2006 PMS at Northwest Regional Park
Week 21:  August 20, 2006

Playoffs Round 5

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:
Havana Club Cannons (#1) 9 (WP-Mark Yokel 14-2)  Kings (#2) 2 (LP-Chuck Grant 14-7)

The Cannons had to win 2 games vs the Kings to win the Championship this year, and so far in 2006 the Kings had handed the Cannons 2 of their three losses. Havana Club started Mark Yokel in game 1, and a solid performance is what they got out of him.

The Cannons scored 2 in the top of the first to get off to a quick start. Jeff Kurland walked, and Chuck Easter doubled him in. Mike Steller then followed with an rbi single to bring Easter home, and a quick 2-0 lead. Yokel was strong in the first two innings, not allowing a run. In the top of the 3rd, Easter led off with a single, and after two fly outs to leftfield, Lou Falcon ripped a triple to center off the wall, missing a homerun by 2 feet, plating Easter. Evan Kreitzer the followed with a single to bring in Falcon, and Yokel was staked to a 4-0 lead.

The Kings did not go down though, and in the bottom of the 3rd plated two runs, making the Championship series a much closer affair. This did not last though, as the Cannons plated 3 runs, 2 runs, and 2 more in the 5th 6th and 7th innings. The 5th inning rally was marked by a leadoff single by Jeff Kurland, and then back to back homeruns by Easter, and Shawn Warner.

Mark Yokel never allowed another run, striking out two Kings batters, and Game 1 was in hand to the Cannons with a 11-2 victory.

HCC Offensive Stars:
Chuck Easter 3-4 HR, 3 runs and 4 rbis
Shawn Warner 1-4 HR, 1 rbi
Mike Steller 2-4 1 run, 1 rbi
Lou Falcon 4-4 2 runs, 2 rbis
Danny Kassell 2-3 3B, 1 run, 1 rbi

Playoffs Round 6

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:
Havana Club Cannons (#1) 4  (WP-Tom Paulshock 15-1) Kings (#2) 2 (LP-Chuck Grant 14-8)

Sudden Death game 2, seeds 1 vs. 2, and a great pitching duel transpired. Tommy Paulshock vs. Chuck Grant. Although both pitchers were squeezed at times, only 6 runs were scored in game 2.

The Cannons bats went quiet in the first 2 innings, as did the Kings. Tommy Paulshock pitched his way out of jams in both the first and second innings with multiple base runners on in each inning.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Jeff Kurland walked with one out, and Chuck Easter followed with a single. Shawn Warner also walked, bringing long time Cannons MVP Mike "Big Papi" Steller to the plate. Mike took the Grant offering over the centerfield wall for a GrandSlam, staking Paulshock to a 4-0 lead.

That one hit was all the Cannons needed, as Tommy locked down the Kings bats, getting out of a few more jams in the later innings, backed by some great defensive plays by Chuck Easter in Leftfield, and Lou Falcon at 3rd. Falcon was a brick wall at 3rd base all day, picking all Kings line drives and smashed one hoppers, making the play every time. Lou Falcon's defense was a reflection of the Cannons team all year. When the bats didn't come through, the fantastic defense of the Cannons really picked the bats up and kept them in every game.

Tommy let in single runs in both the 5th and 6th innings, but limited the damage severely in each inning. Tommy redeemed himself, winning the game giving up only 2 runs, after a mediocre performance in Game 3 of the playoffs vs the same Kings in which he lost 7-6. Congratulations to Tommy for becoming a grandfather again just yesterday, as he will be flying out to California Monday morning to be with his daughter and rest of the family.

Hitting Stars for the Cannons:
Chuck Easter 2-3 1run
Mike Steller 1-3 Grand Slam 4 rbis
Lou Falcon 3-3
Johnny Edelman 2-3


Cannons Playoff Notes:
With today's doubleheader sweep, and the Championship, the Havana Club Cannons have won 5 of the last 6 regular season and post season titles in the last 3 years since Neal Charkatz took over as manager. Each year was won on the same merits, great defense lead by Jeff Kurland, Mike Steller and Lou Falcon, and fantastic pitching by Mark Yokel and Tommy Paulshock.

Late season additions of Felix Guinto, and Steve Henneman really helped as the Cannons required more depth this year than in years past to win the regular season championship.

Longtime Cannons Veterans Evan Kreitzer, Johnny Edelman, Danny Kassell and Neal Charkatz all had fantastic offensive and defensive years to help bolster the Cannons. Steve Hayes was solid behind the plate. Newcomer Shawn Warner was a massive addition to the Cannons lineup, providing some great pop in the middle of the order leading the Cannons with 14 doubles on the year.

Chuck Easter was the Cannons offensive MVP of 2006. Easter set a single season team record with 14 homeruns. Chuck also hit .670 with an OBP. of .701, 63 runs, and 54 rbis. 32 of Easters 61 hits were for extra bases, giving him a 1.396 slugging percentage. These marks rank up with the all-time Pikesville Men's Softball League greats.

The Havana Club Cannons most recent version have been intact since 1998. In that time, the Cannons have won the regular season title 5 times, and the post season title 3 times. In the teams 9 year existence, they have won 8 of the 18 titles possible, winning 5 of the last 6.