This is the end of the regular Fall 2012 season: Week 8 and eight teams playing for their position in the playoffs. Many old vets returned to help teams place themselves in better positions. Those who came back put an impression on the final standings:
(8 – 4) Frozen Ropes at (5 – 7) Stick’M Up
It was nice to see old friend Scott Gaska in the scorecard this past weekend, and even more impressive to note what he did. Throwing 5 innings and only giving up 2 runs took a back seat to his second game performance, where he hit 3 homeruns and drove in 7. He helped the Ropes split with their rivals, as well as Rocco Justice and Steve Yurchak, who both homered in that Game 2 win. They now drive down to Pulaski Park in the Bronx to face the Stick’M Up Saturday morning. There were two hard losses for the Stick’M Up last week that will be difficult for them to swallow. In the long run of returning players, the group from the Bronx added Greg Brancato to the list, who hit a 3 run homerun in Game 1 on top of Gustavo Martinez’s solo shot. Then, Gustavo went 8 2/3 innings, struck out 11, and gave up one fateful homerun in the 9th that ended the game on a sour note despite his effort. He and his team hope this week reaps better rewards for them, but the defending champs are a hard shell to crack.
(11 – 2) Raging Bulls at (6 – 5) Shadyville Sluggers
Finishing up their opening week rained out double header, the Bulls look to complete the sweep they started after winning the first game. This past weekend, they were able to take one of the two games they played as Jim Wendling went 7 innings, struck out 15, and hit a homer to give his team the edge necessary. They then followed that up with 2 more homeruns by Jim and one by Artie Von Wiegand. They will complete their Week 1 double header this last weekend in Electric Playground Saturday morning against the Sluggers.
(10 – 2) Pelham Blacktop Ballers at 4 – 8 Mamaroneck Gas House Gang
The Ballers look to be an unstoppable force as they took another 2 games their previous weekend. Pedro Maldonado was the offensive ace of the line up in Game 1 as he hit for the cycle, but with him, Joe Battaglia and Steve Choden hit homeruns as well. Game 2 was marked by Steve’s 9 shut out innings and 15 Ks before Joe hit the game winning blast to gain the victory. They will end their season in Murray Avenue Middle School Saturday morning against the Gas House Gang. Nick Tenaglia not only returned for the Gang this past weekend, but he returned with a fury as he struck out 19 batters and gave up only 1 run. Carmine DeStefano hit his first of two homeruns in the opener and Ross Fomerand hit a solo short that first game as well to give them the win. In the second game, Chris Schneer went a triple short of the cycle as he hit 2 homeruns and drove in 6. John Quinn struck out 12 in 5 innings as well as went deep, along with Sean O’Malley who went a homerun shy of the cycle. Depending on how this double header plays out, these two teams could be meeting again in a week during the playoffs. They both will have to be at their best if they want to show the other what might be waiting for them.
(1 – 11) Yonkers Pistols at 2 – 8 Tornadoes
Though the Pistols suffered two tough losses, their captain Mike Walsh showed what he was made of when he hit 2 homeruns, one in each game. Greg MacKoul was his usual top notch self as he threw 7 innings, gave up only 2 runs, and struck out 14. With that kind of hitting and pitching production, this group can make up for their struggling Fall with a deep run in the playoffs. They head down to Oceania Avenue to finish up against the Tornadoes.
(8 – 4) Frozen Ropes at (5 – 7) Stick’M Up
It was nice to see old friend Scott Gaska in the scorecard this past weekend, and even more impressive to note what he did. Throwing 5 innings and only giving up 2 runs took a back seat to his second game performance, where he hit 3 homeruns and drove in 7. He helped the Ropes split with their rivals, as well as Rocco Justice and Steve Yurchak, who both homered in that Game 2 win. They now drive down to Pulaski Park in the Bronx to face the Stick’M Up Saturday morning. There were two hard losses for the Stick’M Up last week that will be difficult for them to swallow. In the long run of returning players, the group from the Bronx added Greg Brancato to the list, who hit a 3 run homerun in Game 1 on top of Gustavo Martinez’s solo shot. Then, Gustavo went 8 2/3 innings, struck out 11, and gave up one fateful homerun in the 9th that ended the game on a sour note despite his effort. He and his team hope this week reaps better rewards for them, but the defending champs are a hard shell to crack.
(11 – 2) Raging Bulls at (6 – 5) Shadyville Sluggers
Finishing up their opening week rained out double header, the Bulls look to complete the sweep they started after winning the first game. This past weekend, they were able to take one of the two games they played as Jim Wendling went 7 innings, struck out 15, and hit a homer to give his team the edge necessary. They then followed that up with 2 more homeruns by Jim and one by Artie Von Wiegand. They will complete their Week 1 double header this last weekend in Electric Playground Saturday morning against the Sluggers.
(10 – 2) Pelham Blacktop Ballers at 4 – 8 Mamaroneck Gas House Gang
The Ballers look to be an unstoppable force as they took another 2 games their previous weekend. Pedro Maldonado was the offensive ace of the line up in Game 1 as he hit for the cycle, but with him, Joe Battaglia and Steve Choden hit homeruns as well. Game 2 was marked by Steve’s 9 shut out innings and 15 Ks before Joe hit the game winning blast to gain the victory. They will end their season in Murray Avenue Middle School Saturday morning against the Gas House Gang. Nick Tenaglia not only returned for the Gang this past weekend, but he returned with a fury as he struck out 19 batters and gave up only 1 run. Carmine DeStefano hit his first of two homeruns in the opener and Ross Fomerand hit a solo short that first game as well to give them the win. In the second game, Chris Schneer went a triple short of the cycle as he hit 2 homeruns and drove in 6. John Quinn struck out 12 in 5 innings as well as went deep, along with Sean O’Malley who went a homerun shy of the cycle. Depending on how this double header plays out, these two teams could be meeting again in a week during the playoffs. They both will have to be at their best if they want to show the other what might be waiting for them.
(1 – 11) Yonkers Pistols at 2 – 8 Tornadoes
Though the Pistols suffered two tough losses, their captain Mike Walsh showed what he was made of when he hit 2 homeruns, one in each game. Greg MacKoul was his usual top notch self as he threw 7 innings, gave up only 2 runs, and struck out 14. With that kind of hitting and pitching production, this group can make up for their struggling Fall with a deep run in the playoffs. They head down to Oceania Avenue to finish up against the Tornadoes.
