2011 Pikesville Men's Softball League
Week 10:  June 12, 2011

Highlights submitted thus far by Sky, Stingers, NWC, Bombers

Deer Park Middle School Field 2:    Umpire- Reggie Grant
Game 1: Sky & Sky Inc. 15 (WP-Jeff Harris 6-0) Cobras 1 (LP-Rick Winepol 3-6)  5 Innings

Sky and Sky hoped to continue their hot streak against the expansion team. The Cobras threatened to score in the first. The leadoff batter hit a fly out to left, the 2-hitter walked, and then the 3-hitter crushed a ball to deep left but Andy Bloom made a fantastic catch, setting the tone for the defense. Jeff Harris got the next hitter to fly out. Eric Radom got things started for Sky and Sky with one of his 4 walks on the day, and then after a Steve Truitt flyout, Elliot Blank doubled to center. Andrew Vanlandingham then got the first two runs on the board with a double. Wilcox popped out, Brian Sky and Andy Bloom walked to load the bases, and then Matt Holley delivered the big blow with 2-outs when he smoked a double to the gap in right center that was misplayed, clearing the bases. Sky led 6-0 after the first inning. The Cobras hit 3 consecutive groundouts to Steve Truitt at SS in the 2nd inning and once again Radom led off the inning with a walk. Truitt followed with a base hit, and then a Sac fly by Blank. Vanlandingham tripled and Pat Wilcox knocked him in with a single. Sky led 10-0 after 2 innings. Neither team scored in the 3rd inning and in the 4th inning the Cobras scored their first and only run of the day after a leadoff walk and 2 singles. Blank, Vanlandingham and Wilcox singled to start off the bottom of the 4th inning, followed by a walk by Brian Sky, a Sac fly by Bloom, a walk by Holley and then a 2RBI single by Shaun Poulton. Shawn Love knocked in the final run with a Sac Fly. Harris retired the Cobras in order in the top of the 5th inning to secure the 15-1 Win. Harris allowed just 3 hits and 2 walks.

Sky Offensive Leaders:
Andrew Vanlandingham 3-3, 3B, 2B, 3RBI, 3R
Shaun Poulton 3-3, 2RBI
Elliot Blank 2-2, 2B, RBI, 2R
Matt Holley 1-2, 2B, 3RBI, 2R
Eric Radom 0-0, 3 BB, 2R

Game 2:  Sky & Sky Inc. 12 (WP-Jeff Harris 7-0) Cobras 0 (LP-Rick Winepol 3-7)  5 Innings

Game 2 was more of the same, with Jeff Harris continuing to pitch well. He shut out the Cobras, allowing just 4 hits and no walks in 5 innings. Like the first game, Sky scored 6 runs in the first. Sky tacked on one more in the 2nd, 3 runs in the 4th, and 2 more in the 5th to win it 12-0.

Sky Offensive Leaders:
Elliot Blank 2-2, BB, 2B, 4RBI, R
Andy Bloom 2-2, BB, R
Andrew Vanlandingham 2-4, 3B, 2RBI, 2R
Brian Sky 2-3, RBI, 2R
Matt Holley 2-3, RBI

Randallstown High School Field 1:      Umpire- Lane Gordon
Game 1: Stingers 7 (WP- Larry Newman 4-7) Bombers 5 (LP- Ted Winner 3-2)  8 Innings

Stingers and Bombers met on a day where the heat was a factor and very little shade. Both pitcher had their game on for the first innings and their defense supported them well. Through three innings of play, it would be a one run game with the bottom of the Stingers line-up and Newman making it happen for the Stingers. There was special plays made as the fielding had to change from the lack of fencing the teams were used to, but in the bottom of the fourth, the Stingers would begin their road to victory as Matt Friedman would drive in another run for the Stingers to them ahead by one. In the top of the fifth, Tim Palo produce his own as he hit a solo in the park home run. Bombers would come back to it up in the sixth and threatened to take the game with bases loaded and one out. Newman was able to get the next two batters to pop out into and give the Stingers a chance. With bases loaded, Friedman came to the plate and drove a slicing double into right to give the Stingers a 3 run lead. Bombers would do their best in the eight, but would be held to only one additional run and the Stinger took the early game by 2.

The Bombers knew it was going to be a long day when 6 of their regulars couldn’t make it to the game. Teddy Winner did everything in his power to win the game for the Bombers until they finally succumbed in the 8th to the Stingers 7-5. The Bombers tied the game in the 7th and had a chance to win the game but couldn’t bring home Tzvi Friedman from 3rd with only one out. Gabe Silber subbed for the Bombers and was awesome at bat and in the field. He hit a Home run his first time up and had 3 other hits. Chaim Finkelstein played 3rd base for the first time this season and played stellar defense. He also had 3 hits. Kudos to the Raptors for playing solid ball all day.

Game 2: Bombers 7 (WP- Tom Paulshock 3-1) Stingers 6 (LP- Larry Newman 4-8) 

In the night cap, Newman still had his game going shutting down the Bombers after 4 batters. Stingers took the advantage thereafter plating three through the top of their line-up. Bombers would come back in the top of the second to tie things up at 3. Bombers would do the same thing with the middle of their line after four innings of play. Tied at 6 a piece after 5 innings of play, Bombers and Stingers would defense shut down each other for the next run. It would be the Bombers to take advantage of the Stingers using baseball recruits to plate a single run in the 6th to take the game and split on the day.

Game 2 was a thriller and the Bombers held on for a 7-6 victory. The Stingers jumped on Tommy for 3 quick runs but the Bombers battled back to tie it at 3. Shulie Hochman belted a 3 run homer to take a 6-3 lead but the Raptors tied it at 6. Shulie hit another home run in the 6th and Tommy held on for the victory. In a comical twist to to the game, the Bombers were so short-handed (Loeb missed game 2 and Chaim had to leave in the middle of the 3rd) that manager Finkelstein had to go to a different field to get 2 more ballplayers who were just finishing up a baseball game. Bobby Joe and Bryan filled in admirably.