Alumni Game - Jan. 29, 2005

(Scroll down for photos.)

I debated quite a bit about going to the game today. It was cold. And, I've got a lot of stuff I need to get done in the next few days so wasn't really sure I "should" take time to go. I did go, though, and am glad about it. I had a great time. Despite the cold. Brrrrrrr...

Here's the Alumni roster as listed on the TexasSports site:

Scott Dunn       RHP  Anaheim Angels           Tommy Nicholson     INF  Chicago White Sox
Brandon Fahey    INF  Baltimore Orioles        Jeff Ontiveros     1B/C  Boston Red Sox
Ryan France      RHP  Houston Astros           Spike Owen        Coach  Round Rock Express
Matt Goodson     RHP  Boston Red Sox           Omar Quintanilla    INF  Oakland Athletics
Beau Hale        RHP  Baltimore Orioles        Stephen Randolph    LHP  Chicago Cubs
Brad Halsey      LHP  Arizona Diamondbacks     J.D. Reininger      INF  Cincinnati Reds
J.P. Howell      LHP  Kansas City Royals       Ryan Russ            OF  Los Angeles Dodgers
Ryan Hubele        C  Baltimore Orioles        Justin Simmons      LHP  Los Angeles Dodgers
Brantley Jordan  LHP  St. Louis Cardinals      Josh Smith          RHP  New York Yankees
Dustin Majewski   OF  Oakland Athletics        Huston Street       RHP  Oakland Athletics
Jesen Merle      RHP  Edinburg Roadrunners     Eric Sultemeier      OF  Baltimore Orioles
Tim Moss         INF  Philadelphia Phillies    Curtis Thigpen     C/1B  Toronto Blue Jays
Danny Muegge     RHP  Los Angeles Dodgers      Todd West           INF  Cleveland Indians
Calvin Murray     OF  Chicago Cubs             Kyle Yates          RHP  Toronto Blue Jays

Everyone on the list played except for Ryan France, Beau Hale, Danny Muegge, J.D. Reininger, and Curtis Thigpen. I think they were all suited up so no idea why they didn't play. Well, I think Hale's been hurt but don't know about the rest. I also didn't see Matt Goodson so am not sure he was there. As for the current roster, LeCure, Harris, and Hinshaw did not suit up. Again, no idea what's up with that.

I missed the pre-game festivities and autograph session. 'Got to Disch-Falk just in time for the intros. The line went like so:

Texas   0 0 2   0 1 0   0 1 0  -  4 12 0
Alumni  0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0  -  0  4 0

Some of those hits for the current squad were actually errors but the official scorer was apparently feeling rather generous and scored an error-less game. The alumni started with Majewski (rf), Murray (cf), Sultemeier (lf), Ontiveros (1b), Moss (2b), Quintanilla (ss), Nicholson (3b), and Hubele (c) in the field. Fahey was the dh and Halsey started on the mound. Texas started with Beamon (rf), Stubbs (cf), Kainer (lf), Crouch (1b), Hudson (2b), Johnston (ss), Maroul (3b), and Teagarden (c) in the field. Prince was the dh and McCulloch started on the mound.

The game was rather uneventful, for the most part, but it looked like everyone had a really good time. Things went as follows (note that substitutions and what not tend to not strictly follow the "letter of the law" with respect to the rules for the Alumni game):

1st inning

Top: Halsey started at p. Prince, Johnston, and Stubbs went down in order.
Bottom: McCulloch started at p. Murray, Moss, and Quintanilla went down in order.

2nd inning

Top: Randolph in to pitch. Teagarden, Beamon, and Maroul went down in order.
Bottom: Majewski got the first hit of the game (a single lined past ss). Ontiveros, Hubele, and Nicholson then went down in order.

3rd inning

Top: Dunn in to pitch. Kainer doubled off the bottom of the wall in the lf/cf gap. Crouch reached on an infield single (Kainer moved to 3b). Hudson sac bunt (rbi, Crouch to 2b). Prince grounded out to 2b (Crouch to 3b). Johnston doubled to the lf/cf gap (rbi). Stubbs struck out looking.
Bottom: Fahey, Sultemeier, and Murray went down in order. Maroul made a great play for the third out, catching a high bouncer and throwing a bullet to 1b.

4th inning

Top: Howell in to pitch. Teagarden flew out to rf. Beamon struck out looking. Maroul reached on E6...ruled a hit, though! Kainer grounded out to 3b.
Bottom: Cody in to pitch. Moss flew out to cf. Quintanilla flew out to lf. Majewski singled to lf. Onteveros walked (Majewski to 2b). Hubele flew out to deep lf.

5th inning

Top: Simmons in to pitch. Crouch singled to lf. Hudson sac bunt (Crouch to 2b). Prince grounded out to 1b (Crouch to 3b). Johnston singled (rbi, another error scored as a hit). Stubbs popped out.
Bottom: Nicholson, Fahey, and Sultemeier went down in order.

6th inning

Top: Jordon in to pitch; Russ in at cf; Fahey in at 3b (Quintanilla moved to dh); and West in at ss. Teagarden popped out foul down the 3b line. Herrera singled (another error scored as a hit). Maroul flew out to lf (a nice catch by Sultemeier near the wall). Kainer flew out to rf (Herrera stole 2b during his at-bat and was stranded there).
Bottom: Prince in at rf (Herrera moved to dh); Gilfillan in at c; Wheless in at 1b. Russ, Moss, and Quintanilla went down in order.

7th inning

Top: Yates in to pitch. Wheless struck out. Hudson grounded out to 3b. Prince singled to lf and stole 2b during Johnston's at bat. Johnston grounded out to 2b.
Bottom: Boone in to pitch. Majewski grounded out to 2b (a great play by Hudson fielding the ball behind 2b and quickly turning to throw the ball to 1b). Ontiveros singled to lf. Hubele struck out. West reached on a 54 fielder's choice.

8th inning

Top: Smith in to pitch. Stubbs flew out to cf. Gilfillan popped out to 3b. Herrera trippled to the rf/cf gap...this after a verrrrry long foul fly ball over the rf bleachers. Herrera's bat looks like it could provide a lot of pop to the lineup this year! Maroul singled (rbi). Kainer singled over 2b (Maroul to 3b). Wheless grounded out to 1b (a great stop by Ontiveros).
Bottom: Stewart in to pitch. Fahey doubled into the rf corner. Sultemeier flew out to rf. Russ grounded out to 1b (Fahey to 3b). Moss grounded out to ss (a nice stop and throw by Johnston behind the 2b bag).

9th inning

Top: Merle in to pitch. Jesen came in wearing Simmons' jersey...very funny. Hudson popped out to c. Prince struck out. The Alumni, at long last, and much to the chagrin of Merle, sent Street in to stop the bleeding! Johnston grounded out to ss.
Bottom: Cox in to pitch; Salas in at 2b. Quintanilla and Majewski grounded out to ss. Ontiveros singled up the middle. Hubele struck out to end the game.

I had a great time and am really glad I made it out to the game. The acting job Jesen Merle did when Spike came out to relieve him in the top of the 9th was very entertaining.

I took my camera and snapped quite a few photos. Here's a sampling...

Shot of the crowd waiting for the game to start	Brad Halsey watches Debbie Clemens throw out the ceremonial first pitch
The Alumni team watching as the current team is being introduced. From left to right: Yates, West, Thigpen, Street, Sultemeier, Smith, Simmons, Russ, Reininger, Randolph, Ontiveros, Quintanilla, Nicholson, Murray, Mugge, Moss, Merle, Majewski, Jordon, Hubele, Howell, Halsey, Hale, France, Fahey, Dunn, and Owens.
Brad Halsey on the mound	Omar Quintanilla at the plate
Nicholson at 3b; Quintanilla at ss; Murray in cf	Moss at 2b; Randolf on the mound; Majewski in rf; Ontiveros at 1b
Curtis Thigpen heading out to coach 1b	Majewski and Crouch at 1b
Scott Dunn on the mound	The Street brothers getting their picture taken
J.P. Howell on the mound	Jeff Ontiveros looking to Owens at 3b
Justin Simmons on the mound	Even when they can get in for free, some folks just wanna watch from the outfield
Brantley Jordon watches as Brandon Fahey catches a pop fly	Ryan Russ at the plate
Kyle Yates on the mound	Josh Smith on the mound
Jesen Merle and Ryan Hubele watch as Spike Owens motions for Street to come in	Huston Street on the mound
The teams shake hands at the conclussion of the game	They Eyes of Texas are Upon You!

Joanna's Longhorn Baseball page | Joanna L. Castillo
Email: joanna@joanna.org

URL: http://www.joanna.org/hook-em/2005/050129.html