Welcome back to the blog everyone! What a nice night for softball. After a lot of rain and lousy weather this spring (take it from a baseball dad), it was great to be back out there (even if we are all sore today). Let’s get to the action.
On Field one it was Team Solomon vs. Team Grefer:
Kyle for the winners:
We beat Team Solomon 14-12 in a sloppy game to start the year. We had plenty of defensive miscues but were barely able to eke out the win.
Mike Gray pitched a solid game and had a double and a triple to jolt the offense. Dan Grefer and Brian Goldberg each had a few hits but subs Dan Green, Drew Hart, and James Swan did the heavy lifting on offense with 3 hits each (including a smashed triple to center field by Swan).
Happy to get started with a win!
On field two it was Team Groh vs. Team Goldhoff
Rookie Capt. AJ for the winners:
A great opening week for Goldhoff’s Goons (As the app refers to us) as we beat Team Groh 6-2 in a fun defensive battle. Jamey Drennan pitched fantastic in his debut, only giving up 4 hits and 2 runs, while seemingly getting everyone to pop out.
On the offensive side we got contributions from all over the lineup including Griffin Harris, Adam Cronstein, and Zach Fritzhand who each with 2 hits. I had a hit bringing in two runs and Michael Heldman got a hit and made it around to score in his first game in the league.
The defense won the day though with Griff and Adam locking down the middle of the outfield, we also got big catches from Howard Goldwasser, Ian Conwell, and Michael Heldman.
Overall this was a great team effort and we look forward to continuing to get better next week.
On Field 3 it was Team Fogel vs. Team Brafman
For the first time in over a YEAR in the regular season Marc for the winners
In a back and forth game vs. Team Fogel on field one Team Brafman got off to a great start with a walk off 9-8 win. “It’s been a very long time since I can celebrate a regular season win and it felt good to get off on the right side,” Brafman said. Down early 3-0 in the first, Mike Margolis made a great catch in RF with the bases loaded to save three runs and keep Team Brafman in the game. While Team Fogel kept pushing across runs (including a rocket off the bat of “The Other” Josh Rosen) Team Brafman kept it close. Down 8-4 in the 6th, Team Brafman tied it with hits coming from all over the lineup including a big single from rookie Corey Meyers and Brafman’s 4th hit of the night. After a scoreless top of the 7th Team Brafman’s bottom of the order got the winning inning going. Rookie Jeff “Oscar Meyer” Wiener led off with a single, Gary Fisher moved the runner along and Team Game Ball winner Mike Margolis singled for his 2nd hit of the night moved the runners along. The Special One Mike Rothstein then singled to load the bases and Zach Mayer won it with a single to LF.
Kudos to Jimmy Lefton for a great pitching performance in his first game back and Harry “Hood” Meisner for making a couple of nice catches in LCF and for a big hit in the 6th.
Team Brafman looks to continue their winning ways next week.
Finally on field four it was Team Wagner vs. Team Simons
Brad for the winners:
Team Wagner beat Team Simons in extra innings on opening night, 13-12. The game went back and forth with plenty of strategic moves, including lots of bunts, intentional walks, and key defensive plays by both teams. Wagner took a 10-7 lead late as Team Simons had crucial hits to tie in the 7th. Team Wagner held Team Simons scoreless in the extra frame. The victors started the bottom of the 8th by getting their first three hitters on, then with one out, Corey Norris hit a hard ground ball to David Wertheim playing a shifted 2nd base, who threw to Captain Simons playing catcher for the force out. Still, Simons could not handle the throw, and Joel Buckley scored the winning run.
Everyone contributed to Team Wagner at the plate, including their elder statesman, Roger Rosenthal.
Team Rookie Seth Shaifer also played well in his Triple Creek debut.
Team Wagner is off next week and will be home recovering while watching reruns of “I Love Lucy.”
Team Simons will take on Team Brafman next week. The game will air on CMT. Bill Dance and Richard Petty will be on the call.
League Notes
A bunch of birthdays:
Scott “Why can’t We Be” Friend
Dave Cohen
Matt Miller
Brad Gallop
Scott Raskin
Danny Grefer
Josh Lisman
Handsome Sam Castellini
Jeff Finkelstein
Greg Leader
Stu Solomon
Once again, if I missed your birthday, sorry.
A big shout out to former player “Big” Alex Lefton on getting engaged
Reminder that it’s JCC night at the Reds game on May 13 vs. the White Sox
The J-Classic is coming up. J Classic – Mayerson JCC Please sign up, donate or come to dinner.
Wing night is also coming up at the Silver Spring House. I can’t remember the date but a big thank you to Gig for his continued support of the league.
In Reds news, it’s good to know that the Candy man is now 1-25 with something like 13 strikeouts. The Reds’ front office continues to come up with winners in free agency.
Finally, in Roger news, I have to give him credit for somehow finding me a Sean “SK” Kirkpatrick bobblehead with him as a DJ. I have no idea why this was a bobblehead or how he got it but thanks
See ya next week!