Week 5:
Brentwood beat Kingz, 10-2 as P Doug Schmidt (7IP, 5 H, 2ER) twirled a gem with some timely defensive help from his outfield as they collected 14 of the 21 outs via fly balls. Down 8 in the 5th, Kingz had runners on the corners with 2-out and OF Alex Wolf (2-3, 2B) laced a deep shot to left that Chris Hess made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch on to end the inning. Early season waiver pick-up, Brian ‘sore hammy’ Callahan (3-4, 3B, 3RBI) continued to deliver w a 2-run triple in the first to extend the Brentwood lead to 8.
Brentwood’s Chris Hess with the catch of the year so far.
Kampersal took care of Jasper Rock, 20-7 as the top 4 in their line-up combined to go 12-15 with 3 2B, 1 3B, and 1 HR. Jasper jumped out early with 4 in the first thanks to a few uncharacteristic Kampersal infield errors but OF Jeremy Cordon (3-5, 2B, 3B, 3R) did leadoff with a double and, after the second error OF Jared Esposito (5-5, 2B, 3RBI) drove in two with his first hit of the night. Unfortunately for Jasper, Kampersal was allowed to hit in this one too, and responded with 7 in their half of the inning and never looked back. 1B Alex ‘The Big Hurt’ Kampersal (3-4, 2B, HR, 4RBI) blasted a 3-run HR in the 3rd to extend the lead to 11 while C Brian McShane (3-3, 2R, RBI) stayed hot for the victors. It’s tough task to take on the 3x defending champs with your full squad anytime, but Jasper tried it with 8 and it showed. They could’ve had 9 but C Greg Williams was a late scratch as he tweaked his back during the extra BP session he took.
Jasper’s Greg Williams at Casey’s Sunday Night ‘rehabbing’ his back around 6:30pm
Braggville pounded Downtown, 18-5 as 1B Ted Mottor (4-5, 2B, 4 R) and 2B Dan Devine (4-5, 2R, 3RBI) paced the offense. Dowtown took a 5-3 lead in the 4th thanks to a 4-run inning highlighted by a 2-run double off the bat of OF Scott Burke (3-4, 2B 2RBI) and a 2-out 2-run single by OF Todd Kagno (3-4, 2B, 2RBI). Braggville then answered with 5 in the 4th, 3 in the 6th, and 7 in the 7th highighted by a OF Darren Fell’s (4-5, 2 2B, 5RBI) bases clearing double. Have to question the Downtown game plan in this one as they repeatedly tested SS Jason Cooper (3-4, 3B, 2R, 2RBI) with grounders (11 in all, fielded flawlessly) Bold move, Cotton….
Braggville’s SS Jason Cooper (R) with the other types of vacuum cleaners.
Dalton Rd beat Mudville, 14-7 with a 7-run surge in the 7th after Mudville tied it in the bottom of the 6th., The Mudville comeback was led by OF Chris Bogusky (3-4, 2B, 3RBI) and SS Josh Burke (2-4, 3B, 2R, 2RBI) who had back-to-back 2-run doubles and they could’ve had more in the inning, but CF Steve Cotto (3-5, 2B, 2RBI) made a sliding catch of a sinking liner off the bat off P Eric Higgins (3-4, 2R, 2RBI) to keep the game tied. Dalton’s 7-run 7th was highlighted by a OF Mitch Cotto (4-5, 2B, HR, 5RBI) 3-run HR and a 3B Jamie Ross (2-4, 2R, 2RBI) 2-run single while P Chris Munroe (3-4, 2R, 2RBI) cruised until the big Mudville 6th inning but recovered quickly and set the side down in order in the 7th. Mudville RF Andrew Johnson (2-4, 3B, RBI) disappeared a few times in this one as Dalton took advantage of the short RF porch at Patoma (right, Sweens?) and lined a few deep drives his way into the woods. With the imposing cliff right at the tree line, Andrew cheated death all game long trying to catch these blasts to right.
Mudville’s Andrew Johnson on his first ‘trip’ down the ravine in RF
As predicted, Anthony’s East beat South, 12-8 with a 7-run first that South never recovered from. South P Bryan Sweeney (2.1 IP, 6 H. 6 ER) was roughed up early in this one and was replaced by Greg Copeland after tripping over the rubber to catch a pop up along third base line. After South cut it the lead to 4 in the 5th, Anthony’s OF Travis Johansson (4-5, 2B, HR, 5RBI) hit a MASSIVE 3-run HR at the HS field that cleared the soccer nets in right and 1-hopped the football field fence. It was estimated to travel 947 ft. Hey Commish, let’s get Mr. Johansson to pee in a cup before the wk 5 games. Much appreciated… Anthony’s LF Ben Pratt (4-5, 2 2B, 3RBI) thwarted any hope of a South comeback with a great diving catch along the foul line in the 6th to rob SS Jason Smith (3-4, 2B, 3 R) of a double and at least 2 RBI.
The conversation South C Chris Gioffre had with P Greg Copeland after Travis’ blast.
The Hood tamed Lions, 23-14 as P Shawn Peters shined in the circle (7 IP, 10 H, 6 ER) and at the plate (4-4, 2B, 2 R). He now ranks 2nd (.875) to current league batting leader, Bragville’s Paul Murphy (.888). SS Greg Andreola went 4-4 and scored 4 times while OF Colin “Lady Bing” Fields went 4-4 as well with a 3 -run HR to left center in the 6th that helped put this one away for The Hood. 1B Scott McAdams (2-2, 1R, RBI) felt a pop in his calf after his single to right in the 4th yet stayed in the game. He was promptly yelled at by his teammates as he ‘loafed’ into 3rd on a bomb hit by C Bruce Stebbins (2-4, 2B, 2R). Apologies were then offered when Scott revealed his injury and a post-game trip to the ER confimred a torn calf. With teammates like that, who needs enemies?
The reaction of The Hood’s manager, Colin Fields after yelling at McAdams for lack of hustle only to learn later he tore his calf.
Johnson North took care of DYR, 21-13, as SS Chris King (3-5, HR, 3R, 3RBI) got their scoring started in the 2nd with a 2-run HR to left to tie it at 2. Interesting choice of clothing for the star SS in this one as temperatures dipped into the low 60’s thanks to a howling wind. Trailing 16-4, DYR mounted a comeback thanks to SS Jason McDonald’s (2-4, 3B, 2R, 2RBI) 2-run triple and OF Tyler Perry’s (3-4, 3RBI) bases loaded single w 2 out to cut it to 16-13 heading into the bottom of 5th. Johnson, however, would answer with 3 in the bottom half thanks to a 3-run HR by C Ben Swartz (3-4, HR, 4RBI) and 2 more insurance runs in the 6th thanks to a 37-hop grounder up the middle off the bat of OF Charles Kirschner (1-4, 2 RBI). RF Leo Downing (2-4, 2R, RBI) played a lock-down RF for the victors with 1 putout. Johnson coupled their speed with the obscenely high grass to take extra bases on singles that died in the thick outfield grass. DYR P Matt Piselli (2-3, R) filled in admirably in the circle giving up just 9 ER against that high-powered line-up.
Johnson North SS Chris King in pregame warmups as the mercury dipped to 63 degrees.
DYR outfielders looking for the single hit by Leo Downing in the 4th that he turned into a double.
GAME OF THE WEEK for Wk 5 (5/25/25))
Kampersal (4-0) vs. Johnson North (4-0) at Damigella @ 7:30p
- The scheduling Gods came through with this one. Sunday Night primetime with these 2 Goliaths? Yes, pls! Can the Young Guns handle the spotlight/pressure and continue to mash softballs?
- Can the veteran Kampersal squad lean on their big game experience and their crafty P George K to keep the young guys in check?
