By Vincent Liu
Town Crier Correspondent
The Palo Alto Oaks were on the wrong end of the broomstick last Sunday.
After winning nine consecutive double-headers, the local semipro baseball team got swept by the visiting Maxim Yankees, 4-0 and 4-3, at the Baylands Athletic Center.
The twin losses shattered the Oaks’ dream of an undefeated summer season and dropped the first-place Oaks to 18-2 in the San Jose WBA Stan Musial League.
After winning 18 straight games, mostly on strong pitching and timely hitting, Palo Alto saw its normally steady defense spring major leaks as it committed nine errors during the twin bills.
All four runs it gave up in the first game were unearned. The Oaks blew a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning of the second game when three errors and a passed ball led in three runs, two of them unearned.
“That’s OK, we’ll start a new streak next week,” Oaks coach Tony Makjavich said.
While not making excuses for the losses, a disappointed Makjavich pointed out that his team was missing four players, three of whom start.
One of them was Grant Feichtmeir, a St. Francis High graduate who plays on the Santa Clara University baseball team. Having pitched effectively as a reliever, the sidearmer should be back in time for the stretch run.
Palo Alto will need all the help it can get as the second-place Fontanetti’s of San Jose is breathing down its neck with a record of 17-3. The two teams are scheduled to meet Aug. 25 at Baylands to close the season, with the league title likely to be at stake.
Last Sunday’s games featured two participants who bring to life the popular AARP slogan: “You’re never too old.” At a feisty 89, Makjavich may be the oldest living baseball coach in the semipro league, if not any league in the nation.
Not to be outdone, the Yankees started a 60-year-old at first base, Jack Gifford. It doesn’t hurt that Gifford owns the team that bears the name of his high-tech firm, but according to the Yankees coach Jeff Thomas, “this guy can still make plays.”
Gifford backed up his coach’s words with action. In the first game, he made a diving stop of a ball smashed down the first-base line to save two runs and the shutout. In the second game, he drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly.
With the exception of those two geriatric marvels, the Oaks and the Yankees -and the rest of the WBA - are heavily stocked with college players.
While some of them still dream of being discovered by professional scouts who frequent these games from time to time, most of them play to stay in shape and hone their skills for college ball.
With no restriction on age or eligibility, ex-major leaguers and active minor leaguers have been known to compete in the league as well.
Palo Alto’s roster is filled with South Bay connections. Gary Mullins graduated from Homestead High; Artist Battle, Justin Van DePitte and Nick Pereira all attend De Anza College. Pereira, who joined the Oaks halfway through the season, leads the team with a .603 batting average.
Jerell Taylor, a Palo Alto High grad with a .444 batting average, will attend Azusa Pacific University this fall. Gunn grad Dave Buttner, a left-handed reliever, is headed to West Valley College. Gabe Duran, leading the team in doubles, triples, homers and RBIs, and his brother Nick are both Fremont High products.
Ben Lewis, one of the team’s two aces with a 6-1 record, prepped at Monta Vista High and will attend Menlo College with infielder James Boucher. Mike Gillen, a crafty left-hander with good breaking pitches, is the team’s leading winner with a 7-1 record and an outstanding .78 ERA.
From the players’ standpoint, their connections to the Oaks go through their venerable coach. To a man, they cited Makjavich as the main reason for their signing up to play for the team. The father of the Duran brothers used to play for Makjavich, and so did Taylor’s grandfather.
Family connections can only go so far. It’s the character of the man affectionately called “Big Tony” by his players that draws their respect and loyalty.
“He’s the reason we’re out here to play two games on Sunday,” Buttner said. “He’s 89 and he’s out there; so can we.”
Said Lewis: “The coach gets everybody in the game. You can’t get better if you don’t play. He develops everybody to be a better player and person.”
Lewis’ comment may have best summed up the reason why Makjavich has coached the Oaks since 1954 - for free.
“I just love being around these kids,” he said. “I want to help them become better players, but more importantly I want them to have an education first.”
Makjavich, who values character first and foremost from his players, has few rules.
“No smoking, no drugs and no long hair,” he said, uttering the last condition with a chuckle.
