Tam, Catholic High Victorious In Overtime Thrillers
by Dick Powers, San Rafael Daily Independent Journal
A big right-hander and a pint-size lefty gave Marin County baseball fans some excitement to talk about last night in the opening of the fourth annual Marin County baseball tournament at Albert Field in San Rafael. Both pitchers had to work for their victories as the regulation games went over the seven inning limit.
Strong-armed Bruce Anderson, ace right-hander of the Tamalpais High School mound staff, opened the tournament in fine fashion, eking out a thrilling 13-inning 1-0 victory over a fighting San Rafael baseball squad.
After Anderson had toiled his time on the mound, Marin Catholic’s left-handed curveballer Bob DeRosa limited the Drake Pirates to 5 scattered hits, while his teammates brought home a 3-2 triumph for the Catholic chucker in the eighth inning.
In tonight's opener, set for 6:15, the Drake Pirates meet the San Rafael Bulldogs with Tamilpais and Marin Catholic tangling at 8:30, weather permitting.
In the opener both Anderson and San Rafael's Al Watkins pitched one of their finest games of their careers, and probably one of the top Marin County baseball games in a few seasons. It was the longest game in Marin County history, and the longest Marin County prep game since the Santa Rosa-Tam game in 1955.
Both chuckers worked their way into tough spots throughout the game, but neither would yield a tally until the Mill Valley club pushed its victorious run across in the 13th.
Tam’s winning run scurried across in the last half of the 13th when centerfielder Tim Ferrell lead the inning off with a single in centerfield. Bill Ahern sacrificed him to the second sack and Don Johnson followed with his third single of the night, this time to left center, bringing Ferrell over the dish with the triumphant tally.
In the nightcap, John Boccabella, the Marin Catholic big sticker, gave his mates the opening lead of 1-0 as he brought in DeRosa with the opening run.
Drake came back to take the lead in the third frame as with one out Dave Williams doubled Jim Barbeau around to third base. Brian Cox’s sacrifice hit brought Barbeau in to tie up the game, and Bill Gallagher's following double gave the Pirates the lead, 2-1.
Marin Catholic again came back in the sixth inning when Cox brought Barbeau in with the tying run. Marin's Paul White led off with a free pass advancing to second on a sacrifice hit by Ray Little. Art Quinn struck on a third strike pitch and Ron Blum brought White across with a single.
The winning run scored in the eighth as with one out Blum again singled, going around to third on a subsequent single by Dave Ferriss. A throw from the outfield got away from catcher Ed DeMaestri and Blum kept coming around, going over for the winning score. Both winning pitchers of the night sent 13 batters back to the bench on strikeouts while DeRosa walked four and Anderson five. In 13 innings Anderson gave up eight scattered hits while in eight frames DeRosa allowed only five. Pitcher Anderson went one for five at the plate and made two solo put outs in the field.
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