2008 Pikesville Men's Softball League
Week 17:  July 27, 2008

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:
Game 1: Havana Club Cannons 12 (WP-Mark Yokel 9-6)  Northwest Corridor 3 (LP-Howard Goldberg 9-16)

The Cannons had to rebound vs. a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Kings, and did so in admirable fashion in today's games vs. the Corridor.

The first four batters reached base for the Cannons in the T1st, with three of them scoring. In the T2nd, the Cannons followed with 2 more runs, taking a 5-0 lead and hoping to ease through the rest of the game. NWC wouldn’t go down without a fight, and plated 2 runs in the B2nd.

After the 4th inning the score was 7-3, and the Cannons were able to push across 5 more runs to put the game out of reach.

Hitting Stars for the Cannons game 1:
Johnny Edelman 2-3, 2 runs, 1 rbi
Chuck Easter 3-4, 2 runs, 4 rbis
Shawn Warner 2-2, 2 runs, 1 rbi, BB

Game 2: Havana Club Cannons 14 (WP-Tom Paulshock 9-2)  Northwest Corridor 7 (LP-Howard Goldberg 9-17) 

Game two was a much closer game through 4 innings as the Cannons bats were slowed down. After 4 the Cannons lead 3-1, and going into the B5th the score was tied 3-3. In the B 5th though the Cannons bats awoke with a strong 6 run inning where the first 9 batters reached base, only one creating an out.

Leading 9-3 in the T 6th, the pesky NWC fought back to plate 3 runs and make it a closer game at 9-6. The Cannons though scored another 5 runs in the B 6th as the first 5 runners reached base and all scored. NWC was able to push one across in the 7th, but it wasn’t enough to challenge the Cannons.

Hitting stars for the Cannons in game 2:
Kurland 3-5, 2 runs scored
Easter 2-4, 2 runs, 2 rbis
Warner 4-4 3 runs, 1 rbi
Edelman 2-3, 2 runs, 1 rbi
Neal Charkatz 2-4, 2 runs, 2 rbis

Northwest Regional Park Field 2:
Game 1: Kings 12 (WP-Chuck Grant 20-1) NEK Entertainment 3 (LP-Ted Winner 5-3) 

Shilo Merwitz and Arin Gelletly led the offense with 3 RBI each and Chuck Grant won his 20th game of the season as the Kings took the opener 12-3. The Kings had 4 different 3 run innings to produce their 12 runs. 13 of the 14 Kings players eligible for the playoffs came out for the season finale, enabling the team to snap a 2008 team photo.

In b-1st, Arin Gelletly hit a 2 RBI 3B to put Kings ahead 2-0. Gelletly scored the 3rd run of the inning on a fielder's choice at the plate when the catcher was unable to hold onto the ball for a tag out at the plate. In t-3rd, consecutive singles by Pete Griffin, Kevin Purnell, and Stephen Georgie ('Mikey') made the score 3-1. A 2 out walk to Marqui Garrett loaded the bases with 2 outs, but Grant was able to get out of the inning with a flyout.

Kings added to their lead in b-3rd on consecutive singles by Kenny Salzman, Dave Sandler, and Shilo Merwitz (RBI). Arin Gelletly's SF and Jan Katzen's 2 out RBI 1B gave the Kings a 6-1 lead. NEK produced 1 run in t-4th when the Kings committed their only 2 errors of the game in the inning. The Kings scored 3 more times in b-4th with Shilo Merwitz's 2 out 2 RBI 1B the key hit.

In NEK t-5th, a walk to Kevin Purnell, single by Rashaad Johnson, and RBI single by Marqui Garrett made score 9-3. Kings put the game safely away with another 3 run inning in b-5th on an Alan Varhaftik 2 RBI HR and Chuck Grant RBI 1B.

Grant kept NEK in check the rest of the way, including back-to-back swinging strikeouts on Jeff Harris and Dave Pridgen in t-6th. Grant allowed just 7 hits in the game in winning his 20th game of the season.

NEK offensive leaders:
Stephen 'Mikey' Georgie 1-3,1 RBI
Marqui Garrett 1-2,1 RBI,W
No NEK batter had more than 1 hit

Kings game 1 offensive leaders:
Kenny Salzman (2-3,1 R)
Shilo Merwitz (2-4,2 R,3 RBI)
Arin Gelletly (2-3,1 R,3 RBI,3B,SF)
Jan Katzen (2-4,1 R,1 RBI)
Alan Varhaftik (1-2,1 R,2 RBI,HR,W)
Keegan Rettaliata (2-3,1 R,2B)

Game 2: Kings 12 (WP-Chuck Grant 21-1) NEK Entertainment 3 (LP-Jeff Harris 5-3) 

The Kings bats remained hot in the nightcap and Chuck Grant threw another excellent game as the Kings won game 2 by an identical 12-3 score. Kings Dave Sandler and Shilo Merwitz paced the 19 hit offense.

NEK took 2-0 lead in b-2nd on singles by Jason Gardner, Jeff Harris, and Brian Blade (RBI). The lead only lasted to the Kings next at bat as the bottom of the Kings order started the rally and the top of the order got the RBI 1B's from Kenny Salzman, Shilo Merwitz, and Arin Gelletly. The Kings took a 3-2 lead and never looked back again.

4 runs in t-4th courtesy of RBI 1B by Grant, SF by Rob Barrow, RBI 1B by Troy Hendricks, and RBI 1B by Sandler put Kings up 7-2. In t-5th, a 1 out 2B by Jan Katzen and RBI 3B by Varhaftik made it 8-2. RBI 1B by Sandler and 2 RBI 1B by Merwitz in t-6th made it 11-2.

NEK got their final run of the game in b-6th with 1B by Kevin Purnell, 1B by Gardner, and RBI 1B by Harris. Alan Varhaftik hit his 2nd 3B of the game in t-7th and scored on Keegan Rettaliata's RBI 1B, closing out the scoring 12-3.

NEK offensive leaders in game 2:
Kevin Purnell (2-3,1 R)
Jason Gardner (2-3,1 R)
Jeff Harris (3-3,1 R,1 RBI)

Kings offensive stars in game 2:
Kenny Salzman (2-3,1 R,1 RBI,W)
Dave Sandler (2-4,2 R,2 RBI,2B)
Shilo Merwitz (2-4,3 RBI)
Jan Katzen (2-4,1 R,2B)
Alan Varhaftik (3-4,2 R,1 RBI,2 3B)
Keegan Rettaliata (2-4,1 R,1 RBI)
Koby Sarubin (2-3,2 R,2B)

Game 2 notes:
► The win for the Kings was their 26th of the season, surpassing their previous best Regular Season in 1993 when they went 25-5.
► Jeff Slutzker appeared as a pinch-hitter in game 1, but was again limited due to a leg injury. He was rested in game 2 to get healthier for the playoffs.
► Chuck Grant won his 20th and 21st games of the season, establishing a new Kings season record. He past the record previously held by Larry Newman 20-1 in 1993.
► With 2 3B's on the day, Alan Varhaftik took the team lead with 6. He is the Kings all-time 3B leader with 58, well ahead of Chuck Grant's 49.
► The Kings recognize Alan Varhaftik, Dave Sandler, Keegan Rettaliata, and Mike Herr as having played in all 30 Regular Season games this season. Sandler had been scheduled to be out on June 1, but that week was rained out, thus preserving Sandler's perfect attendance record for 2008.

Game 3:  Completion of suspended game from April 20, 2008
LOFT 9 (WP-Andy Peksa 8-13)  NEK Entertainment 4 (LP-Jeff Harris 5-4)

After their double header split, LOFT needed the win over NEK to secure the 5 seed. The game picked up in the bottom of the 4th with LOFT up 4-0. Kory Rosenberg was the original starting pitcher for LOFT, but is out with a hand injury.Peksa took the mound to resume play looking to get the win. Peksa got out of the bottom of the 4th inning giving up no runs despite a lead off double for NEK. LOFT added 2 more runs in the top of the 5th and NEK scored one in the bottom half. LOFT scored 2 more in the 6th and 1 more in the 7th giving them a 9-1 lead going into the 7th. NEK did load the bases and were able to plate 3 runs, but in the end LOFT was able to get out of it with a 9-4 win and the 5th seed, setting up another game against NEK in the opening round of the playoffs.


Northwest Regional Park Field 3:
Game 1: Sky & Sky Inc. 6 (WP-Larry Newman 14-4) Eastern Savings Bank 2 (LP-Tzvi Friedman 6-6)  

Larry Newman held Eastern Savings Bank without an extra base hit in the first game allowing just two runs. He painted the black all game while watching his defense snare several well hit balls. A leadoff 3B by Pat Wilcox helped get Sky & Sky on the board in the b-4th, while two hits and two errors later the home team enjoyed a 3-run lead. Alex Newman followed Pat's lead, tripling to lead off the b-5th which added Sky & Sky's 4th run. Glenn Ackman and Russ Dlin added insurance rbi in the b-6th, as Sky & Sky went on to give Larry Newman the victory 6-2 over Tzvi Friedman. Wilcox added a 2B and 1B to his 3B, and Glenn Ackman collected 2 base hits in the game.


Game 2:  Sky & Sky Inc. 6 (WP-Alex Newman 3-2) Eastern Savings Bank 3 (LP-Dave Finkelstein 2-4)   12 Innings

Not to outdone by his old man, Alex Newman scattered 7 hits and two runs over the first 8 innings of a 12 inning game. ESB's Tzvi Friedman was equally effective through 11 innings limiting the Sky & Sky offense to two measley runs delivered by an Eric Gertner single. Frankly, the scorebook became so convoluted after 9 frames, that I can only tell you both pitchers pitched their asses off in this game. Becoming desperate Sky & Sky secretly contacted Tzvi's wife at home and told her to make up an excuse as to why Tzvi had to leave the game to come home. Fortunately Sky & Sky's plan worked to perfection as Tzvi left the field due to family obligations. Perhaps this is the only reason why the game ended before 3 pm on Sunday. Sky & Sky immediately jumped on relief pitching, plating 4 runs in the t-12th. After 11 2/3 innings of defense (with runners at first and second) Sky & Sky's SS Shaun Poulton injured his shoulder diving for a ball in the hole. Alex gladly moved to SS for the last out allowing his father to "protect" a 3-run lead. Of course the other option was to have his father enter the game as a fill-in SS...a tactical move strongly urged by the ESB bench. The elder Newman picked up a cheap save with two pitches to one batter ending the marathon contest and locking up a second place finish. As stated earlier by virtue of a scorebook gone wild, I have no idea who batted well for either side, because both pitchers were busy pitching the game of their lives. Alex Newman got the win 6-3, and Tzvi went home with a no decision for his lofty performance.

Northwest Regional Park Field 4:
Game 1: Stingers 12 (WP-Mark Wienner 1-2) LOFT 4 (LP- Andy Peksa 6-13) 

LOFT knew they needed to sweep Stingers to give them a shot at the 5th seed and they started off the game scoring 4 runs in the top of the 1st. The first hitter for the Stingers grounded out, but then the Stingers bats came alive and LOFT's defense fell apart early allowing the Stingers to score 9 runs in the bottom of the 1st. LOFT tried to battle back with 2 runs in the top of the 3rd and Peksa held the Stingers to only 3 runs over the final 6 innings, but LOFT was unable to score anymore runs dropping its 2nd game of the year to the Stingers, thus hurting LOFT's chance at the 5th seed in the playoffs.

Stingers started the morning in a hole for the first time as they allowed too many balls batted by LOFT to take a 4-0 lead, but the Stingers would turn the corner, finally. The Stingers put together their signature rally with singles and a few errors by LOFT to take the lead 9-4 after one inning of play. They would battle back and forth with LOFT through 3 more innings of play as LOFT would gain back two in the t-3rd. It was all Stingers though in the morning as they would go on to double their winnings for the season. They would do so with a 12-6 morning win.

Offensive Stars for LOFT:
Brooks Sandler: 4-4; 4 1B
Jimmy Gibbons: 3-4; 3 1B

Game 1:  LOFT 7 (WP-Andy Peksa 7-13) Stingers 6 (LP- Mark Wienner 1-3) 

The later game looked to be a mirror of the morning with LOFT taking the early lead 4-0. The Stingers would battle back with key hits from Stuart Sheridan (2b) and Lee Densky (3b) later followed by singles from James Engler, Jamal Gordon and Matt Friedman to tie things up at four a piece. Stingers would battle with LOFT in the third, but it would be the Stingers winning the inning as Greg Cooper, Mike Beverly and Stuart Sheridan would string together hits to plate 2 more for the Stingers and the lead 6-4. In the t-6th, LOFT would take advantage of off throws and take the later game with a 3 run comeback to take the late game and a split.

LOFT got the news that ESB and NWC had both dropped their 1st games and was told if they could win game 2 of the double header and win the make up game against NEK they would claim the 5th spot. LOFT came out once again in the 1st inning swinging the bats as they plated 4 runs to give them a 4-0 lead, but the Stingers came right back in the 2nd and tied the game. The Stingers later took a 6-4 lead as LOFT continued to struggle. LOFT was able to plate 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th, with the go ahead run coming off an Andy Peksa RBI infield single. Peksa took the mound needing 3 outs and no runs to give LOFT the win, the first batter got out, the 2nd a hit, the 3rd flew out moving runner to 2nd, and the 4th hitter flew out to end the game and earn LOFT a much needed split on the day.

LOFT Notes:
► LOFT finished the year with 10 wins and in 5th place, a huge turn around from the previous 2 years where it finished dead last in the league.
► Andy Peksa took the mound today and pitched 18 innings as LOFT went 2-1 on the day.
► Michael Bowen made his return from the injured list to play in both games including the makeup game and appears ready to go for the playoffs.