By Mark Stone

Well, we had another rain out Sunday, our fourth of the year. It's getting a bit frustrating for some of you, with not being able to play and having to stay home with the family. But look at it this way, think about how your families and significant others feel having you around! Well, DTW still got to play two this weekend and at a beautiful stadium to boot as DTW took part in the Duel at the Diamond in Lake Elsinore.

DTW sent 11 out to Lake Elsinore over the weekend and although the game on Sunday was likewise cancelled due to rain, DTW was 2 and 0 going into that game. Jarrod Dieterle led the team that included (in no particular order) Brent Hamm, Randy Miller, Tommy Ebert, Gary Turner, Sal Parra, Rico Rodriguez, Rick Leach, Ryan Leach, Rick Fahrney and Mark Stone.

Under the guidance of rookie manager Jarrod Dieterle, the DTW Dodgers sent the old geezer Tommy Ebert to the mound in Game One against our friends from the Bay Area (a Giant/A's combo team). As usual, Ebert acquitted himself very well and, with a little help from Rico Rodriguez in the last inning, held the Giants/A's to only a couple of runs. Meanwhile, DTW pounded out hit after hit, including a 4 for 4 day for Sal Parra, attending his first DTW tourney, and bested the boys from up north, 15-2. (There you go Sal, now your friends and family will really believe you when you tell them how well you played.)

The time limits in Saturday's games were shortened a little due to the threat of rain, which started to fall just as the third game of the day was ending. But for DTW, it didn't matter.

Playing the first game of the day, the weather was a bit cool at the start as were the DTW bats and Dieterle's arm. Jarrod started off walking the bases loaded in the top of the first as DTW faced off against a strong Padres team. But although Jarrod gave himself a short leash and kept threatening to bring in Ryan Leach "after one more batter," Dieterle got out of the inning cheaply enough, giving up only one run to the Friars. And then things started to warm up.

Dieterle shut them down in the next four frames and then brought in Rico to finish off the 6th. The weather cooperated and even warmed a bit while DTW pounded out hit after hit in the 3rd to score 6, add another in the 5th, and go on to take Game 2 by a score of 7 to 1.

Great weekend and thanks to Jarrod for taking on this one.