Walk in the park?

It wasn’t really like a walk in the park, this 23-19 win over Orange. But walks, or lack thereof, was how the game turned.

The top six for the Gold team went 25 for 35 (.700), including 9 extra-base hits, feasting on the opposing pitcher’s penchant for throwing “cookies” in an effort just to throw strikes. Which he succeeded in doing - he didn’t walk anybody.

After literally stumbling all over the rubber last week in his eight-walk debacle, Gold pitcher Bill Tarrant found a rhythm Sunday. And his high-arc pitches danced around the plate, with Orange batters shaking their heads at a steady diet of first-pitch strikes. He, too, had no walks. A strong Orange lineup had plenty of hits, but few of them for extra-bases.

“I was scared the manager would pull me,” Tarrant said.

Gold also found production from the bottom of the order. Pam Kamena had a breakout game, going three for five with a run and two RBIs. Cyril Barnert was credited with a run and an RBI.

Gold’s infield defense was stellar, responsible for all but a few out of the outs in the efficient 9-inning game. Brent Burley got the game ball for his 6 for 6 day at the plate and strong defense at the keystone. He was credited with one triple, but Brent’s wife Pat Erb declined to score another three-bagger that way, saying a wayward throw allowed him to leg it to third. Pat is by-the-book with the scorebook and her after-game box scores are an invaluable data mine.

Steve Shertzer was 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, 3 runs and 4 RBIs from the cleanup spot. Pat was 5 for 6, and for those keeping score at home like Pat, that means the husband and wife tour-de-force went a combined 11 for 12. Thom Hutchinson was 3 for 6 with a triple.

Jim Devico had a monster game, hitting for the cycle, emblematic of how Gold’s is starting to hit its stride (and maybe its rhythm).