A charity softball game between the Jannies and the Usual Suspects was decided on a home run by Thomas Anthony Gordon off of relief pitcher Paul Lucas in the bottom of the 7th inning for a 7 to 6 come from behind win. The game, played on a makeshift diamond at the Santa Ana Lawn Bowling field at Santiago Park, was played for the benefit of the Latino Bloggers Defense Fund and the game raised $17.48.
“This was a tough game because some many players kept switching sides in the middle of the game,” said winning pitcher Phil Bacerra. “Gordon actually caught his own line drive in the second inning. Kind of tough to cheer your team on when the player who snagged a fly ball then runs to the other team’s on-deck circle.”
Gordon’s game winner with the Usual Suspects trailing by two after Jannie shortshop Art Pedroza mishandled a line drive by Claudio Gallegos and sending Julie Stroud to third. With runners at the corner, Lucas served up a slow, fat pitch that Gordon crushed over the head of leftfielder Sean Mill to take the game for the Usual Suspects. Mill actually had a shot at the ball, but slipped on some dog excrement left behind by Sparky, Pedorza’s dog, and the ball sailed over the fence. Mill may also have been distracted by some park perverts who were doing their own brand of cheering during the game.
The Jannies had a chance to bring on a ringer, but spectator Gustavo Arellano’s constant heckling of Vladimir Guerrero hurt fhe former Angels slugger’s feelings to the point that he refused to play.
The nearly $17.50 raised will cover about six minutes of legal fees for lawyers planing to represent Latino Bloggers in Santa Ana. Refreshments were provided by Julie Ware of Ware Disposal.