2008 Pikesville Men's Softball League
Week 10:  June 8, 2008

Deer Park Middle School Field 1:
Game 1: NEK Entertainment 6 (WP-Jeff Harris 4-1) Havana Club Cannons 5 (LP-Mark Yokel 6-2) 

N.E.K beat the Cannons for the first time since joining the league. Down 4-0 in the 5th inning, N.E.K rallied to score 6 runs which proved to be just enough to get a Game 1 win. Sloppy Havana Club defense and a few timely hits from NEK led to the 6-5 NEK victory in game 1. 

Offensive Stars for NEK Entertainment:
Damon Corbin - 3-3, 1 rs
Jason Gardner - 2-3, 2 rbi's

Game 2: Havana Club Cannons 7 (WP-Tom Paulshock 6-0) NEK Entertainment 1 (LP-Ted Winner 0-1) 

Tom Paulshock held N.E.K to only 6 hits. Ted Winner pitched his first game since joining N.E.K. He threw a good game, but didnt receive any offensive support!

Deer Park Middle School Field 2:
Game 1: Kings 4 (WP-Chuck Grant 7-1) LOFT 3 (LP-Kory Rosenberg 1-2) 

Kings Chuck Grant and LOFT Kory Rosenberg engaged in a pitcher's duel, with the Kings coming out the victors 4-3. Both pitchers allowed just 7 hits and there was just 1 extra-base hit in the ballgame. For the Kings, it was their first time back onto the field since May 11th, the result of a forfeit, holiday, and rainout. Without a paid umpire for the doubleheader, the team's called their own game. For the Kings, Brooks Sandler called an outstanding game behind the plate, while for LOFT, it was Mike Markovic.

After a scoreless 1st inning, Kory Rosenberg led off LOFT t-2nd with a 2B. Newcomer Scott brought Rosenberg home with a single. The Kings produced a 2 out rally in b-3rd when Jeff Slutzker and Jan Katzen drew walks, Alan Varhaftik singled home the tie run, and Keegan Rettaliata plated both Katzen and Varhaftik with a 2 RBI bloop 1B.

The Kings held 3-1 lead into b-6th when again with 2 outs and Jeff Webster on firstbase, Grant singled, and Robbie Ressin gave the Kings an insurance run with an RBI 1B. The Kings needed that extra run, as LOFT rallied in the t-7th. 1 out singles by Matt Boden, Kory Rosenberg, and Scott (RBI), along with a SF by Bob Santos made the score 4-3. Grant was able to retire Brett Henry on a popout to SS to end the game.

LOFT played excellent defense, going errorless in the game.

Offensive stars for LOFT:
Kory Rosenberg (2-3,2 R,1 RBI,2B)
Scott (3-3,1 RBI)

Offensive stars for Kings:
Alan Varhaftik (2-3,1 R,1 RBI)
Keegan Rettaliata (1-3,2 RBI)

 Game 2:  Kings 9 (WP-Chuck Grant 8-1) LOFT 2 (LP-Andy Peksa 2-7) 

Game 2 also began as a pitcher's duel (or lack of offensve) as Grant faced Andy Peksa in the nightcap. The Kings won the game 9-2, but the game was close until the Kings broke it open with 5  2 out runs in t-5th.

Scoreless into b-2nd, Kings got consecutive singles by Keegan Rettaliata, Jeff Webster, and Chuck Grant to grab 1-0 lead. In b-3rd, Mike Herr reached on infield error to leadoff inning and scored following an infield single by Dave Sandler and sacrifice fly to RF by Jeff Slutzker. The score remained 2-0 Kings after 4 innings.

In t-5th, Robbie Ressin reached to start the inning on an infield error. Ressin moved over to 3B on Mike Herr's groundout to 2B. Koby Sarubin scored Ressin with a SF, giving the Kings a 3-0 lead and emptying the bases with 2 outs. However, the Kings produced 4 additional runs on 5 straight singles by Sandler, Slutzker, Katzen (RBI), Varhaftik (RBI), Rettaliata (RBI), and Webster (RBI).

The Kings built their lead to 9-0 in t-7th on RBI singles by Rettaliata and Webster. LOFT avoided being shutout with a mini-rally in b-7th, with 3 singles and a SF by Rosenberg.

LOFT offensive game 2 stars:
Mike Bowen (2-3,1 R)
Mike Markovic (2-3,1 R)

Kings offensive game 2 stars:
Dave Sandler (2-4,1 R)
Jan Katzen (2-3,2 R,1 RBI,W)
Alan Varhaftik (2-4,2 R,1 RBI)
Keegan Rettaliata (3-4,1 R,2 RBI)
Jeff Webster (3-4,2 RBI)

Game notes:

Randallstown High School Field 1:
Game 1: Sky & Sky Inc. 12 (WP- Larry Newman 7-1)  Northwest Corridor 10 (LP-Howard Goldberg 3-8)  8 Innings

Northwest Corridor used two early walks to push one across in the b-1st, and a triple and HR to pushed 3 more across in the b-2nd. Pat Wilcox hit a 3-run HR to the gap in the t-3rd which tied the game at 4 after 2 innings. NWC employed what they learned in the first two innings and combined walks and a barage of hits to push 4 more across in the b-3rd. A controversial call at the plate ended the onslaught, allowing Sky & Sky to stop the bleeding down 8-4. Sky & Sky chipped away adding 1, 2, and 3 runs over the next 3 innings. Much to Sky & Sky's chagrin NWC tied things up in the 7th using a triple by Lee Pollack to send the game into extra frames. Three straight singles in the t-8th allowed Sky & Sky to skate out of the morning game with a 12-10 win as Larry Newman earned the victory over Howard Goldberg. Russ Dlin had three hits in 4 trips to the plate scoring each time, while Larry Newman helped his own cause with a 1B & BB in 3 plate appearances. Alan Friedman went 2-3. Goldberg only allowed 2 extra base hits all game as the aforementioned Wilcox also doubled.

After a 2 week layoff NWC was happy to finally take the field again versus Sky&Sky. Both teams battled the intense heat and alternate fields to play a highly competitive softball game. The teams went back and forth throughout the game to force extra innings with Sky&Sky coming out on top 12-10. NWC jumped out to the early lead plating 1 run in the 1st inning. Jon Herbst and Howard Goldberg both drew 1st inning walks and a David Stein FC drove in the lone run. NWC added to the run total in the 2nd scoring another 3 runs. Matt Silverman drove in a run on a long triple to left centerfield and Jon Herbst knocked in 2 with a home run to right centerfield. Sky came roaring back in the 4th with 4 runs but NWC matched the 4 in the bottom half of the inning. Adam Silverman led off with a single followed by another Goldberg walk. David Stein tripled them both in with a blast to right centerfield and Brad Rosenberg singled home Matt Bell for the 4th run. NWC looked to be in control of the game but Sky&Sky's Larry Newman shut them down for 2 innings while his team added 6 runs to take the lead. NWC added 1 run in the 6th as Goldberg singled home Joey Liner. Down by 1 run in the bottom of the 7th Lee Pollak got things going for NWC with a one out triple. Matt Silverman hit a sac fly to left for the tying run but NWC was unable to add the game winning run. In extra innings Sky&Sky scored 2 quick runs but NWC came up empty despite a Joey Liner leadoff double to start the bottom of the 8th.

Hitting Highlights NWC:
Jon Herbst 3-4 2r 3rbi HR BB

Game 2:  Sky & Sky Inc. 21 (WP- Larry Newman 8-1)  Northwest Corridor 9 (LP-Howard Goldberg 3-9)  6 Innings

Game two was not as riveting. Sky & Sky sent their entire line-up to the plate twice during the game, scoring 7 in the b-1st and 10 in the b-4th on their way to a 21-9 win in 6 innings. NWC did close the gap to one, pushing 6 across in the t-2nd. However, that is as close as the score would get. As you might imagine, everyone did well for the Sky & Sky offense. Ten of the eleven slots in the line-up reached base safely at least 3 times. Of particular note was Larry Newman who had 3 hits and 3 runs. He reminisced after the game that the last time he had three hits at one time was at a Grateful Dead concert. It should also be mentioned that the last time he had to do this much running was when the FBI was chasing him for impersonating an outfielder almost 30 years ago to the day.

Sky&Sky jumped all over NWC in the 1st inning plating 6 early runs. NWC tired and on the heals of a bitter game #1 defeat rallied back in the 2nd with 6 of their own. Matt Bell, Aaron Birenbaum and Jon Herbst all drew walks off of Newman. Brad Rosenberg had an rbi double, Goldberg and Matt Silverman had rbi singles and Adam Silverman blasted a bases loaded triple for the NWC 6 runs. It looked like another close game until the 4th inning. NWC used 5 consecutive base hits to score another 6 runs but Sky&Sky's bats exploded for a 10 run 4th inning. The heat and huge deficit would be too much for NWC to handle going down in flames 21-9. Matt Silverman was the NWC fielder of the day making several outstanding catches in RF, including 2 amazing diving catches in foul territory.

Hitting highlights NWC:
Adam Silverman 3-4 2r 3B 3rbi
Brad Rosenberg 3-3 r 2rbi 2B
Howard Goldberg 3-4 r 2rbi


Randallstown High School Field 2:
Game 1: Eastern Savings Bank 7 (WP- Tzvi Friedman 1-3)  Stingers 1 (LP-Mark Wienner 0-1)  

Stingers started the morning off with fresh faces from Greg Cooper, Steve Matthews and Jamal Gordon. Through five innings, the Stingers did what they could defensively behind Mark Wienner to keep a 3 run difference through five innings of complaining from ESB and the scorching sun. After seven innings it was given to ESB 7-1.

Game One was memorable for Howie Freidman, allowing just one run in 7 innings. He was backed by stellar defense and Timely hitting, with the new star youngster A Gillete coming through in numerous clutch situations.

Game 2:  Eastern Savings Bank 23 (WP- Tzvi Friedman 2-3)  Stingers 17 (LP-Mark Wienner 0-2)  

The bats woke up early in this game for ESB, putting up 15 runs quickly. It looked like a route was in order until the stingers batlled back, highlighted by putting up 8 runs to tie the game late. The game went extra innings, and in the 8th Marc Loeb laced a 2 run Homer deep into left center to give ESB the lead. They would tack on a couple more and hold on for a much needed sweep.

In the later game, the Stingers got their bats moving putting 3 runs on the board to help out Mark’s second game of the day. They would tack on 2 more again in the b-2nd to make it a 5-1 Stingers game. Then the complaining of changing players, score book catastrophes and the heat got ESB out ahead with a bunch of singles and doubles to put ESB out front 15-8 ESB. The Stingers would battle back with help from Greg Cooper and Jamal Gordon sending long balls over ESB outfielders to tie it up at 15 all ater 6 innings of play. Mark Wienner did all he could and the Stingers helped him out as both teams kept it tied through 2 more innings, each scoring 2 runs a piece, but it would ESB taking the day and the second game 23-17.