FOUR 1-run games this week as HSS kicked off its new playoff format this week.  Let’s get into it:

Kampersal stayed perfect by knocking off Johnson North, 13-7 as OF Chris ‘GQ’ Boggess (4-4, 2B, 3R, 2RBI) continued his solid year at the plate and paced a balanced attack. SS Tim Swift (still can’t believe he didn’t complete the DP oppty to nab Dave Randlett in wk 1) (3-4, 3B, 2B, 4RBI) got the scoring started for Kampersal with a double that scored lead-off hitter 2B Tom Kampersal (3-3, 3R) who singled.  3B Garrett Quinn (2-3, R, RBI) was sharp at the hot corner making several nice plays but none bigger that the diving snag of a liner off the bat of LF Jarrad Jordan (3-4, 2B, R) in the 4^th.  Trailing 11-3, Johnson had runners on second and third with 1-out and Jordan up who ripped the first pitch he saw down the line to Quinn who made the diving stab then tagged the runner who broke for home for the unassisted double play. OF Denis Dietz continued his solid defensive play in RF with 1 putout for Kampersal.

Kampersal’s Quinn making the diving catch of the liner by Jordan.

Due to some poor planning on their post-gm beer inventory having a bunch of lushes on their squad, Kampersal ran out of beer post game so, veteran George Kampersal zipped home to get some reinforcements.  Seems the beer may have been a bit past its expiration date.  

This was the scene around the homes of Kampersal players Monday morning (L) as they dealt with GI issues thanks to the beer supplied by George Kampersal post-game. One would think the cans he brought would’ve caused some hesitation.

In the other Top 4 game, Braggville walked off Dalton Rd 11-10 with a 4-run bottom of the 7^th.  A tight game throughout with solid defense on both sides, Dalton appeared poised for the ‘W’ when OF Steve Cotto (3-4, GS, 6 RBI) blasted a 1-out Grand Slam in the top of the 7^th to put Dalton up 10-7.  But, with 1-out in their half of the 7^th, C Kevin LoMuscio (2-3, 2R) started a string of 6 consecutive singles that concluded when OF Chad Engle (2-4, 2 RBI) laced a single to right with the bases loaded to score 1B Ted Mottor (4-4, 4R, 1RBI)) with the winning run and send Braggville to the ‘A’ Championship once again.  LF Dan Kittredge (4-4, 2B, 3RBI) and RF Rich Cordani (3-3, 2R, RBI) had strong nights at the plate for the victors.  

Premature Celebration: Dalton Rd celebrating Cotto’s dramatic Grand Slam that put his team up 3.  Too bad they had to play the bottom half of the inning.

In the second 1-run gm of the night, Brentwood tamed Lions, 5-4, as P Doug Schmidt (7IP, 6H, 2ER) was sharp throughout and held off a late Lions rally in the bottom of the 7^th.  Ahead 5-2 entering the final frame, Schmidt recorded the first 2 outs before a single by Lions SS Jay Morrissey (2-3, 2R) extended the inning.  Up next, 1B Ned Daniels (1-3, HR, 2RBI) who promptly launched a 574 ft HR into the gas pumps at the Mobil station that caused a small fire, making it 5-4.   

The Mobil pumps took the brunt of Daniels’ 2-run blast in the 7^th…

Next batter then lined a shot destined for left field but was snagged out of the air by SS Shawn ‘Ozzie’ Thompson (2-3, 2B, 2R) to end the Lions rally and secure the win for Brentwood.

Brentwood’s SS Shawn Thompson ‘leaps’ to snare a line drive to end the game.

South walked off Jasper Rock,  6-5  thanks to 1B Tony Alessi’s (3-4, 2B, 4 RBI) single in the 8^th that scored Jay Skeldon (3-3, 2B, 3R) with the winning run.  Alessi tied it in the 6^th with a clutch, 2-out, 2-run double and P Greg Copeland  (7IP, 5H, 2ER) kept Jasper off the scoreboard in the middle innings to give his team a chance.  Japser P Derek Cordon (7IP, 8H, 2ER) was the hard-luck loser despite a 3-hit night himself.  

Alessi celebrating his walk-off single Sunday night.

In the 4^th 1-run game of the night, DYR held off Downtown, 14-13 thanks in large part to the arm and bat of spot starter P Matt Piselli (7IP, 9H, 6ER & 4-4, 2B, 4 R) and the bat of RF Ken Szajda (3-4, HR, 3R, 3RBI). With Piselli on first after his 4^th hit of the night, 2-out, down to our final strike, and trailing by 1, Szajda laced a shot to RCF that scooted between the outfielders for an inside-the-park 2-run HR to give DYR the lead.   Downtown would not go quietly, though, loading the bases in their half of the 7^th with 2-out, but Piselli induced a comebacker he fielded cleanly to end the game.  

Szajda celebrating his inside-the-park HR scoring just ahead of the relay throw to put his team up 1 in the 7^th.

Mudville took Kingz to the woodshed,  31-3, as Eric Higgins threw for 332 yds and 3TD’s while OF Rob Klimeczko caught 9 balls for 176 yds and 2TD’s.  Errick Spada led the Mudville defense with 8 tackles and 3 sacks while Jason Thomas collected 6 tackles and 2 INTs.  3B Eric Kuharich could face suspension this week as photos of him fishing over the weekend surfaced online.  Kuharich told the organization he was headed to NJ for his son’s babeball tournament and would miss the Sunday night contest.  

Some baseball tournament……

Anthony’s East beat The Hood, 11-7 thanks to some curious coaching decisions from The Hood.  Up 3-1 in the 3^rd, The Hood decided a pitching change was needed to ‘throw them off’….it didn’t.  A 10-run inning ensued, and Anthony’s never looked back.  LF Ben Pratt (3-4, 2 2B, 4RBI) and 2B Mike DelPrete (3-4, 3R, 2RBI) got that fateful 3^rd inning started with back-to-back 2-run singles and P Chris Landers (7IP, 9H, 4ER) pitched well with the lead.  Interesting comeback strategy by the The Hood in this one.  They figured the best way to come back in this one was by hitting balls at All-HHS players, SS Dave Robinson and LF Ben Pratt:

Hood Manager Colin Fields discussing an alternate comeback strategy with his players after D-Rob recorded his 7^th put-out of the game.

GAME OF THE WEEK for WK #11 (6/23/24))

Braggville (9-1) vs. Kampersal (10-0) at Damigella 6pm

FOR THE SHANNY CUP!

• Rematch from their Week 8 Instant Classic played at the same field.
• Which offense will take advantage of the friendly confines?
• Are P George Kampersal’s control issues behind him?
• Can Rich Cordani be the difference for the Braggville line-up?

*Prediction: Kampersal 16 Braggville 14

’24 Record (6-3)

WEEK 2 OF 2-wk PLAYOFF FORMAT: 

With Predictions

Division A Standings through 23 Jun

Position	Team	Won	Lost	Tied	Pct	Runs For	Runs Against	Opp Wins
1	Kampersal	10	0	0	1.000	186	75	52
2	Braggville	9	1	0	0.900	127	70	42
3	South	6	4	0	0.600	100	91	21
4	Dalton Road	6	4	0	0.600	113	101	24
5	Johnson North	5	5	0	0.500	106	102	17
6	DYR	4	6	0	0.400	102	117	12
7	Downtown	3	7	0	0.300	98	109	9
8	Jasper Rock	2	8	0	0.200	64	108	10

Division B Standings through 23 Jun

Position	Team	Won	Lost	Tied	Pct	Runs For	Runs Against	Opp Wins
1	Anthony’s East	6	4	0	0.600	116	88	26
2	Mudville	6	4	0	0.600	131	96	21
3	Kingz	4	6	0	0.400	93	142	15
4	The Hood	4	6	0	0.400	98	132	10
5	Brentwood	3	7	0	0.300	55	134	8
6	Lions	2	8	0	0.200	84	108	9