SLAC Theory vs. Experiment Annual Softball Game 1997

[Softball | Softball Photos 1997 | SLAC Welcome Page]

* Theory vs. Experiment - July 19, 1997
* Action Photos
* Team Rosters
* Game Highlights
* Post Game Analysis


Theory vs. Experiment - July 19, 1997

BOX SCORE:      
Inning 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Runs
Theory 1 2 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 12
Experiment 0 1 1 2 1 4 0 0 0 9

The Theory and Experiment softball teams clashed at La Entrada Field on Saturday, July 19, 1997, and when the swirling dust settled on the sun baked field the bleached scoreboard displayed the answer to this year's championship game: Theory 12, Experiment 9. The game rose to a dramatic crescendo as Experiment rallied to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning with the go ahead run at the plate. Theory Pitcher James "BJ" Bjorken then lofted a dead duck sinker to batter James "Big Jim" Johnson who slammed a line drive down the third base line into the outstretched arms of third baseman Michael "Mighty Mike" Melles. As the crowd gasped, Mighty Mike speared it for the final out to kill the rally and end the game. The irony was that Mike was using a glove borrowed from Big Jim.

The Theory strategy this year proved to be a winning formula: Score early, score often. Timely hitting by Scott "Mr. Casual" Thomas, Howie "The Hustler" Haber and Lance "Captain America" Dixon allowed Theory to post a 3-1 lead in the second inning. The hitting attack was highlighted by Alex "Daisy's Dad" Kagan's home run blast that just cleared the centerfield fence over the outstretched arms of Experiment outfielders. It proved to be the only dinger of the game.

Theory bats exploded again in the fourth and fifth innings as Thomas, Mihir "Cricket Man" Worah, Gerhart Buchalla and Tobias Hurth bombarded the outfield with run scoring hits to power Theory to a 12-5 lead.

From the sixth inning on, the Experiment pitching tandem of Lab Director Burton "Big Daddy" Richter and Dick "Zany" Zdarko slammed the door shut on the Theory scoring machine. Experiment then mounted a ferocious hitting assault of their own, scoring runs by Ron Cassel, Greg Mitchell, Dave Reyna and Trevor Lanting in the bottom of the sixth, tightening the game to 12-9.

The final three innings proved to be a nail biting defensive struggle as pennant waving fans cheered wildly for both sides. Although Experiment pounded the ball with authority time and time again, Theory made fielding gems and cut runners down with deadly accurate throws. "This year's Theory outfield was incredibly superb, caught everything hit their way and was error-free," commented an impressed Big Daddy Richter.

Richter himself was involved in one of the game's most dramatic plays when he dove for an infield hit, fully extending his body and tumbling onto the clay infield as the ball ricocheted off the tip of his glove.

The Post-Game Celebration has traditionally been held at the campus home of Sid Drell, who was away in Southern California this summer and unable to share in his team's glorious victory. This year's celebration was held at Chez Lance. This Theory victory was the fifth in the last nine years. See you next year on a nearby field, or perhaps at practice beforehand on the Green...

Action Photos

Action photos give absent fans a feel for the game. Look for your favorite player on the field!

Team Rosters

THEORY EXPERIMENT
Scott Thomas Burton Richter
Howie Haber Terry Toole
Lance Dixon Ron Cassel
Alex Kagan Greg Mitchell
Walt Stolar David Reyna
Mihir Worah Chris Chaput
Michael Melles Glen Crawford
Yuval Grossman Trevor Lanting
Shaouly Bar-Shalom Mike Woods
BJ Bjorken Paul Raines
Gerhard Buchalla Jim Johnson
Tobias Hurth Dick Zdarko
Sharon Brodsky Paul King

Game Highlights

Winning Pitcher - BJ Bjorken
Home Runs - (1) Alex Kagan
Hits - (3.5*) Dick Zdarko, (3.5*) Howie Haber
Runs Scored - (3) Scott Thomas
Best Tag - David Reyna (3rd base) on Lance Dixon to end second inning
Female Player of the Game - Sharon Brodsky
Best Raspberries - Chris Chaput and Scott Thomas
Best Sun Glasses - (style) Shaouly "Elvis" Bar-Shalom
Canine Support - Daisy, Amber, Sam

* Mysterious "Fruit Ball" liquifies on contact. Zdarko and Haber awarded 0.5 hit for sportsmanship and swinging on the first pitch.

Post Game Analysis

In a congratulatory fax to Professor Stanley Brodsky, Head of the Theory Group, dated 23 July 1997, Deputy Consul General Peter Hof of the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco wrote:

"Unfortunately, the sports pages of local journals did not mention the sensational result of this year's baseball game between your team, which should have, theoretically, lost, and the team of the experimentalists of [SLAC]. Dr. Christoph Greub [at SLAC 1994-1996] informed me however that the well elaborated game plan you worked out allowed you and your team to win this prestigious game last Saturday. I would like to congratulate your team on this success and I hope that next year's result will be again positive."

24 August 1998

Nina Stolar, Statistician