Week 5 Highlights

PMS Field #2    Attman's Deli vs Pro Med
Game 1
Attman's game one starter Bruce Eisenberg was given an early lead and Attman's coasted to an 11-3 win. Scott Moffet's first inning triple was the key hit in Attman's building an early 5-0 lead. Later a double by Don Weinapple and a single by Lee Eidelberg plated three more runs, leading to the 11-3 win.

Game 2
In game two, Pro Med broke out to an early lead with three in the first and two in the second, but were held scoreless after their initial 5 runs. Attman's erased the 5-0 deficit with 4 in the fourth and two in the fifth, going on to a 10-5 victory. On the day, Bruce Eisenberg and Don Weinapple both had two doubles and two singles.

PMS Field #3    Havana Club Cannons vs Schaefer & Strohminger
Game 1
The Havana Club Cannons opened their springtime play with a doubleheader split. Despite getting at least one hit in each inning, the RBI never showed up, and the Cannons lost game one 3-0. Schaefer and Strominger took advantage of first game Cannon rust and a very strong pitching performance by Mark Yokel. Yokel’s great pitching was backed by strong defense and a strong wind blowing in from left field as he recorded his first Pikesville League shutout. Yokel out dueled Tom Paulshock for S&S’s third straight win of the season. S&S scored a run in the second inning when 2B John Blum stretched a hit to leftfield into a double and scored on 1B Bran McCabe’s RBI single to right-center. In the t-7th S&S added two insurance runs when Blum reached second on a error by the Cannon’s 3B. After a McCabe groundout, LF Chris Daniels hit a triple to right-center to score Blum. SS Chris Lukanvich then singled up the middle to give S&S a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. The Cannons brought the tying run to the plate in the b-7th thanks to an error by Lukanvich, but they failed to score and Yokel increased his record to 3-0.

Game 2
The second game though, the Havana Club won 14-13 in eight innings. Tom Paulshock took both decisions as he also pitched two complete games. Game two is where the fielding rust started to show itself as both teams tried very hard to give the game away. Long time Pikesville veteran Mitch Caplan ended his three year retirement by starting game two for S&S. He had his velocity, but he was a little wild at times and it cost in a decisive fourth inning. Cannons scored early against Caplan taking a 3-0 lead in the first. After that Caplan settled down to give up just one run in the next two innings. S&S evened the score at three in the bottom of the second. LCF Jimmy Caldwell led off the inning with a triple to left into a very strong wind. McCabe hit a sacrifice fly to left-center to score Caldwell. Daniels walked. Lukanvich then hit a single to right-center and when the throw to third got past the Cannon’s third baseman Daniels scored to make the score 3-2, Lukanvich to second. Newcomer Justin Burk then singled to center to score Lukanvich to even the score 3-3. Cannons scored a run in the t-3rd to take a 4-3 lead, then it got ugly. Caplan, having trouble finding the plate and having to serve up too many easy pitches to eager Cannon hitters. By the time manager Larry Henderson had removed him (likely 3 hitters too late) the damage was done. And Cannons had taken a 12-3 lead.

In the bottom of the 4th, Henderson led of with a walk and scored on a Bobby Morrow triple again into the wind in left. McCabe later scored on a Lukanvich single up the middle to make the score 12-6. In the b- 5th S&S continued to chip away at Paulshock and the Cannons. With two outs Yokel now pitching for Caplan singled. SS Mark Rosenstein then singled to put runners at first and second. Henderson, wearing the collar for the doubleheader at this point then ripped a triple over the right fielder's head to score two runs. When the throw got past catcher Kenny Paul, Henderson then raced home to make the score 12-9. The Cannons scored a run in the t-6th to make it 13-9. S&S now sensing a tiring Tom Paulshock made it 13-10 in the b-6th when Evan Kreitzer dropped a fly ball in right to put McCabe at 2nd. Daniels promptly singled him home to make it 13-10. S&S had battled back to defeat Rue Rue Raider’s after falling behind 7-3 in week one and winded up winning, so the bats were not going to go quietly in the night. Then in the b- 7th S&S went to work again. After a lead off walk, 2B Blum reached on a throwing error to put runners at first and second with no outs. Yokel grounded out second to first. M. Rosenstein then hit a rocket to right center that was a sure home run, but the ground rules stated that if the ball rolls under the fence it is ground rule double or the discretion of the umpire, a triple. The umpire awarded Rosenstein a triple so S&S still trailed 13-12 with one out. Aging C Henderson then hit a SF to right to tie the game at 13.

However, luck ran out on S&S in the t-8th when newcomer 3B made a crucial error to open the door for Cannons to score a run and take a 14-13 lead. In the eighth inning, Jeff Kurland singled in Johnny Edelman with the eventual winning run. Despite getting the tying run on to start the b-8th, S&S was unable to push across the tying run and the game ended 14-13.

In game 2, Cannons Mike Ginsberg homered, Dan Kassel tripled, while Johnny Edelman scored four times in the winning effort. Hitting stars for S&S were Lukanvich 5-6, Chris Daniels 2-5 2 RBIs, Marc Rosenstein 2-4 3B.


PMS Field #4    Rue Rue's Raiders vs Palmgard
Rue Rue's Raiders split with Palmgard losing the opener 20-14 and winning the nightcap 11-8
Game 1

Zachary Scherr was the victim of 9 unearned runs in game one. Mark Mcguire Benjamin had two home runs and six RBI's for the Raiders in game one.  In today's first game Joey Jones made his pitching debut in relief of Zach Scherr. Grailen Archie returned to the Raiders for the first time since recovering from surgery for an Achilles tendon injury.Key hitters for Palmgard Jeff Webster (5-5, 2B, 3B, 5RBI), Mike Woods (3-4, 2-2B, 3R), Eric Humes (3-4, 3R, 2RBI),Gary Weinapple (3-3, 3R, 4RBI).

Game 2
Richard Berger was the winning pitcher in game two. Mark Benjamin homered again in game two. In the 6th inning of game two both Toupe Lala and his brother Don went deep. In the first four games of the season Mark Benjamin has been a pleasant addition to the Raiders with four homers, a triple, and two doubles. Key hitters for Palmgard Jim Davis (3-3, 2HR, 2R, 2RBI), Greg Manara (2-3, 1R), Eric Humes (3-3, 32B, 2R, 2RBI).

PSH Field #5    Legal Papers Inc. vs Sky & Sky Inc.
Game 1
After a long period of unfriendly weather, both teams appeared anxious to pick up from where they left at the beginning of this month. The day proved to be a tale of two comebacks. Legal Papers jumped out to an early lead as the tone was set for the two exceedingly close contests. In the t-1st Johnny Feldman jumped all over a Marc Leibovitz fastball to left field. Andy Bloom of Sky & Sky came up firing on the hit to apparently nail him at second, but when the dust cleared the ball was jarred from the second baseman's glove. Two more batters doubled in the inning, giving LP a 2-0 lead. Sky & Sky managed to cut the lead in half in b-1st as Andy Bloom's hit scored David Kowitz. That was the beginning of a seesaw battle. Marc Summerfield of Legal Papers doubled to lead off the second and Howard Rosenberg singled him home. Marc Leibovitz, making his debut for Sky & Sky, managed to induce a pop-up to end a bases-loaded threat. Aggressive base running by Sky & Sky's Joel Wax led to a second "answer" run as Eric Gertner's hard hit grounder led to a score. b-2nd-->3-2 in favor of Legal Papers. Jumping ahead to t-4th--three singles, started by Dave Kopel, led to another run for Legal Papers, with the bottom of the order doing the grunt work. Trailing by 2 entering the b-6th, Sky & Sky busted out the bats to explode for 4 runs. Leadoff batter, Aric Spitulnik got things rolling with a single up the middle. The Kowitz brothers each followed with hits and Andy Bloom's Sac fly brought Sky to within 1 run. Brian "Sky" Mekiliesky pushed his team ahead with a double and soon after scored on an Alan Smith sac fly. Legal Papers' hitters flied out to various outfielders to seal the game for Sky & Sky.
Hitting stars for Sky & Sky were Aric Spitulnik(3-4) & Andy Bloom(2-2 & sac fly). Legal Papers' big batters were Mark Summerfield(2-3-->1B,2B), Dave Kopel(2-3-->1B,3B) & Howard Rosenberg and Marty Ellis each going 2 for 3. Marc Leibovitz, earned his first win in Pikesville Men's Softball since 1989 and Marty Ellis absorbed the loss.

Game 2
Game two featured far less excitement throughout--until the bottom of the last inning. Three hits in a row by Sky & Sky's meat of the order pushed 2 across in the t-1st. Not to be outdone, the bottom of Sky's line-up upped the ante with three more in the t-2nd using four singles and a walk. Legal Papers attempted to come storming back in their half of the second. Gabe Silber blasted a ball into deep LF which hung up with the extreme winds. Andy Bloom almost pulled off the spectacular over-the-shoulder catch, but Silber wound up on 3rd base. Dave Kopel routinely knocked him in with a sac fly. Legal Papers loaded the bases in this inning, but were unable to push any more runs across. b-2nd-->5-1 in favor of S & S. Things remained quiet until the b-4th when four singles, an error, and a walk enabled Legal Papers to go ahead by one. Again, Sky & Sky's sixth inning proved to be their most productive, as they put on a hitting clinic. Andy Bloom led the onslaught with a single, Aric Spitlnik, doubled him to 3rd base, and three of the next four hitters singled. An Eric Gertner sac fly seemingly pushed Sky & Sky ahead for good. Two doubles and one error later, Sky & Sky was nursing a 12-6 lead with the game well in hand. Someone apparently forgot to get the message to Legal Papers. Howard Rosenbeg doubled and Larry Proper knocked him in to chip away at the lead. b-6-->12-7. Just for insurance, Sky & Sky added 2 more in the t-7th with a walk, hit, error, and sac fly. The game (apparently) safely tucked away, Legal Papers came to bat and wound up doing the impossible. Jeff Sacks started and ended the inning. A leadoff single...Gabe Silber tripled him home and scored on Dave Kopel's base knock. The bottom of the order performed marvelously with Ron Bondroff singling. A blooper into short RF by Howard Rosenberg proved disastrous for Sky & Sky. RF Howe Rudo failed to call off the hard charging second baseman in time, and the two were involved in a violent collision. After regaining their faculties, play resumed. Legal Papers continued to do anything necessary to get the job done. Marty Ellis secured a "professional courtesy" walk, and the top of the order went back to work. Johnny Feldman pushed a run across with a sac fly. Larry Proper doubled, and Paul Shifrin came to plate with 2nd and 3rd. Electing to take their chances against his bat, Larry Newman pitched him to a full count. On the next pitch Sky & Sky thought their gamble paid off, but to their dismay a close pitch was called ball four. After some minor complaints, Jeff Sacks strode to the plate to complete the comeback. A triple to RF, with the ball blowing away from the recently injured Howe Rudo, tipped off his outstretched glove, as he laid out in an effort to save the game with a diving catch. Jeff Sacks would have scored on the play, but Paul Shifrin's run was the one that counted most.
Hitting Stars for Legal Papers were Larry Proper(4-5, two singles, two doubles 4 rbi's), Ron Bondroff(2-3) & Howard Rosenberg(3-3, BB) Sky & Sky's attack featured Andy Bloom(3-3, 2B, {2}1B,BB), & Wayne Resnick(3-4). Marty Ellis got the win, and Larry Newman took a bruising loss.