I take full blame for the weather yesterday. For 9 weeks I’ve been gushing about how great the weather has been. So please blame me for the rain and wind yesterday. Also, in my next life I want to grow up to a TV Weatherman. They never have to be right, they are almost always wrong and no one seems to care.
On to the action on the field.
On Field 1 it was Team Brafman vs. Team Wagner
Team Brafman won 12-4 or something like that. Super Sub JZ hit two 2-run homers and Joel “Hallelujah” Buckley set the table by going 4-4 and making three amazing plays in the field. Captain Brafman had a couple of hits and 3 RBI’s. Dee Harris continued his strong season at the plate, while Todd “The Mayor” Wasserman also came through with a big RBI single. On defense besides Buckley, Griff Harris, “The Hebrew Hammer” Ryan Baum Jamey “The Rookie” Drennan and Alex Kraus all flashed the leather for Team Brafman. “Winning two in a row I believe is what you call a winning streak,” team leader and sage vet, Eppy, said post game. “I’m just trying to keep the ball over the plate and let my defense work for me.”
Team Brafman looks to make it three in a row Wednesday vs Team Zawatsky
On Field 2 we had Team Kamrass vs. Team Grefer
Micah for the winners:
Team Kamrass topped Team Grefer 8-6 in a rain shortened six inning game. It was a real back and forth battle. Fink stayed sharp with the weather, and the entire team played great defense. The defensive highlight was a RCF-SS-C double play to kill a rally. Team Grefer led 6-5 at the end of the 5th. Eric Goldstein had a blast to left in the top of sixth and Team Kamrass went up 8-6. Fink retired the heart of the order 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth before the umpire mercifully called the game. It was good to start of the second half the same way we played most of the first half, finding ways to win close games.
On Field 3 we had the Big “Wolf” Machine vs. Team Stu
Wes once again for the winners
Team Wolf improves to 9-0 this season with another stellar performance. This time, beating the talented Team Soloman in the rain with a 12-2 fifth inning run rule. By that time, the rain had picked up and all seemed pleased to get to dry land.
Team Wolf jumped out to its trademark early lead with 3 in the first and 6 more in the second inning led by 2 RBI doubles from Mike Gray and Tyler Wolf. Keith “The Hose” Kombrinck had a career day highlighted by two run-scoring leadoff singles, and a perfect throw from catcher, to catch Stu Solomon (who was 2-2 w/ an RBI) stealing second base.
Mike Gray led the way with another stellar performance on the mound, bringing a shutout into the fourth inning. His intensity, accuracy and leadership, combined with Team Wolf’s consistent defense has proven to be a winning formula this season.
Finally on Field 4 we had team Fogel vs. Team Zawatsky
Roger for Team Fogel
TEAM FOGEL 16
TEAM ZAWATSKY 6
Playing for the first time in bad weather this season, TEAM FOGEL, jumped out early and often and never looked back as they defeated TEAM ZAWATSKY, 16-6, in a shortened five-inning game.
Both BRANDON “GAMECOCK” WRONKER and captain JEREMY “THE COMET” FOGEL blasted homeruns back-to-back over the right field fence.
It is believed that this feat hasn’t been done since the late 70’s…..if you want to know for sure, ask either GARY GREFER or RICK LEFTON….they’re the historians for the league.
It should also be pointed out that WRONKER’s parents were visiting from Atlanta and his father video taped the shot. Also it should be noted, his wife and mother were late getting to the game and missed it.
“That was my first homerun over the fence in my 25 years of playing softball or baseball and my mother missed it, he said afterwards. “I guess she and my wife had to make sure their make-up was just right before going to the game.”
Everyone on the team except ROGER “X MAN” ROSENTHAL got hits and added to the offensive explosion.
“Hey, someone has to make outs and I’m pretty good at it. I’ve been hitting the ball well, but like anyone in a hitting slump, the ball tends to find someone. Maybe I’ll ask MATT “THE BEARCAT” MILLER for some hitting tips and see if he can help a teammate out. I wonder if he wants to help a XAVIER fan out.”
COREY “DON’T CALL ME CY” NORRIS pitched a nice game and was helped by a stellar defense.
TEAM FOGEL has a bye this coming week and rumors are flying that the team will go see the movie, THE BAD NEWS BEARS, on how not to play softball.
LEAGUE NOTES
1. Since MARC BRAFMAN always talks about the CINCINNATI REDS, let me talk about the XAVIER UNIVERSITY baseball team…..they not only knocked off a top ten UCONN team in the BIG EAST title game to win an automatic bid to the NCAA, but they also knocked off highly regarded VANDERBILT on their home field to stay alive in the tournament. They lost the next game and were eliminated.
2. MARC BRAFMAN bought a bobblehead from me and actually paid me right away…..miracles do happen!
3. KEN GROH wanted to play Sunday so badly, that he hired a private jet to bring him home from Philadelphia…..
4. Recently, I asked ADAM CRONSTEIN’s oldest son if he had a temper like his father. “Sometimes” was the reply from young Cronstein.
5. The NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS are winding down…..can anyone other than a few people in the league (you know who you are) tell me who the two teams left are?
Is this an actual rule and, if so, why? Yesterday during the rain we had league mascot, Jacob Brafman, move our bats under the cover of the concession stand to keep them dry in between innings. But after the 2nd or 3rd, the ump told us we couldn’t do that. Does he think we are pulling a Chris Sabo and corking our bats?
A big shout out to Rabbi Yitz, first on getting back onto the field, but also on the marriage of his son, Schneur, two weeks ago (sorry for the delay). Also attending the wedding and reporting that it was a lot of fun was the “Minister of Fun,” Dave Cohen.
David “Slim Shady” Wertheim has been in the news of late for all of the amazing promoting and jobs his dad’s company, Five Iron Rentals, is doing these days. David runs a great crew and has been on the news promoting all of the festivals and events they are involved in. Keep up the good work since once again you’ll be writing about the 4-5 best team in college football this season.
No one has played more baseball/softball over the last 50+ years than our guy, Scott Wolf. It’s hard to imagine anyone breaking their finger on a catch like he did last week. Get better soon, Scott.
Mark “The Bruiser” Wolfe’s daughter and my dad share a birthday, or very close to it. So, for some reason my dad finds his way over to their house each year for Mark’s daughter’s birthday party. This year they even baked him a cake which he shared with the kids. Thanks Mark, now I have to do the same.
Speaking of parents it’s always great to see parents and wives at the games. It’s especially amazing when they come out and watch us in the rain.
A reminder that June 21 is Wing Night at the Silver Spring House. Please plan on going.
In this week in the Reds. It’s Elly time isn’t it? I have no idea if he is the next Eric Davis or the next Billy Hamilton. All I know is that he is must watch TV when he comes to the plate. I don’t know if I can remember in 5 games a guy beating out a grounder to 1B, scoring on a ground ball to the SS with the infield in or scoring from 1st on a double to the gap. And if JR House, the Reds 3rd base coach, hadn’t gotten in his way scoring easily on that play. All I know is this is shaping up to be a pretty interesting (if not good) team to pay attention to the rest of the way. And god help David Bell if he is forced to play Wil Myers any more this year.
See everyone on Wednesday.
Marc