2007 Pikesville Men's Softball League
Week 19:  August 12, 2007

2007 Playoffs Round 3

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:
Round 1: Kings (2) 8 (WP-Chuck Grant 18-7) Havana Club Cannons (1) 2 (LP-Mark Yokel 15-1) 

Chuck Grant paced the Kings with his pitching, defense, and offense as the Kings won the winner's bracket round 3 game 8-2. Grant carried a shutout into the 7th inning, but the Cannons offense awoke to score 2 runs on 4 hits to prevent the shutout. Kings went ahead in t-2nd as Jan Katzen and Alan Varhaftik singled to start inning. Keegan Rettaliata delivered a SF to RCF and Grant hit a 2 out RBI single to give the Kings a 2-0 lead. In t-4th, Dave Sandler, Shilo Merwitz, Jan Katzen (RBI 1B), and Alan Varhaftik singled to start inning. 1 out later, Nate Barker delivered a SF to RCF. Grant followed Barker with a towering 3-run HR to LCF to put the Kings ahead 7-0. Kings added an insurance run in t-7th as Rettaliata, Barker, and Rob Barrow (RBI) singled. Leading 8-0 into b-7th, Cannons rallied with Lou Falcon beginning inning with a single and Steve Henneman driving a 2B down the LF line. Tim Grap grounded out to score Falcon and Henneman came home on a throwing error. With 2 outs Evan Kreitzen and Mark Yokel singled, but Grant was able to retire Jeff Kurland to clinch the win.

Cannons (9-30,2 R,1 RBI,1 2B,0 3B,0 HR,1 W,0 K,0 SF) offensive star:
Mark Yokel (3-3)

Kings (11-30,8 R,8 RBI,0 2B,0 3B,0 HR,1 W,1 K,2 SF) offensive stars:
Jan Katzen (2-2,2 R,1 RBI,1 W)
Alan Varhaftik (2-3,2 R)
Keegan Rettaliata (1-2,2 R,1 RBI,SF)
Chuck Grant (2-3,1 R,4 RBI,HR)

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:
Round 1: Sky & Sky Inc.  (3) 7 (WP-Zach Scherr)  Stingers (6) 6 (LP-Randy Rivera) 

Just like the previous week, The Stingers came out of the box swinging. A two out rally brought in 2 runs, but a play at the plate ended the threat. Sky & Sky answered with two of their own in the b-1st largely of the bat of Glenn Ackman. Sky & Sky manufactured a run in the b-3rd, and the two teams traded runs in the 4th inning. Despite three blowouts in their previous 3 meetings, Sky & Sky realized that The Stingers were not going away. The Stingers added two in the t-5th, but again an assist from RF Pat Wilcox at the plate held the damage in check for Sky & Sky, who promptly tied it in the b-5th. A costly throwing error by The Stingers allowed Sky & Sky to go up by one, and Paul Hayes cashed in an insurance run with a SF. The Stingers scrapped back in the top of the last, but a 6-4-3 DP helped to end the threat and preserve the contest for Sky & Sky. Scherr over Rivera in barn burner fashion 7-6. Rich Puritz swung the big stick(2-3, 3B, 2B, 2runs, rbi) while Eric Gertner chipped in with two singles. Every other batter had exactly 1 hit for Sky & Sky.

Northwest Regional Park Field 4:
Round 1: DC Dental (4) 12  (WP-David Flomm)  Northwest Corridor 5  (LP-Howard Goldberg) 

A week after a lackluster offensive showing against the fifth seeded Northwest Corridor, DC Dental's bats finally came alive after finding themselves in yet another deficit. With David Flamm (making an emergency start) on the mound, NWC rallied for 4 runs in the top of the first. However, DCD stormed back in the bottom of the first with a rally of its own. Rombro led off with a double and scored on a Luxemberg double. Rosenblatt then capped the rally with an rbi single. Flamm settled down and the score remained 4-2 until the bottom of the third. Rombro again starting things off with a hit--this time a single. After a B. Gutman walk, Luxemberg drove Rombro in with his second two-bagger to make it 4-3. Flamm then helped his own cause with a two run single and then scored when Lazerow double him in to make it 6-4. After holding NWC scoreless in the top of the 4th DCD exploded for 6 runs to blow it open in the 4th. In the 4th DCD batted around with 8 men reaching base including singles by Minkove, Ziffer, Luxemberg, Rosenblatt, Flamm and Lazerow. Flamm only allowed one more to score as DCD cruised to the 12-5 playoff victory to reach the final four for the second straight year.

Offensive Stars
Rombro 2-4 (double, single 3 runs, 1 rbi)
Luxemberg 3-4 (2 doubles, 3 rbi, 3 runs)
Rosenblatt 2-4 (double 1 rbi, 1 run)
Flamm 2-4 (2 singles 4 rbi)
Lazerow 2-3 (double, single 1 rbi)
Ziffer 2-3 (1 rbi)

2007 Playoffs Round 4

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:
Round 1: DC Dental (4) 5 (WP-David Finkelstein)  Kings (2) 4 (LP-Chuck Grant 18-8)  8 Innings

DC Dental and the Kings went extra innings, with DC Dental coming out the victors 5-4 as Dave Finkelstein and Chuck Grant both pitched well. The game remained close throughout. DCD took 1-0 lead in t-1st as Sam Luxenberg singled with 2 outs and Yoni Rosenblatt hit an RBI 2B. King tied score in b-3rd when Troy Hendricks delivered an inside-the-park HR. Kings held brief lead with a lone run in b-4th as Kenny Salzman singled and Rob Ressin walked to start inning. Following 2 flyouts to LF, Alan Varhaftik singled through the shortstop hole, giving Kings 2-1 lead. The lead was shortlived as DCD bats came alive in t-5th. Dan Gutman and Dovi Ziffer singled. Following an infield popout, Joe Rombro hit an RBI 2B, Ben Gutman hit an RBI 1B, and Sam Luxenberg hit an RBI SF. DCD held a 4-2 lead into b-5th. Chuck Grant drew a 1 out walk, Troy Hendricks hit a 2 out double, and Dave Sandler delivered a pinch-hit 2 RBI single to CF to tie the score. The game remained tied 4-4 through the regulation 7 innings. In t-8th, Ben Gutman singled and Yoni Rosenblatt his 2nd RBI 2B of the game, scoring Gutman. With DCD ahead 5-4 into b-8th, the Kings hoped to have their 2nd last inning come-from-behind victory as they did last week against Sky. Rob Barrow singled and Dave Sandler walked with 1 out. Finkelstein was able to retire Kenny Salzman and Rob Ressin on flyouts to give DCD an exciting 5-4 extra-inning win.

Dave Finkelstein went the distance in a 5-4 extra inning victory over the second seeded Kings. The 46 year old used a steady diet of Entemmans donuts and off speed stuff to keep the Kings off balance most of the game. Rosenblatt delivered the clutch hit in the top of the 8th when he crushed a double to left. DCD's defense rose to the occasion with several great outfield plays by B. Gutman and stellar infield play by D. Gutman and Rosenblatt, who each had web gems of their own. DCD advances to the final 3 where they have yet another date with the Kings (the Kings lead the season series 3-2).
 

DCD offensive stars:
Ben Gutman (2-4,1 R,1 RBI)
Yoni Rosenblatt (2-4,2 RBI,2 2B)
Kivi Gross (2-3)
Dan Gutman (2-3,1 R)

Kings multi-hit players were:
Rob Ressin (2-3,1 W)
Alan Varhaftik (2-3,1 RBI)
Troy Hendricks (2-3,2 R,1 RBI,2B,HR)

Northwest Regional Park Field 4:
Round 1: Havana Club Cannons (1) 102 (WP-Tom Paulshock)  Sky & Sky Inc.  (3) 1 (LP-Larry Newman) 

Game 2 for Sky & Sky saw the wheels come off of there turn around season. Two infield errors allowed The Cannons to push across one in the b-1st. Pat Wilcox collected his second assist of the day nailing Johnny Edelman at the plate, but another two runs(1 earned) gave The Cannons a 3-0 lead. With first and third Sky & Sky was threatening a big inning in the t-3rd. Glenn Ackman's smash through the infield knicked the runner, taking a sure run off the board, which Sky & Sky ultimately failed to cash in. Then The Cannons got down to the business of hitting. Numbers 3-6 singled, a SF plated 1 more, and Tim Grapp doubled home 1. Another run crossed on an error by Alan Friedman's poor handling of the throw from LF, as The Cannons built a 7-1 lead. Weak effort and a lack of heart followed form the visitors. The Cannons used two more infield errors to add three unearned runs, finishing the scoring at 10-1 and Tom Paulshock beat Larry Newman. Glenn Ackman singled twice and hit the ball which nicked the runner (so I don't know if he was 2-2, 2-3 or 3-3...somebody help?) Steve Truitt was 3-4 with the sole rbi. Although 7 other runners reached base, Paulshock and his bionic hip yielded only three other hits to various Sky & Sky batters.

The Cannons rebounded from a game one lose to the Kings with 10-1 romp over Sky and Sky. The Cannons opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Jeff Kurland led of with a single and scored on a two out error by Sky third baseman. The Cannons scored two more in the bottom of the second. The first four batters reached base in the 2nd. A lead off single by Edelman was followed by back to back singles by Steve Hayes and Tim Grap. Edelman however was gunned down at the plate on the Grap single. Even Krietzer followed with a walk to load the bases with one out. After a Tommy Paulshock pop out, Jeff Kurland delivered a two run single to give the Cannons a 3-0 lead. Sky got one run back in the top of the third and then the Cannons were back to business scoring 4 more runs in the 3rd to knock Larry Newman from the game. From that point on Paulshock slammed the door on Sky not allowing another run. The Cannons scored3 more in the bottom of the 6th to take the game 10-1.

Cannon hitting stars:
Kurland 3-4 2runs, 2 rbi's
Edelman 3-4, run, RBI
Hayes 2-2, BB, run, RBI
Grap 2-3, run, 2 RBI's

Basketball Season:
As a side note, if any league members are looking to stay in shape over the long winter...they should contact Larry Newman at 410.245.3544 or newvid@comcast.net .He runs a pick-up basketball game which takes place Thursdays at 9pm at Franklin Middle School, running the length of the school year.

2007 Pikesville Men's Softball League
Week 20:  August 19, 2007
Championship Sunday

2007 Playoffs Round 5

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:
Round 1: DC Dental (4) 10 (WP-Tzvi Friedman) Kings (2) 8 (LP-Chuck Grant)  8 Innings

DC Dental and the Kings faced off for the 2nd straight tournament game for the right to face the Cannons in the Championship Game. Similar to last week, the game went 8 innings, with DC Dental coming out the victors 10-8. With 3 starting pitchers unavailable, DCD was fortunate to have Tzvi Friedman return from California to pitch against the Kings. The Kings countered with Chuck Grant, making his 27th start of the season.

The Kings defense was a little uptight in the t-1st extending the DCD inning with an infield error and a fielder's choice. A sacrifice fly by Yoni Rosenblatt and 2 RBI single by Tzvi Friedman led to a 3-0 lead. The Kings got 1 run back in b-1st as Kenny Salzman drew a leadoff walk and scored following singles by Dave Sandler and Shilo Merwitz (RBI). DCD maintained 3-1 lead into b-3rd when Kings were able to push across 3 runs as the first 5 batters of the inning reached safely. The inning began with a Rob Ressin single, Sandler walk, Merwitz RBI 1B, Alan Varhaftik walk, and Jan Katzen RBI walk. With 2 runs in and the bases loaded and 0 out, the Kings were able to add just 1 more run on a Chuck Grant RBI groundout. The rally gave the Kings a brief 4-3 lead.

In t-4th, Rosenblatt singled and Friedman doubled to start inning. Alan Lazerow plated Rosenblatt with a SF to RCF, but the Kings missed an opportunity to retire Friedman caught between the bases, allowing him to reach thirdbase safely. This would hurt when Kivi Gross followed with a SF to rightfield, scoring Friedman with the go-ahead run, leading 5-4. In b-4th, the Kings were able to load the bases with 1 out, but again came away without doing much damage as the lone run scored on a Dave Sandler groundout to first base. Through the first 4 innings, the Kings stranded 10 baserunners.

DCD went ahead again in t-5th as Dan Gutman walked, Jon Minkove singled, and Dovi Ziffer delivered a SF to RF. One out later Ben Gutman and David Flamm singled to load bases. Yoni Rosenblatt hit a hard grounder that Kings SS Shilo Merwitz was unable to handle, allowing 2 more DCD runs to come across. The Kings fought right back as in bottom half of inning Jan Katzen and Keegan Rettaliata singled to lead off inning. With 1 out Troy Hendricks hit a 2 RBI 3B to LCF and Rob Barrow hit a SF to LCF to tie score 8-8.

Neither team was able to get a runner into scoring position in innings 6 and 7, so for the 2nd straight week, the teams went extra innings in the Playoffs. In t-8th with 1 out, Joe Rombro and Ben Gutman singled. Following a forceout at 3rd base for the 2nd out of the inning, Yoni Rosenblatt hit a 2 RBI 2B that hopped the fence in LCF. It was Rosenblatt last week that hit the game winning RBI double in the 8th inning to help DCD defeat the Kings 6-5 in Round 4. With DCD now holding a 10-8 lead into the Kings b-8th, Rob Barrow drew a 2 out walk, but Tzvi Friedman was able to retire Mike Herr on a groundout to send DCD into the League Finals.

The Kings threatened numerous times, but were unable to capitalize on potential huge innings. Patience at the plate allowed the Kings to draw a season high 10 walks, however 9 out of their 10 hits were singles. For the game, the left-on-base totals were Kings 12, DCD 4. 4 of the DCD runs came home on sacrifice flies. DCD was errorless in the field, while the Kings committed 2 infield errors.

DC Dental Offensive Stars (12-33,10 R,8 RBI,1 2B,0 3B,0 HR,1 W,1 K,4 SF, 4 LOB):
Joe Rombro (2-4,1 R)
Ben Gutman (3-4,3 R)
Yoni Rosenblatt (2-3,1 R,3 RBI,SF)
Tzvi Friedman (2-4,1 R,2 RBI,2B)

Kings offensive stars (10-33,8 R,8 RBI,0 2B,1 3B,0 HR,10 W,1 K,1 SF, 12 LOB):
Rob Ressin (2-4,1 R)
Shilo Merwitz (2-3,1 R,2 RBI,W)

2007 Playoffs Round 6 -- LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:
Round 1: Havana Club Cannons (1) 14  (WP-Mark Yokel) DC Dental (4) 6 (LP-Tzvi Friedman)

After a hard fought emotional 1st game that went into extra innings, DC Dental came out a little flat in the Championship game vs. the Havana Club Cannons, and the Cannons jumped out to a quick lead. After an easy top of the first for Mark Yokel, the Cannons 1st two batters reached base via a Jeff Kurland single, and a Chuck Easter double. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, and 1 out Mike Steller laced a single to RCF plating one run. The ball was hit so hard that Easter, on 2nd base, couldn't advance past 3rd base. Lou Falcon followed with a RBI sac fly and the Cannons were out to a quick 2-0 lead.

Again in the 2nd inning the first two Cannons batters reached base via Tim Grap and Johnny Edelman singles. With 2 outs, Kurland hit a hard but routine grounder to second base, and the DCD second basemen lost his footing getting to the ball and it went through his legs. Grap scored from second on the error, and Edelman raced to 3rd base. On the throw to 3rd Edelman's slide injured the DCD 3rd basemen's ankle, and left the ball in no man's land and Edelman was able to score easily. Chuck Easter followed with a single to bring in Kurland, and after 2 innings the Cannons were up 5-0.

As is always the case for the Cannons, fantastic defense was the thing that set this team above all others. Multiple double plays were turned by Mike Steller and Steve Henneman, none more key that in the 3rd inning with 2 runners on base and a one hop line drive made Henneman jump high to field the hop, flipping to Steller who fired to Easter at 1st to kill the DCD rally. For the 3rd straight inning, the 1st two Cannons batters reached base via Mike Steller and Luis Falcon singles. Steve Henneman followed with a walk, and Edelman grounded into a run scoring fielders choice. Steve Hayes followed with an RBI single, and another 2 runs were scored for the Cannons, staking Yokel to a 7-0 lead after 3.

In the Cannons half of the 4th, the first two batters reached base again, for the 4th straight time via Kurland and Easter singles. Shawn Warner followed with a Rbi Sac Fly In the first 4 innings, the Cannons first two batters reached, and all scored. Both the Cannons and DCD went quiet in the 5th, but finally DCD awoke from their slumber posting 3 runs on a multitude of hits off Yokel. Had it not been for a rally killing GIDP turned by Steller, Henneman and Neal Charkatz, DCD would have made the game a little tighter.

After the rocky top of the 6th, the Cannons fought right back and plated 3 runs as well keyed by a Steve Henneman 1 out 2 rbi triple that went all the way to the fence in LCF. Again, DCD wouldn't go quietly, posting 3 more runs in the top of the 7th, but the deficit was too much to overcome, resulting in a 14-6 final.

Havana Club Cannons Season Notes:

The Havana Club Cannons are the Regular Season, and Post Season Champions for 2007 in the Pikesville Men's Softball league.

This years sweep of the titles is the Havana Club's 2nd in a row, and 3rd in the last 4 years.

Neal Charkatz had great managerial help this year from Jeff Kurland and Johnny Edelman, and the veteran laden team really fought hard through injuries in 2007 to achieve the titles. Tim Grap, the teams one regular newcomer in '07 was a fantastic addition to the team, showing his versatility by playing a multitude of positions while adjusting to batting in the league quite quickly. (C, 2b, 3b, LF,LCF,RCF, RF)

Steve Henneman provided a huge spark in '07 after returning to the Cannons in mid '06 after a 4 year absence. Steve had a fantastic year at the plate, but his defense at second, shortstop and third base was second to none. Steve filled every hole in the defense for the Cannons in '07, and did so admirably. Steve wowed the crowds on a weekly basis with his glove.

Mark Yokel and Tommy Paulshock turned in what had to be two of the best pitching performances in Pikesville Men's Softball League history. Both Mark and Tommy lost only one game each this year, showing a great ability to get out of jams by pitching right into the Cannons strength, its defense.

The leadership provided by Chuck Easter, Evan Kreitzer, Mike Steller, Luis Falcon and Shawn Warner this year was second to none. Long trips were made on a few early sunday mornings to drive sometimes more than 3 hours to be there ready to go. These great sacrifices lead to a regular season record of 27-1, and making sure the Cannons were able to secure the #1 seed going in to the playoffs. This seed was key, as again this year, as happened in years past, three 1 loss teams were left in the playoffs come the 3rd week, and the Cannons were able to sit back and wait for the lower two seeds to play their way into the Championship vs the Cannons.