TheLounge
03-13-2007, 02:10 PM
;)
Once again, the annual Serra-Burlingame baseball game at Washington Park under the lights turned into another outstanding performance. Burlingame pitcher Paul Fregosi became the latest to have the game of his life as the Panthers snapped an 11-game losing streak to Serra in a 1-0 win. The senior right hander gave up only three hits to the Padres.
The losing streak was probably longer. Burlingame had never beaten Serra in the 10 previous games since Rich Sciutto took over as Panther manager. Serra coach Pete Jensen reportedly said he could not remember a time in at least the last 20 years in which the Panthers downed the Padres.
There is something about Washington Park that takes on “The Natural” proportions when the lights go on. The Lounge has been at a number of incredible games at Washington Park. Does the lighting affect hitters? Is it the atmosphere? Do players turn up the intensity because it is a night game?
“It’s all of that,” Fregosi said.
For some reason, I’ve been fascinated with Washington Park. Maybe it’s because every game is better in a legitimate baseball park. In fact, a couple of years ago, I was enamored by the fact it seemed harder to hit a baseball out of the yard than at any other place. I even marched off the distance from home plate to the outfield in an un-scientific study to see if the outfield sign was correct.
I think the reason the old park sticks out the most is because I’ve witnessed several classic games and moments over the last several years. A look at the Daily Journal’s archives reveal these gems:
July 26, 2006
Pacifica vs. San Carlos
Joe DiMaggio championship game
Jimmy Parque’s single to shallow center field drove home Jeremy Brenner in the bottom of the 11th inning to give Pacifica the Joe DiMaggio World Series championship over San Carlos, capping a game that saw Parque involved in just about every pivotal play of the game:
• He tried to steal home but the batter was caught looking at strike three to end the inning. This was after thinking he had reached base by getting hit by a pitch. The umpire ruled he swung at the pitch. Two pitches later Parque singled to left. He stole second and went to third on a wild pitch.
• He threw four innings of relief, giving up just three hits.
• He drove in both Pacifica runs in the 2-1 win.
April 20, 2006
Capuchino vs. Burlingame
The only great game I can think of that didn’t happen under the lights, Capuchino’s Jesse Orozco outdueled Burlingame’s Mitchell Edwards in a 1-0 Mustangs win.
Orozco allowed only two hits, struck out nine and walked only two. Edwards was just as strong, giving up one run on just four hits.
April 30, 2005
Half Moon Bay vs. Burlingame
Panther pitcher Danny March flirted with a no-hitter into the seventh inning of an 8-2 win, but unless you were keeping a scorebook, you wouldn’t have known.
Half Moon Bay did not get its first hit until there was one out in the seventh, but the Cougars had scored an unearned run in the third and stranded eight base runners — three reached on walks, three on fielder’s choices and two hit batters.
March 27, 2004
M-A vs. Burlingame
The Panthers, down three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, score four times, capped by Daniel Chu’s game-winning double into the right-center field gap — the third such hit of the inning. Logan Freethy and Ryan Peterson each had hits to the same part of the ballpark.
March 8, 2003
Serra vs. Burlingame
Pitching against players he played growing up, Serra junior Chuck Lofgren threw five innings with 11 strikeouts in an 11-1 Serra win. He struck out the side in three innings and at one point struck out five in a row.
March 9, 2002
Serra vs. Burlingame
Matt Campbell struck out 18 batters in a 3-1, eight-inning Serra win. Over the final three innings, Campbell struck out 10 of 12 batters.
That performance over-shadowed a strong performance from Burlingame’s Tony Brunicardi, who allowed only three hits and an unearned run. He worked out of bases loaded jams in both the six and seventh innings to get the game to overtime.
Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117. What do you think of this column? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.
Once again, the annual Serra-Burlingame baseball game at Washington Park under the lights turned into another outstanding performance. Burlingame pitcher Paul Fregosi became the latest to have the game of his life as the Panthers snapped an 11-game losing streak to Serra in a 1-0 win. The senior right hander gave up only three hits to the Padres.
The losing streak was probably longer. Burlingame had never beaten Serra in the 10 previous games since Rich Sciutto took over as Panther manager. Serra coach Pete Jensen reportedly said he could not remember a time in at least the last 20 years in which the Panthers downed the Padres.
There is something about Washington Park that takes on “The Natural” proportions when the lights go on. The Lounge has been at a number of incredible games at Washington Park. Does the lighting affect hitters? Is it the atmosphere? Do players turn up the intensity because it is a night game?
“It’s all of that,” Fregosi said.
For some reason, I’ve been fascinated with Washington Park. Maybe it’s because every game is better in a legitimate baseball park. In fact, a couple of years ago, I was enamored by the fact it seemed harder to hit a baseball out of the yard than at any other place. I even marched off the distance from home plate to the outfield in an un-scientific study to see if the outfield sign was correct.
I think the reason the old park sticks out the most is because I’ve witnessed several classic games and moments over the last several years. A look at the Daily Journal’s archives reveal these gems:
July 26, 2006
Pacifica vs. San Carlos
Joe DiMaggio championship game
Jimmy Parque’s single to shallow center field drove home Jeremy Brenner in the bottom of the 11th inning to give Pacifica the Joe DiMaggio World Series championship over San Carlos, capping a game that saw Parque involved in just about every pivotal play of the game:
• He tried to steal home but the batter was caught looking at strike three to end the inning. This was after thinking he had reached base by getting hit by a pitch. The umpire ruled he swung at the pitch. Two pitches later Parque singled to left. He stole second and went to third on a wild pitch.
• He threw four innings of relief, giving up just three hits.
• He drove in both Pacifica runs in the 2-1 win.
April 20, 2006
Capuchino vs. Burlingame
The only great game I can think of that didn’t happen under the lights, Capuchino’s Jesse Orozco outdueled Burlingame’s Mitchell Edwards in a 1-0 Mustangs win.
Orozco allowed only two hits, struck out nine and walked only two. Edwards was just as strong, giving up one run on just four hits.
April 30, 2005
Half Moon Bay vs. Burlingame
Panther pitcher Danny March flirted with a no-hitter into the seventh inning of an 8-2 win, but unless you were keeping a scorebook, you wouldn’t have known.
Half Moon Bay did not get its first hit until there was one out in the seventh, but the Cougars had scored an unearned run in the third and stranded eight base runners — three reached on walks, three on fielder’s choices and two hit batters.
March 27, 2004
M-A vs. Burlingame
The Panthers, down three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, score four times, capped by Daniel Chu’s game-winning double into the right-center field gap — the third such hit of the inning. Logan Freethy and Ryan Peterson each had hits to the same part of the ballpark.
March 8, 2003
Serra vs. Burlingame
Pitching against players he played growing up, Serra junior Chuck Lofgren threw five innings with 11 strikeouts in an 11-1 Serra win. He struck out the side in three innings and at one point struck out five in a row.
March 9, 2002
Serra vs. Burlingame
Matt Campbell struck out 18 batters in a 3-1, eight-inning Serra win. Over the final three innings, Campbell struck out 10 of 12 batters.
That performance over-shadowed a strong performance from Burlingame’s Tony Brunicardi, who allowed only three hits and an unearned run. He worked out of bases loaded jams in both the six and seventh innings to get the game to overtime.
Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117. What do you think of this column? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.