Week 9: Holliston Senior Softball Wrap-Up: (thru 6/11)

June 16, 2023 / Ken Sawyers /

Week 9:

Kingz stayed hot with a 14-5 win over Lions, as OF Alex Wolf went 4-4 with 4 runs scored while P Patrice Snow held the Lions to just 5 hits at 3 ERs. Kingz jumped out to an early 7-0 lead thanks in part to Wolf and OF Ross Dubuc’s 2- run double in the 3^rd. Lions got within 3 in the 5^th but a 6-run 6^th inning by Kingz put the game out of reach. 2B John Crean (3-3) had a huge bases-clearing double to get things rolling in the big 6^th inning for Kingz.

Braggville got by Anthony’s, 14-11 as 1B Chad Engel had 3 hits and 3 RBI while 3B Matt Baker went 3-4 w 2 RBI. Anthony’s jumped out to a 4-0 lead in this one thanks to LF Ben Pratt’s 2-run double in the first. The usually solid Anthony’s defense was absent in this one as multiple OF misplays allowed Braggville to creep back into this one. Down 8-6 in the 5^th, Braggville All-Star LF Dan Kittredge was not bothered by the new funky delivery P Chris Landers now employs and hit a 2-run bomb over the centerfield fence to tie it.

*A look at the unconventional delivery Landers now uses.*

Pivotal play in the 6^th when Braggville’s Paul Murphy crushed a ball to left center with 2 on that LF Mike DelPrete misplayed into a 2-run triple which gave Braggville the lead that they never relinquished.

*Anthony’s OF Mike DelPrete misplaying a shot off the bat of Paul Murphy*.

Downtown clobbered The Hood, 21-11 as LF Scott Burke (4-5, 7 RBI) hit a 4^th inning perfectly placed opposite field Grand Slam that landed on the RF foul line and rolled to Sherborn allowing him to coast home for the HR. P Mike Adams continued his strong year in the circle going 6 innings allowing just 4 hits and 6 runs before giving way to John Potemri with a 15-run lead headed into the 7^th.

*Burke’s ball landing deep on the RF foul line before rolling to Sherborn.*

Kampersal pounded Jasper Rock, 23-11 behind the bats of 1B Alex ‘The Big Hurt” Kampersal (4-5, 2 HR’s, 5 RBI) and C Brian ‘Showtime’ McShane (4-5, GS, 6 RBI). Kampy’s jumped out to an 8-0 lead and took advantage of poor outfield defense by Jasper to go up 22-3 after 4.

*An example of the Jasper Rock outfield play from Sunday night*.

McShane’s first career grand slam occurred in the 9-run 4^th on a laser through the LCF gap. It was his second hit of the inning and third base coach, Tom Kampersal waved McShane around imploring the lumbering catcher to try and score saying, ‘You’re going!! This will never happen again!’ Tom, always the motivator… But McShane wasn’t in the clear yet as he rounded 3^rd, the Kampersal mascot, Duncan the Dog was as excited as he was and ‘attacked’ the star catcher on his way to the plate, but he still managed to score. The All-HSS C also flashed the leather around home plate in the 5^th with a remarkable catch of a pop-up along the backstop fence that he snared just as he crashed into the fence.

*McShane attacked by Duncan heading for home on his blast in the 4^th. No injuries reported.*

Point of reference as this game was played at Patoma. It has quirky ground rules that we all should know. Please see the ground rule as it’s laid out in the league rules:

“MISCELLANEOUS

Patoma right field rule. Prior to each game at Patoma, the coaches shall agree a marker in the right center field. Any batted ball that touches the marker or passes to the left of the marker shall be “all you can get” even if the ball rolls into the woods. Any batted ball that passes to the right of the marker and into the woods in the air or on the ground shall be a ground rule double.”

Whether or not you agree with it (I don’t), we should all follow the rule as it is written and then vote on it in the off season for possible changes to it.

DYR edged Brentwood, 19-5 as SS Jason MacDonald went 4-5 with 4 RBI and LF Matt ‘The Hebrew Hammer’ Rider picked up 3 RBI with 1 coming on a Sac Fly that took 17 seconds to land in deep LF. The Brentwood left fielder now needs neck surgery from looking up for so long to catch it.

*Brentwood OF Jeff Lally postgame after catching Rider’s sac fly*.

South hammered Johnson North, 16-7 extending the JN losing streak to 3. South was led by OF Dave Franco who went 4-5 and drove in 5 while SS Jason Smith collected 3 hits and 4 RBI in the win. Johnson North held a team meeting postgame to right the ship before the end of the regular season and the upcoming playoffs.

*Johnson North’s players-only meeting postgame aimed to stop their 3-gm skid.*

Dalton Rd beat Budville, 14-9 pushingthe Budville losing streakto 6 and all but assuring Budville’s trip back to down to ‘B”. Dalton was led by their 3 underage players from Central America who apparently passed the rigorous HSS vetting process last year. One of these rookies, Kevin Lauze hit a 3-run bomb to left that short-hopped the porta-potty in the Stoddard parking lot.

*The HSS Board reviewing the paperwork of the new Dalton Rd recruits.*

This game would not have been as close as it was if not for the play of Dalton OF Chris Munroe. Seems he has some trouble hearing the advice of his teammates to go back on balls hit to him. Manager Steve Cotto is trying to book Munroe an apt at Boston Audiology, but they don’t take Canadian insurance. A dilemma for sure.

*I think I found the reason for his lack of hearing: Munroe in RF Sunday night.*

Budville bas bed by P Eric Higgins bwho bent 3-4 bith 4RBI. (Unedited by Publisher)

GAME OF THE WEEK for WK # 9 (6/18/23)

South (6-1) vs Braggville (6-1) at Potoma @ 6pm

Big ‘A’ matchup as the loser here will likely face Kampersal in Rd 1 of playoffs.
Game location will factor here as the short porch in right will be an advantage for Braggville’s lefty-leaning line up.
I will have complete coverage of this one next week.