2009 Pikesville Men's Softball League
 Week 3:  April 19, 2009

Highlights submitted thus far by all teams except NEK Entertainment

Game 1 Highlights Video
(click on the 'Full Screen' option if you have broadband connection)



Game 2 Highlights Video



 

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:    Umpire- Reggie Grant
 Game 1: Northwest Corridor 15 (WP-Howard Goldberg 3-0) Stingers 3 (LP-Matt Friedman 0-1)  5 Innings

After the week #2 rainout both teams were extremely eager to get back out onto the diamond. The Stingers couldn’t manage a run in the top half of the inning but NWC struck for 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st. Taking advantage of Matt Friedman’s wildness NWC drew 5 walks, had 10 men come to the plate but managed only 4 runs. Adam Silverman drove 2 of those runs in with a 2b. Helped by a Stewart Sheridan triple The Stingers managed 2 runs in the 2nd but could only muster 1 more run for the rest of the ballgame. NWC scored runs in every inning putting the leadoff hitter on base in every inning too. NWC’s total rose to 7 after sac flys from Howard Goldberg and Matt Bell, and a home run from Don Lichay. Scott Sweren led off the 4th inning with a homerun followed by 4 consecutive base hits by the middle of the NWC order. NWC scored 5 more runs to close the game out in the 5th inning by slaughter rule. Scott Sweren doubled home Matt Silverman and Aaron Birenbaum. Goldberg walked and Silverman drilled a base hit to center to plate Sweren. Don Lichay walked and Brad Rosenberg ended the game with a 2run bullet to left field. NWC 15-Stingers 3 in 5inn

Stingers opened their 2009 as visitors against NWC. Matt Friedman started the walking event in the beginning as NWC would patiently work their way through their line-up and plate 8 through 3 innings of play. When the ball was put in play by NWC, the new defense of the Stingers flashed some good glove work and made good double play attempts connecting on a double play between Nate Meyl and Aaron Shifrin to James Engler to slow down NWC. However, after 3 innings of play it was 8-2 NWC and Mike Beverly would work through the remaining innings as NWC took the Stingers out of the game after 5 innings.

Hitting Highlights NWC:
Brad Rosenberg 3-4 r 3rbi 2b
Adam Silverman 3-4 3r 3rbi 2b
Scott Sweren 2-2 2BB 3r 3rbi HR 2b
Don Lichay 2-2 2BB 3rbi r HR

 Game 2: Stingers 14 (WP-Mike Beverly 1-0) Northwest Corridor 13 (LP-Howard Goldberg 3-1)  8 Innings

Game two would be a turning point for the Stingers. Mike Beverly took the mound had a few placement troubles, but was able to get out of the inning with only 3 runs scored by NWC. Stinger came to bat in the b-1st and replied with 3 runs of their own to tie the game after 1. The inning was put together with key triples and doubles from Greg Cooper and Nate Meyl followed by an RBI shot from Aaron Shifrin.

Games 2 was a defensive battle by both teams as they showed some good glove work to keep things knotted after 2. The third was different as NWC found the holes in the Stingers to plate 6 more runs between the 3rd and 4th innings, but the Stingers replied again with 2 more runs with a mirror effect of the b-1st from Stewart Sheridan’s doubled followed by Mike Randall’s RBI triple. James Engler would get into the mix offensively and drive in Randall for his RBI. After shutting down NWC 1-2-3 consecutively, the Stingers rallied with two more runs as the top of the line-up got wheeling around the bases and plated Lee Lieberman and Cooper. This made it 9-7 NWC after 5 innings of play. As the game moved along both teams started tightening down defensively and the gloves and arms got better for both teams. In the 6th, it was only NWC who could squeak out a run to make it a 3 point advantage for them. Then NWC in the top of the 7th was able to plate one more and move ahead by 4 runs. The Stingers came together and down by 4 runs got things going with Dan Mathe. Yonni Chesner would pinch run for Dan and he would be moved around from singles by Mike McGee and Lieberman to bring the Stinger within three to tie. With Lieberman and McGee on the bags, Meyl came to plate and took Goldberg deep to left field for a 3 run homer and the tie. Shortly thereafter, NWC would be able to get out of the inning with runners in scoring position by a line drive shot caught by Silverman at third.

In extra innings, NWC came out and took advantage of the Stingers to take a lead of 2, but the Stingers would be resilient and work the bottom of their line-up for singles and a game winning single by Liberman to bring in Mathe for the game and a split on the day.

Both teams came out fired up for game 2 expecting a more competitive ballgame. Both teams scored 3 runs in the 1st inning. NWC getting rbi hits from Rosenberg and Gabe Unterman. The Stingers evening the score with 3 runs of their own. The Stingers were held in check for the next 2 innings and NWC continued to add to their lead. Jon Goldman & Matt Bell both had rbi singles in the 3rd and sac flys from Rosenberg and Lee Pollak gave NWC a 4 run lead. The lead was stretched to 9-3 in the 4th but The Stingers started to fight back in the bottom half of the inning. The Stingers bats woke up big time drilling line drives to get 4 runs back in the next 2 innings. Going into the top of the 7th the NWC lead had shrunk to 3, 10-7. Jon Goldman’s liner plated Brad Rosenberg with what appeared to be a very valuable insurance run. Dan Mathe led off the inning with an inside the park homer followed by 2 consecutive singles. With 1 out and 2 runners on Nate Myle drilled a shot over the left field wall to tie the game up. Matt Bell started off the extra inning with a walk and Aaron Birenbaum drilled a line drive to the wall which he legged out for an inside the park homer. NWC left 2 men on base in the top of the 8th but still had a 2run cushion and an opportunity to close out the game. The Stingers came out crushing the ball, drilling base hits to all fields and Lee Liberman’s hit to centerfield drove in the tying and winning runs for The Stingers. 8inn 14-13

Hitting Highlights NWC:
Brad Rosenberg 3-4 2r 3rbi
Adam Silverman 3-4 3r rbi BB 2b
Aaron Birenbaum 2-4 r 2rbi HR 2b
Matt Bell 2-3 2r BB rbi

Northwest Regional Park Field 2:    Umpire- Ray Huster
 Game 1: Raptors 13 (WP-Jeff Harris 1-2) LOFT 3 (LP-Rick Winepol 0-3) 

It was a beautiful Sunday morning and the Raptors came ready to play to take on LOFT. The first inning went quickly with both teams stranding one baserunner. While Jeff Harris continued to keep LOFT down in innings 2 and 3, the Raptors bats woke up for the first time this season. A leadoff homerun by Ryan Wilner put the Raptors ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the 2nd. Hits by John Brunnett and Ian Wright and a sac fly by Jeff Harris made it 2-0 at the end of 2. The raptors added 4 in the 3rd to make it 6-0 with 4 straight hits from Eric Radom, Jon Mandras, Justin Raynor, and Brett Canosa, along with a sac fly from Wilner. In the top of the 4th, LOFT staged a rally with the meat of their order plating 3 to make it a 6-3 game. The Raptors came right back in the bottom of the inning scoring 6 to make it 12-3. Two big hits by Harris and Jeremy Zinn at the bottom of the lineup to start the inning allowed the top of the order to do its thing. A Radom walk loaded the bases for a Mandras sac fly. Raynor and Canosa followed with RBI hits, and the big inning was capped off by a Wilner 2-run Jack. Harris slammed the door on LOFT, allowing only one baserunner over the final 3 innings, with the final score 13-3.

LOFT came out once again not swinging the bat very well as they only managed to score 3 runs in the 4th inning off the Raptors in route to a 13-3 loss.

Hitting Highlights Raptors
>Brett Canosa - 3-4, 2B, 3B, 3 R, 2 RBI,
>Ryan Wilner - 2-2, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, 2 sac
>Eric Radom - 1-2, 2 BB, 2 R
>Justin Raynor - 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI

Game 2: Raptors 12 (WP-Jeff Harris 2-2) LOFT 5 (LP-Rick Winepol 0-4) 

LOFT came out in game 2 keeping the game close through 6 innings only trailing by 2 going into the top of the 7th, but with several errors in the field yielded 5 runs for the Raptors giving them a 12-5 lead which they hang on to to win by 7 and sweep the double header.

Game 2 appeared that it would go similar to game one when the Raptors jumped up 3-0 in the top of the first. Radom walked to leadoff, Mandras moved him to second with a flyball, and raynor drove him in with a single. A Wilner rbi double followed Canosa's single, and the third run was driven in on a sac fly from Jeff Brauer. But LOFT kept this one close throughout by scoring one in the 1st and 2 in the bottom of the second to tie it up at 3. An RBI single by Canosa scored Radom who walked again in the to of the third to give the Raptors a 4-3 lead. LOFT went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 3rd, allowing the Raptors to take a 7-3 lead in the top of the 4th. RBI's by Zinn and Mandras led to the 3 runs. Although it looked like the Raptors may be running away, LOFT continued to fight holding the Raptors scoreless for the next two innings. LOFT scored 2 in the bottom of the fourth on some shaky Raptor defense, setting the dramatic scene up for the fifth. In a 2 run game, the big hitters for LOFT mounted a 2 out rally. After 2 hits, the LOFT cleanup hitter Matt M laced one off of Jeff Harris' ankle for an infield single to load the bases. With the ankle already turning colors, Jeff refused to come off of the field, and induced a groundball to end the threat. Although the ankle continued to swell, Jeff was able to finish off LOFT in the 6th and 7th. The ankle appears okay, but it did not look pretty. The Raptors did add 5 in the 7th to make the final 12-5. The Raptors played much better defense all day led by Jon Mandras at third base.

Hitting Highlights Raptors
>Brett Canosa - 2-3, 1 RBI, 2 R
>Eric Radom - 1-2, 2 BB, 3 R
>Ryan Wilner - 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 SAC
>Justin Raynor - 2-4, 2 R, 1 RBI
>Jeff Brauer - 1-3, 1 R, 2 RBI


LOFT Offensive Highlights for the Day:
Andy Peksa: 3-6; 2 2B, 1B, BB, RBI, R
Matt Boden: 3-6; 2B, 2 1B, RBI, R
Matt Montoe: 3-6; 3B, 2 1B, 2 RBI, R
Adam Crothers: 2-4; 2 1B, BB, RBI

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:    Umpire- Scott Snyder
 Game 1: Cannons 11 (WP-Bernie Manzone 2-0)  Eastern Savings Bank 10 (LP-Tzvi Friedman 0-3) 

The Cannons came out of the gate a little uncharacteristically today. Bernie Manzone took the hill in game one and his defense didn't come with him. 3 first inning errors led to 5 unearned runs for ESB. The sticks however did make an appearance in the 1st for the Cannons. A Kurland walk followed by a Chuck Easter single and another walk to Jason Schwartzberg loaded the bases with no outs for Jim Davis. Davis delivered the all popular 2 run Sac fly. John Edelman singled home Schwartzberg and Neal Charkatz plated two more with a triple to even the score at 5 after one inning. After a back and forth game the Cannons found themselves down one headed to the top of the tenth. Manzone held ESB scoreless and gave his team one more opportunity to win. The Cannons loaded the bases with no outs. Steve Hayes hit a Sac fly to tie the game and John Edelman singled in the game winner for an 11-10 win. Manzone got the win to improve to 2-0 on the season.

ESB came out in game one and took a 5-0 lead over the Cannons and their new pitcher Bernie. Dan Guttman, Ben Guttman, Marc Loeb, Tzvi Friedman and Shuli Hochman all scored as everyone came out mashing the ball. An error by the Cannons left fielder helped keep the rally alive. The Cannons came back and scored 5 runs of their own in the bottom of the first. After that it was a seesaw game. The Cannons had a one run lead 8-7 going into the 5th but 1B Marc Loeb hit a homerun over the left center field fence to give ESB the lead. They would carry this lead into the bottom of the 7th but the Cannons scored two in the bottom of the inning to win the game. The big story of game was missed opportunities for ESB. They left 11 runners on base between the third and seventh innings. They let a major opportunity slip through their hands and the Cannons were relieved to just squeak by. ESB started five players, 21 or younger.

Hitting Stars for the Cannons:
Chuck Easter 4-4, 3 run, 2 RBI's, HR
John Edelman 3-4, 1 run, 2 RBI's
Neal Charkatz 3-3, RBI, 2B

Game 2: Cannons 14 (WP-Tom Paulshock 2-0)  Eastern Savings Bank 4 (LP-Tzvi Friedman 0-4) 

ESB came out flat in game two after game one’s heartbreaking loss. The Cannons took a 3-0 lead in the first and then scored four more in the third. ESB chipped away but Tommy kept them in check for most of the game. Pitcher Tzvi Friedman deserved better in both games. Chaim Finkelstein made many stellar defensive plays at second base and ESB welcomed back Jeremy Lasson and Joe Orshan.

Game 2 the Cannons came out and continued their hitting assault. 3 Runs were scored as the 1st 4 batters hit for the cycle. Kurland lead off with a 2B. Easter tripled and Schwartzberg followed with a mamoth blast over the right field wall. Jim Davis finished the cycle with a single to left. The Cannons scored 4 more in the top of the 2nd on 5 straight singles by Paulshock, Kurland, Easter, Schwartzberg and Davis. Tom Paulshock quietly pitched a very effective game (aside for his 3 throwing errors). Newcomer Julio Hernandez went 3-4 in his Cannons debut. Final Score 14-4 Cannons. Paulshock improves to 2-0

Hitting Stars for the Cannons:
Jason Schwartzberg 2-3, 2runs, 3RBI's, HR
Jim Davis 4-4, 2runs, RBI
Steve Hayes 1-3, run, 3RBI's, HR, BB
John Edelman 2-4, HR
Julio Hernandez 3-4, RBI
Drew "Jose Canseco" Thomman 3-4, RBI

Northwest Regional Park 4:    Umpire- Lane Gordon
 Game 1: Sky & Sky Inc. 7 (WP-Larry Newman 2-0) NEK Entertainment 2 (LP-Ted Winner 0-3) 

Three quick runs in the b-1st would prove to be all the support Larry Newman would need to coast to victory over Teddy Winner. Sky & Sky did add two more in the 3rd and 6th. NEK did get on the board in the t-5th scoring 2 in the frame. Dave Pridgen capped four NEK singles in a row as the relay from the cutoff hit the second run-scorer in the back.

Andy Bloom had a 2B and 2BB in the game, but surprisingly both teams seemed anxious to get the game over with in moving to the nightcap.

 Game 2: NEK Entertainment 11 (LP-Ted Winner 1-3) Sky & Sky Inc. 7 (WP-Larry Newman 2-1) 

Elliott Blank's 3B and three, two-out singles allowed Eric Gertner to get Sky & Sky's 4th hit in a row plating two more for the quick 3-0 lead. NEK pushed one across in the b-1st as the potential inning-ending double play ball was thrown low allowing Stephen Georgie to hustle home from second base. NEK's 2 walks and 2 errors in the b-2nd aided Sky & Sky in adding 3 more runs to their tally. Dave Pridgen's triple to LF allowed NEK to cut the lead to four runs in the 4th after four innings. NEK then pounced on Newman in the 5th sending 13 batters to the plate. Four walks including two leadoff walks, a slew of hits, and finally an error on a ball in front of the mound punctuated the worst inning for the elder Newman in recent memory. In fact due to the age of the elder Newman, who can barely remember yesterday (much less yesteryear) 'recent memory' is the only memory he has left. When the carnage was done NEK was comfortably ahead 11-6, and Sky & Sky was aptly deflated. An appeal play at 2nd base took a run off the board for Sky & Sky when they momentarily closed the gap to 3 runs. However, the 4-run lead would hold up giving NEK their first victory of the season as Teddy Winner bested Larry Newman.

Brian Sky chipped in with 3 hits and 2 rbi, but was clearly outclassed at the plate by the 'now-officially-en-fuego' Larry Newman who delivered 3 hits of his own, reached safely in all four plate appearances, and managed to score from first base after 2 walks and 2 errors by the NEK defense.