Week #13 --  June 30, 2013

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

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:    Umpire- Reggie Grant
Game 1: Sky & Sky Inc.  3 (WP-Ken Zalis 3-2)  Kings 0   (LP- Mike Herr 8-1)

The Kings were beaten for the 1st time in 2013 as Sky & Sky's Ken Zalis shutout the Kings 3-0 in the opener. Zalis allowed just 8 singles and 2 walks as the Kings were shut out for the first time since 2006.

Steve Truitt and David Kowitz led off the game for Sky with singles. Truitt moved up a base on a flyout and scored on an Elliot Blank ground out. Sky added 2 runs in t-4th. Kowitz led off inning with 1B to LF. Kowitz scored on an infield error and Elliot Blank had an RBI SF to give Sky 3-0 lead. The Kings did manage to load the bases with 2 outs in b-7th, but Zalis was able to get Koby Sarubin on a flyout to preserve shutout and Sky victory.

Sky (7-28,3 R,2 RBI,3B,W,SF,2 RE) offensive leaders in game 1:
David Kowitz (2-3,1 R)
Scott Felton (1-3,1 R,3B,RE)

Kings (8-29,0 R,0 RBI,2 W,1 K) offensive leaders in game 1:
Arin Gelletly (2-2,W)
Mike Herr (2-3)

Game 2: Kings 9 (WP-Mike Herr 9-1)  Sky & Sky Inc. 4  (LP- Ken Zalis 3-3)

The Kings put together a 6 run outburst in t-4th to cap a 9-4 win in the nightcap. The Kings were outhit 14-11, but took advantage of 6 walks , timely hitting, and strong defense. Sky had threats throughout the game, but left 11 runners on base.

In t-2nd, Steve Levy singled and Troy Hendricks walked to start inning. Sky starter Brian Mekiliesky was forced from the mound with a shoulder injury and replaced with game 1 starter Ken Zalis. Zalis allowed RBI singles to Rob Barrow, Mike Herr, and Jason Heit to put Kings ahead 3-0. Heit, an Owings Mills High School senior was making his Kings debut in game 2. Zalis avoided further damage by starting a 1-2-3 doubleplay to get out of inning. In b-2nd, Andy Bloom reached to start inning on an infield error. Consecutive singles by David Kowitz, Brian Sky, and Jeff Sacks (2 RBI) closed the Kings lead 3-2.

In b-3rd, singles by Steve Truitt and Elliott Blank preceded SF by Andy Vanlandingham and 2 out RBI 2B by Bloom to give Sky 4-3 lead.

In t-4th, Troy Hendricks led off with a 3B to deep LCF. Rob Barrow drew a walk and Brad Millison hit an RBI 1B to RF to tie score 4-4. With 1 out, Heit walked and Koby Sarubin followed with a SF to RCF giving Kings 5-4 lead. 2 out singles by Kenny Salzman, Arin Gelletly (2 RBI), and Jan Katzen (2 RBI) extended Kings lead 9-4. Neither team scored in the game's final 3 innings.

Sky hitting stars in game 2:
Elliott Blank (3-4,1 R)
Andy Vanlandingham (2-3,1 RBI,SF)
Brian Mekiliesky (2-3)
Jeff Sacks (3-3,2 RBI)

Kings offensive leaders in game 2:
Arin Gelletly (2-4,1 R,2 RBI)
Troy Hendricks (1-2,2 R,3B,W)
Rob Barrow (1-2,2 R,1 RBI,W)
Brad Millison (2-3,1 RBI)
Jason Heit (1-2,1 R,1 RBI,W)

Kings game notes:
►Ace Chuck Grant is scheduled for Achilles tendon repair surgery on Wednesday. He is out for the remainder of the season.
►Shilo Merwitz fractured 4 ribs in last week's game vs. Natty O's and is out indefinitely.
►Jared Levine is day-to-day with a lower body injury.
 ►The last time the Kings were shutout was by Sky & Sky Inc. on April 16, 2006. Larry Newman was the Sky pitcher in the 4-0 Kings loss in game 2 on that day. The Kings won the opener that day 7-6, but the game was significant for Alan Varhaftik fracturing a rib while breaking up a doubleplay. Here is the write-up from 416/2006  http://www.pikesvillesoftball.com/updates/2006%20Season/april162006.htm .
►Jason Heit became just the 5th Kings player in their 25 year history to make their debut while still in high school. He joins Koby Sarubin (2008), Brooks Sandler(2008), Justin Cohen (2010), and JC Sologuren (2011).
 

Northwest Regional Park Field 2:    Umpires- Mark Radom
Game 1: Northwest Corridor 19 (WP-Howard Goldberg 6-5)  Natty O's 2 (LP-RJ Seabeck 6-13) 6 Innings

NWC jumped out early on The Natty O’s starting pitcher RJ Seabeck loading the bases in the top of the 1st inning but coming away with just 3 runs scored. Inn 2 started with Ben Herbst & Chris Ammann walks followed an rbi single from Gabe Unterman and a 2run double from Howard Goldberg. Herbst knocked home Oliver Peterson in the 3rd inning and Jon Goldman’s fielder’s choice drove home Adam Silverman who had doubled previously. Silverman doubled again in the 4th inning driving in Goldberg & Gabe Unterman delivered an inside the park homer to give NWC a 10-0 lead going into the bottom of the 4th. The Natty O’s were able to put together their 1st rally in the 4th inning off of Goldberg. Natty O’s 5th hitter Brad delivered a 2run base hit but that would be all of the damage against Goldberg for the rest of the game. The NWC veteran pitcher held The Natty O’s offense to just 5 singles for the game. Meanwhile the NWC offense closed the game out in the 6th inning plating an additional 9runs for the 6inn victory. 19-2

The sun was hiding and so were the Natty O's bats in game 1 as Howard Goldberg pitched a perfect first 2 innings and shut the O's out in 5 of the 6 innings they played. NWC on the other hand came out swinging and put up 3 runs in the first and second innings and had had 10 runs before a 6th inning explosion of 9 runs against Alan Monico put the game way out of reach for the Natty O's.

NWC Hitting Highlights:
Gabe Unterman 4-4 4R BB HR 3rbi
Brad Rosenberg 4-5 2R
Howard Goldberg 2-3 2BB 2R 2b 4rbi
Adam Silverman 3-4 2R 3-2b 3rbi
Jon Herbst 3-3 BB 3rbi

O's leaders:
RJ Seabeck 2-3, Run
Rob Medoff 1-3, RBI

Game 2:  Natty O's 9 (WP-RJ Seabeck 7-13)   Northwest Corridor 5 (LP-Ted Winner 6-5)

As the sun started to awake from it's slumber, so did the bats of the Natty O's as they got on Ted Winner early. Kris Stahle started the game off with a walk and was followed up by singles from Justin Bullock, RJ Seabeck, Brad Wandell and Alan Monico to get the O's out to an early 5-0 lead. NWC showing their championship mentality would battle back to make it a 2 run game but the O's scored 2 more in the top of the 7th and was able to hold off NWC's rally for a 95 victory.

The 2nd game started differently with a fired up Natty O’s squad jumping out for 5 1st inning runs against NWC pitcher Ted Winner. Winner settled down and contained the O’s offenses between innings 2-6 allowing just 2 more runs but several NWC defensive miscues resulted in runners scoring. RJ Seabeck did a great job keeping NWC off balance and was able to get out of several jams with limited damage. Going into the 7th inning NWC had crawled back at 7-5 and was ready for another trademark late inning comeback win. However big hits off of Winner by Justin, Rob & Alan Monico gave the Natty O’s 2 more insurance runs. NWC threatened in the bottom of the inning after Unterman and Scott Sweren led off with hits, but Seabeck was able to shut down the NWC 2-3-4 batters and earn the game #2 victory

NWC Hitting Highlights:
Gabe Unterman 2-3 BB 2b
Adam Silverman 2-2 R BB
Jon Goldman 2-2 R BB 2b 2rbi

O's leaders:
Justin Bullock 3-4, Triple, 2 runs
Rob Medoff 1-3 HR
Jason Smulson 1-2, 2 RBI
Alan Monico 3-3, BB, 2 RBI

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:    Umpire- Scott Snyder
Game 1: Bombers 10 (WP-Gershon Yakobovich 2-0)  Green Machine 3 (LP-Andy Peksa 2-7) 

Game 2:  Bombers 14 (WP-Jason Gardner 1-0)  Green Machine 6  (LP-Andy Peksa 2-8) 

 In game 2, Jason Gardner took the mound for the first time and got the victory. Gershon Y. got the save with 3 stellar  innings of releif. The G. A. jumped out to a 2 run first inning lead but the Bombers came roaring back with 4 of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Hochman, Croft, and Ben G. singled to load the bases. Flamm hit a sac fly and Gardner hit a 2 run double. The G. A. tied it at 4-4 in the top of the 3^rd but the Bombers scored 5 runs in the bottom half of the inning for a 9-4 lead. Shad doubled, Ben singled (RBI), Flamm doubled, Gardner singled in 2 more runs, Barnett singled and Dan Gutman’s triple made it 9-4.

The Bombers scored 2 more in the 4^th and Chaim Finkelstein hit a 3 run homer( his first career homer in the league) in the 6^th to make it 14-6. Gabe Silber chipped in with 2 hits and the Bombers played flawless defense.

Green Machine started game 2 off much better, although Peksa grounded into his 2nd double play of the day after a Vaeth walk, GM was able to get walks from Verbosky and Stacey, and after a Giles single to load the bases it was Sclafani who was able to drive in 2 runs with a bloop single. In the 2nd inning, a 2 out walk by Winkel (his 3rd walk of the day) was followed by a single by Baysmore and another Vaeth walk to load the bases. But Peksa decided that the Bombers shortstop needed more action and hit the ball at him for the 4th time in the game to end the rally. The Bombers got 4 in the bottom of the 2nd inning to take the lead, but GM came back in the top of the 3rd. Verbosky walked and Stacey singled, and after 2 fly outs, GM got a single from Bo, and RBI walks from Mente and Kapper to tie the game. Once again GM could not get the big hit when needed when Winkel grounded out with the bases loaded to end the inning. The Bombers came back with a fury and got 5 runs in the bottom of the 3rd to take a 5 run lead. GM got 1 back in the top of the 4th with walks by Baysmore and Vaeth followed by a Peksa fielders choice to move Baysmore to 3rd and a sac fly from Verbosky to score Baysmore. GM tried again in the 6th inning with a walk from Kapper, a Winkel single, and a Vaeth single to load the bases with 1 out. Peksa hit a sac fly to score Kapper, and after the Bombers intentionally walked Verbosky, clean up hitter Stacey popped out to the short stop to end the inning. Going into the 7th inning, GM was down 14-6; GM finished the game appropriately. Giles, Sclafani, and Kapper all got singles to load the bases with 2 outs, but Winkel once again failed to deliver for his team and hit a grounder to the 3rd baseman to end the game.

Green Machine Do Gooders:
Josh Vaeth: 1-1, 3 BB
Brad Verbosky: 0-0, 3 BB, 1 SAC, 2 R, 1 RBI
Johnathan Stacey: 1-3, 1 BB, 2 R
Billy Giles: 3-4
Pete Sclafani: 2-4, 2 RBI
Jeff Kapper: 1-2, 2 BB, 1 R, 1 RBI
Rodney Baysmore: 1-2, 1 BB, 1 R

GM Game Note:
►With ace pitcher Bob Mallonee out of town, Andy Peksa started both games for Green Machine. He was relieved in the 4th inning by Billy Giles, making his pitching debut in the league. Giles was able to hold the Bombers to 5 runs over innings pitched with 0 walks

Northwest Regional Park Field 4:      Umpire- Lane Gordon

Game 1: Thunderbirds 5  (WP- Lenny Fields 2-3)  Stingers 4 (LP-Larry Newman 4-12)  8 Innings

The days action wouldn't really began until The Stingers scored 4 in the bottom of the 3rd. In the 4th, The Birds would answer as John Roiy (single) would come in on David Woods' RBI triple. Theo Battle would then hit an inside the park HR to right scoring Woods to narrow the lead 4-3. The score stayed that until the top of 6. Consecutive singles by Woods, Battle, and Kevin Menedis (RBI) would tie the game 4-4. The Birds would go ahead 5-4 in the top of 8 when Roiy would triple and score on Woods' RBI SacFly. The Birds'defense would hold The Stingers and take the opener.

Stingers played with another new lineup and played well through, 3 innings as they got their offensive bats working. Tim Palo, Brett Eisenberg jumped on based by their timely singles followed by a walk issued to Stewart Sheridan. Sean Flynn Drove a ball deep to the fence of right for a 2 run SAC followed by Mike Beverly and Matt Friedman coming through with their respective rbi doubles. The game would go into extra innings as the T-Birds would battle back a tie in the 7th and take the game in 8 innings.

Thunderbirds Offensive Leaders:
Reggie Molock 2-4, 2B
John Roiy 2-4, 3B, 2R
David Woods 2-3, 3B, SAC FLY, 2 R, 2 RBI
Theo Battle 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Keven Menedis 4-4, RBI

Game 2 Thunderbirds 7  (WP- Lenny Fields 3-3 )  Stingers 2 (LP- Larry Newman 4-13)