Week #15 --  July 14, 2013

Highlights submitted thus far by Kings, Bombers, Green Machine, Natty O's, NWC, Thunderbirds

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:    Umpire- Reggie Grant
Game 1: Natty O's 7 (WP- RJ Seabeck 8-13)  Thunderbirds 2 (LP- Harry Kinsey 1-4 )

With the fields ready to go and the sun coming out the O's and Thunderbird's took a scoreless game into the 5th where the O's put 4 runs on the board after Nick Meyer, RJ Seabeck and Rob Medoff all singled before Brad Wandell doubled and later scored on on a John Murphy sacrifice fly. RJ Seabeck really held the T-Birds in check until the 6th inning when they put 2 runs on the board to cut the O's lead in half. The O's came right back in the bottom of the 6th and put up 3 insurance runs thanks to a heads up hustle play by RJ Seabeck that turned a pop fly into a homerun followed by a double from Rob Medoff and a single by Brad Wandell to put the gmae out of reach and gave the Natty O's a 7-2 victory.

The early game started as both teams were scoreless in the 1st 3 innings. Natty would get 4 in the bottom of the 4th. Both teams went silently in the 5th. In the top of 6, The Birds would get on the scoreboard with 2 when Seabeck issued 4 free passes and a single. But Natty got 3 more in the bottom half and took the opener 7-2.

Thunderbirds Offensive Leaders:
David Woods 2-3, BB
Darnell Maxwell 2-2, BB

Natty O's Leaders:
Brad Wandell: 2-3, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 Runs
Rob Medoff: 2-3, 2B, 2 Runs
RJ Seabeck CG, 2 runs allowed

Game 2: Natty O's 5 (WP- RJ Seabeck 9-13)  Thunderbirds 4 (LP- Jay Walle 2-10)

The second game began as Natty scored 1 in the top of the 1st.The Birds would get going in the 4th with consecutive singles Menedis, Fontanez, and Battle (RBI). Woods would double in Fontanez. Roiys' sac fly drove in Battle. Molock singled in Woods as TB took a 4-1 lead. Natty got 2 in the 5th and 2 in the 7th to take the game 5-4.

After the O's scored 1 run in the top of the first inning, it was the Thunderbirds turn to put up some runs when they plated 4 in the bottom of the 3rd inning. They would take that 4-1 lead into the 5th where the O's would put together a 2 out rally and Jason Smulson would single in 2 runs to bring the O's within 1. The score would stay that way until the O's were down to their last out, with 2 runners on. Rich Carey came to the plate and singled to right center, Alan Monico would score easily but Brian Horr made it all the way from first base hustling and leaping over the catcher who bobbled the ball and the O's took a 1 run lead where RJ Seabeck would shut down the Thunderbirds in helping to earn the O's sweep.

Thunderbirds Offensive Leaders:
Kevin Menedis 2-4, R
Manny Fontanez 2-4, R
Theo Battle 1-3, BB, RBI, R
David Woods 2-4, 2B, RBI, R
John Roiy 1-2, SAC FLY, BB, RBI
Reggie Molock 2-4, RBI

Natty O's Leaders:
Brian Horr: 2-3, 2 runs including game winner.
John Murphy: 1-2, Run, RBI
Jason Smulson 1-2, 2 RBI, BB

Northwest Regional Park Field 2:    Umpires- Mark Radom
Game 1: Bombers 11 (WP-Tzvi Friedman 15-4)  Sky & Sky Inc. 10 (LP-Jeff Harris 5-2) 8 Innings

The Bombers and Sky played 2 thrilling games and the Bombers came out on top in game 1; 11-10 in 8 innings and in game 2; 8-7. Tzvi Friedman took both wins to improve his record to 16-4, while Jeff Harris took both losses.

The Bombers took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Johnson and Croft singled, Ben G. walked to load the bases and Flamm hit a 2 run single. Eyler’s RBI triple in the 2nd pushed the lead to 3-0 and in the 3rd, after a Johnson double, B. Gutman singled him home to push the lead to 4-0. Sky tied things up with 3 in the 4th and 1 in the 5th.Sky took the lead in the 6th on Bloom’s RBI but the Bombers stormed back with 3 in the 6th to take a 7-6 lead. Johnson reached on an error, Croft singled and after a sac fly by B. Gutman, Flamm singled them both home. Flamm would score on Loeb’s pinch hit SAC Fly.

Sky wasn’t done. Their formidable lineup scored 4 in the top of the 7th that pushed their lead to 10-7. The Bombers didn’t quit. In the bottom of the 7th, after 1 out, Friedman singled but was forced at 2nd for the 2nd out of the inning. C. Finkelstein singled and Johnson’s RBI single cut the lead to 2.Croft Singled, and then B. Gutman and Flamm walked to knot it at 10. Sky didn’t score in the 8th. In the bottom half of the inning, with 1 out, Gardner hit a pinch hit triple. Flamm ran for him as a courtesy runner. Sky countered by walkng D. Gutman and Friedman. Eyler then secured the Bombers victory with a SAC fly to LF.

Game 2:  Bombers 8 (WP-Tzvi Friedman 16-4)  Sky & Sky Inc. 7 (LP-Jeff Harris 5-3) 

Sky jumped on Friedman in game 2 for 3 in the 1st highlighted by Wilcox’s 2 run HR over the RF fence. The Bombers scored 6 in the 2nd to take a 6-3 lead. Flamm singled D. Gutman doubled home Flamm. Eyler doubled home Gutman and after Finkelstein walked, Friedman hit an RBI single and Finkelstein and Yakabovitch scored on errors. Johnson’s RBI single made it 6-3.Sky scored 3 in the 2nd and 1 in the 5th for a 7-6 lead. The Bombers would keep battling. In the 7th, Eyler and Finkelstein walked and Friedman doubled in Eyler. Yakabovitch’s SAC Fly scored Finkelstein and the Bombers held on for the 8-7 win.

The sweep ensured at least a 2nd place finish for the Bombers. The Bombers were a bit shaky in the field and made a couple of base running mistakes but did just enough to beat a solid Sky team. The left side of Sky’s INF defense made several outstanding plays to keep Sky in the game.

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:    Umpire- Scott Snyder
Game 1: Northwest Corridor 4 (WP-Howard Goldberg 7-5)  Green Machine 3 (LP-Bob Mellonee 5-8)

Rainstorms for 2 days straight followed by an overnight shower could not keep the PMSL from playing this Sunday with just 3 regular season weeks left. Many players and managers were there before the games to rake , put down compound dirt and make the fields playable, but it was commissioner Mike Herr who made it happen, getting to the fields at the crack of dawn to work on the puddles and mud so we could escape the rainout.

The Green Machine and NWC squared off on the hot Sunday morning. It appeared early on that we’d be in for a high scoring day but it ended up turning into a pitcher’s duel between Howard Goldberg and Bob Mellonee. GM put up 2 early runs in the top of the 1st inning. In the bottom of the 2nd Chris Ammann knocked in Jon Goldman for NWC’s 1st runs followed by a Lee Pollak triple to drive home Matt Bell and Ammann. Gabe Unterman also delivered an rbi single and NWC enjoyed an early 4-2 lead. Both teams bats would go cold for the rest of the game and finish with just 7 combined runs. GM managed just 2 hits off of Goldberg after the 2nd inning and NWC took the victory and 1st game of the doubleheader.

Green Machine looked to get back on track against NWC, and got off to a good start with 2 quick runs in the first inning. A lead off walk by Josh Vaeth, a Nick Serkes double, and a fielders choice by Matt Boden put runners on the corners with 1 out. Brad Verbosky and Andy Peksa followed with RBI singles to plate Vaeth and Boden. After a Billy Giles single to load the bases with 1 out, Pete Sclafani and Mark Winkel both flew out to strand all 3 runners. NWC answered in the 2nd inning, getting 4 runs from a combination of errors and timely hitting to take a 2 run lead. Winkel got a lead off triple in the 5th inning followed by an RBI ground out by Jeff Kapper to cut the lead to 1, but GM was unable to get another run and lost 3-4. Green Machine would only get 2 hits and 1 walk in the last 6 innings of the game. Pitcher Bob Mallonee pitched another gem, but was unable to get the help he needed for the win he deserved to get.

Green Machine Do Gooders:
Josh Vaeth: 0-2, 1 BB, 1 R
Brad Verbosky: 1-3, 1 RBI
Andy Peksa: 2-3, 1 RBI
Mark Winkel: 1-2, 1 3B, 1 R
Jeff Kapper: 0-1, 1 BB, 1 RBI

Hitting Highlights NWC:
Matt Bell 2-2 R
Lee Pollak 1-2 R 3b 2rbi

Game 2:  Northwest Corridor 5 (WP-Ted Winner 7-5)  Green Machine 4 (LP-Bob Mellonee 5-9)

Green Machine got off to a promising start again in game 2. A lead off single by Vaeth was followed by consecutive fielders choice ground outs. Serkes followed with a single and a Verbosky single plated Boden, but GM was once again unable to keep the rally going after a Peksa ground out. NWC continued their 2nd inning success, getting 3 runs to take a 3-1 lead. GM answered back in the bottom of the inning, starting with a single by Giles and walks by Winkel and Rodney Baysmore to load the bases with 0 outs. GM was able to score 2 of those runs on fielders choice hits by Sclafani and Mallonee to tie the game at 3. NWC got a run in the top of the 4th inning to take the lead back, and GM tried to get it back in the bottom when they loaded the bases with singles from Giles, Winkel, and Sclafani, but once again could not capitalize and failed to score any runs. GM got another rally going in the 5th inning when Kapper got a 1 out single followed by a double from Boden to get 2 runners in scoring position with 1 out. Serkes flew out to the NWC right fielder, who was able to throw out Kapper at home plate to end the inning. NWC was able to add a run in the top of the 6th inning to get a 2 run lead, but GM came storming back in the bottom of the 6th. Verbosky got a lead off single, and then Giles bombed a 1 out triple to deep left center to score Verbosky. However, when Winkel hit a fly to right center field in the next at bat, Giles did not tag up to score the tying run and was left stranded with Baysmore grounding out to the shortstop. GM was unable to get the run in the bottom of the 7th inning, and once again lost by 1 run.

Again in game #2 most of the runs were scored early. GM managed a run in the bottom of the 1st off of NWC pitcher Ted Winner then scored 2 more in the 2nd inning after hitting into two different bases loaded fielder’s choices. In NWC’s 2nd inning Jon Goldman legged out a leadoff double, Ben Herbst reached on an error and Jon Herbst singled to load the bases. Matt Bell delivered a bases loaded 2rbi single and Chris Ammann singled home the 3rd run. Going into the 4th with the game tied 3—3 Ted Winner helped his own cause with a line drive rbi hit to right field to give NWC the lead back 4-3. GM were able to get on the scoreboard once again as Billy’s triple drove home Brad Verbovsky. That lead wouldn’t hold long as Oliver Peterson’s head’s up play on the base paths allowed him to leg out a single into a triple and score what would be the winning run after a Jon Herbst fielder’s choice.

Hitting Highlights NWC:
Ben Herbst 2-3 2r
Ted Winner 2-3 rbi
Matt Bell 1-3 2rbi

Green Machine Do Gooders:
Matt Boden: 2-3, 1 2B, 1 R
Brad Verbosky: 2-3, 1 R, 1 RBI
Billy Giles: 3-3. 1 3B, 1 R, 1 RBI
Pete Sclafani: 1-3, 1 RBI
Mark Winkel: 1-2, 1 BB, 1 R
 

Northwest Regional Park Field 4:      Umpire- Trevor Walzl

Game 1: Kings 11 (WP- Mike Herr 10-1)  Stingers 4 (LP-Larry Newman 4-14) 

The Kings defeated the Stingers in the opener 11-4. Stingers grabbed early lead with 3 runs in t-1st. Brett Eisenberg led off game with a walk against Kings starter Mike Herr. It would be the only walk Herr would allow the rest of the day. Rob Elrich singled Eisenberg to third base. Stu Sheridan plated Eisenberg on a SF to RF. Matt Friedman also had an RBI 1B later in the inning. The Stingers lead was shortlived as the Kings came right back in b-1st. The Kings got their first 2 batters on base with a Koby Sarubin 1B and Kenny Salzman walk. With 1 out, Jan Katzen hit an RBI 1B, Alan Varhaftik a 2 RBI 3B, and Steve Levy RBI SF. 2 out hits by Troy Hendricks, Rob Barrow (RBI 3B), and Jared Levine (RBI 1B) extended Kings lead 6-3.

The game remained 6-3 into b-4th when Kings added 4 runs. Mike Herr and Brooks Sandler led off with singles. Salzman had a 1 out RBI 1B, with Herr scoring when the ball was bobbled in LF. Jan Katzen had an RBI on an infield error, and Varhaftik had an RBI on SF to LF.

In b-5th, back-to-back doubles by Hendricks and Barrow put Kings lead at 11-3. In t-6t, Mike Randall led off with a 2B off the fence in LF. Matt Friedman hit an RBI 1B to give the Stingers their 4th and final run of the game.

Stingers offensive leaders in game 1:
Mike Randall (2-3,1 R,2B,3B)
Matt Friedman (2-3,2 RBI)
Derrick Foster (3-3)

Kings game 1 offensive leaders:
Koby Sarubin (2-4,1 R)
Arin Gelletly (2-4,1 R)
Alan Varhaftik (1-2,1 R,3 RBI,3B,SF)
Troy Hendricks (2-3,2 R,2B)
Rob Barrow (3-3,1 R,2 RBI,2B,3B)
Mike Herr (2-3,1 R)

Game 2:  Kings 8 (WP- Mike Herr 11-1)  Stingers 4 (LP-Larry Newman 4-15) 

Kings completed the sweep with an 8-4 win in game 2. Kings Mike Herr went up against Stingers Larry Newman in the nightcap. Despite the heat and humidity climbing throughout the morning, the pitchers dominated early as the Kings led just 2-1 thru 4 innings and 4-3 thru 5 innings. The Kings scored 4 runs in t-6th to pull away.

In t-2nd, 4 straight singles to start the inning by Steve Levy, Troy Hendricks, Rob Barrow (RBI), and Jared Levine put the Kings in good position with 1 run in, the bases loaded, and 0 outs. The Kings were able to score just 1 more run in the inning on a Koby Sarubin SF. In b-4th Newman led off inning with 1B to LF. Following a forceout and popout, Stu Sheridan singled. Mike Randall was next and launched a hard 2B off the fence in LF. Eisenberg was able to easily score, but Sheridan was held at third base. With 2 runners in scoring position and 2 outs, Mike Beverly hit a hard ground ball that hit off the glove of Kings 3B Jan Katzen and deflected to SS Arin Gelletly. An alert Gelletly was able to tag out Randall before Sheridan had an opportunity to score.

In t-5th, with 1 out Kenny Salzman singled and scored on Gelletly's 3B to RCF. Gelletly scored when the relay throw towards the plate came in well wide of the catcher. The Kings lead was now 4-1. The Kings added 4 runs on 6 hits in t-6th. RBI hits came from Jared Levine (RBI 2B), Sarubin (RBI 1B), Salzman (RBI 1B), and Gelletly (RBI FC).

The Stingers would not give up and mounted a rally in b-6th. With 2 out and 1 on, Eisenberg and Rob Elrich (RBI) singled. Stu Sheridan crushed a 2 RBI 3B to LF to narrow Kings lead 8-4. The Stingers were unable to produce another run and lost the game 8-4.

Stingers offensive stars in game 2:
Stu Sheridan (3-3,2 RBI,3B)
Mike Randall (1-3,1 RBI,2B)
Larry Newman (1-1)

Kings game 2 offensive leaders:
Koby Sarubin (2-4,1 R,2 RBI,SF)
Kenny Salzman (2-4,1 R,1 RBI)
Jan Katzen (2-4)
Steve Levy (2-3,1 R,W)
Rob Barrow (2-4,1 R,1 RBI)
Jared Levine (3-4,1 R,1 RBI,2B)
Mike Herr (2-4,1 R)

Kings game notes:
►Remaining out of the Kings line-up with injuries were Chuck Grant (Achilles tendon surgery-- out indefinitely), Shilo Merwitz (broken ribs-- out indefinitely), Detour Dave Sandler (upper body injury -- out indefinitely).
►C/OF Glenn Savage and OF Brad Millison were out on vacations. Both are expected back next week.