Fall Softball… The fun part of B North is that in many ways it is similar to a family. Some relatives are estranged, some are loved and some are hated, but we always find a way to get back to family reunions, with the same teams banging it out to see who deserves the greatest wear around the house t-shirts on the market today.
Game 1: Insurance Runs v Yankee Clippers
The first team making their trip back to SBA and off of the quarantine couch was Insurance Runs, a perennial regular season super team. After a slow start in which they acquired 3 runs over the first two innings via singles and errors, the IR boys exploded in the 3rd to the tune of 12 runs, highlighted by a homerun from Rick ‘ the stick’ Leonetti and a monster grand slam from Matt Hickey who clearly trained all summer for this moment. After that explosion, they would open up a can of runs again in the 5th inning as Seth Mattleman and former “A” league Shane Hanna hammered a triple and a double respectively helping plate 3.
The Yankee Clippers, known for their explosive offense, came out of the box swinging as they were able to plate 7 runs in the first with a ton of singles, a Nick Wasekanes two bagger and a Kai Browner ding dong. They would follow that up with 3 runs in the 2nd on singles and errors and a run in each of the 3rd, 4th and 5th innings, highlighted by singles and sac flies. Down late, they would attempt to rally but ran into a few unfortunate “K’s” which hindered the comeback bus from pulling into the station.
Final Score: Insurance Runs 18 - Yankee Clippers 13
Game 2: Yankee Clippers V Bulldogs
With the favorable schedule of an opening day double header, the Yankee Clippers were back at it in game two and got their bats going right away, as they hammer home 3 runs on walks and singles. Big daddy Nick Wasekanes once again crushed a double to plate a run for the Clips in the 3rd. They would also sneak across a run in the 4th and the 5th innings via singles. In the 6th, this time it was leadoff man extraordinaire Andre O’Donnell doing the damage as he smoked a two RBI double, helping the clips plate 3.
Making their migration from the West back to the North for the fall, the one time B North champion Bulldogs returned for the fall. After a bit of a slow start, the Bulldogs cranked home a whopping 7 runs in the 2nd inning by way of a ton of singles and a big Paul Burtis two run homer. They would follow that up with a run in the 3rd on singles and a fielder’s choice. After a quiet middle of the game for the boys in red, it was Paul Burtis putting a “hurtis” on the ball, hammering his 2nd homer of the day, helping plate two in the 6th.
Final Score: Bulldogs 11 - Yankee Clippers 9
Game 3: Misfits v Ballz Deep
After a tough championship series, the high powered offense of the Misfits began their revenge tour on B North. They came out of the box raking, plating 4 runs in the first, highlighted by doubles from Chris Quinn and Zach Downs. They followed that up with 3 runs in the 2nd as this time it was smokin’ Joe Torres who smashed a three run homer. Following one bombardment with another, the Misfits crank home another 6 runs in the 3rd as Mr. Torres lasered a double and Jimmy Kash molly whopped a homer. After their early outburst, the bats would quite some but not totally as they managed 5 runs over the last 4 innings on singles.
Ballz Deep, led by hobbled but enthusiastic manage Gene Walczak, came out of the box slower than normal as they only plate a run over the first two innings on singles. Down but never out, Ballz Deep boys would smack home a gaggle of runs in the 3rd as they plate seven via an array of singles and pitcher Jim Gorman helping himself with a double. They continued to hammer the yellow pill in the 4th, plating 6 more runs on walks, singles, and a Jacob McDevitt two bagger. Still battling, the boys from down under, score 4 in the 6th to knot the score at 18 by way of singles and more walks and plate the game winner in the bottom of the 7th as Geno smokes a single, gets a runner, and the runner would score 3 batters later as once again it is bad Mr. McDevitt cranking a game winning hit.
Final Score: Ballz Deep 19 - Misfits 18
Game 4: Dark Horse v One Hit Wonders
Not enough good things can be said about team Dark Horse as they return to action following a two game sweep of the Misfits. The Horses dominated the summer season and powered through the playoff to claim their rightful place as B North royalty. Following a fantastic effort last weekend, the whole team got involved early as they would bat around in the 1st, plating 7 runs on singles a Billy “the kid” Jones double. After a quiet 2nd and 3rd inning, the Horses got back on the board in the 4th as Paul Ferruzzi Jr. lasered a double and scored. They would go on to score 3 more in the 5th inning as this time it was papa bear Paul Ferruzzi Sr smoking a double and Noble Unger destroying a triple doing the damage. They would also push across an all important run in the 6th inning on singles to cap their scoring for the day.
One Hit Wonders fresh off their Covid break, needed to give the car a little push to get it started. After a slow first two innings, they would erupt in the 3rd for 5 runs, highlighted by back to back doubles from Nick Cordisco and Jared Owens. They followed that up with another bat around in the 4th inning as they cranked out 6 singles and an Andy Springer double, plating 6 more. As we all know the softball gods can be cruel sometimes and this proved to be the case for the Wonder Boys as they are shut down the rest of the way.
Final Score: Dark Horse 12 - One Hit Wonders 11