Anthony’s pounded Brentwood, 18-7 behind the bats of 3B Dan Higgins (4-5 w 2RBI) and newbie OF Travis Jonasson who decided to show up for week 1 despite being on the roster for the last 2 yrs.  Young Travis hit the longest homerun seen hit at Kampersal field since Alex Kampersal last played there (a 1-hop into the woods in dead CF, approx. 585 ft according to Stat Cast) to cap an early 8-run explosion for the home team who never looked back in the win.

Anthony’s OF Travis Jonasson connects on his monstrous HR in the 2^nd to add to the early Anthony’s lead.

Dalton Rd took down a depleted Jasper Rock squad, 11-5 behind the bat of OF Steve Cotto who collected 2 doubles and 4 RBI in the win.  In a Sr Softball first, long time Dalton 3B Mike Silk threw out the cermonial first pitch, went 3-3 at the plate, and made 7 throwing errors 4 of which are still rolling down Woodland St.  Jasper only had 9 players since The World Taxidermy & Fish Carving Championship was held at the Hines Convention Ctr this weekend and 3B Doug Herman, OF Tom Dumas and C Greg Williams were a little too excited for the event. Seems they were ‘removed’from the cocktail reception Sat night and, in protest, Dumas attempted to steel a deer head from the showroom floor.  The photo below is a bit grainy but it does appear to be Dumas.  Bail was posted and court dates for all 3 are yet to be determined. Not the start to the season for Jasper skipper, Derek Cordon was looking for.  Well, at least they have Kampersal next week!

Photo evidence of Jasper OF Tom Dumas attempting to leave the convention with his +1.

As I’ve mentioned in this column before, it was only a matter of time before the Johnson North crew figures it out and they begin ’24 with a solid win over South, 14-12 under the lights at Damigella.  P Tom McMahon shined in the circle working out of jams all night.  Down 1 headed into the Top of the 7^th, the kids, led by OF Jarrad Jordan (4-5, 3RBI) put up a 6-spot and then held off South in the bottom half.  OF Chuck Kerchner shined (sort of) in the field for JN making 3 ‘diving’ catches in which non required a dive.  South was led by SS Jason Smith who went 3-5 with 4 RBI and P Greg Copeland’s 2 hits and 2 RBI.  Mercurial South P Bryan Sweeney was none too pleased with his team’s efforts and left abruptly at the conclusion of the game. 

South P Bryan Sweeney leaving Damigella Field Sunday night after his teams lost to Johnson North.  HPD has been notified…

Johnson North OF Chuck Kerchner barely holding on to a fly ball hit his way in the 4^th inning Sunday night vs South.

Braggville pounded Downtown, 19-3 behind the bats of 1B Ted Mottor (5-6, 5 runs) and 3B Darren Fells (4-5, 3 RBI) who nearly killed Downtown SS John Drohan with 3 rocket singles to left.  P Johnny Marsell spun a gem, going the distance giving up just 5 hits and 2 ER runs with 1 K (swinging, named held for obvious reasons, though I’ll get it next week)

The glove of Downtown SS John Drohan after Fells’ last laser- line drive single to LF in the 6^th. Miraculously, Drohan does still have full use of his left hand.  

Kingz edged Mudville, 9-8 as P Patrice Snow was sharp allowing just 4 ER over 7 innings.  OF Matt Brooks robbed Mudville 1B Errick Spada of extra bases in the 5^th to end a Mudville scoring threat.  Controversy occurred in the 7^h of a tie game when a close force play at 3^rd went against Mudville and sent former manager now just 3B Eric Kuharich into a rage.  Plays at 3^rd are calls made by the 3^rd base coach and this one appeared to be on the level as Kingz had a competent coach there to call the play objectively…

KingZ 3^rd base coach, Bubbles swears he made the right call on the controversial play in The 7^th.  

Now, with that runner at 3^rd and 1-out, 2B Joe Robbins hit a deep fly to CF that the Kingz runner forgot to tag up on.  So, with 2-out OF Kiernan Joyce laced a single to left to drive in the winning run, finally…

The Hood slipped past Lions, 9-7 as LF Colin Fields delivered at the plate (4-4, 2B, 3RBI) while throwing out a runner at 3^rd on a fly to left. P Shawn Peters pitched a complete game 6 hitter and had 2 hits himself.  3B Tony Porciello went 3-4 with a 3-run HR while rookie 1B Josh Perez tripled and scored in his first HSS at-bat to power The Hood to victory.

2x Defending Champ, Kampersal Electric wasted no time in getting into the win column as they swamped DYR, 18-3 as P George Kampersal starred on the mound (7 IP, 6 H, 2ER) and at the plate (4-4 2RBI and 3R’s) while brother Tom Kampersal was 4-5 in the leadoff spot and scored 4 times.  Cousin 1B Alex Kampersal and OF Brad Rowe each had 3 hits and drove in 3 while the defensive wizardry of SS Josh Jolicquer and 3B Tim ‘Taylor’ Swift eliminated any sustain offensive threat by DYR.  Interesting play in the 4^th…with a man on 1^st and no out, OF Dennis Dietz hit a deep fly to right that sent DYR RF Ken Szajda scurrying back to make a nice catch but, in the process, he fell and forgot how to get up which allowed runner Josh Jolicquer to tag and score FROM FIRST! 

DYR RF Ken Szajda after making the catch off the bat of Dennis Dietz Sunday at Stoddard.

While their line-up is relentless, it’s Kampersal’s defense that sets them apart. That, along with their 2-wk Spring Training trip to the Dominican that the league turns its back on…(hello, Commish??  What more do you need than this photo below??)

Player/manager/GM Tom Kampersal (2^nd from left) with some of his current Kampersal teammates and a host of KE ‘futures’ on his annual trip south to scout for talent. 

GAME OF THE WEEK for WK #2 (4/28/24))

Braggville (1-0) vs Johnson North (1-0) at Stoddard (beach) 6pm

• Can the young guns handle the big game pressure?
• Can Braggville match the JN youth and athleticism?

*Prediction: Braggville 15 Johnson N 11

Division A Standings through 21 Apr

Position	Team	Won	Lost	Tied	Pct	Runs For	Runs Against	Opp Wins
1	Kampersal	1	0	0	1.000	18	3	0
2	Braggville	1	0	0	1.000	19	3	0
3	Dalton Road	1	0	0	1.000	11	5	0
4	Johnson North	1	0	0	1.000	14	12	0
5	Jasper Rock	0	1	0	0.000	5	11	0
6	South	0	1	0	0.000	12	14	0
7	DYR	0	1	0	0.000	3	18	0
8	Downtown	0	1	0	0.000	3	19	0

Division B Standings through 21 Apr

Position	Team	Won	Lost	Tied	Pct	Runs For	Runs Against	Opp Wins
1	Anthony’s East	1	0	0	1.000	18	7	0
2	The Hood	1	0	0	1.000	9	7	0
3	Kingz	1	0	0	1.000	9	8	0
4	Mudville	0	1	0	0.000	8	9	0
5	Lions	0	1	0	0.000	7	9	0
6	Brentwood	0	1	0	0.000	7	18	0