Week #4:
Kampersal slept-walked past Downtown, 8-5 as 3B Garrett Quinn (3-3, 2 R, RBI) and C Brain McShane (2-2, 1R, RBI) led the offense. Down 5-1 after 3, thanks, in part, to a 2-run double by Downtown’s OF Mike McKenna (3-3, 2B, 3 RBI), Kampersal started their come back. A couple of defensive lapses in the 4th for Downtown overshadowed a solid performance by P Mike Adams (6IP, 8H, 3ER). Kampersal put up 5 in the inning to take the lead highlighted by Quinn’s 2-out, 2-run double after an infield error. Interesting play in the 5th on a liner caught by 1B Brynn Smith who could’ve stepped on the bag to double off the runner Pete Warren but, instead threw to SS Tim Smith who tagged Warren by punching him in the face. Playing in place of SS John Drohan, Josh Shannon (2-3, R, RBI) filled in seamlessly for the veteran with a pop out to the catcher to end the 5th. “Likes you, McShane!”
** Editor’s note: I’d like to wish my # 1 reader/supporter Millie Kampersal a Happy Birthday this week! She spent her Sunday night at the Kampersal Field watching her 2 son’s and nephew play while spending time with her grandkids. An ideal night for any grandparent. Well deserved!
Kampersal SS Tim Swift ‘tagging’ Downtown’s Pete Warren to complete the double play.
Braggville nipped Mudville, 4-3, behind veteran P Chris Connors (7IP, 7H, 1ER) and some timely hitting from the ‘Ageless One’ OF Paul Murphy (2-4, 2R, RBI). Murph’s RBI single in the 5th proved to be the game winner but, he did finally make an out here in 2025. He’s now 12-14 on the year. Some controversy in this one: In the 5th. Braggville had runners on the corners with 1 out when SS Jason Cooper (2-3, 2B) laced a liner down to 3rd that Mudville’s Eric Kuharich (2-4, 2B, 2R) snared and then fired it across the diamond to try and double off Braggville’s Ted Mottor who dove back to the bag and was called safe by 1st base coach, Kevin Lomuscio. The Mudville dugout erupted that Mottor is out for diving back and/or out despite Moose’s call and walked off with the inning ending double play. Not so fast my friend; Braggville manager Chris Connors, despite being outnumbered like King Leonidas in the movie ‘300’, rightly argued that the ‘dive rule’ was changed recently to allow a runner to dive back on a ‘bang-bang’ play. The inning continues and allow Murph to drive in the 4th run for Braggville and Connors pitched a scoreless 6th and 7th with a flak jacket to secure the win.
Braggville manager, Chris Connors shouting down the Mudville mob after the dive back into 1st.
‘The Fighting Cottos’ aka Dalton Rd edged Anthony’s, 7-5 behind the big bat of 3B Kevin Lauze (3-4, 2 HRs, 3Rs, 5RBI) whose 2nd bomb of the game put his squad up 4 in the 6th. The swing and miss and not getting hurt on the prior pitch was even more impressive than the HR. Dalton manager Steve Cotto is living a father’s dream in that he gets to play with his boys Mitch, 28 and now Ty, 26 (nevernind that pesky age thing when you’re on the board). In Ty’s first HSS game, he was flawless defensively in RF with 5 putouts and had a key 2-out, 2-run single in the 2nd to get the scoring started for Dalton. P Chris Munroe (7IP, 7 H, 3ER) was solid in the circle for the victors. With his neice’s birthday party switched to Saturday, Anthony’s OF Mike Delprete (2-3, 2B, R) was able to attend this one but next week is Nana’s 98th so, so Mike is likely out. This siutation is fluid so, more to come as I receive information.
Dalton Rd Manager Steve Cotto flanked by his 2 sons, Ty (r)) and Mitch.
South beat DYR, 13-8 as OF Dave Franco (4-5, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 3R) and OF Greg Copeland (3-5, 2B, 2RBI, 3R) paced a balanced attack. And, for the first time since the Obama Adminstration, SS Jason Smith (2-4, 2RBI) played on Mother’s Day much to the surprise of his teammates. Key play in this one in the 5th; with a 1-run lead South had runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1-out and Franco lines a base hit to LF that your humble correspondent charged, scooped, and threw a perfect 1-hop strike to the plate to nail the runner by a step and just miss cutting down the run. 3B Coach Bryan ‘Angel’ Sweeney ruled him safe even though his entire dugout told him otherwise. Fun Fact: Plays at the plate are to be ruled on by 1B coach NOT 3B, but hey, I didn’t know it at the time so, shame on me. DYR was led by 3B Ben Leverone (3-3, 3R) and RF Tyler Perry (3-3, 2B, 2R). Sunday also marked the return of IF Zack Raymond who has been out with an undisclosed injury. Jeremy Renner returned quicker from getting crushed by his Snowcat than Zack, but we’re happy to have him back. If nothing else, just to gaze at his meticulously trimmed beard is reward enough for his teammates.
South P Bryan Sweeney ignoring his teammates about the play at the plate in the 5th.
South’s Jason Smith upon learning he’s allowed to play softball on Mother’s Day
In what will be known as the Mother’s Day Massacre, Johnson North walloped Brentwood, 44-12 behind CF Lindsay Chapman (5-7, 2 2B, 8RBI) while SS Chris King rushed for 278 yds, on 21 carries and 3 TD’s. Fun highlight in the 5th; with OF Chuck Kerchner on 3rd, P Tom McMahon lined a bullet down the line that beaned Chuck in the leg forcing him to exit the game. Hope ole Chuck will be ready for next week’s game!
The scorebaord blew out in this one right after this picture was taken.
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The Hood dethroned Kingz, 21-13 as OF Colin Fields (3-4, 2B, 3RBI) and SS Greg Andreola (3-4, 2 2B, 4RBI) paced the offense that trailed 7-2 in the 4th. OF Corey Grimes and Andrew Ehle each went 3-4 with 3 runs and played great defense in that tough Stoddard sun to keep Kingz from mounting any consistent scoring threats. Another controversial call in this Sundays’s slate of games. In the 5th, Kingz LF Ryan Smith appeared to trap a low line drive but insisted it was a catch and was adamant about it being a catch so, The Hood manager, Colin Fields reluctantly agreed. Luckily, it had no bearing on the game. Fields looked at it under the tent for 5-7 minutes but could draw no concrete conclusion. For Kingz, OF Jason Morrell (5-5, 3B, 2 RBI) and OF Sean Foley (3-4, 2B, 2R) led the way.
Hood manager, Colin Fields reviewing the play in which Kingz OF clained he caught a sinking liner in the 5th..
Lions surprised Jasper Rock, 9-4 as ageless P Peter Barbieri (7IP, 6 H, 2ER) tossed a gem for the victors. Peter also saved his own life by snaring a liner off the bat of 3B Doug Herman (2-3, 2B) that was destined for his face. Good reflexes, Peter! Arriving on 2 wheels as the bottom of the first began, 1B Ned Daniels (3-4, 2B, HR, 4RBI) jumped into thr batter’s box and crushed a 3-run HR to get the scoring started for Lions.
Ned Daniels flying into the parking lot just in time to take his AB in the first and hit a HR.
GAME OF THE WEEK for Wk 4 (5/18/25))
Anthony’s East (2-1) vs. South (3-0) at High School @ 6pm
- Can Anthony’s play good enough D to keep it close and let the big part of their lineup, produce late? Hopefully Delprete doesn’t have Nana’s Birthday party and can attend for Anthony’s.
- With Sweeney as the 3B coach, South has a chance to score every inning.
*Prediction: Anthony’s 12 South 10
(My Record: 2-0)
