2009 Pikesville
Men's Softball League
Week 13:
June 28, 2009
Highlights submitted thus far by Kings, Stingers, Cannons, Raptors, Sky, NEK/ESB Bombers, NWC
Northwest Regional Park
Field 1:
Umpire- Reggie Grant
Game 1: Kings 12 (WP-Mike Herr 2-0) Raptors 3 (LP-Eric
Radom 0-1)
The Kings were outhit 11-5, but won the game 12-3. Without Raptors ace Jeff Harris, the Kings out-walked the Raptors 18-0. The Kings had 6 walks and 0 hits in the 1st inning to get out to a 3-0 lead. Drawing 8 walks and knocking 3 hits built the lead to 12-1 in b-2nd. The Kings still led 12-1 into b-5th and things looked promising to end the game early with the bases loaded and just 1 out. A flyball to medium rightcenterfield sent Mike Herr towards the plate for a 12 run lead, but Herr was nailed at the plate by a good 3 steps thanks to a rocket throw from Raptors RCF Greg Wingate. RBI doubles by Wingate and Roy Mack in t-6th closed out the scoring for the game. Mike Herr picked up a win for the 2nd week in a row. Eric Radom was the losing pitcher in his first start as a Raptors pitcher.
Kings offensive leaders:
Shilo Merwitz (1-1,2 R,2 RBI,W)
Keegan Rettaliata (1-2,1 R,4 RBI,3B,W)
Mike Herr (2-2,1 R,2 RBI,W)
Raptors offensive leaders:
Eric Radom (2-3)
Jon Mandras (3-3,1 R)
Roy Mack (2-3,1 RBI,2B)
Game 2: Raptors 9 (WP-Eric Radom 1-1) Kings 7 (LP-Chuck Grant 7-4)
The Raptors (14) again outhit the Kings (8), but this time the Kings paid the price and lost 9-7. Raptors starter Eric Radom settled down after the 3rd inning and kept his team in position to win the game. 9 different Raptors players scored 1 run in the contest.
The Kings did receive some good news when Chuck Grant was able to take the mound for the nightcap. The Raptors took 1-0 lead in b-1st, loading the bases on an infield hit and 2 infield errors. Greg Wingate hit a SF for the RBI. The Raptors loaded the bases again in b-2nd on consecutive singles by Jeff Brauer, Ian Wright, and Jon Singer. A fielder's choice RBI by Zinn and 2 out RBI single by Radom built the lead to 3-0.
The Kings took advantage of a wild inning by Radom, drawing 4 walks to start the t-3rd The Kings scored 6 runs with key RBI hits by Arin Gelletly (RBI 2B) and Scott Katzen (2 RBI 3B), with SF's by Shilo Merwitz and Jan Katzen. With the Kings now ahead 6-3, the lead was short-lived. In b-3rd, 4 straight hits to start the inning by Ryan Wilner (3B), Wingate (RBI 1B), Roy Mack (1B), and Josh Cohen (1B). Ian Wright hit a SF for the 2nd run of the inning. Singer hit a 2 out RBI single and Eric Zelik followed with a 2 RBI single to give Raptors 8-6 lead.
The Kings would pull to 8-7 when Jeff Slutzker hit a 2 out single to score Chuck Grant. Wilner hit the 3rd SF of the game for the Raptors in b-6th to extend lead again to 2 runs, 9-7. The Kings threatened in t-7th getting Dave Sandler (W) and Jeff Slutzker (1B) on base with 1 out, but Radom was able to retire the Kings 3 and 4 hitters on flyouts to close out the game for the Raptors 9-7.
Raptors offensive leaders:
Ryan Wilner (2-3,1 R,1 RBI,3B,SF)
Greg Wingate (1-2,1 R,2 RBI,SF)
Jeff Brauer (2-3,1 R)
Jon Singer (2-3,1 R,1 RBI)
Kings offensive game 2 stars:
Dave Sandler (0-0,1 R,4 W)
Jeff Slutzker (3-3,1 R,2 RBI,W)
Jan Katzen (1-1,1 RBi,W,SF)
Scott Katzen (1-2,2 RBI,3B)
Northwest Regional Park
Field 2:
Umpire- Lane Gordon
Game 1: LOFT 7 (WP-Rick Winepol 4-6) Northwest
Corridor 4 (LP-Howard Goldberg 5-8)
NWC came to bat 1st against LOFT and failed to capitalize
on a one out two men on base scenario. LOFT however didn’t waste any time in the
bottom of the 1st. 3rd batter Matt Boden drilled a line drive to the wall over
the heads of the NWC outfielders for an inside the park homerun. Neither team
scored again until the 3rd inning when LOFT scored two more runs. NWC’s bats
were still hibernating, continually hitting line drive outs to LOFT outfielders
or lazy fly balls. LOFT centerfielder Matt Boden and leftfielder Jeff both made
numerous diving catches with runners in scoring position saving at least 4 or 5
NWC runs from crossing the plate. LOFT took great advantage of NWC’s fielding
mistakes and mental errors by scoring 2 runs in the 4th and 2 runs in the 6th.
NWC meanwhile didn’t score their 1st run until the 6th inning. Scott Sweren led
the inning off with a deep triple to left field and Howard Goldberg drove him
home with a line drive base hit. Goldberg played with a pulled left hamstring
and couldn’t run so LOFT was kind enough to allow him pinch runners for the day.
NWC had a mini rally in the 7th but came up short scoring just 3 runs. Final
score LOFT 7 – NWC 4.
Hitting Highlights NWC
Scott Sweren 3-4 r 2b 3b rbi
Jon Herbst 1-2 2BB rbi
Goldberg 2-4 rbiGame 2:
Northwest Corridor 6 (WP-Howard Goldberg 6-8) LOFT 5 (LP-Rick Winepol 4-7) (8 Innings)
Both teams played another low scoring affair, this one ending
in extra innings. LOFT batted 1st and went down without scoring any runs. LOFT‘s
hitters were held scoreless until the 5th inning. NWC scored 3 quick runs in the
bottom of the 1st. Adam Silverman and Brad Rosenberg drilled back to back
doubles after singles from Herbst and Sweren. The score would remain 3-0 until
the 5th inning. The top of the 4th inning got interesting when Matt Bell decided
to throw a warm up pitch while waiting for Goldberg to take the mound in between
innings. Lane Gordon dusted off his old rulebook and explained to NWC that Bell
was now forced to pitch to the 1st batter of the inning. Bell got LOFT 3rd
batter Matt Boden to pop up to the 3rd baseman in his only pitching appearance
of the season. NWC may choose to use him again in select situations. LOFT went
into the 6th inning trailing 3-1 but put together a nice 4run inning to take a
5-3 lead. NWC caught a big break in the 6th inning as LOFT’s leadoff batter was
thrown out of the game for colliding with the pitcher on a play at the plate. A
heads up double play in the top of the 7th gave NWC a chance for a rally in
their half of the inning and guaranteed the automatic out would come up in extra
innings if the game went that far. NWC’s bottom of the 7th started out well.
Goldberg led off with a single followed by an Aaron Birenbaum base hit. Lee
Pollak flied out to right field but both runners advance one base on the tag.
With one out and runners at 2nd and 3rd Matt Silverman hit a fly ball out to
centerfield. One run scored on the sacrifice and Birenbaum noticing that the
LOFT fielders were taking their time getting the ball in double tagged and
scored from 2nd base. Silverman’s sac fly resulted in 2 runs and a tie ballgame.
On to extra innings and LOFT’s 1st batter was an automatic out. The next two
batters were set down easily and NWC came up in the bottom of the 8th looking
for a win. With one out Adam Silverman singled to left field and Brad Rosenberg
followed him with a walk. Joey Liner blooped in another single but the runners
were unable to advance. Matt Bell stepped up with the bases loaded and drilled a
line drive down the left field line. It would have been extra bases but NWC only
needed one run to capture the extra inning victory 6-5. NWC’s defense produced 5
double plays on the day.
Hitting Highlights NWC:
Adam Silverman 2-4 2r 2b rbi
Joey Liner 3-4
Matt Bell 2-3 BB GW rbi
Aaron Birenbaum 3-3 r
Northwest Regional Park
Field 3:
Umpire- Scott Snyder
Game 1: NEK/ESB Bombers 12 (WP-Ted Winner 4-7) Sky & Sky
Inc. 6 (LP-Larry Newman 2-6)
Ted Winner was busy shutting down the Sky & Sky offense for much of the first game, yielding a single run through four innings on just 4 singles and 1 BB. Meanwhile his teammates has provided him a sizeable cushion aided by the most lackluster defense from Sky & Sky in memory. Case in point a harmless single by NEK/ESB's Ben Gutman to LCF in the t-1st skated through the legs of the OF (who was not being backed up) allowing his brother Dan an easy SF for one unearned run. In the t-2nd, 3 errors by the Sky & Sky first baseman extended the inning for NEK/ESB. Two throws from outfielders, each of whom hit their cutoff (1B) accurately in time to nail a runner at the plate, were relayed to the backstop instead of the catcher allowing runs to score and runners to advance. Five unearned runs in the frame staked Ted Winner to a comfortable 6-0 lead through two complete. In the t-3rd a line drive up the box was caught, but the errant pickoff throw to first got shaded by Dan Gutman scampering back to the bag, so he advanced to second base. Marc Loeb singled to LF and the throw to the plate was a bang-bang play ruled safe by the umpire. The ensuing argument saw Loeb head for third base where he was easily tagged out well after Gutman's 7th unearned run crossed the plate. In the t-4th NEK/ESB finally pushed across their first earned run with their 7th, 8th, & 10th batters singling. A walk loaded the bases, but Larry Newman was able to induce a shallow pop-up for out number two. A smash to the third baseman seemed to provide the antidote which could end the threat, but his accurate throw hit off the heel of the first baseman's glove allowing two more to score on his fourth error in three innings. To compound matters the ball scooted towards the RF fence and his throw home again sailed into the backstop allowing a third runner to score on his second error of the play. In the b-5th the Sky & Sky offense gained some traction with a Mike Rotts pinch-hit rbi, Elliot Blank's 2-rbi double, and a Mike Brown shot up the gut which found its way to the fence for a 2-run HR. Larry Newman retired 7 of the next 8 batters beginning in the 5th, while Winner immediately regained his composure in the sixth inning holding Sky & Sky hitless for the last 2 innings. The lone defensive highlight was a laser throw from Mike Brown in RF to nail the speedy Georgie going for third after Ben Gutman's single. The defensive turnaround was extremely short lived though as Gutman went to second on Brown's assist, and his brother hit the ball through the legs of the Sky & Sky SS for the 11th unearned run giftwrapped by Sky & Sky. Winner over Nemo 12-6. Elliot Blank performed well in the leadoff spot going 2-3 with 3 rbi and a run while Andrew VanLandingham chipped in with two opposite field singles.
After playing very poorly last week against
the Kings, the Bomber’s “wobbled” into Sunday’s game against Sky and Sky. The
Bomber’s jumped on top to a 6-1 lead by scoring five times in the second. The
big hit in the inning was a two run single by Ben Gutman. The Bomber’s scored a
run in the third and then four more in the fourth and held on for a 12-6
victory. The Bombers had three straight outfield errors in the fifth inning to
let Sky and Sky back in the game but winning pitcher Ted Winner slammed the door
on the Sky and Sky offense.
Hitting stars for the Bombers were Petey – three hits, three runs scored, David
Flamm three hits and three runs scored and Raashad – two hits, a walk and three
runs scored.
Game 2: NEK/ESB Bombers 8 (WP-Tzvi Friedman 5-5) Sky & Sky Inc. 7 (LP-Alex Newman 4-2)
In game 2 Pat Wilcox got Sky & Sky on the board in the t-1st
with a SF and got enough of one in his next at bat to add 2 more with a HR over
the fence in RF. Meanwhile Alex Newman was living on the edge as a line drive DP
got him out of a jam in the b-1st, and some nifty glove work by Elliot Blank
helped Newman negate 3 BB in the second inning. His luck ran out in the b-3rd as
the two free passes he issued, coupled with 3 singles, led to a 4-spot for
NEK/ESB and a 1-run lead. In the t-4th a SF brough in one to tie things up. Then
with 2 outs a Paul Hayes rbi 1B coupled with two infield errors allowed 4 more
to score in the inning as Sky & Sky took the 8-4 lead. NEK/ESB answered with
three of their own in the b-4th, comprised of a flury of hits closing the gap to
one. Tzvi Friedman figured things out from that point on limiting the Sky & Sky
bats to two hits over the last three innings including a 1-4-6 double play. Hit
teammates had his back getting two in the b-5th on four hits and a BB giving him
the 'W' over Alex Newman 9-8.
These two losses marked the fifth loss in six games for Sky & Sky to teams which
had combined for 7 wins through the halfway point of the season. It catapulted
NEK/ESB ahead of Sky & Sky in the standings, and proved once again that not
showing up ready to play at 9 a.m. will lead to a demoralizing day of softball.
In game two Tzvi Friedman who looks like Teddy’s little Brother took the mound. It was a very exciting game with the lead changing several times. After the Bombers took a 4-3 lead in the fourth Sky and Sky came back in the fifth and took an 8-5 lead. The Bombers came back and scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Eli Katz playing his first game in the league had a key single and run scored in the inning. Marc Loeb also chipped in with a two run single and Jason Gardner hit a key triple. The Bombers then scored two in the sixth to take a 9-8 lead and Friedman shut out Sky and Sky the rest of the way. Mikey had a hit, three walks and scored three runs and Gardner had a triple and a single and scored two runs. RCF Cameron Brown made several outstanding catches in the outfield and the Bombers outfield of Mikey then Cameron and Raashad are as good as any team in the league.
Northwest Regional Park
4:
Umpire- Steve Steinberg
Game 1: Cannons 11 (WP-Lee Densky 1-0) Stingers
1 (LP-Albert Hoffman 1-3)
This week the Cannons
matched up against the Stingers. Lee Densky took the hill for the Cannons in his
Pikesville Softball league debut. After shaking off the nerves in the 1st
inning, Densky quickly got out of the inning without giving up a run. In the top
of the 2nd, three straight hits by Drew Thomman, Drew Mclean and Lee Densky set
up an RBI situation for Gerry Edelman. Edelman showed he still has the sweet
swing from the last 20 years and ripped a single up the middle. The Stingers
scored one in the bottom of the 2nd but that would be all Densky would
surrender. The Cannons broke the game open in the 5th scoring 6 runs on hits by
Jeff Kurland, John Edelman, jason Schwartzberg, Shawn Warner, Steve Hayes and
Thomman. Final score - Cannons 11 Stings 1. Lee Densky picked up the win in his
debut to go to 1-0.
Cannons hitting stars
Schwartzberg 3-4 , run, 2RBI
Drew McLean - 2-3, run, 4 RBI, 2B, 3B
Kurland- 2-4, 2 runs, RBI, 2B
Game 2: Cannons 14 (WP-Tom Paulshock 5-2) Stingers 2 (LP-Mike Beverly 1-5) (5 Innings)
Game 2 saw Tom Paulshock
take the hill for the Cannons. After a quick 1-2-3 inning the Cannons scored 5
in the first. Kurland led off with a double, Julio Fernandez hit an infield
single. Walks to Shawn Warner and Steve Hayes plated runs. John Edelman hit a 2
run single and Drew Thomman hit a 2 run 2B. The Cannons scored 5 more in the 2nd
on hits by Fernandez, J. Edelman, a HR by Steve Hayes, Thomman and Mclean. Game
2 was all Cannons as they win 14-2 in 5 innings. Paulshock picks up the win
Cannons hitting stars:
Jeff Kurland - 3-3, BB, 4 runs, 2 2b's
Julio Fernandez - 4-4, 2 runs
Steve Hayes - 2-2, 2 runs, 4 RBI's, HR
Shawn Warner - 1-1, BB, run, RBI, 2B
Drew Thomman - 3-3, 2B, 2 RBI's
Drew McLean 2-3
J. Edelman 2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI's, 2B