Gensler Notes:
On a rare warm and sunny San Francisco summer evening, a Gensler Softball Squad of 18 faced the fun but formidable Anchovies at Kimball field in the City. Leading the Gensler fan base and representing Workplace was an unsuspecting Pedro Ayala who got stuck in San Rafael traffic in the Gensler van, causing some creative carpooling from the office and requiring him to deliver the softball gear to the game.

Daniel Gonzales and Tom Owens led off with singles, and Jay Wilson sent one home on another single. Tom Horton smacked a double that sent in another, and Bill Nelson brought in two runs with a single and Tom Fitz followed up with another single. Melissa Boyd connected excellently but was robbed by a skillful throw from the second baseman on his knees. A tough Gensler defense stopped the Anchovies from scoring with two runners on base—this effort featured a diving infield catch by pitcher Bill Nelson (ask him how his knee feels). Gensler was on top 4-0 at the end of the first inning.

Gensler managed two more runs in the top of the second featuring hits by Richard Chang and Dory Simons’ Friend Todd Rice, together with a sacrifice bunt by Dory herself and an RBI-single by Hulett Jones. The Anchovies put together a two-run second inning and threatened with another at third until third baseman Tom Fitz put out a runner for the third out. This put the score at 6-2 (Gensler) after two full innings.

The third was Gensler’s biggest scoring inning. Eugene Lee led off with a nice hustle to outrun a threatening throw to first. John and Mark Skrivanich each hit singles, scoring Eugene. Daniel Gonzales hit a sacrifice fly to score John. Tom Owens, Daniel Scovill, and Jay Wilson each got hits to score two more. Cathy Terashita smacked one hard to score Daniel S. as the shortstop put Jay out at second. The relay to first, however, was thwarted by a screaming Cathy Terashita. Before the inning was over, Gensler scored 5. The Anchovies answered with 5 of their own in the bottom of the third, which featured a spectacular infield catch by Dory Simons and an entertaining unassisted out at first by a tumbling/scrambling Tom Fitz. Both teams went scoreless in the fourth inning, leaving Gensler’s lead at 11 to 7.

The top of the fifth featured hits by Todd Rice, Justin Carr, and Hulett Jones to score one more. A tough Gensler defense kept the Anchovies scoreless in fifth and sixth. Eugene Lee led off the sixth with an in-the-park home run. John Skriv followed with a single and his brother Mark with a double. Tom Owens knocked in another run with a single, so Gensler’s lead increased to 14 to 7 after six full innings. Gensler went down one-two-three in the top of the 7th and held the Anchovies to one run in the bottom of the inning to end the game with another Gensler win 14 – 8.

The beer supply and warm weather held up for a little more camaraderie after the game.
The next game will be Thursday June 4 with Ryan Associates at Rossi field, Anza and Arguello, and the following week on Wednesday June 15 (Bonus Day) at Speedway A with BAR Architects. Come join the fun.