The third week of the Fall brought about interesting results. There were many past greats who remade their mark on the field of play. The teams involved this final season are playing their best and hardest to gain that championship medal to finish off their year. These matchups are strong: Capable of showing which are the squads to keep an eye on and which others are doing their best to simply compete:
(0 – 4) Clippers at (2 – 0) Frozen Ropes
As was the case their first week back, the Clippers were so close to winning their first and second games this Fall season. In the opener, Steve Chodan put on a show as he hit 2 homeruns and struck out 14 batters in 6 innings. Vinny Burns came back to help his old teammate by hitting a monster blast in the opener as well the bottom half of the double header. In that second game, Steve Chodan returned on the rectangle for another 5 innings, fanning 11, and hitting another homerun to match Vinny Burns’ effort. They will try to turn their luck around Saturday morning in Murray Street Middle School against the Frozen Ropes. The Ropes were given a bye following their powerful performance two weeks ago that was punctuated by Kyle Lucas’s 3 homeruns: 2 in the bottom half that helped give the Ropes their wins. Tim Yurchak and Anthony Yurchak combined for a 1 hitter, striking out 14 together Game 1. Then, Anthony and Steve Yurchak combined for a 2 hitter, striking out another 14 in the second game for the win. These two know each other very well as they met in many big games throughout their recent history on the blacktop. There’s no telling how this double header will end up.
(2 – 4) Gashouse Gang at (0 – 4) Shadyville Sluggers
The boys from Mamaroneck were able to get their bats moving early last week and were so close to winning 2 games to pull even for the season. Sean O’Malley drove in 8 with his near cycle, then struck out 9 in 5 innings of work. Gabriel Viteri also went deep, driving in 4 with one swing in their Game 1 win, which Scott Alamazan ended up taking the victory by giving up only 4 in his 5 innings of work, then following with 2 shutout innings in the bottom half of the double header. In that game, Chris Schneer came a triple shy of a cycle. They stay in Pulaski Park off the Bruckner Saturday morning and meet with the Shadyville Sluggers. Marvin Rosario again showed up big for his squad last weekend as he yielded only 1 run and struck out 15 in 6 innings of work against the number 1 team thus far the season. However, Miguel Cabezas and his squad were not able to get a win in either game. They hope their first two-spot at home this season will grant them more fortune, but Gashouse knows their house very well. It will be quite a scene at the Bronx Saturday morning.
(2 – 0) Pelham Village Wine at (2 – 2) Whitestone Aces
Looking to get themselves primed for another championship run, the Wine put on a show in their opening week, starting with a shut out by Randy Belfiore where he gave up only 1 hit and struck out 19 while Joe Battaglia made up the difference with a 2 run shot. Then Greg MacKoul paid off his dividends with a homer and a victory in the second game to give them their 2 one-sided victories before a bye week. They will end their break at Electric Playground Saturday morning to face the Whitestone Aces. The Aces kept from giving up two games they were winning to get their first victories so far this season. John Quinn led the squad in the opener, giving up 4 runs in a complete game while striking out 15. Carmine DeStefano did his part with a homerun that drove in 2, which turned out to be the difference in the game. Then Bhishmi Robinson owned both sides of the field with 8 innings of work and 16 strike outs as well as 5 hits, including a homerun. Daragh Quinn also put himself on the board with a long ball to help his old squad mate’s efforts. These two sides have seen each other on the biggest stages so often in the past. Getting them both together in strength will turn this weekend’s match up into quite the contest.
(3 – 1) Shut’Em Down at (1 – 3) Tornadoes (Sun.)
The Shut’Em Down are flexing their throwing muscles thus far this season. After a stellar performance in the opener, Mike Walsh threw a shut out two weekends ago, needing only 9 strikeouts to complete the lofty task. They then came back late in the second game as Pedro Maldonado showed his prowess in his old ball field, going deep 3 times to help put his team in position for a win. They will get back on the field Sunday morning at JHS 074 off Oceania Street in Queens to face the Tornadoes. They got their first win this season when Sandy Tomasik showed up huge with a complete game, giving up only 2 runs and fanning 10 batters. Brother Steve Tomasik was just short of a cycle, missing it by a mere triple in that game to help catapult his team to victory. With their first win under their belt, the Tornadoes can now think of building up from here. However, the Shut’Em Down aren’t to be trifled with so early in the Fall.
(0 – 4) Clippers at (2 – 0) Frozen Ropes
As was the case their first week back, the Clippers were so close to winning their first and second games this Fall season. In the opener, Steve Chodan put on a show as he hit 2 homeruns and struck out 14 batters in 6 innings. Vinny Burns came back to help his old teammate by hitting a monster blast in the opener as well the bottom half of the double header. In that second game, Steve Chodan returned on the rectangle for another 5 innings, fanning 11, and hitting another homerun to match Vinny Burns’ effort. They will try to turn their luck around Saturday morning in Murray Street Middle School against the Frozen Ropes. The Ropes were given a bye following their powerful performance two weeks ago that was punctuated by Kyle Lucas’s 3 homeruns: 2 in the bottom half that helped give the Ropes their wins. Tim Yurchak and Anthony Yurchak combined for a 1 hitter, striking out 14 together Game 1. Then, Anthony and Steve Yurchak combined for a 2 hitter, striking out another 14 in the second game for the win. These two know each other very well as they met in many big games throughout their recent history on the blacktop. There’s no telling how this double header will end up.
(2 – 4) Gashouse Gang at (0 – 4) Shadyville Sluggers
The boys from Mamaroneck were able to get their bats moving early last week and were so close to winning 2 games to pull even for the season. Sean O’Malley drove in 8 with his near cycle, then struck out 9 in 5 innings of work. Gabriel Viteri also went deep, driving in 4 with one swing in their Game 1 win, which Scott Alamazan ended up taking the victory by giving up only 4 in his 5 innings of work, then following with 2 shutout innings in the bottom half of the double header. In that game, Chris Schneer came a triple shy of a cycle. They stay in Pulaski Park off the Bruckner Saturday morning and meet with the Shadyville Sluggers. Marvin Rosario again showed up big for his squad last weekend as he yielded only 1 run and struck out 15 in 6 innings of work against the number 1 team thus far the season. However, Miguel Cabezas and his squad were not able to get a win in either game. They hope their first two-spot at home this season will grant them more fortune, but Gashouse knows their house very well. It will be quite a scene at the Bronx Saturday morning.
(2 – 0) Pelham Village Wine at (2 – 2) Whitestone Aces
Looking to get themselves primed for another championship run, the Wine put on a show in their opening week, starting with a shut out by Randy Belfiore where he gave up only 1 hit and struck out 19 while Joe Battaglia made up the difference with a 2 run shot. Then Greg MacKoul paid off his dividends with a homer and a victory in the second game to give them their 2 one-sided victories before a bye week. They will end their break at Electric Playground Saturday morning to face the Whitestone Aces. The Aces kept from giving up two games they were winning to get their first victories so far this season. John Quinn led the squad in the opener, giving up 4 runs in a complete game while striking out 15. Carmine DeStefano did his part with a homerun that drove in 2, which turned out to be the difference in the game. Then Bhishmi Robinson owned both sides of the field with 8 innings of work and 16 strike outs as well as 5 hits, including a homerun. Daragh Quinn also put himself on the board with a long ball to help his old squad mate’s efforts. These two sides have seen each other on the biggest stages so often in the past. Getting them both together in strength will turn this weekend’s match up into quite the contest.
(3 – 1) Shut’Em Down at (1 – 3) Tornadoes (Sun.)
The Shut’Em Down are flexing their throwing muscles thus far this season. After a stellar performance in the opener, Mike Walsh threw a shut out two weekends ago, needing only 9 strikeouts to complete the lofty task. They then came back late in the second game as Pedro Maldonado showed his prowess in his old ball field, going deep 3 times to help put his team in position for a win. They will get back on the field Sunday morning at JHS 074 off Oceania Street in Queens to face the Tornadoes. They got their first win this season when Sandy Tomasik showed up huge with a complete game, giving up only 2 runs and fanning 10 batters. Brother Steve Tomasik was just short of a cycle, missing it by a mere triple in that game to help catapult his team to victory. With their first win under their belt, the Tornadoes can now think of building up from here. However, the Shut’Em Down aren’t to be trifled with so early in the Fall.
