With two weeks having gone by, the Spring season now appears to be completely in rhythm. There are teams showing their strength with a slew of games that display an incredible amount of talent on all sides. These double headers could make for an even more exciting third week:
(1 – 3) Shadyville Sluggers at (0 – 4) Queens Logic
The Sluggers were struck against the three-time defending champs last weekend and seek to get themselves turned back around this week. Ross Fomerand hit a two run shot for his group in the second game, accounting for all the offensive production. They will journey to Pulaski Park off the Bruckner in the Bronx Saturday to take on the Queens Logic. After another two losses, the Logic are gunning to make their own bit of noise in their first season. Lenny Ferrara and Dino Riscogno have had quite a task facing the first two groups they’ve faced getting adjusted. They will need some more veteran league leadership from Matt Banach to help get themselves going in the early portion of the season. Both sides need wins badly and are capable of taking advantage and grabbing at least one against the other. We’ll see how this double dip pans out Saturday morning.
(1 – 3) Stick’Em Up at (2 – 2) Showtime
For the third week in a row, the Stick’Em Up go on the road to a place they haven’t been in a long time. Last week, they lost two heartbreakers and are ready to change their fortunes for the better. They still received a homerun from Gustavo Martinez in the opener before he threw 8 brilliant innings in the second game. Randy Rhyne hit a homerun for his team to get them on the scoreboard and keep them going against an excellent squad through to the 8th. Mike Walsh tossed 5 quality innings in the opener while Gabriel Viteri joined Gustavo as he hit a homerun to give his group a chance. They will head into Electric Playground Saturday morning in Queens to meet the Showtime. Following two dominant wins, the Showtime now feel like the team they used to be when last they were together. Carmine DeStefano got things going for his squad last week in Game 1, hitting 2 homeruns and driving in 8 RBIs. His performance was trumped by teammate Mark Ferrari in Game 2 who bashed 2 grand slams in the fourth inning alone and drove in 8 for the game. Bhishmi Robinson threw all 7 innings without giving up a run, striking out 18 in the two games combined while yielding only 2 hits in both games total. Elijah Felix made his return with a blast as well in the first game. These two will rehash intense battles of years ago when they get back at it against one another in the chummy park off the LIE.
(4 – 0) Raging Bulls at (1 – 3) Pelham Village Wine (Sun.)
Running off to a hot start, the Bulls took two more this previous week of play in dramatic fashion. James Roucchio made a return for the ages as he hit 3 homeruns in the opener to help his team eek out a victory then another in the second game to put them ahead early. Jim Wendling won Game 1, going 7 innings and striking out 13 in his first action of the year. Joe Annoscia continued his torrid hitting pace as he took 2 shots deep, 1 in each game, to help gain both wins. His second game start, he was his usual dominant self as he struck out 17 in 8 innings of work, surrendering only 1 run. The Bulls now go a few blocks from their home field Sunday morning, to Albert Leonard Middle School in Westchester, to face the hard luck Wine. Following two tough losses, the Wine drew another strong squad that gave them a hard earned split. They won the opener relatively easily as Randy Belfiore did what he always did: Knocked the bats out of their hands. Pitching a no hitter and striking out 16 batters, Randy also went yard twice to get his group on the board. Their second game showed the depth of their pitching as Steve Chodan hurled 8 shut out innings and struck out 16 himself. These two squads are loaded with ability, experience, and tons of history. Whoever comes out on top can show their early season dominance that might continue on throughout the rest of the season.
(3 – 1) Tornadoes at (4 – 0) Frozen Ropes (Sun.)
Off to one of their better starts ever, the Tornadoes showed the wealth of pitching they have during their second game victory. John Quinn threw 10 shut out innings, striking out 19 batters, to help propel his team to their split last week, punctuated by a game winning homerun from Joe LaMicela. They seek to show the same sort of timely hitting and tremendous pitching when they head up to Murray Avenue Middle School Sunday morning to match with the Frozen Ropes. So far, the 3-time defending champs are showing no let up following their wire-to-wire year. Tim Yurchak tossed another no-hitter, highlighted by Steve Yurchak’s, Anthony Yurchak’s, and Rocco Justice’s homeruns: one from each hitter. Then, the second game was Steve’s show as he surrendered only 2 runs in 7 innings while going yard once more. Anthony struck 2 big flies that second game, getting him right back on the offensive track. It appears that these are two of the top teams in the league thus far, making this a high profile double header. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
(1 – 3) Shadyville Sluggers at (0 – 4) Queens Logic
The Sluggers were struck against the three-time defending champs last weekend and seek to get themselves turned back around this week. Ross Fomerand hit a two run shot for his group in the second game, accounting for all the offensive production. They will journey to Pulaski Park off the Bruckner in the Bronx Saturday to take on the Queens Logic. After another two losses, the Logic are gunning to make their own bit of noise in their first season. Lenny Ferrara and Dino Riscogno have had quite a task facing the first two groups they’ve faced getting adjusted. They will need some more veteran league leadership from Matt Banach to help get themselves going in the early portion of the season. Both sides need wins badly and are capable of taking advantage and grabbing at least one against the other. We’ll see how this double dip pans out Saturday morning.
(1 – 3) Stick’Em Up at (2 – 2) Showtime
For the third week in a row, the Stick’Em Up go on the road to a place they haven’t been in a long time. Last week, they lost two heartbreakers and are ready to change their fortunes for the better. They still received a homerun from Gustavo Martinez in the opener before he threw 8 brilliant innings in the second game. Randy Rhyne hit a homerun for his team to get them on the scoreboard and keep them going against an excellent squad through to the 8th. Mike Walsh tossed 5 quality innings in the opener while Gabriel Viteri joined Gustavo as he hit a homerun to give his group a chance. They will head into Electric Playground Saturday morning in Queens to meet the Showtime. Following two dominant wins, the Showtime now feel like the team they used to be when last they were together. Carmine DeStefano got things going for his squad last week in Game 1, hitting 2 homeruns and driving in 8 RBIs. His performance was trumped by teammate Mark Ferrari in Game 2 who bashed 2 grand slams in the fourth inning alone and drove in 8 for the game. Bhishmi Robinson threw all 7 innings without giving up a run, striking out 18 in the two games combined while yielding only 2 hits in both games total. Elijah Felix made his return with a blast as well in the first game. These two will rehash intense battles of years ago when they get back at it against one another in the chummy park off the LIE.
(4 – 0) Raging Bulls at (1 – 3) Pelham Village Wine (Sun.)
Running off to a hot start, the Bulls took two more this previous week of play in dramatic fashion. James Roucchio made a return for the ages as he hit 3 homeruns in the opener to help his team eek out a victory then another in the second game to put them ahead early. Jim Wendling won Game 1, going 7 innings and striking out 13 in his first action of the year. Joe Annoscia continued his torrid hitting pace as he took 2 shots deep, 1 in each game, to help gain both wins. His second game start, he was his usual dominant self as he struck out 17 in 8 innings of work, surrendering only 1 run. The Bulls now go a few blocks from their home field Sunday morning, to Albert Leonard Middle School in Westchester, to face the hard luck Wine. Following two tough losses, the Wine drew another strong squad that gave them a hard earned split. They won the opener relatively easily as Randy Belfiore did what he always did: Knocked the bats out of their hands. Pitching a no hitter and striking out 16 batters, Randy also went yard twice to get his group on the board. Their second game showed the depth of their pitching as Steve Chodan hurled 8 shut out innings and struck out 16 himself. These two squads are loaded with ability, experience, and tons of history. Whoever comes out on top can show their early season dominance that might continue on throughout the rest of the season.
(3 – 1) Tornadoes at (4 – 0) Frozen Ropes (Sun.)
Off to one of their better starts ever, the Tornadoes showed the wealth of pitching they have during their second game victory. John Quinn threw 10 shut out innings, striking out 19 batters, to help propel his team to their split last week, punctuated by a game winning homerun from Joe LaMicela. They seek to show the same sort of timely hitting and tremendous pitching when they head up to Murray Avenue Middle School Sunday morning to match with the Frozen Ropes. So far, the 3-time defending champs are showing no let up following their wire-to-wire year. Tim Yurchak tossed another no-hitter, highlighted by Steve Yurchak’s, Anthony Yurchak’s, and Rocco Justice’s homeruns: one from each hitter. Then, the second game was Steve’s show as he surrendered only 2 runs in 7 innings while going yard once more. Anthony struck 2 big flies that second game, getting him right back on the offensive track. It appears that these are two of the top teams in the league thus far, making this a high profile double header. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
