2008 Pikesville Men's Softball League
Week 6:  May 11, 2008

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:
Game 1: Havana Club Cannons 13 (WP-Mark Yokel 4-1) Eastern Savings Bank 12 (LP-Tzvi Friedman 0-2) 

Game 1 was an up and down affair for both teams, as the scoring was rampant, and the lead changed hands 3 times. Eastern started out with 4 runs in the top of the first, almost all un-earned as the Cannons made 3 errors.

The Cannons fought back to tie the game in the 2nd after plating 2 runs in both the 1st and second innings. In both Innings Jeff Kurland walked and scored. Chuck Easter followed with rbi singles in both of the first two innings as well.

Yokel surrendered 5 more runs to the hot hitting Eastern bats in the top of the 3rd. The cannons came roaring back, as they often do by plating 4 in the bottom of the 4th to bring the came within 1 at 9-8. Chuck Easter hit a 2 run homerun that bounced of the very top of the fence.

In the top of the 5th Eastern plated 1 run, after a two out single and OF error and another single to plate the run. Yokel was visibly shaken at this point, and would get his relief as the cannons plated another 4 runs in the B5th on 4 singles and 2 walks.

The Cannons added 2 more in the B 6th after Evan Kreitzer led off with a triple and Neal Charkatz Sac Fly brought in one, Yokel, Drew Maclean and a Jeff Kurland single brought in another.

Going into the top of the 7th the Cannons had a 14-10 lead. After 3 consecutive hits, 1 out, with runners on 1st and 2nd and 3 runs in Eastern’s 1st baseman hit a hard shot to third where Tim Grap was able to tag third and throw to first for the game ending 5-3 double play.

Hitting stars for the Cannons game 1:
Kurland: 1-3 3 runs scored
Johnny Edelman: 3-4, BB 2 runs, 3 rbis
Easter: 3-3, BB, HR, 2 runs 4 rbis
Yokel: 2-4
Hayes 2-4 triple
Maclean 2-4


Game 2: Havana Club Cannons 7 (WP-Mark Yokel 5-1) Eastern Savings Bank 2 (LP-Tzvi Friedman 0-3) 

Game 2 was a much different game. Although both teams had the same pitcher throw the second game as they did the first, the bats for both teams fell asleep. Through 4 innings the scored was Cannons 3 and Eastern 2. The Cannons plated 3 in the 2nd, and Eastern got 2 back in the B 4th. Both pitchers were able to avoid the traffic jams they created in 1st game, settling down to the volatile strike zone.

The Cannons added 2 runs in the T 6th when Shawn Warner hit a 1 out triple. Tim Grap came to the plate and hit a rocket to CF that got past both outfielders. Grap and 3rd base coach Charkatz got their signals crossed and Grap headed for home and an inside the park homerun but a good relay from deep SS nailed him at the plate on a very close play. Evan Kreitzer then hit a single and Charkatz followed with a laser rbi triple to LCF over the head of the outfielder for the Cannons 3rd triple of the inning.

In the top of the 7th the Cannons were able to plate 2 more insurance runs on a Kurland rbi fielder’s choice and a Shawn Warner rbi single.

Yokel was able to get Eastern to go down quietly in the B 7th to complete the double header sweep for the Cannons.

Game 2 hitting stars for the Cannons:
Warner: 3-4, single, double, and a triple. 2 runs 1 rbi
Tim Grap: 4-4, 1 run, 1 rbi
Kreitzer: 2-4 2 runs, 1 rbi
Charkatz: 2-2, BB, triple 1 rbi

Northwest Regional Park Field 2:
Game 1: Kings 17 (WP-Shilo Merwitz 1-0)  NEK Entertainment 8 (LP-Dave Pridgen 1-5)

Kings rookie RCF Koby Sarubin (an Owings Mills High School senior and nephew of manager Mike Herr), making an emergency start paced the Kings offense with a 4-for-4 performance, along with 3 RBI's, in his PMSL debut. Sarubin found his way into the Kings line-up when Troy Hendricks misread the weather forecast and was delayed in returning to Owings Mills from Frederick on Sunday morning.

With Kings #1 starter Chuck Grant unavailable, Mike Herr made the start for the Kings. On the first play of the game, Herr strained a hamstring fielding a slow roller between the mound and 3rd base. Completing the 1/2 inning without allowing a run, the Kings came to bat in the bottom of the inning and produced 5 runs.

Sarubin led off the Kings b-1st inning with his first at-bat and first hit, a single to CF. Following a 1 out walk to Dave Sandler, Sarubin scored when Shilo Merwitz' grounder to secondbase was mishandled. Jeff Slutzker (RBI 1B), Alan Varhaftik (2 RBI 2B), and Arin Gelletly (RBI 2B) followed the error with RBI hits to put the Kings ahead 5-0. The damage could have been worse, as Keegan Retalliata and Rob Ressin followed with walks to load the bases, but NEK starter David Pridgen got Rob Barrow to hit into an inning ending doubleplay.

Shilo Merwitz took over on the mound for the Kings to start t-2nd. NEK took advantage of the new pitcher with a 1 out rally. Marqui Garrett singled, Pete Griffin walked, and Blade hit an infield single to load the bases. Rashaad Johnson drew a bases loaded (RBI) walk, followed by a Kevin Purnell 2 RBI single. A throwing error allowed Johnson to score on the play, but Purnell was thrown out at the plate by RCF Sarubin, keeping the Kings in the lead 5-4.

The Kings got 3 runs back in t-2nd as Sarubin started a rally with a 1 out single, with Kenny Salzman following with another single. Dave Sandler grounded out, getting an RBI as Sarubin scored on the play. Shilo Merwitz drew a 2 out walk, and Salzman and Merwitz both scored when Jeff Slutzker's linedrive to LF was misplayed into a 2 base error. NEK bats continued to produce in the t-3rd as Stephen Georgie and John Frederick began the inning with singles. With 1 out, Fred Neal smashed a 2 RBI 3B over the head of Sandler in RF. Jason Gardner brought home Neal with a sacrifice fly, cutting the Kings lead to 8-7.

In b-3rd, Kings loaded bases with 1 out, a result of single by Arin Gelletly, single by Retalliata, and walk to Barrow. Pridgen was able to retire pinch-hitter (for Herr) Troy Hendricks on an infield liner, but Sarubin again came though for the Kings with a 2 RBI single. Merwitz settled down on the mound, keeping NEK off of the board in innings 4-6. Meanwhile, the Kings continued to hit away against Pridgen. 5 more Kings runs came home in b-4th, the key hit a Keegan Retalliata 3 -run HR to LCF. Kings added 2 more runs in b-5th as Sarubin began another rally with a 1 out 1B, Salzman walked, Sandler hit an RBI 1B, and Merwitz hit a sacrifice fly. Holding a 17-7 lead, NEK did score 1 run in t-7th on a fielder's choice groundout, but it was far from enough as the Kings won handily, 17-8.

Kings offensive stars game 1:
Koby Sarubin (4-4,3 R,2 RBI)
Dave Sandler (2-3,2 R,2 RBI,W)
Shilo Merwitz (1-2,3 R,1 RBI,W,SF,reached on error)
Alan Varhaftik (3-4,2 R,2 RBI,2 2B,3B)
Arin Gelletly (2-4,1 R,1 RBI,2B,reached on error)
Keegan Retalliata (2-3,2 R,3 RBI, HR,W)

NEK offensive stars for game 1:
Stephen Georgie (2-4,1 R,1 RBI)
John Frederick ('Fred') (204,1 R)
Fred Neal (2-3,1 R,2 RBI,3B)
Marqui Garrett (2-3,1 R,2B)
Kevin Purnell (2-3,1 R,2 RBI)

Game 2: NEK Entertainment 12 (WP-Jeff Harris 2-1)  KIngs 5 (LP-Shilo Merwitz 1-1)

Jeff Harris took the mound for NEK in game 2 and was in control of the game throughout. He allowed just 7 hits thru 6 innings, before yielding 4 hits in the Kings t-7th when the game's outcome was already decided. NEK and Harris won game 2 over the Kings by a score of 12-5.

The Kings went ahead in t-1st on consecutive singles by Salzman and Sandler. Slutzker hit a SF, but the Kings came away with just a 1-0 lead in 1st inning. In t-2nd, a Gelletly 2B, Ressin 1Bb, and Troy Hendricks RBI 1B put Kings ahead 2-0. NEK got even in b-2nd with single by Jason Gardner, walk to Harris, RBI 1B by Purnell, and sacrifice fly by Stephen Georgie.

Having to move around several fielders due to mounting injuries on the Kings side, NEK took advantage of the Kings playing out-of-position scoring 4 runs in b-3rd, and 6 runs in b-4th, while recording just 5 RBI's. None of the 3rd inning runs were earned as John Frederick started the inning with a walk, Marqui Garrett reached on a 1 out infield error, and both Brian Blade (pinch-running for Frederick) and Garrett scored on an infield groundout by Fred Neal to firstbase. Kings firstbaseman Keegan Retalliata stepped on firstbase to retire Neal with the 2nd out, but his throw to 2B to double-up Garret on a reverse doubleplay went into CF as Kings 2B Jeff Slutzker screened SS Kenny Salzman on the throw. NEK added 2 more runs in t-3rd on RBI 1B by Rashaad Johnson and Jeff Harris scoring during a rundown on Johnson.

2 more infield errors by the Kings in b-4th led to 6 more NEK runs. An RBI single by Haden and 2 RBI single by Harris keying the NEK rally. With NEK leading 12-2 entering the t-7th, the Kings did get some productive at bats against a tiring Harris in the inning. Kenny Salzman hit a 3 RBI 2B to the warning track, with the Kings falling in the end 12-5.

Offensive stars for NEK in game 2:
Marqui Garrett (2-4,2 R, reached on error)
Jeff Harris (2-3,3 R,2 RBI,W)
Rashaad Johnson (2-3,1 R,1 RBI)
Kevin Purnell (2-3,1 RBI, reached on error)

Kings offensive stars for game 2:
Kenny Salzman (3-4,1 R,3 RBI,2B)
Dave Sandler (2-4)
Arin Gelletly (2-3,1 R,2B)
Troy Hendricks (2-3,1 R,1 RBI,2B)

Kings game notes:

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:
Game 1: LOFT 7 (WP- Andy Peksa 2-5)  Northwest Corridor 5 (LP-Howard Goldberg 2-5)  

LOFT took the field first on this slightly chilly breezy Sunday morning. NWC hoped to start things off quickly in the top of the 1st and hopefully end the team's 4 game losing streak. Joey Liner led off with a single and Jon Herbst followed with a walk. Dave Stein was then robbed on a great catch by the rightfielder but Liner tagged to 3rd and then came home on a Goldberg sac fly. LOFT managed 1 single in the bottom half of the 1st but no runs. Both teams failed to score in the 2nd but the 3rd inning would bring 9 total runs scored. NWC started the 3rd with 4 consecutive singles from Aaron Birenbaum, Liner, Herbst and Stein. 2 runs would score and a third from a Matt bell double but NWC left 2 men on base and what could have been a huge inning ended with 3 runs scored. LOFT capitalized big time in the bottom of the 3rd. A two out error would keep the inning alive and lead to 2 more runs for LOFT. Corey Rosenberg broke things open with a smoking inside the park home run over the head of Jon Herbst that brought in 3 runs. NWC got one run back in the 4th after a Lee Pollak triple and a Brad Rosenberg sac fly. A leadoff walk and two singles gave LOFT another run in the 5th and NWC's left 2 more men on base in the 6th down 7-5. Peska retired NWC's top 3 hitters in order in the 7th for the victory.

Less then 48 hours after Brett Henry's shocking announcement that he most likely will not return to LOFT this season, LOFT still took the field; it was only the second time in team history they did so without Henry on the field. Andy Peksa took the mound trying to rebound from a mediocre start the week before. NWC was able to take an early lead on LOFT by scoring 5 early runs, but in the bottom of the third inning LOFT got the bats going. The inning started slow as Bobby popped out followed by a Jeff Kapper single and then ground out by Michael Bowen. Brandon Mabry stepped to the plate and reached on an error. That one error came back to hurt NWC in a big way as Andy Peksa followed it up with a RBI single, Matt Boden reached on a walk and Dan Mabry delivered a 2 RBI single. The inning was capped out by a Kory Rosenberg 3 run inside the park home run. It gave LOFT the lead in the game and it ended up being all they needed. LOFT did add on an extra run in the bottom of the 5th on a Dan Mabry RBI single giving him 3 RBIs on the day. The defense was solid for LOFT as it has been all day highlighted by many fine plays at short stop by Dan Mabry. Andy Peksa got back into form and pitched a 7 inning 5 run gem to defeat NWC for the first time in team history.

Offensive Highlights for LOFT:
Andy Peksa: 3-3; 3 1B, RBI, R
Dan Mabry: 2-3; 2 1B, 3 RBI, R
Kory Rosenberg: 1-2; HR, BB, 3 RBI, R
Hitting Stars NWC:
Lee Pollak 2-3 3b R RE
Joey Liner 2-4 2R

Game 2:  Northwest Corridor 10 (WP- Howard Goldberg 3-5)  LOFT 4 (LP-Kory Rosenberg 1-1) 

LOFT batted first, fired up from their game #1 victory but went down quietly in the 1st. NWC managed a run in the bottom half of the inning to take the early lead. The lead didn't last long as LOFT a triple from Mike and 2 base hits to plate 2 runs. NWC fought right back in the bottom of the 2nd breaking out for 6 runs scored. Matt Silverman and Cory Zajdel both delivered early singles. Herbst and Bell drew walks and NWC had 3 runs on the board before the 1st out. Aaron Birenbaum drilled a triple to the fence in left center and Joey Liner followed him with a double. NWC 6 LOFT 2 going into the 3rd. LOFT put a few base runners on in the 3rd on a walk, hit and reach on error but failed to score. NWC went down 1-2-3 in the 3rd and managed just one single in the 4th. LOFT scraped back getting a run in the 4th and one in the 5th but NWC put together 3 more insurance runs in the 5th inning. Dave Stein led the inning off with a base hit to center field. Goldberg followed with a triple to the fence in left field. Matt Bell knocked Goldberg home with a base hit and Bell scored on a double from Jon Herbst. Final score NWC 10 LOFT 4. A Mother's Day Split.

Game 2 did not go as well for LOFT as they were unable to get the bats going at all. Howard Goldberg pitched a great game getting out of a few bases loaded jams during the game without yielding any runs. NWC seemed to hit faster pitching better as they were able to plate 10 runs in the game. Not much to mention on the offensive side of things for LOFT. Defensively however, Matt Boden gunned a runner at 2nd trying to tag from 1st by about 3 steps to end one inning and Dan Mabry continued to flash the leather at short stop making several more tough plays. Not much more to say about the game except for the fact that NWC simply out hit LOFT in this affair to earn a split on the day.

 Hitting Stars for NWC:
Dave Stein 2-4 R
Matt Bell 1-2 BB 2R
Aaron Birenbaum 2-2 Bb 3B 2rbi R

 Game Notes NWC:
>Regular 3rd baseman Adam Silverman missed his first games of the season as he welcomed the both of his first daughter - Samara Hope Silverman - Dave Stein manned the position very well in his absence
>The Mother's Day Holiday brought out a season high 7 spectators for NWC
>Jon Herbst reached the 75 career hit milestone today.
>Dave Stein has reached the 200 career hit plateau.

LOFT game notes:
- Andy Peksa raised his average to .552 on the season after going 4-6 with a walk on the day.
- Dan Mabry has been turning heads with his stellar play at short stop so far this season, making tough plays look routine each and every week.
- Kory Rosenberg took back the team triples lead with his third of the season today and also had his first HR of the year (inside the park)

Randallstown High School Field 4:
Game 1: Sky & Sky Inc. 7  Stingers 0 (FORFEIT)

Highlights pending.

Game 2:  

Sky & Sky Inc. 7  Stingers 0 (FORFEIT)

Highlights pending.