TPG Scores 6 in the 7th to beat FXF 11-9

TPG took the field against FXF looking for some paypack after getting bounced from the playoffs as the #2 seed in 2008. FXF has always been one of the top teams in our league, and this game would be no exception. Due to some stellar defense by FXF, and very un-clutch hitting by TPG, the score was 6-0 FXF after 3 innings of play. It was getting late, the sky was getting dark, and depression was setting in for team TPG....

A moment of light occurred in the top of the 4th as FXF walked the bases loaded with 2 outs, and 2B Josh Ginsburg (2-3, SAC, 3 RBI) came through with a 2-run single to get TPG on the board, and cut the lead to 4.

Ahh, but darkness again as FXF answered with 3 more runs in the bottom of the 4th, and took a commanding 9-2 lead into the 5th inning. It was bleak, it was muggy, and some player from another team left their pants on our bench in a liquor bag (no liquor though).

Something happened in the 5th inning. Perhaps the barometer fell. Maybe we just got lucky. FXF walked the first 4 TPG hitters, and with 2 more runs scoring on a SAC fly to the FXF 1st baseman, TPG scored 3 without getting a single hit (or even hitting the ball out of the infield). The score was 9-5, and the TPG defense dug in not allowing any runs in an inning for the first time all game.

It all came down to this. Impending darkness, top of the 7th, FXF leading 9-5, and the top of the order for TPG coming to the plate. One of the greatest rallies in team history followed with a string of 8 consecutive singles by Omar Cevallos, Tony Franzese, Adam Woods, Justin Aharoni, Ron Alalouf, Dave Beauchamp, Mike Stevick, and Alison Hopke before an out was made giving TPG a 1 run lead. This inning would send all 11 hitters to the plate and after a SAC fly by Josh Ginsburg the lead was 2 going to the bottom of the 7th. TPG's defense held true including great catches by C Princess Salvacion and RCF Omar Bustamante in near darkness, as we closed out the game with an 11-9 victory.

Game balls go to everyone on the entire team for getting to the plate in the deciding 7th inning.

TPG beats MGA 10-2 in Frigid Conditions

After two straight weeks of rainouts, team TPG was just happy to be playing softball. We did not even seem to mind the fact that it was 48 degrees during the morning commute, and in the 50's during the game. With multiple last minute withdrawls, a second basemen trying to get there in time from Jury Duty, and a first baseman still recovering from a weekend bachelor party in Las Vegas, it was a minor miracle TPG was able to field a team in time for the 7:00pm first pitch.

But field a team we did, as we started off in the top of the first with new leadoff hitter LF David "Speedy" Beauchamp (3-4, 3B, 3R) and LCF Josh Ginsburg (2-3, SF, RBI) getting back to back singles. An RBI single by SS Tony Franzese (2-4, RBI, R) got us on the board, but it was P Ron Alalouf (3-3, HR, 2 3B, 2R) who blasted a 3R home run to deep right field that opened the game up as we headed to the field for the bottom of the 1st with 4 runs on the board.

Our defense was solid all game as we limited MGA to only one run in the first and a second run in bottom of the 5th. A defensive highlight by team TPG was when there was one out in the bottom of the 6th, and MGA had a runner on first and second. The batter ripped a line drive to center field when LCF Josh Ginsburg made a running catch, realized there were only two outs and that everyone on both teams thought the inning was over (including the runner on second who was now rounding 3rd), and kept on running all the way to second base where he stepped on the bag for the 3rd and final out.

The TPG scoring machine continued throughout the game including a 2R home run by 3B Justin Aharoni (1-3, HR, 2R) in the 3rd, and an RBI triple by newcomer RCF Omar Bustamante (1-2, 3B, BB, R).

Game Ball goes to Pitcher Ron Alalouf who did not give up a walk for the second straight game, and went 3-3 with a Home Run and 2 Triples.

HMA ROLLS TO 3-0 WITH BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS

After a somewhat rocky start to the season against RRA/DBB, HMA/RAMSA has once again taken its familiar spot atop the SLAM League standings. There had been many whispers through the trees of Central Park that HMA/RAMSA would suffer a mental hangover from the bitter disappointment of last season’s SLAM finals. If that’s the case, it sure hasn’t shown on the field…yet. And some members of the team will say there’s a new edge to the Orange Crush this season--a chip on their collective shoulders for coming up short each of the last 2 post seasons.

GAME ONE RECAP (April 15th): The final score of the first game of the season (14-7) doesn’t do justice to how close and competitive the first game actually was. Down 1-0 after the top of the first inning, HMA/RAMSA started the 2010 campaign with a bang as they put up 4 runs in the bottom of the first inning for a 4-1 lead. Included in the hit parade was former ROY Mike Sargent’s homerun to deep left center, marking the second time in two seasons that Mike homered in his first AB of the year. After a scoreless second, RRA/DBB continued to pound the aging two-time pitcher of the year, with 4 runs in the third inning, followed by one run each in the fourth and fifth to take a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the 5th inning…when the HMA/RAMSA bats woke up from their slumber.

After the leadoff men got on base in the 5th inning, Doug Neri came through with a 2-RBI single up the middle to put the Orange ahead 8-7 (a lead that would not be relinquished). Two batters latter, aging pitcher David Solomon who couldn’t get it going with his arm on this day, decided to find redemption in the form of his bat with a 2-run HR down the leftfield line. Scouts clocked his time around the bases somewhere around 45.5 seconds, a new personal record.

HMA/RAMSA tacked on 4 more runs in the 6th inning to secure the 14-7 victory. Game balls were handed out to Doug Neri (3-3 with 3 runs and 3 RBI, one awful defensive play)

GAME TWO RECAP (April 19th): With a new starting pitcher and revamped batting order, HMA/RAMSA shook off the Game One rust and returned to 2009 form as they dominated MGA with an 11-0 victory on the Great Lawn.

Doug Neri made his SLAM League debut on the mound as David Solomon could only watch from the sidelines in this one. Neri did nothing to disappoint as he threw 4 innings of shutout softball, walking only one and relying on his stellar defense behind him. Offensively, HMA/RAMSA controlled the game as they have so many times in the past few seasons with runs early and often. With 3 consecutive doubles from the middle of the lineup, HMA put up 5 runs in the first inning yet again; and followed that up with another 4 runs in the second inning to stake a 9-0 lead. From there, the defense and pitching took care of the game as Neri continued to baffle the MGA bats.

Game balls were handed out to CF Brian Barney drove in 5 runs on the afternoon with his 2 hits and RF Pete Garofalo scored 3 runs on his 2-2 afternoon.

GAME THREE RECAP (May 6th): After a very heated best-of-three playoff series in 2009 which saw all three games decided by one run, HMA/RAMSA and FxFowle renewed their rivalry on Thursday afternoon. Unlike so many of their recent regular season matchups however, this one was pretty much over early as FxFowle was clearly without several starters from a year ago, including pitcher Manny Morales who arrived late to the field and missed the first inning (and by that time the damage had been done).

After scoring 22 first-inning runs a year ago, and 9 already in their first two games this season, HMA/RAMSA sent 13 batters to the plate in the first inning, setting a team record for runs and AB’s in an inning. It was not a pretty inning all around with 4 walks, 2 reached on errors and a few hits sprinkled in. When the dust had settled HMA/RAMSA plated 8 runs. An inning later, with 2 runs already scored in the inning, Mike Sargent stepped to the plate and hit a booming 2-run HR to left center for a 12-0 lead. It was Mike’s second homer of the young season.

In the field, things were just as sharp as HMA/RAMSA kept FxFowle off the scoreboard thanks to some flawless defense and timely pitching. It marked the first time in the team’s history that back-to-back shutouts had been thrown (no less by different pitchers) as HMA moved to 3-0 atop the SLAM league standings.

Next up on the schedule: The Big Red Machine of Gensler (also 3-0) in a battle of unbeatens on Monday, May 17th. The World will be watching.

TPG Wins Game 1 vs PP 10-2

Team Photo (front row left to right: Derrick Blocker, Ron Alalouf, Omar Cevallos, Princess Salvacion; back row left to right: Alison Laudat, Ngai Luong, Tony Franzese, Mike Stevick, Alison Hopke, Justin Aharoni, Katie Burns, David Beauchamp, Steve Yavrouian, Omar Bustamante, Joe Omole, Josh Ginsburg, Adam Woods, Fredmy Mejias)

It was the first game of the season for team TPG, and we wanted to make a strong impression. This started with almost the entire team showing up and enthusiastically cheering us on (so we took this opportunity for a team photo). But the real first impression was made by our 3B Omar Cevallos (2-2, BB, HR, 3R) who took advantage of the quirky field conditions at North Meadow #2 and led off the game for us with a Home Run over the short proch in left field.

After Omar's HR, we never looked back as the next batter was newcomer SS Tony Franzese (3-3, HR, 3B, 1B, 3R) and he followed up with a rocket triple scoring on an ill-advised overthrow to 3rd. 2 Runs were in, the bases were empty, and there were no outs. But Polshek held tight, gave up only one more run in the first and got out of the first inning down 3-1.

Steller defense by team TPG hed PP to only one more run the rest of the game. TPG Pitcher Ron Alalouf (2K's, 0BB) threw nothing but strikes and surprised everyone with his cat-like reflexes on the mound including the front end of a 1-6-3 inning ending double play.

Game Ball goes to Tony Franzese, because anytime a player gets a HR and a Triple in his first two at bats with a new team, he's gonna get the game ball. Honorable mention goes to Maddeline who convinced her husband Tony to play for us this year.

PCF/HH Keeps Up The Momentum

PCF/HH and RRA/DBB went head to head on another perfect Spring evening at the North Meadow. Juggling a wierd start time and a new field location both teams looked a little jittery during warm ups. Once underway Carl Pearson (RC) got to work quickly, belting a line drive single, but the opposing pitcher made easy work of silencing the next three batters. On defense, PCF/HH looked very composed. Some sloppy base running and quick thinking by Mark Maljanian (SS) gave PCF/HH a crucial inning ending double play to keep RRA/DBB scoreless. PCF/HH bats came alive in the second inning, as Juan Monahan (P) smashed a double followed up by a blooper single by Carlos Sagastume (LF). They say that good things come to those who wait. Patience at the plate earned Dwidson Metayer (LC) a cricital base on balls, who immediately scored off a 2-RBI earning base hit by Scott Long (RF). A dead pull line drive by Cate Foster(2B) caught her old teammates by suprise but with two outs PCF/HH could not convert it into another run. The momentum continued in the 3rd and 4th innings, highlighted by a solo homerun by Mark Maljanian, triple by Juan Monahan and numerous base hits. It appeared as though PCF/HH was going to hand RRA/DBB a shut out and call it a night, but oh no.....that would be too easy!

RRA/DBB slapped a couple of lucky blooper singles to load the bases in the 6th. Some brief miscommunication on the infield sent in a run but, a flawless 5-3 play by Ron Rainone (3B) and Rodney Santiago (1B) held RRA/DBB's damage to only 3 runs. Final score 7-3.

Game ball goes to Mark Maljanian for hitting a solo home run and turning two unassisted double plays.

PCF/HH Hands GSA a Loss in Season Opener

Conditions on the field could not have been more perfect for the SLAM 2010 season opener last night between PCF/HH and GSA. Both teams looked pretty strong during warm-ups so it was anyone's guess on how this first game would unfold. PCF got to work early, scoring two runs off a monster triple by star pitcher Juan Monahan, and a blooper single to center by Carlos Sagastume (LF) brought Juan in for a quick 3-0 lead at the end of the first. But GSA remained composed, and kept PCF/HH bats silent for the next two innings. On defense, Ron Rainone (3B), Mark Maljanian (SS), and newcomer Rodney Santiago (1B) denied GSA a few potential infield hits but in the third inning their luck suddenly turned. Capitalizing off a walk and a fielding error GSA pounded out 3 quick runs to tie the game. Nervous that momentum of the game had shifted, Carlos wasted no time calming our bench down by smacking a lead-off solo homerun. With the entire batting order behind him, PCF/HH scored a whopping 14 runs in the 4th inning including a double by Dwidson Metayer (C), RBI earning single by newcomer Scott Long (RF) and base hits by female players Cate Foster (RC) and Cheryl Shea (2B). Growing weary, GSA allowed Carl Pearson (LC) to smack a 3-RBI home run on his second at bat of the inning. It appeared that GSA had had enough for one day, ending the evening with a final score of 17-3 PCF/HH.

Game ball goes to Juan Monahan for pitching a great game having not touched a softball since last season, and for producing clutch extra base hits.

Is There Anybody Out There?

The 2010 season is about to begin. Or so we think. Actually, we are not really sure. New commissioner SSC appears to be AWOL, as we eagerly await the manager's meeting and release of the official schedule. Does anyone know what's going on? Is anyone listening?