2010 Pikesville Men's Softball League
Week 15:  July 11, 2010

Highlights submitted thus far by Kings, NWC, Cannons, Bombers, LOFT, Stingers

Final Month of Regular Season Begins
The teams resumed play after a July 4th holiday weekend off 1 week ago. There is now a 4 game span separating the top 4 teams from the bottom 4 teams with 2 weeks remaining in the Regular Season.

Sky & Sky bats exploded in a sweep against the Kings. The Bombers also came away with a sweep against the Stingers. Splits were managed in the match-ups of Cannons vs. LOFT and NWC vs. AR Bodies.

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Northwest Regional Park Field 1:    Umpire- Reggie Grant
Game 1: Sky & Sky Inc. 18 (WP-Alex Newman 5-8)  Kings 3 (LP-Mike Herr 11-2)  (4 Innings)

Sky sent 15 batters to the plate before the Kings came to bat, scoring 11 runs in t-1st. Alex Newman's bases loaded 3B and Brian Sky's 2 2B's and 3 RBI's were the damaging blows. Sky bats remained hot off of Kings starter Mike Herr and Kings reliever Keegan Rettaliata with the game ending after 4 innings 18-3.

Sky offensive leaders:
Elliot Blank (3-4,3 R,2 RBI,2B)
Andrew VanLandingham (2-4,1 R,1 RBI)
Brian Sky (3-4,4 R,3 RBI,2 2B,3B)
Pat Wilcox (4-4,1 R,2 RBI,2B,3B)
Tyler Price (2-3,1 R,3 RBI,SF)
Pat Tobin (2-3,2 R)
Mike Pavsner (2-3,1 R,1 RBI)
Alex Newman (1-2,2 R,4 RBI,3B,W)

Game 2: Sky & Sky Inc. 8 (WP-Alex Newman 6-8)  Kings 7 (LP-Mike Herr 11-3)  8 Innings

Erik Hanson's bases loaded SF in b-8th brought home the winning run as the Kings and Sky battled in a much more competitive game 2, with Sky coming out the winner's 8-7 in 8 innings.

The visiting Kings took 1-0 lead in t-1st on a Steve Levy 1B and Jeff Slutzker RBI 2B. Sky continued to slug the ball, scoring 4 runs in b-1st. 3 triples were hit in the inning by Tyler Price, Brian Sky, and Elliot Blank. Sky extended their lead with a 2 out rally in b-2nd. With 2 outs and 0 on, Price doubled, Andrew VanLandingham singled (RBI), Brian Sky singled, and Pat Wilcox singled (RBI). Sky led after 2 innings 6-1.

The Kings got 1 run back in t-3rd on a Mike Herr 1B, Justin Kleeman BB, Jeff Slutzker BB, and Alan Varhaftik SF to RCF. The Kings got 2 more runs back in t-4th. With 2 outs and 0 on, Justin Cohen hit a flyball that was dropped for an error. The Kings took advantage with Koby Sarubin drawing a walk, Brooks Sandler 1B to load the bases, and Mike Herr hitting a 2 RBI 1B. The Kings were able, for the first time all day, to hold Sky without runs in innings 3-5 and trailed by just 6-4 into t-6th.

Kings Glen Savage achieved his first league hit,  a booming 3B to LCF with 1 out. Justin Cohen followed with an RBI 1B to make it a 1 run game. Koby Sarubin singled and 1 out later Mike Herr scored Cohen with a game tying RBI 1B. Herr allowed himself to get into a rundown between 1st and 2nd base and on the play, Sarubin scored the go ahead run for the Kings, 7-6. The Kings kept Sky off the board again in b-6th and the game went into the b-7th with the Kings clinging to a 7-6 lead.

In b-7th with 1 out, Tyler Price tripled, his 3rd extra basehit of the game. VanLandingham hit a SF to deep RCF, easily scoring Price with the tie run. The game went into extra innings. The Kings were unable to score in t-8th. In b-8th, with 1 out, Andy Bloom singled and Elliot Blank doubled, moving Bloom to 3B. The Kings issued an intentional walk to Pavsner to load the bases with 1 out. Erik Hanson came thru for Sky with the game winning SF to LCF, with Bloom scoring just ahead of the throw to the plate.

Sky game 2 offensive stars:
Tyler Price (3-4,3 R,2B,2 3B)
Andrew VanLandingham (2-3,1 R,3 RBI,SF)
Brian Sky (3-4,1 R,3B)
Pat Wilcox (2-4,1 R,1 RBI)
Elliot Blank (2-4,1 R,1 RBI,2B,3B)
Erik Hanson (2-3,1 RBI,SF)

Kings game 2 offensive leaders:
Jared Levine (1-1,W)
Justin Cohen (2-4,2 R,1 RBI, reached on error)
Koby Sarubin (2-3,2 RBI,2B,W)
Mike Herr (3-4,1 R,3 RBI)

Kings game notes:
►With 7 Kings regular players out of the line-up for vacations or tournament play, the Kings went with a youth movement. The Kings starting roster consisted of 5 players 21 years or younger--Brooks Sandler (17), Justin Cohen (18), Koby Sarubin (20), Jared Levine (20), and Justin Kleeman (21). Also new to the Kings line-up was Owings Mills High School assistant baseball coach Glen Savage (24).
►Jared Levine and Justin Kleeman, making their Kings debut, had their first hit in their first at-bat. Glen Savage, also making his debut got his first hit in game 2, a triple.
►With their appearances in today's doubleheader, Brooks Sandler and Scott Katzen qualified for the Playoff roster, 8+ games.
►The 11 runs allowed by the Kings in t-1st against Sky is believed to be a franchise record for runs allowed in an inning.

Northwest Regional Park Field 2:    Umpire- Troy Long
Game 1: LOFT 6  (WP-Rick Winepol 8-11)  Cannons 3 (LP-Mark Yokel 6-4) 

LOFT came out fresh after the July 4th break looking to try and get back on the winning track, with 2 of their top players most likely done for the season LOFT looked to see what they could do against the Cannons. They quickly found themselves down 3-0 in the top of the 1st after a 3 run HR by the Cannons. LOFT was able to make it 3-2 from a Jeff Kapper 2 RBI single in the bottom of the 2nd. In the bottom of the 3rd LOFT took the lead 4-3 due to a Cannons error and a Nick Serkes RBI single. LOFT pitcher Rick Winepol held the Cannons scoreless as LOFT added 2 insurance runs in the bottom of the 5th off a Matt Boden triple and another Nick Serkes RBI single. Winepol remained dialed in to not allow another Cannons run as LOFT won the first game 6-3 over the Cannons.

The 6 time PMSL champion Cannons dropped game 1 to Loft 6-3. The Cannons made two costly errors and failed to get the big hit. Mark Yokel deserved better.

Offensive Stars for LOFT:
Matt Boden: 3-3; 3B, 1B, 2 R
Nick Serkes: 3-3; 3 1B, 2 RBI
Jeff Kapper: 1-3; 1B, 2 RBI

Game 2:  Cannons 5 (WP-Tom Paulshock 9-2)  LOFT 4  (LP-Rick Winepol 8-12) 

In game 2, the Cannons came from behind twice to earn the 5-4 victory. Chuck Easter's 3 run dinger tied the game in the 5th and after LOFT added 1 in the 6th the Cannons battled back scoring twice in the bottom half of the inning. Julio Hernandez knocked in the winning run with a sharp single. Tommy P earned the victory and Mark Yokel picked up the save by tossing a scoreless 7th.

Game 2 Winepol stayed dialed in on the mound and the score was 0-0 after 3. In the top of the 4th LOFT scored off a Matt Boden triple and he scored on an outfield bobble. LOFT scored 2 more runs in the top of the 5th from RBI singles off the bats of Winepol and Sclafani to give LOFT 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the 5th however several defensive lapses allowed the Cannons to get 6 outs in the inning and they finally cashed in with a single that made it by the outfield to the wall resulting in 3 runs to tie the game. LOFT came right back with a Boden double and Wienner drove him in with a RBI single to go up 4-3. In the bottom of the 6th LOFT's defense lapsed again allowing the Cannons 2 more unearned runs giving them a 5-4 lead. LOFT in the top of the 7th were able to get runners to 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs and called upon Manager Andy Peksa who had sat out all day to pinch hit to try and tie or give them the lead. He stepped to the plate fresh off putting on his cleets and for some reason swung at the very first pitch flying out to LCF and handing the 2nd game right to the Cannons. 5 unearned runs were LOFT's downfall as Winepol had been remarkable on the day, LOFT let the sweep of the Cannons slip away as they handed them the 2nd game.

Offensive Stars for LOFT:
Matt Boden: 2-3; 3B, 2B, 2 R
Mark Wienner: 2-3: 2 1B, RBI

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:      Umpire- Scott Snyder
Game 1: NEK/ESB Bombers 12 (WP-Ted Winner 5-7)  Stingers 0 (LP- Larry Newman 4-17)    (5 Innings)

The Bombers continue to put it together and swept the Stingers in a doubleheader. This was the Bombers 7th victory in their last 8 games. The entire team is really gelling and playing great ball.

In game 1 Ted Winner took the mound and continued his dominance and pitched the Bombers to a 12-0 shutout. The game ended after 6 innings. Winner was brilliant the entire game and gave up only 3 hits to a tough Stingers team. The Bombers played outstanding defense led by 3B David Flamm who made several outstanding plays in the field. Sam Luxenberg also had a strong game defensively catching everything in CF and throwing out a runner at the plate and at 3B.

After a scoreless 1st inning the Bombers jumped on top in the top of the 2nd on a Luxenberg double and an RBI single by Chaim Finkelstein. In the top of the 3rd the Bombers put the game away by scoring 9 runs to take a 10-0 lead. Winner started off the rally with a single. Raashad Johnson pinch ran for him and moved to 3rd on a single by Mikey Georgie. Ben Guttman and David Flamm followed with RBI singles. Marc Loeb drove in another run with a force-out. After a Luxenberg single Dan Guttman drove home 2 runs with a sharp single to center and then Chaim Finkelstein followed with a triple to the fence that drove home 2 more. Jason Gardner then hit a bomb to the center field fence for an RBI triple and Winner completed the scoring with an RBI single.

In the 6th the Bombers scored 2 more to take a 12-0 lead. Winner and Georgie started off the inning with singles and PR Johnson scored on a Ben Guttman RBI and Georgie came home on an error.

The Stingers started the day off with a single by Leiberman and a walk by Sheridan in the bottom of the 1st, but failed to score. Unfortunately this marked the biggest threat of the game as they only managed to get one base runner as far as third. Bombers pitcher Winner stifled the Stingers in route to a three hit, two walk shutout. Newman pitched a better game for the Stingers than the score indicated as the Bombers did most of their damage in a nine run third.

Game 2: NEK/ESB Bombers 12  (WP-David Pridgen 2-0)  Stingers 2 (LP- Larry Newman 4-18)    

In game 2 the Bombers sent Dave Pridgen to the mound. The Stingers scored 1 in the 1st but the Bombers came right back and scored 2 to take a 2-1 lead. Ben Guttman and Flamm hit singles and Loeb followed with an RBI single. Tony Riggs drove in the 2nd run with an RBI single. In the 3rd the Bombers scored 4 more to take a 6-1 lead. Ben Guttman who has been on a tear since working out with Larry Sheetz started the inning with a single. Flamm then singled Guttman to 3rd and Loeb hit an RBI single. Luxenberg followed with a single and Dan Guttman brought home the next 2 with an RBI double. After the Stingers scored a run in the 4th to make it 6-2 the Bombers scored another run to push the lead to 7-2. After Gardner walked Petey Griffin hit a single and Ben Guttman brought him home with an RBI single.

In the 6th the Bombers tacked on 5 more runs for a 12-2 lead. Finkelstein and Griffin led off with singles and Pridgen followed with an RBI single. Georgie and Ben Guttman each hit 2 run doubles to end the scoring. The final score was 12-2. Pridgen pitched a fantastic game and the defense played great defense behind him making several great plays and with no errors in the doubleheader.

The Bombers are looking forward to playing the Kings next week and Marc Loeb is gearing up for another record day.

Game two started with more promise for the Stingers as they loaded the bases on two singles and an error by the first three hitters and scored their first run of the day on a Beverly sac fly. The Stingers only managed one more run as Bombers pitcher Pridgen continued where Winner left off and held the Stingers to just six hits and struck out four

Northwest Regional Park Field 4:      Umpire-Lane Gordon
Game 1: AR Bodies 4 (WP-Jeff Harris 13-6) Northwest Corridor 0  (LP-Matt Silverman 2-7)

NWC and AR Bodies/Raptors met for the 2nd time this year. The Bodies came away with an easy sweep earlier in the year. Game #1 was a very close quick battle that produced very few runs. Jeff Harris was at his best for most of the game, tossing a complete game shutout. NWC had runners in scoring position in the 1st , 4th, 5th & 6th innings but couldn’t manage to produce any clutch hits off of Harris all morning. Matt Silverman did a great job limiting The Raptors’ offense but with zero run support came out the loser. The Raptors scored the 1st run in the bottom of the 3rd inning from an Eric Radom sac fly. They added one more in the 4th and 2 more insurance runs in the 6th inning.

Game 2: Northwest Corridor 6 (WP-Matt Silverman 3-7) AR Bodies 4 (LP-Jeff Harris 13-7)