Week 10:

Jasper Rock 22 Lions 12:

In a tune up for their ‘B’ division Cupcake Trophy clash with Anthony’s, Jasper scored 22 unanswered runs (yes, 22…) behind the bats of LF Tom Dumas who went 5-5 w 6 RBI (now 9-9 in his last 2 games) and SS Paul St. John’s 4 hits and 7 RBI.  P Derek Cordon settled down after a rough first 2 innings to get the win.  Seems the new garden created on one of the Kampersal properties next to the field has a bunch of ferns and, as we all know, Derek has Pteridophobia (fear of Ferns -not to be confused with Pteronophobia- fear of feathers) and was visibly shaken by their presence until 3B Doug Hermann parked his Invisible Fence van in front of the garden to block the view.  Cordon then shut out Lions for the final 5 innings.  Incidentally, if you’re in the market for a fence for your new pup, I highly recommend Doug!

Braggville 13 Mudville 12:

In a tight affair no one saw coming, Braggville walked off Mudville despite trailing by 4 headed into the bottom of the 7^th.  Mudville seemed to add the insurance they needed as SS Eric Kuharich hit a monstrous 3-run HR in the 6^th to extend the Mudville lead to 4 but the Braggville line-up does not quit and rallied in the 7^th for 5 runs on 7 hits capped off by P Chris Connors’ single to left that drove in Matt Baker with the winning run.  Wild play in the 5^th though as Mudville RF Matt Bauer threw caution to the wind in an attempt to rob LF Dan Kittredge of a HR by leaping/hurdling the chain-link fence yet caught his cleat on the fence and summersaulted into dead ball territory. Hell of an effort, Matt!

South 9 The Hood 3:

South secured their spot in the ‘A’ Championship with a 6-run 6^th to break a 3-3 tie behind the bat of 3B Stephen Lawless’ 2-run double to kick things off.  OF Dave Franco had 3 hits and 3 RBI in the win while rookie OF Ryan Looney didn’t get thrown out on the bases for the first time in 3 weeks.

Dalton Rd 14 DYR 9:

A 9-run first was enough for an undermanned Dalton Rd squad as they held on to beat DYR despite losing LF Tim McDevitt in the 4^th with a pulled hamstring and finishing the game with 9 players.  OF Steve Cotto had 3 hits and 4 RBI while Jack Kober and Mike Silk combined for the win on the mound.  DYR’s inability to hit with runners in scoring position was evident again this week and a line-up shuffle may be in the works. 

Johnson North 6 Brentwood 5:

Break up the kids!  2 in a row! Well done, boys…They continue to get better, and no one should be excited to play them in the years ahead.

Downtown 18 Kampersal 13:

Where is Al Michaels when you need him? ‘Do you believe in miracles?!!’ In a result no one expected, Downtown staved off the automatic demotion to the ‘B’ division w a loss by knocking of Kampersal behind the bats of OF Scott Burke (4-5 with 4 runs scored) and SS John Drohan (4-4 w 4 RBI).   Seems management listened to your humble correspondent and did adjust the lineup and the result was their best offensive performance all year.  You’re welcome…. In the other dugout, Coach Tom Kampersal has had it with the baserunning blunders yet again as another runner was thrown out trying to take an extra base down 5 runs in the 6^th. 

Anthony’s East 29 Queens 6:

Anthony’s continued its season-long offensive onslaught with another 20+ run performance in a beatdown of Queens to secure its move up to ‘A’ division.  LF Ben Pratt went 6-7 with 7 RBI while 1B Alan Lisak had 4 hits and 5 RBI in the win.  Not lost in this celebration was the bittersweet news that 2 Anthony’s legends would be retiring this year. P Jim Cormier (30 years) and OF John Shanahan (32 years) have called it a career. Both represented what this league is all about: camaraderie, friendships, and some friendly competition.  I met them both playing Fall Ball over the years and consider myself lucky to have played with them and even luckier to call them friends.  (For you newbies (Johnson North), play in the Fall! It’s a great time and you get to meet guys from other teams.) Pipes, Shanny…enjoy your Sundays but please don’t be strangers.  Hope to see you at Anthony’s every so often. 

GAME OF THE WEEK for WK #10 (6/27/21)

‘A’ Championship: South (7-2) vs Braggville (8-1) @ Damigella 6pm

• A rematch of Wk #6 in which Braggville clipped South, 8-2.  Can South handle the title game pressure?  Will South SS Jason Smith choose this game over the Horticulture Festival in Boston this weekend??  Who will take the hill for South, Sweeney?  You know Braggville will be ready and looking for a 4-peat.

• The logjam in lower ‘A’ will be worked out too as 3 teams sit at 3-6, The Hood, Mudville, and Downtown.  Mudville faces DYR and Downtown takes on The Hood.  A Mudville win along with a Downtown win still would send Downtown to ‘B’ division.  So, DYR holds the cards for Downtown J.

• ONE LAST THING: Pre-game BP, its 4-6 swings and get out!!! Enough with 8-10 swings.  You’re only increasing the chance of hurting yourself with the additional swings.   Thanks in advance for your understanding…