PCF/HH Guts Out 6-5 Win Over PEA

On a dreary Thursday that saw just enough constant rain to cause problems in the field, Pei Cobb Freed/Hart Howerton and Perkins Eastman Architects traded big innings in a batter's duel en route to a come-from-behind victory in a battle of the two remaining undefeated S.L.A.M. teams.

It's not enough for a pair of teams to boast an "undefeated" 1-0 record in an amateur softball league, so I'm going to build on that by saying only in the S.L.A.M. league can the same teams play error-free softball in sloppy field conditions, particularly since this official scorer hasn't awarded any team an error in more than three years of managing.

But I digress. Cy Young certainly turned over in his grave last night, as he couldn't bare to watch the slugfest between the Black and Red of PCF/HH and the grey of Perkins Eastman. Still, PCF/HH pitcher Juan Monahan made up for his 17 hits allowed (a number of which weren't on his shoulders) by driving in three crucial runs for his home team. Monahan drove in two in the bottom of the first after three consecutive singles by Mark Maljanian, Yusuke Okabayashi, and J. Strong. Carlos Sagastume added a sacrifice fly to left field to help PCF/HH to a 3-0 lead after one.

Perkins Eastman followed up with some key two-out hits of their own, including a big two-run triple by left fielder Eric Brodfuehrer and an RBI single from pitcher Steve O'Reilly to knot the game at 3. PCF/HH narrowly escaped more damage by eliciting a fly ball out with the bases loaded to end the top of the second. After blanking the Black and Red in the bottom of the second, PEA pulled together some more clutch two-out softball, including four consecutive singles and Melissa Schroeder's 2 RBI to take a 5-3 lead.

Neither team scored in the fourth as the sprinkling of rain filled out to a constant drizzle. But in the bottom of the fifth, with time starting to become a factor and the top of their lineup coming to bat, the Black and Red took advantage of what may have been their final opportunity. Alternating singles and fielder's choices, PCF/HH found themselves down 5-4 with two outs. With Okabayashi on first as a courtesy runner for Strong, the tandem of Monahan and Sagastume teamed up again. Monahan boomed an RBI triple to right-centerfield to score Okabayashi and tie the game at 5, before Sagastume hatcheted a single over the heads of the infield to score Monahan and give PCF/HH their second lead of the game, which they would not relinquish.

Defensively, in spite of the sludge, both shortstops made particularly interesting plays to keep their teams in the game. PEA shortstop Mike Bruno pulled off a legitimate SportsCenter Web Gem of a diving catch to rob PCF/HH leadoff hitter Mike Copeland at the top of the first. Bruno received compliments from both teams on the play. Déjà vu struck in the bottom of the second, as Bruno again made a lunging stop to rob Teresa Parziale of a single up the middle.

Not to be outdone, Maljanian anchored two double plays. The first came on a line-drive out in the third inning that he threw to first to double off the base runner. His next one came in the top of the fourth, also on a line-drive catch, followed by a diving tag to catch the runner at second.

The PCF/HH Game Ball goes to two players. Juan Monahan for his clutch hits and 3 RBI to lead the team offensively and to Mark Maljanian (who'd tell you he had a crappy game if you asked) for his 2-for-3 and 2 runs scored at the plate, as well as his two double plays to lead the team defensively.

The PEA Game Ball, in my mind, has to go to Mike Bruno, who added a perfect 3-for-3 batting average to complement his two outstanding plays in the field. If Christine doesn't agree with my call for her Game Ball, she can duke it out with me and the peanut gallery in the comments section.

May is in the books....

After stumbling out of the gates in April and early May, the season seems to be hitting stride as we head into the heart of the schedule in June. The first month of the season is in the books and we've already seen some unbelievable games. It appears as though, at a minimum, the top 6-8 teams are as evenly matched as ever.....which should make it interesting come playoff time with the new 6-team format. Here are a few early-season facts:

• of the 17 games played so far, 8 have been decided by 2-runs or less...while 5 have been decided by 10-runs or more...
• PCF/HH is the league's only remaining unbeaten team at 2-0...
• 7 teams are right behind with only 1 loss...
• 9 of the 12 teams have a record of .500 or better...although only 5 teams actually have winning records...
• HM/RAMSA is leading the league offensively, scoring an average of 11 runs per game so far...
• FXF is leading defensively, giving up an average of just 2.3 runs per game...

Let's hope the exciting games continue. Good luck to everyone the rest of the way!

HMA/RAMSA GRINDS OUT A 4-2 VICTORY OVER FXFOWLE

If you love watching architectural league softball with electric offense and spectacular defense then this was definitely not the game for you. After two blowout victories to start the season, HMA/RAMSA was once again locked in a pitching duel--only this time they weren't on the short end of the stick.

FXFowle got on the board first in the top of the second inning as Mike Cosentino led off the inning with a double and came around to score on an opposite field single by pitcher Manny Morales for an early 1-0 lead. Equally potent with his arm, Manny also shut down the Orange Crush for the first 4-2/3 innings of no hit ball. After retiring the first two batters of the bottom of the 5th inning, Megan Fullagar hit a well-placed ball into the hole between 3rd and short for a (generous) base hit. Josh Barkan followed with a single to put runners on 1st and 2nd as DH Mike Periolat stepped up with the biggest at bat of the young season. Mike lined a double into the gap in left center to score two runs--the second of which by fleet-o-foot Josh Barkan who tripped halfway between 3rd and home and fell flat on his face. Were it not for the errant throw home, Josh probably was dead at home; but as it stands his aggressive base running gave HMA/RAMSA a lead they would never relinquish. (How we don’t have video of this moment is the biggest disappoint of the entire game. It would have been a classic blooper for generations.) HMA/RAMSA tacked on another run that inning with another opposite field single to right field by RF Cale Sadowski for a 3-1 lead.

After giving up a run in the second inning, pitcher David Solomon retired the next 11 batters and didn’t allow a base runner until the top of the sixth inning. FXFowle threatened in the 6th with a leadoff error, followed by a couple of singles in the inning, which brought 3B Nate Rupcich to the plate with the bases loaded. Nate smoked a line drive to a well-positioned Mike Ryan at shortstop for the last out of the inning to end the would-be rally

HMA/RAMSA added another insurance run in the bottom of the 6th inning thanks in part to terrific hustle by Pete Garofalo who went from 1st to 3rd on a groundball out to the shortstop. Replay footage shows that Pete may have been tagged out but since SLAM has yet to officially institute replay in 2009, the ruling on the field stood. Mike Ryan brought the runner home from 3rd with a single up the middle for a 4-1 heading to the 7th.

Things got very interesting in the last inning as FXFowle once again threatened with a leadoff single, followed by two miscommunications on routine infield bloops that led to a bases loaded jam. Manny Morales then singled to center to score 1 run, leaving the bases loaded with 1 out in a 4-2 game. With a little gas left in the ol' tank, Solomon struck out the next batter and got the final out of the game on a comeback ground ball to secure the 3rd victory of the season.

After scoring 38 runs in their first 2 games, HMA/RAMSA has now only scored 6 runs combined in their next two. One has to wonder where has the offense gone? Or have they just been up against great pitching? Either way, the bats must come alive if this team is to contend for the 2009 title.

GAME BALLS: Mike and Mike

• Mike Ryan—for his solid defense at SS filling in for injured Doug Houstoun (hopefully expected back for the next game on June 8th) and, for his big RBI in the 7th for an insurance run.



• Mike Periolat—clutch double in the 5th to drive home 2 runs.
  

KPF Defeats Holzman Moss / Robert A.M. Stern 3-2

Central Park, New York – May 18th, 2009

With last year’s playoff victory against HM/RAMSA still fresh in everyone’s mind (and the basis for an offseason playoff rule change), the KPF team knew that the HM/RAMSA team would be seeking revenge.
Unable to field a complete team due to deadlines and 2 injuries the previous week, KPF was missing one player in the field and an important bat in the lineup (our usual cleanup hitter). The HM/RAMSA team had outscored their previous 2 opponents by a combined score of 38-6 and were ready to bolster their offensive stat total. Luckily, a strong KPF defensive team was ready to play even if we had one less fielder than was allowed.

In a cold 55 degree May evening and in anticipation for our showdown, we had our 2008 team MVP Tiffany Broyles starting next to our third baseman Keisuke Hiei (3 time team MVP and 2 time league defensive player of the year).

What followed was, according to the HM/RAMSA captain and pitcher David Solomon, ”… one of the most dominant pitching performances I’ve ever seen.” Of course, I’m sure David was speaking of corporate coed softball in the SLAM league but nonetheless, Tiffany had allowed 5 total base runners with 4 singles and a walk. There was not one defensive error to let someone on 1B either. Not to take anything away from the opposing team, (they were hitting the ball) but the KPF squad had their gloves oiled and positions well patrolled.

Trailing 0-1, KPF scored it’s first run in the 5th inning to tie it at 1-1. Nick Wallin lead the rally by hitting a line drive single. Following Nick was Allison Young who hit another single to advance Nick to second base. Next up, Brian Ballok followed with an RBI single and drove Nick home. This small-ball approach worked out just right for the game since the opposing pitcher was mixing it up and keeping us on our toes.

In addition to his usual smooth fielding and clutch hitting, Keisuke ran the bases with natural baseball instinct. In the top of the 7th (last) inning and KPF leading 2-1, Keisuke stretched what seemed like a single into a double by sliding headfirst under the tag. Next was a sharp single by David Niles (who KPF welcomes back as former captain after 9 years away) that scored Keisuke as an important insurance run. HM/RAMSA scored in the bottom of the 7th to make it a 1 run game, however Tiffany Broyles pitched out of the jam to secure another KPF win.

The intensity of the game was apparent early on when the opposing HM/RAMSA left fielder Eric Hofman was airborne horizontally and made what was the best diving catch I have ever seen in 11 years of this league. This catch robbed us of at least 1 run and ended our rally in the 4th inning.

In softball, it is rare to have a pitchers duel, and this was a game well played by both teams.

Other Notable stats:
Keisuke Hiei – 2-2, 2BB (1 intentional), 1 run scored
Nick Wallin - 3-3, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Tiffany Broyles – 7 innings pitched, 4 hits allowed, 1BB, 2 runs allowed

Nail-Biter

On a night that saw six (6) playoff teams from a year ago face-off at the Great Lawn, GA and SSC staged yet another epic battle in what has become the norm in this hotly-contested, evenly-matched rivalry.

In keeping with the 1st-inning woes that have plagued GA in each of their first two games, SSC struck early and often….tallying three runs on several solid hits up the middle. GA struck back in the bottom of the inning when Commissioner “Can I call you Bobby” Fuller drove in Co-Commissioner Roger “New Daddy” Lee….unfortunately Fuller, who obviously thought he was 10 years younger and faster, tried to stretch his RBI-triple into a 2RBI-homerun only to be tagged out at home plate by fellow old-timer Scott “I can’t believe you’re sliding head-first in the third game of the season” Habjan.

The GA defense tightened after the 1st inning, allowing just one more run (on a MONSTER homerun by Scott “He does that to us every year” Rosenbloom) the rest of the way. Aided by the motivation of potential BLOG ridicule for his belly-flop slide into home, Fuller rallied (more liked begged) the GA team to come back. GA slowly chipped away at the lead…3-1 after one…..3-2 after two….4-2 after four….4-3 after five…..until the bottom of the 6th, when the bottom of the GA order pushed across two runs, finally taking a 5-4 lead on Kris “DH” Gregerson’s two-out single. The GA defense held in the top of the 7th as they escaped with their second straight 1-run victory.

HMA/RAMSA MOVES TO 2-0 WITH CONVINCING VICTORY

Fresh off the heels of a 21-2 victory in their season opener, HMA/RAMSA came out with revenge on their minds against RRA/DBB—the team that ended our perfect season a year ago. Grey rain clouds were threatening this game all day long, but HMA/RAMSA provided some thunder with their bats as the game ended in a 17-4 romp.


As was the case in their first game, HMA/RAMSA jumped out to an early lead with 3 runs in the top of the first inning and another 4 in the top of the third inning to take a 7-0 lead. RRA/DBB responded in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of runs of their own to make it 7-2. The inning could have been more prolific were it not for the deadly right arm of SCF Pete “The Cannon” Garofalo who threw out the first of two would-be runners at 3B in the bottom of the third (see below video).

The lead was extended to 8-2 in the 4th and HMA/RAMSA was finally able to break the game wide open in the 6th inning as the first four batters of the inning got on base and eventually scored. With the bases loaded and no outs, newcomer Mike Sargent stepped to the plate for a memorable first AB in the SLAM League. The Sarge hit a screaming bomb into the left-centerfield gap for a legit grand slam. Welcome to the team, Mike!

HMA/RAMSA tacked on another 4 runs in the top of the 7th while RRA/DBB added a pair of runs of their own in the 6th and 7th innings to bring the final score to 17 – 4. Though early in the season, HMA/RAMSA has now outscored its first two opponents 38-6. Perhaps lost in the shuffle of defensive gems and grand slams was pitcher David Solomon’s career high 8 K’s.

GAME BALLS go to:

• Mike Sargent—any time a guy begins his career with a legit grand slam, he gets a game ball in my book; 2 for 2 on the day with 4 RBI's.


• Pete “The Cannon” Garofalo—2 hits, 2 runs scored and 2 runners gunned down from the OF trying to get to 3B.

Next up for HMA/RAMSA, another revenge match: Kohn Pedersen Fox—the team that knocked HMA/RAMSA out of the 2008 playoffs and ended their hopes and dreams.

Better get your popcorn ready!

HOG-WILD

When, at last, the rains had ceased and the skies had cleared - softball returned to the great park. And for the better part of the game, it seemed that a 3-run first for Skidmore/Swanke/Cooper might just be enough against a Polshek team with many base-runners, but nothing to show for it.

Then in the bottom of the fifth ,trailing 5-0 with time running out, the Polshek dirty tricks crew unleashed, into the SSC dugout, a coughing pig in a sombrero - unnerving the hometown favorites and allowing Polshek to sneak back into the game with a 3-run inning of their own. With some quick thinking and a couple of phone calls, SSC determined that the pig in question was in fact not some flu-ridden swine from Mexico, but instead - Boris, the lovable asthmatic porker from the Piscataway Petting Zoo in New Jersey. Pignapped the night before by some heartless pranksters and deprived of his fast-acting inhaler, Boris thankfully recovered in time to lead the cheers as SSC regrouped to escape with a 6-4 victory over a shameless Polshek team that will seemingly stop at nothing for a win.

PCF/HH Downs KPF For First Win

Mark Maljanian was 3-for-3 with 1 RBI, a walk, and 3 runs scored and Mike Copeland hit a bases-clearing double as part of a 5-run third inning, as PCF/HH opened their season with a 9-5 victory over KPF on Great Lawn, Field 4, last night. The win was PCF/HH's first game of the season, after torrential rain postponed their first two matches of the 2009 S.L.A.M. season.

Despite winning the coin toss to be the home team, luck was initially on KPF's side, as they opened a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. The Black and Red of PCF/HH responded in the bottom of the inning, including a pair of patient walks and some timely hitting, to tie the game at 3-apiece.

After a scoreless second, PCF/HH batters used the bottom of the third to distance themselves from the competition, loading the bases once and scoring 5 runs to open up an 8-3 lead. KPF tried to immediately mount a comeback in the top of the fourth, leading off with consecutive base hits from the top of their order. But No. 1 hitter Keisuke Hiei was caught trying to stretch from first to third on captain Li-Min Ching's single by PCF/HH centerfielder Eron Ashley, who loaded his howitzer of a right arm and threw Hiei out at third.

PCF/HH would tack on another run in the sixth before KPF added 2 runs of their own with two out in the top of the seventh. Both teams were able to field their complete turnout, including PCF/HH substitutes and pinch-hitters Dwidson Metayer, Tony (A-Rod) Rodriguez, and Rich Haskell, as well as PCF rookie Michael Stewart.

The loss was adding insult to injury for KPF, as they lost shortstop Dan Treinen to a torn calf muscle and second baseman Adam Zimmerman, who had a fingernail torn off during a fielding play. In spite of all this, there was a silver lining for Hiei, who went 3-for-3 with 2 runs scored, as well as left centerfielder Michael Bentley who contributed 2 hits, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored for KPF.

Now, one month into the season, PCF/HH sits at 1-0 while KPF carries a record of 1-2.

The PCF/HH Game Ball goes to shortstop Mark Maljanian, who had a huge impact in his first game back after a season-long injury sidelined him for all of 2008.

nytimes article on publishing sball league

interesting article... click on title to view.

Rainy Days & Blogging

The rain has fallen hard this week as all 10 teams who thought they had a game spent a late afternoon working instead of playing softball. You have to feel especially bad for PCF/HH and PEA who have each had 2 rainouts and 0 games four weeks into the season. I guess the commissioner's failure to post the remaining season schedule as promised by 4/20 was foresight not laziness - now the remaining schedule can take into account rainouts so we can even up the number of games each team has played. Of course this assumes the schedule is posted promptly now that the worst of the weather is over (if not we are looking at laziness again as the motif).

So far a few teams have posted some great writeups on the Blog, and let's hope it continues. As a general guideline, the winning team should be responsible for doing the writeup, but the losing team should feel free to post their side of the story (either as a new post or a comment on an existing post). If you are too busy for an elaborate writeup, then a simple sentence inlcuding the final score and players of the game would be awesome. One other note on the writeup, please use "labels" when posting - in particular the abbreviations for both teams involved. This gives readers the ability to search for posts relating to a specific team (example - try clicking on the label TPG in the right hand nav).

HMA/RAMSA ROUTS MGA 21-2 IN SEASON OPENER

They heard the whispers all off-season: Could HMA/RAMSA could rebound from the heartbreak of last season’s crushing playoff loss to KPF?

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Those whispers were quickly silenced as HMA/RAMSA took care of business in Game #1 with a 21-2 rout of Mitchell Guirgola Architects. While nothing could replace the sting of falling short last season, this was clearly a statement game by HMA/RAMSA that they remain a contender in 2009

Shortstop Mike Ryan rips his third hit of the game in the 6th inning

It was a bumpy spring training for HMA/RAMSA too with 2 rained-out practices followed by the news that starting All-Star shortstop, Doug Houstoun would be sidelined for the first 4 weeks of the season with a broken bone in his right hand. Nevertheless, the fireworks began early and often in the top of the first inning as the first five batters reached base and eventually scored en route to a 6-run inning which saw all 11 batters come to the plate. In the bottom half of the inning, the team flashed some equally impressive leather as they ended the inning on a nifty double play turned by back-up SS, Mike Ryan and 2B Cara Graf.

The hit parade continued in the 2nd inning as first 3 batters reached base and 4 more runners crossed the plate highlighted by David "Wheels" Solomon's 3-run "homerun" (admittedly it was generous scoring). For Solomon, it was rumored to be his first HR since 1986 and reportedly the farthest he had run in two years. Taking a 10-0 lead into the bottom of the 2nd, Solomon appeared to be somewhat winded as the leadoff hitter hit over the head of RF, Eddie Kung for an apparent homerun. Always looking to help out his team in any way possible, LF Eric Hofmann noticed that the runner failed to touch 3B as he rounded the bases--the appeal was made to the umpire and the shutout remained intact.

The Orange Crush tacked on 2 more runs in the 3rd inning and another 3 in the 4th as the lead was extended to 15-0 in a sloppy four innings. Though technically the game could have been called by the 11-run rule, both teams agreed to continue playing another two innings as it was the first game of the young season. MGA finally broke through for 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning as the shutout was lost. For HMA/RAMSA the 21 runs scored were a team record as 8 of the 11 batters scored at least twice.
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Game Balls were handed out to Mike Ryan (3 hits, 3 runs and 2 RBI), Eric Hofmann (4 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and David Solomon (6 IP, 3 hits and 5 RBI).