Week 3:
As predicted, Johnson North took down Dalton Rd, 17-4 as OF Lindsey Chapman (3-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI) paced the offense and flashed some leather in the outfield thwarting a few Dalton scoring chances. OF Ben Swartz (2 -4, 2B, HR, 3RBI) blasted a 3-run HR late to put this one on ice. Sunday night also marked the return of Johnson IF Chris Stannek (2-3. R) who can Chris landed on the DL after an exercise band he was using snapped back into his mouth knocking out 2 teeth and causing significant nerve damage to his upper jaw. He’s worked tirelessly to get back on the field and Sunday night was the culmination of all his hard work.
South pounded Brentwood, 26-12 as manager Dave Franco stayed with the ‘hot’ arm and started Bryan Sweeney (7IP, 8, H, 6 ER) on the mound even though P Greg Copeland was back from his vacation. Sources tell me Greg was ‘shocked and angered’ with this news and it led to a heated discussion w Franco in the dugout before first pitch. No word on the outcome of that ‘meeting’, but Copeland, ever the professional, took his spot in RF and ended up making 2 key defensive plays and collecting 2 hits in the win. Dave Hack, John Green, and Sean Jacquet had 3 hits apiece for South and SS Jason Smith (2-4, 2B) was superb defensively for South.
South Manager Dave Franco (L) in a heated pre-game discussion with his P Greg Copeland.
Mudville beat Lions, 12-2 behind solid team defense as OF Rob Klimeczko (2-4, 2R) robbed Ernie ‘The Hitman’ Tomacelli of extra bases in the 3rd with an over-the shoulder catch in LCF that ended a scoring threat for Lions. SS Ken McFadden (4-4, 2B, 2R) was also sharp in the field while 2B Jason Thomas had 3 hits and 2RBI and RF Chris Bouguski tripled in the first to start the scoring for Mudville. Another year, another Kuharich controversy…With Bette Midler in town this weekend at Gillette, 3B Eric Kuharich and teammate 1B Errick Spada were no shows for the tilt with Lions on Sunday. Manager Eric Higgins tried to downplay the snub, but sources inside the locker room report that teammates are none too pleased with this decision by the 2 veterans. But, since Spada is a 6’7” 260lb monster and Kuharich is a psychopath, nothing will be said to either one of these guys further fueling this team’s dysfunction.
Kuharich at the Sunday show of xxxx proclaiming his
Jasper Rock clipped The Hood, 12-9 in the late game during a steady rain where we saw players from both teams slipping and sliding. Hood OF Joe Gelzhiser (2-4, 2B, 2R) almost made a leaping catch on a ball off the bat P Derek Cordon (2-3, 2B) in the 4th but landed hard on his back, forcing an early exit from the game for precautionary reasons. For The Hood, Tony Porciello, Dan Mauro, and Corey Grimes all went (2-3) in the loss.
Hood OF Joe Gelzhiser is carted off the field after he slipped and fell Sunday nite vs Jasper.
Despite a slow start, Kampersal rallied to defeat Anthony’s 11-7, as 3B Keith Carlton (4-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI) paced the victors offensively. I think the slow start can be traced back to their plan of testing Anthony’s perennial All-Star SS Dave Robinson with grounders. D-Rob’s flawless defense kept his team in this one throughout. Anthony’s was without the services of IF/OF Mike Delprete who had a birthday party to attend for his daughter. She’s 22. What happened to the competitive spirit, Mike? Playing the 3x champs who haven’t lost since the first Trump Administration AND a chance to verbally spar with your long-time friend, Tom Kampersal and you miss this game? The Wussifacation of America continues, I guess. LF Ben Pratt (3-4, 2B 2RBI) led the way for Anthony’s while 3B Dan Higgins (2-4, 2R) continued his hot start.
The reaction from Mike Delprete’s daughter learning that Dad will indeed be at her
birthday party.
Kampersal was without slugger, Alex Kampersal who developed a serious infection after sustaining a bite from a Stingray while down on vacation in South Carolina. He was prescribed an antibiotic which discouraged physical activity so, he erred on the side of caution and sat out Sunday night’s game. With a full round of antibiotics and another week to rest, the big guy should be back for the week 4 game vs Downtown. Heal fast, Alex!
Downtown beat Kingz, 10-4 as OF Mike McKenna (3-4, 2B, 3RBI) and OF Tim McCarron (3-4, 2 2B, 4RBI) paced the offense. P Mike Adams (7IP, 5H, 2ER) fresh off a Hawaiian vacation battled through sunburn issues to earn the win. Kingz jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to 1B Kiernan Joyce (2-3, 2RBI) triple that plated 3B Ross Dubuc (2-3, 3B). Cruising into the bottom of 3rd w a 2-run lead, P Patrice Snow (7IP, 8H, 3ER) was undone by some shoddy defensive work by the guys behind him. Downtown put up 7 in the inning to take the lead and didn’t look back. Kingz did flash some leather in the 5th as RCF Sean Foley (1-3 2B) robbed Todd Kagno (3-5, 2B, 3R) of extra bases with a diving catch in the gap to prevent 2 runs.
Despite these 3rd degree burns, Adams showed up and delivered in the circle for him teammates unlike Kuharich & Spada.
Braggville bounce back and trounced DYR, 20-8 as the ageless Paul Murphy (5-5, 2 2B, 5 RBI) who has yet to make an out in ’25 (10-10 4 4 2B, 9 RBI, 8 R) paced the offense along with 2B Chad Engel (4-5, 2B, 3RBI, 3R). RF Chris Ennis (3-5 ,2B, HR, 4RBI) hit a 3-run HR in the 5th to extend the Braggville lead to 7 while P Chris Connors (7IP, 8 H, 4ER) settled down after the 4rd when DYR 1B Matt ‘The Hebrew Hammer’ Ryder (3-4, HR, 4RBI) hit a 3-R HR to cut an early Braggville lead to 5. P Justin Lessard and SS Jason McDonald combined to go 7-8 with 4 runs scored at the top of the lineup. Trailing by 5 headed into the 6th, the DYR defense let Lessard down once again with miscues that allowed the big inning where Braggville put up 7 and put the game out of reach. DYR was without their regular third baseman, Ben Leverone who had the most ole man softball injury of all time; hurt his back doing yardwork on Sat. Matt Piselli (2-4, R) filled in admirably for the ailing Leverone.
Leverone collapsing in pain while mowing. (Photo courtesy of his wife. Karly)
GAME OF THE WEEK for Wk 4 (5/11/25))
Braggville (1-1) vs. Mudville (2-0) at Damigella @ 6pm
- Is the 2-0 Mudville start legit? Can Kuharich and Spada avoid the temptation of the sold-out John Tesh show and attend this game?
- Can Braggville carry the momentum from their week 3 solid all-around effort?
*Prediction: Braggville 17 Mudville 8
(My Record: 1-0)
Division A Standings through 04 May
| Position | Team | Won | Lost | Tied | Pct | Runs For | Runs Against | Opp Wins |
| 1 | Kampersal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 28 | 8 | 1 |
| 2 | South | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 32 | 17 | 1 |
| 3 | Johnson North | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 40 | 24 | 1 |
| 4 | Mudville | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 29 | 6 | 0 |
| 5 | Anthony’s East | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.500 | 32 | 15 | 0 |
| 6 | Braggville | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.500 | 40 | 31 | 0 |
| 7 | Dalton Road | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.000 | 9 | 23 | 0 |
| 8 | DYR | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.000 | 9 | 37 | 0 |
Division B Standings through 04 May
| Position | Team | Won | Lost | Tied | Pct | Runs For | Runs Against | Opp Wins |
| 1 | Downtown | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 22 | 12 | 0 |
| 2 | Brentwood | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.500 | 27 | 34 | 1 |
| 3 | Jasper Rock | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.500 | 20 | 24 | 0 |
| 4 | The Hood | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.000 | 17 | 24 | 0 |
| 5 | Kingz | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.000 | 8 | 27 | 0 |
| 6 | Lions | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.000 | 6 | 37 | 0 |
