Rookie Division
Metro Star Café “Bulldogs” 11, Consolidated Carpet 3.
This hotly contested Rookie league game kept the fans watching from the edges of their seats. The Metro Stars jumped out to an early lead behind the dynamic hitting duo of Chris “Big Dog” Piteo and Mike “Wheels” Guglielmi, who drove in table-setters Zach “The Smack” Pabon and Robbie “The R-Train” Hofmann.
The Stars then handed the ball to fireballer Piteo, and the Big Doggie mowed down opposing hitters, striking out seven hitters along the way. The stars got some flashy defensive plays along the way from Diamond Dave Fitzgerald and Robbie Hofmann.
The Stars handed the pitching to young closer Anthony “Mad Dog” DeMario in the fourth, and the Carpet crew bounced back and tied the game.
The game would stay locked up in a 3-3 tie heading to the bottom of the fifth, behind a solid fifth-inning pitching performance by young DeMario.
The Stars offense finally exploded in the fifth inning. The players loaded the bases and got five consecutive hits to plate eight runs and seal the victory.
Stephanie “Slick” Abruzzo got things started with a single, followed by a double by R-Train Hofmann and a triple by “Big Dog” Piteo. Finishing the outburst were singles by “Wheels” Guglielmi and Angelo Maniscalco.
Game balls went to DeMario and Hofmann. Expect more great things from the Young Metro Stars. That puts the café team at 3-0 in the young season.
Instructional Division
Moose Lodge Mets vs. Dodgers
The mighty Mets took to the field for their season-opener against the powerhouse Dodgers team. The Mets got some flashy defensive plays early from their young infield tandem of Jason “the Jet” Schneller and Matt “Moose” Hofmann, but the hits kept dropping from the hard-hitting Dodgers’ offense.
The Mets stayed in this game with a hard-hitting attack of their own. Doing the offensive damage for the Mets were young stars. Leadoff man Jason “The Jet” Schneller set the table, going 4-for-4, and also getting in the act was Casey Bonsignore, going 3-for-3.
Brandon Flores smacked out a great 4-for-4 performance, and Joseph Cutrone, Paul Hyland and Moose Hofmann chipped in with four hits on the day. The little guys braved the cold and produced a wild game full of exciting hard-hitting offense.
Great job to Bonsignore and Schneller on getting the opening day game balls.
Pirates vs. Giants
On a Saturday afternoon when it looked like no games could be played the Pirates were at it again. The game was led by the strong play of Andrew “The Dude” Santora and Frank “Buddy” Orlando, who, between them went 7-for-8 with four RBIs and made some very good fielding plays.
Also with a good day at the plate were Jordan Santiago, Matt and Collin Buete, Nick Ammirati, Chris Zervos, Tom Morreale and Scott Hryszko. Game balls went to Santora and Michael Cassillo (who got his first RBI). The game could not have been played without the great job done on the field. Thanks for all the hard work.
Minor Division
Pond & Pond 13, Castle Pharmacy 6. Castle Pharmacy jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Pond & Pond came roaring back in the bottom of the inning with five runs. The rally was highlighted by a bases-loaded triple by Nick Velarde.
Castle tied the game in the second when No. 13 hit a booming double. For the next couple of innings the game was a pitching duel between Marco Martino of Castle and Mike Ingersoll of Pond & Pond. The tie was finally broken in the bottom of the fourth when Pond & Pond scored two runs.
Ingersoll drove in Mitchel Hart, who had singled and stole third, with the go-ahead run. In the top of the fifth, Castle crept to within a run. Further damage was avoided when Velarde, Nick Picht and Hart made outstanding plays in the field. Pond & Pond blew the game open in the bottom of the fifth when the players scored six runs. The big hit in the inning belonged to Patrick O’Reilly.
Major Division
Glendale Kiwanis 9, Walsh Labella 2. On the mound for Glendale was Joey Thompson, who kept the Walsh Labella bats silent all night. Thompson had a two-hitter and pitched for six innings, with John Mansfield at shortstop making a great jumping catch and turning it into a double play. Robert Brosius also had a good play at second base and two RBIs. Catcher Mark Crimmins was behind the plate all night and did a good job.
The boys brought their bats with them for this game, with Mansfield going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, Jimmy O’Mally going 2-for-3 and Crimmins going 2-for-3. Vincent Manning had two hits and one RBI, Brian Fischer had one hit and one RBI, Jason Byczek had one hit and one RBI, and all the rest of the boys did their part.
The real topper of the night was a great catch by Rob Piacere, coming all the way from left field to make a running catch almost in center field to make the final out in the game. It was really something to see. I think that’s what playing the game is all about — playing to be the best you can be. Keep it up, boys, we are really proud of you
Juniper Elbow 6, Schwille 5. Juniper Elbow and Schwille played one of the most exciting games of the young season. The win by Juniper improves the team’s record to 3-0, but credit must be given to Schwille for battling back late in the game and almost winning.
This article was going to mention several standout plays by the team; however, it would be an injustice if a player was left out of what truly was a team effort. Therefore, please note the great game played by Schwille and the following players on Juniper Elbow: Alfred “Adam” Acosta, Andrew Blanke, Michael Bosco, Anthony Cacioppo, Adam Cifka, Patrick Coyne, TJ Fox, Chris Hain, John Rooney, Ben Schiavi, Justin Tableman, Mike Varela, Steve Valera and Andrew Zeni. Great game by everyone.
Girls’ Softball Senior Division
Glendale Diner Devils 12, AJ Roofing 11.
At RGMVM Seither Stadium the Glendale Diner Devils took to the field against the powerful Roofing girls. The Devils handed the ball to their young flamethrower Krystil “Smoothy” Hofmann, who came out blazing in the first two innings, keeping the hard-hitting Roofing girls off the board.
Gunning down runners from behind the plate was Terese Postel, who smoked opposing runs all afternoon.
The Devils got their high-powered offense going early in the first behind the hard hitting of Lauren Ferenc, Kristi Esposito and Brooke DeMarco.
The Devils were unable to hold the lead and fell behind in the fourth inning due to some timely Roofing hitting and some defensive meltdowns.
The Devils battled back in the last of the fourth, down three runs. The Diner Devils strung together some walks and hits from Brooke DeMarco, Daniele Amotto and Kristi Esposito.
The big play of the game came on a gutsy call from coach DeMarco. With two outs and the go-ahead run on third, young Sammy Stallone made a mad dash down the third base line for a straight steal of home.
In a swirl of dust and call of safe, the Diner Devils had taken the lead.
The Devils handed it over to their closer, Bonnie Defina, who slammed the door and held the victory for the Devils.
