Dairymen Wallop MAC in Hamden Schoolhouse Game; Improve to 8-3

In the first baseball game played at historic Crawford Field in Hamden, NY in several years, the Bovina Dairymen overpowered an undermanned Mountain Athletic Club by a score of 33-3.

The day began indecisive, with an ominous, voluminous sky opening up in thundershowers just an hour before game time. As players and spectators filtered into the historic Crawford Field—the famous site of one of the first mentions of “bass ball” ever recorded—the weather threatened to rain out this latest meeting of the Dairymen and the MAC. However, by game time the rain gave way to a tumultuous but visually stunning field of rolling thunderheads interspersed with sunshine and a cool breeze. Unfortunately for the undermanned Mountain Athletic Club—who made a full nine only with one of their players’ teenage sons and an addition from the Bovina squad—the weather was the only thing in doubt on that afternoon.

The MAC began strong against southpaw Dairymen Ace Troy “Train” Tucker, and aided by two Dairymen errors, the MAC tallied three in the top half of the opening frame. But it would be the last time the MAC led or scored, as the Dairymen bats thundered for four runs in the first and five in the second, and Train Tucker (W, 5.0 IP) combined with captain Nick “the Stick” Frandsen (4.0 IP) to silence the MAC bats for the remainder of the game.

Aided by nine MAC errors, four hit batsmen, and thirteen walks issued by four MAC hurlers, the Bovina offense scored in every frame except the third, including a ten-run outburst in the sixth during which the home team sent a staggering 16 strikers to the plate. All 11 Dairymen reached base safely at least once, and 10 of 11 scored. In what proved to be his last at-bat of the season, “Stick” Frandsen capped the onslaught in the eighth with his first career grand slam.

A special thanks to Dairymen Ben “Diesel” Cairns, who volunteered to play with the MAC in order to give them a full squad. Diesel pitched for the first time in his vintage career, inducing his younger brother, Bovina backstop “Bona-fide” Cairns, to ground into a double play.

Finally, from me, my deepest thanks and admiration go out to all the ballplayers and fans who came out yesterday. You have made this season--my first full season as captain--a special and wonderful one, and you've sent me off with a warm feeling that’s hard to come by. Safe to say I will remember this team and this year for a long time. A tip of the cap to each of you. I look forward to next season with barely concealed excitement. I will be available by internet if any of you need anything in the next several months.

Next game is September 14th in Cortland, NY. Contact Dylan Tucker or John Finn to play.

BOX SCORE

Alex “AT” Taylor (2-3, 2B, HBP, 5R)

Nick “the Stick” Frandsen (1-3, GS, 2BB, 6R)

Dylan “Hobbes” Tucker (4-7, HR short of cycle)

Troy “Train” Tucker (3-6, HR short of cycle)

Brenden “Bona-fide” Cairns (3-6, 2B, BB, 3R)

Ben “the Gamer” Denison (1-6, 2ROE, 4R)

Jack “Sticky” “Snacks” Stanton (2-3, 2B, 2HBP)

Jake “Swan” Sackett (2-3, 2BB, 2R)

Justin “Juice” Betterley (1-5, BB)

John “Chico” Finn (3-5, 2B, BB, 2R)