Week #1 -- April 13, 2014

Highlights submitted thus far by Kings, Thunderbirds, Nationwide Insurance Bombers, Northwest Corridor, Green Machine, Outlaws, Sky & Sky Inc.

Photos from Sunday, April 13, 2014 are available here

Northwest Regional Park Field 1:    Umpire- Reggie Grant
Game 1: Kings 15 (WP-Mike Herr 1-0)  Outlaws 8 (LP-Larry Newman 0-1)

The Kings began their 26th season in PMSL with a doubleheader sweep over the newly formed Outlaws. The Kings won game one 15-8.The Outlaws were late out of the gate as they only had 8 players at 9 A.M. and their 9th player finally arrived at 9:10 A.M. The Outlaws accepted the consequences of the newly instituted league policy that penalizes a team for starting the game late by making them bat as the visiting team in both ends of the doubleheader.

The Kings took advantage of a 3 player outfield in b-1st. With 2 on and 1 out, Jan Katzen's sinking line drive skipped past the diving Outlaw right fielder. Katzen was credited with a 3 RBI inside the park homerun. Alan Varhaftik then drew a walk and Troy Hendricks brought Varhaftik home with an RBI 3B. The Kings added 3 more runs in b-2nd with RBI 1B by Kenny Salzman and 2 RBI 2B by Shilo Merwitz. The Outlaws 10th player arrived to start b-3rd, but sloppy defense including 3 errors allowed the Kings to plate 5 more runs and take a 12-0 lead after 3 innings.

In t-4th, the Outlaws bats finally awoke with 6 hits and 4 runs. The key hits were RBI singles by Darnell Maxwell, Larry Newman, Will McRae, and Matt Andrews. The Kings got 1 run back in b-5th as Brad Millison scored while Mike Herr occupied the Outlaws on a rundown play. The Kings added 2 more runs in b-6th on RBI 1B by Katzen and sacrifice fly by Varhaftik. This gave the Kings a 15-5 lead, but not enough to end the game early.

The Outlaws put together a 5 hit rally in t-7th that produced 3 more runs. An RBI 1B by Josh Friedman and 2 RBI 2B by Larry Newman brought in the runs, but Darnell Maxwell was thrown out trying to score to end the game, Kings winning 15-8.

The expansion team Outlaws started off there first season in the PMSL with a tough test against last seasons regular season champion Kings. The Outlaws are made up of PMSL veterans, along with some exciting rookies ready to make there mark. They started game off with 9 players as some of the players were late getting off the flight from BWI. The Kings picking up where they left off from last season jumped out to a 12-0 lead after 3 innings, as veteran pitcher Mike Herr scattered 2 hits in the first 3 innings. Matt Andrews got the Outlaws in the books in the first inning with his first career hit in the PMSL. In the top of the 4th the Outlaws woke the bats up as David Woods lead off with a single, followed by another single from Josh Friedman who got his first PMSL hit. 2 batters later Darnell Maxwell found a gap, to get the Outlaws on the board for the first time with double, and plate Woods. Next batter 2 time cy young award winner Larry Newman found a hole to get his first hit and RBI of the season, and plate Friedman. 2 batters later Will McCrae kept the rally going with a RBI single of his own to plate Maxwell. Chas West got in the books with a bloop single of his own to score Friedman who ran for Newman. Matt Andrews jumped in on the fun with a rbi single of his own to end the 5 run rally as the Outlaws batted around. Herr kept the Outlaws at bay for next two innings scattering two hits including a triple by Theo Battle who was left stranded at third. In the top of the 7th the Outlaws put more points on the board as Matt Andrews got his 3rd hit of the game led of with a single, followed by Stanley Lyles who got his first career hit in the PMSL. 2 batters later Josh Friedman delivers an RBI single to plate Andrews. Darnell Maxwell gets another single to get his 3rd hit. Next batter Larry Newman hits a shot in the gap to bring hit 2 runs scoring Lyles, and Friedman, Maxwell motoring around from first gets caught in a rundown trying to score to end an exciting game as the Kings took game 1 15-8.

Outlaws offensive leaders game 1:
Matt Andrews (3-4,1 R,1 RBI)
David Woods (2-4,1 R)
Josh Friedman (2-4,2 R,1 RBI)
Darnell Maxwell (3-4,1 R,1 RBI)
Larry Newman (2-4,1 R,3 RBI,2B)

Kings offensive leaders in game 1:
Kenny Salzman (2-4,2 R,1 RBI)
Shilo Merwitz (2-2,2 R,3 RBI,1 2B,1 3B,2 W)
Jan Katzen (3-4,1 R,4 RBI,HR)
Alan Varhaftik (1-2,1 R,1 RBI,W,SF)
Mike Herr (2-3,2 R,1 RBI,2B,RE)

Game 2:  Kings 11 (WP-Mike Herr 2-0)  Outlaws 3 (LP-Larry Newman 0-2)

The Kings completed a sweep of the Outlaws with a 11-3 nightcap victory. Game 2 displayed much better defense from the Outlaws as their error total went down from 6 in game 1 to 2 in game 2. The game remained very close until b-5th when the Kings scored 5 runs to pull ahead comfortably.

Koby Sarubin got the Kings started in b-1st with 2B and scored on Shilo Merwitz's 1 out 1B. Outlaws took lead in t-2nd on consecutive 3B's by David Woods and Josh Friedman, followed by a SF to LCF by Theo Battle. The Kings regained lead with 4 runs in b-3rd. Key hits were Kenny Salzman RBI 1B, Arin Gelletly 2 RBI 3B, and Jan Katzen RBI 1B. The Kings held slim 5-2 lead entering b-5th.

Kings bats produced 5 hits and 5 runs in b-5th. Katzen RBI 2B, Alan Varhaftik SF, Steve Levy RBI 2B, and Mike Herr RBI 1B led to the rally. Shilo Merwitz relieved Kings starter Mike Herr in t-6th with Kings leading 10-2. He allowed 1 run in t-6th on Stanley Lyles 1B and 2 out RBI 2B by Battle. Kings scored 1 run in b-6th on Salzman leadoff 2B and Merwitz RBI 1B. The Outlaws went down in order in t-7th closing out an 11-3 win for the Kings.

Game 2 for the Outlaws inagural season was well played as they hit ball well but just could get the run scored. David Woods led off the second inning with a triple, followed by Josh Friedman who hit a triple of his own to score Woods. Theo Battle got and rbi sac fly as the Outlaws took a brief 2-1 lead after 2. Herr once was hitting his spots as he scattered hits and kept the Outlaws at bay after 5. Stanley Lyles kept the Outlaws active as he led of the 6th with a single. Friedman drew a walk, as next batter Theo Battle doubled to score Lyles. That was the end of the scoring for the Outlaws debut as the Kings took game 2 11-3.

Outlaws offensive leaders game 2:
Stanley "Popeye" Lyles (2-3,1 R)
Josh Friedman (1-2,1 R,1 RBI,3B,W)
Theo Battle (1-2,2 RBI,2B,SF)

Kings offensive leaders in game 2:
Kenny Salzman (2-4,2 R,1 RBI,2B)
Shilo Merwitz (3-3,2 R,2 RBI,W)
Arin Gelletly (2-4,2 R,2 RBI,3B)
Jan Katzen (3-3,1 R,2 RBIk,2B,W)
Mike Herr (2-3,1 R,1 RBI)

Kings game note:
►The Kings improved their all-time opening day record to 42-10 (.808).

►Mike Herr made his 13th and 14th Kings opening day starts, but only in the past 2 years has he started both games of opening day in his 26 year Kings career.

►Kings #1 starter Chuck Grant missed opening week for a 2nd straight season due to injury. Mostly recovered from a 2013 season ending Achilles tendon injury, Grant missed this Sunday's game due to an upper body injury. However, according to social media, Grant was able to bowl scores of 202, 247, and 256 Sunday night.

►Kings all-time Opening Day Starting Pitcher Records (26 Seasons)
Chuck Grant 11-1 (2001, 2002, 2005, 2007 x2, 2008 x 2, 2009 x 2, 2010, 2011, 2012) 
MIke Herr 10-3 (1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 x 2, 2014 x 2)
Steve Levy 6-2 (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998)
Larry Newman 3-2 (1993, 1996, 1997 x2, 1998)
Dan Frignito 3-0 (2004, 2005, 2006)

►Kings announced that 1B/C Rob Barrow has moved to Colorado and will no longer be available to the team. In 8 seasons with the Kings (2006-13), Barrow played 166 games, 165-417, .396 batting average, 104 R, 125 RBI, 20 2B,10 3B,3 HR, .513 slugging percentage, 61 W,6 K,13 SF,10 RE,21 FE. Barrow also served as the Kings #4 pitcher and has a lifetime record of 3-0.

►Kings Glenn Savage missed this week and will be out next week as he serves as a chaperone for a group of Owings Mills High School seniors traveling to Denmark during Baltimore County spring break. 

Northwest Regional Park Field 2:    Umpire- Keith Brown
Game 1: Sky & Sky Inc. 18 (WP-Jeff Harris 1-0)  Natty O's 11 (LP-RJ Seabeck 0-1)

Sky & Sky stranded the bases loaded in the first inning, while the Natty O’s scored 3 runs in the 1st to take the early lead. Neither team scored in the 2nd. In the top of the 3rd, Sky & Sky finally got the offense going and batted around to take an 8-3 lead. The O’s kept it close by scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 8-5 after 3 innings. Sky kept the pressure on by scoring 5 more in the top of the 4th, highlighted by a 2 RBI triple from newcomer Jere Preston. Jeff Harris held the Natty O’s scoreless in the 4th and both teams were held scoreless in the 5th, making it 13-3. Base hits by Holley and Blank, and then a Wilcox walk loaded the bases for Andrew Vanlandingham. He drilled a triple to deep RC to knock in 3 more runs. Brian Sky hit a sac fly to bring in Vanlandingham to make it 17-3. The O’s scored 2 more in the 6th to keep the game alive. Sky scored one more in the top of the 7th, and the Natty O’s made things interesting with 6 hits in the final inning, scoring 4 more runs and leaving runners on base to make the final score 18-11.

Offensive leaders for Sky:
Matt Holley: 3-5, 2 2B, 3RBI, 3R
Shaun Poulton: 3-4, 3B, RBI, R
Andrew Vanlandingham: 2-2, 2 BB, 3B, 3RBI, 3R
Jere Preston: 2-4, 2B, 3B, 3RBI, R
Jeff Harris: 2-4, 2R

Game 2:  Sky & Sky Inc. 16 (WP-Jeff Harris 2-0)  Natty O's 4 (LP-RJ Seabeck 0-2)

The Natty O’s got on the board first with a leadoff double, and then 2 consecutive fly balls to the OF. Sky wasted no time, as Brian Sky did most of the damage with a bases loaded triple. Sky led 4-1 after 2 innings. Each team scored one in the 3rd to make it 5-2. Natty O’s scored 2 in the top of the 4th to make it 5-4, but then Sky broke the game open in the bottom of the 4th, plating 7 runners to pull ahead 12-4. Harris held the Natty O’s scoreless the rest of the game, while Sky scored 4 more in the bottom of the 5th to end the game after 6 innings. Every Sky & Sky batter had at least one hit in each of the games.

Offensive leaders for Sky:
Elliot Blank: 3-4, 3RBI, 2R
Steve Truitt: 2-3, BB, 2RBI, 3R
Matt Holley: 2-3, RBI, 3R
Pat Wilcox: 2-3, BB, 2RBI, R
Andrew Vanlandingham: 2-3, BB, 3RBI, R
Shaun Poulton: 2-3, 2B, 2R

Northwest Regional Park Field 3:    Umpire- Scott Snyder
Game 1: Northwest Corridor 10  (WP-Howard Goldberg 1-0)  Green Machine 9 (LP- Mark Winkel 0-1) 8 Innings

Opening day 2014 arrived one week late due to the ridiculous snow and ice we were saddled with all offseason. The grounds crew did a nice job preparing the fields and Green Machine & NWC were ready to battle. Green Machine looked very sharp right out of the gate, fielding nicely and hitting like they’d been playing for weeks. Nick Serkis and Jonathan Stacy both scored to give GM an early 2-0 lead. Gabe Unterman hustled out a double to start NWC’s 1st & Goldberg knocked him in with a base hit. Oliver Peterson Singled home Up Webb and Alan Monico followed with a double to plate Peterson. NWC’s defense was shaky at best to start the day and GM took advantage of every play scoring 3 in the 2nd, 2 in the 3rd and one more in the 4th inning. NWC eked out one run off GM pitcher Winkel in the 2nd but were held in check until the 5th inning. Oliver Peterson busted open a 3run double and Brad Rosenberg followed 2 batters later with another run scoring double. Winkel shut down the NWC offense in the 6th and GM put up another insurance run in the top of the 7th inning. Bottom of the 7th NWC rallied to tiw the game, just narrowly missing a 10th run for the victory. Ted Winner came up with a clutch pinch it rbi base hit and a Matt bell bases loaded walk tied the game up to send it to extra innings. Into the 8th, Goldberg managed to get two quick ground ball outs and a fly out to left to shut down GM 1-2-3. Down to the bottom of the 8th, Goldberg decided to end the game himself launching a solo walkoff homer over the left centerfield fence to end the exciting ballgame in extra innings.

Green Machine started their 2nd season in the league without an experienced pitcher available, so co-managers Mark Winkel and Andy Peksa had to take the mound. In game 1, Winkel made his pitching debut with a 2 run lead thanks to a Nick Serkes double off the fence followed by singles from Jonathan Stacey and Brad Verbosky to load the bases for a 2 RBI single from Peksa. Winkel quickly blew that lead giving up 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st. GM stayed hot in the 2nd inning with a lead off triple by rookie Skyler Dickinson who scored following a throwing error. Another newcomer Chris Romero also got his first hit out of the way early, which started a rally including singles from Winkel and Serkes followed by RBI groundouts from Stacey and Verbosky. The 3rd inning saw veteran Josh Vaeth get a lead off single followed by a Rico Alkrine single. Dickinson got a sac fly to bring in Vaeth and Romero got a 2 out RBI single to increase the lead to 7-3. Winkel gave up a run in the bottom of the 3rd, but came right back with a lead off single in the 4th. After 2 line outs, GM got a 2 out rally on hits from Verbosky, Peksa, and Vaeth to add 2 runs to the lead. Fantastic defense in the bottom of the 4th held NWC scoreless, but the boys in blue were able to get 4 runs in the 5th to give GM a 1 run lead. GM was able to get an insurance run in the top of the 7th thanks to Vaeth starting a rally on his 4th single of the game which eventually led to a Dickinson RBI single to drive in Alkrine. Winkel struggled with control in the bottom of the 7th inning, giving up 2 runs including a bases loaded 2 out walk to tie the game. GM was unable to score in the top of the 8th inning, but NWC captain Howard Goldberg made quick work of the extra innings affair when he hit a Winkel change up that landed in the Inner Harbor.

Green Machine Box Score:
Mark Winkel 2-5, 2 R
Nick Serkes: 2-4, 1 BB, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI
Andy Peksa: 2-4, 3 RBI
Josh Vaeth: 4-4, 1 R, 1 RBI
Rico Alkrine: 1-2, 2 BB, 2 R
Skyler Dickinson: 2-3, 1 3B, 1 SF, 1 R, 3 RBI

NWC Hitting Highlights:
Oliver Peterson 3-4 3R 2b 4rbi
Gabe Unterman 2-5 3R 2b
Brad Rosenberg 2-4 R 2b RBI
Howard Goldberg 2-5 R 2RBI HR
Up Webb 2-4 2R 2b
Alan Monico 1-2 2BB RBI 2b

Game 2:  Northwest Corridor 18  (WP-Ted Winner 1-0)  Green Machine 4 (LP- Andy Peksa 0-1) 6 Innings

In the second game of the doubleheader NWC veteran pitcher Ted Winner showed no rust from the offseason layoff, retiring the 1st 9 batters he faced. Adam Silverman delivered NWC’s first run to start the Game with a sac fly to center. Matt bell and Ted Winner both had rbi base hits in the 2nd to increase NWC’s lead to 3-0. Green machine managed a run in the 4th inning and a2runs in the 6th but that would be the extent to their damage off of Winner and the NWC defense. Bell, Winner and Matt Silverman all knocked in runs in the 4th inning for NWC to give them 7 for the game and the rest of the offense busted things open in the 5th and 6th. Opp Peterson executed the very rare 2rbi sac fly in the 6th inning scoring Up Webb and Adam Silverman. Alan Monico doubled him in and John Karsos followed 2 batters later with a 3run homer to center.

After the demoralizing game 1 loss, GM bats came out cold to start game 2. GM started to get a rally going in the 2nd inning with back to back singles from Peksa and Vaeth, but an Alkrine double play ended the inning. The green men finally got on the scoreboard in the 4th with a Serkes single, a Stacey single, and a Verbosky sac fly. While NWC piled up the runs throughout the game, GM finally got a few back in the 6th inning started by a Winkel walk. Serkes hit a fielders choice, and after a Stacey single GM got a big triple from Verbosky 2 drive in 2 runs. However, it was too little too late as NWC finished the game in 6 innings by mercy rule.

Green Machine Box Score:
Nick Serkes: 1-3, 2 R
Jonathan Stacey: 2-3, 1 R
Brad Verbosky: 1-3, 1 3B, 3 RBI

NWC Hitting Highlights:
Brad Rosenberg 3-4 4R
John Karsos 2-3 BB 2b HR 3R 3RBI
Matt Bell 2-2 2RBI R
Ted Winner 2-3 3RBI
Adam Silverman 2-3 SF 2-2b 2R 2RBI
Alan Monico 2-4 2R 2b RBI
Matt Silverman 2-4 2R 2RBI

Northwest Regional Park Field 4:      Umpire- Lane Gordon

Game 1: Nationwide Insurance Bombers 13 (WP-Tzvi Friedman 1-0)  Thunderbirds 1 (LP-Harry Kinsey 0-1)  5 Innings

The 2014 season opener began as The Thunderbirds took on The Bombers. The Bombers scored 4 (1st), 1 (2nd), 2 (3rd), and 6 (4th) runs to take a 13-0 lead into the bottom of the 4th.The Thunderbirds would get their 1st run of the year as Mike Silverman would single and score on Lenny Fields'
2 out RBI double. The Bombers picked up the opening win 13-1.

The Nationwide Insurance Bombers came out on opening day and swept the Thunderbirds 13-1 and 2-0. Tzvi Friedman took over where he left off last year and was dominant. The only run allowed on the day by the Thunderbirds was unearned (E6). The Bombers came out in the top of the first and scored 4 to take an early lead. Rashad reached on an error and after Mikie popped out and Ben G. lined out, Flamm laced an RBI double for the Bombers 1st run in 2014. Shulie’s RBI double made it 2-0 and new addition, 1B Zach Reed’s single made it 3-0. Jason Gardner doubled home Reed to make it 4-0.

In the 2nd, new addition Meir Parry led off with a triple and Chaim Finkelstein’s Sac Fly made it 5-0. The Bombers offense continued to hit and scored 2 more in the third. Ben doubled and reached 3B on a throwing error , Flamm singled him home and after a Loeb single, Dan G hit a Sac Fly to make it 7-0.

The Bombers tacked on 6 more in the 4th. Chaim, Tzvi, and Rashad hit back to back to back singles to load the bases and Mikie hit a bases clearing triple to deep LCF. It was Mikie’s first game back after missing all of last season with a knee injury. Ben singled him home to make it 11-0 and after Shulie hit a 2B, Zach singled them both home. Russ Zapacosta made his return to the Pikesville League after an 8 year layoff and pitched the last 2 innings of relief.

Thunderbirds Offensive Leaders:
James Castellano 1-2, 2B
Mike Silverman 1-2, R
Lenny Fields 2-2, 2B, RBI

Game 2: Nationwide Insurance Bombers 2 (WP-Tzvi Friedman 2-0)  Thunderbirds 1 (LP-Lenny Fields 0-1) 

Game 2 was a pitcher’s duel and the Bomber’s escaped with a 2-0 victory. Friedman had the Thunderbirds off balance all day and the Bombers defense was solid as usual. In the 1st, Mikie led off the game and reached on an error. Zach singled him to 3B and Ben’s Sac Fly made it 1-0. That’s all the support Friedman would need. The Bombers added on a Nationwide Insurance run in the 6th. Mikie scorched a double down the 3B line and Ben’s RBI to LF brought Mikie home for a 2-0 lead. The Thunderbirds put 2 men on in the 7th but Friedman held on.

Thunderbirds Offensive Leaders:
Nick Perehinec 2-3
Toby Garcia 1-2