2009 Pikesville Men's Softball League
Week 17:  July 26, 2009

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Cannons Earn Top Spot
The Cannons may have been quietly hoping for a rainout for the final week of the Regular Season, but the questionable weather cleared in time for the start of play on Sunday. The Cannons then went out and did their job on the field, sweeping against NWC to earn another Regular Season title. The Raptors started the day needing some help from NWC and a sweep to move into 1st place. They got neither and with the Kings sweep over the Raptors, the Kings moved back into 2nd place to finish the season. The Raptors were, however, quite successful in their inaugural season, and assume the #3 seed for the Playoffs.

NEK/ESB Bombers had clinched the #4 seed before play today, but wanted to get into a groove heading into next week's Playoffs. They came away with a split against LOFT. LOFT finishes their 4th season of play as the #7 seed. The Stingers played strong during the 2nd half of the season. Although the Stingers finish the Regular Season as the #8 seed, today's split against the #5 seed Sky & Sky showed that they can compete against the top teams headed into the Playoffs.

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Randallstown High School Field 1:    Umpire- Reggie Grant
Game 1: Kings 9 (WP-Mike Herr 6-2) Raptors 6 (LP-Jeff Harris 14-5) 

Game 1 had significant seeding implications for both teams. The Raptors needed to pick up a game on the Cannons to move into 1st place, while the Kings needed to pick up a game on the Raptors to move into 2nd place. The Raptors Eric Radom and the Kings Mike Herr were both at the Randallstown High School field at 7 A.M. to get the field in shape to play.  The fields at Randallstown High School were in much worse condition than the nearby Deer Park Middle School fields. The other arriving players beginning at around 8 A.M. helped with the raking and the important games were able to commence on time.

In game 1, the Kings came out on fire, scoring 7 runs in b-1st and took the opening game 9-6.

Kenny Salzman got things started for the Kings in b-1st on a leadoff homerun. 5 singles in the inning (Dave Sandler, Shilo Merwitz, Alan Varhaftik, Keegan Rettaliata, and Troy Hendricks) led to 3 more runs. Rob Barrow hit a 2 out 3 run HR to close out the 7 run scoring b-1st.

The Raptors got on the scoreboard with consecutive 1 out singles by Eric Radom, Jon Mandras, Ryan Wilner (RBI), and Chris Canosa (RBI). The Kings averted further damage turning an inning ending 6-4-3 doubleplay.

The Kings extended lead to 8-2 on consecutive 1 out singles by Koby Sarubin, Mike Herr, and Kenny Salzman (RBI). Kings starter Mike Herr held the 8-2 led into t-6th. Raptors Wilner led off inning with a single and scored on Chris Canosa's long HR to LCF. Still with 0 outs, Justin Nusz doubled and advanced to 3B on an outfield throwing error. Nusz scored on Josh Cohen's SF to LF. The Kings lead was now down to 8-5.

The Kings added an insurance run in b-6th when Troy Hendricks doubled with 1 out and Rob Barrow followed with an RBI 1B. The Raptors got 1 run back in t-7th on singles by Jeremy Zinn, Radom, and Wilner (RBI), sending the tying run to the plate with 2 outs. Mike Herr was able to get Chris Canosa out for the first time all game on a flyout to RCF, giving the Kings a 9-6 game 1 win.

Raptors game 1 offensive leaders:
Eric Radom (3-4,1 R)
Jon Mandras (2-4,1 R)
Ryan Wilner (3-4,1 R,2 RBI)
Chris Canosa (3-4,1 R,3 RBI,HR)

Kings multi-hit players in game 1:
Kenny Salzman (2-4,1 R,2 RBI,HR)
Dave Sandler (2-3,1 R)
Troy Hendricks (2-3,2 R,2B)
Rob Barrow (2-3,1 R,4 RBI,HR)
Mike Herr (2-3)

Game 2:  Kings 9 (WP-Chuck Grant 8-5) Raptors 6 (LP-Jeff Harris 14-6) 

With a Cannons win over Northwest Corridor in game 1 at Deer Park Middle School, the Raptors were playing the Kings for 2nd place. Chuck Grant took the mound for the Kings, while Jeff Harris remained on the mound for the Raptors. The Kings came out on top in the nightcap 8-4.

After a scoreless 1st inning, Alan Varhaftik led off the t-2nd for the Kings with a 2B. Jan Katzen followed with an RBI 1B to give Kings 1-0 lead. Grant helped himself out offensively with a leadoff HR in t-2nd. 1 out later, 4 consecutive singles by Kenny Salzman, Dave Sandler, Jeff Slutzker (RBI), and Shilo Merwitz (RBI) put Kings lead at 4-0.

The Kings and Grant kept the 4-0 lead into b-4th. Singles by Chris Canosa, Justin Nusz, and Ian Wright loaded the bases for the Raptors with just 1 out. Jon Singer got an RBI on a fielder's choice groundout, but the Kings were able to stay out of a big inning and held a 4-1 lead.

The score remained 4-1 into t-6th. The Kings loaded bases with 0 outs on singles by Merwitz and Varhaftik, with Jan Katzen drawing an intentional walk. The Raptors had intentionally loaded the bases to reach catcher Mike Herr. Herr, the manager, elected to have Keegan Rettaliata re-enter the game and the move paid off as Rettaliata lined a 2 RBI 1B into LCF, putting Kings up 6-1.

In Raptors b-6th, the first 3 batters of the inning Ryan Wilner singled, Chris Canosa tripled, and Nusz hit a SF. The Kings lead was cut to 6-3. The Kings got both runs back in t-7th on walk to Salzman, and singles by Dave Sandler, Slutzker (RBI), and Merwitz (RBI). Jeremy Zinn led off b-7th with a 3B and Eric Radom hit a 1 out RBI 2B, but that would be the end of the scoring for the Raptors. Game 2 and second place went to the Kings 8-4.

Raptors offensive leaders in game 2:
Chris Canosa (2-3,1 R,1 RBI,3B)
Justin Nusz (1-2,1 R,1 RBI,SF)

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

Kings game notes:
►Chuck Grant, recovering from an upper body injury and pitching for just the 3rd time since June 14, won for the first time since the 6/14 injury date.
►1B/C Keegan Rettaliata returned to the Kings line-up after missing the past 2 weeks with a wrist fracture. Rettaliata was 2-for-5 in his return with 4 RBI's.
►The Kings finished the Regular Season (15-7) with a .500 record or better for the 20th time in 21 seasons.
►The Kings head into the Playoffs with a lifetime Playoffs game record of 55-35.

Deer Park Middle School Field 1:    Umpire- Rick Simmons
Game 1: Sky & Sky 11 (WP-Larry Newman 4-7)  Stingers 5 (LP-Brett Eisenberg 1-2) 

Despite the rain the games went on as scheduled. Game one featured Brent Eisenberg's third pitching start of the season. Sky struck first in the second inning capitalizing on a couple walks in the inning scoring one in the top. The Stingers would have an answer in the bottom of the inning with a couple singles and two run triple by Engler making the count 3-1 heading into the 3rd. Sky would wake the bats up and working the count bringing nine players to the plate scoring four runs. Sky would have a repeat performance in the 4th scoring another five runs. The Stingers would have little answers in the rest of the game scoring only two more and falling in the first game 11-5.

Sky & Sky struggled mightily during all but two innings at the plate on Sunday as epitomized by their second inning in the opener: 3 BB, & a 2B but only 1 run to show for their efforts. In the 3rd consecutive triples by Andy Bloom and Andrew VanLandingham did get Sky & Sky’s offense rolling. Two more singles and two free passes helped Sky & Sky put up a four spot. VanLandingham cleared the bases with his second 3B of the game and some sloppy defense by The Stingers contributed a few more unearned runs for a total of 10 after 4 innings. The Stingers then proceeded to virtually halt Sky & Sky’s offense for the rest of the day. They retired 6 of the last 8 hitters with Brian Sky’s lead off 7th inning triple closing out the scoring 11-5 as Larry Newman got the win. VanLandingham paced the Sky & Sky offense with a single, 2 runs, and four rbi adding to his two triples. Larry Newman did help his own cause with a run and two hits in his 3 plate appearances.

Game 2: Stingers 6  (WP-Mike Beverly 2-6)  Sky & Sky Inc. 2 (LP-Alex Newman 5-6) 

Game two would be a different story as Mike Beverly made his way to the plate. Mike held Sky scoreless through four innings allowing only two runs in the 5th. This would be Sky's only runs for the game. The Stingers came out firing on all cylinders scoring three in the first off a triple to the gap by Sheridan. The Stinger would score another three in the 2nd on back to back singles by Eisenberg and weekend fill in Jeff. The Stingers offence would go cold for the remainder of the game but the offence in the first two innings proved to be enough as Beverly and the Stingers defense shut Sky down to win 6-2, earning a split for the day. The Stingers looked primed and ready for the play-offs with a string of wins at the end of the season.

Mike Beverly had his defense working behind him and brought his “A” game with him. After 16 batters, Beverly had yielded just two hits to the Sky & Sky offense. By the 5th inning Sky & Sky needed a OF error and a BB just to get on the board. A few singles brought in two runs that inning and capped the scoring for Sky & Sky in game 2. Although Beverly did allow at least two base runners in several innings, that was largely due to control problems, as Sky & Sky only had one other inning with multiple hits. Alex Newman did help his own cause with a 1B, BB in three trips to the plate scoring one of the two measly runs in the 6-2 loss.

Deer Park Middle School Field 2:    Umpire- Lane Gordon
Game 1: LOFT 5 (WP-Rick Winepol 6-8) NEK/ESB Bombers 1 (LP-Ted Winner 6-8) 

Game 2: NEK/ESB Bombers 9 (WP-Tzvi Friedman 7-5)  LOFT 2 (LP-Rick Winepol 6-9) 

Game 2 did not go so well for LOFT on offense as they only managed a pair of runs. The Bombers were able to hang up 9 to earn the easy split in game 2. Unfortunately LOFT ended up tied with NWC for 6th and lost in a tie breaker.

In game two, the Bomber played with more fire and took a 2-0 lead in the second and then a 7-0 lead in the fourth. Behind great pitching from Tzvi Friedman the Bombers prevailed over Loft 9-2. It has been a very successful merger for NEK and ESB. They go into the playoffs with two solid pitchers and a defense that is as good as anyone in the league. Clutch hitting will be the key to see how far the Bombers go this season.

LOFT Game Notes:
► Andy Peksa sat out game 1 due to the team having 12 players and did not enter the game at any point marking it the 1st time in LOFT history Peksa did not play in a LOFT game.
► After starting the year 0-6, LOFT recovered and went 6-6 in the final 12 games.
► LOFT will face the Kings in round 1 of the playoffs, looking to repeat their magic of 2 years ago when they stunned the Kings in regular season play. They also look for their 1st playoff victory in PMSL.