   0   0   .486
    Mc Cardle SS    4   2   2   3   0   0   .465
    Krish 1B        4   1   1   1   0   0   .308
    Sutherland P    3   2   1   0   0   0   .500
    De Quattro 3B   3   2   2   2   0   0   .667
    Schroeder LF    3   1   2   1   0   0   .706
    Siegel 2B       3   0   1   1   0   0   .478
    Taylor OF       3   0   1   1   0   0   .429
    Ricca 1B        3   1   1   0   0   0   .500
    Wickramase. C   2   1   0   0   1   0   .243
    Chao C          3   1   0   0   0   0   .091
    _________________________________________________
    TOTALS         39 18 18 14   1   0   .448

    _________________________________________________
    SWINGERS        0   0   1   0   0   0   0   1
    BOMBERS         4 10   2   1   0   1   -   18
    _________________________________________________

LOB--BOMBERS 4. RBIS--Griffin 4 (10), Mc Cardle 3 (13),

    De Quattro 2 (20), Diaz (14), Krish (16), Schroeder (20),
    Siegel (7), Taylor (16). 2B--Griffin 2 (4), Schroeder 2 (9),
    Diaz (1), Ricca (1).

PITCHING

BOMBERS IP R BB SO ERA
Sutherland W, 7-0 7 1 0 0 6.15

Bombers Sweep Series Over Raiders, Win 5-4

September 8, 1999

AP Lucas Valley

With one mighty swing of the bat, clean-up hitter Eric Schroeder delivered a game-winning home run into deep center field last night, bringing the Bombers one step closer to locking up first place seeding throughout the LFL Tournament. Duncan Sutherland pitched a scoreless seventh, securing the 5 - 4 victory and completing a sweep of the three-game seasonal series with the Raiders.

Named the game's MVP, Schroeder gave a brief press conference after the game. "Everyone was up for this game. They have solid pitching and explosive hitting and we knew we'd have to play tight defense to stay in it." With one out in the top of the seventh inning, Schroeder hit the first pitch over the center fielder's head, a 320-foot shot.

"I saw him drive that thing and immediately knew it was gone. I told him to go all the way. We had been running pretty aggressively all night and were waiting for a break," commented team captain and first base coach, Vince De Quattro. When the second baseman bobbled the relay from the center fielder, Schroeder scored easily.

The Raiders and Bombers battled for the LDL Tournament Championship last year in a game that was ultimately decided by an eight-run Bomber rally in the final inning of the game. The Bomber's gritty 13 - 12 comback victory has been the Raider's rallying cry this season. With four team virtually tied for first place, the stage was set for last night's monumental game.

This was it. Winning this game proves that we have what it takes to get the job done. We're pumped and ready to go against the Pants this Friday," said SS Don Mc Cardle, who came up with big defensive plays in the second, fourth and seventh innings to turn away Raider rallies. 2B Linda Siegel smothered a potential run-scoring grounder in the fifth and finished the night with an impressive six assists.

Duncan Sutherland scattered five hits over seven innings, and gave up only one extra-base hit in the contest: a home run to the left-center gap in the sixth inning. Sutherland (W 8-0) pitched a gem, struck out two and blanked the opposition in the first, third, fifth and seventh innings.

The new outfield rotation of Schroeder, CF Marc Diaz, and RF Jessee Russell looked sharp last night in what might be a preview of the Bomber's Tournament outfield. We're looking to add Doug Griffin out there for a four-outfielder configuration," explained De Quattro. "We've been working all season to come up with a final starting roster and I think we're pretty close."

Last night, it was the top of the order that provided the offense that fueled the victory. Marc Diaz, Mc Cardle, and Russell were a collective 6-for-9 with three runs scored. They were driven home by the middle order power lineup of Schroeder, Sutherland and 1B Todd Krish who collectively recorded all five RBIs in the contest.

Closer Neha Wickramasekaran hasn't seen much action lately. With Sutherland healthy, she's been assigned to a utility outfield role. When asked if she'd be ready to step in and lead the team if needed in the Tournament, she responded with enthusiasm. "Right now Duncan is unstoppable and the team is rallying behind him. If the Bombers need me Saturday, I'll take the mound and get the job done."

After the last out was recorded, there was a small celebration on the field. After a huge series of high-fives, C Chloe Chao grinned, "It [the season title] is so close, we can taste it."

After sixteen long weeks and losing key players Chris Stately, Mike Conte and Erin Judson, the reigning LFL Softball Champions are ready to get down to business this weekend.

The Bombers take on the Pants this Friday at 6:30PM in the final regular season make-up game. A victory will lock a League Title for the Bombers, who would lead the division with a 12-3 won loss record.

LEAGUE STANDINGS PERCENTAGE

     Team 9 11 - 3     (.785) *
     Team 2 11 - 4     (.733)
     Team 1 10 - 4     (.714) **
     Team 4 10 - 4     (.714) ***
     Team 8 8 - 4     (.666)
     Team 6 6 - 7     (.461)
     Team 10 5 - 9 - 1 (.333)
     Team 5 4 - 9 - 2 (.266)
     Team 3 2 - 12     (.142)
     Team 7 2 - 12 - 1 (.133)

     *   remaining game vs. PANTS, Friday, Sept. 10
     ** remaining game vs. PANTS, Thursday, Sept. 9
     *** remaining game vs. MAULERS, tonight

========================================================

BOX SCORE

BOMBERS AB R H BI BB SO AVG
_________________________________________________

         Diaz CF         3   0   2   0   0   0   .479
         Mc Cardle SS    3   2   2   0   0   0   .448
         Russell RF      3   1   2   0   0   0   .714
         Schroeder LF    2   1   1   2   0   0   .694
         Sutherland P    3   1   1   2   0   0   .486
         Krish 1B        3   0   2   1   0   0   .333
         De Quattro 3B   2   0   1   0   0   0   .658
         Patnode OF      2   0   1 0   0   0   .400
         Taylor OF       2   0   1   0   0   0   .431
         Siegel 2B       2   0   1   0   0   0   .480
         Lim Sang C      2   0   0   0   0   0   .368
         Wickramase. C   2   0   0   0   0   0   .231
         Chao C          2   0   0   0   0   0   .083
         _________________________________________________
         TOTALS         31   5 14   5   0   0   .449

         _________________________________________________
         BOMBERS         3   0   0   1   0   0   1   5
         RAIDERS         0   1   0   2   0   1   0   4
         _________________________________________________

LOB--BOMBERS 5. RBIS--Schroeder 2 (22),
Sutherland 2 (16), Krish (17). 2B--Sutherland (4),

De Quattro (8). 3B--Diaz (2). HR--Schroeder (1).
SF--Schroeder (4).

PITCHING

BOMBERS IP R BB SO ERA
Sutherland W, 8-0 7 4 0 2 6.68

Final Standings, Season Game Recap

September 13, 1999:

Final LFL Softball Standings

TEAM	W	L	T	PCT	GB
BOMBERS	12	3		.785
Waggle	11	4		.733	1
Raiders	11	4		.733	1
Maulers	10	5		.666	2
Pants	8	6		.615	3½
Swingers	6	8		.429	5½
Team 10	5	9	1	.333	6
Team 5	4	9	2	.266	6½
Zeroes	3	12		.200	9
Team 7	2	12	1	.133	9½

Complete 1999 Season Game Recap

Week 1

May 24th Team 9 - 22, Team 1 - 11

May 25th Team 10 - 11, Team 3 - 10

May 26th Team 4 - 24, Team 6 - 4

May 27th Team 8 - 21, Team 7 - 7

May 28th Team 2 - 15, Team 5 - 8

Week 2
May 31st        bye
June 1st       Team 1 - 20, Team 6 - 10
June 2nd        Team 2 - 15, Team 7 - 9
June 3rd        Team 5 - 14, Team 3 - 10
June 4th        Team 9 - 14, Team 10 - 13

Week 3
June 7th        Team 3 - 13, Team 8 - 8
June 8th        Team 9 - 23, Team 5 - 8
June 9th        Team 1 - 23, Team 10 - 7
June 10th       Team 2 - 15, Team 6 - 9
June 11th       Team 4 - 13, Team 7 - 8

Week 4
June 14th       Team 9 - 17, Team 4 - 14
June 15th       Team 6 - 3, Team 10 - 1
June 16th       Team 8 - 27, Team 5 - 3
June 17th       Team 1 - 14, Team 7 - 2
June 18th       Team 2 - 10, Team 3 - 6

Week 5
June 21st       Team 6 - 11, Team 7 - 7
June 22nd       Team 4 - 12, Team 2 - 11
June 23rd       Team 1 - 17, Team 3 - 7
June 24th       Team 9 - 14, Team 8 - 11 **
June 25th       Team 10 - 25, Team 5 - 25

Week 6
June 28th       Team 2 - 17, Team 8 - 8
June 29th       Team 10 - 9, Team 7 - 7
June 30th       Team 9 - 15, Team 5 - 11
July 1          Team 4 - 22, Team 3 - 6
July 2          Team 1 - 4, Team 6 - 3

Week 7
July 5th        bye
July 6th        Team 1 - 12, Team 2 - 4
July 7th        Team 8 - 16, Team 10 - 15
July 8th        Team 9 - 20, Team 7 - 4
July 9th        Team 5 - 1, Team 4 - 0 (forfeit)

Week 8
July 12th       Team 10 - 9, Team 3 - 7
July 13th       Team 8 - 16, Team 4 - 13
July 14th       Team 2 - 18, Team 9 - 15
July 15th       Team 1 - 19, Team 5 - 4
July 16th       Team 7 - 14, Team 6 - 5

Week 9
July 19th       Team 4 - 13, Team 9 - 12
July 20th       Team 6 - 20, Team 5 - 7
July 21st       Team 1 - 13, Team 10 - 6
July 22nd       Team 7 - 12, Team 3 - 11
July 23rd       Team 2 - 12, Team 8 - 6

Week 10
July 26th       Team 10 - 13, Team 5 - 12
July 27th       Team 8 - 24, Team 7 - 4
July 28th       Team 6 - 16, Team 2 - 9
July 29th       Team 4 - 10, Team 1 - 4
July 30th       Team 9 - 20, Team 3 - 9

Week 11
August 2nd      Team 5 - 13, Team 7 - 6
August 3rd      Team 4 - 12, Team 2 - 2
August 4th      Team 9 - 16, Team 10 - 3
August 5th      Team 3 - 18, Team 6 - 12
August 6th      Team 1    v Team 8      resched

Week 12
August 9th      Team 9 - 17, Team 1 - 13 **
August 10th     Team 6 - 20, Team 8 - 8
August 11th     Team 5 - 12, Team 3 - 9
August 12th     Team 4 - 32, Team 10 - 11
August 13th     Team 2 - 25, Team 7 - 6

Week 13
August 16th     Team 4 - 6, Team 6 - 2
August 17th     Team 2 - 18, Team 10 - 9
August 18th     Team 8 - 3, Team 1 - 2
August 19th     Team 5 - 1, Team 7 - 1
August 20th     Team 9 - 14, Team 3 - 12

Week 14
August 23rd     Team 8 - 15, Team 5 - 5
August 24th     Team 1 - 8, Team 4 - 7
August 25th     Team 6 - 16, Team 3 - 11
August 26th     Team 2 - 16, Team 9 - 11
August 27th     Team 10 - 18, Team 7 - 6

Week 15
August 30th     Team 1 - 17, Team 3 - 3
August 31st     Team 2 - 15, Team 5 - 14
September 1st   Team 4 - 13, Team 10 - 9
September 2nd   Team 8 - 13, Team 3 - 11
September 3rd   Team 9 - 18, Team 6 - 1

Make-up Week
September 7th   Team 9 - 5, Team 1 - 4
September 8th   Team 3 - 10, Team 4 - 9
September 9th   Team 1   15, Team 8 - 4
September 10th Team 9 - 7, Team 8 - 6

Bombers Drop Pants, 7-6, Win 1999 LFL Championship

September 14, 1999
AP WIRE
LUCAS VALLEY, CA

CF Eric Schroeder gloved a weak line drive off the bat of 1B Tom Hutchinson, ending what might have been a storybook comeback rally for the PANTS, and secured the LFL Season Championship and first seeding in the 1999 Tournament. For the 1998 defending champion BOMBERS the victory improved their record to 23-6 over the last two seasons.

Swarmed by his jubilant teammates, Schroeder tossed the ball to the umpire, and was doused with champagne by team captain, Vince De Quattro, who said, "It's like running a marathon. You put your best line-ups out there for sixteen, seventeen weeks and work for a moment like this. This was a fight, and we came out on top."

The PANTS proved to be troublesome for the BOMBERS who needed a win to secure first place in League and top seeding throughout the Tournament. PANTS SS Eric Voegels turned in a standout offensive and defensive performance, with a five RBI night and eleven put-outs in the game, including two unassisted double plays.

The BOMBERS played hot as well, with big defensive plays coming from OF Jesse Russell and Doug Griffin, the former making a rally-stopping sliding catch on a soft liner in the third inning. BOMBERS 1B Todd Krish, SS Don McCardle and De Quattro belted extra-base hits that accounted for five of the BOMBERS seven runs.

In the second inning, De Quattro hit a sharp single under the second baseman and advanced on Eric Schroeder's foul pop to the catcher. Krish blasted his longest drive of the season into the gap in right center, scoring De Quattro easily. RF Doug Griffin cashed Krish in with a scoring fly ball to left.

The game remained 2-0 in favor of the BOMBERS until the fourth inning when, with none out and McCardle at third on the error by the center fielder, Russell singled sharply up the middle, scoring McCardle. Two outs later, with Russell still on first, De Quattro lined a home run to right. Back to back singles by Schroeder and Krish made the score 6-0.

The PANTS got two back in the bottom of the fourth and, with the light nearly gone in the sixth, McCardle hit a home run into the gap in left-centerfield, making the score 7-2.

McCardle's blast proved to be the game-winning hit, as the PANTS mounted a furious effort in the bottom of the inning, capped by a base-loaded triple by Eric Voegels. Voegels had circled the bases thinking that he had just hit a grand-slam home run, but was sent back to third on appeal.

With one out and the tying run on third, P Duncan Sutherland induced a pop-up to McCardle at short. Hutchinson, who had hurt the BOMBERS all season with opposite-field hitting hit an inside pitch into left instead, directly at the left-fielder Schroeder. Voegels was left at third and the game was called due to darkness.

Champagne continued to flow hours after the game had ended, indicating how much this team had wanted to finish in sole possession of first place in the League Standings.

Pitcher Duncan Sutherland, flawless in nine starts, is a lock for Cy Young Award this year. In the locker-room after the game, soaked with champagne, he commented, "This was a big win, of course. It's good to see the work pay off. But we've got a huge set of games tomorrow. You always hope that a fight like this doesn't take too much out of you."

The BOMBERS will start as top seed in the Tournament, Saturday, against the winner of last-place finishers, the MAGIC ZEROES and the HONG KONG CAVALIERS at noon.

BOMBER SEASON BATTING LEADERS

                  AB R H SF 2B 3B HR BB SO BI LOB AVG
Russell, Jesse    44 22 32 4 9 4 0 2 0 19 4 .727
Schroeder, Eric   38 18 26 4 9 1 1 0 1 22 0 .684
De Quattro, Vince 40 23 27 3 8 2 2 4 0 22 7 .675
Ricca, Bonnie     22 10 11 1 1 0 0 2 0 10 5 .500
Sutherland, Duncn 38 18 18 0 4 0 0 4 0 16 6 .474
Griffin, Doug     36 13 17 3 4 1 0 0 1 11 8 .472
Diaz, Marc        51 28 24 0 1 2 0 2 1 14 6 .471
Mc Cardle, Don    49 25 23 3 3 0 1 0 1 14 7 .469
Siegel, Linda     27 4 12 0 1 0 0 1 1 7 5 .444
Taylor, Scott     53 14 23 1 3 0 0 0 0 16 10 .434

SEASON PITCHING
                        IP   R W-L ERA
Sutherland, Duncan      68 74 9-0   6.68
Wickramasekaran, Neha   40 81 4-3 10.52
Judson, Erin             7   9 1-0   9.00
Siegel, Linda            2   2 0-0   8.00

BOMBERS 7 - PANTS 6
BOX SCORE

BOMBERS AB R H BI BB SO AVG
_________________________________________________

    Diaz CF         3   0   1   0   0   0   .471
    Mc Cardle SS    3   2   1   1   0   0   .469
    Russell R       2   1   2   1   1   0   .727
    Sutherland P    3   0   1   0   0   0   .474
    Weitzberg 2B    2   0   0   0   0   0   .432
    De Quattro 3B   2   2   2   2   0   0   .675
    Schroeder LF    2   1   1   0   0   0   .684
    Krish 1B        2   1   2   2   0   0   .364
    Griffin RF      1   0   0   1   0   0   .472
    Taylor OF       2   0   1   0   0   0   .434
    Siegel 2B       2   0   0   0   0   0   .444
    Patnode OF      2   0   1   0   0   0   .404
    Lim Sang C      2   0   1   0   0   0   .381
    Wickramase. C   2   0   1   0   0   0   .244
    _________________________________________________
    TOTALS         30   7 14   7   1   0   .449

    _________________________________________________
    BOMBERS         0   2   0   4   0   1   -
    PANTS           0   0   0   2   0   4   -
    _________________________________________________

    LOB--BOMBERS 5. RBIS--DeQuattro 2 (22),
    Krish 2 (19), Griffin (11), McCardle (14),
    Russell (19). 3B--Krish. HR--DeQuattro (2),
    Mc Cardle (1). SF--Griffin (3).

PITCHING

BOMBERS IP R BB SO ERA
Sutherland W, 9-0 6 6 0 1 6.68

Zeroes Stun Bombers in Second Round, 17-13

Septermber 15, 1999:
UPI
MCINNIS RECREATION COMPLEX

Bomber catcher, Chloe Chao, bounced to short for the final out in the bottom of the seventh inning, ending a two-run rally and the BOMBERS' bid for a repeat of last year's LFL Tournament Championship. The MAGIC ZERO erupted in jubiliation after upsetting the league's hottest team in the second round of the Tournament, 17-13. Known for their gritty, nail-biting, and spectacular come-back efforts, the Bombers went quietly before a small crowd of spectators and participants, last Saturday at McInnis Park.

After playing two tough games to claim first place in the LFL seasonal standings, the BOMBERS' fatigue under the noon-day sun was apparent. Two sloppy innings accounted for eleven of the ZERO 17 runs, all unearned. It was an uncharacteristic defensive performance from a team that held their last three opponents to a combined eleven runs in twenty-one innings.

"We were spent. Without a few of our best defensive performers, we seemed uncomfortable out there. Sure outs went as extra-base hits. We hurt outselves," said RF Doug Griffin who misjudged a fly ball in the second inning.

Accustomed to the deep, late-evening skies of Lucas Valley, the BOMBERS seemed baffled by the bright skies at Hillside Field last Saturday afternoon. Four errors in the outfield set up the improbable upset by the last-place ZERO.

Team Captain, Vince De Quattro was upbeat after the loss, "The team that won the overall season championship didn't show up Saturday. Our offense cooled off after the ZERO showed us they came to make a fight of it. It proves that any team can win on any given day."

Despite a ten run splash in the first three innings, powered by six homeruns by OF Jesse Russell, LF Eric Schroeder, P Duncan Sutherland, 3B De Quattro and Griffin, the Bombers allowed the ZERO an opportunity to get back in the game by the fifth inning. The ZERO mounted a big six run inning in the top of the fifth and never looked back.

The Bombers ace pitcher, Duncan Sutherland (L 9-1), struggled in the middle innings, walking several batters and missing two important assists to stop ZERO rallies. Reached via phone at his sprawling ranch in Novato, Sutherland soberly reflected, "There are those games when you reach down and pull yourself out of it. The magic just wasn't there. It happens."

It doesn't often happen to the league's best pitcher, Sutherland. He still owns the LFL leagues' longest win streak (18 games) and lowest ERA (5.38) over the last two seasons.

SS Don McCardle offered, "Hey, it's just another game. Winning the championship last year might have dulled our competitive effort today. We'll take today's lessons and be ready next year, I guarantee you that."

Griffin and Sutherland combined with McCardle, De Quattro and 2B Bonnie Ricca to go a collective 11-for-13, scoring 6 runs and driving in seven. Ricca had returned to the lineup after being on the disabled list for seven days due to illness.

This years' recipient of the vaunted Bomber Award, Eric Schroeder, struck out in the first inning, his first strikeout of the season."Hey, it's just another game. You move on to the next season and keep your head up," he said as he soaked in the clubhouse after the game. "I think some of the guys, including myself, saw those open fields and started salivating. We're a big hitting team, and we might have pressed a bit."

Season MVP, Jesse Russell had a tough day, despite going 1-3, with a homerun and two runs batted in. With opportunites to cash in four runners in scoring position, he flew out twice, uncharacteristic of one of the Bombers' leading run producers. Before the game he had stranded a total of four runners the entire season.

Bomber contributors in a losing cause included C Chloe Chao and converted reliever C Neha Wickramasekaran, who both drove in RBIs during the game. In the tournament game they nearly doubled their run production for the entire regular season.

De Quattro laughed when asked why the Bombers may not have been prepared for the tournament. "I tell you what. That's the last time I take the guys out to celebrate the season championship on the night before the tournament."

The Bombers finished the season with a 14-4 record.

ZEROES 17 - BOMBERS 13
BOX SCORE

BOMBERS AB R H BI BB SO AVG
_________________________________________________

    Diaz CF         3   1   1   0   0   0   .463
    Mc Cardle SS    2   0   2   0   0   0   .490
    Russell R       3   1   1   2   0   0   .702
    Schroeder LF    3   1   1   1   0   1   .659
    Sutherland P    3   2   2   2   0   0   .488
    De Quattro 3B   3   1   2   1   0   0   .674
    Krish 1B        3   1   1   0   0   0   .362
    Griffin RF      3   2   3   2   0   0   .513
    Taylor OF       2   1   1   1   1   0   .436
    Patnode OF      2   1   1   1   0   0   .408
    Ricca 2B        2   1   2   0   1   0   .542
    Weitzberg 2B    3   1   0   1   0   1   .400
    Chao C          3   0   1   1   0   0   .111
    Lim Sang C      2   0   0   0   0   0   .348
    Wickramase. C   2   0   1   1   0   0   .256
    _________________________________________________
    TOTALS         39 13 19 13   2   2   .451

    _________________________________________________
    ZEROES          0   3   5   3   6   0   0
    BOMBERS         6   2   2   1   0   0   2
    _________________________________________________

    LOB--BOMBERS 8. RBIS--Griffin 2 (13),
    Russell 2 (21), Sutherland 2 (18), Chao (2),
    De Quattro (23), Patnode (19), Schroeder (23),
    Taylor (17), Weitzberg (11), Wicrkramasekaran (3).
    2B--Krish (4). 3B--De Quattro (3), Taylor (1).
    HR--Sutherland 2 (2), DeQuattro (3), Griffin (1),
    Russell (1), Schroeder (2). SF--McCardle (4),
    Patnode (2).

PITCHING

BOMBERS IP R BB SO ERA
Sutherland L, 9-1 7 17 3 0 8.68

September 21, 1999: End of Year Statistics

November 22, 1999: Bomber Ball Awarded To De Quattro

AP Wire

San Rafael, CA

This morning, in a brief ceremony conducted in the old Industrial Light and Magic wood shop, Bomber pitcher and 1999 Cy Young Winner, Duncan Sutherland, presented player-manager Vince De Quattro with the First Annual Bomber TEAM BALL.

Photographers from the San Francisco Chronicle and Sports Illustrated Magazine were on hand to capture the moment.

Fighting back tears, De Quattro attributed the team's success to the moral caliber and physical fitness of his Bomber teammates. "Repeating a Championship season is a nearly impossible feat. It requires a superior team and a great deal of luck. We were able to build on the chemistry that brought us the ribbon last year and put together another amazing effort. "

After the conclusion of 1999 League play, the Bombers finished at the top of their ten team division with a record of 14 wins and 3 losses. Two clutch victories in the final week preceding the Tournament clinched first place and the top seeding. Absences of several key players on Tournament day figured in their first-round upset loss against the last place Zeroes.

Legendary Bomber Captain, Chris Stately, hugged De Quattro in an emotional embrace after the presentation. "If I were to come out of retirement and play again, it would be for this team. We started as the Bad News Bears of Lucasfilm. Now we're the team to beat." Stately appeared at the ceremony with a striking scalp tattoo of "BOMB" at his right temple and "ON" at the left.

De Quattro, who turned 40 this year, assumed his managerial role after Stately announced an early retirement after the third game of the season. De Quattro's seasonal offensive numbers were impressive, hitting .674 (29 for 43) in 16 games while scoring 24 runs and driving in 28. He lead the Bombers in slugging and on-base percentage, pounding out eight doubles, three triples and three home runs. Defensively, he played a strong third base, yielding five errors in 42 attempts with 45 assists.

Asked if he would be back for a third year with the Bombers, De Quattro replied, "I'd like to think that I will continue to contribute on offense and defense next year. We'll see. It looks like we won't be losing anyone to free agency next spring. The core of the Bombers will stay intact and we'll pick up a few new faces to spark our line-up. As a player, being involved with a winning team is a huge incentive to return."

De Quattro referred to the off-season recruiting of veteran player Colie Wertz, as well as the on-going negotiations to get Dugan Beach back into the line-up. With Stately considering his return to softball, the only concerns for the Bombers will be the replacement of 1B Bonnie Ricca and 2B Erin Judson, both lost at the end of the season last year.

In other Bomber news, 1B Todd Krish signed a winter-league contract with the Hang-Sen Dragons in the Japanese Central League. Krish slumped this season hitting a mere .362, with five extra-base hits in 47 at-bats. Krish hit .531 during the 1998 season and is looking to return to form.

Outfielders Jason Patnode and Scott Taylor have both signed film deals and will go on tour pushing their new book "Rookies of the Year", now in its fifth consecutive week on the New York Times Best Seller List. 2B David Weitzberg underwent corrective knee surgery after suffering minor ligament damaged during a roller-hockey game.

The Bombers spring training camp, located in Tempe, Arizona, will open in February, 2000.

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