Week #5: Holliston Senior Softball Wrap-Up: (thru 5/19/24)

Week 45:

Kingz clipped Lions, 10-6 as 1B Kiernan Joyce (2-3, 3RBI) ignited a 7-run 6th inning to erase a 4-3 deficit with a 2-run triple solidifying his turn with the Kingz ‘chain’ for the week.  Though, OF Matt Brooks (3-3, 2RBI, 2R) was worthy as well, tough choice for skipper Sean Foley.  P Patrice Snow (7IP, 2K’s, 3ER) kept the Lions line-up quiet except for OF Ernie Tomacelli who went 3-3 w 3RBI in the loss.

Kingz’ Kiernan Joyce flaunting his turn with the team chainz.

Kampersal pulled away from Mudville, 18-11 as OF Denis Dietz (4-5, 2 2B, 3RBI) sparked a 6 -run rally in the 6^th with a key 2-run double that put Kampersal in the lead for good while OF Bill Sticka (3-4, 3RBI, 3R’s) ended any hopes of an upset with a 2-run single in the 7^th to put the game out of reach.  Mudville was led by P Eric Higgins (4-5, 4RBI) and 1B Errick Spada (3-5, 3RBI) while OF Rob Limeczko (3-4, 2RBI, 2R’s) 2-run single in the 4^th gave Mudville a brief 6-5 lead.  A bit of a health scare in the Mudville dugout pregame as they only had 9 players as the 10^th player called out due a lice outbreak at his home.  A 10^th player did show up but Mudville still took precautions in their dugout to negate any chance of a possible spread.  To their credit, Mudville did not use the hazmat suits as an excuse for losing, in fact, 3B Eric Kuharich may wear his for the remainder of the season citing his fear of COVID making a comeback.

Mudville players entering the dugout for the game with Kampersal.

Braggville slid past Anthony’s 12-7, as 1B Ted Mottor (4-5, 2RBI) scored 4 times from his leadoff spot while OF Chad Engel (3-4, 3RBI) got the scoring started in the 1^st w a 2-run double.  Braggville would go on to extend the lead to 11-0 after 4 but then Anthony’s struck for 5 in the 5^th thanks to 3B Dan Higgins’ (3-4, 2RBI, 2R) 2-run single.  Later in the 5^th with the bases loaded and 2-out, 1B Chris Landers hit a bomb to left that looked like extra bases but LF Darren Fell made an unbelievable over-the-shoulder catch to deny Landers and preserve the Braggville lead.  A little controversy in the 7^th as Anthony’s thought it was only the 6^th, so Braggville manager Chris Connors share his book with them and reminded them that they were sleepwalking through the first 4 innings (zero runs) and it was indeed the7^th.

Braggville’s LF Darren Fell robbing Landers of extra bases in the 5^th.

Anthony’s manager Mike DelPrete when told it was the top of the 7^th not 6^th.  Inside tip, Mike: Keep a scorebook. 

Dalton Rd beat DYR, 12-9  by taking advantage of the short porch in RF with 14 lefty’s I didn’t know they had.  Led by SS Brendan Hines ( 4-4, 3 2Bs(into the RF woods), 5RBI)  and RF Chris Munroe (3-4, 2 2Bs, 3 RBI) Dalton took an early lead in the first with a 5 runs.  3B Dan Geary (3-4, 2R’s, 2RBI)  apparently missed his ferry back to the Islands so was able to join his teammates and contribute in the win with a 2-run double in the first. 

Dan Geary’s view of the ferry he was supposed to take home early Sun afternoon.

DYR welcomed back CF Jay Miller (2-3, 2RBI) after a bout with COVID (yes, Covid in ’24).  But, it was serious enough to consider an ER visit early in the week for a ventilator, but the big guy declined and opted for natural remedies.  Lacking his normal stamina and strength, Miller, nonetheless, played CF with his normal reckless abandon and made a nice running catch before the woods to take a hit away from OF Steve Cotto in the 3^rd.  It then took him 45 mins him to recover from that play and I encouraged him to sit out an inning but he insisted to go back out (#warrior).  He was a bit rusty on the basepaths, though, running the bases like Bartolo Colon after a Cinco De Mayo party.  A bit of controversy in the 4^th when Miller headed toward second on single and appeared to overrun the bag legally but Dalton thought he made the turn towards 3^rd.  After a brief discussion (which allowed Miller to untangle himself from the dirt, stand up, and catch his breath) it was ruled a legal maneuver. Though the picture below says otherwise..

DYR CF Jay Miller appears to be making the turn towards 3^rd on a single in the 3^rd.

After his 2^nd single in the 5^th, Miller did the same thing at 2B (wide angle turn) and was called out immediately.  Great to have Jay back though, as he is our inspirational leader and his efforts got us back in this game.  The same type of effort cannot be said for DYR 2B Zach Raymond who texted 90 mins before the game that he would not make it.  Seems May is the time to hit Vermont for some maple syrup.  So, we have 1 teammate almost on his death bed showing up and giving his all (minus the baserunning) and another guy who suddenly realized he’s in Vermont 90 mins before his softball game and sends out a casual text,’ won’t make it but good luck!’ The contrast couldn’t be more striking.

DYR 3B Zach Raymond securing his winter supply of maple syrup in Vt.

Playing in the thick woods in Potoma, you’re bound to see nature up close, and Sunday was no exception.  During our post game ‘film session’ in the parking lot, we heard leaves rustling and branch snapping up towards the leftfield line and went to investigate.  It appears Big Foot in now here in MA as I grabbed this photo…a bit grainy but I think it could be Sasquatch.

South upended Downtown, 10-4 behind the bats of OF Jay Skeldon (3-4, 2B, 3RBI) and 1B Kevin Abreu (4-4, 2B, 3Rs) while P Greg Copeland (7IP, 6Hs, 2ER) cruised through the Downtown lineup.  Big play by South RF Ryan Looney in the 5^th when he turned a double play with a diving catch and then unleashed an absolute laser throw home to nail speedy Todd Kagno at the plate.  South was without the services of P Bryan Sweeney who was on vacation in Italy trying to clear his head and decompress after his team’s loss to a winless Jasper squad while verbally sparring with Greg Williams last week.  The trip did not provide the kind of rehabilitation he was looking for as he was involved in a ‘nautical incident ‘on a gondola ride. Seems when Sweeney learned of the ‘free pizza’ offer from a riverfront restaurant they just passed, he tried to leap to the shoreline to take advantage of the offer. It did no go well for the other passengers on board.

Passengers hang on for their lives as the gondola they were in capsizes after fellow passenger, Sweeney tried to ‘disembark’ on his own causing a massive imbalance.

The Hood took care of Brentwood, 12-4 behind the bat of 3B Tony Porcello (3-4, 2B, 4RB I) and the emergency start by P Alan Keller (7IP, 6 H, 2ER) who stepped in for the injured Shawn Peters as Peters strained a hamstring doing his pregame workout video.   

This appears to be the move that injured Hood P Shawn Peters prior to Sunday night’s game.

Johnson North clipped Jasper Rock, 13-9 thanks to a hot start w a 6-run first.  Leadoff man 3B Eric Higgins (4-4, 3B, 3R) and C Andrew Langlois (3-4, 2R, 4RBI) paced the offense while OF’s Lindsay Chapman and Jarrad Jordan combined for 15 putouts.  Skipper and P Derek Darling made his return and pitched well enough to earn the win despite some poor defense on his part.  Darling then showcased his true speed post game when he and 2B Sam Zack sprinted to Lake Winthrop to take a couple’s sunset cruise in Darling’s boat.

Johnson North P Derek Darling with the only thing he caught all night.

GAME OF THE WEEK for WK #6 (5/27/24))

South (3-2) vs. Braggville (5-0) at Patoma 6pm

• Can South stay in the Top 4 playoff hunt? A win here would help.
• Who will take the ball for South?  Copeland or Sweeney?
• Can Braggville continue their stellar defensive play and take advantage of the short porch in RF?

*Prediction: Braggville 16 South 7

’24 Record (2-2)

Division A Standings through 19 May

Position	Team	Won	Lost	Tied	Pct	Runs For	Runs Against	Opp Wins
1	Braggville	5	0	0	1.000	65	25	10
2	Kampersal	5	0	0	1.000	92	31	10
3	Dalton Road	4	1	0	0.800	55	36	7
4	Johnson North	3	2	0	0.600	53	55	4
5	South	3	2	0	0.600	47	42	5
6	DYR	2	3	0	0.400	68	57	3
7	Jasper Rock	1	4	0	0.200	36	58	3
8	Downtown	1	4	0	0.200	52	69	0

Division B Standings through 19 May

Position	Team	Won	Lost	Tied	Pct	Runs For	Runs Against	Opp Wins
1	Anthony’s East	3	2	0	0.600	71	49	5
2	Kingz	3	2	0	0.600	54	63	5
3	Mudville	3	2	0	0.600	67	54	2
4	The Hood	2	3	0	0.400	45	66	0
5	Lions	0	5	0	0.000	42	67	0
6	Brentwood	0	5	0	0.000	24	99	0