D-Backs sport AARP line-up; drop second game

By Tom Jalana
for TJSN.com

Published: May 4, 2009

D-Backs sport AARP line-up; drop second game thumbnail

Fresh off a Game One loss, the Evergreen Park Diamondbacks fielded their oldest line-up in the team’s history in Game Two against the Worth Astros.

“We were short players this week,” said manager Joe Cipolla. “Many of our players are still at school, completing their final exams, but they should start returning as soon as next week.”

With the likes of Eddie Milas, Mike McPheeters, Matt Flavin, and Trent Senne away for school and all-star catcher Martin Will missing in action, the Diamondbacks had to resort to their aging grizzled veterans.

John “Senior” Gubricky (50+) was the designated hitter for the 35-year-old Ed Sochacki, who stilled ended up playing outfield. 42-year-old Joe Cipolla was pulling double-duty managing and playing first base (replacing the 36-year-old Teddy Andrysiak, who injured his left breast in a freakish scoop attempt on an under-thrown ball from third base in Game One). Mixed in with that group were Pete Gubricky (30), Sergio Senese (30), and a few others in their late 20’s.

“This league is a 18-and-up league, but I didn’t think that we’d ever get to an average starting age of 32,” said Cipolla.

The Diamondbacks stayed close behind the pitching of Don Myczek (0-1) throughout most of the game but the flood-gates burst for them in the 5th. Leading by a run, the Astros loaded the bases before a bases-clearing double put them up 4-0, and another single added another run. Two additional runs scored in the 6th inning and four more were added in the 7th as the Diamondbacks committed 5 errors in the inning. Things got so bad defensively that the AARP called manager Cipolla and asked that he get membership cards back from half the team.

“We competed for a few innings, but eventually we ran out of gas,” said Thad Sochacki.

Here’s to hoping that the Diamondbacks remember to fill their tanks up before the next time they come out to the ballpark.

Tagged with: Astros, Diamondbacks, Ed Sochacki, Joe Cipolla, John Gubricky, Thad Sochacki

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D-Backs sport AARP line-up; drop second game

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