Round 3
Pikesville Middle
School Field #2
Kings (5) 10 at Havana Club Cannons (4)
8
WP- Chuck Grant LP- Mark Yokel
This game was a rematch of the opening round of the playoffs. The Kings
trailed 6-3 in the t-7th with 2 outs, and were down to their final strike, but
Ken Zalis drilled Mark Yokel's 1-2 pitch into LCF just out of the reach of
Cannons LCF Jeff Kurland, a bases-loaded 3 RBI double (plus throwing error)
putting the Kings in the lead for the first time in the contest.
In Cannons b-1st, Johnny Edelman started a rally with a bloop single just out of the reach of Kings 2B Zalis. Dan Kassel followed with a HR that gapped between RCF and RF. 1 out later, Neal Kreitzer singled and following a flyout, scored on Brad Rosenberg's RBI double. Cannons scored again in b-3rd. Dan Kassel tripled with 1 out and scored on a Jeff Kurland groundout. Kings broke the ice with a Dave Mize HR to start of inning 4. Cannons extended their lead in their half of the 4th. A 1 out walk to Rosenberg and a single to Steve Henneman put runners on 2nd and 3rd base as Henneman advanced on a throw. Kings starter Chuck Grant was fortunate to retire Rob Issenock on an infield popup, but the always clutch-hitting Jeff Robbins delivered the 2 runners on a single to RCF. In Kings t-5th, consecutive hits by Todd Katz, Mike Herr, Mike Pusateri(RBI), and Marc Goldstein(RBI), got the Kings to within 6-3, but Yokel was able to retire the next 3 hitters, cutting short the Kings rally.
The Cannons led 6-3 entering the t-7th. Yokel was able to retire the Kings leadoff hitter in the inning, but Mike Herr and Mike Pusateri singled to bring the tying run to the plate. Yokel was again able to retire Marc Goldstein on a liner to 3B Neal Charkatz. Kenny Salzman singled to CF to load the bases for Ken Zalis. Zalis, playing with a sore back, lofted a 1 ball, 2 strike pitch to LCF where Cannons LCF Jeff Kurland made a diving attempt to catch the sinking line-drive. The ball short-hopped Kurland and Herr and Pusateri were able to score easily. The relay throw from SS Dan Kassel to C Rob Issenock arrived at the same time as Salzman, but Salzman made a great slide, knocking out the leg of Issenock and scoring the tying run, with the ball then getting away from Issenock and Zalis scoring the go-ahead run. The Kings, though, were not done. Consecutive hits by Mize(2B), Grant(RBI), Alan Varhaftik, and Shilo Merwitz(RBI) produced 3 more runs and gave Kings 10-6 lead entering the b-7th. The Cannons would not give up. Rosenberg blasted a HR to LCF to start b-7th. Henneman doubled and Issenock hit an RBI single, making the score 10-8, still with none out. Kings Grant was able to retire the final 3 hitters in order, preserving the Kings win and sending the Kings to the Final Four.
Multi-hit Kings players in the game were Kenny Salzman (2-4,1 R), Dave Mize (2-4,2 R,1 RBI,2B,HR), Shilo Merwitz (4-4,1 RBI), Mike Herr (2-3,2 R), and Mike Pusateri (3-3,1 R,1 RBI). For the Cannons, Dan Kassel (2-3,2 R,2 RBI,3B,HR), Brad Rosenberg (2-2,2 R,2 RBI,2B,HR,W), Steve Henneman (2-3,2 R,2B), and Jeff Robbins (2-3,2 RBI). The Kings did not commit and error. Cannons RCF Johnny Edelman robbed Varhaftik of extra bases with an excellent running catch in inning 4.
Pikesville Middle
School Field #3
GorgeousWatches.com (2) 13
at Jilly's Turtles (1)
9
WP- Jeff Harris LP- Bruce
Eisenberg
The Turtles staved off elimination by defeating Palmguard in game 2 to
eliminate them and send Jilly's to the championship round against Georgeous
Watches for the 2nd straight year.
In Game one...Gorgeous Watches stayed undefeated by coming from behind to defeat
Jilly's 13-9. The Watches jumped up in the 1st inning with 2 runs, but the
Turtles came snapping back with 6 runs for a 6-2 1st inning lead. G.W. came up
with 3 more in the 2nd to tighten the game and the Turtles tallied once to make
it 7-5 going into the 3rd. After trailing 7-6 following 3 innings of play, the
Watches delivered the knock-out punch with 5 big runs in top of the 4th to take
an 11-7 lead ...and went on to win it 13-9. Hitting stars for Jilly's included
Rob Ressin, going 1-2, with 2 walks and 3 runs scored. Detour Dave scored a run
and went 3-4. Other hitters were Ricky Farley, who went 3-4 with a run scored
and 3 rbi's, Harry Shevker, 2-3 with a walk and a run scored, and Mark
Summerfield 3-4, 2 runs scored and an RBI.
Pikesville Middle
School Field
#4
Eastern Savings Bank(7) 1 at Palmgard (3)
16 (4 Innings)
WP- Marty Ellis LP- Ted
Winner
Highlights pending.
Round 4
Pikesville Middle
School Field #3
Kings(5) 2
at GorgeousWatches.com(2) 14 (5 Innings)
WP- Jeff Harris LP- Chuck Grant
GorgeousWatches.com exploded for 11 runs in b-5th and claimed a 14-2, 5
inning, victory of the Kings. Kings got on the scoredboard first in t-2nd. Chuck
Grant singled to start the inning, advanced to 2B on an Alan Varhaftik flyout to
RF and scored on a Shilo Merwitz single to CF. A single by Josh Frederick and
Todd Katz (RBI) plated Merwitz with the 2nd run. Kings held 2-0 lead into b-4th.
A Russ Dlin SF and Russ Seamster RBI single knotted score 2-2. Joel Koman
followed Seamster with a monster shot over the hill behind Kings LF Alan
Varhaftik. Since there was no game going on at PMS #2, the ball cleanly hit the
pavement at the first base bench, hit the fence in front of the bench and
bounced right back to Varhaftik. Varhaftik threw to SS Mike Pusateri, Pusateri
fired home to C Mike Herr, Herr applied the tag out at the plate to a very
surprised Koman. That was the last break that the Kings would catch before GW
exploded for 11 runs in their next at-bat.
Pikesville Middle
School Field #4
Palmgard(3) 5
at Jilly's Turtles (1) 11
WP- Bruce Eisenberg LP- Kevin
Oliner
In Game two...the Turtles were in Sudden Death with Palmgard. The winner would
get a birth in the championship. The Turtles, just three weeks earlier, suffered
their only doubleheader sweep at the hands of Mighty Palmgard. With their backs
against the wall, Jilly's hit starter Kevin Oliner well enough to advance 11-5.
In the 1st, the Turtles scored twice. Than in the 2nd, Palmgard tied it 2-2.
Going into the bottom of the 4th the Turtles trailed 4-3...Scoring 4 in the 4th
and 4 more in the 6th, behind Eisey, Jilly's wrapped it up 11-5. Tons of
contribution in game two from the Turtles hitters included a solo blast, deep to
right by 3rd sacker Rob Gould (2-3, 2 runs and 2 rbi's). Rob Ressin continued
hit torrid playoff hitting pace going 3-4 with 2 runs scored. Rick Farley went
2-3 with a run, Detour Dave made the most of his one at-bat drilling a bases
loaded single to knock in two, and Harry Schevker went 2-2 with a base on balls
and an RBI. Also, backstop Jeff Michaelson, who sat out all of game one, came
back strong going 2-3 to aid in the win.
The Turtles have their work cut out for them...facing undefeated Gorgeous
Watches...having to beat them twice to capture the crown. In the only other
doubleheader meeting of the season, way back in week one, the Turtles beat G.W.
both times on April 7th, 14-4 and 10-9.