We get into the fourth week of the Fall season and already there have been some surprises. Teams are beginning to rise up to one another, making the league all the more competitive and evenly based. These next match-ups may crop even bigger upsets:
(1 – 3) Mamaroneck Gas House Gang at (4 – 1) Raging Bulls
The Gang from Mamaroneck put up quite a showing this past weekend as they split with a rather unthinkable opening win. On the arm of Scott Almazan, who went 7 innings and gave up only 4 hits and 1 run while striking out 15, the Gas House Gang gained a victory that was also aided by Ross Fomerand’s 2 big flies and homeruns from Chris Schneer and Carmine DeStefano. Scott Almazan helped his cause with a homerun in the opener then Chris and Ross went deep in the bottom half as they just missed an even more amazing come from behind win. They stay in Murray Avenue Middle School this Saturday morning to face off against the mighty Raging Bulls. After a one sided victory that was highlighted by Artie Von Wiegand’s 2 homeruns and 7 runs batted in, Jim Wendling’s homer and 3 innings of no run, 9 strikeout ball, and Anthony Pogioreale’s homerun, the Bulls ended up splitting their most recent double header. Though losing the second game, they still managed 8 runs in total as Artie and Anthony went long once more. Their hitting is stellar and their pitching top notch, but they’re facing a group that has already put up a rather glaring upset. These two games can do a lot to prove how serious both teams are at contending this season.
(4 – 2) Stick’Em Up at (2 – 3) Shadyville Sluggers
The Stick’Em Up have shown a tendency to win large games against tall order opponents before; last week was no different. Andres Andrade led his troops to a second game win as he launched 3 homeruns and drove in 8 by himself. Along with him, teammates Gabriel Viteri and Gustavo Martinez hit a homerun each to catapult the group to a very strong victory. They now head to Queens and Oceania Avenue to face the Sluggers. Their slow beginning was revitalized as the Sluggers went on to sweep their double header this previous week. In the opener, Marvin Rosario struck out 14 batters in a complete game effort before Robert DeBella went deep twice to set up Miguel Cabezas’ complete game in the second side of the double dip. Adding to the offense, David Marinez sent his first homer of the Fall season over the wall to give his team the final edge. One side is looking to advance while the other is trying to break even. Whoever takes these games can make themselves troubling for the top tier teams.
(2 – 2) Pelham Blacktop Ballers at (1 – 3) Bronx Pistols
Their start wasn’t as successful as they hoped but the Ballers picked up two dynamic wins the following weekend. Joe Battaglia hit 2 homeruns and drove in 5 the first game then followed that up with a homer in the second. Steve Choden was only a double short of going for the cycle in the opener then sent 2 long balls over the fence in the bottom half. AJ Romano returned with a homer in Game 1 while Gus Mistopoulos struck out 11 in 5 innings of shut out ball that half of the double header. With their confidence renewed, they head down to the Bronx at Pulaski Park Saturday morning to face the Pistols. Despite two strong efforts from Randy Rhyne and Mike Walsh, the Pistols were unable to build off on their first win as a team this past weekend. Mike was a single short of the cycle in the second game after Jon Hopkins went yard in the first. Still, they were in a position to add to their win column and look to do so this weekend. The Ballers have their offense rolling, but those Pistols contain arms that can shut anyone down.
(2 – 4) Tornadoes at (3 – 1) Frozen Ropes (Sun.)
The Tornadoes had a rough ride their last weekend, but look to get up off the mat and go back at their next opponent. Joe LaMicela was still able to get a double and a single in the two games they lost, giving the crew the consistency they need to post better numbers up like usual this coming weekend. They travel northbound to Murray Avenue Middle School Sunday morning to face the two time defending champion Frozen Ropes. Despite their first loss of the season, the champs still showed their prowess as Steve Yurchak went a triple shy of the cycle in both the opener and the second game win. Tim Yurchak went deep in the second game and Rocco Justice threw 7 innings, struck out 16, and drove in 3 on one swing with a triple. There is much already in terms of playoff positioning in relation with these two teams now that the Fall begins to play itself out. A lot will be decided the beginning of the coming week and month of October.
(1 – 3) Mamaroneck Gas House Gang at (4 – 1) Raging Bulls
The Gang from Mamaroneck put up quite a showing this past weekend as they split with a rather unthinkable opening win. On the arm of Scott Almazan, who went 7 innings and gave up only 4 hits and 1 run while striking out 15, the Gas House Gang gained a victory that was also aided by Ross Fomerand’s 2 big flies and homeruns from Chris Schneer and Carmine DeStefano. Scott Almazan helped his cause with a homerun in the opener then Chris and Ross went deep in the bottom half as they just missed an even more amazing come from behind win. They stay in Murray Avenue Middle School this Saturday morning to face off against the mighty Raging Bulls. After a one sided victory that was highlighted by Artie Von Wiegand’s 2 homeruns and 7 runs batted in, Jim Wendling’s homer and 3 innings of no run, 9 strikeout ball, and Anthony Pogioreale’s homerun, the Bulls ended up splitting their most recent double header. Though losing the second game, they still managed 8 runs in total as Artie and Anthony went long once more. Their hitting is stellar and their pitching top notch, but they’re facing a group that has already put up a rather glaring upset. These two games can do a lot to prove how serious both teams are at contending this season.
(4 – 2) Stick’Em Up at (2 – 3) Shadyville Sluggers
The Stick’Em Up have shown a tendency to win large games against tall order opponents before; last week was no different. Andres Andrade led his troops to a second game win as he launched 3 homeruns and drove in 8 by himself. Along with him, teammates Gabriel Viteri and Gustavo Martinez hit a homerun each to catapult the group to a very strong victory. They now head to Queens and Oceania Avenue to face the Sluggers. Their slow beginning was revitalized as the Sluggers went on to sweep their double header this previous week. In the opener, Marvin Rosario struck out 14 batters in a complete game effort before Robert DeBella went deep twice to set up Miguel Cabezas’ complete game in the second side of the double dip. Adding to the offense, David Marinez sent his first homer of the Fall season over the wall to give his team the final edge. One side is looking to advance while the other is trying to break even. Whoever takes these games can make themselves troubling for the top tier teams.
(2 – 2) Pelham Blacktop Ballers at (1 – 3) Bronx Pistols
Their start wasn’t as successful as they hoped but the Ballers picked up two dynamic wins the following weekend. Joe Battaglia hit 2 homeruns and drove in 5 the first game then followed that up with a homer in the second. Steve Choden was only a double short of going for the cycle in the opener then sent 2 long balls over the fence in the bottom half. AJ Romano returned with a homer in Game 1 while Gus Mistopoulos struck out 11 in 5 innings of shut out ball that half of the double header. With their confidence renewed, they head down to the Bronx at Pulaski Park Saturday morning to face the Pistols. Despite two strong efforts from Randy Rhyne and Mike Walsh, the Pistols were unable to build off on their first win as a team this past weekend. Mike was a single short of the cycle in the second game after Jon Hopkins went yard in the first. Still, they were in a position to add to their win column and look to do so this weekend. The Ballers have their offense rolling, but those Pistols contain arms that can shut anyone down.
(2 – 4) Tornadoes at (3 – 1) Frozen Ropes (Sun.)
The Tornadoes had a rough ride their last weekend, but look to get up off the mat and go back at their next opponent. Joe LaMicela was still able to get a double and a single in the two games they lost, giving the crew the consistency they need to post better numbers up like usual this coming weekend. They travel northbound to Murray Avenue Middle School Sunday morning to face the two time defending champion Frozen Ropes. Despite their first loss of the season, the champs still showed their prowess as Steve Yurchak went a triple shy of the cycle in both the opener and the second game win. Tim Yurchak went deep in the second game and Rocco Justice threw 7 innings, struck out 16, and drove in 3 on one swing with a triple. There is much already in terms of playoff positioning in relation with these two teams now that the Fall begins to play itself out. A lot will be decided the beginning of the coming week and month of October.
