2005 PMS at Northwest Regional Park
Week 17:  July 24, 2005

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:

Game 1: Sky & Sky Inc 18 (WP-Chris Knorr)  Havana Club Cannons 12 (LP-Mark Yokel 8-3)

Game 1 was one of the sloppier games of the season for both the Cannons and Sky. 11 Cannons errors wasted some clutch hitting. 9 out of 10 Cannons players scored a run. The big inning was the top of the 4th, when Steve Hayes hit a grandslam, along with 6 singles plated a total of 7 runs in the inning.

In the first game, the two teams played evenly for the first few innings trading runs back and forth. Then the Cannons exploded for five runs including a grand slam and went ahead by seven. Not to be distraught, Sky & Sky used a number of infield errors to chip away at the lead and eventually go ahead by one. In the top of the sixth, they added five insurance runs for a total of 13 unanswered runs. Chris Knorr got the win and Mark Yokel absorbed the loss.

Cannons Offensive Stars:
Jeff Kurland 2-4 2 rbis 1 run
Evan Kreitzer 3-4 1 rbi 2 runs
Steve Hayes 2-4 6 rbis, Grand Slam
Mark Yokel 3-4 1 rbi 2 runs


Game 2:  Havana Club Cannons 7 (WP-Tom Paulshock 6-2)  Sky & Sky Inc 3 (LP-Chris Knorr) 

Game two was a much better defensive affair for both teams. Tommy was on, recording one strike out, and 1 key double play ball ball in the top of the 7th to kill any rally hopes Sky had. Tommy hit a screaming line drive double in the 2nd, was the rest of the cannons hitters were unable to pick him up and drive him home.

In the second game, both teams played a much cleaner brand of softball. The Cannons touched up Chris Knorr for three in the first and added a few spot runs against Larry Newman, while the Sky & Sky bats were mostly held in check. Final was 7-3. Paulshock over Knorr.

Cannons Offensive Stars:
Neal Charkatz was 3-4, 3 runs scored
Lou Falcon 2-3 3 rbis
Mark Tucci 2-3 1 rbi
Sean Murphy 2-3 1 rbi 1 run scored
Joe Ryan 2-3
 

Northwest Regional Park Field 2:
Game 1: Quizno's Owings Mills 21 (WP-Lane Gordon) Eastern Savings Bank  14  (LP-Larry Hineline )  

Highlights pending.


Game 2:

Eastern Savings Bank  13 (WP-Larry Hineline )  Quizno's Owings Mills 7 (LP-Lane Gordon)

Highlights pending.

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:
Game 1: NEK Entertainment 10 (WP-David Pridgen )  Hounds 9 (LP-Alex Newman ) 

The Hounds played wonderful ball today. Communication, fundamentals, and some timely hitting almost got them the victory. Alex Newman was hit by a bullet come-backer in the shin and Anthony Russel fielded the ball, tagging the runner at first very early in the game. This great heads-up play set the tone for the rest of the game. The entire game was a battle and at the bottom of the 7th the Hounds had a one run lead over NEK. However, they couldn’t hold it and NEK went ahead to win the game. Matt Friedman hit a solid 2 for 3. James McLendon, Anthony Russel, Alex Newman, Mike Beverly, Terry Lanciotti, and Larry all went 1 for 3 with at least one RBI. Great offense for the Hounds.

The Hounds jumped out to an early three nothing lead which lasted for three whole innings. In the fourth inning the bats of NEK finally woke up three runs capped with a long ball by Jason Gardener. The Hounds would fight back to score three more runs by the sixth inning the Hounds were ahead by one run for which NEK would tie the game going into the last inning. The Hounds did not score in the top of the seventh inning leaving the game tied in the bottom of the seventh with runners on second and third Peter Griffin sac fly would win the game. Kudos to the Hounds.


Game 2: NEK Entertainment 11 (WP-David Pridgen )  Hounds 9 (LP-Tim Palo ) 

Tim Palo made his debut as pitcher today and threw fabulously. With only three outfielders, Skyler Newman, James McLendon, and Louis all covered an immense area of ground and managed to track down nearly every ball to the outfield. Palo throwing several shutout innings allowed the Hounds a window to take the lead in the bottom of the 6th inning. However, in a heart-breaking 7th, NEK got the clutch hits to secure their victory. In the leadoff position, Larry went 2 for 3 with a single and a homerun touching home-plate twice. Mike Beverly hit a two-RBI triple, single, and walked batting 2 for 3.Anthony Russel hit a clutch RBI-triple batting 1 for 2. The offense of the Hounds continued through both games making them competitive for 14 innings. Congratulations on the Hounds for their progression as an entire ball-club.

Still looking for there first win, there was much of the same drama where the game would go to the late innings with the Hounds ahead by one. NEK would tie the game up in the top of the sixth and hold the Hounds scoreless in the the bottom of the inning. In the top of the seventh with the game tied David Pridgen hit hard shot driving in Stephen Georgie for the go ahead run. In the bottom of the seventh the Hounds were retired three in a row in defeat.

Northwest Regional Park Field 4:
Game 1: Kings 6 (WP-Chuck Grant) Northwest Corridor 4 (LP-Dave Stein ) 

The 2 starting pitchers, Kings Chuck Grant and NWC David Stein, both threw effective games, but NWC was not able to battle back from an early 5-0 deficit as the Kings took the opener 6-4. In Kings b-2nd, extra basehits by Alan Varhaftik (2B), Keegan Rettaliata (RBI 3B), and Chris Blankenship (2 RBI HR) keyed a 5 run rally. For Blankenship, it was his 3rd homerun of his rookie season. David Stein's SF in t-4th scored Joey Liner with NWC's 1st run. Kings added 1 run in b-5th via Mike Frignito 1B and Shilo Merwitz RBI 2B. NWC scored 2  runs scored in t-6th when Kings C Mike Herr was unable to hold onto a tag-out at homeplate that should have ended the inning. Kings led 6-3 into 7th inning. NWC's John Herbst's 2 out single scored Matt Bell and put runners on 1st and 2nd base, but Grant was able to field Lee Pollak's comebacker to seal the Kings victory.

Hitting stars in game 1 for the Kings were Mike Frignito (2-3,1 R), Mike Herr (2-3,1 R), and Chris Blankenship (1-1,1 R,2 RBI,HR,W). For NWC, Joey Liner (3-3,2 R), Howard Goldberg (2-3), Scott Landsman (2-3), and John Herbst (2-3,1 RBI). NWC was unable to bunch their 11 hits, while the Kings had 5 of their 10 hits in the 5 run 2nd inning.

Game 2: Kings 2 (WP-Chuck Grant) Northwest Corridor 1 (LP-Howard Goldberg ) 

A quite rare pitcher's duel was combined with outstanding team defense from both squads, with the Kings coming out ahead 2-1. NWC starter Howard Goldberg carried a no-hitter thru 4 1/3 innings, broken up by Alan Varhaftik's solo HR, his 3rd HR of the season. NWC had taken a 1-0 lead in b-4th, but would later regret not taking advantage of a potential huge rally. Howard Goldberg started the inning with a linedrive 2B to the fence in LCF. For NWC, that would be their only extrabasehit all day. Scott Sweren reached base on an infield error and Matt Bell walked to load the bases for NWC with no outs. Eric Szperec hit a SF to score Goldberg, but NWC stranded the other 2 runners letting the Kings off-the-hook rather easily. Varhaftik's HR in t-5th tied score 1-1. Jan Katzen led off t-6th with a 1B, but the Kings were unable to advance him. The Kings 3rd and final hit of the game was a solo HR by Mike Frignito to lead off the t-7th. Chuck Grant retired NWC in order in the b-7th, preserving the Kings 2-1 win and doubleheader sweep.

The only player in game 2 from either team with 2 hits was NWC EH Lee Pollak (2-2).

Game 2 Pitching Lines:
LP- Howard Goldberg  7 IP,25 AB,3 Hits (.120 average), 2 R, 2 ER, 2 W, 0 K, 2 HR allowed
WP- Chuck Grant  7 IP,27 AB,6 Hits (.222 average), 1 R, 1 ER,3 W,0 K,1 2B allowed

Kings / NWC Notes:
- Kings won the season series 3-1.
- The teams combined to commit just 4 errors in the doubleheader-- 1 for each team each game.