Gary Stonebrook Throws ‘Perfecto’ in Sacramento MSBL Golden Division
Submitted by Ray’s manager and MSBL Hall of Famer, Lanny Ropke
Tuesday, May 20, 2025, was just like any other game day, a 10 am game at Sacramento’s Army Depot Baseball Complex for our 68 Golden Division. Except I was not in a very good mood, as I knew I was done playing baseball for a while due to a trashed knee. Nevertheless, I am the manager of the Rays, a team that spent the first four years of the new division in the cellar, only winning two games each year. But at least we have the best-looking jerseys in the division!
Each year, being last in the season gave me first pick in the draft. This is now starting to pay off, having picked up quality players like Bobby Wooden, Dale Skinner, and finally Gary Stonebrook. After winning our first game of the season (a first), I told Gary Stonebrook not to pitch in the Sunday 50’s division so he would be fresh for facing a very good-hitting team on Tuesday.
Gary’s first batter of the day was concerning, but not an indication of things to come. It took him 10 pitches to finally retire that hitter who kept fouling off Gary’s “good stuff.”
In the words of a great American philosopher of the 1950s, “What, me worry?”
It got better with each new inning. At the end of the fourth inning, I noted that no one had gotten a hit yet. Adhering to one of baseball’s sacred traditions, I said nothing, focusing on our hitters that were having a good day at the plate and racking up runs in our column.
In the late innings, Gary came to me and said he didn’t want to hog all the innings or look like he was pouring it on our opponents, as we were now up 11 runs. Did I want to put someone else in to finish the game? Typical Gary. If you know him, you know he is a team player, a great teammate, and a considerate opponent. He’s a class act.
And what kind of “class act” response did he get from his manager? Not wanting to mention the obvious possible historic state of his pitching, I responded, “Shut up. Are you nuts? I have been in the cellar for four years, and YOU are getting me out of that cellar. You are finishing the game and getting me a win. It’s all about me anyway, right?” Nice manager, aye?
And finish he did. He threw a shutout. Better still, he threw a no-hitter. And best of all, he threw a PERFECT game. No one reached base! And adding to his pitching, he went 3 X 3, driving in four runs!
I would be remiss if I didn’t also praise my defensive players. They made every play. Errorless baseball!
A great team effort by Craig Cesarin, Barry Markman, Greg Dow, Dave Sutherland, Bob Hanna, Jeff Hughs, Derrek Kiker, Bob Wooden, Dale Skinner, Alan Skinner, Greg Novotny, Mike Kostiv, and also on the IR list, Jim Tygrett-Denuzzi. And of course, our team’s General Manager, Tina Haas.
Although I have twice been close to observing a perfect game, this was my first. They made my day. Go Rays!