The arbitrator helps Junkies settle case against Mudhens

Photo: An arbitrator is like an umpire making the right decision when all the dust settles

     By Bruce Loria and Bill Tarrant

In a wild game that saw both teams score 4 runs in 4 separate innings, The Softball Junkies outlasted the Mudhens 20-18 and moved into a second-place tie in the standings.

     Down by two runs going into the last inning, the Junkies came up with four runs in the top half of the inning, and then had the luxury of the bottom three of the Mudhens lineup coming up in the bottom half, which they quickly disposed of.

     The game did not start auspiciously for the Junkies who went down 1-2-3 on three pitches.

     But from that point on, they pounded out 27 hits, 4 each by game-ball recipient Bob ”the Arbitrator” Bergeson, and sub John Morales. The game also marked the first time the team's oldest player Jimmy Paul ever played three positions in one game - first, second, and third. Commenting on his playing third base in the first inning, Jim said, “Third ain’t so bad if nothin’ is hit to you.

     Steve “Mitch” Miller delivered the big blows with three hits, just missing the cycle.

     In a game that went back and forth, there was only one inning in which either team led by more than two runs, as the bottom of both lineups did a great job of getting on base.

     At the bottom of the Junkies order, Kent Stanley, Jerry Sroka and Lilly Bashian were on base six times on just 10 at-bats, as team comedian Jerry, had three hits, continuing the finest hitting season in his illustrious two-year career.

     “This team is finding its identity,” said the manager with the great hair, Gregg Loria, rehabbing from his knee surgery. “Although it’s nerve-wracking to watch and not being able to play, I’m observing that senior softball is simply a nervous breakdown divided into 7 innings!”

     For those of you that don’t know much about the Junkies' quiet leadoff hitter, “Pizza Joe” Micelli, you might find it interesting that the Pizza Man now follows the teachings of Confucius. When asked what the philosopher knew about softball, Pizza Joe said, “Softball is all wrong. Man with four balls cannot walk.”

     The 6-rated Bergeson, who is hitting well over .700 for the season after his four-hit game, credits his success at the plate to coaching sessions with Jason Bielma, learning how to hit to the opposite field. “When I joined the senior softball league, I was always pulling the ball. Every time I’d come up, I’d hear (the pitcher), shout ‘pull hitter!’ I still hear it, and I’m like, ok thanks.”

     By day, Bergeson is an arbitrator, sometimes called a “private judge”. So he’s like an umpire. Except he’s not supposed to call balls and strikes against the disputing parties. He’s usually arbitrating labor/management cases. This week he has the International Brother of Electrical Workers vs the utility companies. Bergeson boasts that he holds the record for arbitrating the most cases between faculty unions and the University of California system.

     What’s the secret to being a good arbitrator? “My old mentor once told me to aspire to absolutely minimize any damage to the opposing parties’ relationship,” during the argy-bargy of hammering out a settlement. Words to live by, indeed.

Archies 9, Grays 8

This game needed an Arbitrator who knew the rules. The Grays came out with big hits from almost all of its players, posing a real challenge for the first-place Archies. The Grays had a chance to win it at the very end, but alas the ump made a bad call on the rules. The Grays batted out of order. The rules say if this is caught before the at-bat ends, the correct batter assumes the count and the game goes on. However, in this case, the ump called the batter out. The Grays filed a protest on Monday with the League, which decreed that protests have to be registered with the ump during (or right after) the game. – Ann Allocca

Slow Horses 16 Knicks 16

The Horses and Knicks were tied at 16 apiece with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th. Both teams missed many opportunities to win the game. The Horses were led by Gus Bautista, who hit a pair of 2-run homers during the game. The Knicks were led by Rob Ritter's 3 hits, including a homer. The Slow Horses scored 5 runs in the top of the 7th to take a 4-run lead. The Knicks fought back, however, with four runs to tie. Earlier in the game, The Knicks missed scoring opportunities with some basic base running mistakes. Both teams got the unhappy experience of knowing that they COULD have easily won the game. There's NO consolation in kissing your sister. John Gillot

Mustangs 13, Hip Replacements 12

The visiting Hip Replacements were just what the doctor ordered for the formerly winless Mustangs, who turned a 5-run top of the 7th deficit into a bottom of the 7th one-run walk-off victory. That dropped the Hipsters to a lackluster 2-5 while the Mustangs improved to 1-6. Despite a lead-off homer from the fleet-of-foot Blayne Pacelli and three-run homers from Billy Freeman and Manager Doug McIntyre, the Hip Replacements were unable to find enough green against an excellent Mustangs defense. Crisp infield defense was backed by excellent outfield play. "The best game we played this year" Mustangs manager, Ron Smeltzer told McIntyre in the hand shake line. "That's the fourth time in seven games the opposing manager has told me that" grumbled the despondent McIntyre. "I picked the wrong season to give up drinking." - Doug McIntyre

Spring Chickens 17, Red Sox 11

Killabrews 17, Nutcrackers 12

Silver and Black, 19 Dodgers 7

Bad Knees Bears 14, Trask Pandas 13