Week #5 -- May 5, 2013

Highlights submitted thus far by Thunderbirds, Kings, Green Machine, Bombers

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:    Umpire- Reggie Grant
Game 1: Kings 15 (WP-Mike Herr 4-0)  Stingers 6 (LP-Larry Newman 3-2)

The Kings 14 runs in the final 4 innings to take the opener against the Stinger 15-6. A sacrifice fly by Shilo Merwitz in b-1st scored Koby Sarubin to give Kings early 1-0 lead. The Kings infield turned 2 groundout doubleplays in t-2nd and t-3rd to maintain 1-0 lead after 2 1/2 innings. Kings erupted for 5 runs in b-3rd. RBI singles by Mike Herr, Sarubin, and Merwitz sparked the rally. The Stingers got all 5 runs back in t-4th. Singles by Tim Palo, Brett Eisenberg, and Mike Randall (RBI) got Stingers on scoreboard. Shawn Flynn launced a 3 RBI HR over the fence in LCF to further cut into Kings lead. The 5th run of inning came across on 2B by Mike Beverly and a misplayed popup. When the half inning was done, the Kings lead was down to 6-5.

In b-4th, Troy Hendricks led off with a 3B and Glenn Savage hit a SF. The Kings added 7 runs in b-5th on RBI 1B by Jan Katzen, 2 RBI 3B by Alan Varhaftik, and 3 RBI HR by Glenn Savage. The Kings lead after 5 innings was 14-5. Consecutive 2 out singles in t-6th by Stuart Sheridan, James Engler, and Matt Friedman (RBI) gave Stingers their 6th run. Kings ended their scoring in b-6th on 2 out solo HR to LF by Arin Gelletly.

Stingers offensive leaders in game 1:
Tim Palo (2-3,1 R,W)
Shawn Flynn (2-4,1 R,3 RBI,HR,RE)
Matt Friedman (2-3,1 RBI)

Kings offensive leaders in game 1:
Koby Sarubin (2-4,2 R,1 RBI)
Kenny Salzman (3-4,2 R)
Arin Gelletly (2-4,2 R,1 RBI,HR)
Jan Katzen (2-4,1 R,2 RBI)
Alan Varhaftik (2-4,1 R, 2 RBI,3B)
Troy Hendricks (2-2,2 R,2B,3B,2 W)
Glenn Savage (1-3,1 R,4 RBI,HR,W,K)
Brad Millison (2-3,2 R)
Rob Barrow (2-2,1 R,2B,W)
Mike Herr (2-2,1 R,2 RBI,SF)

Game 2:  Kings 21 (WP-Chuck Grant 5-0)  Stingers 0 (LP-Tom Paulshock 0-5 )  4 Innings

The Kings scored 5 runs in t-1st and cruised to a 21-0 (4 inning) game 2 victory. The Kings drew 3 walks and had just 3 hits achieving the 1st inning runs. After going 3-up-3-down in t-2nd, the Kings bats produced 5 runs in t-3rd and 11 runs in t-4th to end the game early. Chuck Grant was effective for the Kings on the mound, scattering just 4 hits and benefiting from a Kings defense that was errorless and turned 2 more groundout doubleplays in the nightcap.

Kings offensive leaders in game 2:
Koby Sarubin (2-3,2 R,3 RBI,2B,HR,W)
Shilo Merwitz (2-3,3 R,2 RBI,2B,HR,W)
Arin Gelletly (1-1,2 R,1 RBI,2B,W,SF)
Jan Katzen (3-3,3 R,4 RBI,2B)
Alan Varhaftik (1-1,3 R,2 W)
Troy Hendricks (1-2,2 R,3 RBI,3B,W)
Brad Millison (2-3,1 R,3 RBI,2B)
Mike Herr (2-3,2 R)

Kings game notes:
►Steve Levy was absent from the Kings lineup on Sunday. He will again be out next Sunday when the Kings battle the Bombers for 1st place in PMSL. When he does return on 5/19, Levy is just 2 hits away from Kings lifetime #400.
►Mike Herr celebrated his birthday on Sunday, along with Kings managerial win #499. Kings all-time managerial records including Regular Season and Playoffs: Mike Herr (499-239, .676 pct), Steve Levy (6-5, .546 pct), Alan Varhaftik (2-2, .500 pct).
►With 4 homeruns on the day (Arin Gelletly, Glenn Savage, Koby Sarubin, Shilo Merwitz), the Kings season total of 7 surpassed the entire 2012 team total of 6.
►Troy Hendricks is still 33 hits shy of #300.
►Detour Dave Sandler made his first appearance in the coaching box for the season.

Northwest Regional Park Field 2:    Umpire- Mark Radom
Game 1: Northwest Corridor 4 (WP-Howard Goldberg 2-3)  Green Machine 3 (LP-Bob Mellonee 1-4)
The first game for GM against the reigning champions was a pitchers duel at its finest, as Bob Mallonee and Howard Goldberg both pitched gems for their respective teams. The 2nd inning saw both teams score a run, with GM getting on the board thanks to a Mikey Leight RBI single. NWC was able to get 1 run in the 3rd inning and 2 more in the 4th to take a 4-1 lead. The GM bats finally started to wake up in the 6th inning with newcomer Bo hitting a one out single. After a Joe Chambers walk, rookie Rodney Baysmore hit a clutch RBI single to drive in Bo to make it a 4-2 game. GM got it going again in the 7th inning when pinch hitter Andy Peksa "crushed" a hit that landed 5 feet in front of the plate, but Peksa was able to hustle his way to a single and then taking second base on a throwing error. Mark Winkel reentered to run for Peksa, and after pitcher Mallonnee got his third single of the game, Winkel scored on a Jeff Kapper RBI single. Catcher Pete Sclafani was the courtesy runner for Mallonee and was able to advance to 3rd representing the tying run. Unfortunately, GM was not able to drive him in and they fell just short of a dramatic comeback.

Do Gooders:
Bob Mallonee 7 IP, 4 ER, 3-3
Rodney Baysmore: 1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI
Billy Giles: 2-3
Jeff Kapper: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 RBI

Game 2:  Green Machine 12 (WP-Andy Peksa 2-3)  Northwest Corridor 11 (LP-Ted Winner 3-2 )
After a tough first game for both team's bats, the first inning provided quite a contrast. NWC put up 4 runs in the top of the first, but GM answered decisively with 6 straight hits to start the game. All 6 of those players were able to score in the inning, starting with new lead-off man Jeff Kapper getting a single and highlighted by an RBI double by Bo, a 2 RBI single by Jonathan Stacey, an RBI triple by Brad Verbosky, and an RBI double by Sclafani. After NWC slugged their way to another 3 runs in the top of the 2nd to take the lead back, GM stayed hot with Verbosky driving in Peksa and Bo to lead the game again. NWC scored 2 more runs in the 3rd inning, continuing the ping pong-ish affair, and added another in in the top of the 4th to take a 10-8 lead. GM was able to fight back once again in the bottom of the 4th, starting with a Bo walk and a Stacey single, followed by RBI singles from Billy Giles and Chambers to tie the game at 10. Pitcher Andy Peksa settled in after that and was able to hold NWC scoreless for the next 2 innings with some help from his defense. In the bottom of the 5th inning, a Winkel single and a Kapper walk led to both scoring crucial runs thanks to RBI singles from Peksa and Stacey. NWC strung together a couple of hits in the 7th inning to get a run back, but with 2 outs and a man on 2nd base, a groundball to SS ended the thrilling game with GM getting a big 12-11 victory.

Do Gooders:
Jeff Kapper: 1-3, 1 BB, 2 R
Andy Peksa: 2-3, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 RBI
Bo: 3-3, 1 BB, 1 2B, 3 R, 1 RBI
Jonathan Stacey: 3-4, 2 R, 3 RBI
Brad Verbosky: 2-4, 1 3B, 1 R, 3 RBI
Billy Giles: 3-4, 1 R, 2 RBI
Pete Sclafani: 3-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Mark Winkel: 2-3, 1 R

GM Game note:
► For the first time in franchise history (which consists of 10 games), Green Machine was able to finish the doubleheader with 0 errors. Special note to the outfield contingent of Jeff Kapper, Mikey Leight, Bo, and Jonathan Stacey, as well as a phenomenal defensive series from third baseman Brad Verbosky, who continually had hard hit balls go his way throughout the game and was able to make outs on every one of them.

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:    Umpire- Scott Snyder
Game 1: Natty O's 11 (WP-RJ Seabeck 2-5)  Thunderbirds 3 (LP- Jay Walle 2-7) 

The morning game started with The Natty O's jumping out to an early 9-0 lead after scoring 7 in the 1st and 2 in the 2nd. Both teams went scoreless in the 3rd. The O's went silent in the 4th while The Birds brought 1 across when pitcher Jay Walle would get a free pass and score on Lenny Fields' RBI double. After 4, it was NO 9- TB 1.

The O's would get 2 more in the 5th. The Birds tried to get a rally started but could only generate 1 run. Speedy TB rookie Toby Garcia would get an infield single and score on Reggie Molock's RBI single. NO 11-TB 2. Both teams again would go scoreless in the 6th. But The O's would add an insurance run in the top of the 7th.

The Birds tried again to rally in the 7th as Manny Fontanez would get a leadoff walk. After 2 outs, David Woods, John Roiy, and Tony Barner hit 3 consecutive RBI doubles to close the gap but the rally would not be complete as The O's took the opener 12-5.

Thunderbirds Offensive Leaders:
Manny Fontanez 2-2, 2 BB, R
Tony Barner 1-2, 2 BB, 2B, RBI
Lenny Fields 2-3, RBI

Game 2:   Thunderbirds 11 (WP-Lenny Fields 1-0)  Natty O's 8 (LP- RJ Seabeck 2-6) 

The nightcap began as Thunderbirds starter Lenny Fields made his 2013 debut against Natty's veteran hurler RJ Seabeck.

The Birds started the 1st with a leadoff double from Manny Fontanez. After an out, Theo Battle would bring Manny in with an inside the park HR to RC. Two batters later, John Roiy would get a free pass from Seabeck and later score on Tony Barner's 2 out RBI double. The O's would get 2 in the bottom half and trail 3-2 after 1.

Both teams would go silent in the 2nd inning. Still Birds 3 - O's 2. In the top of the 3rd, Reggie Molock would get things going with a leadoff double. David Woods would bring Molock in with an RBI single. Roiy and Barner would follow with consecutive singles to juice the bases. Next, Jay Walle would get 2 RBI on his single scoring Woods and Roiy. Barner would come in as Fields helped his own cause with an RBI single. TB rookie Kevin Menedis' got his 1st PMSL RBI with a SAC FLY bringing Walle across the plate. Now it's Birds 8-2. Natty added 4 in their half but still trailed 8-6.

Natty held The Birds to an egg while adding 1 to their total to shorten The Birds, 8-7. Both teams went silent in the 5th and again in the 6th. Natty kept The Birds grounded for the 4th straight inning and tied the game in the bottom of the 7th inning, 8-8.

In the top of the 8th with 2 away, it looked as Natty's control of The Birds would reach 5 innings but The Thunderbirds started to spread their wings. Roiy would draw a free pass from Seabeck. Barner then laced a 2 out GW RBI double to LF, scoring Roiy. Walle added an insurance run with another RBI double scoring Barner. Menedis' single brought in one last insurance run with his RBI single scoring Walle. With The Birds defense behind him, Fields would grasp Natty in his claws to get his 1st win of his sophomore season, 11-8.

Thunderbirds Offensive Leaders:
Theo Battle 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, R
John Roiy 1-2, 2 BB, 3 R
Tony Barner 4-4, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
Jay Walle 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R
Kevin Menedis 2-3, SAC FLY, 2 RBI
 

Northwest Regional Park Field 4:      Umpire- Rick Simmons
Game 1: Bombers 16 (WP-Tzvi Friedman 8-1)  Sky & Sky Inc. 15 (LP- Brian Mekiliesky 1-1)  11 Innings

In Game 1, the Bombers had a thrilling extra-inning victory over Sky & Sky backed by a dominant performance from P Tzvi Friedman. The Bombers jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first, with the big hit coming from Marc Loeb. Sky kept slowly chipping away, finally taking the lead in the bottom of the 5th. The Bombers struck again in the 6th, adding 4 more runs. However, Sky tied it up in the next half inning. Neither team scored in the 7th, and the game went to extra innings. Both teams went another 3 innings without scoring, thanks to a great double play turned by Brad Eyler and Dan Gutman. In the top of the 11th, Shulie led off with a triple and scored the winning run on a double from Gershon. Friedman pitched the entire game to earn the win for the Bombers. The final score was 16-15. Loeb and Dan led the Bombers with 4 hits while Shulie and Flamm each had 3. Ben Gutman had 2 hits and 2 walks and Dan scored 3 times.

Game 2: Bombers 12 (WP-Tzvi Friedman 9-1)  Sky & Sky Inc. 4 (LP- Dave Davis 2-2)  

In Game 2, Friedman went right back to the mound, earning his league-leading 9th victory. The final score was 12-4. Jason Gardner scored twice for the Bombers,and all other players on the team scored one run each. Flamm led the team with 3 hits. The Bombers improved to 9-1, and face the 10-0 Kings next week.