Week #14 -- July 15, 2012

Highlights submitted thus far by Deuces Up, Kings, Bombers, Thunderbirds, Sky, Stingers

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:    Umpire- Reggie Grant
Game 1: Kings 12 (WP-Mike Herr 12-3) Deuces Up 4  (LP- Bob Mallonee ) 

The Deuces Up (DU) team was missing several key players this weekend, but that wouldn't stop them for coming out firing. Having a man on first with 2 outs, DU hitters strung together 5 consecutive hits. The highlights were a double to the gap by Jonathon Stacey, a 2 RBI single by Billy Giles, and a crushed triple by Joe Chambers. Unfortunately, that was all the DU batters could do to affect the scoreboard. King's pitcher Mike Herr kept the green machine off balance, scattering just 4 more hits over the last 6 innings.

After the Kings got 3 runs in the second inning, they really started to get hot in the 3rd. After stringing together 6 hits and a walk for the first 8 batters in the inning, pitcher Bob Mallonee was able to stop the bleeding by inducing an infield fly and a bloop to center field where Billy Giles made a controversial, but spectacular play to end the inning. Another Kings rally in the 6th inning scored four more runs, culminated by a blast from Kings Arin Gelletly to left field for a triple. However, the DU defense again was able to prevent the game from getting out of hand thanks to two wonderful catches from left fielder J Dot. The defense flashed the leather even more so in the 7th inning with J Dot making a juggling circus catch followed by a Jonathon Stacey over the shoulder catch at the fence.

It was a hard fought game, not one of DU's finest performances, but the newly spirited team kept their heads in the game and provided a fun experience for everybody.

The Kings rallied back from a 4-0 1st inning deficit to defeat Deuces Up 12-4 in game 1. The Kings got 3 runs back in t-3rd with Brad Millison's 2 RBI 1B getting Kings onto scoreboard. The Kings exploded for 5 hits, 1 walk, and 1 ROE in t-3rd in taking a 7-4 lead. Kings starter Mike Herr settled down after b-1st and faced no more than 5 DU batters the rest of the way. The Kings took a commanding 12-4 lead with 4 runs in t-6th. RBI's in the inning came from Shilo Merwitz (2 RBI 1B), Arin Gelletly (RBI 3B), and Alan Varhaftik (SF).

Kings offensive leaders in game 1:
Steve Levy (2-4,2 R,2B)
Shilo Merwitz (4-4,2 R,2 RBI,2 2B)
Arin Gelletly (3-3,1 R,2 RBI,3B,SF)
Troy Hendricks (2-4,1 R,ROE)
Brad Millison (3-3,4 RBI,SF)

Deuces Up box score:
Bob Mallonee: 7 IP, 17 H, 12 R, 0 K, 3 BB
Jonathon Stacey: 2-3, 1 2B, 1 R
Billy Giles: 2-3, 2 RBI, 1 R
Joe Chambers: 1-3, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 R
J Dot: 2-3

Game 2:  Kings 11 (WP-Chuck Grant 6-1) Deuces Up 1  (LP- Andy Peksa 1-1) 

Kings Chuck Grant allowed just 5 hits and 1 unearned run in an 11-1 Kings win over Deuces Up in game 2. Deuces Up took 1-0 lead in t-1st as J Dot reached on an infield error and later scored on a SF by Andy Peksa. The Kings pounded out 7 hits scoring 6 runs in b-1st. With 2 on and 1 out, Arin Gelletly hit an RBI 1B and Alan Varhaftik 2 RBI 3B. Jan Katzen's RBI groundout scored Gelletly. With 2 outs, Troy Hendricks singled, Glenn Savage hit an RBI 3B, and Brad Millison hit an RBI 1B to give Kings 6-1 lead. The Kings added 1 run in b-2nd with 2 out 1B by Steve Levy and RBI 3B by Shilo Merwitz. Merwitz was nailed at the plate for the final out of the inning.

Deuces Up starter Andy Peksa settled in after the 2nd inning and kept the Kings off the board until the 6th inning. Kings starter Chuck Grant was keeping DU scoreless, so the score remained 7-1 into b-6th. The Kings strung together consecutive lead off singles by Jan Katzen, Hendricks, Savage (RBI), and Millison en route to 4 additional runs, giving the Kings an 11-1 margin of victory.

Deuces Up again scored first in game 2, thanks to a lead off single by J Dot, followed by a hustle play to second and 2 sacrifice flies to drive him in. The DU bats continued to struggle for the entire day, leaving 7 runners on base over the next 4 innings. The best chance to add more to the run column came in the 3rd inning, when newcomer Brandon Mabry and J Dot got back to back 1 out hits. But Martin Harris, usually as consistent of a hitter as there is, couldn't break his day long slump which was followed by an Andy Peksa laser beam to left center that happened to be right at a Kings glove. In the 4th inning, Billy Giles boomed a triple to center with 1 out, but King's pitcher Charles Grant brought some serious heat to induce a come backer and a strike out to end the inning.

On the other side of the ball, pitcher Andy Peksa got touched up for 6 runs in the first inning, but settled in quite nicely only giving up 1 run over the next four innings. Peksa's pitching kept the green men in the game up until the bottom of the 6th, where the Kings were able to put the game out of reach by adding 4 more runs. Despite taking multiple line drives off his body, he threw strikes all game and did not surrender a single walk in the game.

The DU team could not overcome a very powerful and error free day from the Kings, but a fun day for all kept hopes high that a fully armed team can compete with the best going forward.

Deuces Up box score:
Andy Peksa: 6 IP, 17 H, 11 R, 0 K, 0 BB
Billy Giles: 1-3, 1 3B,
Brandon Mabry: 2-2
Mark Winkel: 2-2

Kings game 2 offensive leaders:
Shilo Merwitz (2-3,1 R,1 RBI,3B)
Alan Varhaftik (2-3,1 R,2 RBI,2B,3B)
Troy Hendricks (2-3,2 R)
Glenn Savage (2-3,2 R,2 RBI,3B)
Brad Millison (3-3,1 R,1 RBI)

Northwest Regional Park Field 2:    Umpire- Ray Huster
Game 1: Thunderbirds 5 (WP- Kyle Kennedy 4-7) Natty O's 3 (LP- RJ Seabeck 6-18) 

Sunday's action started with The Birds jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top 1 after Darnell Maxwell walked and David Woods hit his 4th HR of the season with an inside the park shot to right center. That stingy Thunderbirds defense would hold Natty to nothing until the bottom of the 3rd when they got one across the plate. The Birds would respond in the top of the 4th, when Dante Lambert would score on Will McCray's FC ground ball. The score would remain 3-1 until the top of the 5th when The Birds would start a rally with a leadoff walk by Darnell and a single by Tony Barner. The next two batters would draw consecutive walks from the Natty pitcher with John Roiy's bases juiced walk scoring Darnell. After the Natty defense got 2 outs on The Birds, Thunderbirds pitcher Kyle Kennedy would draw another bases loaded walk scoring Tony. Natty would respond with 2 of their own in the bottom half of the inning and trail 5-3 after 5. The Birds would hold Natty scoreless over the next 2 innings and take the opening game 5-3.

Thunderbirds Offensive Leaders:
Darnell Maxwell 1-1, 3 BB, 2 R
Tony Barner 2-4, R
David Woods 1-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI
John Roiy 1-2, 2 BB, RBI
Kyle Kennedy 2-2, BB, RBI

Game 2:  Natty O's 18 (WP- RJ Seabeck 7-18)  Thunderbirds 5 (LP- Kyle Kennedy 4-8)  5 Innings

In the second game of the afternoon, Natty would jump out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the 1st. The Birds would respond in the bottom half of the inning. Manny Fontanez would lead off with a single followed by consecutive walks to Darnell Maxwell and Theo Battle. With the bases juiced, David Woods would get an RBI single scoring Manny. John Roiy would continue the hot start for The Birds with a 2 RBI double scoring Theo and David. The next batter, Will McCray would line a RBI triple to right center that scored John. The Birds would take the lead on Tony Barner's RBI single that scored Will and lead 5-4 going into the 2nd. Natty would get nasty and score 3 and 5 runs in the next 2 innings while they continued to make The Birds sit on eggs. Natty would be held scoreless in the 4th but The Thunderbirds could not catch flight. Natty would score 6 more times in the 5th and take the nightcap 18-5.

Thunderbirds Offensive Leaders:
Manny Fontanez 1-2, BB, R
David Woods 1-3, R, RBI
John Roiy 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Will McCray 1-2, 3B, RBI, R
Tony Barner 1-2, RBI

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:    Umpire- Kory Rosenberg
Game 1: Northwest Corridor 10 (WP- Howard Goldberg 17-3) Sky & Sky Inc. 5 (LP- Jeff Harris 12-4) 

NWC started off the game hitting the ball hard, but fortunately for Jeff Harris the defense was able to make some nice plays. NWC went down 1-2-3 in the first 2 innings. Sky managed to score the first 2 runs in the top of the 2nd inning to take a 2-0 lead. Pat Wilcox led off the inning with a single, and that was followed by Brian Sky’s base hit and another RBI single by Jeff Sacks. Mark Lester knocked in the 2nd run with a single. NWC got a run in the 3rd inning after a Silverman single, a double by Goldman, and a sac fly brought in a run. Bell then singled to put two runners on base, but Sky turned a nice 5-4-3 double play to end the inning. Sky went down 1-2-3 in the top of the 4th inning and NWC took the lead for good in the bottom of the 4th inning, scoring 3 runs. Sky stranded Lester and Radom who had base hits in the 5th inning. NWC continued to pound the ball, with the 9 and 10 hitters leading off the inning with base hits. Herbst and Goldberg followed with hits to plate 3 more runs. NWC tacked on 3 more runs in the top of the 6th to take a commanding 10-2 lead. Sky attempted to come back after Elliot Blank, Andrew Vanlandingham and Pat Wilcox started the 6th inning with consecutive hits, but Sky managed just 3 runs in the inning and failed to score in the 7th. Final score was 10-5.

Offensive leaders for Sky:
Mark Lester: 3-3, RBI
Pat Wilcox: 2-3, 2 R
Andrew Vanlandingham: 2-3, R

Game 2:  Sky & Sky Inc. 7 (WP- Jeff Harris 13-4)  Northwest Corridor 0 (LP-Howard Goldberg 17-4) 

Neither team hit particularly well in the 2nd game, but Sky was able to bunch a few hits together in the first inning which was all they needed. Eric Radom led off the inning with a walk, Truitt followed with a single, and then Blank doubled to left knocking in Radom. Vanlandingham hit a sac fly to score Truitt, and Pat Wilcox knocked Blank in with a triple to the fence. Brian Sky singled in Wilcox for the 4th run of the first inning. NWC had 2 runners on base in the first inning, but were held scoreless. Sky scored two more runs in the 2nd inning. With 2 outs, Jeff Harris and Eric Radom walked, Truitt doubled to knock in Harris, and Blank singled to score Radom. Sky scored the final run of the game in the 3rd when Jeff Sacks singled in Brian Sky who tripled to right. Jeff Harris pitched a great game, despite a near injury trying to back up a throw to third base. NWC had runners on base every inning, but Sky played flawlessly in the field and Jeff Harris managed to get some big outs. Final score was 7-0.

Offensive leaders for Sky:
Elliot Blank: 2-3, 2B, 2RBI, R
Brian Sky: 2-3, 3B, RBI, R
Steve Truitt: 2-3, 2B, RBI, R

Northwest Regional Park Field 4:      Umpire- Mark Radom
Game 1: Bombers 16 (WP-Tzvi Friedman 10-2)  Stingers 3 (LP- Larry Newman 4-9) 

The Bombers moved into 3rd place with a sweep of the Stingers. Tzvi Friedman, pitched the Bombers to a 16-3 game 1 victory. He had another dominant performance. Shulie Hochman was the hitting star hitting for the cycle, a very rare feat in any league.

Shad started the game off with a double and Mikie hit an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Ben Gutman’s RBI groundout plated Mikie. Dave Flamm then hit a triple into the RF corner and scored on an overthrow to home for a 3-0 Bombers lead. In the 2nd, Shulie hit a HR over the LF fence off of Larry Newman. After singles by Friedman and C. Finkelstein, Shad laced a double plating both runners to make it 6-0. Mikie doubled home Shad and Ben singled home Mikie. The Stingers cut the lead to 8-2 but the Bombers scored 4 more in the 4th to take a 12-2 lead. Ben, Flamm, Gardner and Shulie had RBI’s.

In the 5th, Brad Eyler doubled, Shad singled and Mikie’s single plated Brad. Ben’s RBI groundout made it 14-2. In the 7th, Shulie reached the cycle by tripling to the LF fence. The Bombers tacked on 2 more runs to make the final score 16-3.

Game 2: Bombers 2 (WP-Jay Walle 6-4)  Stingers 0 (LP- Tom Paulshock 3-9) 

In game 2, Jay Walle took the mound against Tommy and shutout the Stingers 2-0. Walle pitched a great game and the defense made several great plays including one by Brad and the other on a perfect relay from Shad to Dan G. to Friedman. It was a very important play because of Tommy’s pitching performance. The Bombers scored 2 in the first and that would be it for them the rest of the game. The 2 runs would be all that Walle needed. After Mikie hit a one out single, Ben tripled him home. Ben would score on a Flamm RBI single.