Pikesville Men's Softball League 2008 Season April

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:
Game 1: Sky & Sky Inc. (WP-Alex Newman 2-1) LOFT (LP-Kory Rosenberg 2-3)

Sky and Sky knew they couldn’t take Loft lightly as they were coming off a sweep of the Canons and Sky was missing several key players. Sky got a run in the first after Elliot Blank tripled and scored on a single by Glenn Ackman. Alex Newman got the first 3 batters out, and then Sky’s bats exploded in the top of the 2nd, scoring 10 runs in the inning. Shaun Poulton got the big inning started with a base hit, and 9 more hitters reached base safely before Loft could even get an out. It was 11-0 after the 2nd inning. Alex Newman continued to pound the strike zone and let his defense work behind him, allowing just 3 hits in the 5 innings.

Offensive stars for Sky & Sky:
Elliot Blank, 2-2, 3B, BB, 2R, RBI
Glenn Ackman, 1-3, R, 3RBI
Scott Kessner, 1-2, 2B, R, 2RBI

Game 2: Sky & Sky Inc. 17 (WP-Larry Newman 13-3) LOFT 3 (LP-Kory Rosenberg 2-4)

Sky continued pounding the ball as they did in game 1, getting 7 hits and scoring 5 runs in the first inning. The Loft looked to respond in the bottom of the inning, but stranded the bases loaded, leaving Sky a 5-0 lead. In the top of the 2nd, Steve Truitt and Elliot Blank got the offense started with base hits, and Glenn Ackmann knocked in Truitt with an RBI single. Brian Sky singled home Blank who slid into home, just beating the strong throw from the right fielder. Ackman moved to 3rd and scored on a sac fly from Shaun Poulton, giving Sky a commanding 9-0 lead. Larry Neumann held the Loft scoreless in the 2nd, and neither team scored in the 3rd. Sky took a 9-0 lead into the 4th but weren’t satisfied so Sky proceeded to score 6 more runs. The Loft finally scored in the 4th inning, bringing a roar of cheers from the bench. Sky responded with 2 more in the top of the 5th, and Loft scored 2 of their own, but it wasn’t enough to keep the game going and it ended in a 5-inning 17-3 win for Sky.

Offensive stars for Sky & Sky:
Steve Truitt, 4-4, 2B, 4R, RBI
Elliot Blank, 4-4, 3B, 4R, 2RBI
Glenn Ackman, 2-3, BB, R, 3RBI
Chris Davis, 2-4, R, RBI
Brian Mekiliesky, 3-4, 2R, 2RBI
Alex Newman, 2-3, R, 2RBI
Paul Hayes, 2-3, 2RBI

Offensive stars for Loft:
Brandon Mabry, 2-3, RBI
Jeff, 2-3
Andy Peksa, 2-2, RBI
Bob, 2-2

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:
Game 1: Kings 11 (WP-Chuck Grant 16-1) Eastern Savings Bank 10 (LP-Tzvi Friedman 4-5)

The Kings trailed by 2 runs entering the b-7th, but got the bats going with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning to win the opener 11-10. ESB offense exploded out of the gate with 4 runs in t-1st. An RBI 1B by Tzvi Friedman and 2 out 2 RBI 3B by Joe Orshan pacing the rally. The Kings cut the lead in half with an Arin Gelletly 2 out 2 RBI 1B. ESB pounded out 5 more hits in t-3rd including RBI 2B's by Friedman and Marc Loeb, along with an RBI 1B by Dan Gutman. The Kings looked to rally in b-3rd with runners on second and third base with just 1 out and Shilo Merwitz at the plate. Merwitz flew out to LCF Ben Gutman and Gutman nailed the runner at the plate to get pitcher Tzvi Friedman out of a major jam. ESB kept their 7-2 lead after 3 innings.

The Kings offense woke up in the b-4th with 5 singles including RBI hits by Keegan Rettaliata and Troy Hendricks. The Kings pushed across 3 runs in the inning to trail just 7-5. ESB got those runs back with 2 runs in t-5th keyed by Loeb RBI 1B and Cap Plokemba SF. They got the other run back in t-6th on a Shaya Katz 3B to LF and SF by Chaim Finkelstein. ESB led 10-5 in the middle of the 6th inning.

In b-6th, the Kings loaded the bases with 0 outs with Slutzker 1B, Gelletly 1B, and Jan Katzen walk. Alan Varhaftik hit a SF; Rettaliata and Troy Hendricks followed with 2 out RBI singles. ESB was unable to score in t-7th, holding a 10-8 lead into the bottom half of the inning.

With 1 out, Dave Sandler singled and Shilo Merwitz drew a walk. Jeff Slutzker singled to RCF, scoring Sandler and moving Merwitz, the tying run to thirdbase. Gelletly walked to load the bases. Jan Katzen hit a SF to LF scoring the tie run, with Slutzker and Gelletly advancing a base on the flyout. Alan Varhaftik hit a 2 out 1B to score Slutzker with the winning run.

ESB offensive leaders:
Ben Gutman (4-4,2 R)
Tzvi Friedman (3-4,3 R,2 RBI,2B)
Marc Loeb (3-4,2 R,2 RBI,2B)
Joe Orshan (3-4,1 R,2 RBI,3B)
Dan Gutman (1-3,2 RBI)

Kings offensive leaders:
Kenny Salzman (2-4)
Dave Sandler (2-4,1 R)
Jeff Slutzker (4-4,4 R,1 RBI)
Arin Gelletly (3-3,2 R,2 RBI,W)
Keegan Rettaliata (2-3,1 R,2 RBI)
Troy Hendricks (3-3,2 RBI,2B)

Game 1 notes:
►Each team pounded out 18 hits, but there were just 3 2B and 2 3B.

Game 2: Kings 9 (WP-Chuck Grant 17-1) Eastern Savings Bank 7 (LP-Marc Loeb 0-1)

ESB again led the Kings thru the first 6 innings. Again the Kings would not go away, this time scoring 4 runs in t-7th and holding on for a 9-7 victory in the nightcap. Jeff Slutzker was 3-for-3 in game 2 and 7-for-7 on the day to lead the offense. On defense, second baseman Kenny Salzman's spectacular diving catch on a Ben Gutman linedrive in the b-7th kept the Kings in control of their lead.

Marc Loeb made the game 2 start on the hill for ESB as Tzvi Friedman was unable to stay around for game 2. The Kings offense picked up where they left off in game 1, scoring 5 runs in t-1st. The Kings loaded the bases with 1 out, and scored via RBI 1B by Gelletly, SF by Katzen, 2 RBI 3B by Varhaftik, and RBI 1B by Rettaliata. ESB also was explosive in inning 1 with consecutive singles to start their half of the inning by Cameron Brown, Ben Gutman, Marc Loeb (RBI), and SF by Dan Gutman leading to 3 runs.

Loeb settled down on the mound and allowed his potent offense a chance to take control of the game. An RBI 1B in b-3rd by Joe Rombro cut the Kings lead to 5-4. In b-4th, with 2 outs and 0 on, consecutive 1B's by Mike Finkelstein, Cameron Brown, Ben Gutman (RBI), and Loeb (RBI) put ESB ahead 6-5. Chuck Grant on the mound for the Kings limited the opportunities for ESB thru the 6th inning, keeping the score unchanged heading into inning 7.

Kenny Salzman started the inning for the Kings with a 1B to RCF. With 1 out, Merwitz hit a 1B to RCF, moving Salzman over to thirdbase. Jeff Slutzker came to the plate working on a 6-for-6 day and he delivered his 7th hit of the day, a run scoring 1B to LCF that got behind the ESB fielder. Salzman easily scored the tie run, Merwitz came home with the go-ahead run, and Slutzker made it to thirdbase. Arin Gelletly hit an RBI 3B and Jan Katzen hit a SF, putting the Kings out in front 9-6.

ESB had the top of their line-up coming to the plate to start the b-7th. Cameron Brown singled to get things started. Ben Gutman then crushed a scorching linedrive towards RCF. Kings second baseman Kenny Salzman made a diving snare of the linedrive, robbing Gutman, keeping an important runner off base, and also giving ESB just 2 more outs in the game. ESB kept things interesting. Following an infield groundout for the 2nd out of the inning, Dan Gutman walked and Cap Plokemba hit an RBI 1B. With the potential tying runs on base, Grant was able to induce a groundout to end the inning and to keep the Kings in first place with a 4 game lead.

ESB offensive stars in game 2 included:
Cameron Brown (3-4,3 R)
Ben Gutman (3-4,1 R,1 RBI)
Marc Loeb (3-4,2 R,2 RBI)
Cap Plokemba (3-4,1 RBI)

Kings multi-hit players in game 2 were:
Kenny Salzman (3-4,2 RBI)
Jeff Slutzker (3-3,2 R,1 RBI,W)
Arin Gelletly (2-4,2 R,2 RBI,3B)
Jan Katzen (2-2,2 RBI,2 SF)

Game 2 notes:
►The teams' offenses continued to shine in game 2 with 16 hits by ESB and 14 hits by the Kings.
►Jeff Slutzker's 7-for-7 performance today was a season high for hits by a Kings player.
►Ben Gutman of ESB also had 7 hits today (7-8, 3 R,1 RBI). He was prevented from having an 8 hit performance only by Kenny Salzman's stellar defensive play robbing Gutman of a hit in inning 7 of game 2.
►ESB captain Marc Loeb was also outstanding at the plate with a 6-8,4 R,4 RBI,2B showing.
►The top of the line-up for ESB (1-4 hitters) was a combined 20-30 (.667), 14 R,8 RBI,2 2B.
►ESB is likely the first team in league history to have 2 sets of twins play in the same game-- Ben & Dan Gutman, Yisrael & Shaya Katz.
►Picking up 2 wins today, Chuck Grant now has 98 lifetime wins in a Kings uniform (well ahead of Steve Levy 83, Larry Newman 69).
►The game 2 victory was the 400th win in Kings history. (400 W-216 L- .649 Pct)

Northwest Regional Park Field 4:
Game 1: Northwest Corridor 16 (WP-Howard Goldberg 6-13) Stingers 4 (LP- Albert Hoffman 0-2) 6 Innings

NWC and The Stingers squared off for the 2nd time this season. The Stingers started the scoring off first plating 1 run in the top of the 1st inning. Stuart drove in Sean Murphy on a long triple to right field. NWC went down quietly in the bottom of the 1st and both teams failed to score in the 2nd. Lee Pollak and Aaron Birenbaum both were issued walks to start the 3rd inning. Matt Silverman singled home Pollak and Jon Herbst knocked everyone home with a blast to the right centerfield warning track. The Stingers put two runs back on the board in the top of the 4th after consecutive deep shots from James and Lee Densky. With a 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the 4th NWC pulled away with a huge 6 run inning. Aaron Birenbaum and Matt Silverman both had rbi hits and Joey Liner drove home 3 with a bases loaded double. NWC added 2 more in the 5th from a Matt Bell homerun. One half inning after Bell delivered a web gem over the shoulder catch. Brad Rosenberg singled home Liner to end the game after 6 innings with the score 16-4.

Albert Hoffman helped out the Stingers to try and get them on the right track, but it was not enough as they gave the day to NWC. Key hitting came from James Engler and Chad Hall.

Joey Liner 3-4 2R 3RBI 2-2B

Matt Bell 2-2 2R 2RBI HR 2B BB

Matt Silverman 2-2 2R 2RBI SF

Game 2: Northwest Corridor 15 (WP-Howard Goldberg 7-13) Stingers 0 (LP- Mike Beverly 0-3) 4 Innings

The momentum and energy from game #1 carried over into the top of the 1st inn for NWC. Joey Liner, Brad Rosenberg and Jon Goldman all delivered extra base hits in the inning. Matt Bell and Howard Goldberg drew walks and Lee Pollak drilled a 3run homer to the left centerfield fence. Given a 7run cushion Goldberg set the Stinger hitters down without a hit in the bottom of the 1st. The hit parade continued for NWC in the 2nd inning scoring 6 more runs and jumping out to a 13-0 lead. Matt Silverman led the inning off with with a triple to left field. Herbst, Liner and Adam Silverman followed with consecutive singles. Goldberg tripled off of the fence in left center to drive 2 more home and Goldman's FC knocked the 6th run of the inning home. The Stingers failed to score again in the 3rd inning and only had one hit off of Goldberg entering the 4th. NWC added 2 more runs in the top of the 4th and Matt Silverman got 3 quick outs on the mound in relief of Goldberg. Final score after 4 innings 15-0