Week #1:
Welcome to the 2026 HSS season where Kampersal Electric looks to capture their 5th straight ‘A’ division championship while Johnson North, South, and Dalton Rd look to get their name etched on the Shanny Cup in ’26. Mother Nature welcomed us with a kick to the groin Sunday night as temps dropped into the low 40’s with drizzle/snow but at least the wind picked up to make this Opening Day one to remember.
Jasper Rock’s Doug Herman leads off first in the elements in a match up with DYR
Mudville took it to Brentwood, 15-8 as they welcomed back 70’s rocker P Steve Miller (7IP, 7H, 4ER) back to the circle and the veteran twirled a gem. Offensively, the were lead by 3B Eric Kuharich (4-6, 2 2B, 4 R) and OF Eric Higgins (3-5, 2B, 4RBI). In the 4th, Mudville flashed some leather in the OF as Rob Klimeczko (3-4, 2R) made a spectacular catch in LCF robbing Brentwoods P Shawn Thompson (2-3, 2R) of extra bases. Rob spent the next 4 hrs post game telling anyone who would listen about the catch.
Mudville’s Klimeczko with a sensational catch in the 4th that preserved a Mudville lead.
Johnson North walked off Braggvile, 10-9 on a single by OF Ross Weisman (2-4, RBI, R) that scored Benny ‘The Jet’Schwarz (3-4, 2B, HR, 3RBI, 3R) from 2B. Trailing 6-1 after 3, JN battled back to take eventually take a 9-8 lead after 6 and decided to line up and shake hands then but Braggville didn’t buy it and they played the 7th. Braggville proceeded to tie it thanks to a OF Paul Murphy (3-4, 2B, 2R)lead off double who then scored a sac fly by OF Darren Fells (3-4, 2B, 3RBI). 3B Scott Dellolacono shined in his debut for JN by going 4-5 with a double, 3RBI, and 3R while P Pete Guellnitz was solid in the circle giving up 5 ER in 7 innings of work.
Johnson North high-fiving themselves after taking the lead in the 6th -we play 7. They’re so young, they thought it was Little League rules.
South blanked Anthony’s, 7-0 via forfeit. Terrible…Do better DelPrete.
‘The Fighting Cottos’ aka Dalton Rd took Downtown to the woodshed, 21-5 behind the big bat of OF Christian Carroll (5-6, 3HR, 5RBI, 5R). Yes, the HR count is correct, he belted 3 solo HR’s at Patoma to pace the offense, 2 onto the other infield and 1 to the left of the cone in CF. Impressive. Dalton also played solid D as first-time 2B Keith Poutier (3-5, 2B, 2R)and fill-in SS Matt Saari (3-4, RBI, 2R) sparkled up the middle and turned 3 DP’s. P Ty Cotto (7IP, 6H, 4ER) filled in admirably for the vacationing Chris Munroe. Bazaar situation in the 4th as a heated argument took place involving just 1 team. 2 on 1 out and Dalton Rd skipper Steve Cotto line a shot down the RF line that Downtown C John Potemri called fair yet RF Todd Kagno believed it to be foul and screamed at his catcher.
Downtown teammates Kagno and Potemri get into a heated discussion over a fair/foul call in the 4th.
DYR held on to clip Jasper Rock, 8-6 thanks to a SS Jason MacDonald (2-4,3B, 2R) bases loaded triple in the 3rd that put DYR in front and they never looked back. DYR rookie OF Pat McClay (2-3, 2R) threw out 2 runners at home in this one and actually should’ve been 3 but Jasper’s Greg Williams was somehow allowed in the coaching box and called the 3rd one safe on a close play. P Justin Lessard (7IP, 6 H, 1ER) pitched well and 3B Ben Leverone (2-3, R) turned a key double play with the bases loaded in the 4th to end a Jasper threat. Jasper pounded out 21 hits but ran themselves out of 2 innings and *DYR turned a few timely defensive plays to end innings. ( *editors note: that sentence has never been written before in this column..ever)
Jasper’s Greg Williams did no such thing….
Kingz took down Lions, 15-6 behind the bats of Storm ’26 Fall Ball Champion Alum OF Joe Robbins (3-4, HR, 2B, 3RBI) and 3B Ross DuBuc (3-4, HR, 2RBI, 2R) while OF Alex Wolf’s ( 3-3, HR, 3RBI) 3-run shot in the 4th broke open the game. Pitching and defense were solid in this one for Kingz as Storm ’26 Fall Ball Champion Alum P Pat Snow delivered in the circle ( 7IP, 6H, 4ER) while manager OF Sean Foley(3-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R) shined at the plate..
Kampersal squashed The Hood, 13-3. “We stink, new guys stink, umpires stink.” -Manager Tom Kampersal.
Despite the introduction of new hooded uniforms, the Hood couldn’t muster any offense after putting up 3 in the first to take a 3-1 lead. OF Colin Fields (3-3, 2B, R) was the lone bright spot while the hooded uniforms received criticism from the opposition on this one:
“those uniforms are the worst” – anonymous Kampersal player who plays in foul territory.
The much ballyhooed debut of young stud Matt Kampersal was about as successful as the New Coke launch as he went hitless. I’m sure he’ll bounce back in the weeks ahead and will be used to the wood bats in time for the game against DYR at Damigella. Go Matt!
Not only is the hood a dubious choice, the color scheme appears to be a bit much as well.
GAME OF THE WEEK for Wk 2 (4/26/26)
Kampersal (1-0) vs. Braggville (0-1) at High School @ 6pm
- After sleep walking through Wk 1, manager Tom Kampersal let his troops know that kind of effort is will not be accepted 2 wks in a row so, I expect the bats to wake up in this on.
- New-look Braggville will give the champs some early trouble but will not have enough to spin the upset.
*Prediction: Kampersal 15 Braggville 6
(My Record: 1-0)
Division A Standings through 19 Apr
| Position | Team | Won | Lost | Tied | Pct | Runs For | Runs Against | Opp Wins |
| 1 | South | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Kampersal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | Dalton Road | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 21 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | Johnson North | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 10 | 9 | 0 |
| 5 | Anthony’s East | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 6 | Braggville | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 9 | 10 | 0 |
| 7 | The Hood | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 3 | 13 | 0 |
| 8 | Downtown | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 5 | 21 | 0 |
Division B Standings through 19 Apr
| Position | Team | Won | Lost | Tied | Pct | Runs For | Runs Against | Opp Wins |
| 1 | Kingz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 15 | 6 | 0 |
| 2 | DYR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| 3 | Mudville | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 15 | 8 | 0 |
| 4 | Jasper Rock | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 6 | 8 | 0 |
| 5 | Brentwood | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 8 | 15 | 0 |
| 6 | Lions | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 6 | 15 | 0 |
