Smith: 80 years old and 5 innings of shutout pitching

You’re no doubt aware of what Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Kyle Farmer did to our beleaguered San Francisco Giants on Sunday in the 26-year-old’s first Major League game.

So enough of that. Did you hear about what Dick Giberti of Occidental did that same day in a Redwood Empire Baseball League game on the Santa Rosa High School diamond?

On the mound for the Jazz, Dick pitched five innings of shutout ball against the Blues en route to his team’s 24-5 victory. He didn’t do so well while batting, and as a result his batting average dropped to .540.

After the game, Dick was touched to have the members of both teams serenade him with “Happy Birthday.”

The retired aerospace engineer is 80.

“Getting to this age and still playing the game you love, it’s wonderful,” he said Monday, his actual birthday.

For Dick to be playing serious hardball at 80 is frosting on the cake of a life that gave him a role in the Apollo project and a family that includes 12 grandkids and 17 great-grandkids.

He owns seven Men’s Senior Baseball League World Series rings and he credits good luck, good genes and a lifestyle that has him growing grapes but passing on the wine.

HHHHHH

BOOKS & CHOCOLATE: If they’re two of your favorite things, and Harrison Ford flicks are another, there’s just one place for you to be Thursday.

Supporters of the Sonoma County Library will host “Chocolate & Cinema” at 7 p.m. at the Rialto theater in Sebastopol. Tickets are available at scplf.com and at the door.

Volunteers with the Sonoma County Library Foundation will dispense to each guest a goodie bag of local, gourmet chocolates and a small popcorn.

The film? “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

HHHHHH

MIKE AND MIKE: Not often can we breakfast with U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson and state Sen. Mike McGuire.

Early Thursday in Santa Rosa, the lawmakers will welcome guests to a fundraising breakfast at the Palms Inn, the Santa Rosa Avenue residence for previously homeless military vets and others.

Tickets to “Pancakes for the Palms” can be purchased at eventbrite.com or at the door.

Friends of The Palms organized the 7 a.m. benefit to help close a $250,000 gap in funding for the 104-unit residence.

Thompson will act as host, McGuire will greet folks and Tom Schwedhelm, the Santa Rosa City councilmember and former police chief, will provide the flapjacks and fixins.

HHHHHH

ANGELA CREGAN has done a lot of giving in her life, and now the wife of a Santa Rosa police lieutenant, mother of two and former Rincon Valley Christian School teacher has an ask.

Diagnosed last month with a rare form of leukemia, Angela seeks the bone marrow transplant she needs to save her life.

Friends and relatives of Angela, who’s 41, will hold a marrow donor registry drive from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Santa Rosa Bible Church.

Potential marrow donors must be 18 to 44 years old, of good health and willing to donate not only to Angela but to any blood-cancer patient who would be a good match. All that happens Saturday is registration and a cheek swab.

For more information you can drop an email to Kate Chera at kchera@sbcglobal.net.

Chris Smith is at 707-521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.