August 5 Recap
By Marc Brafman
It was another great night of softball action last night. Let’s get right to the action:
Team Fogel got back on the winning side of things evening its record to 2-2. Mike Gray was masterful hitting his spots all night and the offense was led by Jeremy Fogel, who was a home run shy of the cycle. Subs Gary Grefer and Randy Broyles both produced in a big way and the team defense was solid. Both father and son Gallop had huge bunts. When you think of all the great father/son combo’s in baseball history (Bonds, Griffey, Bell) the Gallop name should be right there with them. All that work in the instructional league has paid off. Final score was Fogel 8 Loon 4
Meanwhile, Ken Groh got his team back on the winning side last night as well.
Team Weisser started the scoring early as Griff “Benedict Arnold” Harris had an RBI triple to make it 1-0. In the bottom of the 1st Groh, Anslinger and Ryan Baum had consecutive two-out hits to put the home team up 3-1. Gig and Mark Franklin started off the 2nd with hits and Swadner, Soltesz, Stansbury and Sam Castellini all drove in runs to up the lead to 7-2. Baum 3-3 Kahn 2-2 and Depiano 2-3 all scored in the 3rd as the lead swelled to 10-2 after 3 innings. Both teams scored solo runs the rest of the way as Tyler Stansbury came in to close the game out in the 7th for the 13-6 win. Coach Groh was pleased as 8 players had multiple hits and 9 guys drove in runs. Swadner, Stansbury and Kahn led the defense as Soltesz and Baum paced the offense.
Finally, on Field 4 Team Lefton laid the wood to Team Brafman 14-1. If there was ever a softball game with a score of 14-1 that wasn’t even that close it was last night. Lefton scored all those runs without the benefit of more than 1 extra base hit. Using the old Wee Willy Keeler line of “hitting them where they ain’t, Lefton was paced by rookie leadoff man Jacob Zeidenstein, sub Taylor “May the” Schwartz be with you and pretty much the rest of their lineup who hit the ball to all fields. “We had our hitting shoes on tonight,” Lefton said post game. “We showed patience at the plate and really put good ‘wood’ on the ball all night. When your entire team hits the ball it makes it easy to pitch.” Jimmy kept the normally potent Team Brafman offense in check all night as he cruised through the game with very few hard-hit balls. “I could have caught Jimmy in a rocking chair,” Rick Lefton commented. “Whatever sign I put down he hit his spots and it was an easy night for me.” “Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the other team,” dejected and frustrated Brafman said post game. “We will come back on Sunday and get back at it.” Team Brafman did make a couple of nice plays in the field with “The Hitman” Sam Hecht and Zach “The Wild Horse” Zakem making nice plays at 2nd and Jacob “Hallelujah” Buckley continuing his gold glove work at 3rd. Lefton improves to 2-2 on the season while Brafman falls to 2-2.
League Notes:
Not only did Jeremy “Hamilton” Fogel almost hit for the cycle but Brooke Fogel is now doing modeling here in town. I couldn’t be prouder of my kids Sparky said post game.
Leave it to Mr. Selfie, Rick Lefton, to already find his cutout picture down at GABP. “When I heard about this, I knew it was for me,” Lefton said. “I have what 8-9 kids at home (I lose count) and combined none of them take as many selfies as I do, so it was only natural that I put my mug on one of the seats.”
Ken Groh is taking his life into his own hands this weekend by venturing up to Columbus to help with Jason “The Mad Hungarian” Faust and his recovery efforts. “I’ve been told that Jason needs daily sponge baths and I’m only too happy to provide the loving care and touch that he will need.” (All kidding aside, it’s a great thing that Ken is doing and Jason is on the mend and getting stronger every day)
The future of the league is in good hands as Ryan “The Hebrew Hammer” Baum and Bryce Anslinger joined the long list of dads in the league that are coaching their sons in little league. Let’s hope that in 15 years we are all still playing to see the next wave of sons and dads playing together
This week I caught up with Aaron “Straight Outta” Compton to check in and see what he has been up to. Since last season Aaron had knee surgery on his other knee and is feeling good. He’s been spending time with his family and misses being out on the field. Hopefully we’ll see Aaron back on the diamond next season.
You know you have a good brother-in-law (Sam Hecht) when he texts you on Monday to inform you that Summer Slam 1992 was on Fox Sports 1. Who doesn’t want to re-watch the Ultimate Warrior take on Randy Savage?
In this week’s installment of What has Roger Learned since he isn’t playing softball and keeping with the wrestling theme-Being the huge WW(E)F wrestling fan that I am, I found it interesting that Angelo Poffo the father of both Randy” Macho Man Savage and “The Genius” Leapin’ Lanny Poffo once held the sit up record. In 1945, [1] He completed 6,033 sit-ups in four hours and ten minutes. According to his son Lanny, after 6,000 sit-ups he did 33 more, one for each year of Jesus Christ‘s life. “I wish the WWE Would do a three-headed bobblehead to showcase these amazing athletes,” Roger said. (FYI…I do have a couple of Jesus bobble heads if anyone is interested)
Finally, I think we ALL owe a big JCC softball tip of the cap to the Commish Rick Tenenholtz for all the hard work he’s put into this crazy season. If all goes well, we will soon finish the first half of the season safely and with minimal interruption and it’s in no small part to his leadership.
See everyone bright and early on Sunday. Stay safe!