On Saturday, Aug. 9 high humidity, grey skies, and, eventually, rain was the setting as the Columbus Lodge #2143 Golden Lions won the 6th annual Arthritis Foundation Softball Challenge at Cantiague Park in Hicksville. The rain-shortened event was the team's first back-to-back AFSC title. All proceeds benefited the LI Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation (AF).

JP Morgan Chase provided the players with event T-shirts, Modell's provided the water bottles, and Cannon USA, KPMG, North Fork Bank, State Bank and the Sons of Italy-Columbus Lodge provided the teams. And with the dedicated men in blue from the Nassau County ASA Umpires in control of the games, this year's event was one of the most enjoyable.

One would be remiss if recognition and gratitude was not expressed to Cantiague Park Director Mark LeMar's crew, who worked hours to convert rain-drenched water holes into playable softball fields. Most impressive was that the crew had the fields ready for the 9:30 a.m. start. "Without them there wouldn't be an event," said Julie Viniotis, special events coordinator for AF.

The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve the quality of life for victims who suffer from the disease by working toward improved medical care and providing educational support. AF is the only national, voluntary health organization seeking to help find cures, prevention and treatments for more than 100 forms of arthritis.

Vince Lombardi once said, "Any man's finest hour is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." Handicapped without their ace pitcher Anthony Curran, the Columbus Lodge (CL) looked to defend their AFSC title with unproven Rob Igneri, a 6'3" left-handed pitcher who was making his debut against the team from State Bank.

In the opening round, State Bank had just taken the field when they felt the Golden Lions mighty raw. The defending champs pounced on their opponent for four runs in the first inning on the power of Jeff Steinberg's RBI double and Dennis Tranchina's two-run triple. But the resilient State Bank came back quickly with three runs in their frame, then tied the score in the second inning.

In the third, consecutive doubles by Dave Saviano and Ron Gondolfo, followed by a triple by Steinberg scored two runs. Then, after Tranchina's double scored Steinberg, Ed Bochynski stroked a RBI single to rightfield. One out later, Bochynski tagged-up from first and beat the throw from centerfield with a headfirst dive into second base; he eventually scored on Rob Igneri's double. Lisa Hynoski's single scored Igneri with the Lions' sixth run in the inning.

The "Bash Brothers" (Jeff Steinberg and Dennis Tranchina) manufactured two runs in the fourth inning, as Dave Saviano scored on Steinberg's second triple of the game. Jeff scored on a Tranchina double for a 12-4 lead. Steinberg would finish the game with four hits (three triples, a double), four runs scored and five RBIs. Tranchina also had four hits (two doubles, two triples) and five RBIs.

State Bank continuously tested the Lions by loading the bases, with no outs, in both the fifth and seventh inning, but failed to score. "They're a really good ball club," said Lions manager Ed Bochynski. "Credit our defense because one hit here or there and we might have had a different outcome." State Bank did tack on three runs in the sixth that were matched by CL for a 15-7 final.

KPMG's opening round victory against Cannon USA assured a match-up against Columbus Lodge for the fifth time in five years. "I recognize so many of their guys," said KPMG's Lou LeBrandi. Last year, CL's win knotted their lifetime record against one another at 2-2, with KPMG holding a 46-42 runs scored advantage. "Beating KPMG this year would be even more pleasurable," said Jeff Steinberg.

KPMG came out with a vengeance by exploding for four runs in the opening inning. In the bottom of the first, Joe Pesale's lead off walk was quickly erased by a Dave Savino ground ball double play. As Jeff Steinberg approached the plate, after a Ron Gandolfo single, KPMG manager Tom Galgano, despite having a four-run lead, gave the signal to walk Steinberg.

"Jeff's such a dangerous hitter he even gets intentional walks during batting practice," said Lions Ed Bochynski. The walk ignited a flurry of RBI singles by Tranchina, Bochynski and Joe Pecella. Rob Igneri capped the two-out rally with a two-run scoring triple. "They score four, we score five!" shouted an enthusiastic Steinberg. Once again Steinberg was intentionally walked in the second inning. Again, teammates responded by pounding KPMG pitching with four runs.

In the third, Gandolfo's three-run triple and Tranchina's two-run homerun highlighted a six-run explosion. "It's amazing to see how well this team (Golden Lions) runs the bases," said 70-year-old third base coach Pete Gisonda. Igneri pounded a solo shot over the right centerfield wall in the fourth to extend the lead to a final score of 16-4. "They have an excellent team," said KPMG's Tom Galgano.

Overall, Igneri pitched effectively, particularly in the fifth inning when he retired the side on six pitches. This led jovial teammates to remark about having found a replacement for their ace pitcher, Anthony Curran. "Anthony who? Asked Rita DiSalvo jokingly.

Heavy rains shorted the double elimination tournament. Despite the heroic efforts by Cantiague Park officials, the continuous rains left the fields unplayable. Since the Golden Lions were the only remaining undefeated team in the tournament, they were crowned champions. Rather than look ahead at a possible three-peate for next year, this year's team decided to eat pizza and enjoy the moment.

For the tournament, the Lions outscored their opponents 31-11 on 42 hits and had a team on-base percentage of .632. Dennis Tranchina led the scoring attack by batting 8-8 (three doubles, two triples, a homerun), 'Hippie' Tony Novarro batted 2-2 with a walk, Jeff Steinberg .833 (a double, three triples), Ron Gandolfo .714 (three doubles, a triple) and Dave Saviano .625. Steinberg had a team leading seven runs scored, while chipping in seven RBIs, while Tranchina's nine RBIs led the tournament.

The Columbus Lodge #2143 Golden Lions are a team dedicated to community service through softball fund-raising events. Since the team's inception, their participation in such events has helped various Long Island charities raise over $570,000, while posting a .790 winning percentage over the past three seasons.

Other OSIA news: Veteran 'Hippie' Tony Novarro's appearance in this year's AFSC place him in a ninth-place tie with Tommy McLoughlin on the Columbus Lodge's all-time tournament games played list. In tournament games in which Lee Meceli and/or Rita DiSalvo are in the lineup the Golden Lions have a .909 winning percentage.