2004 PMS at Northwest Regional Park
Playoffs Week #2: August 15, 2004
ROUND 3
Field 1:
Quizno's Owings Mills(3) 8 (WP-Jeff Harris 8-7) Jilly's Under Armour(6)
6 (LP-Kevin Oliner 6-7)
It has been a difficult year for Jilly's/Under Armour. With the retirement of
Bruce (Eisey) Eisenberg and the departure of Donnie Weinapple, Ricky Farley,
Scott Moffet, Paul Bell, Rob Gould, Brian Wolf, in addition to injuries to
Warren Scudder and Lee Eidelberg...it was as if Managers Detour Dave and Robbie
Ressin had to start the 2004 campaign from scratch. Overall, it was too much to
overcome...Inconsistent pitching, player attendance and overall inexperience
became the downfall for a team, that just two years ago won the regular season
championship and lost in the finals of the playoff.
Weather was questionable for this hurricane threatened Sunday...but late
Saturday night, the storm moved off the coast and beautiful conditions greeted
the six remaining teams in week two of the playoff round. Unfortunately, Jilly's/Under
Armour was looking at its old nemesis (Quizno's) for the 6th time this season.
In the first, it looked as though Jilly's was on its way to its first victory
against the "Blue Wave".
Robbie Ressin (0-2, 2 BB, 1 run) opened with a leadoff walk...Harry Shevker
(2-3, 2 doubles, 1 run) doubled down the right field line...with runners on 2nd
and 3rd, Jim Silvestri (1-4, 3 Rbi's) grounded to Rosenstein to score the first
run. Scott Snyder (1-3, sac, rbi) hit a sacrifice fly for the 2nd run. A two-out
single by Sandler (2-3, run) got things going again, as Reggie Ellis (2-3, run)
followed with another base hit...setting up DH Chris Knorr to clear the bases
with a long single in the alley...it was 4-0 before Quizno's had their first
turn. Quizno's quickly cut the lead in half off hard luck loser, Kevin Oliner.
After one, it was 4-2. Quizno's got one in the 2nd...three in the third...and
two more in the 4th to take command, 8-4 going into the 5th. Winner, Jeff Harris
was spotting his fast ball and Jilly's was unable to get the key hit throughout
the rest of the game. In innings two thru six, Harris faced a maximum of only
five hitters, as he scattered only five hits in those five innings.
In the top of the seventh, facing elimination...Under/Armour was determined to
go down swinging...The bottom three were scheduled...Craig Babst (1-3, run)
lined a base hit to left center. Nik (2-3, run) followed suit...With runners on
first and second Oliner flied out. Ressin also flew out. Shevker walked to load
the bases, then Silvestri lined a single to right to extend the inning. With the
score 8-6, Snyder was looking for a "fat one" to deposit into the stands, but
Harris induced a weak fly-ball to right center as Sandler could only watch from
the on-deck circle...final score, in a well played contest, 8-6.
Managers Sandler and Ressin would like to thank the entire team for
a great effort, under trying circumstances this season. The roster to finish the
season was a big change from the opening day lineup. The late additions of Andre
Burris, Craig Babst, Scott Snyder and Kory Rosenberg improved the team from the
0-10 start to finish the 2nd half with nine wins and five losses. Veterans Lee
Eidelberg, Mark Summerfield, Reggie Ellis, Harry Shevker, along with Robbie and
Dave provided the leadership to newcomers Chris Knorr, Don Nikastis, Jim
Silvestri, and Kevin Oliner. Jilly's/Under Armour also recognizes the
contributions of Warren Scudder (DL), Rich Schneider (P,C), Kevin Kelch (OF) and
Roman Caples (SS,OF), Howard Rosenberg (DH,OF) and John Frederick (C), as well.
A Fall meeting at Jilly's restaurant and some off season recruiting will
determine the future of the once mighty club formally known as Attman's.
Field 3:
Sky & Sky Inc(5) 4 (WP-Larry Newman 14-11)
Kings(4) 3 (LP-Chuck Grant 8-6)
Sky & Sky pushed one unearned run across in the first as Steve Truitt
hustled around from first on an OF error. Three more came across, again
unearned, as Sky & Sky widened their lead to four. The Kings scratched their way
back into things posting a three-spot in the fifth, but were unable to
capitalize on opportunities in the sixth and seventh. Newman got the win and
despite pitching his ass off, Chuck Grant absorbed the loss.
Field 4:
Eastern Savings Bank(2)
11 (WP-Russ Zappocosta 7-1) Havana Club Cannons(1) 6 (LP-Mark Yokel 13-1)
Mark Yokel's first 8 runs surrendered were unearned, as the Cannons
superb defense let him down in game 1. A slew of errors in the 1st 2 innings,
both mental and physical contributed to Yokel's first loss of the season. The
cannons fought back and got it to 8-5, but could not keep the bats alive in game
1. Yokel ended with only earned run allowed. Jeff Kurland and Mike Ginsberg both
had multi hit games...
Today’s game pitted the only two remaining unbeaten teams in the Pikesville league – the Cannon’s vs. ESB. The teams had split their earlier two games in the season and everyone was eagerly awaiting this important rematch. ESB jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead thanks to RBI’s by Jim Davis and Gabe Silber and some shoddy Cannon’s defense. The Cannon’s came back in the bottom of the first to score 1 run against ESB’s ace Russ Zappocosta. ESB scored 4 more in the top of the second to take a commanding 8-1 lead, the big hit in the inning coming on a three run bases loaded double to the top of the center field fence by Jim Davis. The Cannon’s wouldn’t go away and scored 4 in the bottom of the third, three runs coming on a two out error by ESB. The rest of the day belonged to Zappocosta. The Cannon’s looked totally baffled with his nasty knuckle ball and were only able to score one more run in the fifth to make the score 10-6. ESB scored one more in the seventh to put away the Cannon’s 11-6.
ROUND 4
Field 1:
Havana Club Cannons(1) 8 (WP-Tom Paulshock 10-2)
Quizno's Owings Mills(3) 3 (LP-Jeff
Harris 8-8)
The two depleted heavyweights traded runs in the 1st inning, and things
were quiet until the bottom of the 3rd when the Cannons woke up a bit and scored
2 runs on 3 hits. In the bottom of the 4th the Cannons plated 3 runs on 4
consecutive hits by Neal Charkatz, Chuck Easter, Jeff Kurland and Mike Ginsberg
all with two outs. Only one Quizno's hitter swung at a pitch all day by Tommy
before they took strike one. Although walking a handful of guys, Tommy only gave
up 3 runs all game. SS Mike Steller turned in the defensive highlight of the
game, diving to his left on a grounder at full extension, flipping to Ginsberg
at second and on to 1st for a run saving rally killing double play.
Jeff Kurland scored 3 runs, and Chuck Easter hit a bomb to left for a home run
in the 7th that capped the game. Onto the Championship game by virtue of the
Regular Season crown!!
Field 4:
Sky & Sky Inc(5) 10 (WP-Larry Newman 14-11) Eastern Savings Bank(2)
6 (LP-Ted Winner 14-3)
Game two saw a comedy of errors in the first inning. Eight runs on four hits,
coupled with greasy gloves allowed Sky & Sky the early advantage. Apparently the
disease was contagious as each of Sky & Sky's four infielders made an error,
allowing ESB to pull within three. The teams then proceeded to tighten up the
defense while trading runs throughout the rest of the contest. Final score, 10-6
as Newman got his second win of the day and Ted Winner took the loss.
In game two ESB’s defense in the first let down big game pitcher Ted Winner. After five errors and three infield hits Sky and Sky jumped out to a 8-0 lead. ESB came roaring back in the bottom of the first to score 5 of their own thanks to some shoddy defense by Sky and Sky. The rest of the afternoon there would be little scoring by both teams. Sky and Sky’s ace Larry Newman pitched a brilliant game and held ESB to one run in the fourth and led his team to victory over ESB with a final score of 10-6. Hitting stars on the day for ESB were Jim Davis, Ben Gutman who was voted team MVP with over a 700 batting average for the season and Alan Lazerow who was on base five times.
Field 1:
Eastern Savings Bank(2) 20 (WP-Ted Winner
15-3) Sky & Sky Inc(5) 0 (LP-Larry Newman 14-12)
5 Innings
Upon surrendering 3 runs to ESB in the b-1st, Sky & Sky watched
their chances to stay alive in the tournament dwindle with each successive
batter. Each inning saw ESB hitters crush gappers and find holes in the porous
infield. Playing to the best of their ability would have proved fruitless
against ESB whose game was clicking on all cylinders. The merciless final was
20-0 as Ted Winner coasted to victory over Larry Newman. To the 4 subs who
suffered through the embarrassing loss, Sky & Sky thanks you for your efforts
this morning. And to the other players who wives made them go to the beach this
weekend, please be sure to regale us with your tales of frivolity in the sand
upon your return. In all seriousness, thanks to everyone for making this season
a treat.
ESB had revenge on their minds when they took the field on
this beautiful sunny day to take on Sky and Sky who put a hurting on ESB the
week before. Manager Alan Friedman was having trouble fielding a full team and
to his credit he called ESB’s manager David Finkelstein to inform him of the
situation and to work out an agreement how Sky and Sky would be able to play the
game without forfeiting. Even though ESB wanted to get to the championship game
they have a lot of respect and admiration for the way Sky and Sky handled this
situation.
ESB would not be denied on this day. In the bottom of the first ESB jumped out
to a 3-0 lead and the way Ted Winner was pitching that would be all ESB would
need on the day. Ben Gutman got it going with a single followed by a single by
Aaron Shifren. Jim Davis hit a two run double and Chris Zoeller hit an RBI
single. ESB blew the game open in the bottom of the second by scoring nine runs.
They continued to hit the ball well and scored two more in the fourth and 8 more
in the fifth for a final score of 22-0. Manager David Finkelstein came in and
pitched the last inning for ESB. Hitting stars for the game were Glenn Ackman
who had 4 RBI’s including an inside the park home run, Ben Gutman who was two
for two and had two walks and scored three runs, Aaron Shifren who had four runs
scored and an RBI, Jim Davis who had four hits, 4 RBI’s and 3 runs scored, Gabe
Silber who had two hits and two runs scored, Sam Luxenberg who had two hits, two
runs scored and 2 RBI’s, Chris Zoeller who had 3 hits, and Russ Zappocosta who
had 2 hits and 2 RBI’s.
ROUND 6 -- League Championship Game
Field 1:
Havana Club Cannons(1) 8 (WP-Mark Yokel 14-1) Eastern Savings Bank(2)
2 (LP-Russ Zappocosta 7-2)
In game two ESB continued their hot hitting against the Cannon’s by scoring 2 runs and would have had a third had not the Cannon’s center fielder make an unbelievable catch. Ben Gutman started the scoring with a single and Aaron Shifrin followed with another single and Jim Davis followed with a two run double. Little did ESB know that Cannon’s pitcher Mark Yokel would shut the ESB powerful offense down the rest of the day. While ESB looked slow and old all day the Cannon’s continued to look younger and stronger throughout the day. In fact the Cannon’s seemed to look younger and stronger with each game that they played against us. The Cannon’s scored 3 in the first,1 in the second and 4 in the third for an 8-2 lead. Russ Zappocosta then shut down the Cannon’s amazing offense but by then it was too late. The Cannon’s played great defense and won the championship by a final score of 8-2. Congratulations to the winners.
Mark Yokel (14-1) uncharacteristically walked a batter
(only his 11th of the season) in the top of the 1st inning, and a few hits led
to a 2-0 lead for Eastern going in the middle of the 1st. But the Cannons jumped
on top quickly posting a 3 spot in the b 1st with 2 hits, a walk, an error and a
sacrifice fly. Mark Yokel settled in, and with some tremendous defense behind
him in the early innings, didn't fall off track again. Johnny Edelman and Jeff
Kurland made diving catches in the outfield to spark the Cannons, and Yokel,
keeping what could have been run scoring rallies to zeros in the book for
Eastern. Russ Zappocosta settled in nicely as well, not allowing the Cannons to
score in the 4th 5th and 6th, but the damage was already done. After a lead off
single in the 4th for Eastern, a 5-4-3 double play by Neal Charkatz, Mike
Ginsberg and Steve Hayes put everything back on track for the Cannons, and
Eastern never again mounted a serious threat.
Today's game was a showcase of what has gone right all season for the Havana
Club Cannons. Defense and Pitching was the foundation of this team, led by SS
Mike Steller and LCF Jeff Kurland. Timely hitting was a frequent occurrence for
the Cannons as well all year. Mike Steller went 2-4 with 2 rbi's, Jeff Kurland
went 2-3 with an rbi bases loaded walk. Frank Valois went 2-3 with 1 rbi, Neal
Charkatz went 1-3 with a 2 out rbi single. Johnny Edelman hit a great hustling
double to LF in the 2nd to spark a rally and eventually score, but he followed
in his next AB with his second swinging strikeout in as many weeks...Every
player contributed in this well fought game, down to the very last out where
Evan Krietzer made a full speed running catch in foul ground while slamming into
the fence and holding on for the last out of the season!
The Havana Club Cannons are the 2004 Regular Season and Postseason Champions of
the Pikesville Men's Softball league!!!!!!