2009 Pikesville Men's Softball League
 Week 10:  June 7, 2009

Highlights submitted thus far by all 8 teams.

There was a 4 week layoff as a result of 2 rainouts and the Memorial Day holiday. The weather on Thursday and Friday didn't cooperate again this week, but thanks to the effort of 6 players working as a ground's crew on Saturday afternoon, 4 fields were in very good condition for play on Sunday morning. Those helping with the water removal from the fields, raking, and laying of drying compound included Mike Herr, Tom Paulshock, Jeff Kurland, Eric Radom, Howard Goldberg, and Andy Bloom. Umpire Kory Rosenberg came out to briefly assess the fields. In the end, Northwest Regional Park fields #1 and #2, along with Deer Park Middle School fields #1 and #3 were prepared for Sunday's games. The weather on Sunday was gorgeous with game time temperatures in the mid 70's. Whether it was rusty bats, dominant pitching, or well rested players, the scores of all 4 doubleheaders was on the low side. One of the games included the first shutout of the season as Tzvi Friedman of NEK/ESB put down Northwest Corridor in game 1. The most runs scored by any team on the day was LOFT with 15 in game 2 against the Stingers. The Raptors proved that they are not a typical expansion team as the knocked off the defending playoff champion Cannons 7-6 and 6-5. The Kings and Sky battled to a split in 2 well played games between the 2008 regular season 1st and 2nd place teams.

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:    Umpire- Reggie Grant
 Game 1: Raptors 7 (WP-Jeff Harris 6-3)  Cannons 6 (LP-Tom Paulshock 3-2) 

Thanks to everyone for helping out to get the fields ready, the long awaited matchup between the Raptors and the Cannons finally took place. Both teams appeared to be a bit shorthanded on the day, fielding only 10 for the first game. Jeff Harris got off to a good start in the top of the first retiring the Cannons 1-2-3. In the bottom of the first, the Raptors jumped on Tom Paulshock before he was able to find a groove after the long layoff. Eric Radom drew a walk to leadoff, and Brett Canosa drew another walk two batters later with 2 outs. Then Jeff Brauer lined a single scoring Radom, and the runners advanced to 2nd and 3rd on the throw. Then Josh Cohen lined a hard one hopper to the 3rd baseman who was not able to come up with it, and Canosa and Brauer scored making the score 3 - 0 Raptors. The Cannons got to Jeff Harris in the second knotting the score at 3. In the bottom of the second, Brian Rollman drew a leadoff walk, and advanced to second on Mark Radom's groundout. With two outs, Eric Radom blasted a first pitch heater over the right fielders head for a homerun giving the Raptors a 5-3 lead. The Cannons then plated two to tie the game at 5 in the top of the third. After that both pitchers settled down and the defenses were great. The score stayed at 5's until the top of the 7th, where the Cannons strung a few base hits together and scored the go-ahead run. Jeff Harris was able to get one of the Cannons big boppers out with the bases loaded to hold the deficit at one though. In the bottom of the 7th, Jeff Harris lined a 3-2 pitch up the middle for a base hit. The Radom father/son combo then walked to load the bases for Jon Mandras. Mandras then got the game winning two rbi single, and the Raptors walked off with a 7-6 victory.

Finally getting back into the "swing" of things Sunday the Cannon bats were certainly a little rusty. Two close games results in two one run loses for the Cannons at the hands of the Raptors and Jeff harris.

After allowing 3 runs in the bottom of the first the Cannons came back with 3 of their own in the top of the 2nd. Four straight hits by Jon Edelman, Julio Fernandez, Dan kassel and newcomer Brad "Chub" Shapiro plated 3. The Cannons followed this up with 2 in the 3rd with a Kurland BB, a Tim Grap single and a Sac fly by Chuck Easter. Edelman knocked in the 2nd run with a two out single. Harris kept the Cannons bats quiet until the 7th when the Cannons took a one run lead as Kurland singled home Chub. Control was a little issue for Tom Paulshock in the game as two hits and two walks in the bottom of the 7th won in walk off fashion for The Raptors. Final score Raptors 7 Cannons 6. Paulshock took the lose to fall to 3-2.

Cannons multi hit stars :
Jon Edelman, Julio Fernandez, Dan Kassel, Chub Shapiro and Justin all were 2-3 on the game.

Raptors Hitting Highlights:
>Eric Radom - 1-2, 2 BB, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
>Jon Mandras - 1-3, 1 BB, 2 RBI, Game Winning Walk off Hit
>Mark Radom - 0-2, 1 BB, 1 Run (game winner)
>Jeff Brauer - 1-3, 1 Run, 1 RBI
>Jeff Harris - 1-2, 1 BB, 1 R

Game 2: Raptors 6 (WP-Jeff Harris 7-3)  Cannons 5 (LP-Dan Kassel 0-1) 

Game 2 was another close affair. This time Dan kassel toed the rubber for his first career Pikesville softball league start. Kassel did a fantastic job in mixing in all his pitches and keeping hitters off balance while only playing with 9 guys. Down 2-0 in the bottom of the 1st the Cannons quickly evened the score. Kurland led off with a single. Tim Grap followed with a double. Easter grounded out sharply to 2nd to score Kurland and Edelman singled in Grap.

Jeff Harris shut down the Cannons for most of the day winning both ends of the double header. Dan Kassel was the hard luck loser and falls to 0-1.

The second game was made interesting by the fact that the Cannons were only able to field 9 players to start the game. The Raptors were able to take the early lead again. Eric Radom walked to leadoff again, and then Jon Mandras hit a "scorcher" down the right field line for a double. Chris Canosa hit a 2 RBI ground rule double to give the Raptors the 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The Cannons came right back with 2 in the bottom to tie it. After the Raptors were held scoreless in the top of the 2nd, the cannons added two in the bottom to make it 4-2. The Raptors came right back in the top of the 3rd and made it 6-4. Eric Radom led off with a single. Jon Mandras hit another "scorcher" that probably would have been caught by a 4th outfielder to put 2 runners on. Brett Canosa then singled in a run, and so did Josh Cohen, Eric Zelik, and Brian Rollman. An injury than put the Raptors down to only 3 outfielders, but their defense only seemed to get stronger after that. Several spectacular plays by right fielder Jeff Brauer and second baseman Josh Cohen, along with some great pitching by Jeff Harris helped hold the Cannons to only one run the rest of the game, and the Raptors were able to hold on for a 6-5 win.

Raptors Hitting Highlights:
>Eric Radom - 1-3, BB, 2 R,
>Jon Mandras - 2-4, 2B, 2 R
>Mark Radom - 0-2, 1 BB
>Chris Canosa - 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI
>Eric Zelik - 1-2, BB, RBI
>Josh Cohen - 2-3, R, RBI

Multi hit stars for the Cannons:
Tim Grap 2-4, 2 runs
Jason Schwartzberg 2-4, run
Julio Fernandez 2-4
Chub Shapiro 2-4, RBI

Northwest Regional Park Field 2:    Umpire- Ken Seaman
 Game 1: LOFT 8 (WP-Rick Winepol 1-5) Stingers 6 (LP- Albert Hoffman 0-1) 

Stingers opened up their second half of the season with their jerseys from V’s Tees and brought back Albert Hoffman to help out in the pitching department. Stingers got things started off in the t-1st by Lee Liberman’s in the park homer. Greg Cooper and Mike Beverly got shot in to put runners on the bags when Aaron Shifrin drove a shot to left to plate Cooper and Beverly for a three run advantage for the Stingers. Through two innings of play the Stingers held their lead and got a strong effort from Hoffman getting his first K of the season. Things would change in the b-3rd as the Stingers got lost for an inning and allowed LOFT to string together bloopers and take a 7-3 lead. Stingers would try and battle back with their bats as their gloves were stopping LOFT thereafter, but it would be too much too late as they would let the opening game slip away 8-6.

LOFT came out after 4 weeks off because of rain outs rocking the year 1 throwback uniforms also bringing back former LOFT members Pete Sclafani and Kevin White. Pete Sclafani picked up right where he left off 2 years ago taking the first pitch he saw deep to left field and over the fence for a solo HR in the bottom of the 2nd. LOFT then hung up 5 runs in the bottom of the 3rd with 2 2 RBI hits from Matt Monto and Herb to give LOFT the lead which they never relinquished. Rick Winepol was on his game all game getting Stinger hitters to pop out and fly out all game long. LOFT added an insurance run in the 5th, but in the end they had all they needed as they played solid defense behind the good pitching of Rick Winepol.

 LOFT Offensive Stars:
 Andy Peksa: 3-4; 2 2B, 1B, R
Matt Monto: 3-4; 3 1B, R, 2 RBI
Herb: 2-3; 2 1B, R, 3 RBI
Pete Sclafani: 2-3; HR, 1B, R, RBI

 Game 2: LOFT 15 (WP-Rick Winepol 2-5)  Stingers 12 (LP-Mike Beverly 1-2) 

LOFT came out in game 2 looking to keep the bats hot and hopefully get hotter, and they did just that. LOFT scored once in the top of the 1st and 5 more times in the top of the 2nd highlighted by a Dan Mabry 2 RBI triple. In the top of the 4th LOFT stretched out the lead by scoring 6 more runs 3 of them coming off the bat of a 3-R inside the park HR by Herb to deep RCF. LOFT imployed the short fielder to try and cut down the Stingers best friend, the blooper. It seemed to work a bit as the Stingers were not able to get the bloop singles any longer over the LOFT infield. In the top of the 5th of game 2 the Stingers finally retired Andy Peksa for the first time on a fly out to deep RCF (he was 6-7 for heading into the AB, but that was from an off the glove line drive that did not record an out). In the top of the 7th Herb came to the plate a double shy of hitting for the cycle in game 2, he was only able to rip a single however leaving him a double shy of the cycle. Rick Winepol continued to throw strikes and once LOFT was able to solve the blooper he was able to shut down the Stingers to give LOFT the sweep on the day.

With a smaller squad Mike Beverly took the mound for the Stingers. Stingers and LOFT would exchange runs in the first including a 1 run RBI double from Beverly and RBIs from Dan Mathe’s SAC and Shifrin’s scorching single. In the second, Mike Randall said hello to his former team crushing a left field homer for three runs. It would be that way all afternoon as the Stingers and LOFT would battle for the lead. In the b-5th it was double time as Mathe, Shifrin and Ian Horowitz took advantage of the LOFT positioning and sloppy play with doubles from each. LOFT would make up for it though, but not without Mike McGee and Lee Liberman trying to make things happen as they tried to bring the Stingers closer to a split on the day, but it would be too little too late.

LOFT Offensive Stars:
Brandon Mabry: 3-4; 3 1B, BB, 4 R
Andy Peksa: 4-5; 2B, 3 1B, 3 RBI, 2 R
BB Flynn: 4-5; 4 1B, 4 RBI, R
Herb: 4-5; HR, 3B, 2 1B, 4 RBI, 2 R
Kevin White: 3-4; 3 1B
Rick Winepol: 2-4; 2 1B, R

L.O.F.T. Notes:
- Pete Sclafani and Kevin White made their 2009 LOFT debut and first games back since the 2007 season, both showed little rust.
- Newcomers BB Flynn (6 RBI) and Herb (7 RBI) had big days at the plate for LOFT driving in runs.
- LOFT doubled its win total in the throwback season 1 jerseys with the sweep today against the Stingers.

Deer Park Middle School Field 1:    Umpire- Scott Snyder
 Game 1: Kings 12 (WP-Chuck Grant 7-0)  Sky & Sky Inc. 9 (LP-Larry Newman 2-3) 

The Kings scored 5 runs in t-7th to overcome a 2 run deficit, winning the opener 12-9. The doubleheader was a match-up of the top 2 finishers of the 2008 Regular Season. As has often been the case between these 2 rivals, the games were skillfully played and hotly contested, but despite this, both teams continue to get along quite well. Each team was missing at least 3 of their regular roster players, however the depth of the rosters still led to stellar defense. There were only 4 combined errors in the doubleheader.

Sky took a 2-0 early lead in b-1st on an Elliot Blank double, Pat Wilcox RBI triple, and Andy Bloom sacrifice fly to LCF. Kings rallied in t-2nd with first 5 batters of the inning reaching and scoring on a walk and 4 straight singles. RBI singles in the inning came from Troy Hendricks, Mike Herr (2), Jeff Slutzker, and Arin Gelletly (2). When the inning was done, the Kings led 6-2.

The lead held just 1 inning as Sky plated 4 runs in b-3rd to tie score. 5 straight hits by Elliot Blank, Andy Van Landingham, Pat Wilcox (2B), Andy Bloom, and Brian Sky pulled Sky to within 6-5. Shaun Poulton hit a SF to right field to tie score 6-6.

The Kings assumed 7-6 lead in t-4th on singles by Mike Herr, Dave Sandler, and Jeff Slutzker (RBI). The Kings lead held again until b5th. A leadoff 2B by Alex Newman, RBI 1B by Van Landingham, 1B by Pat Wilcox, and 2 RBI 2B by Bloom put Sky ahead 9-7.

The Kings threatened in t-6th when Mike Herr and Koby Sarubin started the inning with singles, but the Kings ran themselves into a doubleplay to squash the rally. Trailing still 9-7 into the t-7th, the first 3 Kings batters of the innings singled (Gelletly, Alan Varhaftik, Jan Katzen), while the next 3 batters doubled (Keegan Rettaliata, Troy Hendricks, Chuck Grant). The doubles by Rettaliata and Hendricks each brought home 2 runs, while Grant's double knocked in 1 and gave the Kings a 12-9 lead.

Kings starter Chuck Grant was able to keep Sky off of the board in b-7th, so the Kings came away with the 12-9 win.

Sky game 1 offensive leaders:
Elliot Blank (3-4,2 R,2B,3B)
Andy Van Landingham (2-4,2 R)
Pat Wilcox (3-3,3 R,2B,3B)
Andy Bloom (2-2,2B,SF)
Brian Sky (2-3, reached on error)

Kings game 1 offensive leaders:
Koby Sarubin (2-5)
Jeff Slutzker (4-5,2 RBI)
Arin Gelletly (2-4,1 R,2 RBI)
Keegan Rettaliata (3-4,2 R,2 RBI,2B)
Troy Hendricks (2-3,2 R,3 RBI,2B,W)
Chuck Grant (2-4,1 R,1 RBI,2B)
Mike Herr (3-4,2 R,2 RBI)

Game notes:

Game 2: Sky & Sky Inc. 5 (WP-Alex Newman 3-0)  Kings 2 (LP-Chuck Grant 7-1) 

Sky game 2 starter Alex Newman held the Kings to just 7 hits and led his team to victory 5-2 in the nightcap. Each team had 3 3-up-3-down innings, but only Sky was able to take advantage of the limited offensive rallies in the game.

With 2 outs and none on in t-1st, Sky offense awoke for 5 straight singles. RBI singles by Brian Sky and Shaun Poulton gave Sky 2-0 lead. A 2 out single by Erik Hanson could have done further damage, but LF Alan Varhaftik's throw to catcher Brooks Sandler nailed Brian Sky with another potential run. The Kings mounted their own 2 out, none on rally in b-1st as Jeff Slutzker drew a 2 out walk, moved to 2B on an Arin Gelletly single, and scored on an Alan Varhaftik RBI 1B. The Kings loaded the bases with 2 outs in b-2nd, but Alex Newman was able to escape the inning without a run coaxing a flyout to LF.

The 2-1 lead remained with Sky until b-5th. Mike Herr and Brooks Sandler drew leadoff walks. Herr moved over to 3B on a Koby Sarubin flyout to RCF and scored the tying run on Dave Sandler's SF to RF. It was telling that the Kings had to rely on scoring the tie run without virtue of a basehit.

Sky re-took lead in t-6th with another 0 on, 2 out rally. Pat Wilcox tripled to LCF and scored when the relay throw got behind Jan Katzen. Sky scored an additional run following an infield error and 2 singles. Sky got an insurance run in t-7th on RBI 2B by Andy Van Landingham.

In addition to holding the Kings without a hit in their run scoring b-5th, Alex Newman set down the Kings without a hit in both the 6th and 7th innings to claim the win.

Sky game 2 multi-hit players:
Elliot Blank (2-4)
Pat Wilcox (2-4,2 R,3B)
Brian Sky (2-3,1 RBI)
Shaun Poulton (2-3,2 RBI)

Kings game 2 multi-hit players:
Troy Hendricks (2-3,2B)

Game Notes:

Deer Park Middle School Field 3:    Umpire- Kory Rosenberg
 Game 1: NEK / ESB 3 (WP-Tzvi Friedman 4-4) Northwest Corridor 0 (LP-Howard Goldberg 3-5) 

NEK/ESB is very appreciative to all of the people who helped get the fields ready for today’s games. It was a beautiful sunny day and we were chomping at the bit to get in a couple of ball games. In game one Tzvi Friedman took the mound and pitched an outstanding game. For the first four innings the score was 0-0, a combination of both teams playing solid defense and a lack of hitting. Finally, NEK/ESB broke on top in the fifth with an RBI single by Dan Guttman. NEK/ESB tacked on two more runs and Friedman made it stand up for a 3-0 victory. NEK/ESB played outstanding defense throughout the day including several great plays by 3B David Flamm.

Finally back out on the softball diamond after many rainouts both teams looked a bit rusty. Goldberg vs. Friedman was an early see-saw battle of outs. The 1st run wasn’t score in the game until the bottom of the 4th inning. Both teams left men on base in the early innings but NEK/ESB was able to score the 1st run in the bottom of the 4th after a Petey walk, a single up the middle and a Dan Gutman rbi base hit. Ben Gutman would knock in the next run in the 5th inning and NEK/ESB added one more in the bottom of the 6th inning. NWC’s bats stayed quite for the whole game failing to get any hits with runners on base. A rare low scoring affair – 3-0 ballgame.

Game 2: NEK / ESB 10 (WP-Ted Winner 2-6) Northwest Corridor 3 (LP-Matt Silverman 0-2) 

NEK/ESB took advantage of a few Matt Silverman free passes and plated 2 runs in the top of the 1st. NWC finally scored their 1st run of the day when Jon Herbst scored off of Howard Goldberg’s rbi base hit to centerfield. NEK/ESB scored 2 more runs off of a slightly wild Silverman in the 2nd and 2 more off of 4 consecutive singles in the 3rd. Silverman tried to help his own cause in the bottom of the 3rd by drilling a solo homer over the centerfielder’s head. NWC wouldn’t score again until Scott Sweren knocked home Jon Herbst in the bottom of the 6th. NEK/ESB meanwhile kept pairing runs again in the 4th and 7th innings. Both teams looked a bit rusty at the plate but played fairly good defense. Jon Herbst had a great day in the outfield. He had 2 OF assists and performed an over the shoulder diving catch in centerfield with the bases loaded off of the bat of Jason Gardner. Final score 10-3, NWC hopes they’ll have a better showing next week against Sky & Sky.

In game two Ted Winner took the mound and continued Friedman’s effort from game one with a solid four innings before he tired due to the fact that he was battling a two week long flu (no, not swine flu, Teddy flu) Friedman came in for the last three innings and held the powerful lineup of Northwest Corridor to one run. NEK/ESB scored two runs in the first on a long sacrifice fly by clean up hitter Jason that scored both Rashaad and Mikey. The right center fielder Herbst made a tremendous catch but it was so deep that both runners scored. NWC scored one in the bottom of the first but NEK/ESB tacked on two runs in each of the second, third and fourth innings to take an 8-2 lead. NWC battled back in the sixth by scoring a run but Friedman got out of a bases loaded jam without any further damage. Then they tacked on two additional runs in the top of the seventh to take a 10-3 lead and that would be the final score. The outfield of Mikey, Ben, Rashaad and Jason caught everything in the outfield and then some and the infield defense with Petey at catcher and Flamm, Dan Guttman, Pridge and Loeb played flawlessly in the infield.

The NEK/ESB merger is going quite well and the players seem to be complimenting each other quite nicely. The team has two solid pitchers and an outstanding defense. We hope to unveil new jerseys and a new team name by next Sunday’s game.