In their season finale, the Sons of Italy-Columbus Lodge #2143 Golden Lions scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to slay the Knights, 4-3 at Cedar Creek in Seaford. The win completed a successful weekend in which the Golden Lions took a pair of games the day before and completed the season having won their final three games.

The Knights scored three runs in the first inning, but the frugal Columbus Lodge defense, led by their pitcher Lou Roseto, held the Knights scoreless over the remaining six innings. The Lions struck for two runs in the second inning when Anthony Curran scored on a Jeff Saviano bloop-double. With two outs, Lions Captain Ed Bochynski drilled a single up the middle scoring Saviano.

The Columbus Lodge defense would dominate the entire game. In the third inning, second baseman Vinny Battista threw a strike to first base, completing a double play and ending the Knights rally. Ron Gandolfo's brilliant snatch in leftfield prevented two runs from scoring in the fourth inning. "This is the defense we've been looking for all year," said Lions bench-coach Frank Curran.

In the fifth inning, the Columbus Lodge got back-to-back singles by Bochynski and Andy Poulin to put runners on first and third. "Ed came onto the field today and led by example," professed teammate Vinny Battista. With one out, Chris Curran stroked a fly ball to leftfield, scoring Bochynski with the tying run.

Defense continued to play an important roll in the final inning. The Knights had the go-ahead run on third base and a runner on first with two outs, when right fielder Gary Saccaro stepped up to the plate. On a 2-1 pitch, Gary hit a shot between first and second base. Lions first baseman (Bochynski) lunged to his right, snagged the ball, then tossed it to Chris Curran at second base for the final out. As the team headed to the bottom half of the seventh inning, all the Columbus Lodge needed was one run for the win.

Battista opened up the inning with a single to left field but was erased on a Jeff Saviano ground ball. Bochynski's single sent Saviano to third and with two outs, Lee Miceli hit a ground ball to the shortstop. A toss to the second baseman should have ended the inning; however, coming into second base hard, the captain, Ed Bochynski, rattled the second baseman and the ball was dropped. Saviano crossed the plate with the winning run and the Lions completed the season ending on a come-from-behind win!

"This was the last week of the season and win or lose, it was important for us to play well as a team," said Bochynski. Columbus Lodge's Dave Saviano finished the season with a team high .547 batting average and .585 on-base percentage. Also, Dave led the team in hits and was tied with teammate Anthony Curran for most runs scored. Rookie Vinny Calone finished the season with a team-leading 33 RBIs.

Columbus Lodge #2143, a member of the Orders Sons of Italy in America, is a not-for-profit fraternal organization that offers its members various social and recreational activities, as well as community and charity involvement. For more information on becoming part of the softball team, or for general information about the organization, one may contact Pete Gisonda at 798-3972.

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The 2001 Joe Bermudez Award given to the player, who best exemplified fair play on the softball field and fraternalism off the field, went to Dave Saviano. Also, Lee Miceli took home the MVP honors at the 2001 Easter Season Softball Classic. While representing the Columbus Lodge, Saviano participated in various softball events that helped local charities raise over $101,000.