2010 Pikesville Men's Softball League
Week 2:  April 11, 2010

Highlights submitted thus far by Cannons, Kings, Stingers, Bombers, Northwest Corridor, Sky & Sky, AR Bodies

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:    Umpire- Reggie Grant
Game 1: AR Bodies 12 (WP-Jeff Harris 3-0) NEK/ESB Bombers 8 (LP-Ted Winner 0-1) 

ESB opened up their season with a 12 - 8 loss to the Raptors. After Ted Winner shut down the Raptors in the first, Rashad Johnson opened up with a single to right, and after two outs, David Flamm also singled. Marquiex Garrett then came through with a single to left to score two runs. The game was then delayed when ambulances came to help out our friend David Sandler, and by the time the two teams continued the game, the Raptors scored six runs in the second to take a 6 to 2 lead. In the third, ESB started the inning with another single by Johnson, followed by a double by Mikie Georgie. Catcher Mark Loeb followed with a two run double to make it a 6 to 4 game. In the fourth, the Raptors scored a run through a bases loaded walk. ESB came storming back in the bottom of the fourth with two runs. Petey Griffin hit a one out single and Shulie Hochman then hit a towering drive to the fence for an RBI triple. Hochman was then driven home by a sacrifice fly by Winner. That made the score 7 to 6. In the fifth, the Raptors scored on a sacrifice fly, and ESB came battling back in the sixth and seventh innings with a double by Jason and another RBI by Hochman. But it was too little too late, and ESB lost their opener 12 to 8.

AR Bodies and the Bombers played 4 close games last year, and they met again in week two to play two more tough games.

In Game 1, Teddy stranded two bodies baserunners in the top of the first, and the Bombers added two in the bottom of the inning with 3 hits off of Jeff Harris. The Bodies came back strong in the top of the second, taking a 6-2 lead. Jon Singer and Harris singled, and with one out, Aaron Birenbaum singled in Singer. Then the veteran Mark Radom worked a walk to load the bases, fighting back from an 0-2 count. Eric Radom followed his father's walk with a single scoring Birenbaum and Singer. Jon Mandras then reached on an error to load the bases again, allowing Jason Weszka to double in both Radoms. Ryan Wilner followed a Brian Jarosinski infield single with a double scoring Mandras, but Weszka was gunned at the plate to stop the rally. Things settled down a bit with the Bombers and Bodies going quietly in their next at bat. The Bombers would make the score 6-4 in the bottom of the 3rd on 2 hits and a dropped deep fly ball. The Bodies added another in the 4th when Eric Radom scored on Jon Singer's bases loaded walk. But the Bombers continued to chip away in the bottom scoring 2 on a single, triple, and sac fly. The Bodies added another in the top of 5 when Mandras scored Harris (1B) on a sac fly to make the score 8-6 after 5. Both teams scored 1 in the 6th, but the Bodies scored 3 in the 7th to take a 5 run lead. Gabe Silber, Eric Radom, and Mandras singled to load the bases with nobody out. The Bombers 3rd baseman made an incredible diving play on Weszka to save runs momentarily, but a Jarosinski sac fly, and a Wilner 2 RBI single opened up a 12-7 lead for the Bodies. The game would end 12-8 Bodies on top.

Bodies Hitting Highlights:
>Eric Radom - 4-4, BB, 2 RBI, 3 R
>Jeff Harris - 3-3, BB, 2 R
>Jason Weszka - 2-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI
>Ryan Wilner - 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI
>Jon Singer - 2-3, BB, RBI, R

Game 2: NEK/ESB Bombers 8 (WP-Tzvi Friedman 1-0) AR Bodies 4 (LP-Jeff Harris 3-1) 

In game two, ESB won 8 to 4 behind pitcher Tzvi Friedman. In the first, Mikie and Tzvi hit singles, and Loeb followed with an RBI single for a 1 to nothing lead. In the second inning, Marquiex hit a double and Griffin drove him in with an RBI single for a 2-nothing lead. The Raptors scored three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3 to 2 lead. ESB wouldn't go away. Friedman hit a double into the right centerfield gap, and Marquiex followed with an RBI single to knot the score at 3 to 3. There was no scoring by either team in the third or fourth innings, but in the fifth, ESB jumped on top and never looked back. The two runs were driven in by Johnson and a hard smash to first base that Friedman beat out on a bang-bang play. ESB is expecting Friedman to beat out a lot more infield hits this year, being that he lost over 40 pounds in the off-season, and is now a lean, mean machine. In the sixth, ESB tacked on another run. Flamm hit a single, then Marquiex followed with a single, and Jason walked to load the bases. Flamm then scored on a sac-fly. In the bottom of the sixth, the Raptors struck quickly with a long homerun over the fence by Willner, but ESB scored two more in the seventh, and held on for the 8 to 4 victory.
The Bodies bats were quieted in game 2 by Tzvi Friedman and the Bombers would have baserunners on all game. Harris pitched out of trouble in most innings, but the Bodies could not overcome defensive errors late in the game and the lack of timely hitting .

The Bombers went ahead 1-0 in the 1st on a walk and 2 hits, then they went ahead 2-0 in the top of the 2nd on 2 doubles. The Bodies would come back in the bottom of the 2nd. Wilner would double down the line and advanced to third on a bobble by the outfielder. He would score on a Brett Canosa sac fly. Harris singled and Birenbaum reached on an error. Then Silber would plate them both with a double to deep leftcenter to put the Bodies ahead 3-2. Tzvi would settle down though after that and only allow 5 hits and a walk in the final 5 innings. The Bodies only scoring for the rest of the game would come on a Jarosinski solo homer in the 6th. The score would stay 3-2 until the forth, when the Bombers tied it at 3 on a hit and an error. Then the Bombers scored 2 on 3 hits and a walk in the fifth to make the score 5-3. The Bombers would add another in the 6th on a hit, a walk, and 2 more miscues. The Bombers continued to hit in the 7th, scoring 2 more to put the game out of the reach. Bombers win 8-4.

Bodies Hitting Highlights:
>Gabe Silber - 1-2, 2B, BB, 2 RBI
>Brian Jarosinski - 1-3, HR, RBI, R
>Brett Canosa - 1-2, 2B, Sac fly, RBI
>Jason Weszka - 2-3
>Eric Radom - 2-4

NEK/ESB Bombers Note:
Ben and Dan Gutman missed their first game in years because Ben got married today. The Gutman twins plan on making their 2010 season debut next week against NWC.

Northwest Regional Park Field 2:    Umpire- Ray Huster
Game 1: Stingers 13 (WP-Albert Hoffman 1-0) LOFT 12 (LP-Rick Winepol 0-1) 

The Stingers came out this week firing on all cylinders. After surrendering just a single in the top of the first, the offence went to work plating 6 in the first inning off a couple walks and some big hits including a double by Sheridan, Triple by Randall, and an in the park round tripper by Beverly. The LOFT answered in the second inning taking the stingers for 7 runs off of solid, base-to-base run manufacturing (and a couple errors by the Stingers infield). The Stingers had no answer in the second but shut down the LOFT in the third. Coming to the bat the Stingers got hot again plating three off some good old fashion run manufacturing and Hoffman helping himself with a 2 RBI triple (yes I said triple!). We did it again in the fourth off solid hitting including a Palo Triple, Sheridan Double, and an Engler single putting the Stingers up 13 to 8. The game went quite with only a single run scored by LOFT in the sixth. In the top of the seventh, LOFT made a run for the game. Some poor fielding by the Stingers lead to three runs by LOFT. With two on and two out, the game ended on a grounder to second allowing the Stingers to win the first game of the double header.

Game 2: LOFT 12 (WP-Rick Winepol 1-1) Stingers 8 (LP-Larry Newman  0-3) 

Game two of the double header was not as clean for the Stingers. The Stingers did not take advantage of the hits they had leaving 8 players stranded including Randall on three separate occasions (Randall went 3 for 4). The offence didn't get it done and the fielding was lackluster. The LOFT took advantage with a much better hitting in game two. The LOFT put liners in all the places the Stingers weren't and took advantage of the errors whenever possible. It was 12-4 going into the top of the seventh and the Stingers made a run, however, came up short losing game two 12 to 8.

Highlights pending

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:      Umpire- Scott Snyder
Game 1: Kings 7 (WP-Mike Herr 2-0) Cannons 2 (LP-Mark Yokel 0-1) 

This doubleheader featured the top 2 Regular Season and Tournament teams from 2009. In 2009, the Cannons swept the Kings in 4 Regular Season games. The Canons beat the Kings in just 1 of their 3 Playoff games, but it was the Championship Game with the Cannons repeating as league Tournament Champions in 2009. The early April rematch featured stellar defense from both squads with solid pitching from all 4 pitchers used in the contest.

Kings starter Mike Herr limited the potent Cannons offense to just 5 hits and 2 walks en route to a 7-2 game 1 Kings win. Kings 2B Kenny Salzman led the Kings offense with a 3 hit performance. Cannons starter Mark Yokel returned following a 1 year hiatus from a cervical disc injury.

In t-1st, Kings Kenny Salzman and Jeff Slutzker singled to set up a SF by Shilo Merwitz to LF. 2 out singles by Arin Gelletly and Alan Varhaftik (RBI) gave the Kings a 2-0 lead. Troy Hendricks and Rob Barrow singled to lead off t-2nd, bringing Dave Sandler to the plate with runners on the corners. Sandler hit what looked to be a SF to RF, but Cannons RF Evan Kreitzer dropped the ball and Sandler was safe at firstbase with an RBI SF/Error. Once reaching first base, Sandler reported dizziness and was attended to medically. With the assistance of 2 physicians (Scott Katzen and Mike Herr) and EMT Marc Loeb of NEK/ESB Bombers, Sandler was assessed, started on oxygen, and an ambulance was called. Sandler was awake and alert, and sent again to University of Maryland Hospital for further evaluation by cardiologist Katzen.

When the game resumed, a 1 out single by Salzman and fielder's choice ground by Jan Katzen (RBI) gave the Kings a 4-0 lead. The 4 run lead was short-lived as Cannons began b-2nd with 1B by Jason Schwartzberg and over the left field fence HR by Mike Steller (2 RBI). Johnny Edelmand followed with a 1B, but the Kings escaped further damage on a fine looking 6-6-3 doubleplay started by SS Shillo Merwitz and a hard lineout to 3B.

Kings began t-3rd with 1B by Merwitz and 2B by Gelletly. With 1 out, Keegan Rettaliata grounded out to thirdbaseman Jeff Kurland, with Merwitz scoring on the throw to first base. Both teams remained off the scoreboard for innings 4-6.

The Kings got 2 insurance runs in t-7th as Mike Herr drew a 1 out walk. Kenny Salzman pounded an RBI 3B to RCF and Jan Katzen singled home Salzman to put the Kings ahead by the game ending score 7-2.

Cannons offensive leader:
Mike Steller (1-3,1 R,2 RBI, HR)

Kings offensive leaders:
Kenny Salzman (3-4,1 R,1 RBI,3B)
Arin Gelletly (2-3,2B)
Troy Hendricks (2-3,1 R)
Mike Herr (1-2,1 R,W)

Game 2: Kings 6 (WP-Chuck Grant 2-0) Cannons 5 (LP-Tom Paulshock 1-1) 

Arin Gelletly delivered a 2 out 2 RBI 3B in b-5th tying the score 5-5. Gelletly scored on the play when the relay throw to home plate was mishandled. The Kings held the lead thru the Cannons final 2 at-bats and came away with a 6-5 win in game 2. Kings starter Chuck Grant was solid on the mound and got the pitching win over Tom Paulshock.

The Cannons got on the board in their first swings. Jeff Kurland and Chuck Easter singled with Mike Dubansky following with a fielder's choice RBI groundout. In Kings b-2nd, Alan Varhaftik and Troy Hendricks walked. Rob Barrow's flyout to RF advanced the runners to 2nd and 3rd base with 2 outs for Chuck Grant. Grant helped his own cause with a 2 RBI single giving the Kings the lead 2-1.

Kurland got the Cannons started as the leadoff batter in t-3rd. Kurland singled, Easter doubled, and Dubansky hit a 2 RBI 1B. Following a walk to Jason Schwartzberg, Grant got out of the inning on a 6-6-3 doubleplay started again by Shilo Merwitz. The Kings briefly tied score in b-3rd on singles by Jan Katzen, Jeff Slutzker, and Gelletly (RBI). This made the score 3-3 after 3 innings.

Steve Hayes started Cannons t-4th with a 2B. Evan Kreitzer singled home Hayes with 1 out to put the Cannons ahead again by 1 run. The lead became 2 runs when Kurland started another rally in t-5th with a 1B. Easter again doubled with Kurland taking thirdbase. Mike Dubansky lined out hard to firstbaseman Keegan Rettaliata. Jason Schwartzberg was robbed of a basehit on a diving catch by RCF Troy Hendricks. Kurland scored on the play which became a SF instead of a double. Grant was able to retire Mike Steller to escape without further damage. The Cannons led after 4 1/2 innings 5-3.

In Kings b-5th, Salzman reached on a walk and Merwitz reached on a 2 out hit. Arin Gelletly came to the plate looking for a pitch drive into the gap. Gelletly found his pitch and hit a 3B to CF scoring Salzman and Merwitz. When the relay throw from the outfield was overthrown to home plate, Gelletly raced home with the go ahead run.

Grant retired the Cannons in order in t-6th and yielded just a leadoff single in b-7th. Grant and the Kings came away with a 6-5 win and a doubleheader sweep against the Cannons. T

The Cannons top 3 batters were 7-for-10, while the other 8 hitters were 5-for-21. The Kings top 5 hitters were 7-for-14, while the other 6 hitters were 1-for-12.

Cannons offensive leaders in game 2:
Jeff Kurland (3-4,3 R)
Chuck Easter (3-3,1 R,2 2B)
Mike Dubansky (1-3,3 RBI)
Jason Schwartzberg (0-0,1 RBI,2 W,SF)
Dan Kassel (2-3)

Kings offensive stars in game 2:
Jeff Slutzker (2-3,1 R)
Arin Gelletly (2-3,1 R,3 RBI,3B)
Chuck Grant (1-2,2 RBI)