The SBVC Classified Staff brought out 29 participants to play in the annual Blue-Gray Staff Softball game out to the Baseball Field, where a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth from John Shipp (Physical Education/Athletics) led the way as the Gray team won, 16-11.
In a game full of laughs, some hits and many fielding errors, the Gray team took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, when Kris Shafer (Maintenance) led off the inning with an infield single and came around to score on a single to center by Abe Fulgham (Grounds). Fulgham would eventually come around to score later in the inning on an infield error. A special thanks goes out to Mark Byrd (Campus Technology Services) who was "All-Time" pitcher, tossing the softball for both teams.
The Blue team would take the lead in the top of the second, scoring three runs, leading off in the inning was James Harris (District Computing Services) who reached on an error by the short stop, but after back-to-back infield singles, eventually came around to score on a ground out to the pitcher by Lillian Vasquez (KVCR). Two more runs would score as Gabe Roseli (Campus Technology Services) reached on another error by the short stop, making the score 3-2.
Blue would add to their total in the top of the third, scoring three more runs. With two on, one out and a run already in, Blue team captain Gino Vargas (Maintenance) clobbered an infield single to third base scoring another run, making the score, 6-2.
In the bottom of the third, the Gray team sent 11 batters to the plate as they scored seven runs in the inning, taking a 9-6 lead. Mark Wall (Physical Education/Athletics) led off the inning with an infield single to third base, then the next eight batters would reach base. Gray team captain Damon Smith (Business Services) hit a single to center scoring Shipp and loading the bases for Shafer who reached on a fielder's choice error by the short stop. Former SBVC Softball player, Robyn Davis, hit a single to right field, scoring Smith.
The Gray team would add on in the bottom of the fourth, as J.R. Boyd (Counseling) led off the inning with an infield single to the short stop and after a pop out to the pitcher, the next five batters would reach. Wall knocked a single to center and then Shipp hit a towering grand slam home run to right, as Gray scored six more runs in the inning to give them a 15-6 advantage.
Gray put up one more run in the bottom of the fifth, to make the score 16-6. Then Blue started to chip away at the ten-run lead starting in the top of the sixth, when the bottom of the order loaded the bases for Vargas who hit a bases clearing double to center, to get Blue to within six-runs, 16-10.
Blue would add a run in the top of the seventh, on a single to right by Vasquez, but that would be all, as Gray took the victory for 2015.
Information, Photos & Story provided by SBVC Sports Information.