2019 65+ Desert
Cal Vets 11, Albuquerque MGM (Mean Green Machine) 9
By Steve LaMontia, Director of Communications
October 25, 2019, Maryvale, AZ – The bats proved too much for MGM pitcher Larry Ambramson, who valiantly threw a complete game in a losing effort. The Vets bunched together ten of their runs in the first four innings, led by a Marty Rogowski three-run, inside the park home run in the fourth. Jack Powers threw a complete game for the Vets and Don Hain was named MVP by manager Donny DeCordova.
“Don was great for us all week,” said DeCordova. “We wouldn’t be here without him. He is well deserving of this honor.”
It looked like an Albuquerque kind of day as they jumped out to a 3-1 lead after one. The ‘Mean Green Machine’ maintained a one run lead after two innings, 3-2, but then the Vets caught fire. Gary Alexander, Jim Nice, Rick McGalliard, Marty Rigowski and Dave Hall all consecutively reached base and all ended up scoring, providing a 7-5 cushion after three innings, a lead they would never relinquish.
The fourth inning was the big hammer as the Vets scored three more runs on a 3-run, inside the park homer by Marty Rigowski. The Vets were blanked until the eighth but they had plenty of insurance. Albuquerque scored one in the sixth, two in the seventh and one more in the eighth but it was too much to overcome, as the Vets also tallied one in the eight for good measure.
Gary Alexander led the Vets with a two for three day at the plate, including a walk and being hit by a pitch and scoring twice. Center field speedster J.R. Rodriguez added a single and a triple for MGM and scored twice. MGM pitcher Larry Abramson had a highlight inning in the sixth when he struck out the side to shut down the high-powered Vets offense through the middle innings. Powers gave up only nine hits in his complete game victory for the Vets.