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PERFECT: WATKINS’ PERFECT GAME BID ENDS WITH TWO OUTS TO GO - EN
FUEGO ROUTS STAC PAC 24-0
September
21, 1999
TRABUCO
HILLS H.S., MISSION VIEJO – FINAL: En Fuego 24, Stac Pac 0
En
Fuego pitcher Craig Watkins’ bid for an unprecedented perfect game
came to an end with just two outs to go on a Texas-league bloop
single by Stac Pac’s John Martin, which landed in and then popped
out of the glove of En Fuego outfielder Chris Darvey. The speedy
Darvey, who was playing deep, had to run a long way just to get a
glove on it. Even with his sprawling effort he could not hang onto
the ball. “He gave it his best shot, almost!” Said Watkins after
the game. The consensus from both sides was that it was a base hit.
“You gotta give’em a hit.” Said Kevin Frisone of Stac Pac.
Frisone
was attempting to rattle Watkins throughout the game in attempt to
break up the perfect game. Even with the attempts from Frisone and
Stac Pac outfielder Jim Mosebar, who was coaching first base and
switched with Frisone over at third in the middle of the fourth
inning, the En Fuego pitcher kept getting outs thanks in part to
some great defense. First baseman Kevin Dull took away a sure hit
when he snared a rocket hit at him by Stac Pac outfielder Mike Gali
in the fourth inning.
While
Stac Pac couldn’t manage a base runner the En Fuego offense had
little trouble scoring runs as they racked up 17 through the first
four innings. The real possibility of the perfect game was there now
that En Fuego led by more than fifteen runs. After five innings if
one team is up by fifteen or more runs it’s considered a mercy
win. With six outs to go Watkins had retired nine in a row and set
Stac Pac down in the fourth inning making it twelve in a row after
Dulls great play.
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