2006 PMS at Northwest Regional Park
Week 16:  July 16, 2006

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:
Game 1: Havana Club Cannons 21 (WP-Mark Yokel 10-2) Sky & Sky Inc. 13  (LP-Alex Newman 2-1)  

The Cannons started the scoring early dropping 4 runs in the top of the 1st inning behind 5 consecutive hits by Kurland, Easter, Charkatz, Falcon and Edelman. Keyed by a 2 rbi seeing eye single up the middle by Neal Charkatz. The Cannons were up 8-0 when Sky battled for scrapped for 6 runs in the bottom of the 3rd. But the Cannons scored in every inning of this game except the 7th, making it tough for the Newman Family Pitching Reunion to stay in the game.

Mark Yokel seemed to have the answer for Sky & Sky's bats for the first few innings, while his team lifted him to an 8-0 lead. However, in the b-3rd the bats woke up as Sky & Sky pulled to within 2 aided by sloppy defense from the Cannons. Consistency prevails in the long run though as the Cannons scored in each inning on their way to a 21-13 victory with Alex Newman taking the loss. The bottom half of the line-up did most of the damage with Jason Bloom getting 3 hits while Larry Newman, Mike Rotts, and Alan Friedman each added 2 hits and blinding speed on the bases.

Hitting stars for the Cannons in game 1:
Chuck Easter 3-4 HR, 2 runs and 2 rbis
Lou Falcon 5-6 4 runs scored, 2 rbis
Johnny Edelman 3-5 2 runs, 2 rbis
Feliz Guinto 4-4 BB, 1 run and 1 rbi

Game 2: Havana Club Cannons 13 (WP-Tom Paulshock 12-0) Sky & Sky Inc. 1 (LP-Larry Newman 10-11)  

Game 2 saw 'Robo' Tom Paulshock limited the Sky & Sky offense to just 1 run on 6 hits in a 13-1 laugher in 5innings. Larry Newman absorbed the loss in this one, while Brian Sky and Jeff Friedman each chipped in with 2 hits.

Game two was a little less competitive than game 1, with Tommy Paulshock really pitching well and limiting the consecutive baserunners for Sky. Sky scored in the top of the first inning, but never tallied another run. The Cannons were able to score in all 4 at bats, with some consistent work at the top of the order. The 1 through 4 hitters are listed below...

Hitting stars for the Cannons in game 2:
Jeff Kurland 3-3, 3 runs
Chuck Easter 3-3 3 runs 1 rbi
Steve Henneman 2-3 1 rbi, 1 run
Lou Falcon 3-3 2 runs, 2 rbis
Johnny Edelman 1-3 2rbis

Northwest Regional Park Field 2:
Game 1: Kings 13 (WP-Mike Herr 1-1)  NEK Entertainment 6 (LP-Dave Pridgen 6-10)

The Kings exploded for 9 runs in t-1st and cruised to a 13-6 game 1 win. Kegan Rettaliata hit a 3-run HR and Alan Varhaftik followed with a solo shot for the early key hits. Jan Katzen contributed with a 2 out 2 RBI single, while Rob Ressin pounded out 2 singles in the 8 hit, 3 walk inning. NEK's Jason Gardner hit a long 2 run HR in t-6th to pull NEK to within 9-6, but Kings got those runs back with 4 runs in bottom of the inning keyed by Troy Hendricks' bases-loaded 3 RBI 2B.

Kings Notes:

• 4 Kings players participated in a weekend co-ed softball tournament this weekend in Ocean City. Advancing to the Finals today, they ended up 2nd overall in their tournament. Congratulations to Kenny Salzman, Chuck Grant, Shilo Merwitz, and Russ Dlin.
• The Kings have 5 regular players who have been starting pitchers in the league. However, Chuck Grant and Shilo Merwitz were involved in a co-ed softball 2 day tournament, Dave Sandler was on the disabled list, and Dan Frignito had commitments at home in Pennsylvania. The last time Mike Herr was the starting pitcher for both games of the doubleheader was May 24, 1992 against Money Mailer, coached by Saul Hyatt and current Kings C Larry Henderson. A fleet-footed Henderson was the leadoff batter and leftfielder that day for Money Mailer and he led off the game with a 3B. Money Mailer won the opener 6-4, with the Kings winning the nightcap 12-6. The Kings outfielders that day included 2 of the Kings in the starting outfield today-- Alan Varhaftik and Marc Goldstein. Dave Sandler (3-7,1 R,2 RBI) was the starting 1B that day, but remained out today with a back injury.
• With a late arriving umpire, Dave Sandler, although not healthy enough to play, was kind enough to officiate the 1st inning. Sandler is expected to return to the active roster next week.
   

Game 2: Kings 8 (WP-Mike Herr 2-1)  NEK Entertainment 6 (LP-Dave Pridgen 6-11)

The Kings had to come from behind to take the second game 8-6. NEK's Jason Gardner continued to crush the ball launching a 3 RBI HR in b-1st. Kings managed to get on the scoreboard with Jan Katzen's bases-full walk in t-3rd. Kings had loaded the bases with just 1 out, but the RBI walk was the only run the Kings could manage. With 2 outs in t-4th, Dave Pridgen walked the bases full. Mike Herr's single to RCF scored Troy Hendricks, with Larry Henderson scoring the 3-3 tie run on a blown run-down. NEK regained lead 5-3 in b-4th with 2 out 2 RBI bloop single by Marcus Hayes, scoring Dave Pridgen and Jason Gardner. Alan Varhaftik's RBI single pulled the Kings to within 5-4 in t-5th. Mike Herr's RBI single in t-6th tied score and then Kings went ahead 6-5 on a Scott Katzen RBI single to LCF. Kings built 8-5 lead with 2 runs in t-7th with Larry Henderson bringing home both runs with an RBI single. Marcus Hayes hit a SF in b-7th to score Dave Pridgen, but that was not enough for NEK with the score ending in the Kings favor 8-6.

NEK Notes:

• Dave Pridgen not only tossed the doubleheader for NEK, he also reached base on 5 of his 6 at-bats. On the day, Pridgen was 4-6, 3 R, 1 RBI, 2B and reached base on an error.
• Other offensive stars on the day for NEK were Jason Gardner (3-6,3 R,5 RBI,2 HR) and Rashaad Johnson (4-7,1 R).

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:
Game 1: L.O.F.T. 17 (WP-Andy Peksa 1-10) Stingers 5 (LP-Rich Schneider 2-4)  (6 Innings)

L.O.F.T. came into this game with its complete group of players for the first time all year. They also added Mike Weinstein, a softball veteran. L.O.F.T. felt very confident that this would be the week they earned their first victory on the field. Andy Peksa toed the rubber as usual for L.O.F.T. and retired the Stingers 1, 2, 3 in the top of the first inning. L.O.F.T. came back with 4 runs in the bottom of the first and with 2 more in the bottom of the 2nd to take a 6-0 lead. Stingers scored one in the top of the third, but L.O.F.T. got it back in the bottom half to make it a 7-1 game. In the bottom of the 4th inning Mike Weinstein hit a bomb off the base of the wall and rounded the bases for an inside the park home run, the first home run for L.O.F.T. all season. The Stingers struck back to cut the lead to 8-5 in the top of the 5th, but in the bottom of the 6th L.O.F.T. scored 8 times to win the game 17-5 in 6 innings, giving them their first victory of the year. Andy Peksa pitched a gem, retiring the side 1,2,3 on 3 occasions during his 6 innings of work and was backed by great defense. A full extension diving grab by Kevin White and a sliding catch by Mike Weinstein were just a few of the great defensive plays made by L.O.F.T. to help them earn their first win on the year.

Stingers opened the morning with confusion and a lingering abscess of injuries. Rich Schneider took the mound doing the best he could as he had very little runs support from his teammates. Defensively the Stingers were experiencing new positions and learning a new book of plays. Stingers spotted LOFT 6 runs until the top of the 3rd, when Mike Soco opened the closed door with a lead off triple followed by Matt Stregowski’s walk to create runners for the hot batting Tim Palo. Palo doubled a shot over the LOFT outfielders heads to drive in a run. It wasn’t until the top of the 5th that the Stingers would awake their bats again though. Singles were the name of the game from James Engler and Joe Wantz followed by a 2 RBI double from Darren Tabaznik, scratching and all from a day of pulling poison ivy the day before. Tabaznik would not be itching on the base paths for too long as Palo came to bat again for another triple. Brad Starobin brought home Palo with his 15 hour flight home with a double to plate Palo. Unfortunately this is where it would finish for the Stingers in a loss.


Offensive Stars for L.O.F.T.:
Brandon Mabry: 4-4, 4 1B, 2 Runs
Mike Delonge: 2-3, 2 2B, BB, 2 Runs, 4 RBI Ryan Mente: 2-3, 2 1B, BB, 3 Runs RBI Dan Mabry: 4-4, 3 1B, 1 2B, Run, 2 RBI Mike Weinstein: 4-4, 3 1B, HR, 2 Runs, 3 RBI

Game 2: Stingers 6 (WP-Darron Tabatznik 5-10) L.O.F.T.  3 (LP-Andy Peksa 1-11) 

The night cap put Tabaznik on the hill and reorganization from Game 1. As usual the red hot Palo opened the afternoon with a single followed by Starobin’s single that created confusion and errors by LOFT to score Palo, but Starobin would be left on the bases. In the 2nd the Stingers defense awoke with shouting out LOFT, which would occur again in the 3rd and 4th innings. The 5th inning, which seems to be a magical inning for the Stingers, opened the door again with the return of Matt Friedman to poke a waddling lead-off double. He would muster enough to get around the bases to score on a Joe Wantz double. Mike Soco blasted a double also to score Wantz. Rich Schneider and Matt Stregowski would do their best to keep the inning alive with a double and single to place them on the corners, but again the inning would end with Stingers left on the bases. LOFT tried mustering up a little offense, but it would be too little too late as the Stingers’ Mike Soco and Mike Beverly were plated by the iron Stinger, Rich Schneider, doing it all for this day to put another in the win column.

Another well pitched game by Andy Peksa was not enough as L.O.F.T. could not muster enough runs together to get their first sweep of the year. The team was still using the momentum from their first win of the year, but it was not enough to get the bats going. L.O.F.T. had runners in scoring position on several occasions during the game, but were unable to come through with the big hit to earn the Win.

L.O.F.T. Note:
After finally earning their first on-the-field win of the year in game 1, the team gave Manager Andy Peksa a Gatorade bath following the completion of the second game.

Offensive Stars for L.O.F.T.:
Brandon Mabry: 3-3, BB, 2 1B, 3B, Run
Dan Mabry: 3-3, 2 1B, 2B, RBI
Andy Peksa: 2-3, 2 1B, RBI
 

Northwest Regional Park Field 4:
Game 1: Eastern Savings Bank 8 (WP-Lane Gordon 1-2)  DC Dental 7 (LP-Meir Zoller 4-4)

It looked as if it was going to be smooth sailing on this Sunday for ESB as their first 4 runners reached base and scored with Lazerow reaching on an error followed by 3 singles from Zoeller, Schwartzberg, and Snyder. With ESB tacking on two more in the 3 rd and one more in the 5th, stellar pitching from Lane Gordon kept the DC Dental hitters off-balance. It looked like the game was going to end in an ESB 7-1 victory until the dentists manged 6 runs in their half of the 7 th, highlighted by the soon-to-be-bar-passing Jon Minkove's 3 run blast to right center. With ESB failing to score in the bottom of the 7th, the game went to extra innings. After blanking DC Dental in the top half of the 8 th, ESB managed a run in the bottom half with a Jeff Harris single, scoring Nadav Spiegler from 2nd.

Hitting stars for ESB:
Nadav Spiegler, 2-2
Ben Guttman, 2-3
Sam Luxenberg, 2-2

Game 2:

Eastern Savings Bank 11 (WP-Jeff Harris 8-3)  DC Dental 7 (LP-Tzvi Friedman 5-5)

Game 2 proved to be no less exciting than game 1. To cut to the chase, ESB went to the 6th inning down by 2 runs, however 3 straight hits from Schwartzberg, Snyder, and Silber, followed by a Sac fly from Luxenberg staked ESB out to a 1 run. DC Dental wasn't ready to fold up their tents, however, as they stormed back in their bottom half to regain the lead by 1. With ESB down to their final 3 outs in game 2, Spiegler and Chris Zoeller's father's hits set the table for what would turn out to be the game winning hit by Alan Lazerow. ESB went on to add 3 more runs in the inning and shut down the dentists in their half of the 8 th to claim an 11-7 victory.


Hitting stars for ESB:
Alan Lazerow, 3-4
Chris Zoeller 3-4
Chris Zoeller's father, 2-2
Gabe Silber/Nadav Spiegler, 2-3