SLAC Annual Softball Game 2007

Accelerator defeats Research 38-10!
(see also SLAC Today article here)
 

Game Highlights
     SLAC's Annual Softball Game was held October 6 at Stanford's Roble Field.  The competing teams were reformulated this year to facilitate lab-wide participation in this venerable annual event!  The Accelerator  team comprised players contributing to existing and future accelerators, while Research combined the formerly competing Theory and Experiment teams and all SLAC staff and users involved in research at SLAC.
    Dan Harrington captained for Accelerator, while Mike Woods had the honor for Research.  Dan led a powerful Accelerator squad, whose batters unleashed a barrage of monster hits.  Gene Anzalone set the tone early with a grand slam for Accelerator in the first inning with only one out.  Research defense tightened up and retired 2 of the next 3 batters to close out the top half of the inning, but then couldn't muster an effective offense against Tim Winstead's pitching in the bottom of the inning with their first 3 batters going down in order.  The 2nd inning saw just 1 run apiece to the opposing teams, with Research's Howie Haber making a spectacular catch in deep center on a long fly ball off Winstead's bat to keep Research close.  In the top of the 3rd, Accelerator added 3 more runs and would have added at least 2 more, but for an incredible catch by Haber racing down a long ball hit by Harrington.  Ron Cassell lifted Research's spirits further by belting a 2-out 3-run homer to right, so that Research was still just 4 runs behind after 3 innings.  Accelerator's power hitters then took over.  Captain Dan Harrington hit solo home runs in each of the 5th and 6th innings and added a 3-run homer in the 9th.  Clayton Shum and Ryan Auer each had solo home runs in the 7th, while pitcher Tim Winstead connected for towering 2-run homers in each of the 7th and 8th.  Accelerator's defense proved as strong as their offense, constantly holding Research in check.  Research threatened in the bottom of the 6th with Haber and Cassell in scoring position at 2nd and 3rd and 2 out, but Anzalone played Woods' fly to left field perfectly to end the inning.  And in the 8th inning, Winstead's young son Jacob did the splits at catcher to stretch for a throw that beat Cassell sprinting home by inches and shut down the last offense by Research. 

Bill Kirk MVP Award

The Bill Kirk Most Valuable Player Award went to Tim Winstead for Accelerator. Tim led a great defense with his inspired pitching and blasted two 2-run homers.

Team Rosters

Accelerator Team
(Standing:  Dan Harrington, Ryan Auer, Matt Cramar, Doug McCormick, Herman Winick;
Kneeling:  Tim Winstead, Gene Anzalone, Mike Palrang, Jacob Winstead, Clayton Shum)

MVP Award to Tim Winstead, with son Jacob looking on