Following a short week, the teams in it this Summer season are now geared up ready to press forward. There have been some excellent returns so far this season. With most of the groups getting back into the swing, these matchups grow with intensity:
(2 – 4) Mamaroneck Gas House Gang at (2 – 0) Pelham Village Wine
Following Week 1, the Gang looked to be ready to take on the world but facing two of the top teams has left them reeling a bit. They still received excellent contributions this past weekend from their new faces as Sam Wallach went the distance against a top tier squad in their second game, striking out 10 in the process, and Chris Schneer hit a homerun in both games. Now they go up to Albert Leonard Middle School Saturday morning to face the defending champion Wine. The Wine started hot then had two weeks off. They hope the stay away doesn’t build up rust on the likes of Joe Battaglia and Randy Belfiore, who each homered twice in their opening win. Steve Chodan pitched 5 innings in his first game during the Summer, struck out 11, and got the win as well. There’s a great deal of connection between these two sides, which turns a simple double header match into something a bit more. It all plays out to be a highly intense two games.
(0 – 2) Gotham Ballers at (0 – 4) Heavy Hammers (Sun.)
In their debut, the Gotham Ballers showed their ability to stay in against powerful competition, giving them confidence to move into their next meeting. Steve Marquez had 2 hits in his second game and threw 3 1/3 innings for his squad. They now move into Electric Playground Sunday morning to meet the Heavy Hammers. Evan Rivels’ crew has hit some bad luck the first two weeks of the season and enjoyed their deserved 4th of July weekend break. Evan threw 6 innings against a powerful offense two weeks before and now hope his mates are up to the challenge as they attempt to reclaim their home field against the newest gang in the bunch.
(3 – 1) Tornadoes at (3 – 1) Frozen Ropes (Sun.)
The Tornadoes took a split that showed they still have some fight to go with their excellent ability. Hsi-yun Hsiung (Shoe) made a comeback, displaying the old grit he always brought to the table. He threw 10 innings in both games, 8 in the opener alone, struck out 18 batters, and went a triple short of the cycle in the first game. Steve Dachtera hit 2 homeruns to help his team gain a victory in the bottom half as well. They have a strong group and now test that strength Sunday morning at Albert Leonard Middle School when they face the Frozen Ropes. The Ropes went into their opponent’s field two weeks before and flexed their muscles on both sides. Rocco Justice hit a homerun in each game with Tim Yurchak striking out 17 in 6 2/3 innings the opener their previous sweep. In Game 2, Steve Yurchak hit 2 homeruns and fanned 16 in 6 innings of one hit, shut out ball. Kyle Lucas also went yard in that second game, boosting their record to near the number one spot, equal to their opponents. That makes this combination highly engrossing Sunday morning.
(5 – 1) Raging Bulls at (2 – 2) Pulaskis (Sun.)
As is expected, the Bulls showed their strength with some amazing hitting performances this previous weekend and now look to add to their already impressive numbers. Jim Wendling hit 5 homeruns in the double header (2 in Game 1 and 3 in Game 2) while striking out 5 in two innings of work. Joe Annoscia answered with 4 homeruns, 2 in both games, and 4 shut out innings where he K’ed 10. Dave Luongo and Artie Von Wiegand hit a homerun each in their opener as they tore the cover off the ball and showed strength on the rectangle as well. They now go to Oceania Avenue Sunday morning to flex their guns again against the Pulaskis. Offense was not the issue for the Pulaskis their opening week and it came back with a greater vengeance as their bats granted them 2 dominant wins their third and fourth games the weekend before last. Greg MacKoul was his usual dynamic self as he gave up only 1 run and struck out 11 in 5 innings while hitting 2 homeruns and driving in 6. In the second game, he hit another homerun, as did teammates Jon Hopkins and John Quinn. Hopkins also drove in 6 during the first game and John Quinn hit for the cycle while striking out 18 in his complete game victory. With all the history these two sides have, the outcome of this double header can be surprising, making this the marquee match up of the weekend.
(2 – 4) Mamaroneck Gas House Gang at (2 – 0) Pelham Village Wine
Following Week 1, the Gang looked to be ready to take on the world but facing two of the top teams has left them reeling a bit. They still received excellent contributions this past weekend from their new faces as Sam Wallach went the distance against a top tier squad in their second game, striking out 10 in the process, and Chris Schneer hit a homerun in both games. Now they go up to Albert Leonard Middle School Saturday morning to face the defending champion Wine. The Wine started hot then had two weeks off. They hope the stay away doesn’t build up rust on the likes of Joe Battaglia and Randy Belfiore, who each homered twice in their opening win. Steve Chodan pitched 5 innings in his first game during the Summer, struck out 11, and got the win as well. There’s a great deal of connection between these two sides, which turns a simple double header match into something a bit more. It all plays out to be a highly intense two games.
(0 – 2) Gotham Ballers at (0 – 4) Heavy Hammers (Sun.)
In their debut, the Gotham Ballers showed their ability to stay in against powerful competition, giving them confidence to move into their next meeting. Steve Marquez had 2 hits in his second game and threw 3 1/3 innings for his squad. They now move into Electric Playground Sunday morning to meet the Heavy Hammers. Evan Rivels’ crew has hit some bad luck the first two weeks of the season and enjoyed their deserved 4th of July weekend break. Evan threw 6 innings against a powerful offense two weeks before and now hope his mates are up to the challenge as they attempt to reclaim their home field against the newest gang in the bunch.
(3 – 1) Tornadoes at (3 – 1) Frozen Ropes (Sun.)
The Tornadoes took a split that showed they still have some fight to go with their excellent ability. Hsi-yun Hsiung (Shoe) made a comeback, displaying the old grit he always brought to the table. He threw 10 innings in both games, 8 in the opener alone, struck out 18 batters, and went a triple short of the cycle in the first game. Steve Dachtera hit 2 homeruns to help his team gain a victory in the bottom half as well. They have a strong group and now test that strength Sunday morning at Albert Leonard Middle School when they face the Frozen Ropes. The Ropes went into their opponent’s field two weeks before and flexed their muscles on both sides. Rocco Justice hit a homerun in each game with Tim Yurchak striking out 17 in 6 2/3 innings the opener their previous sweep. In Game 2, Steve Yurchak hit 2 homeruns and fanned 16 in 6 innings of one hit, shut out ball. Kyle Lucas also went yard in that second game, boosting their record to near the number one spot, equal to their opponents. That makes this combination highly engrossing Sunday morning.
(5 – 1) Raging Bulls at (2 – 2) Pulaskis (Sun.)
As is expected, the Bulls showed their strength with some amazing hitting performances this previous weekend and now look to add to their already impressive numbers. Jim Wendling hit 5 homeruns in the double header (2 in Game 1 and 3 in Game 2) while striking out 5 in two innings of work. Joe Annoscia answered with 4 homeruns, 2 in both games, and 4 shut out innings where he K’ed 10. Dave Luongo and Artie Von Wiegand hit a homerun each in their opener as they tore the cover off the ball and showed strength on the rectangle as well. They now go to Oceania Avenue Sunday morning to flex their guns again against the Pulaskis. Offense was not the issue for the Pulaskis their opening week and it came back with a greater vengeance as their bats granted them 2 dominant wins their third and fourth games the weekend before last. Greg MacKoul was his usual dynamic self as he gave up only 1 run and struck out 11 in 5 innings while hitting 2 homeruns and driving in 6. In the second game, he hit another homerun, as did teammates Jon Hopkins and John Quinn. Hopkins also drove in 6 during the first game and John Quinn hit for the cycle while striking out 18 in his complete game victory. With all the history these two sides have, the outcome of this double header can be surprising, making this the marquee match up of the weekend.