Friday, June 1st, 2012 - Week 8
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Player of the Week Feature

Okay softball fans, we know everyone is anxious to see who will be this week's Over the Hill Gang Player of the Week! The wait is over... it is Bar-Boy's Frank Badalamenti. Frank had an absolutely terrific game at the plate Friday night. He went 4 for 5 with 2 homeruns. Frank drove in 7 runs and scored five times as Bar-Boy beat Autocraft, 20-13.

We are "Half" Way There... The Interim Report

More game highlights will follow, but first congratulations go out to BK Sweeneys. Friday marked the midway point in the Over the Hill Gang Season and BK is the only undefeated team in the league. BK holds a commanding 3 game lead over Singletons in the American League and is rolling past everyone who comes their way. After BK, “parity” is the word of the day for the rest of the league. Lockie & Nowachek Family Chiropractors has a slim 1 game lead in the National League with three teams right behind at 4-4. The remaining two teams are only a game back so every NL game will be critical in the 2nd half. In the AL, there's also a log jam of teams within a game of each other, all will be jockeying for tournament seeding position and trying to slow the BK Sweeney momentum.

7:00pm - Barco Construction versus LaCorte Family Auto - 60ft field

Barco Construction ended a 3 game losing streak to get back to .500 beating LaCorte Family Auto 20-13. Barco had lost their last 2 games by 1 run each and needed a win. Barco came out hitting, putting up 5 runs in the top of the first and the team kept pounding the ball all night. Barco was ahead 20-4 in the 7th but Lacorte answered with 5 of their own in the bottom to make it 20-9. After a scoreless top, Lacorte made it interesting with 4 in the bottom of the inning. Dave Saur's running catch in right center to end the game squashed what would have been a bigger inning preserving the 20-13 win.

The swirling winds made it difficult for the outfielders, especially on the right side and helped Barco extend some innings. Pitcher Gary Jambor showed his toughness after a bullet line drive ricocheted off his knee to first baseman Terry McPartland who proceeded to throw the ball into left center. We all assumed he was throwing the ball to Tim Dorman to come in for relief. But Gary shook it off and was heard to say, "just part of the game." Besides fielding his position with a bunch of putouts he also went 3 for 5 at the bat. Other offensive highlights were Terry McPartland (3 for 4, 1 RBI), Tim Dorman (3 for 4, 4 RBIs), Kevin Moloney (3 for 4, 5 RBIs) and Dave Saur (3 for 4, 3 RBIs). Steve Jacobson played another steady game at shortstop, at one point recording 6 straight putouts.

8:20pm - Changing Times versus Paradox Café - 60ft field

On a blustery night, Changing Times Pub and Paradox Café met on the small field . The wind played havoc as both teams popped the ball up and nobody knew where it would land. CT took an 8 run lead as the rain started falling through the early innings and staked a 12-2 lead by the fourth inning. Paradox had been running ice cold all year as Wally “The Sage” Seyfert came up and spread his words of advice: wait on the pitcher and let’s get this thing going. His was the first of 4 consecutive walks in a row that started a 7 run inning to get Paradox back in the game. Key singles by Don Carlin and James Mignone helped break the ice. The score was now 12-9. James “The Scoop” Mignone plugged the hole at second base for Paradox turning the first of two key double plays (and just missing a third on the night!). This kept CT at bay with just three runs and a 15-9 lead. At the end of the fifth, Walter Hasemann singled and Bob Kirk drove him in with a double to right center. This set up Lenny Balestrieri for a 2 run shot to deep left field to keep Paradox close at 15-12 after the 5th. Paradox broke it open in the bottom of the 6th inning. Lyle Nigro got on base with his second walk of the night (no match for Wally’s four though), as Hasemann singled and two more walks scored one and loaded the bases. Mitch Maghakian then hit a triple down the right field line for three runs. Mickey Newbeck stroked a double for a run and Al Celeste knocked him in with a single. By the time the inning ended, Paradox had jumped to a 23-15 lead. CT got one last at bat with 2 minutes left in the game. They chipped away for 4 runs but Don Carlin stayed fast on the mound and Paradox held on for a 23-19 victory.

8:20pm - Bar-Boy versus Autocraft - 90ft field

In game action, Player of the Week Badalamenti was not the only Bar-Boy hitter with a hot bat. Pitcher John Czarnecki went 3 for 4, 2nd baseman Ken Kohlman was 4 for 5. The Raspanti brothers Lino and Sebby combined for 5 hits and 4 RBIs.

9:40pm - Lockie & Nowachek versus Moby Drugs - 90ft field

Lockie and Nowachek Family Chiropractors beat Moby Drugs 28 – 6. Butch Flecker had 6 hits and played outstanding defense. Rookie Rich Apollo had 5 hits, including a tremendous homerun over the 90’ field's left field fence. Chris Theoharides had 5 hits and some outstanding plays in the outfield. Pete Cestare, James Doyle, Mike Quigley, and Ben Greco each had 4 hits. Ben pitched his second outstanding complete game, keeping the powerful Moby lineup off stride. This was a total team effort.